39 replies to this topic

[Geoff Smedley]

Being the final race in the Tasman Series and Longford having always looked upon as the prime event of the whole series I had witnessed the fact that many International drivers mostly retained a special engine and marked 'Longford" kept on hand to ensure they could always contest this unique event. In 1968 it was fairly common knowledge that Longford was facing financial difficulties plus other outside bodies that wished to be heard (a Tasmanian Trait) and one such Government body (Scenic Preservation Board) which pulled its power not to allow any fixed advertising to be displayed at the circuit severely depriving any incomming revenue from what should have been a very vital source. The S.P.B fell over not long after it had done its job on motor racing at one of Australia's greatest and best respected tracks of the time. At that meeting I was in charge of preparation of the Lotus 39 (ex Jimmy Clark) but then fitted with a Repco V8 and driven by Leo Geoghegan . The car had been behaving badly during practice, gearbox problems, sheared wheel-pegs (on the flying mile) and generally a bad day but Longford was unique in the fact that it was a two day event: Day one, Saturday and Monday as Day two. leaving the Sunday as a full maintenance day. Monday's arrival at the track after a fairly full on sunday with the 39, we found absolute turmoil, vandals had set the wooden bridge by the railway Viaduct on fire causing great concern, but an even greater problem confronted compeditors, the pit paddock was ankle deep in water and the track itself was more suited to water skiing than driving F1 machinery on, and of course pit facilities in those days were very primitive and mostly in the open and I recall attempting to drive the Lotus to a dummy grid set up before entrance to the track and found it to be an almost an impossible task as did most others mechanics and it required 3 or 4 pushers to assist in that simple procedure of moving cars around in the pit area even for fuelling and tyres etc. a most miserable experience.
When the cars finally did take to the track in incessant rain it was obvious the situation was diabolically dangerous and a drivers meeting was hastily called for with officials of the meet to discuss the conditions and it was agreed that International competitors were expected to drive but others were left to their own discretion at the start time whereby most Aussie drivers respectfully avoided the race. The main race on the day was an absolute shambles as power could not be transmitted to the flooded track surface allowing Piers Courage to outwhit the larger cars in the little MP4 f2 Mc Laren while wearing the narrow wheels used in transporting the car The race itself was obviously the final curtain for Longford after long years of battle with finances and maintaining a track that was loosing the battle to present a track for the worlds fastest cars to perform on while relying on 100% very dedicated volunteer labour it was time to take a very proud bow and draw the final curtain.
It saddens me that the up and comming event should be passed off as the Longford Revival, a very bad choice of name, as if speaking of Motor Racing at Longford such choice of name can only be demeaningly false to a great period when Longford was known to the world as a venue highly respected by world champions on both 2 wheels and 4, and the likes of which can never be revived an can only remain in the 50's and60's

[cooper997]

Yes please Geoff, more first hand anecdotes like this one. Great stuff.

Stephen

[Ray Bell]

I was discussing the matter of the drivers approaching the organisers about the race with John Harvey the other day, Geoff...

John told me that as he'd got to know some of the Internationals quite well, a couple (including Graham Hill and Jim Clark) asked him to talk to them about cancelling the race. Obviously conditions were appalling and the outcome of the race showed just how appalling they were.

When he spoke to them, they told him something along the lines of, "We've got one in eight of every person living in Tasmania here today, they expect to see a race. The best we can do is delay the start for an hour and reduce the distance to 15 laps."

John raced too. He says it was the most dangerous race of his life, and that he was never happier to blow an engine - even though he only had one lap to run. Not running in the event were Denny Hulme, Leo Geoghegan and Kevin Bartlett. It would be interesting to know why Kevin didn't run, I would suspect that a shortage of good wet weather tyres might have contributed.

Another who ran was John McCormack, who had a 2.5 Brabham. It was the only time John ran in the main race at Longford and it really underlines what he told me over twenty years ago... "I drove at Longford, I didn't race there." That must have, I should mention, also applied to the dry races on Saturday.

Also telling would be the dropouts... McEwin on lap eight simply gave it away, while McCormack didn't do so ironically, instead pitting to try and cure a misfire. There were no more gave up, even Harvey was classified as a finisher.

But above all, to me Longford represents the place where the greatest race I ever saw took place. That was in 1965, a tremendous 5-way race-long duel between four World Champions and a driver who finished second in the Championship two or three times. Nothing will ever take that away... it was a place where Champions gave of their very best... and I think that's what Geoff is trying to say, too.

[Geoff Smedley]

I was discussing the matter of the drivers approaching the organisers about the race with John Harvey the other day, Geoff...

