COMING EVENTS

Nov 6th                               Gunnar Elmgren Evening

Nov 8th-9th                          Sandown Historic Meeting *CCE
                                            David Floyd 9509-1392  

Nov 15-16th                        Geelong Sprints

Nov 28th                             Hillclimb Night at Clubrooms

Nov 29th                             DC3 Joyflight
                                            Robert Thomson 9374-2824 

Nov 29th-30th                      Wakefield Park HSRCA     
                                            PH 02 9907-0136 FAX (02) 9948-3205

Nov 30th                             Rob Roy Historic Hillclimb
                                             David White 9850-4795

Nov 29th                             Hillclimb Night at Clubrooms

Dec 13th                             Christmas Function & Patrons Night
                                             Dorothy Tate 9802-4739 or Helen
                                             McDonald 9589-1217         

*CCE…..denotes Club Championship Event

VHRR Clubrooms are situated at 30-32 Lexton Rd. Box Hill

     LUNCH MEETINGS WEDNESDAYS (NOT CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS)

     RED PLATES SCHEME    Our club Volunteer doing this task  

     is Lloyd Shaw. Contact him on ………0415.351.164

ALL THE ABOVE CLUB ACTIVITIES INCLUDING THE WEDNESDAY LUNCH ARE DESIGNATED RED PLATE ACTIVITIES.

Visit our website: www.vhrr.com

VHRR & OUR MAJOR MOTOR SPORTS EVENTS

VHRR is well established in the promotion and management of two of the major full Historic Motor Race meetings held in Victoria annually – (Phillip Island in February & Sandown in November).

We have over the years that these events have been staged established separate race-committees for each event to take responsibility for the organisation and management of same. Each committee comprises at least 10 club members with a wide variety of experience and expertise to carry out the various tasks required. For Phillip Island the Victorian Mini Club are engaged to look after and be responsible for all on track operations. For Sandown the Victorian MG Car Club are similarly responsible. For there part each of these organisations are paid a fee, hopefully being part of the profit from the respective meeting eg: (Sandown 2002 MGCC received $10000.00 – Phillip Island 2003 Mini Club received $11000.00.

There appears to be some discontent amongst some members and competitors, including interstate competitors, who perceive that this club is taking advantage of competitors by ever increasing entry fees to these events! There seems little doubt that the two venues in Victoria that we use are at a far greater cost than venues interstate. For the record the hire cost for our venues are as follows:

Phillip Island 2003       $32000.00 net of GST
Sandown 2003           $50000.00 net of GST

It is anticipated that the cost of hire at Phillip Island will escalate in 2004 and is likely to be in the order of $40000.00 net of GST, and who knows what Sandown will be in 2004 – probably $55000.00 net of GST.

Add to this the cost of CAMS Insurance/permit fees, currently $14000.00 approx for each venue, add Ambulance and Medico’s of about $9000.00 for each venue, add cost of marquees for garaging (Phillip Island 2003 cost VHRR $8000.00 – Sandown 2003 $3000.00) the cost per car space is horrifying – something in excess of $300.00 per car space! From all of this you can see that for VHRR to run Sandown for example we need around $100000.00 before anyone starts an engine!

We do get support from some very long standing and generous Sponsors whose continued assistance is greatly appreciated and of course essential, and without whom entry fees would be even higher.

The facts are that in 2002, Sandown netted $21054.27 to the club by way of profit. The income from all sources from the event was $133409.23, and total expenses amounted to $112354.96. Phillip Island netted the club $22353.36, with income of 192781.15 and total expense of $170427.79.

With both meetings we rely heavily on good weather to ensure a good attendance by the paying public.  For both the Sandown 2002 and Phillip Island 2003 meetings gate takings were around $30000.00 each and clearly this where our net profit comes from. Both race committees are very conscious of the costs to competitors and do not increase entry fees without proper investigation of all known costs associated with running these large events. Unfortunately Historic Racing in this country is amateur sport and does not generally attract huge sponsorship and needs to be dealt with primarily on a “user pays basis”.

