24 replies to this topic

[Peter Leversedge]

Who is going to be there ?
I have entered the car in my profile photo in the BPVCC historic races
The feature race is for F5000 cars

[ronmac]

Good to hear from you peter..I m flying to christchurch tomorrow..mainly to see the ruapuna events..classics and formula 5000..so good luck in your events...I won t be driving myself of course..but hope to see some old mates..ronmac..australia..

[Michael Clark]

Good to hear from you peter..I m flying to christchurch tomorrow..mainly to see the ruapuna events..classics and formula 5000..so good luck in your events...I won t be driving myself of course..but hope to see some old mates..ronmac..australia..

I'm flying down from Auckland on Friday morning - but the weather forecast looks like rubbish.

[Michael Clark]

I'm flying down from Auckland on Friday morning - but the weather forecast looks like rubbish.

Weather update - Saturday: very wet
Sunday: dry but cold

[Peter Leversedge]

Weather update - Saturday: very wet
Sunday: dry but cold

Micheal if you have a chance look me up

[Michael Clark]

Micheal if you have a chance look me up

Peter it looks like being bloody cold down there this weekend!

I will be 'engineering' Formula Fords #9 & #31 (both blue with a yellow nose) - if you wander by and see someone around 6'3 with a shaven head, there is a chance it will be me.

Best wishes

[Jerry Entin]

Reg Cook seen testing the Lola T-400 owned by Glenn and Victoria Richards
Season Preview #3

Lady Wigram Trophy meeting

Sat-Sun Oct 30-31 2010

MSC F5000 SERIES HEADLINES NEW-LOOK LADY WIGRAM TROPHY MEETING THIS WEEKEND

It's Lady Wigram Trophy time again at Christchurch's Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna Park this weekend and if motor racing fans are scratching their heads and wondering why it's a little early this year there is good reason.

"It's all about spreading our key meetings out rather than bracketing them together, " says Canterbury Car Club chief executive Lloyd Proctor. "The Lady Wigram Trophy is one of New Zealand motor racing's oldest and most prestigious and to maximise the potential of the meeting it is contested at we felt it was necessary to pull it out of the early January timeslot it has occupied in recent years and create a new one to kick off our annual summer season in style."

That new one is the Christchurch Casino Wigram Revival meeting taking place this weekend. It will then be followed by the annual National Championship meeting headlined by the BNT NZV8s in late November and the annual Skope Classic meeting on Waitangi Day weekend in early February.

As it has for the past two seasons the MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series is the headline act at the Christchurch Casino Wigram Revival meeting, with reigning Lady Wigram Trophy holder Aucklander Roger Williams (Lola T332) expecting the usual intense competition from ageless series veteran Ken Smith (Lola T400) and 2009/10 meeting pole man and series runner-up Steve Ross (McRae GM1).

Smith, now 69 years-of-age and contesting his 52nd consecutive motor racing season here in New Zealand, provides a unique link to Lady Wigram Trophy meetings of old, having now won the title three times; in a Lola T332 F5000 in 1976, a Swift Formula Pacific in 1991 and the car he currently drives, a Lola T400 F5000, in 2009.

The trophy itself dates back to 1949 when it was contested on a converted circuit at Christchurch's Wigram Airforce Base. That race was won by local man Morrie Proctor and as part of the re-launch of the Christchurch Casino Wigram Revival meeting in its new time-slot, Proctor's race-winning Riley 9 will be displayed at the meeting.

In keeping with the 'Wigram Revival' theme the support classes will also have a period look, the idea - according to Lloyd Proctor - to align the modern-day meeting with the ones fans remember from 20, 30, even 40 years ago.

Of particular interest will be the Placemakers' Frame and Truss Historical Saloon Car category which caters for iconic 80s and early 90s' tin-tops like Jaguar's XJS V12, Rover's 3500 V8, BMW's normally-aspirated six-cylinder 635 and four-cylinder M3 models, and Ford's turbocharged four-cylinder RS500 Cosworth.

Though two drivers - Auckland's Stuart Lush and Matakana's Warwick Mortimer - have had to pull out of this weekend's meeting because their cars are not ready there will be at least 18 cars on the grid.

