If
you have a news item to add, please email these to Charles Rogers
hysterical@historicracing.com.au
23rd
Historic Sandown - 7-9 November 2014
40+
events over two days. Four hundred racing sports and touring cars
from yesteryear including F5000’s from New Zealand to challenge
the Aussies.
Special tributes to two motor racing icons – the late Sir Jack
Brabham (World Champion 1959, ’60, ’66) and the late Harry
Firth.
Hundreds of classic cars on static display and special on-track parade
of Brabham racing cars.
Entry Fee – competitors: $375 plus $150 (Friday practice) and
$280 (garage hire).
Entry Fee – spectators: Friday November 7 – Free
Saturday November 8 - $35
Sunday November 9 - $45
Weekend Pass $70 (pensioner concession available).
Historic Sandown is supporting the Wesley Mission and the meeting
is presented by the Victorian Historic Racing Register, assisted by
the MG Car Club of Victoria.
Further enquiries – 0402 224 133 www.vhrr.com
1950s
Sports Cars to feature at the Silverstone Classic
Motor
Racing Legends is fielding two spectacular, packed grids of 1950s
and early 1960s sportscars at the Silverstone Classic, as the Stirling
Moss Trophy and Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy descend on the
Northamptonshire circuit for the last weekend of this month.
On
Saturday, July 26th, the pre-1961 sportscars of the Stirling Moss
Trophy, supported by JD Classics, take to the track. Combine a highly
skilled and hugely competitive group of drivers with a stunning grid
of cars which were built solely to win races - all competing for the
actual cup Stirling Moss was awarded for winning the 1955 British
Grand Prix (his first-ever GP victory) - and you have the recipe for
an enormously entertaining race.
Add
in the extra ‘carrot’ – for the Listers on the grid
at least – of the newly-announced Brian Lister Cup – and
things get even more exciting. The entry list includes no fewer than
11 Listers, including Steve Brooks’ ultra-rare, ex-Jim Clark
Lister Jaguar ‘Flat-Iron’, and competition amongst these
big beasts up the front of the grid is sure to be fierce.
Competition
for podium spots is also likely to come from Benjamin Eastick’s
D-type Jaguar and Wolfgang Friedrichs in the Aston Martin DBR1; the
sister car to the 1959 Le Mans winner, while the ex-Phil Hill NART
Ferrari Dino 246S of Bobby Verdon-Roe and the Tojeiro Jaguars of Hans
Hübner and Jeremy and James Cottingham could also power their
way to the front.
On
the Sunday (July 27th), it’s the turn of the pre-56 sportscars
of the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy to entertain the crowds.
Supported by EFG International, this series always delivers astonishingly
good-looking – and very competitive – grids. The current
holders of the Woodcote Trophy, Malcolm Paul and Rick Bourne (Lotus
X) face a serious threat from Fred Wakeman and Patrick Blakeney-Edwards
in the Cooper T38, but Benjamin Eastick, Harry Wyndham and Gary and
John Pearson could also well be up front, all in D-types.
Photo
credits: Jim Houlgrave
One
particularly unusual car in this grid is Paul Griffin’s Connaught,
ALSR 11, one of just two of these endurance sports-racing cars ever
built. Stirling Moss took it to class victory in the 1954 Montlhery
Coupe de Salon and in 1955, in the hands of Les Leston – who
described it as "one of the best cars I ever drove" - it
scored seven race wins and numerous other podium finishes.
For
both the Stirling Moss Trophy and Woodcote Trophy, the action isn’t
confined to the front of the grid, however; there will be plenty of
battles for class wins amongst the smaller-engined cars. The Woodcote
Trophy boasts a splendid turn-out of no less than eight Austin-Healey
100 variants – 100M, 100S, 100/4 and 100/6 – while 1980s
and ‘90s Touring Car star Patrick Watts, sharing the little
Rejo Mk3 with Malcolm Harrison in the Stirling Moss Trophy, will be
vying for class honours against Simon Edwards’ Rejo MkIV and
the Lotus XI Le Mans Series 1 of Jaques Naveau and David Axisa.
Like
many Motor Racing Legends race series, both the Stirling Moss and
Woodcote Trophies are family affairs. Three pairs of fathers and sons
are taking part in the Stirling Moss Trophy: the Lotus 17 prototype
of Gabriel and Dion Kremer will compete for a class win against Laurence
and Tim Jacobsen, while Simon and Mark Ashworth are joining the grid
for the Silverstone Classic in Simon’s unique, ex-Alan Mann
‘Marina’ – so-named because it is powered by a mighty
6250cc Rolls-Royce marine engine! American father and son Alex and
Scott Quattlebaum are flying over to campaign their MG-engined LECo
Sport, new to the Woodcote Trophy this season, while brother and sister
Joe and Rachel Singer and Swiss driver Urs Müller and daughter
Arlette are out in the same race, driving a Kurtis 500S and Aston
Martin DB3S respectively.
For
further information on Motor Racing Legends please visit www.motorracinglegends.com
Nominations
are now open for Historic Motorsport Event of the Year 2014
June 19th 2014 - for immediate release
The search is on… International Historic
Motoring Awards 2014 open for entry
Nominations are now open for the fourth International
Historic Motoring Awards (IHMA), in association with EFG private bank
and Octane magazine.
Classic motoring and motorsport enthusiasts,
and those working in the historic motoring or motorsport industry,
are invited to make their nominations online at www.historicmotoringawards.com
by October 1st, and play their part in highlighting the best of the
best.
The Awards are firmly established as the most
prestigious celebration of what is now a huge global industry, and
of the dedication and immense wealth of specialist knowledge of the
people and companies behind it. Previous winners have included the
Louwman Museum, Goodwood Revival, Aston Martin Owners Club, Audi Tradition,
the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, the Simeone Foundation
Automotive Museum, Sir Stirling Moss, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu and
Murray Walker OBE.
An award is only as credible as its judges,
and the IHMA judging panel contains a remarkable line-up of well-known
experts from museums and collections, major events, historic motor
racing and the world of modern car design.
