Taupo January 19th- 20th 2019.

[Steve Holmes]

Some people shots.

L to R.
Rowan Harman (Australian Motoring Events Manager and classic car driver etc, )
Dale Mathers (Mr. Boss 302 Mustang )
Jim Barclay (Mr. Whenuapai )
John McKechnie (Mr Historic Sports Sedans and Allcomers )
Steve Holmes (Mr Roaring Season himself) What a pleasure it was for me to meet Steve finally and to listen to him and his wealth of knowledge in discussions with others was a real treat for me.

It was a pleasure to finally meet you too Ken! I really enjoyed the weekend, although I was starting to lose my voice by Sunday pm, from talking too much. By the way, great job polishing the wheels on John's Monaro. They were the shiniest in the paddock.

[khyndart in CA]

Some more of the Formula 5000 group. Some may be repeats but I have been enthralled with these machines since Bay Park in 1968.




Tony Roberts in his 1970 McLaren M10B # 7 (Built at Trojan.)






Brett Willis in his 1973 Lola T 330 # 16


Aaron Burson in his 1973 McRae GM1 # 29


(Ken H photos )

[khyndart in CA]

Some more of the Historic Sports Sedans and Allcomer entrants.


Roger Davis in his 1976 Holden Torana SLR 5000 # 68




Ivan Bevins in his mighty powerful 6 litre 1974 Ford Falcon XBGT # 80


Robert Bartley in the 1955 Ford Customline "Custaxie" # 50


Peter Hooper in his 1982 Toyota Starlet # 7

(Ken H photos..)

[John McKechnie]

Chad and I were standing with Graham and his crew next to this Capri.
I said to Chad- Did you ever see the movie "Shaker Run" in USA ?
Yep, many times.
Well, here is the Capri that was yellow in it.
No s**t ?
Yep, the same one.
I left Chad and Graham to talk into the afternoon.
Thats what these Historics are all about...the cars and their lives,they keep on living.
He also told me there exists stateside a V8 Morris Minor.....has Minor Trouble on the side.

[khyndart in CA]

I feel very privileged to have had to opportunity to see some of these cars race back in their heyday and then to see them so beautifully restored and prepared to race here again at meetings like this many years later. The camaraderie and support amongst you all was very impressive.
I have to admit I have a soft spot for Dale Mathers 1969 302 Boss Mustang which is so well presented and it reminds me of the events I went to in Australia in 1970 and watched Allan Moffat throw his Boss Mustang # 9 around.
Well done everyone I thoroughly enjoyed my 3 days with you.




Thanks Dale for a beautiful Mustang. (Don't forget to use that calendar !)

I do have to admit that I was disappointed in the size of the general public at an event such as this, that has such great racing with little damage done to these historic treasures. As this last photo shows hardly anyone around apart from the participants plus their friends and families etc.
As Fred Dagg used to sing "You don't know how lucky you are."
Anyway that is enough out of me and I am signing off.
Cheers,
Ken H

[khyndart in CA]

The Monaro ride continued.
Going around Turn 8.


Along the straight toward the Turn 11 Hairpin corner.


On to the long back straight.



On to the start / finish straight. Note the high coolant temp. reading on the middle gauge. (John will describe why.)


So that is one of my laps around Taupo with photos taken from under the dash ! (An unforgettable experience for me and as mentioned before, a huge thanks to John McKechnie and all of our "Crew" and Rowan Harman.)

(Ken H.)

[Kiwiboss]

Thanks Ken, for some reason I missed this posting of yours...…however I do appreciate your kind words. I've always been a 69 Muz fan since the days when I saw the Moff stang and Jims siddy both at Bay Park and I also remember the 70 PDL in lace green paint work, quite radical in its day.

I actually agree with you Ken, "WE don't know how lucky we are" but these days there's never a sizable crowd at motor racing, well certainly not enough to pay for anything that's for sure...………..mind you I've been to Monterey a few times to find im the only one in the grandstand as well.

Take care. Dale M

I feel very privileged to have had to opportunity to see some of these cars race back in their heyday and then to see them so beautifully restored and prepared to race here again at meetings like this many years later. The camaraderie and support amongst you all was very impressive.
I have to admit I have a soft spot for Dale Mathers 1969 302 Boss Mustang which is so well presented and it reminds me of the events I went to in Australia in 1970 and watched Allan Moffat throw his Boss Mustang # 9 around.
Well done everyone I thoroughly enjoyed my 3 days with you.




Thanks Dale for a beautiful Mustang. (Don't forget to use that calendar !)

I do have to admit that I was disappointed in the size of the general public at an event such as this, that has such great racing with little damage done to these historic treasures. As this last photo shows hardly anyone around apart from the participants plus their friends and families etc.
As Fred Dagg used to sing "You don't know how lucky you are."
Anyway that is enough out of me and I am signing off.
Cheers,
Ken H

[khyndart in CA]

My final photos of the HSS & A class cars.


