Event: 2013 Australian Muscle Car Masters

[Steve Holmes]

21015

Its on this weekend folks. The 2013 Australian Muscle Car Masters, one of the most significant historic racing events on the Aussie racing calendar.

Ellis French has already posted up the programme and entry list here (http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?1264-2013-MCM-Entrants-and-Prog-fyi)

Natsoft are posting the qualifying and race results as they happen throughout the weekend here (http://racing.natsoft.com.au/results/#2)

Thanks to Brent Murray from At Speed Images, we'll be posting up photos from the event from early next week.

[darren]

I went today. Had a ball!!! First time I've seen F5000. Man those things are unreal!!! Not a big crowd as what tomorrow will obviously be but the racing was very good in all categories. Enjoyed myself very much.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Darren. You said on the Monaro thread that the Bob Jane HQ Monaro was there. David Wall is entered to drive it according to the programme, but looking at Natsoft, he was driving the Pete Geoghegan Mustang. Was the Monaro just doing demonstration laps?

[darren]

I think so Steve. We missed the parade laps. Though the Geoghegan Mustang was blowing smoke which was getting worse towards the end of it's race, so maybe the Monaro just might get a run today.

[Jerry Entin]

______________________________________
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/2299/pfjw.jpg
Young rookie star Tom Tweedie in his F5000 debut in his Chevron B24

Saturday August 31, 2013

Sydney youngster Tom Tweedie has got his Formula 5000 career off to a blazing start, by defeating the cream of NZ F5000 stars on the opening day of the 2013/14 F5000 Australia Cup, being run at the Muscle Car Masters, at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Poleman Tweedie was beaten away from the start by Auckland gun Clark 'Metalman' Proctor, with NZ legend Ken Smith in close attendance.

For lap after lap, Tweedie's red Chevron B24 poked and prodded either side of Proctor's familiar yellow March, only for the door to be firmly shut.

It looked as though Proctor had all the answers until, with just over a lap to go, Tweedie squeezed through, to take a stunning F5000 series debut win. In his attempts to keep the youngster at bay, Proctor set the race's fastest lap - at 1m27.8312s. Smith (Lola T332) kept a watching brief throughout for a strong third, ahead of Aucklander Andrew Higgins (Lola T400), Melbourne Matich A50-mounted Bryan Sala, and Aaron Lewis' similar car.
The series debut of Richard Davison - father of V8 Supercar stars Will and Alex - got off to a tough start with what appeared to be an electronic failure early in the race, in the former Teddy Yip/Alan Jones Lola.

Tweedie, who has come via Australian F3 and Porsche Carrera Cup, before today's debut in F5000, was thrilled: "I certainly didn't expect to win like that, first up," he grinned. "Racing a car like that against some of the regular pace-setters in F5000 is a huge buzz itself. Clark got a great start and it was pretty late in the race before the opportunity came to get past. It was tremendous, hard, but clean racing. Fantastic." The field will contest a second qualifying heat on Sunday morning before the afternoon's feature race.

The 2013/14 Formula 5000 Australia Cup is supported by Gibson Freight and Mediterranean Shipping Company.
Photo: John Morris/Mpix
For further information:
Chris Lambden - F5000 Australia - +61 418 580 700
Report sent site: David Abbott

[Steve Holmes]

Many thanks Jerry. What is the history of the Chevron? Ex Peter Gethin possibly?

[Terry S]

Many thanks Jerry. What is the history of the Chevron? Ex Peter Gethin possibly?

This is actually a Chevron B24/B28, chassis # 7
Original owner Team VDS. They converted to B28 specs.
This car has had far more owners/drivers than I have had the proverbial hot dinners. I really can't believe how many..

Refer to Bob Tweedie's site "ibcholdings.com.au"
Also "oldracingcars.com". Look under Chevron B24. THat will keep you busy for a while....

[Ellis]

The EH boys in their own 50 th Anniversary 3 lapper....
Parkey pics..

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/IMG_0937_zpsfe3d9265.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/IMG_0937_zpsfe3d9265.jpg.html)

Not seen for a while.....3 x S4's parked side by side ...in MCM car park

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/IMG_0939_zpse1cd7e03.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/IMG_0939_zpse1cd7e03.jpg.html)

[Jerry Entin]

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/3920/z0q0.jpg
Tom Tweedie heads Ken Smith, Andrew Higgins and Bryan Sala into Turn 2.

Tweedie completes Formula 5000 debut grand slam

Sunday September 1

Sydney debutant Tom Tweedie has completed a clean sweep of the opening round of the 203/14 F5000 Australia Cup, backing up his two heat wins with a third victory, in the F5000 feature event at the Muscle Car Masters, at Sydney Motorsport Park.

