December 2007
The Historic Racing and Sports Car Club’s annual Taupo TT event was another cracker weekend (appropriate with Christmas approaching). Superb weather, plenty of races, and the hallmark of HRSCC meetings – a complete lack of bureaucracy and officialdom. One of the highlights of Sunday was the after-match get-together and prizegiving with MSNZ Steward Alan Curry presenting lemons to those who screwed up. For the record NZFJR members all-but scooped the prizes with Nigel taking the Classic Cover Trophy for the feature race; Wayne Carter getting the presentation and sportsmanship award; and John Rapley the Ian Ivers Memorial.
The feature event was for front-engined Formula Juniors and this was contrived in an effort to be the first in the world to run a race to highlight Formula Junior’s Golden Anniversary – it might have been a month early for the 2008 celebrations but we reckon we can lay claim to being the first !
We had a really good entry, 12 cars, which is an all-time record for NZFJR (congratulations Gentlemen !)… there were a couple of deletions during the weekend but we will ignore these so as to only report the positive. It was great to have Walter Findlay running with us in the wonderfully unique Elva-DKW, nice to welcome David Fenton back from the US and racing in his Lotus 18 Ford, and to have Graham Main guesting in Bruce Carter’s Elfin Catalina (Carterlina ?). Bruce has been a bit crook of late so we all wish him a speedy recovery and a hasty return to our grid.
The MG Car Club’s Manfeild event was a late entry to our “championship” and John Rapley was the only Junior able to get there so he scored max.
Total points scored : Brabham BT2 Ford J. Rapley 56; Cooper T76 BMC W. Carter 25; Brabham BT9 Ford A. Woolf 24; Taraschi Fiat R. Herrick 28; Lotus 18 Ford J. Holmes 22; Cooper T56 BMC I. Garmey 22; Emeryson BMC P. Benbrook 21; Gemini Mk3a J. Barclay 17; Lotus 18 Ford C. Abbott 12; Elva 100 BMC R. Williams 11; Lotus 18 Ford D. Fenton 11; Elva 100 DKW W. Findlay 4.
Next events are the big ones, the Historic Racing Club’s Formula 5000 GP and Formula Junior 50th Anniversary at Pukekohe, 26-27 January 2008 and HRC Tasman Revival and Round 2 of FJ Golden Jubilee series, Taupo 2 and 3 February. Forget those Christmas holidays at the beach, have a look at that locking brake, that niggling clutch snick and shove some grease in the wheel bearings. On the serious side, it was reported at Taupo last weekend that race gas will only be available from BP Tauhora on Saturday mornings so it may pay to get a couple of extra 20 litre buckets and fill them before you leave home. We have discussed approaching one of the mini tanker companies in the hope of getting a small tanker or trailer of leaded 105 octane at the circuit. More on that as it develops.
We are now down to the final arrangements for the 11 cars going to Melbourne in February organising marine insurance and import carnets. There is still one space available or a page in Classic Driver Magazine and it is not too late to jump in to it, but you had better be quick ! On the home front we still need a couple of sponsors to take up some track-side advertising, it is exceptionally good value with guaranteed television exposure. If you think you may know of a company, or individual, who can help please give Nigel a call on 09 418-0676 or e-mail nigel@ecpltd.co.nz
Compliments of the Season to you and yours
Ian Garmey
