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Old Formula Vees - Group V in Australia


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#1701 Wirra

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Posted 18 July 2023 - 01:50

A few days ago, the 15th July, marked 50 years since the last Warwick Farm open meeting.

 

That meeting was also the first race in my home-built Wirra. The components were produced as ‘foreign orders’ at Hawker de Havilland, formally a Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) facility. Fellow motorsport-orientated employees, Alan Barrow, Paul Bernasconi and Stan Pobjoy provided support.

 

My good friend Neil Willox, and I, built it in mum’s shed. The name came from Wirraway (Aboriginal for 'Challenge'), an aircraft built by CAC. I sold it after 12 months and purchased my first Elfin. The Wirra was last heard of in the 90s as possibly a rotary powered hillclimb car, somewhere in the Northern Tablelands.

Together with our long-suffering wives, Neil and I dined at the Warwick Farm Racecourse Restaurant in the evening, downing some Wirra Wirra wine to celebrate the anniversary - good times and good friends.

 

WF photo: Lance J Ruting

 

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Neil-Wirra.jpg

 

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Edited by Wirra, 18 July 2023 - 01:51.


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#1702 Ray Bell

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Posted 18 July 2023 - 02:19

Fifty years!

 

How I remember that meeting, though it was not one of the best ever seen there. But I remember it for the presence of Karen McPherson, there to race her Torana.

 

I met her just the once... she showed me her engagement ring, I asked her how she liked the circuit, but she really didn't care.

"I just came here to come between them," she told me. "So when are you and Peter getting married?" I asked. "We're not, I just wanted the ring."

The Michelle Downs thing happened very quickly soon afterwards...

 

Not intending to derail your thoughts or water down your wine, Peter, but that is the thing I recall about that race meeting. Your effort was not to be sneezed at, a first-time-out result of tenth place, a best lap of 1:51.9, Denis Riley had the win with a best of 1:45.9, but he'd been going very quick for a while and was by now into his Rennmax. You finished in a pack of about five cars with nothing at all between you, it was probably a bit daunting to you as you crossed the line in the middle of this pack. And John Smith was among them in his Nota with a best lap of 1:53.4.

 

A nice thing for you to celebrate...



#1703 Wirra

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Posted 18 July 2023 - 03:47

Ray. There are a few memories of that meeting.

 

After attending almost every meeting for 10+ years I was amazed how little I actually knew of the track. Apart from knowing the next corner was a left or right I didn't understand braking points, radius, etc. I was 23rd in practice.
 

When the Starter flinched I dropped the clutch - a technique I'd practiced at the lights on Parramatta Rd for many years. I passed the row in front before they'd moved and was up alongside the next row as they got moving. I thought I'd missed a false start flag, or something, and had made a goose of myself so I backed off, that resulted in me being repassed. I pressed on, slipstreaming down Hume Straight and pulling out to outbrake a car on just about every lap. It was all rather gentlemanly - no Verstappen weaving!

 

I still tell anyone that will listen, that I beat John Smith!

 

Bitter disappointment that Geoff Sykes refused to sign any provisional licences - he claimed no cars slowed sufficiently when a car crashed on The Causeway. It meant I didn't have a full licence to race at Bathurst - my only ever opportunity. Smithy had a last minute run at Hume Weir or Winton to have his full licence in time.
 

Plenty of highs and lows followed. I still find it amazing how communication technology is allowing us to share and reminisce of those days.

 

Could you email the info you have on those lap times? I couldn't find them on the Braithwaite site. Thanks.


Edited by Wirra, 18 July 2023 - 03:50.


#1704 Ray Bell

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Posted 18 July 2023 - 05:39

If you could e.mail me the list of drivers in the race I'll look them up and send them back to you...

 

Drivers I know were in the race:

 

Winner - Denis Riley, 1:45.9

Second - Colin Merz, 1:45.7

Third - Laurie Campfield, 1:48.3

Fourth - David Groves, 1:48.5

Fifth - J. Hook, 1:47.9

Geoff Stone, 1:48.2; D. Dunsmore, 1:47.8; A. Conolly, 1:51.8; K. Calderbank, 1:58.9; J. Thorn, 1:48.9; Graham Engel, 1:47.9; Peter Williamson, 1:50.8; John Smith, 1:53.4; Ralph Schofield, 1:51.5;  G. Harper, 1:53.2; G. Shortland, 1:55.5.

 

I think that's all the drivers mentioned in the RCN report, any others you want I'll check up on them.