Allan has been a motorsport competitor for some 60 years starting with the Auckland Car Club hillclimb series, driving a 1933 Ford Y, 8hp. This car did the Indianapolis and Hepolite car trials and gained a second overall. Many saloon car races followed like the GTX series driving a Holden GTR. In 1972 daughter Sue was Allan’s co-driver in the Heatway Rally and in 1973 son John co-drove the Heatway in a Ford Capri.
Allan drove in many long distance races including the Benson & Hedges series. He also drove a Toyota Sprinter in the Wellington Street series, Manfeild, and Pukekohe.
Allan has raced the Production class in a Fiat 124 at Baypark, Manfeild and Pukekohe. He also won the NZ Saloon Car Championship in 1975 in a Ford Escort.
In 1983, Rod Millen lent Allan a RX7 Mazda to drive at the Pikes Peak Hillclimb and he won the rally car class’ Rookie of the Year. Allan did the event again in 1984 and 1986 driving Rod’s 4WD RX7 cars.
Allan Woolf - 1958 Volpini Formula Jr.
Allan has been a motorsport competitor for some 60 years starting with the Auckland Car Club hillclimb series, driving a 1933 Ford Y, 8hp. This car did the Indianapolis and Hepolite car trials and gained a second overall. Many saloon car races followed like the GTX series driving a Holden GTR. In 1972 daughter Sue was Allan’s co-driver in the Heatway Rally and in 1973 son John co-drove the Heatway in a Ford Capri.
Allan drove in many long distance races including the Benson & Hedges series. He also drove a Toyota Sprinter in the Wellington Street series, Manfeild, and Pukekohe.
Allan has raced the Production class in a Fiat 124 at Baypark, Manfeild and Pukekohe. He also won the NZ Saloon Car Championship in 1975 in a Ford Escort.
In 1983, Rod Millen lent Allan a RX7 Mazda to drive at the Pikes Peak Hillclimb and he won the rally car class’ Rookie of the Year. Allan did the event again in 1984 and 1986 driving Rod’s 4WD RX7 cars.
1958 Volpini Formula Jr.:
This car is one of just fifteen built. Count Johnny Lurani, the originator of the Formula Junior, purchased this car. It spent the next three years as a ‘hire and drive’ racing car, including a spell of ice racing in Sweden. Lurani sold the car to Mr Lombardi in Italy but it slowly fell into disrepair, until purchased in the mid-1980s by Geoff and Barbara Manning. They brought it back to New Zealand and completely restored it. The Volpini made its debut at the 1989 Ardmore Grand Prix reunion and has been raced in historic meetings throughout New Zealand. It has won its class in the Thoroughbred & Classic Car Owners Club (TACCOC) Historic four times since 1990.
In 2005 the Volpini was sold to Allan.
Considering it is vintage with engine and drum brakes from the 1950s, its 88hp does it proud.