Scott George - Vice President of The Revs Institute
for Automotive Research, President of CH Motorcars LLC, and associate
Curator of the Collier Collection - Shiro Holly, Editor in Chief of
Octane in Japan, and Dave Kinney – historic collector, vehicle
appraiser and journalist for Automobile and the New York Times - have
joined the panel this year, adding further expertise. Their fellow
judges include Jay Leno, Derek Bell, car designers Ian Callum and
Peter Stevens, Horst Brüning of FIVA, former World Sportscar
Champion Jochen Mass and Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen (responsible for
the global coordination of the Volkswagen Group’s Classic activities).
There are 14 categories in IHMA 2014, showcasing
the spread and diversity of the industry:
• Car of the Year
• Museum or Collection of the Year
• Restoration of the Year
• Specialist of the Year
• Publication of the Year
• Industry Supporter of the Year
• Club of the Year
• Rally of the Year
• Tour of the Year
• Race Series of the Year
• Motorsport Event of the Year
• Motoring Event of the Year
• Personal Achievement of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement
Rally of the Year and Tour of the Year are
new individual categories, evolving from last year’s Rally or
Tour of the Year category; the change reflects the range of such events
now open to owners of historic cars.
Car of the Year is the one category decided
by public vote, with motoring enthusiasts having their chance not
only to nominate but also to vote online. Nominations for this category
close on September 1st – a month earlier than for the other
categories.
The
winners of the International Historic Motoring Awards 2014 will be
announced at a gala dinner in London on Thursday 20th November at
the magnificent St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. Tickets for what is
now an annual fixture on the international historic motoring calendar
cost £180 per person. They can be bought via www.historicmotoringawards.com.
Announcement
- 2015 'F5000 World Series'
2014/15
MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series
2015 Formula 5000 World Series
The Gulf New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing meetings celebrating
Howden Ganley and F5000
Jan 16-18 & Jan 23-25
2015
Above
photo: Michael
Lyons (Lola T400 #64) leading Andrew Higgins (Lola T400) at one of
the NZ Festival of Motor Racing meetings at Hampton Downs in January
this year. Photo credit: Fast Company/Alex Mitchell
08-04-14
EVENTS PREVIEW
ORGANISERS EYE RECORD WITH NEW 'F5000 WORLD SERIES' PREMIER AT 2015
FESTIVAL
The organisers of the annual New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing
at Hampton Downs are eyeing a record lineup of cars as they firm up
plans for the Gulf Oil-backed 2015 event which celebrates the career
of Formula 1 driver Howden Ganley and the category - Formula 5000
- which helped springboard his career.
"What we'd like to see is the biggest gathering of Formula 5000s
ever competing under the banner of the F5000 World Series," says
the chairman of the New Zealand F5000 Association (and co-founder
of the Hampton Downs circuit), Tony Roberts.
Close to 300 cars were built to contest the various Formula 5000 (Formula
A in the United States and Canada) series around the world between
1968 and 1982 and Roberts believes that as many as 60 can be found
for the two-round 'F5000 World Series' which will be part of the Festival
next year.
"There are least 40 here, a similar number in Australia plus
at least 20 each in regular use in the UK and the US. The regular
series guys will obviously be the starting point, but what we would
really like is enough cars to create two separate grids (Hampton Downs
has a limit of 32 cars per grid), one for those who want to compete
for MSC series points, the other for those who just want the opportunity
to be part of the meeting and drive the car round the track at their
own pace."
Feature driver Howden Ganley, now 71, was born and raised in Hamilton
and - having resolved to become a professional racing driver after
a brief start to his career here - traveled to the UK where he worked
for compatriot Bruce McLaren.
McLaren took him under his wing and after finishing second to fellow
McLaren M10B driver Peter Gethin in the 1970 European Formula 5000
Championship Ganley was offered a Formula 1 drive with the BRM team.
In his first year in Formula 1 in 1971 Ganley was named best newcomer
with a best finish of fifth, and in 1972 - again with BRM - his best
finish was fourth. In 1973 he moved to Frank Williams' new Iso-Marlboro
team but the car was uncompetitive and after a short stay at March
in 1974 his career in Formula 1 ended after a serious accident in
the Japanese-built Maki in practice for the German Grand Prix.
Formula 5000 was New Zealand's premier motor racing category from
1970 to 1975 and interest in it was revived around 12 years ago. Key
to the attraction of the cars - for both drivers and category fans
alike - is the practical if rather brutal combination of their tubular
steel spaceframe (early cars) or aluminium monocoque (later ones)
chassis and stock-block 5-litre V8 engines.
In period they were as quick as, if not quicker at some tracks, than
pukka Formula 1 cars yet could be built at a fraction of the cost.
The McLaren M10B Ganley drove to second place in the 1970 European
Formula 5000 Championship has been restored and is now owned by a
Swiss enthusiast and Roberts says he hopes to reunite Ganley with
it at the first Festival meeting.
Historic
rally cars and karts to come out to play at the Donington Historic
Festival
Rallying
with Group B and the Historic Rally Car Register (HRCR) will be burning
considerable amounts of rubber with spectacular demonstrations out
on the Melbourne Loop at the Donington Historic Festival (May 3rd,
4th and 5th 2014). And when the rally cars are taking a rest, over
80 historic karts will give a hugely entertaining reminder of how
so many of the biggest names in motor racing got started, as the British
Historic Kart Club presents demonstrations that are due to include
Ayrton Senna’s 1979 DAP and several unique machines such as
the 1960 Mayler suspension kart.
Photo
courtesy:
Syd Wall / Donington Historic Festival
Back in the 1980s, Donington Park was an RAC
Rally stage and, in a short but significant era from rallying history,
Group B cars dominated the world of international rallying. Introduced
in 1982, Group B regulations resulted in outrageously fast performances
from cars such as the Audi quattro, MG Metro 6R4, Ford RS200, Lancia
037, Porsche 911 RSR and Peugeot 205 T16. Lightweight composite panels,
four-wheel drive systems, complex turbo and supercharging combined
to produce cars which, with in excess of 600bhp at their command,
could out-accelerate Formula One cars of the period on gravel.
