Just A Mix Of Pics - Ray Green Collection

[John McKechnie]

Taken from Wikkipedia-
Mount Panorama began as a dirt-track/tourist-drive carved out of the bald hills around the bustling city of Bathurst in the mid 1930s. The Council of the time, specifically Mayor Martin Griffin, had a vision for a premier motor racing circuit with the sharp hills, hairpin bends and a fast downhill straight that would inspire awe and demand respect from all who took up the challenge for years to come. Strong support from the New South Wales Light Car Club, Auto Cycle Union and the Federal Government, through a national employment relief scheme, saw this vision become a reality. On 17 March 1938 Mayor Martin Griffin declared the Mount Panorama Scenic Drive open. He always knew that the road was going to be used for motor racing but Depression Era funds weren't easy to come by, so he had to create a ruse. At Easter 1938 the first races were held and except for the war (WWII), have been run ever since.

Mount Panorama is indisputably a Mecca for motor racing fans all over Australia and around the world. On 16 April 1938, Mount Panorama attracted an overwhelming 20,000 spectators to its first race, The Australian Tourist Trophy.

My point.....So there is a lot of variety and themes possible on a yearly basis if imagination and planning was used properly

[touringcarfan]

Taken from Wikkipedia-
Mount Panorama began as a dirt-track/tourist-drive carved out of the bald hills around the bustling city of Bathurst in the mid 1930s. The Council of the time, specifically Mayor Martin Griffin, had a vision for a premier motor racing circuit with the sharp hills, hairpin bends and a fast downhill straight that would inspire awe and demand respect from all who took up the challenge for years to come. Strong support from the New South Wales Light Car Club, Auto Cycle Union and the Federal Government, through a national employment relief scheme, saw this vision become a reality. On 17 March 1938 Mayor Martin Griffin declared the Mount Panorama Scenic Drive open. He always knew that the road was going to be used for motor racing but Depression Era funds weren't easy to come by, so he had to create a ruse. At Easter 1938 the first races were held and except for the war (WWII), have been run ever since.

Mount Panorama is indisputably a Mecca for motor racing fans all over Australia and around the world. On 16 April 1938, Mount Panorama attracted an overwhelming 20,000 spectators to its first race, The Australian Tourist Trophy.

My point.....So there is a lot of variety and themes possible on a yearly basis if imagination and planning was used properly

And I would volunteer to help you guys create something of our own

Anthony

[ERC]

Blasted images have disappeared again... Getting a bit fed up with posts and/or attachments disappearing. Re posted 12:45

Back to what the thread is about, but I don't mind the diversions! A real mix of cars. It isn't always easy getting an unobstructed shot, so most of these are indeed 'snapshots'!

Some of the detail touches on customised cars are what makes them so interesting. For a non-engineer/mechanic, is this attaching bodywork to the engine and wouldn't it need rubber bushes? Just curious as I work on the fibreglass bonnet of my own car...






TVR


For Spgeti of course...

[Spgeti]

And I would volunteer to help you guys create something of our own

Anthony

Anthony you are always welcome to help us in HMC/HSC,

Cheers

Bruce

[Rod Grimwood]

Remember the first festival, cars from all over the world there in the huge marque. would have been 90 to 100 million bucks worth just in the big marque. Juniors, F1, Can Am, F5000, sports cars, and out the back HMC, Sports Sedans, your groups. huge, and people loved it.

[RogerH]

Remember the first festival, cars from all over the world there in the huge marque. would have been 90 to 100 million bucks worth just in the big marque. Juniors, F1, Can Am, F5000, sports cars, and out the back HMC, Sports Sedans, your groups. huge, and people loved it.

Bringing in cars and drivers from overseas can be done - it just requires a bit of commitment and organisation.

In 2017 we organised about 30 Formula Juniors to come here from UK, Europe, Australia, US, Canada etc. They ran at most of the North Island and South Island tracks so there was container transportation to be organised, marquees at the tracks etc. It all turned out OK and we even ended up with a small cash surplus. We are planning to do it again in Jan/Feb 2019. We don't seem to fit in with Mr Quinn's plans so we will probably end up running our own historic event.

[ERC]

The first Festival in 2010 was a huge success in terms of the competitor turnout and we not only saw a lot of cars from overseas, but also from the South Island - most we haven't seen since. Despite that, I believe it was a huge financial loss, but the Hampton Downs owners probably saw it as putting HD on the map and therefore money well spent to get the ball rolling.

As we are in the northern hemisphere off season, and given the huge costs to enter high profile meetings and minimal track time there, I believe that the costs of freighting cars to NZ and doing several events would be surprisingly attractive to many racers if they were more aware.