Set to again provide competition for Ken Smith, Roger Williams and Steve Ross will be former series champion Ian Clements and fellow Lola T332 drivers Tony Richards, Sefton Gibb, Stan Redmond and Russell Greer, father and son McRae GM1 pair Peter and Aaron Burson, Lola T330 driver Brett Willis and Lindsay O'Donnell behind the wheel of the locally built Begg FM5.

Series regular Tony Roberts is also back behind the wheel after selling his McLaren M22. This time he will be behind the wheel of a recently acquired March 73A.

Set to make their series debut, meanwhile, are former New Zealand tin-top racer Peter Sundberg (Lola T332), young gun Andy Higgins and a second New Zealand F5000 original (after Ken Smith), Reg Cook.

Higgins and his father Paul, and Cook and car owner Glenn Richards, have both recently taken delivery of Lola T400 cars, the former from Germany, the latter Canada.

Both are low mileage cars with excellent provenance, the Higgins car originlly owned by the Vels Parnelli Jones Racing team and used by both Mario Andretti and Al Unser in the 1975 US Formula A (5000) championship, the Richards/Cook car originally owned and raced by Canadian driver Eppie Wietzes and since used by only one other driver, fellow Canadian Horst Kroll.

Finally, no mention of a facility or upcoming event in Christchurch or environs would be complete without reference to the recent earthquake. Fortunately the news is all good as far as the Canterbury Car Club and the Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna Park is concerned.

Lloyd Proctor: "The track itself was undamaged and the buildings suffered only minor damage which was easily and quickly fixed."

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, Pacifica, Smith & Davies, Avon Tyres and Exide.


2010/11 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series

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



Prepared by FAST COMPANY of behalf of the New Zealand Formula 5000 Association. www.F5000.co.nz
Preview sent site Ross MacKay
photo: Fast Company/Alex Mitchell

Edited by Jerry Entin, 28 October 2010 - 00:01.

[David McKinney]

* 2010/11 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series
Day 1 Report
2010-11 Lady Wigram trophy
Christchurch Casino Wigram Revival Meeting
Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna Park
Sat-Sun Oct 30-31
2010

30-10-10

DAY 1 REPORT

POLE AND FIRST MSC F5000 SERIES RACE WIN OF THE SEASON TO SMITH

Defending champion Ken Smith (Lola T430) got his 2010/11 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series season off to the best possible start with pole position in qualifying and a runaway race win on the first day of competition at the Christchurch Casino Wigram Revival meeting at Christchurch's Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna Park today.

In cool, dry conditions the Auckland veteran edged out 2009/10 season standout, Dunedin Steve Ross (McRae GM1), and top local Tony Richards (Lola T332) in the 10 lap qualifying session in the morning before getting the best of the start-delayed first eight lap race of the meeting and season to head home Ross by just under a second and Richards by just over 13 seconds.

That was after the first start was abandoned when former series champ Ian Clements (Lola T332) slide off the track on the second warm-up lap, and the 12-strong field was held on the start/finish straight while Clement's damaged car was recovered.

Fellow Christchurch driver David Abbot's Lola T430 was another casualty of the first warm-up laps, losing drive through the circuit's infield, as was Napier driver Sefton Gibb's Lola T332 when a part in his car's fuel pump broke.

With another two warm-up laps before the race proper started eventual winner Smith was concerned that he might not have enough fuel in his car's tank to complete the eight laps, but complete them he did, pulling out a buffer early on then easing off just enough to make sure he got to the finish line.

"I think if I had kept revving the engine out it might have been a bit touch and go, so I did the extra warm up laps real slow then dropped five or six hundred off the revs half way through and that was enough to get us home," he said.

Despite that the evergreen now 69-year-old still set the fastest race lap - a 1.19.325 - with Ross - at 1.19.537 - the only other driver under the 1 minute 20 mark.

Together the pair pulled away from second row starter Tony Richards and Auckland driver Aaron Burson (McRae GM1), the latter pair quick over the first couple of laps but not quite able to match the pace being set by Smith and Ross up front.

Best of the series newcomers early on was former saloon car ace Peter Sundberg (Lola T332), the Aucklander qualifying ninth behind his car's former New Zealand owner Stan Redmond (Lola T332) but quickly working his way up to fifth in his MSC series debut after hunting down and passing Rotorua driver Brett Willis (Lola T330) mid-race.

