Merv Hardy..... midget cars and more

This blog picks up where I finished the previous story of my grandfather Merv Hardy. In this blog I will cover the period when Merv was active in speedway as both a driver and car builder. This story includes the involvement in speedway racing of Merv's son, my uncle Ray Hardy. Ray's son John has researched and written a comprehensive account of these years. My grateful thanks to John for his extensive work and for allowing me to reference his work and the many treasured images. My thanks also to Ray Hardy's brother David for his contributions through the meticulous research of the Hardy family which he has conducted over many years.

The photograph above is of a painting by Dawson Donaldson showing Merv winning a special veteran's race held at Western Springs in 1952.

I am privileged to have the trophy presented to Merv for his Veterans's win currently in my safe keeping- see photo below.

The 1952 event capped a career in speedway for Merv that dated from its beginnings at Gloucester Park in 1935. He had as many as 5 midgets racing together in the 1952- 53 season and in 1955 had a team of 3 stock cars (Hudson Terraplanes) entered at Western Springs. He was racing in one of these himself "just for fun". Son Ray was driving one of the others.

Merv was in great company with many other well known drivers as a member of the NZ Midget Drivers Association and he served on its committee in 1949-50 as evidenced by the photo below.

Speedway's Beginnings

As early as 1928 the first oval speedway track was built at Mangere by George Henning. George leased land that was part of the Mangere Mountain volcanic system and adjoined the Pukaki Lagoon. This made a natural amphitheatre that was readily developed into an oval race track suitable for cars and motor bikes. Merv along with his mates Gerry Mathieson and George Smith added the Henning Speedway as a new place to race the cars they had raced on Muriwai Beach.

Hennings had only a short life span of some 11 meetings over the period between 1928 and 1934. It was replaced in 1935 by Gloucester Park which was built over a tip in Onehunga.

In 1935 Merv, Gerry and George who had followed the development of midget cars in the USA decided to build what became the first of the midgets raced in New Zealand. Harry Chambers describes these cars in his book Cinders To Clay as follows.

"George Smith built a midget powered by a Harley Davidson motor bike engine. This car became known as Tom Thumb.

Meanwhile Gerry Mathieson who was becoming well known as the driver of a successful Miller engined car ... had built the Auto Parts Special using an Elto outboard engine as the power plant.

Merv Hardy ... teamed up with Reg Dickens and constructed a midget special from plans drawn up by American Ray Kuns. When finished they dropped in a Henderson motor bike engine. "

It is thought that the above car built by Merv is the car that was raced as number 15 by Merv's son Ray. Harry Chambers writes that the car is known to have been sold to the Driver brothers who rebuilt it and dropped in a Willys 77 engine. In the 1944 season opening meeting Ray Hardy is reported as driving car 15 "last driven by Ces Driver".

Ray Hardy in car 15. In this photo the car looks to be in its original form but will have the Willys engine. Later photos see the removal of the iron bars in front of the radiator. The radiator was also changed and positioned further back in relation to the front axle.

These cars were put on display at the opening of Gloucester Park in 1935 and appeared again at Western Springs in December 1935. The first race meeting at Western Springs was on December 25th 1937. A team of five Americans raced along with two Australians. Gerry Mathieson was the only New Zealand Midget driver to race that night. He won his heat and became the first NZ speedway race driver to win a proper midget car race.

George intended racing his Tom Thumb but it would not start on the night. Harry Chambers makes no mention of Merv's car. I assume it was not entered.

Gerry Mathieson's car above and also in the line-up below. The Elto outboard engines were popular for midgets because they were a light weight (91 lbs) 4 cylinder that was capable of generating around 60 HP. The compression ratio could be increased to 10:1 and a fuel mix of 82% methanal, 10% Benzol and 8% Castor Oil used to significantly increase power.

Merv's move to Wellington

By around 1937 Merv had ceased working for Laidlaw Leeds/Farmers. There had been a falling out with Mr Laidlaw and Merv decided it was time to move on from the firm he had joined at age 16. He took up a job at Magnus Motors in Auckland and then was offered a job in Wellington at the Ford Assembly plant in Seaview that had opened in 1936.

This was a time of upheaval for the young Hardy family. The time in Wellington proved difficult financially and created considerable tensions between Merv and Lillian. By 1939 Merv had left Ford after deciding that life as a foreman in the assembly plant was not for him. WW2 began with the official declaration on 2 September 1939. Jobs were not easy to find in Wellington and the family returned to Auckland.

Merv's Gittos St Parnell Business

It was around this time that Merv became serious about having his own motor business. He ran a business called SOS Service Station at 2 Great South Rd in 1940. In 1941 he had a motor business at 150 Beach Rd and around 1942 started his very successful used car and wrecking business in Gittos St Parnell- see photos below.

