167 replies to this topic

[275 GTB-4]

1 F5000/F1
2 Tasman Formula
3 Formula Junior, Invited F3 and Formula Vee
4 Invited Early Historic pre 1960 Racing & Sports Racing and Sports cars
5 Invited 1960 Saloons & GTs
6 Invited 1970s Saloons & GTs
7 Invited 1980s Saloons & GTs
8 Invited Super Historics – Can-Am & Single Seaters
9 Invited Formula Ford – 40th Anniversary of FF in NZ
10 Invited Sports, Sports Racing & GT cars
11a Classic Motor Cycles – pre 1963 Racing class for 250/350/500cc – first weekend only
11b –Muscle Cars – second weekend only

http://www.nzfmr.co.nz/index.php

Looks like a fabulous celebration...will be interesting to see the range of cars he drove and possibly meet the man himself!

[Keir]

Looks to be a great event. Just to see Chris behind the wheel in the AF101 will validate the admission.

[giffo]

This thread had been buried for a while so let’s bring it back

In a little over 24hrs time my family and I will be on a plane headed to NZ for this event which will start in just under a weeks time. To say I can't wait would be an understatement. After a very successful Tasman Revival at Eastern Creek the West Australian contingent of drivers and cars (9 of them) will be out burning rubber at the Hampton downs circuit.

NZ TNF’ers drop by and say hello. Giffo GWG car # 59

[wenoopy]

Not complaining, but it would be nice to see a list of competitors some time soon.

[Jerry Entin]

BATTLE FOR MSC F5000 TASMAN CUP REVIVAL SERIES HONOURS BURSTS BACK INTO LIFE

The battle for 2010/11 MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series honours bursts back into life at Hampton Downs this weekend with defending series champion Ken Smith (Lola T430) holding an early points lead after another dominant performance at the opening round in Christchurch last October.

Smith won the Lady Wigram Trophy race for a record-equaling fourth time at the Christchurch meeting and heads to the first of two MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series rounds at the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing - Chris Amon meetings at the Hampton Downs circuit over consecutive weekends this month with a 14 point lead in the 2010/11 standings over Christchurch's Tony Richards (Lola T332) with last season's series runner-up Steve Ross (McRae GM1) from Dunedin a further 12 points back in third.

With the regular MSC series field bolstered by the addition of visitors from the UK and Canada at least 29 of the crowd-pleased V8-powered Formula 5000 cars plus the 1974 Amon AF1-01 Formula 1 car of the founder and president of the UK's Masters Historic Racing Series, Ron Maydon, are set to face the starter this weekend and next at the two New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing - Chris Amon meetings.

Included in that group is a six-strong contingent of drivers from the UK, with Peter Dunn (March 72\3A) and Michael Whatley (Surtees TS8) stepping back into their New Zealand-based cars and Mark Dwyer, (Lola T400), father and son Frank and Michael Lyons (Gurney Eagle FA74 & Lola T400 respectively) and Greg Thornton (Chevron B24) again shipping theirs out from Great Britain.

This weekend's meeting will also see the first appearance for the 2010/11 season of several local series regulars including Alastair Russell (McRae GM1), Hamish Paterson (Chevron B32), Warwick Mortimer (Surtees TS5), Calven Bonney (Begg 018), Stuart Lush (McRae GM1), Shayne Windelburn (Lola T400), Kerry McIntosh (Begg FM2) and Poul Christie (Lola T190).

The meeting will also see the first North Island appearance of series newcomers Andrew Higgins (Lola T400) and former New Zealand saloon car racing standouts, Peter Sundberg (Lola T332) and Reg Cook (Lola T400).

With four different cars to race at the two Hampton Downs meetings - a Swift DB4 Formula Pacific, Lola Formula Ford and Toyota Corona Touring Car as well as his Lola T430 F5000 - Ken Smith will be one of the busiest drivers at the Hampton Downs meetings.

His priority, however, will be the F5000.

"Too right," he says, "We were doing 1.02s there last year and I reckon we can knock another second at least off that this time around. We had a pretty good run at Hampton last year so we're obviously in with a good show this time around, but then again so are three or four other people so I'll be giving it 110%, don't you worry about that!'

Chris Amon, the New Zealand driver whose stellar international career this year's two New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing celebrates, raced two Formula 5000 single-seaters here in New Zealand, a Lotus 70 in 1971 and a Talon MR1A in 1975.

