ALAN BOYLE ON BARRY PHILLIPS
“I didn’t race against Barry Phillips until the 1967–1968 season, which was the first season of the new Group 5 regulations, and we both contested the 0–1000cc class. The racing was affordable and super-competitive as there were usually around 30 cars on the grid. I quickly found Barry to be a fierce competitor and a hard guy to beat, as well as some of the name drivers of the time including Clyde Collins and Graham Watson. Some of the race finishes were so close anybody could have won and Barry was usually in the mix.
“Barry raised the stakes somewhat when he fronted with his new Mini nicely painted up in Cambridge Racing Team colours with an ex-Alec Poole Arden engine. Everybody then had to up their game with more up-and-coming drivers featuring, such as Rod Collingwood, Reg Cook, Peter Sharp and Jim Richards. Again, the racing was hard but Barry was a very clean driver to race against when things got a bit too close.
“Eventually, I changed classes to campaign my ‘Coke’ Vauxhall Viva GT but still remained involved with Barry through the rejuvenated New Zealand Racing Drivers’ Club. There was some consternation with MANZ proposing to change regulations, including scrapping the 0-1000cc class in favour of a 0–1300cc class, so a group of us got together and elected Barry our President and spokesman. The group formed included Red Dawson, David Oxton, Garry Pedersen, Rod Coppins, Barry and myself. Barry did an excellent job with his negotiating and resistance to some changes, and MANZ agreed to many of our concerns.
“Another great memory was the NZRDC forming the Dogbox Club that was predominantly run by the drivers’ wives, including my wife Margaret, and through this we became good close friends with Barry (who was President) and Jeanette. It was a great social time with Kath Fahey, Fay Richards and Margaret all volunteering to raise money for safety equipment and the Fire Boss. We were devastated when Jeanette died suddenly last year, as were many of the motorsport community.
“One enduring memory for me was Barry and Jeanette arriving at Baypark for a race meeting. I used to call the place ‘Dust Park’ and when the Phillips family arrived their three children were always immaculately clean and well dressed. Within a couple of hours, they were as dusty as the rest of us and spent a lot of time around my pit area – not so much because of me but because they always knew where they could score a free bottle of Coke!!!
“With his contribution to and success in motor racing together with the NZRDC and the Dogbox Club, I have always held Barry in total respect and am pleased to always catch up with him as an old friend – and a really good racing driver.”
Alan Boyle, Wattle Downs, Auckland