92 replies to this topic

[cooper997]

As mentioned in post 12, Holden's Bathurst homologation special, Torana SL/R 5000 L34 and their enthusiastic owners were at PI to celebrate the model's 50th anniversary.

 

Rally, race & road car versions in various hues... (the red, third car in example was driven all the way from Perth)

 

 

 

 

Stephen

Edited by cooper997, 15 March 2024 - 21:35.

[Lee Nicolle]

Friday Touring Cars

 

Slightly less controversial in 2024... The Scuderia Veloce Motors, Volvo 242GT David McKay and Spencer Martin ran on radials at the 1979 Hardie Ferodo 1000

 

 

ex Bill O'Brien 'Walkinshaw' VL GpA Commodore with GpC ex Graeme Bailey Celica and GpC ex Grice VC Commodore

 

 

Stephen

Ex Chris Smerdon as well.

[cooper997]

Saturday afternoon Regularity...

 

John Hardy's Alpine A110

 

 

Shane O'Brien's Austin Healey 100/4

 

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

A bit more big banger McLaren Island magic...

 

 

 

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

Three ex Works Nissans and ex Bob Morris XD Falcon

 

Eggleston Motorsport were kept busy looking after the fleet of (approx) 15 yo V8Supercars

 

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

Josh Axford Escort RS1600 towards MG corner

 

Derek McDougall Europa. There's an advert for this car in the event programme. It's running a modern Ford Duratec engine and Borland Racing Developments spaceframe. So quite developed from how Lotus produced them.

 

 

Stephen

[Duncan Fox]

I should have realised...

It's very likely the M10s had the same kind of battery mount as the M4a. I could have asked for someone to check them.

Hi Ray, I have never seen what I consider a “correct” battery setup. The M10’s that I have worked on all as you say have a support to prevent forward and sideways motion. I restrain them with a rubber strap similar to the type a 60’s BMC mini would have in the boot. Certainly that is how a works car was equipped. The batteries were in the seat area under the knees.

[Ray Bell]

Thanks, Duncan...

 

The problem is that the original chassis has no holes by which something could be attached.

[Duncan Fox]

Many cars i seen the battery is retained only by the cover plate with a spacer ,usually a rubber product.

[Duncan Fox]

Fantastic variety of shots Stephen, what a great long-weekend it was.

The Phillip Island Classic is easily the pinnacle of historic meetings in Oz. As one who couldn't organise a shag in a knock-shop, hearty congrats to the Victorian Historic Racing Register and MG Car Club and their armies of volunteers for a stunning weekend of racing and static displays.




The grids of mixed single-seaters were huge: F5000, F3000 (one), Euro and Oz F2, Formula Pacific, Formula Holden (one) etc made a great spectacle albeit not without some 'disquiet' among some competitors given closing speeds and the differing characteristics of the various classes




Joe Ricciardo is a big PI fan, here aboard his Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Zagato enroute to the meeting





Busty Belle of The Ball was the Bruce McLaren Trust McLaren M8B Chev which is about as period perfect resto/rebuild as you will ever see. Not a cell of the thing looks wrong to me











image url

[Duncan Fox]

Hi Mark , glad you liked the M8’s. Especially the M8B. Just like to correct something. The M8B project had nothing to do with the Bruce McLaren Trust, it was carried out during my tenure as a trustee but completely seperate from the Trust. The M8A was restored by Group 7 Sports cars for the them and now resides in a US collection. They guys running the M8B were struggling with fuel delivery as the bag valves were formatted for The demo at AGP which is a clockwise circuit

[lyntonh]

This was the scene in the garage, early in the meeting.....

 

 

And then finally......

 

[lyntonh]

Sunday was pretty hot, so they all decided to get the same shot from the shade of the hoarding over the track coming out of MG.

 

[lyntonh]

Andrew Carrig in his Mallock Mk 27 was quick all weekend, until an engine blew on lap two in Sunday afternoon's race.

 

 

 

 

[cooper997]

A couple of Touring Cars that share 1967 F! WDC, Denny Hulme's Bathurst history

 

He must have been a late inclusion to the Bob Jane T-Marts team, Mercedes 190E. The 1986 race programme just has TBN for Andrew Miedecke's co-driver. Andrew was back at the wheel of the car at PI Classic.

