|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Barry B poses in the "Fabulous Fussell and Cartwright Offenhauser". In the winter of 1965 Lionel Fussell and Bill Cartwright purchased the ex-Merv Neil Rothmans Offy, painted it pearl white, gave it Barry's No 7, and contracted Barry to drive it. (From Oldtimespeedway.com/ - 1960s Speedcars - Album 1) |
Barry about to be pushed off in the Fussell and Cartwright Offenhauser on practice day at Western Springs prior to the 1965-66 season. (Bruce Kent photo, Willie Kay Collection, from One Tough Dude, The Barry Butterworth Story by Alan Batt, Speedway Classics, Alan Batt, Christchurch, NZ) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| A great colour photo from practice day for the 1965-66 season at Western Springs. Barry is ready to test out the Fussell and Cartwright Offenhauser. (From https://www.facebook.com/barry.butterworth.21) |
Another colour shot of Barry taken from the outside of the track as he has the F&C Offy at speed on practice day. (From the Ken Mullins collection from https://www.facebook.com/ken.mullins.397?fref=ts) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Barry is pushed away on pracice day in his first drive in the F&C Offy. (From the Allan Batt collection) |
Barry at full speed on practice day. He looked extremely impressive even before the season began. (Bruce Kent photo, from http://modelpetrolhead.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=modelreferencephotos &action=display&thread=272) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Barry is ready to race in the Fussell and Cartwright Offfenhauser as he looks photographer Bruce Kent directly in the eye! (From the John Stanley collection) |
A spectacular shot of Barry in Offenhauser #7 as he powers around Western Springs. He was head and shoulders above them opposition all season. (From the John Stanley collection) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| The undisputed king of the Springs in 1965-66. It was the performances in this car that really made his speedway career. He was pretty much unbeatable. (Bruce Kent photo, from http://modelpetrolhead.proboards.com/index.cgi?board= modelreferencephotos&action=display&thread=272) |
Dicing for the lead in the feature are Merv Neal in the V twin JAP (#10) and Barry B in the F&C Offy. Neal was a veteran of speedway solo motorcycle racing as well as circuit racing on four wheels and highly competitive in a midget. He was also the former owner of the F&C Offy. (Bruce Kent photo, from Western Springs Speedway Year Book 1965-66 by Alan Clark) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Barry Butterworth in #7 leads Trevor Carnell in the Solar V8-60 (#2). (Bruce Kent photo, from the John Stanley collection) |
Barry receiving more "loot", this time a portable TV from AWA after another great win. (https://www.facebook.com/barry.butterworth.21) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Japanese visiting driver Hideyuki "Happy" Hirano congratulates Barry after a match race. Looking on is ace mechanic Bob Leikis. Hirano drove George Tervit's ex-Ian Holden V8-60 (#76) and was surprisingly competitive with Barry. His wide, run-out-on-the-cushion style contrasted with Barry's pole-hugging tactics. (Bruce Kent photo, from Western Springs Programme 1965-66) |
"Wild" Bill Jarden in the Repco Holden (#32) tangles with Barry B at Western Springs. (Bruce Kent photo, from Western Springs Speedway Year Book 1965-66 by Alan Clark) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| On the back straight at Western Springs in the beautiful F&C Offy. (Bruce Kent photo, from Western Springs Programme 1965) |
Trevor Carnell in the Lloyd Nutt-owned Solar V8-60 (#2) and Ron Ross in the Harley Arthur-owned (Cliff North-prepared) McGee Holden (#72) are in the middle of the track as Barry hugs the pole line in the F&C Offy. All three cars have been restored and are domiciled in Auckland. (Bruce Kent photo, Willie Kay Collection, from One Tough Dude, The Barry Butterworth Story by Alan Batt, Speedway Classics, Alan Batt, Christchurch, NZ) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Merv Neal in the V-twin JAP (#10) holds down the pole line ahead of Barry B. On the outside are Bill Jarden (#32) and Ron Ross (#72). (Bruce Kent photo, from Western Springs Speedway Year Book 1965-66 by Alan Clark) |
Haulin the F&C Offy under Leo Vercoe ("the flying traffic cop") in Trackburner 99, a McGee Holden. (Bruce Kent photo, from Western Springs Speedway Year Book 1965-66 by Alan Clark) |
|||||||||
|
 |
|||||||||