This first photo which is an early image of Gittos St - now known as Parnell Rise- helps in establishing the location of Merv Hardy's business. He was at two addresses according to the Wises Directory of 1946. Stanley St can be seen running to the right of Gittos St just beyond the building for Hoiland Bros Engineers. Merv started his business at 31 Gittos St which is on that corner. He later extended into 17 Gittos St which is the building on the near side of Hoiland Bros.

From my conversations with a member of the Auckland Vintage Car Club who was familiar with Merv's yards at Gittos St from his younger days, I gather Merv had a number of vehicles for sale and undertook some dismantling at the site on the corner. He conducted the parts business from the building at 17.

The photo above shows the front of the business at 17 Gittos St -clearly numbered to the left of the main door. Leaning on the doorway with hands in pockets and cigarette in his mouth is a young Ray Hardy.

It is thought that these photos were taken in connection with the first midget car race being held at Blandford Park. Note the advertisement pasted on the front window under the large number 17. During the 1945-46 racing season a small group of drivers including Merv and Ray decided to run meetings themselves instead of just relying on promotors such as George Smith who ran Western Springs. This group made a semi-banked track around the soccer grounds at Blandford Park in Stanley St. Unfortunately the dry dirt track proved to be dusty and hence unpopular with the fans. The location of the track in Stanley St near Merv's business would have been very convenient for Merv and Ray and their mates.

In the photo below, probably taken on the same day, Ray is standing by his car 15. To the right is Pee Wee Anderson standing by car 9 and to the left is F Brennan by car 8. Merv Hardy is probably the man in the white coat standing behind Ray.

Below is another photo taken on the same day. Note the two young guys wearing work aprons are in both photos.

The photo below also at Gittos St was taken in connection with a meeting held at Olympic Speedway on 25th March 1950. Car 39 was driven at that meeting by Lex Wilson from Palmerston North. Ray Hardy drove as a reserve for the Palmerston North team. He and Merv had raced at Palmerston North on several occasions. Ray is on the extreme left and Merv is in the middle wearing a tie and braces.

Ray Hardy- speedway prodigy

The above magnificent action photo is of Ray blasting up an inside line

at Huntly in 1945 aged 16.

In his book Cinders to Clay Harry Chambers writes about the NZ Championship race at Morrinsville for the 1945-46 season won by Ray Hardy:

"The NZ Championship event was longest Midget Car race ever to have been held up to that time in New Zealand and was about to produce a star that staggered some people and surprised many boffins of the day. This meeting had attracted most of the Auckland drivers, including some of the now notable Guns. The 25 lap event was won quite convincingly by novice Ray Hardy who had only just turned 17 years of age. He surprised everybody with his tenacity and determination and had only started racing the previous year at age 15. Now he was top of the heap and had become the youngest driver to win a feature event at 16 years of age and is to this day the youngest driver at 17 years of age to ever win a NZ Midget Championship.

Ray had suddenly turned into a celebrity and folk were trying to get a glimpse of the driver we could now perhaps call a prodigy. I heard seasoned Ted Sutherland who came home in 2nd place calling for a photographer and saying "I want a photo with this kid, let me shake his hand.". I have kept that photo and still have it today. Ray standing there with a cigarette dangling from his lips, looking like the original Mr Cool. The third place was won by popular character Pee Wee Anderson."

Below is the photo mentioned above by Harry

The period of 1944 through to around 1950 is when Merv and Ray made regular appearances at the various speedway tracks that operated in the north island. Western Springs is the longest surviving Auckland based track but there was also Blandford Park in Stanley St, Sarawai Park/Olympic Park in Newmarket, Huntly West which ran as an alternative to Morrinsville Domain on alternate weekends and Gloucester Park. A keen bunch of Auckland drivers even travelled as far as Palmerston North to race. This included Ray and Merv. Cars were either put on a train or driven down on trailers.

Merv owned numerous midgets over the years. It is hard to be precise about the number as midget cars naturally underwent modifications to improve speed or as a result of breakages. Cars were also lent to various drivers from time to time. I have included below a selection of photos of the cars we know were driven by Merv and Ray.

Merv and pit crew at Olympic Park. Merv and Ray are both recorded as having driven this car at Olympic Stadium. The father and son duo often shared cars at a meeting.

Merv in 22 at Olympic Park in 1949. He won the first midget race held at Olympic Park in this car.

Merv in 22 working hard to get around Snow Morris in 3.

Number 22 was bought by Merv from driver Max Hughes and was raced at Olympic by both Merv and Ray. Harry Chambers writes that in the fifth meeting of 1949 with Ray driving, this car... "threw a rod out of the side of the block which looked like a volcanic eruption for a few seconds as hot oil and steam and boiling water spewed out with smoke."

