I appreciate your comments Paul, I guess for me it is just sour grapes not being able to run so close to the actual weekend. Yes as I always said gearbox is wrong, but is a gearbox more wrong than modern brakes or wrong engine. Looking at the list a few cars will fit that bill. I think John has done a fantastic job, but I do feel a bit singled out. I am not sure how a 1999 Chev monte Carlo or 1993 Olds fits as a Historic though John, I pretty confident every bit on my cars was pre those dates.
Yes the car is a wee bit out of place in that group, but surely there must be a group to run in at HD next weekend. A new set of tyres would be of more advantage than a sequential gearbox?
Ralph is an original Sports Sedan competitor, and also ran the car in OSCA, He put a heap into Sports Sedans and Osca, and also the cars raced back then in OSCA and are not new. Don't think it is 99 either as he ran it way before this.
Please lets settle down before there is a break out from some people who have taken a lot of convincing to come and have a play and get the cars out, who originally parked the cars years ago because of petty nit picking by other sauces. This is heading in same direction and as stated, IT IS A HISTORIC MEETING, If we loose some of these cars because the guys do not want the poop, we will never see them again in a group like this.
Last edited by Rod Grimwood; 01-13-2015 at 05:35 AM.
That is a great line up John. I am looking forward to seeing the guy's run and enjoy themselves. Yes the cars are the heroes
Rod- Ralfs car is actually 1995 and under Appendix 6, Vehicle catorgorie , period classification - U
Built to OSCA rules.
Bruce- was talking to Gordon today and he is all set to go.Originally Posted by Spgeti
Thursday morning- early, he is a cocky,- getting the Alfetta, off to Barrys at 10.00am to get the Monaro- hes got a 3 car transporter - then off to HD for a little bedding in.
Told him that there was a big contingent of 105 fans from Manawatu with Italian flags and grid girls coming so he had to make the car last the two weekends.
do some quiet testing in the afternoon, even said I would put a camera in to show him his gearchanges
Look forward to seeing you and the guys there.
Last edited by John McKechnie; 01-13-2015 at 07:03 AM.
Correct about Ralphs wagon.
Sent you email, you done great job and a great field, I know/meet most and it will be good.
Classic video on facebook and some of the cars feature, shows how some changed as time went on. Grew bigger wings and noses along with flares etc. but most stayed same colour.
Right off to pack bag, heading in HD direction, for a weekend of FUN watching. Hope to see you all there at some time. This is a pretty special meeting for me and I am going to enjoy.
Last edited by Rod Grimwood; 01-13-2015 at 07:01 AM.
Rod- have a Historic Sports Sedan poster with your name on, and it features Ralf in the Viva.
Update from John Rush who blew his gearbox at Whittaker meeting-
Hi, should have gearbox back next week so i got saturday, sunday monday to get it in and then into trailer on tuesday with no testing
Owing to committments, John is running the second weekend. Looking forward to see him hitting the track. He also is on the HSS poster.
Last edited by John McKechnie; 01-13-2015 at 07:31 AM.
Grid girls......yeah right !
Just dont tell Gordy, OK.....
Barrys pulse is revving more than his engine, hes so pumped for the weekend, and he is actually going to get there early for once.
Last edited by John McKechnie; 01-13-2015 at 08:52 AM.
I get what you are saying Rod, but we keep being told it's not about the people it's about the cars. John has changed year on list to 1995, but if you look at post 504 Ralph says, started building 1995, finished 2000.
Can someone tell a confused spectator what was the story with the "handicapped" final HSS race yesterday afternoon? Also, how is a Toyota Starlet considered a HSS? As a spectator, I'd have rather seen 4dnuts Escort than the Starlet, which was over-enthusiastically driven.....
Habu, I think they are trying to accommodate old shell sport cars and replicas of them. I quite like Peter's car and it goes real good for a 1500cc car. I think john has done a good job to convince these old fellas to get their cars out. It was quite interesting spectating and it seemed the chatter was people liked Ivan's escort mixing it with the V8 cars. Obviously I would have loved to run and be part of creating some racing. I guess the only thing I would say is more cars needed, 14 cars finishing a race is a bit skinny, which is why previously they have included a few hotrods.
Habu-
Peter Hooper was crewing on a Toyota back then .
He built a replica of what was running then, I was working at Wrightcars Toyota and I know what is on his car is acceptable period.
The aim of this class has always been to get the original cars back - Shellsport cars were part of the grid then, and regular readers of this thread will know I have always talked of getting them back.
I personally take my hat off in admiration to Peter for his bravery in happily running his car with HSS- look at the way he and the black XB Coupe were side by side
Ivan in his Escort was highly praised by the starters for controlling the rolling start-I was on the start platform and I totally agree
Last edited by John McKechnie; 01-19-2015 at 01:26 AM.
Agreed, the car does perform well. Yes, the field was a bit thin at the end, and I'm sure your car would have made for a few epic David vs Goliath battles.
Thanks for the reply John. I guess the best way forward for HSS, is to have a dedicated class for Shellsport / Shellsport style cars to run in, if they have the numbers and wish to have a stand alone class for cars to run in, of similar capacity. Yes, Ivan drove very well considering the physical size of the competitors surrounding him.
Sports Sedans were notorious for never lasting the distance-.
With the handicap race, Safety car picked up wrong car.
Always disappointing when the momentum goes.
Roger Davis -red Torana- has been correctly given first place
Casualties-
Alfetta :gearchange dog broke in first race,and as Gordon is a true supporter he went home and got his V8 Escort which has long racing history.
Richard Quinn- gearchange issues with his gearbox.
John Dennehy- Escort, consistantly didnt appear at the start.
Roger Davis- 1st race- rocker cover gasket broke leaking oil onto manifold. 2nd race incorrectly thought he was black flagged. 4th race- handicap- won !!!
Graeme Barnes- flat tyre race 3.
Barry Algie- finally finished a race .Got rid of the miss, sorted out gearlinkage problem.
Rodney Holland- went to change tyre, wheel damaged during process and had no spare wheels.
Dennis Running- recovering from knee surgery no chance either weekend.
Ralf Mossman- threw a power steering belt in race 3 , race 4 engine seized.
Adrian Dobbe- broke camshaft at beginning.
Peter Gunther- flyweel problems before weekend.
Garry Haynes- RX8, had overheating problems, damaging the engine.
I would like to give a huge thanks to John Telford, Graeme Barnes, Robert Bartley and Mark Allen for coming up to run with us last weekend and put on a show for the crowd.
Last edited by John McKechnie; 01-19-2015 at 03:23 AM.
Just got off the phone to John Dennehy with the NZ Freighters Escort.
There were a series of leaking tyres on Sunday, preventing him from having a clear run.
He will definitely be running again next weekend, and is absolutely rapt that there is finally a class that his genuine car fits into without any modifications.
He also would like to see more Shellsport cars joining the grid.
Last edited by John McKechnie; 01-19-2015 at 03:37 AM.
Barry and the Monaro were on fire in Saturdays last race... so great to see the car being given a good strop at last! I'm too young to have seen it in period but I am certainlY. Impressed when it all comes together!
Were you with all of us at the dipper watching he and Gordon flying up and into it side by side, no one backing off., apparently its gone viral.
Thats my number one sight for the weekend.
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