 

His 1987 Hardie Ferodo 1000 (A WTCC round) with another former F1 driver, Larry Perkins. Driven at PI by Stephen Perrot.

 

 

Stephen

[lyntonh]

 

Friday morning just after 9 am.......

[lyntonh]

 

[lyntonh]

[lyntonh]

[Ray Bell]

Gotta love that last shot, Lynton...

 

There's nothing like a good candid shot of kids.

[Michael Ferner]

Gotta love that last shot, Lynton...

 

There's nothing like a good candid shot of kids.

 

Like

[2Bob]

 

You are showing your family side Lynton!

 

Photo of Nathan's back, son of, and mechanic to, Kevin West, owner and driver and custodian of the late Peter Turner's Norax.  I have to report that the rug rat shown is Nathan's son and a very experienced apprentice race mechanic as well as a very nice (very) young man, Talk about the family starting their careers at the right age!   The parents and 2 apprentices camped in my back yard and spare bedroom for the AMF in Adelaide the week after Phillip Island.  Not normally a lover of rug rats I fully enjoyed the company of all the family.  

[lyntonh]

Bryan Sala in the Matich A50.

[MarkBisset]

Noice Lynton...

 

Very noice. Such a beautifully prepared, presented and driven car. Oh for a Repco-Holden in the back...

 

m

[Michael Ferner]

Yeah, does look a bit odd... 

 

Are they hard to come by?

[Ray Bell]

They probably are becoming so...

 

Repco stopped building them in the seventies, and while there's nothing to stop people copying what Repco did, the base engine is 308 cubic inches, just a bit big for F5000.

 

Chev engines would be a lot easier come by.

[Lee Nicolle]

They probably are becoming so...

 

Repco stopped building them in the seventies, and while there's nothing to stop people copying what Repco did, the base engine is 308 cubic inches, just a bit big for F5000.

 

Chev engines would be a lot easier come by.

Easy enough to destroke the crank. Or VN on engines are 304ci.

Repco had handpicked blocks and heads and quite a deal of other 'good' stuff. Though to me a Chev will always be a better deal unless you get one of Larrys VP engines with the intakes lifted about an inch! And not period correct either

[MarkBisset]

 

Me mate Mad Andy McCarthy's ex-Beppe Gabbiani Maurer MM82 BMW 2-litre Euro F2 car

 

Still in part a 'bundle of bits' in the garage on Thursday, Andrew did a brilliant job to get the thing on-track albeit without a clutch, braking problems, and one or two things detaching: lower front wishbone bolt and throttle linkage bolt to be precise.

 

The races for theses cars are rolling-starts so the lack of a clutch wasn't a major problem.

 

Stuff to fix and finesse but great to see it on track. When I scribbled about it immediately prior to X-Mas I said to him "no 'kin way known will you be at the Island!"

 

https://primotipo.co...aurer-mm82-bmw/

 

There are now four Maurer F2's in Oz, the total build number is something to work on.

 

Edited by MarkBisset, 28 March 2024 - 01:35.

[Lee Nicolle]

I hope that top pic is an illusion as it seems to ahve a LOT of toe out.

[Michael Ferner]

Yeah, looks a bit frightening, especially in connection with the words "detaching lower front wishbone"   

 

Total build number for all Maurers is south of twenty, but details are hard to establish. You say there are four in Oz? Can you expand?

[cooper997]

Both Auto Action (issue 1882) and Australian Muscle Car (issue 143) have features on Phillip Island Classic.

 

Part of the AA coverage by Mr Bisset, AMC's coverage by editor, Steve Normoyle.(who may have been making his first visit??).

 

 

Stephen

[Ray Bell]

I would have thought that Steve had been there before...

 

Especially as a Vee racer, the Vee 'Nationals' were held there for several years.

[MarkBisset]

Yeah, looks a bit frightening, especially in connection with the words "detaching lower front wishbone"   

 

Total build number for all Maurers is south of twenty, but details are hard to establish. You say there are four in Oz? Can you expand?