The above figures indicate that the combined profit from these events is in the order of $43000.00, and that the club is doing very nicely indeed! The whole of the profits derived from these major club activities is put back into club funds, and in fact the majority of this profit is absorbed in our day to day running costs. As a club, overall for the last financial year we showed a net profit of $23000.00, and the previous financial year the overall profit was minimal. This figure takes into account all income from all sources, including membership fees, and of course all expenses. There is absolutely no doubt that without the profits from our two major race meetings that membership fees would need to be increased significantly!

Victorian Historic Racing Register  - Regalia
Caps                        $15      Polo Shirts                                 $28
Vests – Reversible       $38     Polo Fleece top – ½ zip                $35
Rugby Top                 $35     Aprons                                      $20    
Wet weather jackets (fleecy lined)                                          $38
Outback jackets         $65      Key Rings                                   $5
Lapel badges              $5        Radiator badges                        $25
Small stickers             $3        Trailer stickers                          $15

New VHRR stock has arrived and will be on sale at the next General Meeting, and Sandown meeting

We will also have our fabulous range of Sandown regalia which will be on sale on the weekend.

Patron Inauguration & Christmas Break-up        December 13th
Official Welcoming and Inauguration of our Patron Sir Jack Brabham plus Club Championship presentations. The Manningham is our venue again. Bookings ………Helen McDonald 9589-1217 or Dorothy Tate 9802-4739.

ROLL BARS
All members are reminded to read and ensure your car conforms with new guidelines as stated in the 2003 Cams Manual of Motorsport. These take effect on Jan 1st  2004. Page 8-4 Section 2.4. Most competitors will be fine, and Ken Innes –Irons and Charles Talbot will be assisting drivers at Sandown. Further information Patrick Ryan on 9335-4666 BH or email ryansbus@ozonline.com.au

But please READ THE BOOK FIRST.

FAX Machine
A machine has been misplaced at the clubrooms. Any info?? Pat Ryan as above.  

 

Gunnar Elmgren Evening 6th November.
The club is having an evening to meet FIA President of the Historic Car Commission. Please keep this evening free and come along to meet our guest who will be also visiting our Sandown Meeting. Invitations have been posted to all members. See attached “Who is Gunnar Elmgren?”

DC3 Joyflight 29th November
Member Robert Thomson has organised a joyflight from Essendon Airport.  Departing for a scenic flight @ 1800 hours for a tour of the bay and Melbourne. Limited to 28 people cost $105 per head. Booking essential by 15th November.  Robert Thomson 9374-2824   

Rob Roy News & 50th Anniversary           30th November
Reg Hunt will be Guest of Honour at the 12th Historic and Classic Rob Roy Hillclimb to be held on Sunday 30th November next.

His appearance is indeed fitting, as Reg won the Australian Hillclimb Championship exactly 50 years ago on Melbourne Cup Day at this very venue in 1953 driving his supercharged Vincent engined Hunt Special.

Confirmation has also just been received that Dean Butler will enter in his fabulous 1932 Miller 4wd, and will fly out to Australia just to drive the car on the day at Rob Roy.

Enqs: David White 9850 4795 - email; whitehouse@virtual.net.au

VHRR SMALL ADS
1.  Australian Motor Sports. Needed to complete collection: I have about 90 issues to swap, trade, or to help others complete their collection. I need the following:
1953 January 1954 April, October, December 1955, February 1960 December 1961 All ………..Greg Smith 03-9596-8851 or bugatti@bigpond.net.au

2. ON-SITE RACING CAR RESTORATION:  My mobile workshop comes to you. Full restoration for frames, suspension, steel, aluminium and fibreglass panels incl. fuel and oil tank manufacture. New VHRR Member Damien Petersen Phone: 0412 222 997 Extensive experience on Porsche, Brabham, Ferrari and Jaguar. RING FOR A QUOTE. 

