BLUE HAZE ON THE TRACK
Acouple of months ago, we featured some DKWS owned by North Islander John Farmer. Here, we look at an ongoing project car from the deep south of New Zealand.
A distinctive car racing at Teretonga Park raceway some years ago was a small yellow and white F12 DKW / Auto Union sedan campaigned by Invercargill’s Crosbies Garage. Scottish driver and 1963 and 1965 Formula 1 champion Jim Clark raced one of these cars early in his career.
Compared with its opposition at the time, the little car went quite well, its tiny twostroke screaming its way around the track. Southlander Eric Mcpherson searched out the ex-crosbie ‘Deek’ and began the job that has resulted in this impressive restoration.
“I found the car in Milton in 1990. I approached the guy and he sold it to me,” Eric recounts.
The seller also invited Eric to look at the large collection of parts that he had stored away. Flush with spares, Eric brought the DKW home, determined to return it back to exactly as it had been when raced by Brian Crosbie.
The DKW had had a few modifications, such as widened steel wheel rims. To get better handling, the rear trailing arms had been reversed and some ‘interesting’ alterations had been made — although the car retained its characteristic wheel-lifting attitude in tight corners. Eric stripped the car right out and sandblasted the chassis. The body was in good shape, with just a few areas of rust requiring attention. However, there was a difficulty in getting the engine completed.
“I had a problem getting bearings for the crankshaft,” Eric mentions. “The DKWS were very popular in South Africa, so I rang Johnies DKW Centre, in Johannesburg, which is well known for parts, and got the bits. I managed to find the original block, had a copy made, and basically we went racing.”
The car struggled in current classic races, with a lot less power than many competitors.
Eric explains: “Mine is just 900cc, with a column change, four-speed gearbox, and inboard front disc brakes. You need bigger discs to stop, as there’s not much engine braking with a two-stroke. They are very reliable, though, and I’ve heard of some motors doing 100,000 miles — that’s good for a two-stroke.”