1960’s
TASMAN REVIVAL DAY 2
Group S RACE TWO
Saturday started off with fine
conditions, as first out on track was the Group S Production sports
car 5 lap scratch race.
The Porsche’s again dominated
with Bill Pye in particular, as he streaked away in the lead to leave
the rest of the field wondering what exactly happened. The first five
places were taken by the German marque with the first of the MG’s
of Spud Spruyt lapping some 5 seconds faster then the next MG, the
BGT of Peter Whitten, Spud had a fantastic dice with Wayne Cooper’s
911 Carrera leaving the big thumping Shelby American 350 of Ian Ross
to dice with Brian Taylor (911) and Chris Gray (Datsun 240Z), who
rounded out the top ten.
A slice of history thrown
in...
The International Formula Tasman
Series was held over eight consecutive weekend’s – four
in New Zealand, and four in Australia. The series owes much of its
being to one Geoff Sykes, who was an Englishman who was brought to
Australia to develop the Warwick Farm motor racing circuit. Warwick
Farm already boasted a horse racing facility, but as this facility
was going through somewhat troubled times members thought that a motor
racing circuit would be beneficial, and most importantly to still
allow them to race horses on the race course.
Of course there were many other
circuits used in the International Tasman Series, which was held between
1964 and 1969. In New Zealand they included; Levin, Wigram, Teretonga
and Pukehoe. In Australia; Longford, Phillip Island, Sandown, Lakeside
and Surfers Paradise. All of these fantastic circuits, each with the
own uniqueness.
The Formula One drivers of the
time who came to the Southern Hemisphere in their “off season”
took time to relax, as well as race. The Australian/New Zealand drivers,
in their usual relaxed style liked this, but the track action was
always some of the most thrilling that the two countries have ever
seen. The days between races so the international drivers play golf
or cricket, and attend numerous functions. This was the same with
some of the locals, but many local drivers also pit crewed on their
race cars.
One of the Tasman Revival meetings
guest commentators was Bernie King, who commented that Australian’s
refer to New Zealanders as sheep lovers, whereas in return New Zealander’s
refer to Australia as the “third island”! Bernie also
made mention about race calls being so much easier to call as driver’s
names were easier to pronounce, i.e. Jackie Stewart, Frank Gardner,
Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jack Brabham and Denny Hulme – referring
to some of the names on track today as making life difficult.
To help set the correct ambience
of the 1960’s Tasman Revival meeting much attention to detail
was spent in the paddock area. To, in the commentary area we organised
to set up two points, with the second point in the Horsely Room (a
hospitality suite above the pit garages). Here we had the “period”
commentators reminising on the old cars – times when they could
get away with just about anytuing on the microphone! Along with Bernie
we were also honoured to have John Cummins, Adrian Ryan, Graham Howard,
Bill Sheehan, and later Will Hagon.
Group M Racing RACE
TWO
Ross Hodgson made it two wins
so far for the weekend in the Lotus 39 Climax 2.5. Many battles raged
throughout the 30 strong car field, particularly between Don Thallon
(Cooper Climax T53 F1) and Col Haste (Brabham BT2) who had a genuine
race long battle with Haste eventually finishing only .04 sec behind
in third.
New Zealander Ken Williams, who
brought over his stunning BBM Mercedes won a ding-dong battle between
long-time HSRCA regular Dick Willis in the historic Mildren Cooper
& Victorian Peter Strauss. Strauss, like Thallon has recently
returned with his Brabham BT6 from Europe where the two took part
in the European Formula Junior Championship (regarded as the most
prestigious FJ series in the world), a nine round championship encompassing
most of the great circuits of Europe. Strauss improved throughout
the series, with a best eight finish in one event.
Formula Ford RACE TWO
The historic Formula Ford racing
scene has really come of age during the latter part of 2006 with increasing
numbers of cars taking to the track. Having said that, we always see
fantastic close racing from these cars, but when there are 23 entered
it just means for more great contests in one race!
Two front-runners (Burford and
McDonald) failed to finish the event), but wow some awesome racing
in the first five (four of which were Reynard’s). John Benson
(whose weekend is illustrated in a contribution submitted to Historic
Racing .com.au – CLICK HERE)
joined me (Chares Rogers) in commentary, and took over, which was
great, particularly given what he was going through with the Elfin
Aero. It was a battle of all the young guns at the pointy end, with
Tweedie clinching first for the second time this weekend, followed
by the brace of Reynard’s in this order – David Holland,
Jonathon Miles, Nick Lubransky and Doug Matley.
Group O Racing RACE
TWO
In the race of the cars that will
make Sunday’s Tasman Cup race took to the track A most thrilling
race between the ex. Works ‘Gold Leaf’ Team Lotus 49B
driven by John Smith and the local built Elfin 600B – the new
acquisition of long-time historic racer Richard Carter almost finishing
side-by-side in the five lapper. So much significant history was out
on track – where they should be (not in museums!).So many Brabham’s,
Elfin’s and Rennmax racing cars, and Lindsay O-Donnell’s
typically coloured orange McLaren M4A, which finished the race in
10th beind the ex. Jack Brabham Repco Brabham BT23C of Peter Simms.
