If
you have a news item to add, please email these to Charles Rogers
hysterical@historicracing.com.au
Historic
Racing returns to Baskerville
The
MG Car Club of Tasmania is organising its second historic motor race
meeting at the Baskerville circuit near Hobart on 15-17 October.
Value
for money, the race meeting has to be congratulated with entry fees
for three days of competition ranging from $180 to $220
A
number of locally significant cars will be competiing, including this
MGA.
The
MG Car Club of Tasmania and event sponsor, Hobart’s iconic Wrest
Point Hotel, have again joined forces to stage their three day Historic
Race Meeting on October 15-17 this year. Both organisations have a
long history of involvement in Tasmanian motor sport, with the MG
Car Club celebrating a 50 year milestone during the September 2009
inaugural All Historic meeting held at the unique Baskerville track.
What
many attendees at last year’s meeting were surprised to find
was the depth of enthusiasm and iconic cars that are the backbone
of this growing motor racing category. In Tasmania, with pedigree
of famous tracks like Longford in the veins of enthusiasts, it is
no wonder that many cars have been hidden from their mainland counterparts
in garages and barns around the State.
The
pictured car is an example of such rich motoring history and of grass
roots racing from yesteryear.
The
Ellis brothers (Greg and Peter) first raced the car, an MGA 1600,
at a Symmons Plains race meeting late in 1960.
The
MG was a brand new acquisition for Peter and was raced by Greg at
the meeting. It was initially presented in carnation red, but during
further race development that followed it was completely stripped
and resprayed British Racing Green. During this process the car was
prepared by Greg to full race specifications of the day. At the time
he was highly regarded as an engine builder and race tuner by many
drivers.
The
car continued its racing campaign and was present at many events at
Baskerville and Symmons Plains raceways as well as the iconic Longford
track. During this period it also competed at most car club events
across Tasmania, taking out many trophies in Hill Climbs and Standing
Quarter Mile sprints. The following post race meeting result is an
example of such successful outings experienced by Greg in the MGA
1600.
1966
LONGFORD MEETING - MONDAY RACE PROGRAM –
EVENT ONE – AUSTRALIAN TOURIST TROPHY RACE
? 23 LAPS – 103.5 MILES
? 1501 – 2000 cc CLASS
? 1ST PLACE – CAR 60 - ALLAN HAMILTON - 1991 cc PORSCHE (VIC)
? 2ND PLACE – CAR 52 - GREG ELLIS - 1588 cc MGA (TAS)
During
the race the car was regularly clocked at speeds in excess of 100
mph and at a top speed of 111 mph, with Greg reporting the car still
pulling strong past the speed trap. After the race Greg estimated
the speed at about 120 mph at the end of the infamous flying mile.
This
result made the ever reliable MGA, competing in a strong international
field, the first Tasmanian car in this class. In comparison, a standard
MGA 1600 ran out of legs at just over 100 mph, just reaching the magic
‘ton’ - the benchmark for sports cars of the day.
The
car was retired from a successful eight year Tasmanian racing campaign
in 1968 and returned to a daily drive for Peter for a short while.
After this the car was put into storage. A better fate than that for
many of its counterparts of the day! To date the car has only done
43 000 miles and is still in the original 1968 trim, as if its last
race was only yesterday.
Greg
Ellis, like many returning to motor sport, through this car is helping
to rekindle fond memories of an iconic period of motor racing and
The MG Car Club of Tasmania invites you to relive your motoring dreams
from yesteryear.
See
you at Baskerville in October 2010.
Winton
Festival of Speed
Historic
racer Ian Ross (races a Shelby American GT350 in Group S), on behalf
of the Victorian Historic Racing Register is re-launching the long
track Winton Historic meeting, which almost fell into the history
books as a lost event this year.
The
event, known as the Winton Festiv
al
of Speed will be held over the weekend 13-15 August 2010. The event
is set to include the usual array of historic 5th category classes
and will also include regularity and sprint events.
The
Winton Festival of Speed will attract more modern cars than the long-standing
Austin 7 Club historic meeting, held on the last weekend of May each
year.