However, in 1987, following a number of high-profile
accidents and prominent driver deaths, Group B was banned, with enthusiasts’
only chance to see the cars in action restricted to demonstration
events. 2014 marks the 30th anniversary of the 6R4, and Group B is
staging a special display of these iconic rally machines at the Festival.
As well as the introduction of Group B, 1982
also saw the start of the fledgling historic rally movement, when
the RAC ran the Lombard Golden 50 Rally to celebrate the 50th Anniversary
of the first-ever RAC Rally. As a follow-on from this event, a group
of enthusiasts decided to set up the Historic Rally Car Register and,
over the next two years, historic rallying rapidly gained popularity.
The HRCR has been at the forefront of historic rallying ever since.
At the 2014 Donington Historic Festival, the
HRCR will run a series of auto-tests on the Melbourne Loop and will
field a guest driver who worked with the Rootes Group Competitions
Department during the period when the Sunbeam Tiger was the model
of choice for many international events. Together with Sunbeam Tigers,
a full range of classic rally cars will be put through their paces,
including Mini Coopers, Austin-Healeys and Ford Escorts.
The Loop makes a kart circuit that is great
to drive, so is likely to prove very popular with the BHKC members,
who will demonstrate a unique collection of karts dating from the
start of the sport in 1956 right up to 1982, the formative years of
karting. The location provides superb viewing for spectators, who
will be close to the track action and also have the opportunity to
see the karts close up and chat with the owners to find out all about
these lively little machines and their fascinating history.
Star drivers will include British Historic
Kart Club Patron, Barrie (Whizzo) Williams, driving one of his father’s
creations, a Fastakart/Villiers, manufactured in Bromyard (Worcestershire)
in 1959. The kart is prepared and co-driven by Brian Jordan who is
a former Fastakart works driver and well-known classic car competitor.
Other karting legends expected to join are former European Champion
Reg Gange Jnr, former British Champions, Bill Longden (210cc –
1984), Bob Phair (250cc – 1976), Rob Cooper (200cc – 1970)
and Peter Freeman (Class IV World Champion – 1961), along with
American Ed McDonough, who started karting in 1958.
And, of course, with the Festival’s open
paddock, spectators will be able to get a really good look at all
the rally cars as well as the more than 400 historic racing cars,
spanning seven decades, which are due to compete at the event.
Advance discounted tickets on sale
The Donington Historic Festival offers world-class historic motorsport
at family-friendly prices, with advance ticket discounts making the
price of entry even more friendly. Advance tickets cost £20
for a single day ticket, £32 for a two-day ticket and just £45
for a three-day weekend ticket (on-the-gate prices will be £25,
£40 and £60, respectively). Kids aged 13 and under are
admitted for free. Advance discounted tickets can be bought via www.doningtonhistoric.com
and through the 24-hour ticket hotline 0844 873 7355. Advance ticket
sales close at 5pm on Wednesday, April 30th 2014.
With close-fought racing every day, historic
karting and rally car action and a ‘living motoring museum’
created by dozens of car clubs displays, plus a host of other entertainment
and attractions, exhilaration and entertainment is guaranteed on every
day of the Festival.
Hilton
Melbourne South Wharf AGP Exhibition
Historic
Racing Australia, in conjunction with Oz Link Entertainment and the
Hilton Melbourne South Wharf is pleased to be hosting The Age
Photographic Collection of historic and important photographs
from over the years at the Australian Grands Prix during this year's
Grand Prix month.
The
exhibition is open to the public all day, everyday until 27 March
2014.
As
well as a few examples of the latest model Mercedes-Benz motor cars,
the exhibition festures the fifth place runner in the 1953 Australian
Grand Prix held at Albert Park - the MM Holden Special. One of the
famous 'Aussie Specials' this car features a 6-cylinder Holden-grey
motor with Repco Highpower head.
The
exhibition is well worth a visit at 2 Convention Centre Place, South
Wharf - just along the Yarra River from the Crown Entertainment Complex.
John
Surtess to be Guest of Honour at 2014 Donington Historic Festival
(UK)
.jpeg)
John
Surtees OBE, the only man ever to have won World Championships on
two and four wheels, is to be the Guest of Honour at this year’s
Donington Historic Festival (May 3rd, 4th, 5th 2014). The motorsport
legend will be at Donington Park on the Sunday and Monday of the event
to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his famous F1 World Championship
win in 1964 driving for Ferrari. John will be holding autograph sessions
for spectators, giving them the chance to meet the holder of a motorsport
record that has never been equalled.
Donington
Historic Festival founder Duncan Wiltshire said, “John Surtees
is the latest motor racing ‘great’ to be celebrated at
the Festival. With over 400 historic racing cars spanning seven decades,
the race action at the Donington Historic Festival is itself a celebration
of the golden days of the sport, and to have John Surtees at the event
allows us to pay tribute to a unique record holder and a truly outstanding
driver and rider.”
John
Surtees steered his way into the record books by winning seven World
Championships on 350cc and 500cc motorcycles with MV Agusta between
1956 and 1960 and then moving on to four wheels, taking the Formula
One World Championship with Ferrari in 1964. He also drove for the
BRM, Cooper, Honda and Lotus works teams and won the Nürburgring
and Monza 1000km races with Ferrari and the 1966 CanAm Championship
in the Lola T70 he helped develop. During a spectacular racing career
which saw Surtees take victory in 290 of his 621 races, and a further
103 podium finishes, he also designed, built and raced his own Team
Surtees single-seaters in F1, F2 and F5000.
Christopher
Tate, Managing Director of Donington Park, said, “2014 marks
not only John’s 50th World Championship anniversary, but also
his 80th birthday. We are very much looking forward to celebrating
those two anniversaries with him. With Donington Park’s own
80+ year history in both two- and four-wheeled motorsport, it is entirely
fitting that the only person who has ever achieved World titles in
both disciplines makes a personal appearance at the circuit’s
international Historic Festival.”