The Talon (the car that Aaron Burson will race this weekend) will be one of a number of cars either once driven by or associated with Amon which will be either raced or actively displayed at the two Hampton Down meetings.

The two meetings will have complementary programmes with classic motorcycles supplementing the single-seater and historic/classic saloons this weekend and Muscle Cars doing the honours next.

At the second meeting there will also be a special F1-style qualifying shoot-out on Friday January 28 to determine the grid for the first MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series race with two timed sessions to find the fastest ten and a third to establish the starting order of that ten.

For more information about the two NZ Festival of Motor Racing - Chris Amon meetings go to www.nzfmr.co.nz.

After the two NZ Festival of Motor Racing - Chris Amon meetings the MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series returns to the South Island for the Skope Classic and Evolution Motorsport Classic Speedfest meetings in February before crossing the Tasman for the 2010/11 final at the Qantas Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix meeting at Melbourne's Albert Park in March.

The Grand Prix meeting was not on the original 2010/11 calendar because it is by invitation only. But the invitation to return for a third time came just before Christmas and the F5000 Association was again honoured to accept it.

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.

2010/11 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series

Points after Rnd 1 of 6
1. Ken Smith (Lola T430) 84 points
2. Tony Richards (Lola T332) 70
3. Steve Ross (McRae GM1) 58
4. Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) 54
5. Andrew Higgins (Lola T400) 44
6. Sefton Gibb (Lola T332) 41
7. Brett Willis (Lola T300) 36
8. Ian Clements (Lola T332) 30
9. Russell Greer (Lola T332) 22
10. Reg Cook (Lola T400) 18
11. David Abbott (Lola T430) 15
12=. Lindsay O'Donnell (Begg FM5) 8
12=. Tony Roberts (March 73A/1) 8
14. Peter Burson (McRae GM1) 4
15. Stan Redmond (Lola T332) 3
16. Peter Sundberg (Lola T332) 1

Calendar
Rnd 1: Oct 30/31 2010 Christchurch Casino Wigram revival meeting Powerbuilt Tools Raceway @ Ruapuna Park Christchurch
Rnd 2: Jan 21-23 2011 NZ Festival of Motor Racing - Chris Amon meeting x 1 Hampton Downs Auckland
Rnd 3: Jan 28-30 2011 NZ Festival of Motor Racing - Chris Amon meeting x 2 Hampton Downs Auckland
Rnd 4: Feb 05/06 2011 Skope Classic meeting Powerbuilt Tools Raceway @ Ruapuna Park Christchurch
Rnd 5: Feb 19-20 2011 Evolution Motorsport Classic Speedfest meeting, Teretonga Park Invercargill
Rnd 6 (Final) March 25-27 2011 Qantas Australian Grand Prix March Albert Park Melbourne, Australia

Prepared by FAST COMPANY of behalf of the New Zealand Formula 5000 Association. www.F5000.co.nz For more information about the 2010/11 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series contact Ross MacKay on 021 677 919 or via e-mail on ross@fastcompany.co.nz
Event preview sent site: David Abbott

[Jerry Entin]

KEN SMITH SETS THE PACE AT HAMPTON DOWNS

Defending champion and 2010/11 series points leader Ken Smith (Lola T430) has claimed pole position for tomorrow's first MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series race at the NZ Festival of Motor Racing - Chris Amon at Hampton Downs today.

In hot, humid conditions the 69-year-old super-veteran set a best time of 1.01.162 to pip UK visitor Michael Dwyer (Lola T400) by just over half a second with one of the other event visitors, young gun Michael Lyons (Lola T400) third and last season's series runner-up Steve Ross (McRae GM1) fourth.

A feature of the times produced from the two sessions was just how close the field is this season with less than a second separating third quickest qualifier Lyons and seventh placed Jay Esterer (McRae GM1) and just over six seconds between Smith on pole and regular UK visitor Frank Lyons (Gurney-Eagle FA74) in 20th position.

In total 26 cars will line up on the grid at Hampton Downs tomorrow, including late entrant Clark Proctor, the high profile NZV8s and Targa Rally competitor who has just purchased the March 73A-1 Tony Roberts raced at the opening round of the 2010/11 MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series on Christchurch late last year.