The
feature marque for the 2010 Festival of Speed is Porsche. Porsche
Cars Australia is said to be featuring demonstrations of the museum-owned
Porsche 935 in which drivers including Jochen Mass took to the 1975
and 1977 World Constructors Championship.
Historicracing.com.au
will provide updates as the e vent draws near.
Sotheby's
Aust
ralia
auction - cars pass in
The
auction was held in the Melbourne suburb of Brightion on Sunday 18th
April 2010 with 138 Lots going to the market (38 of which were cars).
The
highlights of the show were all passed in at near or below reserve,
despite authentication words in two cases from the cars original drivers.
We're referring to Alan Jones (1980 Formula One World Chamipon &
John Goss (1974 Bathurst winner and 1976 Australian Grand Prix winner),
both of which spoke about their time in the Williams FW07 & Ford
Falcon XB Coupe respectively.
The
ex. Bathurst Group C Falcon passed in at a high $610,000. The 1980
F1 Championship winning Williams passed in for a relitively low $520,000
(which was to be referred to the vendor). For the vintage enthusiasts
out there the very desirable Vauxhall 30/98 passed in for $220,000.
The final car of competition note was the ex. works Austin Healey,
which also passed in for the sum of $127,000
As
mentioned above, Alan Jones was present at the auction (pictured here)
and spoke briefly about his carerr prior to the auction and also joked
about the fact that he was a bit fitter in those days, as was confirmed
at the recent 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed where they had to remove
the seat in the sister car to the one being auctioned so he could
fit for his demonstration drive up the hill. Jones further commented
that the successful purchaser would also be in contact with the car's
original mechanic, Wayne Eckersley, who has now returned to Melbourne
and has offered his services to restore the car to race trim "at
mates rates"!
Reg
Hunt was also present at the sale with both cars and bikes from his
collection on the market."The Flying Bedstead" - the 1949
Hunt Special (pictured here) saw spirited bidding and sold for $46,000
- we hope to see this car on the hillclimb circuit, possibly at Rob
Roy soon.
More
picutres of the auction can be found in the gallery - click
here
Sotheby
's
Australia Auction - this Sunday
Sotheby's
Australia is staging its first collector car auction in Melbourne
this Sunday. A recent visit to the preview days of the auction was
made by Charles Rogers. It is to be a true collector car auction with
not only the ex. Alan Jones 1979 Williams F1 car, but also the MG
TC John Blanden Special and the ex. John Goss and Kevin Bartlett Ford
Falcon XA Coupe up for sale.
The
provenence of all cars has been confirmed, including the Williams,
which we understand has been signed off as the genuine car by the
Williams F1 CEO. The fully restored car it seems is in ready to race
condition - would be great for an enthusiast to put it on the race
track again, whether here in Australia where it would compete with
similar era cars in growing fields, or in the USA and European Historic
Grand Prix series for 1970's and 1980's Formula 1 cars.
Check
back after the auction for results and photos.
Alfa
Romeo Centenary display - Lygon St Gardens
On
Wednesday 24 March 2010 I visited a sea of red - Italian territory
- Lygon St, Carlton, Victoria for the Alfa Romeo Club of Victoria's
Centenary display of the Alfa Romeo.
There
were about 60 Alfas on display with the 1921 Alfa G1, 1932 Alfa Romeo
Tipo B "P3" and 1936-1951 Alfa Romeo 159 taking centre stage.
They were complimented by a superb collection of pre-war Alfas including
Terry Valmorbida's 6C, Ian Barker's 6C 1750 Gran Sport and John Lawson's
6C 2300 to name a few.
Pictured
here is the Alfa Romeo Museum's Alfetta.
Alan Jones' 1980 F1 Chamionship winning car to be auctioned
in Melbourne - Williams FW0704
The
car which propelled Australia’s own Alan Jones to the World
Drivers Championship in 1980 is to be auctioned by Sotheby’s
Australia in Melbourne on April 18.
Williams FW07/04 is the most original and authentic FW07 in existence.
It was campaigned by Frank Williams and driven by Alan Jones, to a
succession of wins in 1979, and then the greatest prize of all –
the World Drivers and World Constructors Championships – in
1980.
