ERC Race Series - Euro Saloons & Sports

[ERC]

I have a static photograph of Mike's car whilst at Motorsport Fabrications but I'll be driving a camera this weekend at Icebreaker so hopefully, will get one or two action shots and also pics of other new registrations.

We also have on hold, Ken Haycock's Mini Clubman and John Ure of Jaguar fame has purchased an ex Ken Haycock Mini Cooper (not S) that he is hoping to run. We have had a few Minis over the years but never as many as I would have expected, given the availability of parts, from bodyshells to everything else. Pity my 2 Elf projects had to be abandoned 12 years ago. One was going to be a concours 998cc and the other was going to be my version of what the Broadspeed Mini would have looked like had it been based on a Riley! No doubt it wouldn't have got a CoD 'cos it wasn't done in period'... (Posted a pic on the Mini/Imp thread.)

I don't think we have ever had a Hillman Imp registered with the series, which has always been open to Imp and Mini powered cars, such as Davrian, Clan, Ginetta G15, De Joux, GTM, Unipower etc. The nearest we got to that was Adrian Blackburn's Targa Mini Marcos for a season. I think there is a Mini Marcos for sale on Trade Me at the moment.

Just to bring you up to date with the registrations for this season, we are now up to 84 drivers - well over 95 cars - with two or three paying at the moment to get in before the weekend.

One or two more recent cars accepted include ex U2K Cup 205 Peugeots who have found the restrictions of U2K not to their liking. That only goes to show that U2K rules are being introduced or enforced to keep it the way they want but European cars can still move into another class.

No doubt I'll get pilloried for allowing them in, along with a newer thoroughbred, but we are now getting a higher percentage of cars that could be deemed newer, but without more Minis, Imps, Hillman Hunters, Triumph Spitfires, Lotus Elans, Daimler SP250's, Riley 1.5s, Wolseley 1500s, Morgans older Jaguars, MG Midgets, Reliant Scimitars etc. joining the fray, which they are not doing in sufficient numbers, I don't see that we have a choice.


So far we have a grid of 19 AES cars and 10 Arrow Wheels for Icebreaker. Quite why so many always enter late is anyone's guess... That is only a third of those paid up and if numbers do not hit a total of 30, then we will combine the groups to assist in a faster running meeting - but also to provide a better spectacle for spectators. To not do so would make me a hypocrite, as cars on track are still the only thing that will ever make spectating attractive.

[Steve Holmes]

I think there is a Mini Marcos for sale on Trade Me at the moment.

Yes you are right: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/spec...-922567381.htm

[AMCO72]

The Mini Marcos belongs to my friend Robin Greenland. Robin is well known in Mini circles and I have raced with him a few times. Amazingly the Marcos is new, brand new......it was a body that was never completed. Robin has been playing around with it for some years, but due to a change in direction of life it is for sale. It needs completing but everything is there. The colour would not be my choice but everyone is different. I think the asking price is $20,000, but I know that Robin would 'negotiate' !!!!!!! He had quite a collection of Minis but they have all gone except the Marcos.

[ERC]

A bit of history here. Whangarei Street race 2000 - ex TV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzSpdncPE6Q

[nzeder]

Robin's Mini Marcos is very nice - I had a quick look over it when I picked up the trailer I purchased from Robin. After I decided not to race a Datsun Zed in the ERC I did think about a Ginetta G15 - a imp powered kitcar from back in the day. But then thought like the Marcos not a lot of race history from back in the day and given NZ festival's all seem to be salon's as was raced in NZ then a Mini was the good choice.

A Ginetta G15

[ERC]

Ice Breaker this weekend and a fair few 'new faces'. About 41 in total across our two groups at the moment which is about half the current paid up membership. Pretty good for the first round of the season. A slight imbalance between the slower group and the faster group - about twice as many in the slower group, which I am not exactly unhappy about.

We could have a look at the lap time split, to even up the group numbers - but I know that if we do, all that will happen is that we may lose some of the faster ones in the slower group, so a bit pointless really. As long as we can get a total of over 30 cars out there, I think we are probably justified in keeping the two groups separate.

I may have some good news about the Festival shortly... But first, I have to poll the current drivers. I may be dictatorial, but some decisions are best made after consultation with the membership!

[nzeder]

Was have fun this morning learning to drive the mini just before #2 decided it needed to cool down and throw it's self out of the side of the block. Never mind these thing happen with engines in unknown condition.

[AMCO72]

nzeder......did I not say that driving the mini would be a different kettle of fish to the Datsun !!!!!!! perhaps you need a more accurate rev counter........some old engines dont take too kindly to 8,000 rpm..... You may have a saviour in Ray with his 'spare' engine, otherwise its lots of $$$$$$$. You may be lucky if the damage has confined itself to the block and not spread to the gearbox as is so often the case with a Mini, so something will be salvageable, but a whole lot of work before the next outing. Ah, the joys of Motoracing.....

[ERC]

Posted a pre blow up pic on my Mix of Pics thread... Car sounded great and looked good, so very sad that it let go so quickly.

[nzeder]

Was have fun this morning learning to drive the mini just before #2 decided it needed to cool down and throw it's self out of the side of the block. Never mind these thing happen with engines in unknown condition.

True I don't know how accurate the Rev counter is even if I did not go past 6000. Was going OK started to get hot quickly then I start to get out of it and drive back to the pits. Then started to smoke up a bit then it went bang before I could get back to the pits. I will remove and strip and see what bits are OK and if the block could be repaired if the hole is below the bore then have a spare engine once Ray and I can sort out a deal on the one under his bench.