| Barry takes the outside line around Leo Vercoe in Trackburner #99 as Ron Ross (#72) brings up the rear. (Bruce Kent photo, from Western Springs Speedway Year Book 1965-66 by Alan Clark) |
||||||||||
 |
||||||||||
| "THE DREAM TEAM" The owners were used car dealers Lionel Fussell and Bill Cartwright (top) who had previously owned several midgets (a couple of V860s and a Holden). The chief mechanic was the legendary Bob Leikis (middle) who kept the car in immaculate condition. He went on to look after the Jim Beam Chevy II for Trevor Morris and a VW midget for Bruce Drinkrow. The driver was a young and keen Barry Butterworth (bottom). (Bruce Kent photos, from Western Springs Speedway Year Book 1965-66 by Alan Clark) |
Barry B leads Bill Goode. At Western Springs his main opposition came on the International nights from Bill Goode in the Mulcahy Offy. They duelled several times but Barry was on top form and had the legs on the Queenslander. (Bruce Kent photo, from Western Springs Speedway Year Book 1965-66 by Alan Clark) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
Barry has the Fussell and Cartwright Offenhauser fully crossed up as he chases Merv Neal (#10) in his V8-60-powered midget. Blair Shepherd (#99) brings up the rear during this international event. |
Barry Butterworth sitting in the F & C Offy on the infield at Western Springs. |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
Leo Vercoe leads in trackburner #99 as Barry B (#7) hugs the pole and Ron Ross (#72) is out wide. |
Barry thunders down the straight in the Fussell and Cartwright car. |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| The 1965-66 NZ Midget Car Champion in a characteristic pose in the F&C Offy – crossed up and charging! (Bruce Kent photo, from Western Springs Speedway Year Book 1965-66 by Alan Clark) |
Placegetters in the 1965-66 NZ Midget Championship held at Western Springs Stadium. (L) Ron Ross, second, (M) Barry Butterworth first and (R) Merv Neal, third. (Bruce Kent photo, Willie Kay Collection, from One Tough Dude, The Barry Butterworth Story by Alan Batt, Speedway Classics, Alan Batt, Christchurch, NZ) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| At the Sydney Royale in 1966 about to be pushed-off. Unfortunately the motor broke a crank shaft early on and that put paid to his Aussie tour. (From Australian Speedway. An Illustrated History by Tony Loxley, Working Class Publications, NSW) |
Barry at speed in the F&C Offy in Sydney. (From Australian Speedway -'67, Kenmore Press, NSW) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Barry in the Fussell and Cartwright car (#7) running on the inside of Sydney hot shoe Johnny Stewart in the Berco Holden (#2). (From the John Stanley collection) |
Barry hot lapping the Fussell and Cartwright Offenhauser during warm up in Sydney (From the John Stanley collection) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| A rare colour shot of Barry in the Fussell and Cartwright Offenhauser. Here he poses for ace photographer Bill Meyer at the Sydney Showgrounds prior to being pushed off. (Bill Meyer photo from Just One More, The Speedway Photography of Bill Meyer by Wayne Meyer and Tony Loxley, Full Throttle Publications, NSW) |
The caption doesn’t tell the story of how bad things really got for the F&C team in Sydney. The offy motor broke a crankshaft first night out at the Royale. A replacement motor was then purchased from American Sherman Cleveland but it burned a piston during warm-up at the next meeting and that was the end of the campaign. Lionel Fussell vowed never to bring his car back to Australia – and he never did. (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201670665744653 &set=gm.409375472496960&type=1&theater) |
|||||||||
 |
||||||||||
| In a one-off appearance back at Western Springs (1967-68) Barry took the F&C Offy out for a demonstration run. (Bruce Kent photo, from http://modelpetrolhead.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=modelreferencephotos&action=display&thread=272) |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| After the F&C Offy broke a crankshaft in Sydney, Barry ran the Seidl Holden (#44) in the international events at the Brisbane Exhibition track in 1966. Here Queensland ace Blair Shepherd in the Cascio Offy (#99) is chasing Barry B in the Seidl Holden (#44) at the Ekka. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/998857933497796/) |
Queensland versus New Zealand match race at the Ekka (Brisbane) at the end of the 1965-66 season. Ron Ross in the Harley Arthur Holden #72 on pole with Bill Goode (QLD) in Offy #5 in position 2, Blair Shepherd (QLD) Offy #99 in position 3 and Barry Butterworth in the Seidl Holden #44 in position 4. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/998857933497796/) |