2010/11 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series
Qualifying
1. Ken Smith (Lola T430) 1.01.162
2. Michael Dwyer (Lola T400) 1.01.723
3. Michael Lyons (Lola T400) 1.02.066
4. Steve Ross (McRae GM1) 1.02.212
5. Roger Williams (Lola T332) 1.02.261
6. Peter Dunn (March 73/A) 1.02.670
7. Jay Esterer (McRae GM1) 1.02.681
8. Alastair Russell (McRae GM1) 1.03.245
9. Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) 1.03.432
10. Reg Cook (Lola T400) 1.03.852
11. Andrew Higgins (Lola T400) 1.03.997
12. Russell Greer (Lola T332) 1.04.252
13. Ian Cements (Lola T332) 1.04.633
14. Greg Thornton (Chevron B24) 1.05.122
15. Sefton Gibb (Lola T332) 1.05.167
16. Michael Whatley (Surtees TS8) 1.05.585
17. Clark Proctor (March 73A-1)1.05.634
18. Ron Maydon (Amon AF1-01) 1.06.304
19. Brett Willis (Lola T330) 1.06.517
20. Frank Lyons (Gurney Eagle FA74) 1.06.709
21. Peter Burson (McRae GM1) 1.08.618
22. Peter Sundberg (Lola T332) 1.09.600
23. Warwick Mortimer (Surtees TS5) 1.10.266
24. Poul Christie (Lola T190) 1.10.870
25. Kerry McIntosh (Begg FM2) 1.11.341
26. Hamish Paterson (Chevron B32) 1.13.511

Points after Rnd 1 of 6
1. Ken Smith (Lola T430) 84 points
2. Tony Richards (Lola T332) 70
3. Steve Ross (McRae GM1) 58
4. Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) 54
5. Andrew Higgins (Lola T400) 44
6. Sefton Gibb (Lola T332) 41
7. Brett Willis (Lola T300) 36
8. Ian Clements (Lola T332) 30
9. Russell Greer (Lola T332) 22
10. Reg Cook (Lola T400) 18
11. David Abbott (Lola T430) 15
12=. Lindsay O'Donnell (Begg FM5) 8
12=. Tony Roberts (March 73A/1) 8
14. Peter Burson (McRae GM1) 4
15. Stan Redmond (Lola T332) 3
16. Peter Sundberg (Lola T332) 1

Qualifying report sent site David Abbott

Edited by Jerry Entin, 21 January 2011 - 12:34.

[Keir]

Chris also raced a MARCH 701 with a 2.5 liter Cossie in the 1971 Tasman

[David McKinney]

The reference was to F5000 cars

[gavinevitt]

[jj2728]

Great photos!....more....more!

[gavinevitt]

More from Friday.

[gavinevitt]

Saturday.



















F5000 Race 1. Wet!

Lap 1.




Lap 2.

[ronmac]

Hi gavin evitt..great photos keep them coming please ...don.t say it was raining.....not in auckland !!!

can someone guide me ..what to click onto to get the results...like last year ...please.. (ron )

[Jerry Entin]

Great pictures Gavin :
Hey RonMac here you go:
Revival Series race at the Hampton Downs circuit in the northern Waikato this afternoon.
After topping the time sheets in qualifying on Friday afternoon defending series champion Smith started the combined F5000/F1 race on the first day of competition at the first of two NZ Festival of Motor Racing - Chris Amon meetings favourite but found himself on the back foot after running wide into the first turn.
Making light of the streaming track conditions, however, he came back and in a dramatic move wrestled his way past fellow front row starter Mark Dwyer (Lola T400) to reclaim the lead.
As it turned out that was very much it as far as the race was concerned, Canadian visitor Jay Esterer bringing out the red flag (to stop the race) soon after when he lost control of his McRae GM1 and clouted the infield wall on the way up the start/finish straight.

By the time the track was cleared the rain which had been falling steadily since earlier in the day had increased to such an intensity that a decision was made to complete the race under the Safety Car, Smith credited with the win from Dwyer, series young gun Michael Lyons (Lola T400) and fellow UK visitor Peter Dunn (March 73/A) with last season's series runner-up Steve Ross (McRae GM1) fifth and F5000 category original Reg Cook (Lola T400) first of the series new faces in sixth.

There are two more races for the MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series at the NZ Festival of Motor Racing - Chris Amon tomorrow (Sunday), a second eight lap sprint in the morning and the 15 lap Tasman Grand Prix final in the afternoon.