Jon Telford in his 1991 "RX 8" Mazda RX 7 # 69


Gordon Burr in his 1968 Ford Escort # 567




Mark Allan in his 1972 Vauxhall Firenza. # 93




Roger Williams in his recently acquired 1975 Chevrolet Monza # 5

(Ken H photos..my apologies to those I did not capture in this class.)

[khyndart in CA]

A part of me has not come all the way back from my time at Taupo. Today I found some camera photos that had been hidden away and although it has been 5 weeks since the event I still wanted to share these pix of my guest ride in John McKechnie's 1969 "Cambridge" Monaro with Australian Rowan Harman driving. Rowan is the promoter of the Australian Touring Car Masters series and thoroughly enjoyed his time in NZ before heading back for the Bathurst Meet.



Rowan Harman at ease behind the wheel of the Holden Monaro.


And away we go with Hyndman just hanging on and trying to hold my camera as we exit Turn 1 heading toward Turn 2.


Heading along the short straight towards Turn 6


Rounding Turn 7. I was surprised at the elevation compared to how it looks from the stands.


(Ken H )

[John McKechnie]

Monaro just got through this event with careful watching of the water level.
High temperature was caused by a cracked block in one cylinder.
Low compression engine was pumping water out, at least was not getting in.
Discovered this 2 days before Taupo, did not want to park it as there were some
major committments-
Had Rowan coming over to drive his old Moon manifold and Webers,also couldnt disappoint Ken, also Scott, Grant ,flaggies.....
Most important though was to have it running in the first ever Historic Saloon Car race..which it did.
So its off to Uncle Jims to have a sleeve fitted, rest of the motor is fine, reassemble and ready for Legends.
And no, a replacement Dart block was never considered...its 010 blocks for the Monaro.

[Steve Holmes]

So its off to Uncle Jims to have a sleeve fitted, rest of the motor is fine, reassemble and ready for Legends.
And no, a replacement Dart block was never considered...its 010 blocks for the Monaro.

Good on you John for doing it right. Be much easier to buy a new Dart block off the shelf, but it just wouldn't be right. Have you managed to find a replacement 010 block?

[Spgeti]

Your a shining example to all those out there that own a historic racing saloon, doing it as it should be and retaining its originality.

Well done mate.

[John McKechnie]

At Rebel Roundup , Pukekohe today, there was a large crowd, people in the stands were standing and cheering as the 10 Historic Sports Sedans entertained them in 2 X 30 minute sessions.
Great track time for $20
Everybody knew how lucky they were today

[Kiwiboss]

At Rebel Roundup , Pukekohe today, there was a large crowd, people in the stands were standing and cheering as the 10 Historic Sports Sedans entertained them in 2 X 30 minute sessions.
Great track time for $20
Everybody knew how lucky they were today

Seen there was a large crowd that might be the secret John, mixing events like this with historic motor racing...……..thoughts?
Dale M

[John McKechnie]

Seen there was a large crowd that might be the secret John, mixing events like this with historic motor racing...……..thoughts?
Dale M

OK, last year Adrian and friends attended as a wild card.
Organizers liked us so much they wanted us back doing the same....display, run, noisey V8s, passenger rides.
This event combines many thing of which we were only a minor part....
Hot Rods...Sports Sedans are hot rods., never homologated or mainstream
Pukekohe....Auckland home of motor racing, and strong seat of hot rodding. My Monaro lived out here,
Hot Rod event like this is perfect for us.
As Spagetti said...a great event which pulls the punters in.

[Spgeti]

Looks like a great event which pulls the punters in. Basically a rock a billy event with HSS doing 30 minutes of lap time in display mode.
Certainly looks well patronised.

[Bruce302]

There was a display time when the attendees could walk around the HSS cars and a selection of the Hot Rods on the front straight.
It was good talking with people who love all things automotive, and from the people I spoke to they loved seeing the cars on the track, making noise and a spectacle.

[Kiwiboss]

There was a display time when the attendees could walk around the HSS cars and a selection of the Hot Rods on the front straight.
It was good talking with people who love all things automotive, and from the people I spoke to they loved seeing the cars on the track, making noise and a spectacle.

To run this as an actual motor racing meeting would require MSNZ licensing and that maybe were the problems begin...…..Dale M

[nigel watts]

So instead of promoting and having a "race meeting", why not just call it a practice day or something similar. I don't think the punters would be overly concerned if the cars weren't actually racing each other as long as they were going fast and making a lot of noise.

[Spgeti]

So instead of promoting and having a "race meeting", why not just call it a practice day or something similar. I don't think the punters would be overly concerned if the cars weren't actually racing each other as long as they were going fast and making a lot of noise.

It depends on what they are trying to do Nigel. Even a sprint meeting is run under a basic clubsport licence and is limited on laps and cars on the grid.
It still require all the safety ie Ambulance and flag Marshall’s etc plus a CotC. It’s not so simple unfortunately.