I'm sure you'll pass on these too!Originally Posted by Oldfart
I'm sure you'll pass on these too!
Hampton Downs ACC meeting April 12th.
Some were taken during practice.
Good to see Veen Smith's car back in action.
Last edited by ERC; 04-12-2015 at 08:55 AM.
Any shots of the #19 Falcon XE from Northern Muscle Cars by chance?Hampton Downs ACC meeting April 12th.
Some were taken during practice.
Good to see Veen Smith's car back in action.
Looks as though you were lucky!
Overall, a good day for the Jaguars. They all survived!
A maiden win for Derek Moore in his ex-Andy Turpin XJS. Hard to believe this car has been with us for almost 20 years and was first raced as a bog standard car, complete with auto gearbox.
Birthday boy Adam Jones Escort won the second handicap by a whisker from Ricky Cooper, with Derek Moore just 0.3 seconds behind. Everyone (combined, both groups) across the line within 17 seconds. A good end to the ERC season with the rain just holding off.
From the 'probably still trying to date accurately' folder
Ex Mick Hill VW during a practice or test day at Donington.
Same age as my car, but the 1970 4 seater Mantis, along with a hiccup sending a shipment of cars to the US, effectively knocked the company down for the first time, only to be resurrected about 10 years later.
The Turpin XJS, October 1997 in its original form.
Last edited by ERC; 04-18-2015 at 03:17 AM.
Well, the last race meeting of the season in NZ was only a very brief call, but long enough to get a couple of pics.
Not normally my sort of car, but I can appreciate the stunning presentation.
I have no idea what this is, so if anyone can identify it, I'd appreciate it.
All tucked up for the winter.
Just our awards dinner May 9th and Automania May 10th and that will be it from me for a while.
Last edited by ERC; 05-07-2015 at 09:53 AM.
Hi there erc, number 77 is in fact a formula suzuki, hayabusa powered single seater, there was a series which ran a few years back.
Thanks Paul. Yet another single seater category where most must be in sheds. Pity they don't all come out and support a proper Formula Libre series for cars under say 2,000cc.
A few pics from the FREE Automania show held at the North Shore Events Centre on Sunday. Good crowds but we missed the drift demo, which no doubt appealed to the majority. Pity about the horrendous and invasive noise from the person driving the sound desk outside which drove us away early. How come we have a 95Db limit at some race tracks, yet someone can crank up a sound system in excess of that limit in a light industrial setting alongside a golf course?
One for the ZED boys...
JT in strange territory north of the bridge.
Just about the only time anyone sees a single seater north of the Harbour Bridge. Pity the proposed tracks at Ruakaka or Whangarei amounted to nothing.
The Formula Suzuki cars were developed by "Monster" Tajima is conjunction with Suzuki. They make good use of proprietary Suzuki parts and are unusual for motorcycle engined cars in the fact that the motor is mounted longitudinally and uses a diff out of a Vitara or similar. Most bike engined single seaters have a transverse engine.
I don't know if any races are scheduled for them currently-they were raced up to maybe as recently as last year.
I have only seen one in action-at a track day. It is a great pity they never really 'took off' as the one I witnessed was very impressive in terms of it's speed and sound. Strikes me as a great class to get aspiring young drivers into a fast and affordable "wings and slicks" formula and an ideal stepping stone to the Toyota Racing Series.
But, as has been pointed out on this Forum before, we simply have too many classes of racing in NZ with a population smaller than many overseas cities. Formula Suzuki and Formula Challenge (if it is still in existence) are a prime example of two classes that are very similar but competing against one another for races and competitors.
There are a number of F Suzuki cars for sale on Trademe at present.
Last edited by rf84; 05-11-2015 at 12:44 AM.
Just a random few Old Brits.
Are there any GTM's in NZ? Goodwood's Mini celebration, 2009
I am away in a couple of days time but only have a couple of weeks in the UK July/August to try and add to my collection. I have pencilled in the Brookland's Museum and the British Motor Heritage museum at Gaydon. No guarantees of course, but both are on my bucket list.
We did do the Heritage museum when it was at Syon Park back in about 1987, so I am looking forwards to the modern centre at a location where my last visit was for a sprint meeting - and it poured with rain...
Last edited by ERC; 05-15-2015 at 10:39 PM.
Do you know a Kiwi runs Brooklands? Mention the names of the drivers of the world's fastest Trident Palliser FF, and the world's fastest orange Gp 2 2002...