With kiwi Clark Proctor side-lined after blowing his engine in the morning heat, it was left to ageless kiwi star Ken Smith (Lola T332) to take it to the young man over 40 years his junior.

Ken Smith (71) was a champion in the original Formula 5000 era, continued to race open wheelers without a break since, and returned to the category when it re-emerged as a historic formula. He has since won three NZ MSC Formula 5000 championships - illustrating perfectly that experience is the perfect counter to age!

However, it was 25 year-old series debutant Tweedie (Chevron B24) who prevailed. After an early career in Australian F3 and Carrera Cup, his transition to the 550hp 5-litre V8-powered Australian Grand Prix cars of the 70s has been seamless.

Third in the race went to the Matich A50 driven by Melbournian Bryan Sala, who found extra pace after the morning qualifying heat, to edge out Aucklander Andrew Higgins (Lola T400).


Aaron Lewis (Matich A50) completed the top five. First 'Class A' (pre 1970) car home, in a best-ever sixth, was the Lola T140 of Adelaide veteran John Bryant.

The next round of the series will support the V8 Supercar Sandown 500, on September 13-15, in Melbourne.

The F5000 Australia Cup is supported by Gibson Freight and the Mediterranean Shipping Company.

Formula 5000 Australia Cup points after the opening round: Tweedie 55, Smith 44, Sala 37, Higgins 37, Lewis 31, Bryant 26, Proctor 12, Rush 12.

report sent site: David Abbott
photo: John Morris/Mpix

[bry3500]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldRuThyxPNY

[Steve Holmes]

Thats awesome Bry! Why are there not more MkIII Zephyrs in historics?

[Steve Holmes]

This is actually a Chevron B24/B28, chassis # 7
Original owner Team VDS. They converted to B28 specs.
This car has had far more owners/drivers than I have had the proverbial hot dinners. I really can't believe how many..

Refer to Bob Tweedie's site "ibcholdings.com.au"
Also "oldracingcars.com". Look under Chevron B24. THat will keep you busy for a while....

Thanks Terry, I thought it might have been this car pictured, largely because they've chosen to race it as #2, which is the same number Gethin used throughout the 1974 Tasman Series. Turns out it does appear to be the same car, 007. Thanks Terry, good to know where it is today.

21028

[Steve Holmes]

The EH boys in their own 50 th Anniversary 3 lapper....
Parkey pics..

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/IMG_0937_zpsfe3d9265.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/IMG_0937_zpsfe3d9265.jpg.html)

Not seen for a while.....3 x S4's parked side by side ...in MCM car park

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/IMG_0939_zpse1cd7e03.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/IMG_0939_zpse1cd7e03.jpg.html)

Thanks Ellis, I saw the EH race results, with a really good turnout of cars. Must have been a blast to see!

[aaron]

Thanks Terry, I thought it might have been this car pictured, largely because they've chosen to race it as #2, which is the same number Gethin used throughout the 1974 Tasman Series. Turns out it does appear to be the same car, 007. Thanks Terry, good to know where it is today.

21028

I raced the Chevron regularly for the last 8 years or so. Tom is way quicker than me as expected and it's not just more power either.

[Steve Holmes]

Aaron, your honesty is refreshing! Most people blame the car if they're not winning everything in sight, rather than look more closely at themselves. Besides, I think you're doing yourself a disservice. You do a fantastic job in these cars. And you're an enthusiast who goes historic racing for the right reasons, and its great you bring these beautiful old cars out to run so others can enjoy them.

[Steve Holmes]

Here is the first of the photos from Brent (At Speed Images). Plenty more to follow folks.

21056

[Steve Holmes]

21057

[aaron]

Aaron, your honesty is refreshing! Most people blame the car if they're not winning everything in sight, rather than look more closely at themselves. Besides, I think you're doing yourself a disservice. You do a fantastic job in these cars. And you're an enthusiast who goes historic racing for the right reasons, and its great you bring these beautiful old cars out to run so others can enjoy them.

The stopwatch never lies. Besides I am now running just 1 second off the long time lap record and did it 7 times in a 10 lap race. Can't complain about that. 3 years ago that would have gotten me 2nd or 3rd place in a big field but the front of the field has moved on from there.

[Ellis]

parkey pics...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/-1_zps618134fb.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/-1_zps618134fb.jpg.html)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/-2_zps4e9f9fba.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/-2_zps4e9f9fba.jpg.html)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/IMG_0934_zps174c92e1.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/IMG_0934_zps174c92e1.jpg.html)

Mick O Brien Pics.....