 

 

Michael,

 

Andrew McCarthy has the MM82/04 (running) and an MM81 ex-Guerrero, the tub of this car is being repaired in NZ at present 

 

Simon Gardiner has an MM83 BMW ex-Alain Ferte, superbly prepared and driven

 

Chris Farrell has not so long ago bought an MM83 BMW, that was kicking around in Qld for some years. Andrew tells me it was originally delivered to DAW Racing in South Africa as a roller, and fitted with a Mazda Rotary there

 

I'm happy to collaborate with you on a 'chassis list' if you have information which would help. I just need to sit Andrew down and extract all the information he has absorbed from various folks in the UK and Europe on trips there is the last three years or so. I suspect he knows as much about the cars as anyone.

 

m

[brucemoxon]

I would have thought that Steve had been there before...

 

Especially as a Vee racer, the Vee 'Nationals' were held there for several years.

Steve had not been to the Classic before. 

And I missed it because my adjectiving car failed me. 

 

 

 

BRM

[lyntonh]

The melee in MG Corner on Sunday morning.

 

David Banks in the Talon has been tipped sideways under braking and Vince Holland has tee-boned him.

Tony Galbraith in the Lola and Bryan Sala in the Matich have had nowhere to go and have ended up in the mess with bits flying off all over the place.

The result of the ill-advised mixing of fields with ground-effect cars and Formula 5000s.

Notice the shocked expression of the spectator over the fence in the distance.

Edited by lyntonh, 31 March 2024 - 01:19.

[MarkBisset]

Cheers Lynton,

 

I was atop the grandstand and missed all but the end of this, so I don't know how it unfolded.

 

Picking up our chat at the meeting, as you know the F5000 boys wanted separate races (not just the 'throw 'em a bone F5000 Historic GP'). Peter (Brennan) leads this group so it's easy to get a view, that's not so much the case with the R/Q et-al boys.

 

As we all know, the recently appointed CAMS Ltd CEO is an ex-senior insurance executive, talk to any senior CAMS person and most say 'we are a risk management organisation' if you ask them what CAMS' (trading as Motorsport Oz) purpose is.

 

From a spectators viewpoint that mixed grid was fantastic, but with laptimes from 1.30 to the high 1.40s all the way to 1.50 and beyond, the closing speeds are large. If I'm a well-driven ANF2 1.6 I'm going to be driving on my mirrors for a good portion of the longer races.

 

I'm not so sure it's ground effect and the rest as the only issue. I think its driver skill, for example, David Hardman was Q5 in the 'semi ground-effect' Hardman JH1 Ford BDA F Pac; the F5000 qualifying times alone ranged from 1:30.87 to 1.54.95 if I ignore the Lola that only did 2 laps.

 

The other issue is commercial of course. What is the car entry number for the VHRR that achieves break-even-point, with all the other commercial arrangements they have in place, sponsorship and food vendor income etc? The VHRR has a big fat Balance Sheet, but not unreasonably would want each meeting to wipe its face, that is, break even or a little better as a minimum.

 

So...the next VHRR Committee meeting on all of this would be an interesting one to observe.

 

What's the answer in relation to this group? Separate races I think, and overall 'rostering off' of a group each year to give competitors a reasonable number of race laps...and higher entry prices would be the consequence of that for competitors.

 

A good many of the current VHRR senior folks were around when the Spencer Flack tragedy happened. The group of cars we are talking about are inherently safer than a BRM Type 25, but the cars concerned are also a good deal faster. In God We Trust ain't the answer...

 

m

Edited by MarkBisset, 31 March 2024 - 04:45.

[lyntonh]

Cheers Lynton,

 

I was atop the grandstand and missed all but the end of this, so I don't know how it unfolded.

 

Picking up our chat at the meeting, as you know the F5000 boys wanted separate races (not just the 'throw 'em a bone F5000 Historic GP'). Peter (Brennan) leads this group so it's easy to get a view, that's not so much the case with the R/Q et-al boys.

 

As we all know, the recently appointed CAMS Ltd CEO is an ex-senior insurance executive, talk to any senior CAMS person and most say 'we are a risk management organisation' if you ask them what CAMS' (trading as Motorsport Oz) purpose is.

 

From a spectators viewpoint that mixed grid was fantastic, but with laptimes from 1.30 to the high 1.40s all the way to 1.50 and beyond, the closing speeds are large. If I'm a well-driven ANF2 1.6 I'm going to be driving on my mirrors for a good portion of the longer races.