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 Exid

2010/11 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series
Race 1
1. Ken Smith 11:16.102
2. Mark Dwyer
3. Michael Lyons
4. Peter Dunn
5. Steve Ross
6. Reg Cook
7. Russell Greer
8. Ian Clements
9. Gregory Thornton
10. Brett Willis
11. Hamish Paterson
12. Michael Whatley
13. Frank Lyons
DNF. Jay Esterer
DNF. Poul Christie
DNF. Peter Sundberg
DNF. Aaron Burson
DNF. Ron Maydon
DNS. Roger Williams
DNS. Alastair Russell
DNS. Andrew Higgins
DNS. Sefton Gibb
DNS. Clark Proctor
DNS. Peter Burson
DNS. Warwick Mortimer
DNS. Kerry McIntosh
DNS. Shayne Windelburn
DNS. Stuart Lush

Points after Rnd 1 of 6
1. Ken Smith (Lola T430) 84 points
2. Tony Richards (Lola T332) 70
3. Steve Ross (McRae GM1) 58
4. Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) 54
5. Andrew Higgins (Lola T400) 44
6. Sefton Gibb (Lola T332) 41
7. Brett Willis (Lola T300) 36
8. Ian Clements (Lola T332) 30
9. Russell Greer (Lola T332) 22
10. Reg Cook (Lola T400) 18
11. David Abbott (Lola T430) 15
12=. Lindsay O'Donnell (Begg FM5) 8
12=. Tony Roberts (March 73A/1) 8
14. Peter Burson (McRae GM1) 4
15. Stan Redmond (Lola T332) 3
16. Peter Sundberg (Lola T332) 1

race report sent site:Ross MacKay/Fast Company

Edited by Jerry Entin, 27 January 2011 - 13:25.

[ronmac]

Thank you jerry..good to keep up with what is going on there...!!!!( ron )

[Redneb]

Aye carumba I'm meant to be going tomorrow and it's pissing down with lots more rain predicted - LOTS more.

[gavinevitt]

Yes, weather looks like it is going to be very wet.
More red flags and yellow safety car periods will unfortunately be the order of the day.

But you never know, it could come right by morning.

[wenoopy]

Tickets are bought and paid for, and I'm too much of a Scot too waste them! Perhaps the rain will ease away a bit further to the East overnight. After all this is Auckland and Waikato weather, anything can happen. We will know tomorrow when we hit the top of the Bombay Hills.

It's no consolation, but the 7-day forecast for next weekend is even worse!

Stu Buchanan

[cooper997]

Thanks for sharing your photos Gavin. Love the size of the disc rotors on the Dino. The shot with the two Maseratis is great too.

Stephen

[David McKinney]

Did the ex-Amon Maserati race, or is tha two-250F shot a demo?

[Alan Cox]

Does the nose of the Amon Maserati look a little bit odd to anyone? Or is it me?

Great photos, by the way. Thanks for braving the elements, Gavin. It could be mistaken for mid-summer in the UK

[MCS]

Following on, does the nose of the McRae GM1 look a little bit odd to anyone? Or is it me?

Did the F5000 "Talon" appear ?

[David McKinney]

Does the nose of the Amon Maserati look a little bit odd to anyone? Or is it me?

Yes it does. It was modified in NZ many times (for a variety of reasons!) and from other photos I've seen the latest manifestation looked pretty close to original. Not from this angle, though

[Jerry Entin]

A few of Chris Amon's mates signing autographs
Bruce Wilson and Roger Bailey and Wally Willmott and Eoin Young and Chris Amon
Roger Bailey (head down) arrives late and is talking to Bruce Wilson, who was Chris's first mechanic in New Zealand (in the days of the 250 F Maserati ).
Wally Willmott said he hadn't seen Roger in 43 years and was really pleased to be able to see him.

Wally Willmott and Eoin Young and Chris Amon and Howden Ganley


photos sent site: Wally Willmott

Edited by Jerry Entin, 22 January 2011 - 15:31.

[Keir]

The reference was to F5000 cars

Not a correction, David, just an addendum.

[Keir]

Great pics!! Anyone know where one can get the poster on the wall

[gavinevitt]

Did the ex-Amon Maserati race, or is tha two-250F shot a demo?

Just a Demo.

[gavinevitt]

This just came through from Hampton Downs;
Sunday 23rd January – All track activity has been delayed this morning due to adverse weather conditions.
A review of the race circuit status will be made at 11am and this information will be posted on the website www.nzfmr.co.nz as soon as it comes available. We appreciate your understanding of this unavoidable situation.

NZFMR Team


In the meantime here are a few more random photos from Friday and Saturday.

[Redneb]

Fabulous photos Gavin.

Not surprised at the postponement - it's still bucketing down here, I woke at 7 and decided that sitting in torrential rain watching cars follow a safety car round the circuit was not my idea of the ideal day at the racing.

