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you have a news item to add, please email these to Charles Rogers
hysterical@historicracing.com.au
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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