The
2014 Donington Historic Festival will be raising funds for the Henry
Surtees Foundation (www.henrysurteesfoundation.com) which was inspired
by John Surtees following the tragic death of his son Henry while
competing in a Formula 2 race in 2009 when just 18 years old.
.jpeg)
Advance
discounted tickets on sale
The Donington Historic Festival offers world-class historic motorsport
at family-friendly prices, with advance ticket discounts making the
price of entry even more friendly. Advance tickets cost £20
for a Saturday, Sunday or Monday single day ticket, £32 for
a Saturday + Sunday or Sunday + Monday 2-day ticket and just £45
for a 3-day weekend ticket. On-the-gate prices will be £25 for
Saturday, Sunday or Monday single day tickets, £40 for Saturday
+ Sunday or Sunday + Monday 2-day tickets and £60 for the 3-day
weekend tickets. Kids aged 13 and under are admitted for free. Advance
discounted tickets can be bought via www.doningtonhistoric.com and
through the 24-hour ticket hotline 0844 873 7355. Advance ticket sales
close at 5pm on Wednesday, April 30th 2014.
There
are also special discounts for members of car clubs that have registered
with the Festival, and car club organisers are invited to register
their club via the car club section on the event’s website to
allow their members to enjoy these benefits.
With
close-fought racing every day, historic rally car and karting action
and a ‘living motoring museum’ created by dozens of car
clubs displays, plus a host of other entertainment and attractions,
exhilaration and entertainment is guaranteed on every day of the Festival.
To learn more about the Donington Historic Festival, or to plan your
visit, please see www.doningtonhistoric.com.
Sir
Jack Brabham Museum unveiled
On
Sunday 24 November 2013, Historic Racing Australia was in attendance
at the official unveiling of the Sir Jack Brabham annex at the Victorian
Historic Racing Register (VHRR) Clubroom in Box Hill, Melbourne.
The
venue is open by appointment, part of the Cooldrive Distribution facility
(contact the VHRR for open times), and features Sir Jack's complete
trophy collection, as well as his private book collection, and the
centre peice being the 1966 Repco-Brabham BT19 - on loan from Repco.
Sir
Jack Brabham is beyond doubt a true Australian Living Legend. Not
only did he win no less than three Formula One World Championships
(1959,1960 & 1966), he won the latter with a car of his own design
and name - the only driver ever to have done so. He was also the brianchild
of putting the engine in the back of an F1 car, a mount which remains
to this day.
A
small group of 90 invited guests joined in the unveiling proceedings;
including six former Repco Engine Engineering employees; Nigel Tait,
Don Haplin & Norman Wilson.
There
was a video message from the Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, and the
Monaco Consul, Andrew Cannon spoke in great fondness of Monaco's recognition
of Sir Jack's 1959 Monaco Grand Prix win - the first of his Formula
One career.
Geelong
Revival Press Release
The
Geelong Revival Motoring Festival (Nov 30-Dec 1) are pleased to announce
that all tickets, entry forms for Racing and Motorshow, Exhibitor
and Vendor applications are all open and available online or downloadable.
This
year's event we are focusing on promoting motoring culture. With an
open-minded approach to what's cool in the area of classic, retro,
performance, prestigious or just plain odd. If it has a link to anything
motoring we are interested.
This
focus not only applies to the racing but also the Classic Motor show,
Market and Fashion. If its motoring, retro or old school the Geelong
Revival Motoring Festival is the event to celebrates this.
Part
of this celebration we will be featuring 'The Touring Legends' along
with over 500 classic and exotic cars on show, plus up to 300 cars
and bikes racing in the classic Geelong quarter mile sprints.
That's
right, if you're going to enter, exhibit, sell or just be there, now
is the time to get it done!
So
Jump onto the website: www.geelongrevival.com.au
Race
or Show
Entrants
for the Car or Motorcycle Sprints on the Penrite track or for the
Shannon's classic Motorshow can download the entry forms from the
web site.
Pit
entry, VIP Zone and Gala Dinner Tickets
Join
us for a terrific celebration of everything automotive. Whether you're
racing, showing or just having a great time, make sure you're ready
by ordering your tickets and passes online.
We'll
see you there!
For
all other event information www.geelongrevival.com.au
If you have any further questions regarding entry to the event please
email our team on info@geelongrevival.com.au
Historic
Sandown - Start your engines
Looking
for a weekend with a difference? A weekend you'll long remember? Then
how about this year's Historic Sandown meeting for a feast of top
motor racing action. Or why not come along on all three days from
November 8-10, 2013.
The very best sports, racing and touring cars from yesteryear will
be seen in action over the two days of competition - (three days if
you count in Friday practice). Forty events, 400 Historic race cars
and many of Australia's greatest motor racing personalities will be
taking part.
There will be plenty of off-track entertainment as well including
static displays, a spectacular Merlin aircraft engine that will burst
into life at various times throughout the weekend and a collection
of championship winning Cheetah racing cars built not far from the
Sandown circuit. And you'll be made especially welcome if you and
your friends arrive in your vintage, classic or collectible car -
(or even on your old motorcycle). It all adds to the atmosphere!
A special tribute will be paid to a very famous Australian, the late
Tony Gaze who passed away on July 30. Squadron Leader Gaze was a Spitfire
ace with the RAF in World War 2, was responsible for the establishment
of the Goodwood motor racing circuit in England and was Australia's
first Formula One Grand Prix driver.
The November 8-10 Historic Sandown has something for everyone and
is promoted by the Victorian Historic Racing Register. For further
details as they come to hand visit the VHRR website www.vhrr.com or
phone 0402 224 133.
See you at Sandown .... November 8-10, 2013.
