IAN AGARS, better known to Adelaide fans as "Zeke", has been racing modifieds for five seasons. Agar's name is known throughout motor sporting circles in Adelaide, not only for his speedway exploits as a super modified driver and builder, but also as the builder and driver of the John H. Ellers 186 Holden dragster.

He started his racing career in the 1964-65 Rowley Park season at the wheel of the ex-Ray Skipper Ron Wood modified sportsman and ran the car with great success. In December, 1964, Agars gained a place in the South Australian team to race against Victoria in a three heat series at Rowley Park. "Zeke" won the third heat for SA, beating Graeme McCubbin on the line by a wheel.

For the '65-66 season he built a car of his own design, and at the end of the season sold the car to Ray Skipper. "Zeke" then built a new car for Peter Denton and another for himself. The '67-68 season saw "Zeke" put the modifieds on the map in South Australia as six of the 14 cars nominated for the opening night at Rowley Park were Agars built. Midway through the season he sold his car to Darwin interests and was left without a mount until Kev Fischer, the Austin and Morris dealer from Murray Bridge, offered the ride in the Fischer Motors Special known to all as "Suddenly".

Agars drove the car to a match race win over Ray Skipper and NSW ace Bill Warner, and wheeled it home to second place behind Skipper and ahead of Peter Denton and Warner in the South Australian Championship. After a waiting period of some 18 months the second of the John H. Ellers Holdens hit the track and to the disappointment of his fans "Zeke" blew a head gasket first night out.

The car shows a lot of potential and should prove itself during the winter season meetings at Virginia Fairgrounds Speedway. At last year's RDA Ball Agars was named the super modified section's Sportsman of the Year for the help he had given the division to reach the position where Rowley Park fans go wild when the modifieds appear. "Zeke" is a family man with two young sons. His wife, Teena, is a great speedway fan and gives top support to her husband, a foreman mechanic with Holden dealer John H. Ellers when away from the track. "Zeke" can truly be described as a fine ambassador for the greatest sport in the world.

National Speed Sport, June 21 1969 Pge 5