Early 1980s

Untitled Document

Sprintcars & Supermodifieds - Early 1980s

The first Shores Sprintcar #21

While in the USA in 1980 racing a midget, Barry purchased this Lloyd Shores-built sprintcar and shipped it back to New Zealand. It was renumbered as #21.
(From the Des Harris collection)

Barry’s two speedway cars on the infield at Western Springs at the beginning of the 1980-81 season. In the front is the Shores sprintcar and behind is the Lendich LTC midget, both numbered as #21.

The Shores sprintcar became known as the “Mercury Motors Outlaw Sprintcar” and it dominated the sprintcar class in Auckland during the 1980-81 season. The outlaw logo (on the wing and hood) was later used in promotion for the CTRA “outlaw” events.
(From http://macgor.proboards.com/thread/4168?page=2)

Barry running the Mercury Motors Outlaw Sprintcar at Te Marua. He dominated the sprintcar class in the 1980-81 season.
(From http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.120671578010445.
23574.1000020281 19128&type=3)

The stars of today wouldn't believe it – the country's best sprintcar/driver combination with an old open trailer!
(From http://macgor.proboards.com/index.cgiaction=display&board=
stockcarmia&thread=17132&page=1#199331)

And doing repairs in the car park! Looks like a nice day for it too!
(From http://macgor.proboards.com/index.cgi?
action=display&board=stockcarmia&thread=17132&page=1#199331)

The sprintcar being pushed through of the pits to the gate for the next race.
(https://www.facebook.com/barry.butterworth.21?fref=ts)

Barry explains to the Western Springs officials why it was completely the fault of the other driver and nothing to do with him! Barry was often in trouble!
(Alan Clark photo from the Marcel Facoory collection)

On the gas in the Mercury Motors Outlaw sprintcar. Barry shows the style that gave him a big reputation as NZ's premier sprintcar driver. He won the 1980-81 NZ Sprintcar Championship at Te Marua Speedway.
(From http://macgor.proboards.com/index.cgiaction=display
&board=stockcarmia&thread=17132&page=1#199331)

Barry campaigned the car in Australia in 1981 with reasonable success.
(From http://macgor.proboards.com/index.cgiaction
=display&board=stockcarmia&thread=17132&page=1#199331)

Rob Worthington takes a big dump at Parramatta as Barry passes by. It was action like this that made sprintcar racing such a big hit in Australia.
(From Oldtimespeedway.com/ - 1970s Sprintcars)

Barry Butterworth runs at Parramatta City Raceway during the 1981 season.
(http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?
fbid=439623589402138&set=a.337410902956741.
85608.337376802960151&type=1&theater)

By chance, or more likely through talent, three top Sydney midget drivers of the 60's are on the podium for a sprintcar feature in 1981 at Parramatta. Garry Rush (M) led home George Tatnell (R) with Barry B (L) third in the Mercury Motors Outlaw car.
(Lance Wilson collection, from One Tough Dude, The Barry Butterworth Story by Alan Batt, Speedway Classics, Alan Batt, Christchurch, NZ)

Barry only appeared the sprintcar at Western Springs towards the end of the 1981-82 season. For most of the season he was struggling with a badly broken arm sustained in a midget crash.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

Hard on the throttle on full opposite lock – a typical pose for Barry in the sprintcar.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

Barry in the pits working on the Chevy motor in the Mercury Motors sprintcar.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

On the power in the sprintcar at Western Springs. He was still highly competitive in the car.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

Hooked up and at speed at Western Springs Stadium.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

Barry has the sprintcar humming at Ruapuna at the end of the 1881-82 season. He took the sprintcar to Christchurch and put on a good show.
(Brian Hopping photo, from One Tough Dude, The Barry Butterworth Story by Alan Batt, Speedway Classics, Alan Batt, Christchurch, NZ)

Barry (#21) at Ruapuna in 1981-82 chasing Selwyn Everett (#1) with Roger Gleeson on the outside.
(http://www.facebook.com/photo.phpfbid=497029417006678&set=a.
314273251948963.74558.157894084253548&type=3&theater)