3. VWA Special 1961 Gp.M Log Book &COD Built & raced by Max Jackman. BMC 1800cc with VW running gear. Successful hillclimb & track history. Won class 1964 Geelong sprints and 1964 Hillclimb champ in class. Ready to race. Trailer and spares. CH 1366 Club reg. $17000  Ph. (03) 9432-7775  or www.photoasia.com.au/vwa.htm

Disclaimer; The views and opinions expressed within this newsletter are not necessarily those of the VHRR Inc. or its Committee and/or its newsletter Editor.  Whilst all care has been taken, neither the club or its officiers accept responsibility for the accuracy of information printed and the quality of any items or services advertised or mentioned in this publication.  Incorporated association Number A 0007117C. The Editor reserves the right to edit contributions submitted for publication.

Who Is Gunnar Elmgren ?

 The President of the FIA Historic Motor Sport Commission, Gunnar Elmgren is a person who has spent all his life with cars and motor sport. Born in Stockholm, Sweden, 61 years ago he first got involved with old cars at the age of 7, started to drive when 13, has his licence only days after his birthday.

 At school he wanted to be a journalist and dreamt of motor racing.  In fact, even before leaving school he got involved in racing, racing a Mini in a Swedish Championship race at the Skarpnack Airfield near central Stockholm. He finished 15th which he considered to be a fair trade for having lost a number of school hour studying Latin.

He became a journalist a worked with major dailies as a motoring scribe, and of course, also with some motoring magazines. Racing the Mini went on for a few years. He then bought at Lotus Super Seven and finished 2nd in the Swedish Sports Car Clubs National Championship. This made him believe he was good enough to go on to Formula 3, which he did in 1967.

He shared the grids but not the podiums with the likes of Ronnie Peterson. Once he even raced with Tim Schenken in Finland. The F3 period only lasted a year as he was then getting married. Marriage also lasted for a year so the retirement from racing was a bit early.

He then took up powerboat racing as a navigator in off shore races at the same time as he spent the free weekends as a commentator in car and motorcycle races, doing everything from the club races to the Swedish Grand Prix which was last ran in 1978.

During the 70s his job changed from journalism to PR. He worked as a consultant for British Leyland, Goodyear and Marlboro. Marlboro was getting into Formula 1 with BRM and later McLaren in those days when nobody knew about the dangers of smoking. During the planning meetings it was even considered most loyal if one could smoke two cigarettes at the same time!

He then worked for Renault, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz, looking after public relations and public affairs. In the 1990s he ran the Svenska Bilsportförbundet, the Swedish Automobile Sports Federation for more 6½ years. Some years ago he started a Ferrari-Maserati dealership in Stockholm, which went quite well until the economy, collapsed again, turning everything into dreadfully red figures.

The 1980s saw him back in racing, now with a Maserati 6CM, which he mainly raced in England, always, supported by his friends Bill Morris and Tony Merrick. In the early 1990s he bought a half share in Maserati 250F CM8, which he rebuilt in co-operation with co-owner Robin Lodge.

The 250F was a dream come true, and a dream to drive. There were never any victories but a number of class wins, normally a reliable pace that suited his bank account best. After twenty years in historic Grand Prix racing the 250F was sold two years ago. Racing still goes on and the last result was a the Nürburgring Old-Timer GP this year when he and fellow commission member Joos Tollenaar shared the latter’s Lotus Eleven Le Mans in a one hour race for sports racing cars. They started 38th and finished 15th, winning the class as well.

Other hobbies include collecting motor books and flying vintage aircraft. Gunnar Elmgren has his own Tiger Moth since 15 years and has just bought a Harvard IIB fighter trainer to replace the excitement that the 250F used to bring. The Harvard, however, does not fly yet but is expected to do so in two years.

The collection of cars include a 1955 Bentley, a Veritas RS, a Brabham BT21B and a Ferrari project that is not running yet, awaiting new bodywork.

He is married to Helen, a clever blonde who brought her own Austin-Healey 100/4 BN1 into the household almost 20 years ago. Their daughter Victoria is now 16, a keen motoring person who insists on riding her Gilera scooter to school even when it’s snowing.

Gunnar Elmgren chaired the Swedish Federation of historic clubs between 1983 and 1993. He joined what is now known as the Historic Motor Sport Commission in 1987 and was asked to be its president in 1993. At the World Motor Sport Council in October he was re-elected. The tenth year in office will be spent introducing the new Appendix K which will be a set of rules that

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