Max Hughes had taken car 22 to Australia in March 1946 and with it won the "1946 Worlds Championship Derby" beating the top Aussie drivers of the time.

Ray in car 15, his NZ Championship midget.

Ray with his younger brother Denis with pit crew member Eric Kidd and his daughter. Eric can be seen in some other photos of Ray and Merv's crew. He also drove one of the Hardy Hopper Stock Cars.

Ray and crew. I believe it is Eric Kidd in the white overalls.

Ray looking very young and cool.

Ray in car 15 at Western Springs.

Merv in car 17.

Car 65 being driven by Merv above and car 66 shown in the photos below are the same midget. The photos below were taken by me at Gordon McIsaacs Speedway Museum and are of the midget originally built and driven by Des Herrick. This car appeared in the hands of various drivers over the years and with variations on its number and colour of its paint work. Harry Chambers writes that it appeared at the Springs in 1948-9 with Roly Crowther at the wheel and painted white with number 65. He also says it appeared at Sarawai/Olympic Park for a few meetings with Roly and then Merv driving it. The board at Gordon McIsaacs museum which describes the car lists Merv as one of its drivers.

The restoration means we get to see a very good example of one of these early midgets in pristine condition.

Hardy's Stock Cars

Being an entrepreneurial businessman Merv saw the benefit in the promotion of his business through stock car racing when it arrived at the Springs. The press article below mentions that Merv has moved from Gittos St and is now at West End Motors.

A search through Wises Directories for the period 1948 to 1955 has revealed that Merv bought West End Motors around 1952. It had been operated by J.E. Starr prior to this date. By 1953 Merv no longer had the Gittos St business and was listed at both West End Motors located at 154 Ponsonby Rd and next door at 156 Ponsonby Rd where he had another wrecking and parts business.

The photos below are of a Hardy's Hopper- obviously a bit worse for wear. These stock cars were known as Rock N Rollers and the hoop frames meant they could be deliberately rolled over many times until suffering so much damage they could not keep moving. Shows featuring these cars were held at Epsom Showgrounds. Good advertising for Merv's business.

My thanks to ex-stock car driver Kevin McIvor who provided me with these and other pictures of historic stock car racing.

Hardy Hoppers number 12 being turned back onto its wheels.

The 1956 N Z Grand Prix Meeting

The 1956 Grand Prix meeting at Ardmore featured a special race of veteran cars -being vehicles manufactured before 1916. This event was was organised by George Giltrap. George had a collection of vintage and veteran cars which he displayed in a then relatively new car museum. It has been suggested he approached the Ardmore Organising Committee to hold this event as it provided good publicity for his museum. Some years later he relocated the museum to Queensland Australia.

George approached anyone in the North Island who had a mobile veteran car to enter the event and eventually had around 22 entries, including four cars owned by Merv.

Below is the trophy presented to Merv Hardy for achieving 2nd place with his 1914 Buick driven by his good friend Charlie Faithful. Many thanks to David Hardy for allowing me to currently have this trophy in my possession.

A few years ago I made contact with Barry Birchall from the Auckland Veteran and Vintage Car Club. Barry had written an article about the 1956 NZ Grand Prix event for the June 2018 car club magazine The Bulletin. I was able to visit the club premises at Penrose and meet with Barry and some other club members. This included Barry Roberts who had written an article for the Bulletin about early motoring businesses.

Barry Roberts remembered Merv well from having bought parts from him both at Gittos St when Barry was a young school boy and at Avondale when he was older. He mentioned how Merv had a favourite way of pricing items by saying "This is what we normally get for one of these." Invariably that was the price that one paid.

The club rooms in Penrose have the items below on display. These consist of a copy of an article from the Auckland Star dated 8 August 1980 in which Merv has been photographed standing outside his yard at St Jude St Avondale. He is showing a work neighbour a photo of him taken with the Farmers Bus when he worked at Laidlaw Leeds as a very young man. In the next item down Merv has hand written details of the bus. This information was more clearly recorded on the subsequent photo. I particularly like the photo of Merv at the age of 80 and looking in pretty good shape.

I took along the 1956 Veterans Race Cup cup. This excited the club members who were present, as it is one of the oldest cups that is connected to the club. They were very pleased that it has been well looked after.

Merv's involvement in the Ardmore event came about because he had acquired a number of veteran and vintage cars over the years from people who wanted to sell them or give them away. The four cars he entered into the event were from his collection. They were a 1913 Talbot, 1915 Buick, 1913 Minerva and 1910 Twombly.

I have no photos or information on the Minerva. Below is what I know about the other cars.