[ERC]

Congratulations to Rex Ferrall on his renewal today - he's our centurion of the year! In other words, he's the 100th driver signed up for the season, making it 7 years on the trot we have had over 100 drivers and 9 out of the last 10 years. There are still 3 drivers who are down to race shortly who haven't paid and a few taking a break for various reasons.

Added to the obvious attractions of U2K, BMW, Alfa, MG and Classic Japanese, it just shows the real strength of numbers in the classic categories in this area.

[Oldfart]

Not getting at you NZeder, but why do so many folks with car maladies they are aware of try to get back to the pits? Surely much cheaper to stop on the track side, or has the propensity for race officials to stop races made folks feel guilty about getting off the track?
Often times means there is a trail of some form of slippery stuff making it a whole lot worse.

[John McKechnie]

Getting off the battlefield and out of the falling off zone ?

[ERC]

nzeder has taken possession of my much loved 1293cc engine. The state of his original engine beggars belief. No wonder it went bang. Either someone needed a stronger arm or a torque wrench or better still, should leave building engines to those who know what they are doing. At least my engine was originally built by someone trustworthy and I sincerely hope that as a spare engine, it serves Mike well. I never even got beyond the running in stage with it, so looking forward to seeing how well it goes. Not a race engine but built for fast road use.

Welcome to the renewals and the new drivers. We are now on 108 paid up for the year. Slightly up on this time last year.

Entries for the Porsche Festival are a little lower than the promises, but still great grids for each weekend. Some are doing weekend 1 only, some weekend 2 only and as fair few doing both weekends. Friday will be as last year, with a morning practice and an afternoon scratch race. The other four races will be handicaps, as they proved to be very popular last year and no winner is ever guaranteed.

As at end November, 28 for weekend 1 and 39 for weekend 2 - and one or two known tardy ones no doubt...

The man to watch from scratch will probably be Bruce Manon - again, but this time in his own car, not Mike Sexton's.

[ERC]

Welcome back to Racing Ray Williams, who has bought the Neil Tolich Perana Capri.

Rob Berrgren has rejoined with ex Bob Groves Perana Capri.

Dr John Elliott is also now also part of the ERC, running with Arrow Wheels with his Holden Torana.

All are experienced drivers with great cars - though Rob had to scratch from Sunday's event due to cracked brake rotors, discovered at the Friday track day.

I believe that Paul Halford may run the 250GTO Ferrari recreation on weekend 2 of the Festival, where our grid is now totally full... (46 car maximum. I think we have 50) Weekend 1 there are only a couple of spaces left. Great support for the Festival.

[ERC]

Entry for weekend 1 of the Festival:


1 Alan Ferguson BMW M8 ®
2 Bert Quin FORD PERANA
10 Neil Fraser LANCIA DELTA INTEGRALE
17 Peter Northin FORD ESCORT
18 Ken Northin FORD ESCORT
19 Kerry Chadderton PORSCHE 911SC
21 Bryce Platt PORSCHE 924 S
29 Mike Lucas MINI COOPER S
36 Win Jacob JAGUAR XJS 3.6
40 Adrian Dobbe VAUXHALL VIVA HB
48 Ricky Cooper DATSUN 240Z
64 John Palmer MG BGT
70 Ray Green MARCOS VOLVO 3L
72 Karl Sentch DATSUN 240Z
77 Jeremy Thornton PEUGEOT 205 Gti
79 Gary Langsford ALFA 75
88 Bruce Manon FORD ESCORT
89 John Ure JAGUAR XJ12
92 Brian Yates PORSCHE 924S
93 Ivan Selak FORD ESCORT
96 Steve Rasmussen PORSCHE 911 RS
150 Allan Brook MG BGT
158 Tony Vujnovich FORD PERANA
181 Ron Findlay FORD PERANA
203 Andy Mygind DATSUN 240Z
205 Richard McCarthy Jr PEUGEOT 205 GTi
280 Ken Williams MERCEDES 280CE
331 John Hudson BMW 320
616 Dave Mallin MG BGT V8
635 Zachary Lawrence BMW M635CSI
739 Grant Kern MG B V8 SPORTS
944 Paul Madeley PORSCHE 944S2
996 David Heron PORSCHE 996

First session up this weekend at 9am! Also of course, first after lunch.

As last year. Practice Friday morning.

First session after lunch is a scratch race.

Saturday and Sunday, 2 handicap races, same time slots.

Paul Halford is now running the Ferrari in Classic Trial.

[SPman]

A Ginetta G15

A nice looking little car - does the whole arse end lift up? I assume the motor is in the Imp position.

[ERC]

Sadly, Paul Halford has had to pull out -broken wrist.

Phil Laird out - broken leg.

Couple of others out with mechanical issues. Par for the course.

Horrendous traffic problems to and from the track today. A total of 4 hours getting there and back for documentation...

[Allan]

What caused the traffic problems Ray?

[ERC]

Heading south, just after Hill Rd, Manurewa Collision between a car and a truck carrying human waste... Yeuk! Needed an extensive clean up which took a while. I pulled off the Motorway at Manukau and it took an hour to get to Manurewa. Then made a big mistake and came off at the Bombays and it took a good 10 minutes, just to get out of the BP filling station.

On the way home, an accident on the harbour Bridge heading north.

In sharp contrast, left home about 6:05 this morning and it was a dream run, down to the motorway and on it. Traffic heavy at 3pm heading back and a crawl from about Tip Top corner.