> 23In 1968 Brent was driving this
straight ’49 Ford single spinner.Brent had this nice black ’36 coupe in ’68.Around that time, Brent was
part of the infamous Tyne Street
scene in Addington, a small
street which contained Thorpe
Engineering, S & G Automotive,
Royce Clive Engineering, and
several other hot rod related shops
including Don Yaxley’s Speed Shop
and Rick Murray Bodies. Brent
opened Road and Track Supplies
in nearby Riccarton Road. The
Tyne Street scene could make
a story of its own, with street/
strip cars and racecars being
tuned and tested along the road.
If the neighbours didn’t complain
before the tune-up ended, then
it probably wasn’t loud enough.
Later moving north, Brent built
a fleet of off-road cars to take
tourists for rides around Kaikoura’s
uninhabited areas and nearby
beaches. These days, he is involved
with Wildlife Rescue, mainly in the
Kaikoura district. In fact, it was
Brent who campaigned to have the
speed limit reduced at Kaikoura’s
seal colonies. Ironic, that someone
who always wanted to go faster,
now wants everyone to slow down!
“I have incredible memories
of those Ruapuna Drag meets,”
recalls Brent, now 71. “Kids would
come up to me in the pits and ask
for my autograph!” (Sorry Brent,
I was guilty of that). Recently,
Brent Thorpe gave me his old
photo albums to go through.
Here are some of his pics from
the sixties and seventies.Friend Barry Meredith had
nice ’ 55 Ford with wide rims.
Boys go hunting and camping in mate Les’ 193 9
Merc sedan with back half cut into a camper.In 1970, brother Tony Thorpe began this
custom ’55 Ford with a chopped custom top
and tri-carbed 272 engine with wild headers!