Terry was born in 1943 and raised in Glen Murray in an endless torrent of racing, sports and touring cars.
He started an apprenticeship fitting/turning/machining at 15, then started speedway racing at Western Springs aged 17.
In 1966 he became a Marine Engineer with Union Shipping Company.
In 1968 Terry was a Marine Engineer with the NZ Shipping Company.
Later he was an engineer at coal-fired generating stations in London, Toronto and Meremere in NZ.
From 1978—85 Terry was a Marine Engineer with Nauru Pacific, Central Pacific. From 1986—96 he worked for Contract Engineering NZ Steel, Glenbrook. From 1991–2003 Terry designed and built a high-speed amphibious vehicle with patented wheel-retraction and sold the rights to Gibbs Technologies. He was also a consultant for the ‘AQUADA’ HSAV programme in Detroit Michigan. When he retired in 2003, Terry prepared the Ron Roycroft Type 35A Bugatti for racing and rallying.
Terry (Terence) Roycroft - 1925 Bugatti Type 35A
Terry was born in 1943 and raised in Glen Murray in an endless torrent of racing, sports and touring cars.
He started an apprenticeship fitting/turning/machining at 15, then started speedway racing at Western Springs aged 17.
In 1966 he became a Marine Engineer with Union Shipping Company.
In 1968 Terry was a Marine Engineer with the NZ Shipping Company.
Later he was an engineer at coal-fired generating stations in London, Toronto and Meremere in NZ.
From 1978—85 Terry was a Marine Engineer with Nauru Pacific, Central Pacific. From 1986—96 he worked for Contract Engineering NZ Steel, Glenbrook. From 1991–2003 Terry designed and built a high-speed amphibious vehicle with patented wheel-retraction and sold the rights to Gibbs Technologies. He was also a consultant for the ‘AQUADA’ HSAV programme in Detroit Michigan. When he retired in 2003, Terry prepared the Ron Roycroft Type 35A Bugatti for racing and rallying.
1925 Bugatti Type 35A:
This Type 35A Bugatti was raced in England in the 1920s and 1930s. It came to New Zealand in 1947 with Bryce Clinkard and was raced by Ken Hemus to 1949/50. Ron Roycroft bought the car in rough condition in 1951 and raced it to 1953 when he installed a new 1948 XK120 Jaguar engine, with a Moss gearbox. Ron intended the car for beach racing and hillclimbs, but it also raced in a few major events when needed.
The car won the NZ Championship at Dunedin in 1954, and was first New Zealander home at Ardmore in 1956 against a strong international field. It was first New Zealander again in 1956 at Ryal Bush, where it was timed at 155mph. It had many other wins and places at club events in the 1950s.
It is currently fitted with an original XK120 engine with a C-Type head and 2” sandcast SU carburettors.