Just as he started to edge away from Willis, however, Sundberg pulled off the circuit with engine issues, leaving another Auckland driver, Andrew Higgins (Lola T400) to claim fifth and best series newcomer kudos.

Higgins, a protégé of race winner Smith's, was forced to start the race from the back row of the grid after a problem with his car's fuel injection pump meant he missed the qualifying session but he made up five places on the first lap and tucked in behind Sundberg as the former made his own way up through the field.

By the time Sundberg pulled off the track Higgins had also passed Brett Willis meaning that when the chequered flag came out he was in fifth place, a bonus, he reckoned considering the frantic work that went on earlier in the day.

"To be honest, " he said, "I was just happy to get to do eight laps in the car and be still going at the end. We thought we had fixed the problem the first time it happened but then it did it again which meant we missed qualifying but once we got out on the track it seemed to be going alright so I just pushed on and we ended up fifth which was good."

Today's race was the first of three for the MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series ones on the programme this weekend, with a second eight-lapper on Sunday morning and the meeting's feature race, for the prestigious Lady Wigram Trophy, over 15 laps, late 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, Pacifica, Smith & Davies, Avon Tyres and Exide.

Ends

2010/11 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series Rnd 1 Lady Wigram Trophy meetings Sat-Sun Oct 30-31 2010

Qualifying
1. Ken Smith (Lola T430) 1.18.922
2. Steve Ross (McRae GM1) 1.19.343
3. Tony Richards (Lola T332) 1.20.263
4. Ian Clements (Lola T332) 1.20.703
5. Sefton Gibb (Lola T332) 1.20.795
6. Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) 1.23.092
7. Brett Willis (Lola T300) 1.24.073
8. Stan Redmond (Lola T332) 1.24.349
9. Peter Sundberg (Lola T332) 1.25.209
10. David Abbott (Lola T430) 1.25.827
11. Lindsay O'Donnell (Begg FM5) 1.26.432
12. Tony Roberts (March 73A/1) 1.28.819
13. Peter Burson (McRae GM1) 1.29.819
Not classified
Russell Greer (Lola T332) 1.25.269
Reg Cook (Lola T400) 1.25.295

Race 1 (8 laps)
1. Ken Smith 10.46.213
2. Steve Ross +0.997
3. Tony Richards +13.271
4. Aaron Burson +22.144
5. Andrew Higgins +42.411
6. Brett Willis +43.494
7. Reg Cook +54.330
8. Russell Greer +56.265
9. Lindsay O'Donnell +1.07.898
10. Tony Roberts +1.21.759
11. Peter Burson +1.27.067
dnf peter Sundberg, Ian Clements, Sefton Gibb, David Abbott


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

Prepared by FAST COMPANY of behalf of the New Zealand Formula 5000 Association. www.F5000.co.nz <http://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 <mailto:ross@fastcompany.co.nz>

[Jerry Entin]

Ken Smith seen winning the F-5000 race


Runner up Steve Ross


photos : Fast Company/Alex Mitchell
sent site Ross MacKay

Edited by Jerry Entin, 30 October 2010 - 12:49.

[Jerry Entin]

Ken Smith accepting the Lady Wigram trophy for his 4th time
Also in the picture are second place Steve Ross and 3rd place Tony Richards

HISTORIC RACING CLUB/NZ FORMULA 5000 ASSOCIATION
2010/11 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series
Event Report
2010-11 Lady Wigram trophy
Christchurch Casino Wigram Revival Meeting
Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna Park
Sat-Sun Oct 30-31
2010



SMITH EXTENDS HIS LADY WIGRAM TROPHY RECORD IN STYLE

Two years ago New Zealand motor racing veteran Ken Smith (Lola T430) made it three Lady Wigram Trophy race wins in three decades. In doing so he joined an elite group of drivers - Peter Whitehead, Jim Clark and Craig Baird - who had won the prestigious New Zealand motor racing trophy three times.

On Sunday at the big Christchurch Casino Wigram Revival Meeting at Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna Park, the 69-year-old from Auckland went one better, equalling fellow New Zealand motor racing legend Graham McRae's record of four Lady Wigram trophy wins.