John told me that as he'd got to know some of the Internationals quite well, a couple (including Graham Hill and Jim Clark) asked him to talk to them about cancelling the race. Obviously conditions were appalling and the outcome of the race showed just how appalling they were.

When he spoke to them, they told him something along the lines of, "We've got one in eight of every person living in Tasmania here today, they expect to see a race. The best we can do is delay the start for an hour and reduce the distance to 15 laps."

John raced too. He says it was the most dangerous race of his life, and that he was never happier to blow an engine - even though he only had one lap to run. Not running in the event were Denny Hulme, Leo Geoghegan and Kevin Bartlett. It would be interesting to know why Kevin didn't run, I would suspect that a shortage of good wet weather tyres might have contributed.

Another who ran was John McCormack, who had a 2.5 Brabham. It was the only time John ran in the main race at Longford and it really underlines what he told me over twenty years ago... "I drove at Longford, I didn't race there." That must have, I should mention, also applied to the dry races on Saturday.

Also telling would be the dropouts... McEwin on lap eight simply gave it away, while McCormack didn't do so ironically, instead pitting to try and cure a misfire. There were no more gave up, even Harvey was classified as a finisher.

But above all, to me Longford represents the place where the greatest race I ever saw took place. That was in 1965, a tremendous 5-way race-long duel between four World Champions and a driver who finished second in the Championship two or three times. Nothing will ever take that away... it was a place where Champions gave of their very best... and I think that's what Geoff is trying to say, too.

Yes Ray there are many stories that could be told and it's a shame they are sometimes brought out through a tinge of anger that turns the brain on to a certain period.
Maybe if a few old friends may make it to Longford next weekend to stir more memories, who knows?

[ellrosso]

Great to hear these recollections after so many years. Would have been great to have heard from Pedro re his view of that race as he seemed to take it "by the horns" so to speak and his wet weather skills are well known. Wonder whether Attwood has ever spoken of it? We have a great shot of David Keep's of that drivers meeting on the website in Drivers/People and Jim Clark is at the centre of the group looking very concerned. He and Piers looked very relieved on the podium....
Any more tit-bits would be welcome Geoff.

[Ellis French]

A few single frames from my old 8mm movies of the final curtain.......


Start....


A few seconds after flag.....


Spray from tyres end of Flying Mile almost to Mountford ...


Towards Startline out of Mountford....


The eventual winner...(on startline)

[ellrosso]

Interesting looking at your footage Ellis, made me wonder if the ABC was shooting on raceday. I remember seeing Saturday's race on the box which G Hill won.
Would be interesting to know where that footage ended up - I know Paul (or Phil) Darko got a lot of the Baskerville ABC footage from the 60's. They were both working at the ABC in those days and were in TasKam with my brother in the early 70's.

[Ray Bell]

Chevron should have it...

They got the ABC stuff a few years ago, I think they're releasing it progressively on DVD.

[Geoff Smedley]

Chevron should have it...

They got the ABC stuff a few years ago, I think they're releasing it progressively on DVD.

I can remember Donald Campbell's 'Bluebird' being in the pits a Longford the year he broke the world WLSR on Lake Eyre, 62-63??

[Ray Bell]

I guess the Porsches on the other thread are a close facsimile of the Bluebird, then?

They have some blue on them, though it's darker and got signwriting through it.

Geoff, have a good time there today, and please look up Rodney and let us know what the hell the rear suspension of his car is all about!

[ellrosso]

Geoff, we have a couple of shots of Bluebird at Longford in 1965 (I think I actually posted the colour one on the Forum at Xmas time).
Hope all goes well at the Revival for you. Cheers, ellrosso

[ellrosso]

That Bluebird shot is on page 108 of Personal Photos of Australian Motor racing thread.

[Ray Bell]

I spoke to John McCormack again today...

He won't be there. "I got their flyer, it mentions 'Good Food, Good Wine, Good Music and Motor Sports', it's a food and wine festival, nothing to do with motor racing."

He also clarified that 1968 was the only time he ever entered at Longford. He had a magneto problem on the Saturday, then went right through the race on Monday. Still thinks it was too dangerous, but he said that Amon, Clark, Gardner etc were 'really getting into it.'

Of Kevin Bartlett's non-start in the race, he said that before the driver's meeting Alec Mildren had told him that he wouldn't let Kevin go out in those conditions. "Frank can make up his own mind," he said.

