Historic racing 2012

The GN duo had an epic battle at Mallory last week-end; superb precision driving from both.

I've never seen a GN understeer before, and now there's two of them

I've never seen a GN understeer before, and now there's two of them

GNs and 'Nashes have initial understeer, like any other [rear-drive] car with no differential. The characteristic oversteer we are used to is the really more of a tail-out powerslide and if you look at the photo and work out where they have come from I'm not sure that's not what they are doing.

A great day's racing at Brands Hatch on Saturday for the HSCC Superprix, sadly family matters prevented me going on Sunday.

Large grids and some close racing plus I had the pleasure of meeting Simon Arron for the first time.


I loved this Porsche 356A and support vehicle.


John Delane's Tyrrell 006 at South Bank


Mark Dwyer in the Lola T400. The F5000s sounded wonderful on the main straight


Ex Alain Prost Martini Mk21b driven by Laurent Vallery-Masson


John Arnold - Elva 100 turns in at Druids


The Formula 3 race was a highlight of the day for me. Pierre Lemasson's Martini Mk39 leads David Clark's Ralt and Sebastien Clouzeau's Martini Mk42


Sadly Clouzeau's Martini was rather second hand after this off at the exit of Druids and he was quite rightly rather upset about the damage.


You don't see many of these racing.


David Methley's Formula Junior winning Brabham BT6


The Guards Trophy race was good value as usual.


Peter Williams in the March 782 leads a gaggle of cars into Clearways in the Formula 2 race


Michael Lyons was an easy winner in the Derek Bell Trophy race.

David

Edited by David Lawson, 02 July 2012 - 09:09.

GNs and 'Nashes have initial understeer, like any other [rear-drive] car with no differential. The characteristic oversteer we are used to is the really more of a tail-out powerslide and if you look at the photo and work out where they have come from I'm not sure that's not what they are doing.

I left the kerb of the hairpin in to give a clue which way they were going! I'm not sure that they were really understeering, they have both just put on a whole armful of lock and a split-second later the tails will be coming round as the boot goes in.

A particularly nice shot of the Guards race David! Those little plastic cars with small engines in amongst the big bangers.

Edited by elansprint72, 02 July 2012 - 08:48.

It goes without saying, but I will say it anyway - More wonderful photography, David. Many thanks. Pleased to read that the clash with Goodwood didn't affect the quality of the entry. The F3 race looked to be an excellent entry with various continentals boosting the field.

A couple for Lord Taylor of Lotus...



...the Elan of Vicky & Bob Brooks (top) and Nick Fleming's custard-hued counterpart.

You don't see many of these racing.

We had three at Aintree on Saturday plus a rather nice GT!

A couple for Lord Taylor of Lotus...

We are most graciously pleased to view these.

Edited by elansprint72, 02 July 2012 - 10:31.

The F3 race looked to be an excellent entry with various continentals boosting the field.

There was a large French presence with their Martinis.

A few more of the continental contingent.


Bruno Lambert's Martini Mk37


Paolo Barilla in a Martini Mk34


Jean-Pierre Eynard Machet in a Martini Mk31


Gerard Gamand in a Pygmee MDB17 in the Formula 2 race.

David

There was a large French presence with their Martinis.

A few more of the continental contingent.


Bruno Lambert's Martini Mk37


Paolo Barilla in a Martini Mk34


Jean-Pierre Eynard Machet in a Martini Mk31


Gerard Gamand in a Pygmee MDB17 in the Formula 2 race.

David

Cirrus just rang me to say about the pictures.Brilliant David. Barillo passed me up the inside of Paddock. Good move ,I was miffed but pleased to be dicing with a Monaco podium driver.

Thank you Delta, is this you?

If not it is an excuse for another photo of the excellent F3 race on Saturday.


Iain Rowley's March 793 leads Patrick D'Aubreby's Ralt RT3 and Hugh Price in a Chevron B38

David

GNs and 'Nashes have initial understeer, like any other [rear-drive] car with no differential. The characteristic oversteer we are used to is the really more of a tail-out powerslide and if you look at the photo and work out where they have come from I'm not sure that's not what they are doing.

Yes, I understand that, but when Ron Footitt was racing the Cognac, he would have had it broadside before the corner, these modern tyres are far to grippy

Edited by mikeC, 03 July 2012 - 08:11.

Thank you Delta, is this you?

If not it is an excuse for another photo of the excellent F3 race on Saturday.


Iain Rowley's March 793 leads Patrick D'Aubreby's Ralt RT3 and Hugh Price in a Chevron B38

David

Wow!!!!.Thanks again.Unfortunatly they both got past me. Bit rusty after two years out of the March cockpit.