Coincidentally, McRae's also came in the V8-engined Formula 5000 single-seater racing cars that now again contest the Lady Wigram Trophy each year, the first three in a row in 1971, 1972 and 1973 and the fourth in 1975.

Smith's run took a little longer to put together, the first coming in 1976, the second in 1990, the third in 2009 and now the fourth in the 2010/11 season.

"It's certainly good, " the defending MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series champion said as he enjoyed centre stage on the podium after the 15 lap Lady Wigram Trophy feature race at the gala Christchurch Casino Wigram Revival Meeting. "Not just for me either. My mechanic here, Barry Miller, has been with me for three of the four years we've won it now from way back in the early 70s. It's mighty."

After being pipped at the post for the Lady Wigram Trophy by fellow MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series driver Roger Williams last season, Smith was in a determined mood heading into this season's meeting, topping the time sheets in qualifying on Saturday morning then winning the first race of the weekend from Dunedin's Steve Ross (McRae GM1) and Christchurch's Tony Richards (Lola T332), and the second - on Sunday morning - from Richards and Auckland driver Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) .

In the Lady Wigram Trophy race over 15 laps Smith and fellow front row starter Steve Ross were neck and neck down the start/finish straight but Ross edged ahead as the pair accelerated out of the first turn.

Smith was back in front as the pair exited the infield complex, however, then edged away to a healthy lead until the Safety Car came out while Reg Cook's Lola T400 was towed from the gravel trap at the end of the start/finish straight.

The cars remained behind the Safety Car for three laps until with just two to go racing resumed.

That bunched the 13 strong field up but Smith never looked under threat, punching the air as he crossed the finish line two laps later with a half a second buffer on Ross then local men Tony Richards and Ian Clements and Sefton Gibb (all Lola T332).

To complete his weekend, Smith also set a new class lap record round the Powerbuilt Tools venue's 3.330km Grand Prix circuit, his 1.19.232 bettering the existing record set by 2008/09 MSC series champion Chris Hyde in a McRae GM1.

Race 2 (8 laps)
Steve Ross got his time in the sun in the second MSC series race of the weekend on Sunday morning, matching fellow front row starter Smith gear for gear off the rolling start then getting a better run out of the first turn to lead for six of the eight laps.

However, as he was braking for the circuit's hairpin corner something triggered his car's on-board fire extinguisher system, filling the cockpit and the surprised driver's helmet with pressurized foam.

Fortunately the corner is the track's slowest, meaning Ross was not at risk of running off the track at speed, but his race was effectively run, leaving Smith - who had got alongside but not quite past earlier on - to stroke it home for what turned out to be the second of his three victories over the weekend, this time from Tony Richards and a hard-charging Aaron Burson.

After a strong but comparatively lonely run in the first race Burson found himself chasing Sefton Gibb for the first two laps of the second race until Gibb's car kicked sideways exciting the infield left-hander opposite the pits.

Seizing the opportunity Burson not only pounced, he also claimed a small advantage as Gibb gathered his Lola T332 together.

"It was actually a bit of a shame, " Gibb admitted afterwards."The car was really coming on in the latter stages of the race and if I hadn't had that half spin I think I would been able to stay in front of Aaron. But good on him, he's a fierce competitor, he took the opportunity to get past me when I had a half spin and, to be fair I enjoyed the rest of the race trying to catch him again. "

Behind the front running four, young Auckland driver Andrew Higgins (Lola T400) enjoyed another strong run to claim fifth place from Brett Willis (Lola T330), Russell Greer (Lola T332) and the second F5000 original in the MSC series after Ken Smith, Reg Cook, (Lola T400).

Having spent the past three months working 10 and more hour days rebuilding the Glenn and Victoria Richards-owned ex Eppie Weitzes T400 so that it would be ready in time for the opening round of the MSC series the New Zealand series second 'original,' Reg Cook, was initially happy just to have the rebuild finished before the Lady Wigram Trophy meeting.

But after experiencing first hand just how quick and committed his fellow MSC series drivers are, the 63-year-old was heading home with a worklist as long as the one he originally started with.

"For a start," he deadpanned, "I think we need at least another 100 horsepower. But we've also got some work to do on the front end. The back end is fine, but the front doesn't turn in as well as the other cars in the field do."

Otherwise?

"It's been a challenge, but I'm glad I came back."

