Hello everyone

[Donald Webster]

Well, I've been aware of this site for a while and that I have been talked about a lot.  Kind of spooky.  I have been a francophile for 44 years as best i can recall.  Quick version.  I hope this is accurate. My great grandfather Josaih (JD) Webster, became a shareholder in Campbell Motors in 1924 and later a director.  Then his son, my grandfather "TC" Webster took over the shareholding of his father and also became a director.  During TC's time they got the Peugeot franchise in 1952 and imported the 203 then 403 and 404 etc. My father, Blair, bought more shares off one of the other shareholders, Les Bedford and became a director.  Les' brother, Vic "VH" Bedford also had shares which were later taken over by his son Hugo. TCs shares passed to his 3 children, including my father and his sister and brother.  In 1967 Campbells took over the Renault franchise from Smallbones. TC died in 1968.  In 1975 Challenge Corporation bought Campbells and my father retained the Peugeot, Renault, Daihatsu and AMC Jeep in a new company Motorworld.  Motorworld relenquished its franchises and became a property company in 1981.  Father bought a 404 Familiale in 1963. He had the first 504 in NZ in 1968 and a succession of them until 1978 when he got a 604, and he had a couple of them. My first car was a half share with my brother in a Fiat 500 that we bought off my grandmother.  We sold that and bought a 1968 R10 roll over wreck and rebuilt it. Then we had a succession of R8s and R10s then R12s sedans and wagons.  I bought an R12TL, FQ2183, that had been written off when really new, rebuilt by Campbells and used as the service manger's car, then raced in the 1972 B&H 500 and used as the workshop hack after that. It was virtually buggered when I got it, but nevertheless I got a 531 grind on the cam from Spears, cut off the old inlet manifold and brazed a new manifold onto it for a 40 Weber.  It would be dead to 3000 rpm then viciously spin its wheels until it got traction.  It was very crude.  I called it a TX.  (They had TSs by then).  I rallied it at Woodhill and Maramarua and hill climbed it as a 1300 (1289cc). Then one day I ran the bearings at the Anderson's Farm hillclimb in Paremoremo. As luck would have it I had bought a crashed R15TS with the 1565 motor in it. I slotted it into the 12 without any difficulty.  I rallied it like that for a season then did a new manifold and twin 40 Webers.  Did the Northland Rally in 1974 with the new setup and then more Maramaruas and Woodhills. I rolled it in a press day rally in 1977 after blowing a tyre, fixed it in a fortnight and then rolled it again in Woodhill the following weekend!  I sold the car witht eh 15 wreck to Peter Ackeroyd who had the Peugeot/Renault franchises in Rotorua.  He rebuilt it and rallied it some more.  Last I heard, in the late 70s it was on a car yard in Hamilton. I had a 504 saloon auto after that. I swapped that in 1978 for a '72 2 litre 504 Coupe that had been brought in from New Caledonia by a Japanese person and sold to a Dr Holroyd in Howick. I've still got that car. It was a real rust bucket and needed lots of work. I took it off the road in 1984 and bought a crashed R8 which I pulled back into shape roughly and got going with a second hand radiator and battery. $20.  I ran the bearings in that so bought a really bad front crashed R8,d swapped the motors and resold the wreck. Then a 205GR arrived in 1985.  1st one here.  Evaluation model with a km speedo.  All the later imports were from UK and had mph speedos. Swapped that for cash and a '72 504 manual when I needed money for the house. That 504 was a great car. Sold that when I got a bit more financial and bought a R19TS 1.8 litre. Nice car too. Then in 1996 for my wife's 40th birthday traded that on a 1994 306 Cab. In 1999, my mate Mark Cole and I finished the Targa Tour in it after his Stag sucked a kumara. Mark and I bought a 106 in 2000 for the Targa. In 2001 the Cab got traded for a V6 406 Coupe.  Mark bought the 106 off me in 2001 and I bought the ex 106 race series and Nurburgring 24 hour entrant 106 Clubsport. Rallied that in Targa 2001, 2, 3 & 4.  Put a close ratio straight cut dog gearbox in it in 04. In 03 I bought an ex race series 106 1600 from the South Island.  Raceed that in the 6 hour endurance race at puke in 2003,4,5,6,7 and 8. Did the North Island Endurance Race Series in it in 2004,5,6,7 & 8.  When my son began to drive I got him a black 1600 106 XSI. Then I got an unraced white 106 Clubsport (Rallye) which I use as my daily drive today.  My daughter began to drive and I got her a red 306 XSI. That began to die so she now has a red '96 306 S16 5 speed NZ new. My second daughter is driving now and she wanted the black 106 so I bought a blue 1600 106 for my son who is now in Christchurch at Uni with that.  In 2004 I went to Europe and bought my baby.  1971 Alpine Renault 1600S A110 with Group 5 flares.  Did the 05,6,7 Targas in that and have entered it again this year. Renoholic is my service manager and and kiwi110 my codriver.  When my father died in 2000 he willed me his 1925 Peugeot 172R (or BC) Bebe. At the moment then, at last count, I have 1. the Bebe, 2. the 504 Coupe, 3. 106 targa car, 4. 106 race car, 5. Black 106 1600 XSI, 6. Blue 1600 106 XSI, 7. White 106 Rallye, 8. Red 306 XSI, 9. Red 306 S16, 10. 406 Coupe, 11. Red 1600 106 parts car, 12. Spare 106 race car, 13. 106 Rallye body shell, 14. remains of a silver 106 race car, 15. Alpine.  I think I qualify as a fast frog. Sorry the short version was a bit long but hoped you enjoyed the read.  Renoholic has been reporting in as I see, and I will send my reports in from now on.  I would like to get a register of 106 Clubsports going.  Only 30 of them came into the country. where are they all now? Check out the new Renault Megane F1 R26R.  Follow the renaultsport link from www.racecar.co.uk Nurburgring in 8 minutes 16.9.  A record for a front wheel drive car.  All 8m16.9s on a video on that site. Now that's a fast frog!

[ReonH]

Awesome, welcome along - the long version would have been great too   Good to hear some of that history - I wasn't aware of most of it!!
I think you definitly qualify as a Fast Frog - possbily the Fastest too!

[2052NV]

^^
you are gona get you mean 






WOW I actually read the whole thing that was blody cool. Amazed at the collection post up some pics of the cars especially the alpine and 205 mi-16 

Welcome to fast frogs

[CaM]

^ tooooooo cheap



Welcome to the board Donald! I've only skimmed your 'short version' so far but you seem like a definite candidate for fast frog of the week

[Griffe]

^ tooooooo cheap



Welcome to the board Donald! I've only skimmed your 'short version' so far but you seem like a definite candidate for fast frog of the week

Yeah I was gunna say you're the FFOTW winner!

Welcome aboard,

What an impressive resume of fasts and history, and a collection to boot, great stuff!

Will most look forwards to your input into the site whenever you can, and meeting you and your cars some stage at one of our next events

[Carpentry]

That's a phenomenal history   I enjoyed reading it very much!

Good to have you along. You definitely get my vote for Fastest Frog!

[monnymc]

fast frog of the week

matey

[ReonH]

........... Check out the new Renault Megane F1 R26R.  Follow the renaultsport link from www.racecar.co.uk Nurburgring in 8 minutes 16.9.  A record for a front wheel drive car.  All 8m16.9s on a video on that site. Now that's a fast frog!

http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/roadcars/meganer26r/videos/

Choose the Nurburgring Lap video.....