|||||||||
 |
||||||||||
| International Speedway racing at the Ekka. Bob Tattersall (#35) and Ron Ross are ahead, Barry in the middle in #44 and Sherman Cleveland is behind. (From http://justmidgets.homestead.com/Hancock1.html) |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| After returning to Sydney in late 1966, Barry procured the drive in the iconic Linklater Holden #55. Here, for a publicity shot, Barry examines the motor along with owner Max Linklater. (Ian Smith photo, from http://justmidgets.homestead.com/KerryIngham6.html) |
Jim Bayliss (#61) being given the treatment by an aggressive Barry B (#55) in the Linklater Holden. (From Oldtimespeedway.com/ - 1960s Speedcars - Album 2) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Barry gives chase to Ray Oram who is racing the big Berco Holden (#2). In only one years-time the two drivers were to become team mates racing the Mackay Offys. (Tony Loxley collection from Speedway's Sensational Sixties by Tony Loxley, Bookworks, Padstow, NSW). |
Barry in full cry in the Linklater Holden at the Royale. It was a coveted ride and Barry gave it all he had for a short period. (From Oldtimespeedway.com/ - 1960s Speedcars - Album 2) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Another great colour shot of Barry hot-lapping the Linklater Holden. (From http://justmidgets.homestead.com/Hancock1.html) |
Barry posing in the cockpit of the Linklater Holden. (Larry Taylor photo from Ghosts in the Bull Pens by Tony Loxley and Dennis Newlyn, Full Throttle Publications, NSW) |
|||||||||
 |
||||||||||
| A very happy-looking Barry Butterworth chats to car owner Max Linklater in the pits at the Royale. (From (https://www.facebook.com/groups/162042520574359/) |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| After putting the Linklater Holden into the fence one night, Barry got a one-off drive in the Johnny Peers Chevy II. It turned out to be a lucky break! Here he poses in the Johnny Peers Chevy II (in NZ known as the Midland Motors Chevy II) – ready to take on the world in the 1966-67 season! (Larry Taylor photo, from Australian Speedway - 67, Kenmore Press, NSW) |
A publicity shot of the car taken at the Golden View Restaurant in Bulli, a northern seaside suburb of Sydney. The restaurant was run by Johnny Peers – hence the sponsorship (i.e the "Golden View Restaurant Special"). (From http://justmidgets.homestead.com/Evolution-Car27.htm) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| No 91 on the trailer at the Golden View Restaurant about to be taken to the Royale. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/184768618290981/) |
Barry looks fierce sitting in the Peers Chevy II! When driving this car he was quite often fierce on the track as well! (https://www.facebook.com/groups/184768618290981/) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| A great shot of Barry Butterworth (#91) leading Sid Middlemass in the Wells Fiat at the Royale. Barry has number 91 crossed up as usual. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/184768618290981/) |
Clash of the titans again as Barry (#91) leads Johnny “super” Stewart at the Royale. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/184768618290981/) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Barry posing with the Chevy II at the Royale. (From http://justmidgets.homestead.com/MidgetsEvolution.html) |
Barry at speed and fighting a bit of a push at the Sydney Showgrounds. (From https://www.facebook.com/groups/184768618290981/)\ |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Barry was fast, wild and aggressive and at his most controversial in this car. Disqualifications for "over-vigorous driving" came in both Auckland and Sydney. It was great for Speedway Promoters on both sides of the Tasman! (From Speedway a go-go, Chevron, Hornsby, NSW) |
Match race at the Sydney Royale – Johnny "Super" Stewart in the ex-Hollywood Spring and Axle Offy (#98) against "Buttercrunch". Barry won. Stewart rated Barry as the wildest speedcar driver he had ever seen, but also as his toughest opposition. (Ian Smith photo, from Speedway's Sensational Sixties by Tony Loxley, Bookworks, Padstow, NSW) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Another shot from the match race. This time Barry is on the outside of Stewart as they go through the Bull Pens corner at the Royale. (From Oldtimespeedway.com/ - 1960s Speedcars - Album 2) |