News from David Abbott regarding the forthcoming F5000 season down under:

EARLY START FOR 10TH ANNUAL MSC F5000 SERIES SEASON
A starring roll at the annual Muscle Car Masters meeting in Sydney on the first weekend of September means an earlier-than-usual start for the 10th annual MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series.

Though the final venues and dates of all seven rounds of this season's anniversary series have yet to be signed off the organising committee has confirmed those of the first three rounds this year as well as the fourth, fifth and sixth early in the New Year.

The appearance at the popular Muscle Car Masters meeting will be one of two for the MSC series across the Tasman this season, with a return to the recently refurbished and re-named Sydney Motorsport Park (nee Eastern Creek) circuit in late November for the 2012 Australian Tasman Revival historic motor racing meeting.

In-between is the first New Zealand round at the annual Wigram Revival meeting at Christchurch's Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna Park on October 27 & 28 and after the Tasman Revival meeting in Sydney over the November 24/25 weekend come the back-to-back fourth and fifth MSC series rounds at the two NZ Festival of Motor Racing - celebrating Denny Hulme meetings at Hampton Downs over consecutive weekends in late January 2013.

Defending MSC series champion Steve Ross (McRae GM1) heads a 14-strong Kiwi assault on the Muscle Car Masters meetings with support from a key group of local racers including three-time former series champion Ken Smith (Lola T430), 2011/12 season series runner-up Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) and fellow Aucklanders Roger Williams (Lola T332) and Clark Proctor (March 73A).

Expected to take the battle to the Kiwis, meanwhile, are top Australian category exponents Andrew Robson and James Davison (both Lola T332), and Bryan Sala (Matich A50).

As in previous years, at the high summer rounds of the MSC series in New Zealand the local fields will be supplemented by entries from category aficionados from the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.

The New Zealand F5000 Association now has 88 owner/drivers with race-ready cars on its books, the majority - 49 - Kiwis, but with its own domestic series finally up and running Australia can now boast 18 to supplement the 10 from the UK, one (current Lady Wigram trophy holder Jay Esterer) from Canada and balance from the United States of America.

This season at least 19 of the Kiwi regulars are committed to contest all rounds of the series with another four doing at least two or three of the other rounds here.

Nine Australian drivers have also indicated that they will be doing rounds of the series on both sides of the Tasman this season.

UK regulars Mark Dwyer (Lola T400) Greg Thornton (Chevron B24), Michael Whatley (Surtees TS8), Frank, Judy and Michael Lyons (Gurney Eagle, Lola T332 & Lola T400) and Peter Dunn (March 73A) have also confirmed their intention to return, as have Americans Bruce Lesson (McLaren M10B), Harin de Silva (Surtees TS8) and Eric Haga (Lola T190), and Canadian Jay Esterer (McRae GM1).

Expected to debut new cars this season, meanwhile, are series regular Poul* Christie and fellow Aucklander Frank Karl. Both are currently putting the finishing touches to freshly restored McLaren M10 models.

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, Smith & Davies, Avon Tyres and Exide

.

a few from the recent Brands Hatch HSCC meeting Saturday 30th June 2012















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a few from the recent Brands Hatch HSCC meeting Saturday 30th June 2012

I like the use of slow shutter speed

I like the use of slow shutter speed

Indeed Alan. I'm left cold by the results produced by the 'sports' mode on my Canon. I like a sensation of speed when photographing fast cars

Maserati SWB(!). This hit the tyre wall; 5mtrs further along the track it would have hit solid concrete.

Le Mans Classic 2012.

Edited by elansprint72, 12 July 2012 - 07:12.

Apparently the 300S s/n 3061 of Franco Meiners.

Vince H.

A few pictures from today’s preview day for the Castle Combe Autumn Classic meeting on 6th October:


AC Ace Bristol


1934 Talbot 105 Alpine Tourer


Ex-works Triumph TR2


Aston Martin

And a practice Le Mans-style start


The Autumn Classic meeting will include races for Historic Aston Martins, pre-1966 Jaguars, the Healey Driver International Big Healey race for the John Gott Memorial Trophy, FiSCar 50’s Intermarque, HRVA V8s and VSCC pre-war sports cars – and no races for modern cars.

In the heat of the night...




... except it was not hot.

Maserati SWB(!). This hit the tyre wall; 5mtrs further along the track it would have hit solid concrete.

Le Mans Classic 2012.

A very big ouch. Tyre walls sometimes do more damage to the car than concrete as concrete walls allow you to bounce off whereas tyres grip.
Though in this case the tyres were probably the better option,,, especially for the driver.

And now the 'SWB' part is more appropriate...

That's definitely taken some wheelbase out of the right hand side. One of the things that is a serious risk in Historic Racing.