[Geoff Smedley]

Returned from the Longford and really how to rate it is difficult. I was very impressed with the amount of effort that has been spent to invent such an event but you would be stretching a very long bow suggesting it to be a Longford Revival Rock groups seem out of place and rather kill any atmosphere for what is trying to be conveyed. (not even 60's music) I think it would be better described as more of a Longford fair, a good outing for the kids with its large tent village of sellers pushing their wares, but today certainly hadn't pressed any buttons with only a few patrons present, but certainly not a flock. I was very disappointed in the fact that none of the old drivers or mechanics could be found or more importantly heard from and I was made privy to the guest list and not one open wheeler driver or mechanic from the period was listed as attending The weather at this time of the year in Tassie is very risky, and today was overcast cold and windy and I really hope the next two days are an improvement to allow a true assessment of the success of the controversial event. I will leave it to others to present their unbiased reviews of this rather unusual event, but I still remain a protector of my memories of motor racing at Longford in its purest form.

[Ray Bell]

Rock groups are always out of place around motor racing, Geoff...

I don't know why people think that rock music fits with racing cars.

[David Shaw]

Because they see the V8 circus do it, and assume that it will work for them too. Definitely doesn't work for historics, but I can see how it works with the V8 Supercars demographic.

[Ray Bell]

But does it 'work' for them?

I recall that there was a huge rock concert into the night at the Adelaide F1 Grand Prix, I don't know if there was much of a turnout for that, but I would imagine most of the people there didn't bother.

Some people seem to automatically think that Historics and Jazz go together. To my way of thinking, it's the sound of the cars that make the music, nothing else.

[GD66]

Some people seem to automatically think that Historics and Jazz go together. To my way of thinking, it's the sound of the cars that make the music, nothing else.

Dead right Ray ! A message that simply must at some stage be conveyed to the producers of any number of naff pommy docos who insist upon overlaying all track footage of historic cars, bikes or planes with annoying, irrelevant electronic music, when the raw footage alone and unsullied is what those who are watching crave !!

[malomay]

Well, I went up today (with my dad & uncle, both of who attended the weekend there for 10 years running from 1959). We all really enjoyed the day ! There were flocks of people there, it was perfect weather & I'd say there was enough of a motor racing focus to really give me encouragement that it could be really something to build on in years to come. The fact that the Porsche factory saw fit to send 5 of the most magnificent racing cars ever build down to a first time event in Tasmania, is an example of what esteem the Longford circuit & its history is held in on a world stage. I really don't care that much if they didn't actually compete at Longford, if not for this event, I would never have the opportunity to see such a priceless collection of motor racing history.

That would have been enough for me if that's all I saw, however, there was good collection of historic & modern cars involved in the speed run down the flying mile, and there were a good number of entries that either had a driver or a car connection to the Longford days. The simulator running Shannons brilliant re-creation of the original circuit was also well attended, I met the master who created it himself & managed to get round a very careful lap without hitting anything ....(much).

There are things that could be done better for sure & I'll be making sure that my feedback gets to the organisers post event. Cost wouldn't want to get any higher if held again. I almost reckon an every two year rotation might be the go (every year might get a bit tired quite quickly). & I really think they should be making the most of the timing of the event (close to the AGP) to try to invite/encourage as many past drivers or drivers that have a connection to past drivers (eg, Damon Hill, Alan Jones etc) to attend.

Just my 2c, but as I said, the three of us had a great day & are very glad we went.

Cheers

Mal.

[GeoffR]

Good to see a positive report for this event, I'll admit I was in the 'doubting Thomas' corner initially. There has been lots of coverage on TV and in the papers, even down south! A friend (Longford native) and contributor to Woochoo's initial thread is planning to visit so I'll be interested to get his thoughts. Apparently the fastest speed to date on the Flying Mile is 267kph by a guy on a Suzuki Hayabusa!

[tania34]

But does it 'work' for them?

I recall that there was a huge rock concert into the night at the Adelaide F1 Grand Prix, I don't know if there was much of a turnout for that, but I would imagine most of the people there didn't bother.

Some people seem to automatically think that Historics and Jazz go together. To my way of thinking, it's the sound of the cars that make the music, nothing else.

Well said, it's the sound of the cars and nothing else!!!!

[Ellis French]

Smallish crowd on Frid in a cutting cold wind.
Sat had very good turnout on a very good day weatherwise
Sun crowd seemed a bit smaller than Sat but was quite good and also a good day weatherwise.

On site the event ran well .

Meeting old friends from 45+ years ago was the highlight along with some of the Flying Mile
engine sound. The Comic Book Holden Grey engine excelled in this field. I think he was timed at 167kph
and enjoyed himself all weekend except for the coffee price on Frid but I'll let him explain that.