The 1913 Talbot

The Talbot is now in the ownership of George Mihaljevich. George bought the Talbot from Merv many years ago when it was sitting in his yard at Avondale in a very run down state. Barry Birchall gave me a phone number and address for George and encouraged me to visit him as soon as possible given George is not a young man.

Below is a photo of George taken at his house in Ponsonby alongside the very beautiful Talbot. This is one of several amazing cars sitting in George's garage.

The Talbot has a very good engine and in George's opinion it would have easily won the Ardmore race. He believes this is why George Giltrap influenced the race marshalls to disallow it and some of the other cars entered by Merv.

The Talbot was at one stage a delivery van for Corbans wines- George gave me the copy of the photo below which shows this.

George in his amazing garage full of cars and bits. He has run a radiator repair business from his home for many years and still does the odd repair job for his mates.

The photos below were taken at a meeting of the Veteran & Vintage Car Club held at Waiuku. The Talbot was driven down by Jack Nazer who is a very long standing friend of George and who also new Merv. Jack was also in the car wrecking and parts business and was a very well known saloon car racer- best known for his fast-back Anglia. In the photo below Jack is at the wheel and George is busy consulting his navigation notes.

The Talbot needs to be hand cracked to start it. That is also Jack's job.

The photo below shows off the very smart "boat-tail" on the Talbot.

The 1910 Twombley

This car is now owned by an Australian Merv Kroll. It sits in his museum in Queensland. It is reputed to be one of only four Twombleys left in the world. It seems that Merv sold the car to George Giltrap around 1959 and Giltrap took it to Queensland for his car museum. According to Kroll, Merv Hardy had bought the car around 1930 and it had just sat in his yards for many years.

As can be seen from the above photo the Twombly has two seats one behind the other. Hence it is called a "cycle car". It has a 4 cylinder engine of some 12-15 horse power driving the rear axle via a chain. The gear box has 6 forward and 2 reverse gears.

The photo below is thought to be Ray Hardy driving the Twombly in a hill climb event. At the time it seems the car did not have a steering wheel. It appears a wrench attached to the steering shaft is being used. There also seems to be a lack of much of the body work.

The 1915 Buick

So far I have very little information on this car. It was in good shape at the Ardmore event as can be seen in the photo below. It was in fact the only one of the cars entered by Merv that was allowed to compete in the race. The others were disqualified by the scrutineers because they were in poor condition and did not have correct period bodies. Merv had done a rough job of patching up the old cars in order to get them to the event but not to the standard that satisfied Giltrap.

Barry Birchall's account records that Merv had a major falling out with Giltrap over the disqualification of his cars and said he would never again take part in any Auckland Vintage & Veteran Car Club event.

The photo below shows the Buick in the Ardmore race with Merv's good friend Charlie Faithful driving and Ray Hardy in the passenger seat.

I have added a video here. The white Buick can be seen three cars in from the right side. The video was obtained by making a recording on my phone as the film footage was played at the Vintage Car Club rooms.

The photo below of Merv and Ray Hardy is not dated. However my guess is that it is from around the mid 1950s. I think it is a fine record of the father and son who together enjoyed a great period of midget car racing.

"Hillman Hardy"

When Merv finally retired from his car wrecking business located at St Judes St Avondale at the grand age of 82 an article was published in the Western Leader- see below.

This article provides a nice summary in Merv's own words of his long career in the motor industry and his involvement in motor racing.

Merv had moved his place of residence from 83 Ivanhoe Rd, Grey Lynn to 1196 New North Rd around 1949. His Ponsonby Rd business was closed down at some stage in the mid 1950s and he then used the large section on New North Rd for wrecking until he acquired the premises at St Jude St.

Merv and Lilian had separated during the 1940s and very sadly Lilian died in 1958. Merv remarried in 1959 to Thelma Ruston who died in 1961. His third marriage was to Ruth (known as Ruby) Valance who died in 1978.

Merv and his fourth wife Edna enjoyed retirement on Waiheke Island and when Merv passed away in 1986 he was buried at the Waiheke Island Cemetery. Edna passed in 1994.

The Waiheke Island cemetery is not far from a dirt track used regularly by a Waiheke Island dirt track racing club. I have attended a couple of their race meetings when holidaying on the Island. It is appropriate that Merv remains close to the sounds of cars racing around a dirt track.

The above photo shows Merv's business in St Judes St Avondale. For many years in my youth I rather hoped I could persuade Merv to let me have the little sports car sitting on his yard roof. I never did get around to following up on this!

The poem below was written by one of Merv's old mates Charlie Goldberg. I think he has done a great job of capturing the spirit of Merv's later years at St Judes St. It is how I remember it.