In the heat of the night...

Pete - It would become quite tiresome for members if I were to heap praise on every b/w photo of yours I enjoy. For me each is like looking at a page in an old 'Automobile Year'. Suffice to say "luv em" and keep them coming.

Edited by Wirra, 13 July 2012 - 08:34.

Sydney Motorsport Park (used to be Eastern Creek) on June 30 / July 1





You feel it coming - let alone hear it.


Bruce Moxon

Pete - It would become quite tiresome for members if I were to heap praise on every b/w photo of yours I enjoy. For me each is like looking at a page in an old 'Automobile Year'. Surffice to say "luv em" and keep them coming.

Thanks Wirra; I know that I'm playing to a limited audience here, but if only one person shares my taste in "motoring snaps" (as a gallery owner once called them- he missed a trick, the one down the road moved his Lowrys to hang six of my "snaps"!) then I'm satisfied. I suppose, if I were a member of a photography forum, I could stick them on there but those folks mostly would not be interested in the cars.

This was a week ago at the Le Mans Classic.

Monica? Close, but no cigar...

Village, Le Mans Classic.

Edited by elansprint72, 15 July 2012 - 20:58.

Despite the fact that this is all a bit of theatre for J. Public (they stop and buckle-up just around the corner) some of these folks, having done a decent practice-time for grid position; manage to have quite respectable accidents getting off the line.

Bobby Verdon-Roe at Silverstone just before climbing aboard his McLaren MP4 to set pole by an astonishing 4.5 seconds in soaking wet conditions for the Historic F1 race supporting the recent GP. New untested rims without drive pegs precluded him even making the grid for the race.


By giraffe138 at 2012-07-17

Monica? Close, but no cigar...

Village, Le Mans Classic.

Oh my...

Not normally a fan of T&A shots, but this once...




Bruce Moxon

Bobby Verdon-Roe at Silverstone just before climbing aboard his McLaren MP4 to set pole by an astonishing 4.5 seconds in soaking wet conditions for the Historic F1 race supporting the recent GP. New untested rims without drive pegs precluded him even making the grid for the race.


By giraffe138 at 2012-07-17

And the caption is..... Required equipment in place...Lets do it.

Oh my...

Not normally a fan of T&A shots, but this once...




Bruce Moxon

There is a lot more to the Le Mans Classic than old blokes going round and round in old cars!

Part of my brief was to shoot the Village and it's "retro-attractions".

Incredible image(s), Pete!

Your style is such that the photos look like they could well be "back in the day." Terrific shots and nostalgic post-processing.

Incredible image(s), Pete!

Your style is such that the photos look like they could well be "back in the day." Terrific shots and nostalgic post-processing.

E1,
One does one's best! Back then it was acceptable to put out grainy B&W shots in the name of atmosphere/expediency and J. public opened their newspaper, saw those photos and accepted them as normal. Arty-farty photographers (and most of us jobbing snappers at grim Northern-hemisphere racing circuits) pushed the film to produce even more grain, in order to get an image which would print in those pre-Murdoch days.
My current mission is to try to capture that old atmosphere but without the grainy-grittyness; because J.Public has moved on and now expects HD everything, anything less will not register on their radar.
Of course my Nikon F is still loaded with Tri-X and, when I have the time, makes the odd appearance track-side but, damn, wasn't it hard work?

Edit: regarding the last shot: I was struck by the range of expressions on the faces, rather than whatever those cars are (real, worth billions; or kit-cars loved by their owners... it does not matter).

Edited by elansprint72, 18 July 2012 - 21:35.

Totally understand and agree with everything you said. Yes, per "pre-Murdoch," there's something about that old "enough grain to feed the cattle" look. I'm sure at some near point, some of us in the slightly older set will ask, "Can you add some grain to that, it's just too dang clean!"

I love the expressions on the last one... and especially the shooter at far left. Takes me right back to 1966... (IIC) Glad you're still enjoying film at times, we'll be doing some 4x5 within weeks and I can't wait (despite the pains both physical and financial).

There's just something about what you're doing that is "historic" on both capture ( ) composition and post-processing nostalgic levels, I love it. Your use of clouds is also striking as can be!

For all the "bad Brit weather" we Yanks hear about, I'd take it! Shooting anything here in the US West anymore is becoming rather Saharan...

A couple of us were talking about dragging out our oldest film cameras to shoot a day at the historics. Nothing has come of it yet. I'm still waiting for the old man to come good with the Yashica 635 he's promised me. It has both 2.25 x 2.25 and 35mm backs. Lovely old thing it is.

I actually have a working (as far as I can tell) Box Brownie. And four or so folding 'pocket' cameras. And about six 25mm Pentaxes (the indestructible ones) and several other odd-ball 35mm range-finder jobs. Every now and then I provide props for local stage productions.