The car has been part of the world renowned Peter Briggs Family Collection
at the York Motor Museum and later the Fremantle Motor Museum in Western
Australia since 1981. Peter Briggs is only the car’s second
owner.
Australia’s pre-eminent car collector Mr Briggs said that the
Williams was an iconic car from the era of “ground effects”
when Williams took a technological leap over its rivals and created
a car with incredible cornering ability.
Williams FWO7 race cars are recognised as one of the most successful
Grand Prix designs of all time. They were the first Williams "ground
effects" car. The box-like pods on either side of the body carry
carefully shaped "underwing" panels which cause the airflow
beneath them to draw the vehicle down against the road. This aerodynamic
effect loads the tyres to increase their cornering grip and traction
under power and braking. The spring loaded "skirts" which
slide along the road surface are protected by ceramic skids and act
as aerodynamic fences to divide the airflow beneath the car from that
around it. At around 180 mph (approx 295 kph) the vehicle generated
an incredible 1.8 to 2.2 tonnes downforce in addition to its normal
static weight of 580 kgs.
“This is a highly-significant race car for Australia and the
world. Not since Jack Brabham has an Australian dominated Formula
1 to the extent that Alan Jones did in 1979/80,” he said.
Mr Briggs said that his car’s dominant racing career included
four Grand Prix wins from July 1979 to January 1980:
- July 1979 German Grand Prix - 1st (led throughout)
- August 1979 Austrian Grand Prix - 1st
- September 1979 Italian Grand Prix - 9th (battery failure)
- Canadian Grand Prix - 1st (fastest lap)
- October 1979 USA Grand Prix - Retired (lost rear wheel after leading)
- January 1980 Argentine Grand Prix - 1st; pole position; (fastest
lap)
He said that the car was then made the number one test car for Williams
before a crash took it out of service in mid-1980 and it was rebuilt
shortly afterwards as a show car, touring the Middle East.
2/.
How the car came to be in Australia is a great story in itself.
Legenday New Zealand motoring journalist Eoin Young explained recently
how he secured the car from Frank Williams. He said that he went to
the annual Williams “media punch” early in 1981 and the
car was sitting in a hallway of the Williams factory, in its Saudi
livery. He had been keeping an eye out for important cars to source
for Peter Briggs and his museum. He asked Frank Williams why the car
was there (it obviously wasn't on display) and was told that it had
just arrived back from Saudi Arabia having been there on exhibition
as part of a tour by team sponsors. Frank said it was the car “F1
Alan” had crashed in testing at Donington during the summer
of 1980 (the previous year when Alan Jones won the world championship).
It was then sold to Peter Briggs to start a new life in Australia
as a museum exhibit at the Western Australian town of York where it
was displayed for two decades. In 2002, it was taken to the old port
of Fremantle for Mr Briggs’ new motor museum in that city.
In November 1985 it was taken by Peter Briggs from York to Adelaide
where it was put on display during the lead up to, and during, the
first Formula One Grand Prix held in Australia. The Maybach III, the
car driven by Alan Jones' father, Stan Jones, was also in Adelaide,
taking part in the historic support events. Alan Jones spoke at length
to Peter Briggs about his car.
He knew the history of the FW07/04 and said he was pleased it was
in Australia as it was his favourite car. He vividly remembered the
tyre testing crash which resulted in his car being turned into an
exhibition car. AJ commented that the crash was the only time he thought
he could die when driving a Williams. The front tyre came off the
car and headed for him. It bounced off the bodywork, left a black
scrape on his helmet then went over the top of the car. Nevertheless,
he considered that this FW07/04 was the best race car he had driven.
He said that he still has the helmet.
The car will be sold at auction in Melbourne on April 18. Sotheby’s
Australia has re-launched its Collectors’ Motor Cars Department
and the car will be the feature car at the auction. This department
is responsible for Collectors’ cars from the Veteran, Edwardian,
Vintage and pre and post war periods through to modern classics, and
it also focuses its attention on classic motorbikes and motorboats,
number plates and automobilia including automotive art and photography
and luxury items from a motoring lifestyle.