*
2013/14 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series
Formula 5000 Australia Cup Series (invitational round)
Muscle Car Masters meeting
Sydney Motorsport Park
Sydney
Fri-Sun
Aug 30-Sept 01
2013
ROUND PREVIEW
24-08-13
FOUR-STRONG KIWI TEAM FOR AUSSIE F5000 SERIES OPENER
A four-strong Kiwi team headed by ageless veteran Ken Smith (Lola
T332) crosses the Tasman next week to contest the opening round of
the Formula 5000 Australia Cup Series in Sydney over the August 31/September
01 weekend.
The round - at Australia's big Muscle Car Masters meeting at Sydney
Motorsport Park (nee Eastern Creek) - is the first of four (and possibly
five) rounds of this season's Australian series which members of New
Zealand's Formula 5000 Association have been invited to comepte at.
As such they complement the four rounds of the successful, this season
strictly New Zealand-based, MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series.
Joining three-time MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series champion Smith
in the New Zealand squad are Clark Proctor (March 73A) and Andrew
Higgins (Lola T400), both from Auckland, and Tim Rush (McLaren M22)
from Feilding.
The four will join 10 local drivers in the field led by last year's
Muscle Car Masters meeting standout Bryan Sala (Matich A50) and including
- amongst others - category stalwart Aaron Lewis (Matich A50), the
father of V8 Supercar brothers Alex and Will, Richard Davison (Lola
T332), and young gun Tom Tweedie in the ex Peter Gethin Team VDS Chevron
B24.
The four Kiwis will leave their cars in Australia and return to contest
the second round of the 2013/14 Australian series in Melbourne in
mid-September before shipping them back for the opening round of the
four-round 2013/14 MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series at Manfeild
over the November 9-10 weekend.
The MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series is organised and run with
the support of sponsors MSC, NZ Express Transport, Bonney's Specialized
Bulk Transport, Mobil Lubricants, Pacifica, Avon Tyres, Webdesign
and Exide.
Maryborough
Wings & Wheels - 14-15 September
This
is the first of what is hoped to be an annual event.
The Maryborough (Victoria) Wings and Wheels event will combine a vintage
and classic cars rally, a car show and sprints over the two days.
Additionally there will be a vintage aircraft fly-in and display at
the Maryborough aerodrome at the aircraft museum. A more detailed
description is listed below.
On Saturday
It is expected people will drive in and be arriving at Station Domain
from 10.00 am. Station Domain is located directly in front of the
impressive Maryborough Railway Station. Station Domain is now around
3 years old and suited to car displays with extensive grassed areas,
some 200 sealed car parking spaces, an outdoor amphitheatre, a two
story meeting and conference building. The station backdrop makes
it ideal for photographs. The railway station combines a quality restaurants
and antique sales. Station Domain is in the heart of Maryborough so
the retail areas are within walking distance.
On the Saturday prior to the rally, partners may wish to walk across
the road from Station Domain to the Maryborough Flower Mill Gallery,
which has a large sewing machine collection along with artwork and
brick-a-brack.
From 1.00 pm there will be a car rally to key interest points yet
to be finalised, but could include private vehicle collections, country
bakeries, historic gold towns. The roads are ideal for touring with
little traffic, good roads and without too many hills.
At 4.00 pm there will be a Mayoral reception at the aircraft museum
at the aerodrome for those attending.
In the evening it is expected visitors will avail themselves of the
fine food outlets and restaurants, accommodation etc.
On Sunday
There will be further vehicle and aircraft displays at the aerodrome
along with sprints.
From 10.00 am to 4.00 pm there will be car sprints on the main runway.
Areas will be set aside for with vintage car and aircraft displays.
The Talbot Farmers Market is also on that weekend which partners may
wish to visit. Council will run a bus service to Talbot for those
wanting to attend the Market. The Talbot Farmers Market is held in
the streets of historic Talbot. Talbot is the original and genuine
Wild West look-a-like town. The market is one of the major provincial
farmers markets. The following is a detailed program.
Maryborough is around a 2 to 2.5 hour drive from Melbourne depending
on where you are traveling form. Most of the trip is by freeway. The
drive into Maryborough from Castlemaine, Bendigo and Ballarat is very
picturesque.
Download
the promotional flyers here: click here
and click here
*
2013/14 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series
Season Preview # 1
FRESH FOCUS FOR WORLD-LEADING NZ F5000 RACING SERIES
There's a fresh focus for New Zealand's world-leading MSC F5000 Tasman
Cup Revival Series this season with four points rounds here and the
option for local drivers to compete at a further four - or even five
- non-points meetings across the Tasman organised by the Australian
F5000 association
The calendar move is one of a number made by a new management committee,
chaired by Tony Roberts, voted in at the NZ Formula 5000 Association's
annual general meeting in May.
"We were given a number of directives by our drivers at the meeting,
says Roberts. "One that came through loud and clear was that
we should support our key local historic and classic events."
Roberts - a founder member of the New Zealand Formula 5000 Association
in 2000, before going on with colleague Chris Watson to plan, build
and manage the Hampton Downs motor racing circuit south of Auckland
- is joined on the new management committee by regular series competitors
Aaron Burson, Ian Clements, Andrew Higgins and Tony Richards, and
long-time category engineer and crew chief Barry Miller.
As well as a desire to re-focus key series' rounds closer to home
this season members also agreed that the new committee should make
more of an effort to ensure all cars competing in the series - from
here and overseas - comply with both the letter and spirit of the
FIA Historic regulations which cover the category.
"Which means," says Roberts, "correct engines, correct
aerodynamics, even correct period liveries. Engines will also be rev-limited
this season, both to keep costs down and maintain parity amongst competitors."
Since the first round of the inaugural Tasman Cup Revival Series at
Pukekohe Park Raceway in September 2003, the New Zealand Formula 5000
Association has spearheaded a worldwide resurgence of interest in
the stock-block 5-litre V8 single-seater F5000 category and though
entries were down a little last season on their peak of three of four
years ago the number of cars being imported and rebuilt here with
the series in mind continues to increase.