MSC series stalwart Stan Redmond ran with Willis, Cook and Greer early on but headed to the pits to check everything was OK with his car after a spin. That left Greer to follow home Willis with Cook next then David Abbott, Tony Roberts and Peter Burson.

Race 1 (Saturday)

As it turned out Smith was also the quickest man on the track on Saturday, claiming pole position from Ross, Richards and Ian Clements in qualifying in the morning then getting the best of the start-delayed first eight lap race of the meeting and season to head home Ross by just under a second and Richards by just over 13 seconds.

That was after the first start was abandoned when former series champ Ian Clements slid off the track on the second warm-up lap, and the 12-strong field was held on the start/finish straight while the Christchurch man's damaged car was recovered.

Fellow Christchurch driver David Abbott's Lola T430 and Napier driver Sefton Gibb also failed to complete the warm-up procedure, the former when his car's input shaft failed, the latter with a fuel pump problem.

With another two warm-up laps before the race proper started Smith was concerned that he might not have enough fuel in his car's tank to complete the eight laps, but after pulling out a buffer early on he eased off just enough to make sure he got to the finish line.

"I think if I had kept revving the engine out it might have been a bit touch and go, so I did the extra warm up laps real slow then dropped five or six hundred off the revs half way through and that was enough to get us home," he said.

Despite that Smith still set the fastest race lap - a 1.19.325 - with Ross - at 1.19.537 - the only other driver under the 1 minute 20 mark.

Together the pair pulled away from second row starter Tony Richards and Aaron Burson, the latter pair quick over the first couple of laps but not quite able to match the pace being set by Smith and Ross up front.

Best of the series newcomers early on was former saloon car ace Peter Sundberg (Lola T332), the Aucklander qualifying ninth behind his car's former New Zealand owner Stan Redmond but quickly working his way up to fifth in his MSC series debut after hunting down and passing Brett Willis mid-race.

Just as he started to edge away from Willis, however, Sundberg pulled off the circuit with engine issues, leaving another Auckland driver, Andrew Higgins to claim fifth and best series newcomer kudos.

Higgins, a protégé of race winner Smith's, was forced to start the race from the back row of the grid after a problem with his car's fuel injection pump meant he missed the qualifying session but he made up five places on the first lap and tucked in behind Sundberg as the former made his own way up through the field.

By the time Sundberg pulled off the track Higgins had also passed Brett Willis meaning that when the chequered flag came out he was in fifth place, a bonus, he reckoned considering the frantic work that went on earlier in the day.

"To be honest, " he said, "I was just happy to get to do eight laps in the car and be still going at the end. We thought we had fixed the problem the first time it happened but then it did it again which meant we missed qualifying but once we got out on the track it seemed to be going alright so I just pushed on and we ended up fifth which was good."

The weekend's meeting in Christchurch was the first of five over which the 2010/11 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series will be contested this season. The second and third are at the big Festival of New Zealand Motor Racing - Chris Amon meetings over consecutive weekends at Auckland's Hampton Downs circuit in January, the fourth is back at Christchurch's Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna Park, this time in February as the headline act at the annual Skope Classic meeting, with the final hosted by the Southland Sports Car Club at its Evolution Motorsport Classic Speedfest meeting a fortnight later.

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, Pacifica, Smith & Davies, Avon Tyres and Exide.

2010/11 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series Rnd 1 Lady Wigram Trophy meetings Sat-Sun Oct 30-31 2010

Qualifying
1. Ken Smith (Lola T430) 1.18.922
2. Steve Ross (McRae GM1) 1.19.343
3. Tony Richards (Lola T332) 1.20.263
4. Ian Clements (Lola T332) 1.20.703
5. Sefton Gibb (Lola T332) 1.20.795
6. Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) 1.23.092
7. Brett Willis (Lola T300) 1.24.073
8. Stan Redmond (Lola T332) 1.24.349
9. Peter Sundberg (Lola T332) 1.25.209
10. David Abbott (Lola T430) 1.25.827
11. Lindsay O'Donnell (Begg FM5) 1.26.432
12. Tony Roberts (March 73A/1) 1.28.819
13. Peter Burson (McRae GM1) 1.29.819
Not classified
Russell Greer (Lola T332) 1.25.269
Reg Cook (Lola T400) 1.25.295