Group Q & R Racing
RACE TWO
I know I’ve previously mentioned
the word thriller – this race was not only that, but also electric!
The start was ground lifting, with some 27 racing cars revving to
the limits of their cars, but particularly the Formula One cars, and
the Formula Atlantic cars, which rev upward of 12-15,000 rpm.
The front row comprises of two
1980’s F1 cars – the Ferrari of Guido Belgiorno-Nettis
& the Spirit Honda of Chris Farrell. Two rows back was John Dimmer
in the stunning 1971 Tyrell 004, which Sir Jackie Stewart campaigned
the 1972 World Championship in. The Ralt’s, which normallydominate
racing in this field were next, with two fine examples of Ron Touranac’s
design skills – Vince Holland’s and Vivian King’s
RT4’s & Peter Landen’s RT1. Belgiorno-Nettis clearly
won the event, followed by King, Landen, Dimmer, Holland, and Farrell
in sixth.
Vintage racing Race
Two – HANDICAP event
The handicap event is designed
to throw a cat amongst the pigeon (so to speak), whereby the handicapping
team, comprising Noel Bryen set about calculating how each competitor
can finish the five lap evet at the same time (I just always wonder
how 36 odd cars could fit across the start/finish line at Eastern
Creek – at once). The cars are set off at intervals with the
fastest cars starting from the rear – sometimes as the slowest
cars come on to the main straight for the beginning of their second
lap!
The winner was Peter Yeomans who
has the immaculate polished-aluminum bodied Lotus 11 Le Mans. Percy
Hunter was second in Wes Dayton’s MG TC Special, followed by
Tony Caldersmith (Gemini Mk2).
Formula Ford RACE THREE
The heart-pumping battle de Formula
Ford continued in their third event for the weekend Lubransky, Burford
and T Tweedie continued their earlier battles until Tweedie had a
minor mis-hap, but finished in third – only narrowly beating
Nick McDonald, Jonathon Miles and David Holland, who all finished
within tenths of seconds of each other.
Group Q & R Racing
RACE THREE
The tide reversed in this race
with Belgiorno-Nettis finishing sixth after starting from rear of
grid. The Spirit Honda of Chris Farrell bew away the field to finish
first, thirteen seconds ahead of Peter Warren (March 80A) in second
and Landen in third.
The Trophy events
Group N Production Touring
Cars RACE THREE
Three trophies were up for grabs
in this race, but the great thing is that not one person ould take
home all three! Des Wall (1967 Geoghegan Mustang) took home the Brian
Foley Trophy for Group Nc, the Ian Geoghegan trophy for Group Nb cars
was won by John Gilfillan (driving Scott Fleming’s Lotus Cortina),
who also was the only Nb car to finish inside the top ten. The Jack
Meyers Trophy for the earlier Group Na touring cars was won by Bruce
Smith in Australia's quickest MG ZA Magnette.
Group M Racing Cars
RACE THREE
The rain came down, and stayed
for most of the afternoon, which evened the field out. The Jack Brabham
trophy was well contested by Dean Tighe (Brabham BT14) and Peter Strauss
(Brabham BT6), with Tighe becoming the deserving winner – not
to say that Strauss didn’t drive an awesome race. 
The Formula Vee’s were also
out racing at their first “race” (not purely regularity)
meeting in historic racing. Vee’s filled positions 8 to 12 ahead
of the BT6 Brabham of the Tasman Revival meeting instigator, come
committee Chairman, Ed Holly.
Formula Ford RACE FOUR
The Ford’s raced for the
John Lefler Trophy, which was convincingly won by Laurie Burford in
the wet conditions. Jonathon Miles finished second, narrowly ahead
of the trio of Nick’s, lead by Bennett (Wren), McDonald, and
then Lubransky.
Group O Racing RACE
FOUR
As the rain continued to dampen
the track, and some decided to ‘save’ the car for Sunday’s
racing Jamie Larner (Brabham BT18) won the Leo Geoghegan Trophy. Carter
finished second followed by New Zealander Robin Wootten, third in
his BT18.
Group Q & R Racing
Cars RACE FOUR
In dryer conditions the Ron Touranac
trophy was fittingly won by a Touranac design – the Ralt RT4
of Vivian King. Splitting the Holland Ralt was American John Dimmer’s
Tyrell OO4, who finished second. Malcolm Miller finished in fourth
in the Birrana, vollowed by Howard Blight in his March 75B.
Group M, O, Q &
R Sports Racing Cars RACE FOUR
The M & O and Q & R grids
were combined for their final event of the day, where there were two
trophies on offer in the M & O classes. The Spencer Martin Trophy
for Group O sports racing cars was won by the overall race winner
Nev McKay (Mallock U2) who in the race streaked away from the fierce
battle for second place, which was narrowly claimed by the Milano
GT2 of Scott Whittaker from the Matich SR3 of Keith Berryman. The
Frank Matich trophy for Group M Sports Racing cars was won by Stewart
Mahony, who put in a great drive in the Bolwell Mk4.
CLICK
HERE for Sunday race report from 2006 Tasman Revival
meeting.