It was lacking TNF type nostalgia vehicle and personell wise to a large extent but at least someone
has taken it on to be the first to attempt it.

Revival no, Festival yes.

My thoughts.
Ellis

[Lee Nicolle]

Because they see the V8 circus do it, and assume that it will work for them too. Definitely doesn't work for historics, but I can see how it works with the V8 Supercars demographic.

If it hadnt rained I was going to attend the concert on the Sunday night of Clipsal. But I stayed home and watched the race on TV!!

[BMH Comic]

Smallish crowd on Frid in a cutting cold wind.
Sat had very good turnout on a very good day weatherwise
Sun crowd seemed a bit smaller than Sat but was quite good and also a good day weatherwise.

On site the event ran well .

Meeting old friends from 45+ years ago was the highlight along with some of the Flying Mile
engine sound. The Comic Book Holden Grey engine excelled in this field. I think he was timed at 167kph
and enjoyed himself all weekend except for the coffee price on Frid but I'll let him explain that.

It was lacking TNF type nostalgia vehicle and personell wise to a large extent but at least someone
has taken it on to be the first to attempt it.

Revival no, Festival yes.

My thoughts.
Ellis


Ellis
Have to agree to your sentiments about Longford.
I gave it a 9/10 for a first off, and I think I might have paid more than most to be there so my judgement should count for something!!

It was a first so I was happy to excuse a few hickups but wasnt going to pay $3.00 for a coffee after spending about $5-6K getting there and I said so, and loud, and often. Got my coffee in the end, it wasnt that flash so settled for the hot Choc which was good so I went back twice to get my $$$$ worth.

My thoughts

Beatles music was good, wouldnt call it a rock concert though!
Fair ground ok if you like that sort of thing- kids did! albiet they seemed happier sitting in a race car!
Food was good except that I had to go name dropping to get a freebie! (not exactly free after you paid the $700+ to enter)
Competion run as though it was a stage of Targa?? not too sure? standing kilometer?? doesnt mean much to a racer?
Flashing orange lights at the finish line - DIABOLICAL BLUNDER.
Braking area. -just enough, dont know how the guy on the Hybusa stopped??
Lovley tin tops and sports cars, pitty no racing cars!! Sharp Holden shoud have been there as too the Masas.
Tasman Cars would have looked great too.
Good to see the Smith Special there as the oldest car on the track


Lots of lessons to be learned but I was happy to be at the first one, when the organiser gets the idea of what Longford was (a race circuit) Im sure these problems will all go away and this will be a fantastic event.
Next time I need a friend who started at Longford to enter the car for me. Would have saved a bundle. Any takers???

TAB

[Ellis French]

My friend Mick in the Green FJ Humpy could always enter 2....make that 3, then maybe I could drive mine as well instead of parking it all 3 days.

Frank in the old FE looked well in one of your hats. He provided the entertainment for the day in the pits at least.

Maybe they could set up a WA around the houses event in the Longford township so that they get some benefit from the event.

I thought your efforts deserved a 10/10. Well done. It sounded great.





Wayne Mahnken drove the ex Elliot/Pare Mustang for Chas Kelly

Edited by Ellis French, 11 April 2011 - 00:56.

[ellrosso]

Nice FE Ellis - wha'ts the story behind that one? The WA round the houses is a great idea for Longford - works very well over there apparently.

[Ellis French]

Nice FE Ellis - wha'ts the story behind that one? The WA round the houses is a great idea for Longford - works very well over there apparently.

Do you mean the Red FC.??.
Its the only log booked Nb FC in Oz
Its ex Victoria and now in Hobart

[BMH Comic]

My friend Mick in the Green FJ Humpy could always enter 2....make that 3, then maybe I could drive mine as well instead of parking it all 3 days.

Frank in the old FE looked well in one of your hats. He provided the entertainment for the day in the pits at least.

Maybe they could set up a WA around the houses event in the Longford township so that they get some benefit from the event.

I thought your efforts deserved a 10/10. Well done. It sounded great.

I can see it all next year, Mick enters 100+ cars and get to drive one!!

I have to congratulate Frank on his efforts, he was certainly the best entertainment in the pits and Im still giggling about what I saw when I yanked the top of the Carby!!!

He is a great guy and I couldnt help but shake his hand in gratitude and to see if any of his luck would rub off!! Will be buying a lotto ticket this week.

The pits were just a great place to be and to meet so many of the original drivers was a real treat, got a few good tips on the grey motors from them too!!

Edited by BMH Comic, 10 April 2011 - 13:14.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Ellis French
Do you mean the Red FC.??.
Its the only log booked Nb FC in Oz
Its ex Victoria and now in Hobart

I actually took him to mean the green FE in the background.