Speedcar stars at the Sydney Royale, Johnny Stewart (L) and Barry Butterworth (R), pose in the pits. (Bill Meyer photo, from Australian Speedway Greats, Page Publications, Surry Hills, NSW) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Barry shipped the Chevy II back to Auckland for the first half of the 1966-67 season at Western Springs. Here he is sideways, on the gas and running hard. (Bruce Kent photo, From Western Springs Programme, 1966-67) |
"The Maistro" Ian Holden in "The Fabulous Fussell and Cartwright Offenhauser" leads "Bad Boy" Barry Butterworth in the "Fantastic Midland Motors Chevy II" at Western Springs. They were pretty evenly matched and it was a promoters dream come true! (Bruce Kent photo, From Western Springs Programme, 1966-67) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Ian Holden and Barry Butterworth in the Western Springs pits. Barry, in the Midland Motors Chevy II, was really out to beat Holden who had replaced Barry as chauffeur of the Fussell and Cartwright Offenhauser. (Bruce Kent photo, Willie Kay Collection, from One Tough Dude, The Barry Butterworth Story by Alan Batt, Speedway Classics, Alan Batt, Christchurch, NZ) |
Barry tinkers with the car between races. While in Auckland, he looked after the car. (From http://justmidgets.homestead.com/Evolution-Car27.htm) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Barry posing in the Midland Motors Chevy II on the infield at Western Springs. (Bruce Kent photo from Western Springs Programme 1966-67) |
Barry is flat-out in the Chevy II as he enters the back straight at Western Springs. (Bruce Kent photo from Western Springs Programme 1966-67) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Trevor Carnell in the Solar Holden (#2) leads Barry in the Chevy II with Ron Wanless in the Brennan Offenhauser (#76) bringing up the rear. Carnell was a veteran of many years racing and didn't appreciate Barry's wheel banging tactics. After one such exchange Barry was left fuming, stalled in the middle of the track and promoter Harley Arthur arrived with a tow truck to remove him! (Bruce Kent photo, Willie Kay Collection, from One Tough Dude, The Barry Butterworth Story by Alan Batt, Speedway Classics, Alan Batt, Christchurch, NZ) |
The Midland Motors Chevy II looks a bit second hand after a crash in the running of the 1966-67 World Championship at Western Springs. Barry was racing with a flat front tyre when Ian Holden and Ron Wanless caught him on the back straight. Wando jumped a wheel and his car was launched high into the air and hit a light pole before returning to earth. (From http://justmidgets.homestead.com/Evolution-Car27.htm) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
Barry takes the Midland Motors Chevy II (#91) down low on the Western Springs track as he goes under Ron Ross in the McGee Holden #72. |
Onlookers get into the frame as Barry is ready for action at Western Springs. |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
Back in Sydney again! Here is another spectacular colour shot of Barry in the Johnny Pears Chevy II at the Sydney Royale. |
Barry at speed in the Chevy II at the Ekka in Brisbane. |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
Barry posing with the Johnny Pears Chevy II at the Royale. He looks happy with the drive! |
Barry on the gas in the Chevy II at the Royale. |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Barry ducks down on the low side to go under Sid Middlemass in the Wells Fiat at the Royale. (Ian Smith photo, from http://justmidgets.homestead.com/KerryIngham7.htm) |
At full nose at the Royale when everyone else is trying to keep their car straight! That's Buttercrunch! George Tatnell, Bob Tattersall (#2) and Lew Marshall are behind. (From Australian Speedway-'68, Kenmore Press Pty, NSW) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Barry Butterworth in the Peers Chevy II (#91) during warm-up at the Ekka in Brisbane. (From https://www.facebook.com/anthony.loxley) |
Action from the Ekka. Barry Watt (#3) leads as Blair Shepherd (#99) (inside) and Barry Butterworth (#91) (on the outside) close in. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/998857933497796/) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Barry warming up the Johnny Pears Chevy II in Australia. During warm-up the drivers at Western Springs often used a set of cheap military surplus goggles bought from Bill Russel Motorcycles in Mt Eden Rd and only used their racing goggles and face mask during racing. Barry carried on this practice in Australia resulting in many photos of him at speed without a face mask. (From https://www.facebook.com/anthony.loxley) |