When I say 'minimal track time', think on this. Having attended the Monaco Historics in 2012, over the three days, cars had maybe three track sessions only and the entry fee was $5,000NZD. As is usual, a 15 minute race followed by 30 minutes of hanging around for spectators. NZ events are run to a much better format. Apart from start time, they do not rigidly adhere to the clock and as long as there are enough groups, spectators see far more track action.

Goodwood Revival, one practice/qualifying on Friday (and a 1 hour race at dusk!) and 1 x 20 minute race on Saturday OR Sunday for most groups. Some two driver groups such as the TT might have been 1 hour, but it was still only 9 races a day. Cars had just two track sessions over a 3 day period - and a total spectator sell out with all Saturday tickets sold out in April for a September meeting!

I have no idea what the entry fee is and it is by invitation only but from my perspective, ALL grids are full and it is a photographic nirvana, so well worth the effort. The Pre 1966 public car park alone is worth a visit.

We can't compete with Goodwood, but there is no excuse whatever for a miserably small turnout of competing cars or display cars.

NZ/Australia has a very rich heritage and I agree with Anthony, there is a huge number of cars that the public would like to see, even if they are only doing demonstration laps. I'd even go as far as to say that from behind a camera, I really don't care whether they are racing, qualifying or demonstrating, just as long as they don't all look the same.

Caffeine and Classics managed an estimated 1,300 display cars February last year - and that is without any race or track cars. My guess is that with hangers on and spectators, the crowd would have been far larger than at HD - and no one paid a cent. Motorsport must be one of the few places where the competitor's provide the entertainment - and pay huge money for the privilege...

[ERC]

More power to your elbow Roger! Pity that future planning by HD seems to largely ignore the Classic/Historic sector and what they contribute via their enthusiasm and obvious ability, to what makes a meeting worth travelling to.

Whenuapai would still be the ideal location for a motorsports/aviation venue and its closeness to the major population hub makes it even more suitable. HD may well be half way between Hamilton and Auckland, but that doesn't seem to have made it attractive to spectators in any great numbers and with zero public transport facilities, it doesn't help.

[ERC]

Wet, miserable and stormy so not working outside on fibreglassing or decking...

[Spgeti]

Nice Ray, owned a 500 a few years ago and been for a ride in a 308GT.

The trouble today is that we have so many events on and in direct competition as well and that dilutes the grids.

We have a similar event down here like your classics in the park, called the breakfast club, and it is always full to the brim.

It is hard work even just organising a grid let alone a meeting and I take my hat off to those who do.
I did not attend the Bathurst Festival so I really can’t comment but I am heading off to Taupo in the morning so will report back.
HMC/HSC have a healthy grid of 26 so far without the late withdrawals.

Seriously considering selling my GTV and getting a drive on the road classic and go and enjoy the more traditional classic car groups.

[khyndart in CA]

My boss at Moss Motors in California, was in NZ last year and he was amazed at the quality and workmanship put into the classic cars he saw such as what you show here Ray.
And he knows what he is talking about.
So well done you Kiwis it does not go unnoticed!
(Ken H)

[nigel watts]

Nice to see some classics & hotrods Ray. I go to lots of those events myself and have heaps of images of some fantastic cars.

[ERC]

Three totally different takes on what made an American car over the decades. Ford, Cadillac, Chevrolet.






Three totally different takes on what made a British performance car over the decades. Buckler, Sunbeam Tiger and McLaren.

[ERC]

[ERC]

Oh drat! Headed for Hampton Downs this morning (couldn't make yesterday as the ready mix concrete truck was booked) only to arrive and find that they'd condensed the two days into one... Ho hum.

Not an area I'm interested in, but just to show the variety.






As you may be able to tell, these are in the 'overflow' area. There is no designated parking for specific makes, but some groups seem to grab 'their' area each month.

[nigel watts]

Wow, just as well I didn't go [from Tauranga]. After being in the sun all day at Taupo yesterday I decided not to go - but I did plan to go.

[ERC]

One of these Vauxhalls very nearly killed my brother when it took a left hand corner too quickly, spun, then rolled right in front of him, as he was walking to Sunday school. In those days, it was a derestricted speed limit area and in later years, it always puzzled me how anyone could possibly have spun there - but I was driving Minis where corners like that weren't an issue. It was pre MoT/Wof days too, so maybe the tyres were rubbish? Rather put me off Vauxhalls.

Next 'Caffeine & Classic' meet is Sunday. I might take the Magnette if I can make more progress on the bonnet panels. I keep changing my construction methodology and am now on version 4...

[Steve Holmes]

I love that Thunderbird ^^

[ERC]

Several Thunderbirds there too Steve. Obviously the uploading of multiple images issues in one hit hasn't been fixed?

[Steve Holmes]

I'll go back to my tech guy Ray and see if he can come up with a solution.