Last season the Association had 88 owner/drivers with race-ready cars
on its books, the majority - 49 - Kiwis, but with its own domestic
series now up and running Australia now has 18 to supplement the 10
from the UK, one (former Lady Wigram trophy holder Jay Esterer) from
Canada and the balance from the United States of America.
This season over 20 of the Kiwi regulars are committed to contesting
all four rounds of the series with others set to do one or more, plus
there are four newcomers with cars either here already, on their way,
or in the latter stages of local rebuild.
Four Association members - three-time former series champion Ken Smith
(Lola T332), last season's runner-up Clark Proctor (March 71/A), Auckalnder
Andrew Higgins (Lola T400) and Tim Rush (McLaren M22) from Feilding
- have also entered the first two rounds of this season's Australian
series in late August and early September with the possibility of
other drviers shipping their cars across the Tasman for the Phillip
Island Classic meeting in early March and - if the category is asked
to provide a support class field - to the Australian Formula 1 Grand
Prix meeting at Melbourne's Albert Park a week later.
The MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series is organised and run with
the support of sponsors MSC, NZ Express Transport, Bonney's Specialized
Bulk Transport, Mobil Lubricants, Pacifica, Avon Tyres, Webdesign
and Exide.
2013/14 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series
Calendar
Rnd 1: Nov 8-10 2013 'The Sound' MG Classic Manfeild Feilding
Rnd 2: Jan 17-19 2014 NZFMR Ferrari Festival - 1 Hampton Downs Nth
Waikato
Rnd 3: Jan 24-16 2014 NZFMR Ferrari Festival - 2 Hampton Downs Nth
Waikato
Rnd 4: Feb 01-02 2014 Skope Classic Powerbuilt Tools Raceway @ Ruapuna
Park Christchurch
2013/14 Formula 5000 Australia Cup Series (invitational rounds)
Rnd 1: Aug 31-Sept 01 2013 Muscle Car Masters meeting Sydney Motorsport
Park Sydney
Rnd 2: Sept 13-15 2013 Sandown 500 meeting (V8 Supercars) Sandown
Melbourne
Rnd 3: Nov 08-10 2013 Sandown Historics meeting Sandown Melbourne
Rnd 4: March 07-09 2014 Phillip Island Classic meeting Phillip Island
Melbourne
Rnd 5: (provisional yet to be confirmed) March 14-16 2014 Formula
1 Australian Grand Prix meeting Albert Park Melbourne
Prepared by FAST COMPANY of behalf of the New Zealand Formula 5000
Association www.F5000.co.nz
The
next generation is wanted
The
Sporting Car Club of South Australia is promoting a "Young Vintage
Driver" category for its upcoming Vintage Collingrove Hill Climb
event on 4-6 October.
It's
quite simple - combine a young girl or boy (under 30 y/o) with a vintage
car (built up to the end of 1930), and take part in the Vintage Collingrove
event - staged at SA's oldest hill climb venue in the Barossa Valley.
Download
the Collingrove poster here
2014
Donington Historic Festival date announced
The
dates of the fourth Donington Historic Festival have been confirmed
as 
Saturday,
Sunday and Monday May 3rd, 4th and 5th 2014. Tickets will go on sale
in November this year, giving UK and international enthusiasts plenty
of time to plan their visit to what is now a firm favourite on the
worldwide historic motorsport calendar.
Festival
organiser Duncan Wiltshire said, “2013 was our first ever three-day
Festival, and it was a great success. Consequently we are delighted
to be keeping to three days again for 2014 and, in response to popular
demand, this will be Saturday, Sunday and Monday. This will allow
the drivers and fans to enjoy superb historic racing – and all
our off-track attractions such as the rally car demonstrations –
for the entire Bank Holiday weekend, which we hope will make the event
even more accessible for spectators new to the sport, as well as satisfying
the most dedicated historic car enthusiasts.”
The
2014 Donington Historic Festival is guaranteed to deliver a thrilling
array of huge, international grids of the very best historic single-seaters,
sportscars and Touring Cars, driven by top drivers, providing the
mix of exhilarating racing, remarkable and priceless cars and the
famous Donington Historic open-access paddock that always proves so
entertaining.
Car
clubs will, of course, remain integral to the event, with clubs large
and small invited to form the displays which traditionally draw huge
crowds of interested enthusiasts, who love the opportunity to wander
around the ‘living motoring museum’ that assembles on
the infield, and to see the car club parades. Other attractions will
include historic rally car action, fast demonstration laps from special
race cars, the popular trade village and the Donington Grand Prix
Collection museum.
Ticket
prices for the 2014 Donington Historic Festival will be announced
later this year. For further information please visit www.doningtonhistoric.com
Round
1, 2013 InterClub Hillclimb Challenge, ROB ROY
Round
1 of the 2013 InterClub Hillclimb Challenge, conducted by the MG Car
Club will be held at Rob Roy Hillclimb, Clintons Road, Christmas Hills
on Sunday 23rd June. This is the first round of a 2 part series that
pits a number of Clubs against each other for the InterClub Cup. Points
are scored for every car that enters as well as placegetters in each
class. Form your Club team now.
Official timed runs from 9.30am Sunday. Entry forms on the website,
www.robroyhillclimb.com.au
and entries close on June 19th. Spectator entry $10 per person
or $15 per car full, catering on site. Enquiries Derek Reed 0438 267432
Remembering
Graham Howard
The
Historic Sports and Racing Car Association invites its members to
join in an event to remember our very good friend and supporter, Graham
Howard. Graham’s contributions to Historic motor sport, and
our club in particular, over so many years are immeasurable. This
is your opportunity to share some great memories with your Historic
racing mates.
“Remembering Graham Howard” will be held at the Austrian
Club in Frenchs Forest on Saturday 18th May at 12 noon. There is ample
parking at 20 Grattan Crescent and food will be provided. However,
it is necessary to register your attendance with the HSRCA via; Phone:
02 9988 4743, email: members@hsrca.org.au, or Fax: 02 9988 4277.