[MCS]

Keep it coming guys - really sorry about the "English" weather. By pictures posted, my rather sad earlier questions are answered in any case.

But one more if I may: I'm assuming at some point Chris will be interviewed? Hopefully we can see/hear this either here or via a link?

Believe me, the interest in the UK (and elsewhere) is considerable.

[Tim Murray]

Fabulous photos Gavin.

Hear hear - especially the tremendous shots of Smith passing Dwyer.

[Jerry Entin]

Ken Smith passing Mark Dwyer for the lead yesterday

photo: Fast Company/Kia Kaha Media
photographer: Ned Dawson

Edited by Jerry Entin, 22 January 2011 - 22:23.

[Dick Willis]

Does anyone have a list of entries for the Early Historics category showing drivers and cars entered.

[wenoopy]

Does anyone have a list of entries for the Early Historics category showing drivers and cars entered.

It's all here : www.nzfmr.co.nz (entry lists)

[macoran]

Ken Smith passing Mark Dwyer for the lead yesterday

photo: Fast Company/Kia Kaha Media
photographer: Ned Dawson

They actually gave Smith a racing licence ?

[ronmac]

AMON MEETING POSTPONED..
just checked out tasman revival website.
due to bad weather ..meeting postponed till next weekend..
now go back to bed !!!

[Dick Willis]

[quote name='wenoopy' date='Jan 23 2011, 09:53' post='4797756']
It's all here : www.nzfmr.co.nz (entry lists)

Many thanks, not many in the Early Historics class though.

[cavvy]

Off topic but I see a different colour red on the Ferrari & the Maserati - given I am a little colour blind, am I correct?

From my earliest recollections of the 1957 AGP the Ferrari of Lex Davison was a different red to the Maserati of Stan Jones.

Can anyone give me the general colour descriptions.

On subject: great photos, thanks !!

[gavinevitt]

The red on the Ferrari is fairly bright, about correct to my eye for that period.

The Maser is painted more of a bugandy shade of red, very nice colour, but not the red of a 50s works Maser, more of a 1930s shade.

[Redneb]

Cancelled for today.

Well done to the organisers for keeping ticket holders informed of what's happening.

[ronmac]

Hi....is there a website that will give me all race results with race and lap times
as they come to hand ??
i tried mylaps..could.nt find anything..
even read .....(race results for dummies ) nothing there..
must be old age !!! (ron )

[Jerry Entin]

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
TORRENTIAL RAIN FORCES EARLY END TO FIRST NZ FESTIVAL OF MOTOR RACING MEETING
Torrential rain has forced event officials to postpone Sunday's programme at the first NZ Festival of Motor Racing - Chris Amon - meeting at Hampton Downs today.
Racing yesterday was compromised by the monsoon-like conditions and officials decided this morning to call an early halt to proceedings because of the on-going effects of the inclement weather.
Fortunately this weekend's meeting was the first of two over consecutive weekends at the new circuit so entrants - particularly the many from overseas - will at least get a chance to contest their categories, including the programme-leading MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series races, hopefully in better conditions, next weekend.


report: Ross MacKay/Fast company

[ronmac]

Hi....is there a website that will give me all race results with race and lap times
as they come to hand ??
i tried mylaps..could.nt find anything..
even read .....(race results for dummies ) nothing there..
must be old age !!! (ron )

[Dick Willis]

mylaps worked for me

[gavinevitt]

http://www.mylaps.co...t.jsp?id=622861

[ronmac]

Thank you gavinevitt and dick willis for your help and advice.
all working now..all very interesting too (ron )

[Lola5000]

Any photos of the Brabham BT31/1?

[Tim Murray]

They actually gave Smith a racing licence ?

It would be interesting to have another photo showing what happened between the two shots above and the one below. I'm assuming Dwyer tried to shut the door, but Smith wasn't having any of it.

Ken Smith passing Mark Dwyer for the lead yesterday

photo: Fast Company/Kia Kaha Media
photographer: Ned Dawson

These are fabulous photos. Thanks once again Gavin and Jerry.

[ronmac]

Don.t blame ken smith for bad driving.. GOD was responsible...SHE made it rain heavily...

[hiteknz]

Don.t blame ken smith for bad driving.. GOD was responsible...SHE made it rain heavily...

The photos dont even do justice to how bad the visibilty was ,my call was that Ken made a good move to pass and got pinched for room it was just so hard to see ,you had to be on the spot to appreciate how bad it really was out there