Race 1 (8 laps)
1. Ken Smith 10.46.213
2. Steve Ross +0.997
3. Tony Richards +13.271
4. Aaron Burson +22.144
5. Andrew Higgins +42.411
6. Brett Willis +43.494
7. Reg Cook +54.330
8. Russell Greer +56.265
9. Lindsay O'Donnell +1.07.898
10. Tony Roberts +1.21.759
11. Peter Burson +1.27.067
dnf Peter Sundberg, Ian Clements, Sefton Gibb, David Abbott
Race 2 (8 laps)
1. Ken Smith 10.53.133;
2. Tony Richards +5.573
3. Aaron Burson +10.548
4. Sefton Gibb +10.801
5. Andrew Higgins +18.483
6. Brett Willis +20.540
7. Russell Greer +37.716
8. Reg Cook +44.392
9. David Abbott +1.00.338
10. Tony Roberts +1.10.669
11. Peter Burson +1.14.556
dnf Steve Ross; Stan Redmond; Lindsay O'Donnell

Lady Wigram Trophy Race (15 laps)
1. Ken Smith 23.53.502
2. Steve Ross +0.480
3. Tony Richards +2.859
4. Ian Clements +4.021
5. Sefton Gibb +5.34
6. Aaron Burson +5.601
7. Andrew Higgins +6.087
8. Brett Willis +11.352
9. David Abbott +11.559
10. Russell Greer +19.831
11. Lindsay O'Donnell +20.749
12. Tony Roberts +23.098
13. Stan Redmond + 1lap
14 Reg Cook + 3 laps.
dnf Peter Burson

Photo: Fast Company/Alex Mitchell
report sent site : David Abbott
prepared Fast Company/Ross MacKay

Edited by Jerry Entin, 31 October 2010 - 20:04.

[Jerry Entin]

Ken Smith winning the Lady Wigram event
That is Steve Ross charging hard behind Ken.


Ken Smith and Steve Ross leading the 2010 Lady Wigram field


photos: Fast Company/Alex Mitchell
sent site Fast Company/Ross MacKay

Edited by Jerry Entin, 31 October 2010 - 14:07.

[Peter Leversedge]

Results of Race 12 - Vintage Car Club Class
1 Paul Coghill, Jaguar Special
2 Ralph Smith, Lycoming Special
3 Mark Mc Fadden, 260M Zephyr Special
4 Avon Hyde, Austin Special
5 Kerran McNeil, Oscala
6 Rob Boult, Edelbrock Special
7 Paul Tayler, Mistral Sports
8 Bryan Ashworth, Daimler SP250
9 John McDonagh, Mistral Sports
10 Len May, Cooper T56 FJ
11 Doug McDonald, Alfa Romeo Special
12 Peter Leversedge, V8 Special
13 Rick Jones , MG A
14 Bert Govan, Jaguar XK120
15 Bruce Elwood, Buckler DD1
16 David Provan, MG TF
17 Kevin Sarjeant, MG TF
18 Dren Errington, MG TF
DNS - Russell Greer, Stanton Corvette - Paul Wilson, MG A - Graeme Hamilton, ACE 111 - Phil Mauger, Austin Special - Graeme Power Damiler SP250 - Ramon Farmer Ransley Riley

Edited by Peter Leversedge, 31 October 2010 - 23:51.

[Michael Clark]

Results of Race 12 - Vintage Car Club Class
1 Paul Coghill, Jaguar Special
2 Ralph Smith, Lycoming Special
3 Mark Mc Fadden, 260M Zephyr Special
4 Avon Hyde, Austin Special
5 Kerran McNeil, Oscala
6 Rob Boult, Edelbrock Special
7 Paul Tayler, Mistral Sports
8 Bryan Ashworth, Daimler SP250
9 John McDonagh, Mistral Sports
10 Len May, Cooper T56 FJ
11 Doug McDonald, Alfa Romeo Special
12 Peter Leversedge, V8 Special
13 Rick Jones , MG A
14 Bert Govan, Jaguar XK120
15 Bruce Elwood, Buckler DD1
16 David Provan, MG TF
17 Kevin Sarjeant, MG TF
18 Dren Errington, MG TF
DNS - Russell Greer, Stanton Corvette - Paul Wilson, MG A - Graeme Hamilton, ACE 111 - Phil Mauger, Austin Special - Graeme Power Damiler SP250 - Ramon Farmer Ransley Riley

In my opinion these were the best races of the weekend - watching Avon Hyde in his half size Alfa P3 (P1.5?) sneaking over/under/around much bigger cars was fantastic - plus pretty good racing right through the field.