Baskerville
Historics date & theme announced
Sportscars
to rock the 2013 Phillip Island Classic
Long
before hybrid, bio-diesel and electric engines, global sports car
racing meant one thing; the world’s best drivers doing battle
in some of its most outrageous machines.
The
1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s produced what many consider the ‘golden
era’ of sports car racing, with North America’s Cam-Am
Series, the Group C period of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and World Sportscar
Championship, and our very own Australian Sports Car Championship
seeing now-legendary highhorsepower beasts roaming the racetracks
of the world.
At
the 2013 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, the stunning machinery will
come together at Albert Park for the first time, showcasing the unique
time in the sport’s history through the International Sports
Car Challenge, organised by the Victorian Historic Racing Register.
Having
hosted Formula 5000 and classic Australian Touring Cars in recent
years, the VHRR will present three decades of sports car racing in
2013. McLaren, Porsche and Lola will take on homegrown produce from
the likes of Elfin in a field expected to reach 40 cars, from Australia,
Germany, New Zealand, North America and the United Kingdom.
“We’re
thrilled with the way it’s come together,” enthuses Bob
Harborow, VHRR committee member.
“The
Victorian Historic Racing Register works to put a variety of different
groups of cars in-front of the public each year at Albert Park, to
showcase what racing in Australia and overseas has been like.
“We
had a huge following with Formula 5000 and the Touring Cars, and we’re
hoping for the same with the International Sports Car Challenge and
its very eclectic group of cars.”
Cam-Am
constructors enjoyed almost unprecedented freedom when producing their
racecars, with engine and aerodynamic regulations largely non-existent.
As a result, many of the lightweight cars produced over 1,000hp and
were faster than those in Formula 1 at the time.
Motorsport
heavyweights McLaren and Porsche both enjoyed periods of domination,
while the likes of F1 World Champion John Surtees, Bruce McLaren,
Denny Hulme and Mark Donohue all tasted success behind the wheel in
the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Across
the Atlantic, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France was the centrepiece
of Group C racing and the World Sportscar Championship during the
1980s.
Introduced
in 1982 and featuring 800hp qualifying engines, Porsche dominated
Group C, bringing fans the legendary 956 and 962 in the process. Jaguar
and Sauber, in conjunction with Mercedes before it entered Formula
1, also conquered the class.
The
best in international sports car racing visited Melbourne twice as
part of the World Championship in the 1980s, for races at Sandown
Raceway. In a Porsche 956, Bell and Stefan Bellof won the 1984 race,
while Jochen Mass and Jean-Louis Schlesser took a Sauber Mercedes
C9 to top spot in 1988.
“I
was at one of those Sandown races, and while they weren’t necessarily
a great financial success, they were certainly exciting race meetings,
to see the nature and calibre of European cars here in Australia,”
Harborow recalls.
At
the same time, Australia had its own thriving sports car championship.
Over the course of three decades, it hosted the nation’s fastest
racing and remarkable cars from Elfin, Matich, Kaditcha and VesKanda.
Some of the best drivers seen in local motorsport won titles during
its time, including Ian ‘Pete’ Geoghegan, Allan Moffat,
John Bowe, John Harvey and Frank Matich, who also led the way as a
constructor.
“The
thing that stood out, for me, about that time, was the way Frank Matich
developed his sports cars with the Repco engine,” Harborow says.
“The
final iteration of that, the Matich SR4 was built as a potential Can-Am
car that blitzed Australian sports car racing. In the end CAMS had
to change the rules to prevent it from running. “It’s
a beautiful car. He had a history of getting it right, in those four
or five years in the 1960s, in the Australian scene.”
Combining
the three distinct arms of sports car racing on one grid is set to
result in a quality field, the type of which has been unseen in Australia
since the Sandown races, and a unique spectacle for motorsport fans
in general.
“It’s
been a fair task, because these people normally don’t run together
as a bunch, obviously, and we’ve got cars coming from around
the world,” Harborow admits.
“But
it will be worth it, it’s going to be a really exciting mix
of the three groups. It will be interesting to see and make the visual
comparisons between the cars as well, to find out how the lesser-handling
Can-Am cars, with their huge grunt in a straight line, compare with
the finesse of the Group C Le Mans cars.
“We’re
looking at different derivations of sports cars, with unique strengths
in different areas, competing in different areas, and that in itself
should make a fascinating concept.”
Over
half of the expected 40-car field are international competitors, including
11 from North America, six from the United Kingdom and two from Germany,
along with a strong contingent of New Zealand competitors.
The
fleet of traveling McLaren Can-Am cars includes the distinctive M8F
‘Batmobile’ and the M6B ‘McEagle’, the latter
developed by revered American racer and engineer Dan Gurney. European
sports car racing will be represented by the likes of the 935, 956
and 962 Porsches, the Matra 670B/C from
France and Alfa Romeo’s 12-cylinder T33.
“There’ll
be Can-Am cars present from the first iteration right through to 1972
and 1973, which was the pinnacle of the class, along with V12 Matras
from Le Mans and some Lola and March cars fitted with 900hp, 8.8-litre
engines,” Harborow says.
“From
Australia, we’ll have almost every generation of Elfin as part
of the full history of Australian sports car racing from the time,
while the legendary Spencer Martin will take on the internationals
in a Ford GT40.”
A
world away from the DRS, KERS, traction control and launch control
systems of Formula 1, drivers in the International Sports Car Challenge
will tackle Albert Park in two races, the points combining with races
at the Phillip Island Classic a week earlier.
Fans
will also be able to enjoy static displays of cars from the era and
meet its stars, along with the opportunity to get up-close and personal
with the unique machines before they hit the track.
“These
cars are unbelievably different to anything else you’ll see,”
Harborow says.
“We encourage fans to come down and walk through the dummy grid,
before they go out onto the circuit, and actually experience these
amazing cars when they fire up to go onto the circuit.”