Ray I'm trying to guess the silver car in the second photo - 428 perhaps?
Spot on Michael. AC 428. Incidentally at one time as a minor part of my job, I was used as company chauffeur for the boss, who at that time had a new Aston Martin DBS Vantage (auto unfortunately). One trip to Heathrow (in the old Austin 1800 he loved riding in...), we picked up a couple of his friends and the wife had a maroon 428 with the registration SM7. I wonder what that duo would be worth now.
I'll mention your names at Brooklands if we make it...
I hope we do, as I want to try that Napier Railton experience in 4D!
When I went to Brooklands in 03, we were able to get onto what is left of the banking. You should make a b-line for that...
BTW, I'd be perfectly happy with an auto AM DBS V8
Have a good trip
Michael, I will be at Brooklands 7th July (after Oulton Classics, and Shelsley VSCC) who is this guy?
Unfortunately Michael, not only was it the first automatic I'd ever driven, (and the first drive was in the 5pm rush hour in the middle of the city!), alas, it was the DBS 6, with the grille-less front. Bought new for 6,500GBP in 1973, sold at action (fuel crisis) for just 4,100 pounds with only 4,500 miles on the clock a year later. The depreciation for the year was more than my wages.
We don't arrive until July 12th Rhys, leave July 20th; back August 1st, away again August 8th.
Last edited by ERC; 05-16-2015 at 08:42 PM.
Visited both places in 2013 and was not disappointed.Just a random few Old Brits.
Are there any GTM's in NZ? Goodwood's Mini celebration, 2009
I am away in a couple of days time but only have a couple of weeks in the UK July/August to try and add to my collection. I have pencilled in the Brookland's Museum and the British Motor Heritage museum at Gaydon. No guarantees of course, but both are on my bucket list.
We did do the Heritage museum when it was at Syon Park back in about 1987, so I am looking forwards to the modern centre at a location where my last visit was for a sprint meeting - and it poured with rain...
My highlight at Brooklands was getting inside the Wellington bomber. There's a door at each end so you make your way through the fuselage and reflect on the bravery of the guys of Bomber Command who flew in those things. Well, that's what I did anyway.
Second place highlight was the gents toilets in the clubhouse building - very old-World stylish!
Of course the cars etc are pretty good too.
Plenty of interesting stuff at Gaydon. The official handbook I bought says they keep around 175 cars on display with more in storage.
In 2011 I went to the National Rail Museum at York and could hardly move for kids and their caregivers (it was school holiday time). The next day I visited the Wheatcroft Formula 1 collection at Donington Park. In the hour or so I wandered around there were only 3 other people there (I counted them). My wife and daughter waited for me in the cafetaria and were the only customers. I couldn't believe the contrast between the 2 places.
David Hunter
I have posted on a message-board somewhere that the Donington Collection appears to have flogged off a lot of exhibits or their owners have reclaimed them.
Since the proposed F1 hosting and the debacle that followed it, Kevin Wheatcroft has shifted his collection of WW2 military vehicles in.
As someone who visited the museum often since its opening and the builder of the Nottingham Sports Car Club's stand at the 1976 Racing car show held there, I have a strong affinity with the place. However, last two times time we visited, no one could be bothered to produce a current list of exhibits and numerous emails have gone unanswered. I decided not to go in, as I prefer to remember it as it was and I'm not sure that anything new of any interest has been added for years.
For those who have never been before, yes, well worth a visit, but I enjoyed the Sparkford (Haynes) museum last year far more than I expected. The Caister museum in Norfolk is also worthwhile - but you can't take photographs!
At that time (Feb 1976), Donington needed a club with a race licence so the NSCC worked in with Donington in the early stages, running the opening meeting May 1977, but as soon as the track was up and running, the Donington Racing Club was formed and once again, NSCC found themselves without regular meetings. Putting some finishing touches to the stand is Judy Bragg, the wife of the then secretary, Alan Bragg.
Yes, even the great Ronnie Peterson had a go on our Scalextric version of Donington Park! As you can see from the blackboard, Super Saloon Driver Mick Hill was the fastest at that point! (Photo by Mike Causer)
Note the MARCH hanging on the wall? That is the one now owned by Kiwi Roger Wills.
It was never a busy museum, certainly during the week, but that meant it was always a pleasant place to spend a wet week day morning. If we had more time, maybe I should give it another go.
Last edited by ERC; 05-18-2015 at 10:30 PM.
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