|
|
 |
 |
Sadly, by the early 1990's Barry was clearly showing the effects of emphysema. However, he loved speedway racing so much that, while he was able, he kept driving a midget for his long-time friend Ken Mullins.
(Tony Loxley photo; from Australian Speedway: an Illustrated History by Tony Loxley, Working Class Productions, Sydn |
A frail-looking Barry B (L) poses with American import Robbie Flock (R) during the 1992-93 season at Western Springs.
(Alan Clark photo from One Tough Dude, The Barry Butterworth Story by Alan Batt, Speedway Classics, Alan Batt, Christchurch, NZ) |
| |
|
 |
Old friends Ken Mullins (L) and Barry B (R) preparing the barbeque. Barry drove a TQ for Ken while in his late teens and also drove Ken’s VW-powered midget #22 near the end of his life.
(From https://www.facebook.com/ken.mullins.397?fref=ts) |
|
| |
|
| Funeral at Western Springs |
|
 |
 |
Barry passed away in Nov 1993 at only 54 years of age. He collapsed while loading his truck and died in North Shore Hospital. His funeral was fittingly held at Western Springs Speedway with the restored Fussell and Cartwright Offenhauser in attendance. Many of his friends and compatriots were present including Bill Cartwright. Speakers included George Turvitt, Bill Mudgway and Pat Johnson.
(From the Gordon McIsaac collection) |
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
| (Photos from Tony Loxley, Liverpool City Raceway, The Place of Place by Tony Loxley, Full Throttle Publications and Speedway a go-go, Chevron, Hornsby, NSW; Outlaw creed from www.freewebs.com/nzctra/history.htm@N08/5779935635/in/photostream) |
|
| |
|
 |
Still charging in the speedway in the sky!
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/) |
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
A sight to put a smile on the face of any Barry Butterworth fan! Having a drink of Lion Red (Barry’s favourite) with Barry on his Birthday! The grave of Barry and his dad, Len, is at Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland.
(Dale Butterworth collection from https://www.facebook.com/barry.butterworth.21?fref=ts) |
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
| Barry Butterworth was inducted into the NZ Speedway Hall of Fame in 2006. Here is his plaque which summarizes his career. |
|
| |
|
|
Gordon McIsaac Speedway Museum
|
|
 |
| Here is the corner of Gordon's museum celebrating the career of Barry B. |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| Barry Butterworth Trucking Co |
|
| |
|
 |
 |
In the Mid 70’s Barry got back into the Trucking business. By 1983 he had two Kenworth rigs. The Kenworth of Butterworth Trucking named the “Black Bitch” was Barry’s favourite and the one he mostly drove.
( From http://www.flickr.com/photos/53052625@N08/5780480760/in/photostream) |
Truck’in through the rolling hills of the North Island in the Black Bitch.
(From http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.120671578010445.23574.100002028119128&type=) |
| |
|
 |
 |
The Black Bitch parked at the side of the road – ready to go out for another overweight load!
(From the Allan Batt Collection) |
The second white-coloured Kenworth was named the “White Honky”!
(From http://www.flickr.com/photos/53052625) |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
 |
| Barry’s first wife (and mother of Floyd), Joan tried her hand at speedway racing. In the 1966-67 season she raced a TQ in the B grade races at Western Springs with some success. On one memorable occasion while she was in the lead, pit announcer Stan Hurst shouted over the PA system “any car passing the leader will be disqualified!” In the early 1970’s Joan raced several times at Waikaraka Park in stockcars. |
One year Joan won the “Ladies Powder Puff Derby” driving Peter Howarth’s Vauxhall Cresta-powered Ford Coupe stockcar #75. On the left, Joan poses in the cockpit of Peter Howarth’s stockcar and on the right,Joan and Peter Howarth are standing together after her win. |
| |
|
 |
 |
Brisbane Speedway personality Barry Lane interviewing New Zealand guest Joan Crowe (formerly Joan Butterworth) at a Vintage Speedcar Association (Queensland) meeting in 2013. Joan was over visiting her son Floyd who lived in Brisbane at the time.
(https://www.facebook.com/Vintage-Speedcar-Association-Qld-VSAQ-210442445729543/) |
Ken Mullins and Joan Crowe in 2017 posing with Ken's VW Midget #22 (the last car raced by Barry Butterworth). Joan was guest speaker at the Auckland Vintage Speedway Club in September 2017.
(From https://www.facebook.com/NZ-Motor-Racing-and-Dirt-Track-Drivers-579738785538280/) |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Son of an outlaw, Floyd Butterworth (Barry’s oldest son) ran a sprintcar at Ruapuna Park Speedway for a couple of seasons in 2009-2010 carrying his dad’s #21 on the tail and with “Butterworth” proudly signwriten down the side of the car. |
Here is a photograph of Floyd's car taken for the sponsor. Floyd was a competent driver but with only a small budget he was unable to break into the top echelon. |
| |
|
 |
 |
Here is Floyd at the Barry Butterworth Memorial meeting at Western Springs in 2017.
(From the Dale Butterworth collection) |
Floyd and friends restored this replica of Barry B's first Shores sprintcar. Floyd paced the 2017 Barry Butterworth Memorial sprintcar feature in the car.
(From the Dale Butterworth collection) |
| |
|
 |
 |
Barry’s youngest son, Dale Butterworth, taking mum, Troy Butterworth, for a ride on a scooter in Phuket, Thailand in 2015.
(From the Dale Butterworth collection) |
Dale holding the trophy for the 2017 Barry Butterworth Memorial race ready to present it to the winner Michael Pickens. In true Butterworth style, Pickens won both the Memorial Midget and Sprintcar features from the backmark
(From the Dale Butterworth collection) |
| |
|
 |
Dale (L) and Floyd (R) pose with Bill Cartwright in 2017. Bill was part-owner of the Fussell and Cartwright Offenhauser in which their father, Barry, won the 1965-66 NZ Midget Championship.
(From the Dale Butterworth collection) |
|
| |
|
 |
 |
Max Butterworth (Barry's younger brother) is pushed out in the restored Fussell and Cartwright Offenhauser ready to pace the field for the 1994 Barry Butterworth Memorial Midget Feature at Western Springs.
(Colin Irwin photo sourced from http://www.sap.net.nz/) |
Max, in the Ken Mullins VW #22 pacing the field for the Barry Butterworth 40 lap Classic at Waikaraka Park in 2009. The Ken Mullins VW was the last car Barry ever raced
(http://macgor.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=10442) |
| |
|
 |
 |
Michael Pickens is being interviewed after his win in the 40 Lap Classic at Waikaraka Park while Max Butterworth is standing in the background ready to present the trophies.
(http://macgor.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=10442) |
Max photographed in the pits at Western Springs before the 2014 Barry Butterworth Memorial meeting. Max paced the midget feature in the Ken Mullins VW #22. Here Max is with Ken's grandchildren.
(James Selwyn photo) |
| |
|
| |
|