 

I'm not so sure it's ground effect and the rest as the only issue. I think its driver skill, for example, David Hardman was Q5 in the 'semi ground-effect' Hardman JH1 Ford BDA F Pac; the F5000 qualifying times alone ranged from 1:30.87 to 1.54.95 if I ignore the Lola that only did 2 laps.

 

The other issue is commercial of course. What is the car entry number for the VHRR that achieves break-even-point, with all the other commercial arrangements they have in place, sponsorship and food vendor income etc? The VHRR has a big fat Balance Sheet, but not unreasonably would want each meeting to wipe its face, that is, break even or a little better as a minimum.

 

So...the next VHRR Committee meeting on all of this would be an interesting one to observe.

 

What's the answer in relation to this group? Separate races I think, and overall 'rostering off' of a group each year to give competitors a reasonable number of race laps...and higher entry prices would be the consequence of that for competitors.

 

A good many of the current VHRR senior folks were around when the Spencer Flack tragedy happened. The group of cars we are talking about are inherently safer than a BRM Type 25, but the cars concerned are also a good deal faster. In God We Trust ain't the answer...

 

m

The Formula 5000 guys are obviously very conscious of the need to get everyone settled and starting from the appropriate place in the grid before they let loose.

In 2016 I believe that they agreed among themselves that the first race on the Friday would be changed to a further practice session because several cars were needing further sorting after issues on Thursday and Friday morning.

I also have a vague memory that they agreed to a neutralised first lap until the main straight, to avoid the Honda and MG corners turning into what happened here.

 

This year's Thursday practice sessions included Groups Q and R both Sports and Racing, and the Formula 5000s.

 

To say that it was frantic is an understatement, and the close shaves along the main straight where I was viewing were happening on almost every lap.

Edited by lyntonh, 31 March 2024 - 09:52.

[Lee Nicolle]

Andrew Carrig in his Mallock Mk 27 was quick all weekend, until an engine blew on lap two in Sunday afternoon's race.

 

 

 

 

Does anyone know where the Norax name came from?

[lyntonh]

Does anyone know where the Norax name came from?

Lance Wakefield explained to me that when they were building the cars and

wondering what to call them, he was in his shop one day and noticed the name 'Norax' 

on one of the table lamps they sold.

He thought it sounded good, and the rest is history.

 

edit....

 

My confused memory has made a mess with this one.

 

I knew a Lance Wakefield from near home, and regularly put Lance in front of the wrong surname.....

 

The correct info is....

 

Lance Ridgeway made Norax table lamps and built the cars at his factory, hence the Norax name.

 

Thanks to Bob Collinson for putting me straight.

Edited by lyntonh, 03 April 2024 - 00:34.

[DogEarred]

Although I have visited PI on a non-racing day, this year was the first time I have visited the Classic.

 

What a great circuit & event! Well organised with plenty of variety.

 

I was there on the Friday practice day only.

 

 

Firstly, a nostalgia pic.

3 of the guys standing were FF drivers and a mechanic who came to the UK to race/work in the mid 70s. (I shared a flat with one of them & was best man at the wedding of one of  them who is not in the photo. Also not in the photo, is the brother of the driver. He raced a little too) 

Quite a reunion!

 

 

 

Plenty of pictures already posted by others, so I will just add a few.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[E1pix]

It’s very powerful to see you’ve worked all the way up to recognizing the endless thrills of Formula Vee. Congrats!

Hate seeing the ex-Tuck Thomas and Jon Woodner cars coming together…

Thanks for the pics, everyone!!!

[Shane Bowden]

Although I have visited PI on a non-racing day, this year was the first time I have visited the Classic.

What a great circuit & event! Well organised with plenty of variety.

I was there on the Friday practice day only.


Firstly, a nostalgia pic.
3 of the guys standing were FF drivers and a mechanic who came to the UK to race/work in the mid 70s. (I shared a flat with one of them & was best man at the wedding of one of them who is not in the photo. Also not in the photo, is the brother of the driver. He raced a little too)
Quite a reunion!

Ian Edgar in the race suit and maybe Nick McDonald taking off the glasses.

[DogEarred]

Yes - Ian.

 

But Neil McLay taking off glasses.