Mr Briggs’ has a long standing relationship with Sotheby’s
stretching back to 1989 when his York Motor Museum and Sotheby’s
conducted a joint auction in the grounds of the University of Western
Australia in Perth.
Release contributed by: Graeme Cocks, WA, 16 March 2010
Phillip
Island Classic - a few days away
The
2010 Phillip Island Classic is set to feature an amazing collection
of Alfa Romeo Grand Prix cars when the event kicks off on Friday 19
March.
Undoubtedly
the pick of the crop will be the appearance of the 1951 Formula 1
World Championship winning Alfa Romeo 159. Juan Manuel Fangio won
three Grands Prix that season to clinch the first of his titles
.
The
history of the 159 dates back to 1938 when the 158 first hit the international
circuit in the Voiturette 1500cc class, support event for the Grands
prix of the time. The 158 was a small sized car with a little 1500cc
straight-8 under the long front engine bonnet. The car was quickly
dubbed by Italian spectators “Alfetta” – meaning
“Little Alfa” in English.
The
159 in Australia is currently in the Richmond showroom of Zagame,
Victoria’s Alfa Romeo dealer, and is where I took time out of
my work schedule to visit and drool (as I couldn’t wait!). The
159 will be alongside a spectacular walk through Alfa’s Grand
Prix history at Phillip Island from 19-21.
A gallery of other shots to
tempt you can be found by clicking
here
VSCC
Night trial
Saturday
27th February saw the VSCC's night trial in western Victoria.
The
evening started with a m
eal
at the Riddell's Creek Hotel before a navigational trial to Richard
Stanley's workshop facility in Lancefield.
I
was navigating for Chris Terdich in his 1924 Wanderer W6 - read more
about the Wanderer in the categories page.
34th
Historic Winton to celebrate
Phillip
Island Classic to set more records
The
2010 classic is hitting the record books again with over 500 entries
confirmed for the meeting, inclu
ding
a wide spread from across Australia and New Zealand.
The
overseas assault is set to expand on last year's small numbers as
the world economy starts to recover. Among the cars to make the journey
will be the welcome return of Peter Giddings' Alfa Romeo Tipo B 'P3'
(pictured here) and a race for Formula 5000's as a warm up for the
following weekends AGP support event at Albert Park.
Pukekohe
photos on-line now - photo gallery
The
NZ Festival has entered the final stages for 2010 with the motor racing
concluding this weekend at Pukekohe.
Perfect
weather prevailed on Friday during practice and qualifying, and continued
until mid-afternoon on Saturday at which time the wather changed significantly
and caused the final 3 races for the afternoon to be cancelled as
the biggest deluge of rain this area of New Zealand has seen for a
number of years occured.
Festival
Chairman Jim Barclay is seen in this picture fighting with the cnditions
as they worsened during a legends parade.
The
organisers have done a terrific job in not only organising for the
travel of 110 racing cars from around the world to make up the 400
strong entry list, but have also successfully succeeded in promoting
the event across New Zealand with more than 2,900 pre-event ticket
sales for 6-day passes, a crowd of 25,000 spectators at Hamptom Downs
and around 15,000 strong crowd at Pukekohe.
An
article on the action thus far can be found in the articles
section & photos can be found in the photo
gallery.
400
historic racing cars hit Hampton Downs, New Zealand
It's
all happening at the brand new Hampton Downs Motorsport Park with
the Bruce McLaren Festival now on. We all arrived at the track bright
and early on Thursday 21st Janu
ary
to un-load more than 30 shipping containers of some of the world's
most significant historic racing cars.
Amoung
these a massive collection of cars from Australia. A photo gallery
of today's viewing has been uploaded in the gallery section - click
here
I
spent my day assisting with the un-loading and set up of the Elfin
Catalina FJ and Elfin MR8-AC F5000 with Bill Hemming. Our two containers
also included the Stanguelini FJ of Norm Faulkner (with visiting mechanic
Jim Hardman), the Lotus 18 FJ of Kim Shearn, Cooper T70 F1 of Adam
Berryman, the Van Dieman FF of Derek Wickett,the Brabham BT6 FJ of
Per Struass, the Brabham BT36 F3 of Jeff Brown, the McLaren M1A of
Max Warwick and the Matich SR4 of Nigel Tait.
