"Secret" International Class at Hampton Downs and Taupo

[RogerH]

Historic F1 cars entered so far at Hampton Downs Kenny Smith Festival are :

1976 BRM P207
1976 Lotus 76
1974 McLaren M23
1976 McLaren M26
1974 Hesketh 308
1971 Surtees TS9
1976 Hesketh 308
1974 BRM P201

Plus 27 F5000 and 43 FJ - with apparently more still to come.

[GD66]

Historic F1 cars entered so far at Hampton Downs Kenny Smith Festival are :

1976 BRM P207
1976 Lotus 76
1974 McLaren M23
1976 McLaren M26
1974 Hesketh 308
1971 Surtees TS9
1976 Hesketh 308
1974 BRM P201

Plus 27 F5000 and 43 FJ - with apparently more still to come.

Good stuff, thanks Roger.

[Murray Maunder]

Historic F1 cars entered so far at Hampton Downs Kenny Smith Festival are :

1976 BRM P207
1976 Lotus 76
1974 McLaren M23
1976 McLaren M26
1974 Hesketh 308
1971 Surtees TS9
1976 Hesketh 308
1974 BRM P201

Plus 27 F5000 and 43 FJ - with apparently more still to come.

Thanks Roger.

It's been about 35 years since I've been an event promotor but I reckon some things haven't changed. The "promotor' ( who ought to have a stake in the financial success of the event) fails to maximise the creative use of "free media" to build up interest in the event. A series of "leaked" media releases progressively informs the fans that the event is happening, that somebody or machine of real interest is coming, a competitor reveals a personal story (goes well with the motoring pages of the daily fish and chip wrapper), and so on.

As said, the cost of putting these events with all the modern enhancements, not to mention political correctness items, is quite an obstacle to conceiving of a balanced set of financials, let alone profit. I find it ridiculous that I'm effectively lecturing an unknown promotor on how to stir the public awareness, let alone passion. With all the social media opportunities there's no excuse for your likely paying customers from staying home through lack of awareness or interest.

The lineup shown, I guess, is as good as it gets down here for F1 cars. I'm not complaining but if half of them are static displays then I'm currently still sitting on the fence. The era concerned is right in "my zone" but I am thinking about not bothering and waiting till I make it to a well attended overseas historic meeting where there could be dozens of F1 cars plus CanAm cars etc.

I wish Tony Quinn all the best with HD but maybe his heart just isn't in this form of motorsport.

[Kiwiboss]

Thanks Roger. I wish Tony Quinn all the best with HD but maybe his heart just isn't in this form of motorsport.

I do too but from some of Mr Quinns past ramblings he's made it known that he doesn't have much interest in "Old car racing at the hobby level" as that's not were the money is(I agree with that) he has left this event up to his managers(one has just going on holiday for 2 weeks) to run but until several weeks ago they appeared to not even know about Historic Muscle Cars and even left Historic Sports Sedans of the list? last week their PR person phoned asking if HMC had ever raced at the festival before, Duh! and seemed unconcerned about the Aussies guys coming over as if a non-event. He's even charging them storage in the pit garages between events, that's gotta be good PR you think........NOT. The incompetence level and last minute running around has left me disgusted and to the point that we are now promoting the Tasman Revival as our premier meeting, and come what may the following.

I did earlier on express my interest in helping with the promotional side of HMC/HSC as I've done in the past(I do it for FREE, Duh again), getting our legends along and anyone else involved in helping promote this historic event, it required posting out free tickets as after all these people are what helps make these festival tick but told under no circumstance will even ONE single person get a free ticket and EVERYONE must pay so I shrugged my shoulders and went F-it, i'll just turn up and be another racer like everyone else so stuff-em.