NZ Hot Rod – September 2019

24 >NZ HOT ROD SEPTEMBER 2019

Brian Smith
1948 - 2018 8

BRIAN was born
in Pukemiro in
194 8 and in the
early years grew
up in Rotowaro
then Huntly. It
was there, in the
196 0s he always
hung out with
the Huntly Boys
who all were
into cars and
hot rods. He had a brief stint as a
panelbeater before heading across
the ditch to Australia in his late teens.
There he worked for contractors in
the construction industry. In 1972
He met Annie, and they returned to
NZ in 1975, got married and joined
Pukekohe Hot Rod club with his 1957
Chevorelt which he drag raced. Brian

bought the second debenture in the

dragstrip to assist in its development.

In 1977 Brian and Annie returned to

Australia where he set up a concreting

business, partially built a Cobra kit

car (hard to do in Aussie at the time)

and also owned an XW GT Falcon.

Their two children Alana and Luke

arrived, and by 1992 the family had

decided to return to NZ. They settled

in Pukekohe and Brian worked as a

fitter at the steel mill, owned a ’67

Camaro then built his deuce highboy

roadster. That cool hot rod, along

with his deuce 3-window coupe both

made the cover and were featured

in NZHRM’s January 2006 issue.

In 2011 Brian was diagnosed with Non-

Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer and after

treatment was cleared. He decided to go

into semi-retirement and built another

stunning deuce roadster which was

also featured (under new ownership)

in NZHRM. Then in 2018 he made a

fresh start and moved to Ashburton, but

on 18th May this year, he returned to

Auckland when cancer returned, this

time aggressively. On hearing the news,

Annie jetted back from Edinburgh to

assist and care for him. Sadly Brian

passed six weeks later. It was a truly sad

end to a colourful life filled with cars,

friendships and family. Brian was a life

member of Pukekohe Hot Rod Club,

and his cars and his shed were his life.

He leaves behind wonderful memories,

and our thoughts and condolences

go out to Annie, Alana, Luke and all

their extended family and friends.

From Paul Grace with assistance

from Annie Smith

FAREWELL

Flying

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