Another shot of Barry on the gas in the Phillip Mills-sponsored VHT "Outlaw Sprintcar". Phillip Mills was later to become a well-known owner of midgets and sprintcars at Ruapuna.
(Graham Witherill collection from http://www.facebook.com/photo.
phpfbid=497035907006029&set=pb.157894084253548.
2207520000.1361406568&type=3&theater)

Back at Western Springs and Barry is driving hard in the Mercury Motorsoutlaw sprintcar.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

Barry poses in the car in the car in the fading light on a Western Springs summers evening in the 1982-83 season. The car now has Autex Snooper sponsorship as did the new Alach V4 midget.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

Foot to the floor as usual, with the rear tyres smoking, Barry blasts around Western Springs in the fading light of a Saturday evening.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

A pensive Barry Butterworth sitting on the rear wheel of the Autex Snooper sprintcar on the infield at Western Springs. While no longer the Outlaw sprintcar, the "outlaw" image on the top wing is still clearly visable!
(Alan Clark photo from the Marcel Facoory collection)

Barry thunders down the back straight at Western Springs with Kevin McGreal beside him and Tony Allen in behind.
(Mungo Lloyd photo from https://www.facebook.com/groups/1413821385528211/)

Barry lets the V8 motor have its head as he runs around Western Springs at speed in 1982-83.
(Photo from Speedway Spectacular by Ian Abrahams and Colin Irwin, Lodestar Press, Auckland, New Zealand, 1983)

A relaxed Barry Butterworth sits on the rear wheel of the Autex Snooper #21 in the evening sun.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz)

Barry being pushed off in sprintcar #21 at the Springs in the 1982-83 season.
(From the Des Harris collection)

Barry at full speed in the Shores sprintcar burning up the dirt at Western Springs.
(From the Des Harris collection)

Barry at Western Springs in 1882-83. He won one sprintcar feature at the Springs that year as well as the North Island Sprintcar Championship held at palmerston North.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

Baz is running the Shores sprintcar on the inside of Roger Bertrum in the CAE Chev 302 at Ruapuna. The old transverse front spring, CRC-sponsored CAE sprintcar was the top car in NZ during the late 70's and Roger won the NZ Sprintcar Championship in it in 1977-78, 78-79 and 79-80. Barry's imported four bar Shore's car rendered Roger's car somewhat obsolete although he continued to race it through the 1980-81, 81-82 and 82-83 (above) seasons before converting it into a modified.
(Brian Hopping photo, from One Tough Dude, The Barry Butterworth Story by Alan Batt, Speedway Classics, Alan Batt, Christchurch, NZ)

Barry runs on the inside of local Christchurch driver Selwyn Everett in the ex-Gleeson Hank Henry-built Sprintcar at Ruapuna Park. Everett is carrying #1 as the 1981-82 NZ Sprintcar Champion.
(Brian Hopping photo, from the Allan Batt collection)

New Zealands two top sprintcar drivers, Roger Gleeson in the CRC-sponsored car and Barry B in the Snooper-sponsored car locked together at Ruapuna in 1982-83. They needed a tow truck to prise them apart!
(Brian Hopping photo, from One Tough Dude, The Barry Butterworth Story by Alan Batt, Speedway Classics, Alan Batt, Christchurch, NZ)

For the 1983-84 season the sprintcar appeared in red, white and blue Autex Snooper livery.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

On Christmas Eve, 1983, Barry crashed the sprintcar on the front straight at Western Springs after tangling with Kevin McGreal. It took a huge effort over Christmas to repair it.
(http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?
fbid=322893257753629&set=pb.157894084253548.-2207520000.
1355107677&type=3&theatre)

Another shot demonstrating just how hard the crash really was. Fortunately Barry escaped without injury.
(From Australian Speedway Star, January, 1984)

Barry on the gas at Western Springs in the Autex Snooper sprintcar.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

A spectacular Colin Irwin shot of Barry Butterworth at Kihikihi performing a wheel stand down the front straight.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

A great shot of Barry in the Autex sprintcar taken from the outside of the track.
(Colin Irwin photo from the Des Harris collection)

Ian Abrahams (#99), with the inside front wheal lifting off the ground, leads Barry B (#21) at Kihikihi.
(From https://www.facebook.com/ian.abrahams.148/media_set?
set=a.120945781309157.19935.100001812088401&type=3)

Barry has theAutex Snooper sprintcarhauling during his 1983-84 visit to Ruapuna Park Speedway.