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/P1000235_zps50e08955.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/P1000235_zps50e08955.jpg.html)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/P1000234_zps07c084e7.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/P1000234_zps07c084e7.jpg.html)

[Ellis]

EH's on dummy grid...
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/IMGP6986_zps1569adef.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/IMGP6986_zps1569adef.jpg.html)

EH's grid.....
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/IMGP6997_zpsb6053070.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/IMGP6997_zpsb6053070.jpg.html)

Nb dummy grid.....
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/IMGP6912_zpsa4b78bce.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/IMGP6912_zpsa4b78bce.jpg.html)

Nb Grid.......
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/IMGP7030_zpsb8623ad9.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/IMGP7030_zpsb8623ad9.jpg.html)

Kean pics

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Ellis, these are great! Out of interest, the Humpy Holden #179 in post #19, it looks like it has bolt-on flares? Is this an old Sports Sedan?

[Ellis]

Thanks Ellis, these are great! Out of interest, the Humpy Holden #179 in post #19, it looks like it has bolt-on flares? Is this an old Sports Sedan?

Dont know the signifigance of the car Steve but it would be.
It did some demo laps ? I think . I seen a pic with it out on the track

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Ellis. The flares look like they could be a more recent addition, but either way, its great to see another of these cars with history being brought out and shared.

[Steve Holmes]

OK folks, Brent has emailed me the first batch of pics from the Muscle Car Masters. These are stunning, and I'm sure you'll enjoy them. They're not in any particular order, so just appreciate each on its own merit. For those on here who are Facebook members, make sure you visits Brent's page and 'Like' it, so more people get to see his work. His page can be found Here (https://www.facebook.com/AtSpeedImages)

21102

21103

21104

21105

[Steve Holmes]

21106

21107

21108

21109

[Steve Holmes]

21110

21111

21112

21113

[Steve Holmes]

21114

21115

21116

21117

[Steve Holmes]

21118

21119

21120

21121

[Steve Holmes]

21122

21123

21124

21125

[Steve Holmes]

21127

21128

21129

21130

[Steve Holmes]

21136

21137

21138

21135

[prn31]

21015

Its on this weekend folks. The 2013 Australian Muscle Car Masters, one of the most significant historic racing events on the Aussie racing calendar.

Ellis French has already posted up the programme and entry list here (http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?1264-2013-MCM-Entrants-and-Prog-fyi)

Natsoft are posting the qualifying and race results as they happen throughout the weekend here (http://racing.natsoft.com.au/results/#2)

Thanks to Brent Murray from At Speed Images, we'll be posting up photos from the event from early next week.

This is the Starlight Blue XW Falcon GT Auto raced by Charlie Smith and Bill Ford at the 1969 Bathurst 500 where it finished 9th outright.

The car is now owned by Leo di Natale and I wrote a story on this Bathurst survivor for Australian Muscle Car magazine (#66) earlier this year.

85 year old Charlie Smith was down to drive the GT in the demonstration laps.

Unfortunately I was unable to catch up with Leo and Charlie on the day as I was chasing up another 1969 Bathurst car for a future article!

Paul

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Paul, yes I remember that article. You did a great job!

[Steve Holmes]

21141

21142

21143

21144

[Steve Holmes]

21157

21155

21156

21154

[Oldfart]

Is it just me, or does seeing cars in their period livery make it so much better? I know that sponsors want their payback, but there must be a way to satisfy both. After all there is damned all exposure by the media.

[Terry S]

Re the F5000's at this meeting, I personally believe the low number of competitors at this high profile meeting was pretty poor.
I think there were about 9 cars that participated, of which 5 were Aussie and 4 were from NZ.
For their main feature Trophy race there were only 7 starters.
This is an opportunity to be seen by a large audience that wouldn't go to Historic meetings, and let young people see what they were all about. I believe they did not come up to expectations..
The thing about F5000's was the thunder from a big field, particularly at places such as Oran Park. There as they came over the dogleg and into the dipper the noise was unbelievable and made the whole amphitheatre shake.
I've seen them in their prime at Warwick Farm, Amaroo (completely unsuited) and Oran Park. I can still readily recall that Australian Grand Prix there with Lella Lombardi in a Matich.
I believe this lot have got to raise their game, or risk being omitted from such high profile meetings. Plenty of other classes would like to take their place.