Further
details of the early action can be found by reading the article by
clicking here.
NZ
Festival - this weekend!
Friday
22 January will see the cars hit the track at the 2010 NZ Festival
of Motor Sport. the Festival is to celebrate the motor racing life
of Bruce McLaren with over 400 cars to compete across two weekends
- the first at the new Hampton Downs MotorSport Park.
The
Hamptoon Downs track design and construction has been the brainchild
of F5000 racer Tony Roberts. Its undulating layout will make for quite
an action-packed weekend with plenty of dices anticipated.
Many
of the 400 cars are coming from Australia, hence why we will be there
to bring all the latest from the meeting to those at home.
34th Historic Winton, Benalla
Sat 29 & Sun 30 May 2010
A weekend of non-stop racing featuring over 400 historic racing cars
and motorbikes from the 1920s to the 1980s. Celebrations include 100
years of Alfa Romeo and the 60th year of the local A7 Club. Highlights
are the ever-expanding Special Interest Car Park and Classic Car &
Bike Club displays, and a group of ‘Depression Era Aussie Ferals',
non-restored but still running and registered. Entry fees - Sat $20,
Sun $30, competition paddock $5, children 14 and under n/c. Historic
Winton is conducted by the Austin 7 Club with assistance from the
Historic Motorcycle Racing Association Vic. www.historicwinton.org
Fri
28 May 2010
In association with Historic Winton, a motoring tour of Benalla district
assembling 9am at the Benalla Art Gallery. The tour concludes with
a 'Shine & Show' display outside the Benalla Civic Centre 3-5pm.
Proudly supported by the RACV, Benalla Rural City Council and The
Austin 7 Club, organisers of Historic Winton. www.historicwinton.org
ex.
Bira MG K3 passes hands
historicracing.com.au
has heard that the pale blue MG K3, owned and raced pre-WWII by Prince
Bira of Siam is t
o
leave the Bradey family, who have owned the car for more than 70 years.
Gossip
around the pit area at the 2009 Lobthal Grand Carnival had it on good
authority that Phil Bradey had the car quietly on the market. An article
in a recent car club magazine confirmed the sale had taken place with
the historically significant car to be re-located to Victoria in the
hands of keen MG enthusiast (and regular historic racing competitor)
John Gillet.
Gillet
is best known for his exploits over a long period of time in his red
MG TC Special, and more recently in another of his stable, a four-seat
MG NB Magnette.
Another
significant racing car owned for many years by Melbournian Stuart
Anderson is currently in France and will go up for auction at the
Bonhams Retromobile sale in late Janurary 2010.
The
car is the monoposto Talbot Darruq, which many enthusiasts got to
see for the first time after a 20 year restoration project at the
2009 Phillip Island Classic and Historic Winton events.
VSCC
Two-wheel brake run
I
have recently been granted membership of the Vintage Sports Car Club
of Victoria. It has been an aim for sometime to own a pre-war car,
but with the affordibility currently out of my reach I decided that
getting involved in the VSCC may provide me with an excuse to enjoy
this passion for the pre-war automobile.
The
first club event following my joining the club was the annual 2 wheel
brake run, which in 2009 was held on Sunday 13 December.
I
was fortunate enough to become navigator for the day in a beautiful
Delage DI Tourer. Having not navigated for along time I was a bit
rusty for the first section and we subsequently got lost on several
occasions, mainly in the streets around Albert Park and South Melbourne.
Around
40 cars turned up for the start at Dallas Brooks Drive in the Domain
with everything from a 1903 Clement to Austin 7, MG, a few thirsty
Vauxhall's, Delages and a magnificently prepared Hispano Suiza Alfonso,
which drove all the way from Druin that morning.
2010
should see plenty more events on the VSCC calendar, many of which
will be included here. Photos of the day have also been uploaded on
the Photo Gallery
page.
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