Stan Smith interviews Barry and presents him with a trophy at Ruapuna Park Speedway.
(From https://www.facebook.com/groups/376664865750040/photos/)

Barry has #21 at speed in a daylight meeting at Ruapuna Park Speedway in the 1983-84 season.
(Brian Hopping photo from the Allan Batt collection)

Barry ran just as hard in a sprintcar as he did in a midget. Here he tries an "inside pass" on arch rival Roger Gleeson at Ruapuna Park during the 1983-84 season. Gleeson had a Gambler chassis with an imported alloy block Donovan motor and on his home track of Ruapuna he was top-dog and pretty hard to beat.
(Brian Hopping photo, from One Tough Dude, The Barry Butterworth Story by Alan Batt, Speedway Classics, Alan Batt, Christchurch, NZ)

The two top sprintcar drivers in New Zealand in the early 1980's, Roger Gleeson (L) and Barry B (R) get together in the pits.
(Brian Hopping photo, from One Tough Dude, The Barry Butterworth Story by Alan Batt, Speedway Classics, Alan Batt, Christchurch, NZ)

Australian visitor Bob Blacklaw (L) and Barry Butterworth (R) about to be pushed off at Ruapuna Park Speedway.
(Alan Clark photo from the Marcel Facoory collection)

Barry B in the Autex Snooper sprintcar leads Bob Blacklawin the Bar’s Leaks car at Ruapuna.
(Alan Clark photo from the Marcel Facoory collection)

Barry racing in the daylight meeting for the NZ Sprintcar Championship at Ruapuna.
(Alan Clark photo from the Marcel Facoory collection)

The NZ Championship was won by Roger Gleason (two wins and a second) from Barry (two seconds and a win). Here Barry takes his heat win with Roger Gleason following closely for second.
(Alan Clark photo from the Marcel Facoory collection)

Placegetters in the 1983-84 New Zealand Sprintcar Championship held at Ruapuna Park. (L) Barry B second, (M) Roger Gleeson first, (R) Kevin Burt third.
(Brian Hopping photo from the Allan Batt collection)

Prior to the running of the NZ Sprintcar Championship at Ruapuna Park in 1983-84, Barry increased the height of the left side-plate on the wing (see above). Here he is in the car later in the season at Western Springs.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

Barry ready to be pushed off on the infield at Western Springs.
(http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?
fbid=2063191695405&set=pb.1113096960.2207520000.
1360571877&type=3&theater)

Barry on full opposite lock and charging hard. A Colin Irwin photo that really captures some spectacular Barry B sprintcar action.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

In an article on NZ Speedway in "Open Wheel" in November 1984 (the premier USA speedway magazine of the time) this picture appeared with the caption "now that's a crowd". Driving down the front straight at Western Springs is none other than Barry B himself in sprintcar #21.
(Murray Job photo, from Open Wheel November, 1984)

The above picture appeared in the same Open Wheel article with the caption "the legendary Barry Butterworth". The article states that Barry wouldn't be Barry without his ever-present cigarette and that he apparently maintained an adequate vitamin supply by drinking substantial quantities of Lion Red beer! Probably not far from the truth!
(Murray Job photo, from Open Wheel November, 1984)

Barry at speed in the car. He notched up four sprintcar feature wins at Western Springs during the 1983-84 season.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

Barry has the sprintcar really crossed up at Western Springs. At the end of the 1983-84 season Barry sold the car to Noel Goodwin.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

A VHT advertisement featuring Barry B in the Autex Snooper sprintcar printed in the Stan Smith-produced magazine New Zealand Speedway Magazine, June 1985.