Peter, it was good to shake your hand - the problem with these meetings is that there are always so many people to try and catch up with.

Some interesting observations:

Harold Heasley, NZ's first saloon car champion is in great form - in the bar on Saturday evening he was hearing so much 'rubbish' being talked about, he took his special 'bullshit deflectors' from his wallet and placed them over his ears.

HH is early/mid 80s - told me of drives he had in a FJ Cooper, an Angus Hyslop Cooper (David - the one that got taken to England?) and that the Rex Flowers Gemini was originally destined for him.

The NZ F5000 group have a new rule, that I assume must have been passed by a majority, to exclude any driver who doesn't own the car (but if the family owns it then its OK), or didn't race in period. This was the subject of much discussion over the weekend...

The prize for the sweetest sounding car was a toss up for me between the FVA in the back of a McLaren M4A, and a V6 Dino that the owner tells me is "about 2.2" litres

A great weekend - I've already booked to fly back for Skope in early Feb - for any Aucklanders who are toying with going, my airfares this morning cost me $98...return!

[Peter Leversedge]

Results of Race 16 - Vintage Car Class
1 Hamilton
2 Smith
3 Coghill
4 McFadden
5 Hyde
6 May
7 Ashworth
8 McNeil
9 Boult
10 Tayler
11 Leversedge
12 McDonald
13 Jones
14 Elwood
15 Govan
16 Provan
17 Errington
18 Sarjeant
DNF McDonagh
DNS Greer, Wilson, Mauger, Power, Farmer

Edited by Peter Leversedge, 01 November 2010 - 06:25.

[NZALPA]

In my opinion these were the best races of the weekend - watching Avon Hyde in his half size Alfa P3 (P1.5?) sneaking over/under/around much bigger cars was fantastic - plus pretty good racing right through the field.

Peter, it was good to shake your hand - the problem with these meetings is that there are always so many people to try and catch up with.

Some interesting observations:

Harold Heasley, NZ's first saloon car champion is in great form - in the bar on Saturday evening he was hearing so much 'rubbish' being talked about, he took his special 'bullshit deflectors' from his wallet and placed them over his ears.

HH is early/mid 80s - told me of drives he had in a FJ Cooper, an Angus Hyslop Cooper (David - the one that got taken to England?) and that the Rex Flowers Gemini was originally destined for him.

The NZ F5000 group have a new rule, that I assume must have been passed by a majority, to exclude any driver who doesn't own the car (but if the family owns it then its OK), or didn't race in period. This was the subject of much discussion over the weekend...

The prize for the sweetest sounding car was a toss up for me between the FVA in the back of a McLaren M4A, and a V6 Dino that the owner tells me is "about 2.2" litres

A great weekend - I've already booked to fly back for Skope in early Feb - for any Aucklanders who are toying with going, my airfares this morning cost me $98...return!

re the new F5000 regs you mention above, here is the direct quote from their public website..... www.F5000.co.nz


Aims: The aim of these regulations is to provide a framework for the owners of eligible cars and race
promoters to enable the demonstration of these vehicles in a competitive, but sportsmanlike manner in
order to promote F5000 Historic Racing in Australasia. In so doing it is the aim of the HRC/F5000
Association to attract suitable sponsors to minimize logistic expenses.

In accordance with the principles of Historic Racing, The NZ F5000 Association encourages owner drivers to our series, and strongly discourages non owner drivers and car leasing [outside of the exceptions of family members and F5000 drivers from the period].

The NZ F5000 Association reserves the right to not accept entries to our series from non owner drivers.

The aim is to discourage 'hired guns' who arrive with the aim of 'winning it or binning it' I think.

This hasnt happened in passed years but there were signs of overseas interest that may have resulted in that sort of approach to the series unfortunately.

Edited by NZALPA, 01 November 2010 - 08:06.

