Viv Anngow, a Dunedin motor vehicle dealer for 60 years and stalwart of the Forbury Park Trotting Club, died on Sunday (20/11/2016) at the age of 91.
Anngow achieved high marks in his apprenticeship as an A-grade motor mechanic in the early 1940s. He then serviced aircraft in the North and South Islands towards the end of the Second World War in 1945. He branched out on his own from a shed for mechanical repairs after the War. He secured new premises in 1957 and began dealing in motor vehicles as the agent for Daimler, Rambler, Borgward, Prince, Mazda, Honda and Suzuki marques.
He shifted his premises in 1990 continuing with Mazda and adding Hyundai, assisted by his sons Malcolm and Geoffrey and brother Declan.
The business was sold in 2007.
Harness racing was the love of his life and he was involved as a breeder, owner, trainer and administrator.
Anngow was the only two-term president of the Forbury Park club in the past 60 years. He was a member of the committee for 39 years until his retirement in 2008.
He was joined as a life member of the Forbury Park club in 2013 by his daughter, Maureen Simpson, who had been on the committee for 21 years. A father and daughter life members is an unusual feat in any organisation.
Viv was appointed treasurer of the Forbury Park club soon after joining the committee in 1969. He was elected president in 1978 and stood down after the mandatory three years. He was re-elected president in 1996 when the club was on the verge of receivership. A board of control was appointed by the Racing Industry Board and Harness Racing New Zealand. to run the club after provision of a $360,000 interest free loan, subsequently written off.
“I came back as a caretaker president and the club managed to get back on its feet,” recalled Viv. He said land sales, netting some $800,000, had restored the financial well being of the club.
He was the Forbury Park club representative on the NZ Trotting Conference (now HRNZ) for 12 years and during that time represented NZ at conferences in Sweden, Toronto, Melbourne and Auckland. He was an office holder on the Otago Trotting, Owners, Trainers and Breeders’ Association. He trained Master Volo to win six races in the mid-1980s. Master Volo was an 8yr-old trotter who had not won a race for three seasons when Viv took over his training. Newsvale, Wedding Sun, Jolter’s Gold and La Hood were others he raced. Wedding Pride won a race for Viv at Wyndham in 2005 when trained by his grandson, Darryn Simpson whom he helped become established as a trainer at Mosgiel. Darryn is now president of the Otago Trainers and Owners Association.
Viv is survived by his wife of the past 21 years, Junko. His first wife, Ivy died at the age of 45.
His funeral will be held at St Patrick’s Basilica, South Dunedin at 1 p.m. on Friday (25/11/216).
Tayler Strong