Barry leads Tony Allen in a sprintcar race at the first Kumeu Easter meeting in 1984.
(From the Allan Batt collection)

The Shores sprintcar being pushed into the pits at Kumeu for the 1984 Easter meeting.
(Alan Clark photo from the Marcel Facoory collection)

A very unusual angle of Barry racing the sprintcar at Kumeu.The wing is doing its job as the car squats on the track!
(https://www.facebook.com/barry.butterworth.21?fref=ts) )

Barry B with his foot to the floor running hard at Kumeu. Note the very large crowd on hand.
(Alan Clark photo from the Marcel Facoory collection)

The Second Shores Sprintcar #21

Barry B purchased a sprintcar in the US during the 1984 winter. He drove it mainly in non-winged events and his US sprintcar campaign was very much a learning experience.
(Des Harris collection from One Tough Dude, The Barry Butterworth Story by Alan Batt, Speedway Classics, Alan Batt, Christchurch, NZ)

Barry has his sprintcar up to speed on a high banked dirt track up in the states.
(From the Des Harris collection)

On occasions Barry also ran the car in winged events in the USA.
(From the Des Harris collection)

Flat out without a wing! Barry running hard in the USA in the sprintcar.
(From the Des Harris collection)

While in the USA Barry had a new sprintcar built by Lloyd Shores. He used this car towards the end of his racing season and then shipped it back to New Zealand. Here he is seen racing the Shores car in the States at a winged sprintcar event.
(From the Carmichael Collection)

In New Zealand the car was resprayed in black livery and it was sponsored by Autex Snooper, as was his last car. Here he is seen in the car on the infield at Western Springs.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

The car was beautifully prepared and looked a treat in the black and gold colour scheme. Barry ran this second Shores car at the Springs for the first few meetings of the 1984-85 season. He was devastatingly fast and very spectacular until he blew the 406 ci alloy block motor.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

Barry slips through on the inside of Ian Abrahams in the Truth-sponsored #99 at Western Springs.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

Another Colin Irwin shot of Barry in the Autex Snooper #21, this time out near the cushion. After a trip over to Australia, Barry returned to race at Western Springs for the rest of the season.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

Barry has the big black car on full opposite lock going into Town bend at Western Springs.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

Barry chases Lyndon Kendall (#12) hard at Western Springs. Tony Allen (#5) and Ian Abrahams (#99) are in behind. He really put on a great show during the few meetings he ran the the black "Snooper" car in Auckland.
(Colin Irwin photo, from One Tough Dude, The Barry Butterworth Story by Alan Batt, Speedway Classics, Alan Batt, Christchurch)

At times Barry was extraordinarily fast in this car. In the NZ Championship he was disqualified in the first heat for losing a muffler. In the second heat he started from the back of the field and was in the lead by the end of the second lap! He blew the motor soon after!
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

Barry checking tyre pressures in the pits at Western Springs.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/)

Barry shipped the car to Australia for a short Aussie campaign which was not greatly successful. His major problem was the lack of a good motor. Through no fault of his, the motor he leased was by no means the best money could buy.
(From:http://macgor.proboards.com/index.cgi?
action=display&board=stockcarmia&thread=8358&page=1#96516)

On the gas in the Shores sprintcar on his short 1984-85 Aussie tour.
(From:http://macgor.proboards.com/index.cgi?
action=display&board=stockcarmia&thread=17132&page=1#199331)

Barry and crew in the pits in Australia wondering what to do next to get the leased motor to run fully competively.
(Dave Flaherty collection from One Tough Dude, The Barry Butterworth Story by Alan Batt, Speedway Classics, Alan Batt, Christchurch, NZ)

Barry B sits in the Shores sprintcar and smokes a cigarette at the 1985 Warrnambool classic while the crew make final adjustments to that motor.
(Tony Loxley photo, from Full Throttle. Images of Australian Speedway 1970-2009 by Tony Loxley, Renniks Publications, Banksmeadow, NSW, 2009)

Barry B (L) poses in the pits at Parramatta in front of his sprintcar with Queenslander Bob Kelly (M) and American Danny Smith (R ).
(Wayne Meyer photo from One Tough Dude, The Barry Butterworth Story by Alan Batt, Speedway Classics, Alan Batt, Christchurch, NZ)

Here is a stunning Tony Loxley photo of Barry Butterworth at Warrnambool, Australia, with the second Shores sprintcar.
(Tony Loxley photo from https://www.facebook.com/anthony.loxley?pnref=story)

Back at Western Springs and Barry pauses to pose for Alan Clark’s camera as he checks the stagger on the sprintcar.
(Alan Clark photo from the Marcel Facoory collection)