But yes, I rather look forward to shooting with film again - just for the discipline - only having a roll or two of film makes you very careful, as I remember. Now, it's nothing to shoot 1,000 images in a day.






Bruce Moxon

Edited by brucemoxon, 19 July 2012 - 07:23.

By belmondo74 at 2012-07-19

Edited by Belmondo, 19 July 2012 - 07:43.

Pity about that Masser Sports Car.

Owner had just paid 4 Million Euro for it ,understand previous Tuesday and it wasn't him driving!That's the story.

Further details from Castle Combe on the 6th October Autumn Classic.

“CASTLE COMBE LAUNCHES MAJOR NEW CLASSIC EVENT

The Castle Combe circuit's first meeting exclusively dedicated to vintage, classic and historic
racing is gearing up to become an important fixture on the racing calendar.

The Carole Nash Insurance Autumn Classic on Saturday October 6 is already attracting interest
from local enthusiasts with 'secret' stables of machinery hitherto unseen in the West Country and
from the invited clubs, keen to associate themselves with the 62 year old venue.

Of those, the Vintage Sports Car Club is eagerly awaiting its long overdue return to Castle
Combe, where it will run a race for 'Pre War Sports Cars'. Amongst the promised entries is the
wonderful 1934 Talbot 105 Alpine Tourer owned by Stephen Curtis from Westbury.

Stephen has owned the car since 1976 and has competed extensively in it in the UK and on the
continent, always driving the car to and from meetings on the road. The car's 6 cylinder, 3.4 litre
engine produces 140 bhp, which will power it to 110 mph.

Many of the anticipated entries are for cars with important provenance, such as the 1931 MG Ctype
Midget which was raced at the legendary French circuit of Monthlery in period and is owned
by Barry Foster of Glastonbury. Barry has raced the 747cc supercharged car at venues ranging
from Monaco to South Africa.

Races for fifties sports cars, historic Aston Martins, 'Big Healeys', Pre 1960's Jaguars and a
variety of V8 machinery are encouraging many other West Country enthusiasts to reveal some of
the treasures locked away in their garages.

Neil Fender, the owner of three ex-works Triumph TRs, based in Bath said, "It has been very
encouraging to hear the ethos behind the Autumn Classic. As a racer and low key classic car
dealer I feel so excited to have such an event on our doorstep and we will be supporting it in
every way to help make it a success."

A very eagerly awaited race is that for Austin Healey 100s and 3000s, organised by Healey Driver
International, whose competitions secretary, Joe Cox, is based in Bristol. He said, "Castle Combe
is the spiritual home of big Healeys, because of the efforts of such as John Chatham in the '60's.
The Combe race will feature drivers from Holland, Switzerland, Sweden and Germany as well as
the best known UK drivers.

They will compete for 'The John Gott Memorial Trophy', kindly sponsored by Bristol Forklifts Ltd,
whose boss, Julian Bronson, may also join in, still smiling from his fourth win at the Monaco
Classic."

Mark Campbell from Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, the race Director for the Fifties Sports Car
Racing Club, said," Several of our drivers, including myself, live in the Cotswolds, so this event is
the best possible news for us." Campbell will be racing his ex works Aston Martin DB2, an original
un-restored car, which competed at Le Mans.”

Look forward to being at Castle Combe on October 6th :-)

Martin Gough has been kind enough to upload his GT40 in-car footage @ 2012 Le Mans Classic:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Oh man, now that is cool. Some people really know how to live!

Thanks for the links.

Martin Gough has been kind enough to upload his GT40 in-car footage @ 2012 Le Mans Classic:

These were shot during the kit-car laps, I believe.

Sydney Motorsport Park (nee Eastern Creek) and the Historic Sports and Racing Car Association's winter (cold, cold, cccc-cold) meeting.

My Dad's old Formula Vee



Les Wright's Buick V8-powered Brabham



Aaron Lewis's Matich



John Gale's Surtees F1 car



Not much pre-1960 stuff this time - sadly. But a very noice Bugatti in Richard Longes' hands helped



Ground-pounders. Duncan McKellar's McLaren M8E leads the Elfin of Robert Tweedie



These two raced like this all weekend. Herb Neal (25, Elfin 600) and Wayne Wilson (Brabham)




Bruce Moxon

Croft Nostalgia meeting this weekend and excellent entry on HSCC website - highlights including big F Junior field, various Lyons family F 5000s (some of which may be quicker than others but thanks for coming ).saloons, HIstoric FF1600 and Guards Trophy race.I am local to circuit so will be there throughout- happy to help any Croft first timers.