[Michael Clark]

re the new F5000 regs you mention above, here is the direct quote from their public website..... www.F5000.co.nz


Aims: The aim of these regulations is to provide a framework for the owners of eligible cars and race
promoters to enable the demonstration of these vehicles in a competitive, but sportsmanlike manner in
order to promote F5000 Historic Racing in Australasia. In so doing it is the aim of the HRC/F5000
Association to attract suitable sponsors to minimize logistic expenses.

In accordance with the principles of Historic Racing, The NZ F5000 Association encourages owner drivers to our series, and strongly discourages non owner drivers and car leasing [outside of the exceptions of family members and F5000 drivers from the period].

The NZ F5000 Association reserves the right to not accept entries to our series from non owner drivers.

The aim is to discourage 'hired guns' who arrive with the aim of 'winning it or binning it' I think.

This hasnt happened in passed years but there were signs of overseas interest that may have resulted in that sort of approach to the series unfortunately.

Surely the fair thing to do is to treat this on a case by case basis - you have already stated "this hasn't happened..." in the past. I heard numerous people tell me over the weekend that this wasn't aimed at one particular person.

A good old rule in motor racing is 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it." I think you've already admitted it wasn't broke - so why the change? Are you really wanting me to believe that the rule has come about because something might happen?

[kingswood]

A good old rule in motor racing is 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it." I think you've already admitted it wasn't broke - so why the change? Are you really wanting me to believe that the rule has come about because something might happen?
[/quote]

No, it's so 'something' doesn't happen Anyone can run, they just have to own their own car

[Michael Clark]

A good old rule in motor racing is 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it." I think you've already admitted it wasn't broke - so why the change? Are you really wanting me to believe that the rule has come about because something might happen?


No, it's so 'something' doesn't happen Anyone can run, they just have to own their own car

I don't many people will buy that either. To use your line - what percentage of the starters on Sunday were in a car they owned themselves?

[GD66]

Fair call, Michael. And since when has that ever been a prerequisite in motorsport ? The other thing that's a bit questionable is, for how many seasons in a row will the New Zealand F5000 regulars be getting a driving clinic from a man who's been driving since it was compulsory to be preceded by a man on foot waving a red flag ?

Go, Kenny !!

Edited by GD66, 02 November 2010 - 07:42.

[Peter Leversedge]

ronmac - did you enjoy your week end at raupuna?

[ronmac]

Yes Pete LEV.. yes i did ..All good stuff...Thanks...Plenty off entries.. and well run meeting too..Great to see all those cars still running and looking so good..Very sad that young Chris Hyde was not racing because of stupid rules !!!!!!!Your car looked good out there...and avon hydes efforts in the little black racer was amazing..well done him too..On your wot nz ers on the forum...i welcomed young evan munt to the discussions..so good to see him on too ronmac..

[Lee Nicolle]

Peter, do you have any pics of your class and of the tintops?

[Michael Clark]

Sadly I left my camera charging in the office..

..but I can tell you there were some good races for the old Group A cars - M3s, a Sierra Cosworth, an ex Andy Rouse Toyota, and an XJ-S that didn't last long.

A real highlight however was the ex Morrie Proctor Brooklands Riley being displayed at lunchtime. The organisers sure went to a lot of effort to provide something for everyone from static displays (including the ex Roly Levis/Bill Stone et al Cooper T52) to Lotus-Cortinas, Jags etc.

Skope always promises to be a ripper - should be warmer in Feb because man it was cold on Saturday

[Peter Leversedge]

Results Race 31 Vintage Car Class
1 Hamilton
2 Smith
3 Coghill
4 McFadden
5 Hyde
6 May
7 Ashworth
8 McNeil
9 Boult
10 Tayler
11 Leversedge
12 McDonald
13 Jones
14 Elwood
15 Govan
16 Provan
17 Errington
18 Sarjeant
DNF, McDonagh
DNS, Greer, Mauger, Power, Farmer, Wilson

[ronmac]

Good photos of Wigram at Ruapuna meeting.can be seen on www.flickr.warwick robinson photos..Which includes our nostalgia forum member....Peter Leversedge racing his New Zealand built v8 special..THUNDERING down the ruapuna straight at 110 mph (a million mph ) You are a better man than i am..Gunga Din..!!!.RONMAC>