Motorsport
Trevor Crowe’s racing career started at an early age as an apprentice mechanic in 1960s beach racing, shingle hillclimbs and mud plugs. He has built, prepared and raced more than 30 different cars in most disciplines, from circuit racing to rallying.
The first of the ‘Crowe-built’ cars started with early Ford V8s and an MGJ2, followed by the first hybrid, an MGV8 which is still racing with its current owner in classic events to this day.
Later came the Chev 327ci powered Toyota Corolla which won the first ‘big banger’ Sports Sedan race at Manfeild in 1974.
Successful circuit cars also included an Austin A40 Farina followed by the rapid Datsun 1200 Coupe built for the Shellsport Series. There was a Commodore V8 followed by the first of the mighty Starlet V8s. This was one of Trevor’s most famous cars, dominating circuits around NZ with its lightweight chassis and Oldsmobile V8. It became 4 times OSCA champion between 1980 – 1985 and NZ Sports Sedan champion. It was converted for shingle purposes and became the first South Islander to win the Ashley Forest Rallysprint in 1985. A second version of this car was built and then sold to the late Rodger Freeth who raced it successfully for many years.
Trevor also built a Triumph TR8 V8 for club racing before the first of the Subarus, a Legacy RS built from a brand new shell. This car was raced with Possum Bourne in the B&H Endurance series in 1991 and later went on to be rallied by Trevor for many years with several outright wins. Next came the first Subaru WRX which also did double duties as both a circuit and rally car, with much success in local club events.
The first of the rally cars was a Datsun 1200 which became the 1300cc National Rally Champion in 1975. This was followed by a Hillman Avenger 2.3L which later became V8-powered. There was a BDA Escort in the mix which Trevor drove to become NZ Rallycross champion in 1980. Then came the first mid-engined hybrid - the V8-powered Skoda 120L. This machine had a full custom subframe mounted in the back and ran a Porsche transaxle and offroader-style suspension. It was raced as a successful rally car for over 20 years with various rally wins and also won the Classic class at Race To The Sky in 2001. It was a regular at the Ashley Forest Rallysprint and also made appearances at local Classic circuit events. It currently resides in the North Island.
Sponsored drives which were prepared by Trevor over the years have included a Datsun 1600, Commodore V8, BMW 6 & 3 series and a Porsche Turbo. He also prepared cars for other competitors including the Archibalds Camaro for Doug Allan, as well as Doug’s V12 Jag and Frank Brookes’ Porsche Turbo.
More recent ‘Crowe-built’ cars include the well-known mid-engined Subaru Justy. This car was built in 2006 and ran a mid-mounted 2.5L turbo WRX engine making over 400hp and an Albins 6-speed sequential transaxle. This car had multiple successes both on shingle and seal. It had many 2WD wins and records at the Race To The Sky in Queenstown as well as the Ashley Forest Rallysprint. It put in competitive Top 10 stage times when run at Targa NZ, was crowned the NZ 2WD Hillclimb Champion and won the 2WD class at the Otago Rally All-Comers section. This car was retired at the end of 2015. The CroweSport team also built a Subaru WRX Ute which was rallied and raced for a few years, and most recently a WRX Coupe rally car.
Trevor assures us there are still more ‘Crowe-built’ cars to come…
Trevor Crowe Race Result History
1963 – 1st Overall Windwhistle Hillclimb – MGJ2
1966 – 1st Overall Craigmore Hillclimb – MGV8
1973 – 2nd OSCA Championship – Corolla V8
1974 – NZ Sports Sedan Win, Manfield – Corolla V8
1974-75 – 1st 2Litre Class OSCA – Datsun 1200 Coupe
1975 – 1300cc National Rally Champion & 3rd Overall – Datsun 1200
1976 – 1st Dunedin Rally – Datsun 1200
1976 – 1st Nelson Rally – Datsun 1200
1977 – 1st Gore Rally – Datsun 1200
1978 – 1st Canterbury Rally – Hillman Avenger
1978 – 1st Blenheim Rally – Avenger V8
1978 – Class Win & 2nd Overall OSCA – Datsun 1200 Coupe
Shellsport Series Wins & Lap Records – Datsun 1200 Coupe
1980 – NZ Rallycross Champion, Hamilton – Ford Escort BDA
1980-1981 – 1st Mystery Creek Rallycross – Ford Escort BDA
1981 – 1st OSCA Championship – Starlet V8
1982 – 1st OSCA Championship – Starlet V8
1982 – 1st Coronet Peak Hillclimb – Starlet V8
1983 – 2nd B&H 6Hour Event – Holden Commodore
1984 – NZ Sports Sedan Champion – Starlet V8
1984 – 1st OSCA Championship – Starlet V8
1985 – 1st OSCA Championship – Starlet V8
1985 – Ashley Forest Rallysprint Winner – Starlet V8
1985-86 – 1st NZ Group A Series – BMW 635
1986 – Aust-NZ Sports Sedan Champion, Wigram – Starlet V8
1986 – 1st B&H Group A Series – BMW 635
1986– Jim Clark Trophy (Most Meritorious Performance)
1987 – B&H 3Hr Production Series Champion – BMW 635
1987 – 11th Bathurst – BMW M3
1988 – NZ Touring Car Champion – BMW M3
1988 – 4th Overall Bathurst & Class Win – BMW M3
1988 – 3rd Overall Wellington Street Race & Class Win – BMW M3
1988 – Asia Pacific Touring Car Champion – BMW M3
1988 – 1st Blenheim Rally – Skoda V8
1990 – 1st Timaru Rally – Skoda V8
1991 – 2nd Group N Class, Wellington Street Race – Subaru Legacy RS
1992 – Group N Class Wins, Timaru, Wigram – Subaru Legacy RS
1992 – 1st Canterbury Rally – Skoda V8
1993 – 1st Timaru Rally – Subaru Legacy RS
1995 – 1st Hanmer Rally – Subaru Legacy RS
1998 – 1st Hanmer Rally – Subaru WRX
2000 – 3rd NZ Open Class, Race To The Sky – Subaru WRX
2001 – 1st Classic Class, Race To The Sky – Skoda V8
2010 – 1st 2WD Unlimited Class Ashley Forest – Subaru Justy
2012 – 1st 2WD Class & 3rd Overall Otago Rally Allcomers – Subaru Justy
2013 – 1st 2WD Unlimited Class Ashley Forest – Subaru Justy
2015 – 1st Open 2WD Class & New Record, Race To The Sky – Subaru Justy