[richiev8]

Hi,
The number 85 Camaro in post #27 is a ex kiwi car I built up, never ran sold to Au. Gets plenty of use now in TCM

[Steve Holmes]

Thats right Richie, thats a bloody good car you built. I realise they've developed it further, but the original package you'd constructed has done a great job.

[Steve Holmes]

Re the F5000's at this meeting, I personally believe the low number of competitors at this high profile meeting was pretty poor.
I think there were about 9 cars that participated, of which 5 were Aussie and 4 were from NZ.
For their main feature Trophy race there were only 7 starters.
This is an opportunity to be seen by a large audience that wouldn't go to Historic meetings, and let young people see what they were all about. I believe they did not come up to expectations..
The thing about F5000's was the thunder from a big field, particularly at places such as Oran Park. There as they came over the dogleg and into the dipper the noise was unbelievable and made the whole amphitheatre shake.
I've seen them in their prime at Warwick Farm, Amaroo (completely unsuited) and Oran Park. I can still readily recall that Australian Grand Prix there with Lella Lombardi in a Matich.
I believe this lot have got to raise their game, or risk being omitted from such high profile meetings. Plenty of other classes would like to take their place.

Yes it is disappointing Terry. Full credit to those who made the effort to run their F5000s at this event. Just a shame there weren't more of them. I know these cars aren't cheap to run, and neither is it shipping them around Australia or from New Zealand. This is obviously an event outside their existing championship, and maybe the MCM organisers need to somehow find a way to make this part of their series.

I remember asking Mark Oastler about this following the very first Muscle Car Masters, back in 2005 (?) as the intention back then was to have F5000s there. I think initially from memory they'd advertised that F5000s would be at that first event, but in the end it came to nothing. He told me many of those running the F5000s, especially those from NZ, weren't very interested in racing at the MCM. They felt it wasn't the right fit for their class. Thats what he said back then. I actually suggested the NZ racing class Central Muscle Cars could be a good fit with MCM (because I was involved with CMC back then), an idea he really liked, and the idea sort of grew from there to have CMC at the event. Thats back when CMC cars were a bit closer to historic type cars than they are now.

[aaron]

Yes it is disappointing Terry. Full credit to those who made the effort to run their F5000s at this event. Just a shame there weren't more of them. I know these cars aren't cheap to run, and neither is it shipping them around Australia or from New Zealand. This is obviously an event outside their existing championship, and maybe the MCM organisers need to somehow find a way to make this part of their series.

I remember asking Mark Oastler about this following the very first Muscle Car Masters, back in 2005 (?) as the intention back then was to have F5000s there. I think initially from memory they'd advertised that F5000s would be at that first event, but in the end it came to nothing. He told me many of those running the F5000s, especially those from NZ, weren't very interested in racing at the MCM. They felt it wasn't the right fit for their class. Thats what he said back then. I actually suggested the NZ racing class Central Muscle Cars could be a good fit with MCM (because I was involved with CMC back then), an idea he really liked, and the idea sort of grew from there to have CMC at the event. Thats back when CMC cars were a bit closer to historic type cars than they are now.

I was involved with Mark on that and tried to get 4 cars to do demo laps. In the end I was the only one there with the Chevron and it rained about 6" so I didn't venture onto the track. Just goes to show how long it can take to get these things together. Australia is a big country and competition between meetings and driver support can be difficult. Credit to MCM as we get free entry to that meeting as an incentive. It's still a long way to bring cars from Melbourne and NZ.
Sandown 500 this weekend and it looks like we have 14 cars at the moment.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Aaron, I hope the F5000 support for MCM grows. But as you say, there is strong competition between event promoters to have F5000 on the programme. Seeing them charging around Sandown would be pretty special.

[richiev8]

Steve,

Cheers, but taking no credit for its current performance, thinks its had several large bundles of $$ thrown at it!, new owner does say its the nicest build in the feild

[Snoozin]

These pics are great! Man I'd love to get over to Aus and trackside, looks like great fun!

[Terry S]

Yes it is disappointing Terry. Full credit to those who made the effort to run their F5000s at this event. Just a shame there weren't more of them. I know these cars aren't cheap to run, and neither is it shipping them around Australia or from New Zealand. This is obviously an event outside their existing championship, and maybe the MCM organisers need to somehow find a way to make this part of their series.

I remember asking Mark Oastler about this following the very first Muscle Car Masters, back in 2005 (?) as the intention back then was to have F5000s there. I think initially from memory they'd advertised that F5000s would be at that first event, but in the end it came to nothing. He told me many of those running the F5000s, especially those from NZ, weren't very interested in racing at the MCM. They felt it wasn't the right fit for their class. Thats what he said back then. I actually suggested the NZ racing class Central Muscle Cars could be a good fit with MCM (because I was involved with CMC back then), an idea he really liked, and the idea sort of grew from there to have CMC at the event. Thats back when CMC cars were a bit closer to historic type cars than they are now.