And I daresay Fred Rheinberger would be pleased to see an FC running...

[Ellis French]

I actually took him to mean the green FE in the background.

And I daresay Fred Rheinberger would be pleased to see an FC running...

The red FC has been Logbooked for almost 30 years

The Green FE is an original Longford entrant / owner car.
He is probably more famous for being the owner and driver of the Monaro hanging off the edge of the Tasman Bridge when the Lake Illawarra knocked it down. He still has the Monaro.

[Ellis French]

Some Ex Longford Cars at Festival

Ex Clark, Geogehgan


Ex Bruce Rae, K Duncanson, Rob Murphy, Gene Cook, Greg Crick now Andrew Jones


Ex M Salter now J Biggelaar


ex Hurd now B Howard


ex Charlton


ex H Cape Twin Cam MG..now M Freeland

Edited by Ellis French, 11 April 2011 - 01:14.

[Ellis French]

Rodney W's ex H Smith car....



This is not my pic.
I received it via email so not sure who took it.
Its on one of the timed runs.

[ellrosso]

So the green car is Frank Manly's Ellis? Did he race a humpy as well - in 1965? I've got a Mercury print of the Monaro and the FB (or EK, can't recall) hanging over the edge of the bridge (I did one for myself when I was working there in the darkroom part-time - great photo!).

[cooper997]

Thanks for sharing your photos Ellis.

Nice touch that scaffold and original style signage in the control tower style.

Clearly some effort was put in by all concerned. Well done.

Stephen

[cooper997]

I turned on the TV just after 7.30pm to see Melbourne's community TV station C31 (digital channel 44) 'Gasolene' program and the Longford Revival Festival was on. Looks like it will a 2 part feature.

Go to www.gasolene.tv and it might be able to be viewed online.

Stephen

[Ellis French]

They (Octagon) have set the dates for 2012...

30th Mar.....1st April

[275 GTB-4]

Seems odd that there are two threads with the same name...

http://forums.autosp...amp;hl=longford

http://forums.autosp...amp;hl=longford
The Final Curtain

Not to mention:

http://forums.autosp...amp;hl=longford

http://forums.autosp...amp;hl=longford

http://forums.autosp...amp;hl=longford

http://forums.autosp...amp;hl=longford

Train-smash needed??

[Tim Murray]

Send a message to Twin Window. He's usually very happy to merge threads which cover the same ground.

[275 GTB-4]

Rodney W's ex H Smith car....



This is not my pic.
I received it via email so not sure who took it.
Its on one of the timed runs.

Intriguing....what is it....Jag XK based? anymore info?

[Ray Bell]

Strange that you should ask that, Mick...

There's an entire thread about this car on TNF, and it wasn't so long before the pic was taken and you posted that.

Harking back to my comments about the 1965 Longford race, I am pleased to reveal that I have finally written the full story of that race.

It has become one of the chapters of Tony Loxley's new book, Tasman Cup, 1964-1975 and entitled Phil Hill - His Greatest Race. I was kind of chuffed the other day when I asked Rod Mackenzie (AKA Launchpad) to have a read of the story, a while later he turned to me and said, "This is gripping!"

Naturally enough I asked where he was up to, "...lap 15 or so?"

No, he was up to race morning in the preamble... the part where I tell about Rocky Tresise telling Lyn Archer he didn't really want to drive in the race.

Of incident, the book has gone to 494 pages with over 800 photos and chapters from a whole host of people. In fact, three of the authors and another closely associated with his story have died since Tony started work on it.

And a chance couple of remarks have enabled me to exonerate Roly Levis...

Poor Roly has carried the blame for fifty years, it's always been believed that he was responsible for Jack Brabham not winning his fourth AGP.

I mentioned to Marc Schagen, while in the midst of proof-reading the book, that I needed to check the details of a pic of Bib Stillwell and Roly at Sandown, Bib in his 1.5-litre car. "Ask Ed Holly," said Marc, "he's been in touch with Roly because he has his car."

The next chance remark was asking Ed if the car still had the scratches on it from when it took out Jack that day. "It wasn't Roly's fault, you know. His differential carrier was broken and that was making his car misbehave," said Ed.

And this problem was to cause Roly's retirement on the last lap, too. He'd been in a ding-dong battle with Glyn Scott for the whole race and the last time through Tannery he lost it and went through a fence. He had facial cuts and was taken to hospital.

He was friendly with Jack and told him about his problem, Jack gave him a steel carrier to replace the broken cast iron one...