Johnny Peers pours water in the radiator of his Chevy II-powered midget (#91) while Barry Butterworth (his driver) cleans his hands as they ready the car for another start. (From https://www.facebook.com/groups/184768618290981/) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Barry ready for more fiery action in the Peers Chevy II. His wild performances in this car began the "legend of Barry B". (From Speedway Classics No 3, Dennis Newlyn, NSW) |
Barry ahead of Sid Middlemass in the Wells Fiat at the Sydney Showground. (From Oldtimespeedway.com/ - 1960s Speedcars - Album 1) |
|||||||||
| The "Riot" | ||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| (From Speedway a go-go, Chevron, Hornsby, NSW) | The official's box, and chief steward Len Steele, is surrounded by the protesting fans! (Warren Bridge photo from Ghosts in the Bull Pens by Tony Loxley and Dennis Newlyn, Full Throttle Publications, NSW) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| About one hundred young fans climbed over the fence and onto the track at the Sydney Showgrounds in protest against the disqualification of Buttercrunch after an on-track altercation with Bob Tattersall in early 1967. (From the Allan Batt collection) |
Barry asks the fans to go back over the fence – they did, but only after he was allowed to restart from the rear of the field! (From Australian Speedway-'68, Kenmore Press Pty, NSW) |
|||||||||
 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Barry, with his eyes almost closed, poses with the great Bob "two gun" Tattersall at the Ekka. Bob was the undisputed king of the dirt in Australasia in the early 60's and the man everyone wanted to beat – but very few did! (From www.vsaq.net/Rem.htm) |
Barry takes a chance and goes around the outside of Kevin Park in the little Berco Holden (#65). There is not much room to spare, but that's the way Buttercrunch drove the Peers Chevy II most of the time with spectacular results! (From Will Hancock collection; http://justmidgets.homestead.com/HancockBWP5.html) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Barry (R) posing with Johnny Stewart (L) and a trophy girl (Bill Meyer photo from Ghosts in the Bull Pens by Tony Loxley and Dennis Newlyn, Full Throttle Publications, NSW) |
Barry hot lapping the Johnny Pears Chevy II at the Royale. This photo was on the front cover of “Australian Speedway- 68”. (From Australian Speedway-‘68, Kenmore Press Pty, NSW) |
|||||||||
 |
||||||||||
| An abiding memory of the 1966-67 season in both Auckland and Sydney – Barry on the gas in the Johnny Peers Chevy II. After Barry vacated the drive Lew Marshall and then Brian Manion drove the car for Peers. Later Barry purchased the car and ran it as the Capitol Motors Chevy II. (From http://justmidgets.homestead.com/Evolution-Car27.htm) |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| After vacating the Peers Chevy II, Barry procured the ride in the Ed Dark owned "little Berco" Holden (#65) for the rest of the season. (Des Lawrence photo, from http://www.vintagespeedway.com) |
Barry, at the Royale, in the Berco Holden #65 runs wheel to wheel with Ray Oram who is driving the Linklater Holden #55. They soon became team mates in the Mackay Offies. (Ian Smith photo, from http://justmidgets.homestead.com/KerryIngham7.htm) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| A rare colour shot of Barry in the little Berco Holden at Westmead Speedway. (Des Lawrence photo from http://justmidgets.homestead.com/) |
Another great photo of Barry running the Berco hard at Westmead. Whatever car he drove it was always as fast as he could make it go! (From https://www.facebook.com/groups/184768618290981/) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Barry chases George Tatnell in the Mackay Offy. Only a few months later, Barry was piloting the Mackay Offy in place of Tatnell. (Ian Smith photo, from http://justmidgets.homestead.com/KerryIngham6.html) |
Barry B pulls away from the right-hand side of the cockpit of #65 as he slams into the tail of Bill Goode's Q5. Behind, Sid Middlemass (#54) is high in the air and Garry McClenahan (#23) is out wide. (Ian Smith photo, from http://justmidgets.homestead.com/KerryIngham6.html) |
|||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
| Ray Oram (55) leads Barry B (65) through the Bull Pens turn with Bryan Cunneen down on the pole line his Repco Holden. (Ian Smith photo, from http://justmidgets.homestead.com/KerryIngham6.html) |
Barry, crossed up as usual, leads Offenhauser-mounted Johnny Stewart through the Bull Pens turn at the Royale. (Ian Smith photo from http://justmidgets.homestead.com/KerryIngham8.html) |
|||||||||