Re disappointing F5000 appearance
Steve this IS a round of their Australian Championship. Their Australian association set up a 5 round "2013/2014 F5000 Australia Cup".
A great idea for us all to see them. Alas this was the ONLY Sydney round, the other 4 are all in Melbourne. So in Sydney we have to wait another year.
What is frustraing is poor attendance by their own association. From their web site the office holders are the President, Deputy President and Secretary. None of these three turned up. Why did they bother setting up a championship.
The thing about F5000 is not the racing and dicing but the great impact of a reasonable field at full noise.
Surely these guys can afford to run 5 meetings a year. If not why not sell the cars to those who can?

[Steve Holmes]

Yikes, I didn't realise this was a round of the series Terry.

[Steve Holmes]

Some more pics from Brent.

21370

21371

21372

21373

[Steve Holmes]

21374

21375

21376

21377

[Steve Holmes]

21378

21379

21380

21381

[aaron]

21374

21375

21376

21377

I'm no oil painting but that's not bad. I looked on Atspeed but couldn't find how to get some of the great photos.

[aaron]

Terry, yes we were also disappointed but did our best at Sandown. Can you believe that there are now repercussions because we were too fast? By the way, I have now run 5 meetings this year including 3 in NZ. I know you are not criticising me and respect your viewpoint. We all wish for the Cinderella formula but it may have been the 3 years we ran at the AGP. We are only doing this for fun. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been in period.

[Steve Holmes]

Aaron, in what way did the AGP appearances affect F5000?

[Steve Holmes]

I'm no oil painting but that's not bad. I looked on Atspeed but couldn't find how to get some of the great photos.

Brent can be contacted on: atspeedimages@hotmail.com

[aaron]

Aaron, in what way did the AGP appearances affect F5000?

The AGP fields were the largest ever in this country by far and that was the pinnacle. It will be hard to ever match that. It is an expensive exercise and having done it 2 or 3 times many decided (Kiwis in particular) that it was better value to run 3 or 4 meetings in a row in NZ. They still get big grids there, we are struggling here.

[Murray Maunder]

Aaron,
Does the distances involved in Australia have a bearing on the demise of this great class in Aussie? Or escalating costs? Or something else or a combination (probably)? Maybe a thread specifically to discuss here at TRS like the one that FF had recently, would be worthwhile. I am worried to think that F5000 as an historic class in Australasia could be heading for virtual extinction. The fields and the red flags and number of retirements at this year's Festival were alarming after the spectacle of previous years.

[Steve Holmes]

Yes thats a good point Murray. The little understanding I have of the New Zealand F5000 group, and speaking to some of those involved, is that there is becoming a bit of a division between those who are genuine enthusiasts, who want to run the cars for enjoyment and historic sentiment, without the association of a championship to battle for, and those who are serious about winning the championship, chasing points etc, and are spending big to achieve these goals. I don't know how serious it is, and of course if there is a championship to contend for, this will always happen.

[aaron]

Yes thats a good point Murray. The little understanding I have of the New Zealand F5000 group, and speaking to some of those involved, is that there is becoming a bit of a division between those who are genuine enthusiasts, who want to run the cars for enjoyment and historic sentiment, without the association of a championship to battle for, and those who are serious about winning the championship, chasing points etc, and are spending big to achieve these goals. I don't know how serious it is, and of course if there is a championship to contend for, this will always happen.

You are both right although I don't think we had any red flags at MCM? Not at Sandown in the races. Cost, distance, competitive v enthusiast, engine power battle, age of drivers, all of these things are playing a part. If the grids settle back at what it was 5-6 years ago it can still be a good show.

[Steve Holmes]

I am sure the current economic climate can't help either, these are not cheap cars to run.

[Steve Holmes]

21516

21515

21517

21518

[Steve Holmes]

21518

Its interesting the way historic racing jumbles up history. A Group A Mustang couldn't win an ATCC race in 1985, much less beat an R32 Nissan Skyline when it first appeared on the scene 4-5 years later. But this is a part of what makes historic racing so interesting. Seeing all these different cars running together.

[Steve Holmes]

21522

21521

21523

21524

[Steve Holmes]

Some more pics:

21561

21562

21563

21564

[Steve Holmes]

21565

21566

21567

21568

[Steve Holmes]

21624

21625

21626

21623