Entry
list - International Sportscar Challenge - Phillip Island
1968
Lola T160 Spyder 7070cc` Lilo Ben Zicron USA
1969 Lola T70 Cpe 5700cc Frank Lyons USA
1972 Graduate M8F 5000cc Phil Verwoert AUS (Vic)
1966 Elfin 400 4400cc Bill Hemming AUS (Vic)
1974 Matra Simca MS 2999cc Abba Kogan UK
1969 Lola T163 8000cc Aaron Lewis AUS (NSW)
1972 Lola T310 8413cc Peter Schleifer De
1971 McLaren M8F 8800cc Andrew Newell UK
1974 Elfin MS7 5000cc Rob Tweedie AUS (NSW)
1974 Matra Simca MS 670B/C 2999cc Rob Hall UK
1972 Rennmax Repco 3000cc Michael Gibson AUS (Vic)
1984 Porsche 956 2850T Russell Kempnich AUS (Qld)
1966 Lola T70 Spyder 5702cc Dan Cowdrey USA
1969 Genie MK10 5700cc A C D’Augustine USA
1987 Porsche 962 2850T Wayne Park AUS (Qld)
1987 ARGO JM19C Cpe 3900cc Jay Bondini AUS (Vic)
1968 Lola T163 6000cc Greg Mitchell USA
1970 Elfin 360 Repco 3498cc Steve Webb AUS (NSW)
1974 Sting 9000cc Scott Drnek USA
1968 McLaren M6B 5700cc Bert Skidmore USA
1968 MRC Repco 6500cc Ian Ross AUS (NSW)
1967 McKee Mk10 6718cc Norm Cowdrey USA
1966 Ford GT40 5375cc Spencer Martin AUS (NSW)
1973 March 717 8800cc Michael Lyons UK
1970 McLaren M8C 8800cc Henry Read De
1971 McLaren M8E 8100cc Duncan McKellar AUS (Qld)
1970 Lola T332C 5000cc Ian Clemants NZ
1965 McLaren M1A 4700cc Luke Warwick AUS (Vic)
1979 Lola T332C 5000cc Andrew Kluvver AUS (NSW)
1968 Lola T163 Spyder 7095cc Barry Blackmore USA
1968 McLeagle 7540cc Andy Boone USA
1966 Elfin Traco Chev 4998cc Peter Brennan AUS (Vic)
1965 McLaren M1B 5727cc Laurie Bennett AUS (Vic)
1978 Porsche 956 3200T Rusty French AUS (Vic)
1969 Elfin ME5 5000cc Trevor Lambert AUS (SA)
1965 McLaren M1B 5997cc John Bladon UK
1975 Alfa Romeo T33SC12 2993cc Joe Nastasi USA
1965 McLaren M1B 5300cc Paul Halford NZ
Historic
Sandown Preview page
Click
here to visit the Historic Sandown preview page. It's on from 9-11
November 2012.
Perth
International Historic Challenge b
y
Shane Cassidy
The
WA Sporting Car Club on 9th - 11th November 2012 will hold the inaugural
Perth International Historic Challenge at Barbagallo Raceway to celebrate
the 50th Anniversary of the 1962 Australian International Grand Prix.
The WASCC prides itself on its rich history of motor racing in WA
and that its the oldest motor sports promoter in Australia which has
been promoting events since 1927.
The 1962 Australian International Grand Prix was held at the Caversham
circuit,an old Air Force and military base on the 18th November 1962
and was won by Bruce Mclaren in a Cooper Climax.
The Managment Committee of the WASCC have invited Jan Mclaren to Perth
and she will be attending as the events Patron.Jan will be bringing
the original trophy presented to Bruce in 1962 with her.
Racing categories for the 3 days of competition includes Historic
Touring Cars,Tasman Racing Cars,Formula Junior with invited Formula
3 and Vees.There will also be a regularity Trial Event.
A multi million dollar upgrade of Barbagallo Raceway was completed
earlier this year and the new facilities will allow the WASCC to house
many competitors in the new infield garages and pit area with precedence
going to the overseas and interstate competitors.
For further information and entry forms please contact the WASCC office
via email wascc@wascc.asn.au
or via phone +61 89 306 8022
Ballarat
Festival of Motoring - August 25 to September 2
The
trophy is certainly impressive and we are quite chuffed given it is
beyond our expectations! It is a restored antique however it appears
to have experienced the odd bit of champagne and hopefully good times
in the past – given a small amount of corrosion around some
of the internal fixtures. Sadly we have no idea of its heritage, however
let’s hope it enjoys a beaut new lease of life with the Ballarat
Festival of Motoring.
It will be awarded annually by the Major Sponsor to the Champion of
the event. This will involve an overall points score total based on
the car and driver results achieved at either the Saturday Show &
Shine (this year it will be staged at the airport on a vast sealed
surface area with a background of historic aircraft) or the Motor
Show (at the historic Ballarat Mining Exchange which has had an association
with motoring since the birth of motoring in Australia – see
copy of an early photo attached); the Sunday morning 400 meter speed
trials – 3 events/runs per competitor; and the Sunday afternoon
regularities – 3 events over a 3K course per competitor involving
5 consecutive laps each which would total some 45K’s if a driver
wishes to make the most of it.
Our aim is to give competitors an exceptional amount of track time
on our most famous airfield based motor racing facility if they chose,
other than what is usually achieved at a traditional sprint based
speed trial(where the faster cars all up are lucky if they get a minutes
action in total – given this figure is based on 4 runs at 15
seconds per run).
I
am currently working through the usual organizational detail including
the regulations for the Regularity Trial. The regularity will use
the majority of the runway based 1946-61 circuit.
As
told to HRA by Gary Grant - www.ballaratfestivalofmotoring.com.au
HRA
will also shortly have a dedicated page to the Ballarat Festival of
Motoring, providing a wider range of photos from 2011, and further
updates for the 2012 festival.
Baskerville
Historic Meeting to celebrate Group N
Celebrating
30 years of Group N racing in Tasmania. Come and join in the fun,
hopefully this meeting will have the biggest grids of Group N cars
ever seen at Baskerville Raceway.
Event
date: 12th October - 14th October
For more information contact
Andrew Sluce asluce@hotmail.com
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