|
COMING EVENTS
June 19th-20th
Eastern Creek HSRCA
June 20th Tour
De Yarra Valley Ron Simmonds 0427-031-737
June 29th
General Meeting Guest Speaker
July 24th –25th
Queensland Raceway QSCC
August 1st
*Morwell Hillclimb VHRR
September 11th-12th
Eastern Creek HSRCA
October 2nd-3rd
Vintage Collingrove Hillclimb SCC of SA
(08)
8373-4899 or sccsa@iprimus.com.au
October 16th –17th
Midweek Wakefield Park HSRCA??
November 5th –7th
*Sandown VHRR
November 27th –28th
Wakefield Park HSRCA
*CCE…..denotes Club Championship
Event ** See Text
VHRR Clubrooms
are situated at
30-32 Lexton Rd. Box Hill
LUNCH MEETINGS WEDNESDAYS (NOT
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS)
CLUB LIBRARY OPENING TIMES:
Wednesday Lunch Days 11.30-2.30
Club Meeting Nights 6.30-7.30
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.
Vale: John Blanden
John Blanden died on Thursday May 16th after
struggling with a severe illness for several months. He
resided in Adelaide and had been a VHRR member since the clubs
inception.
His life-long interest in motor sport had many facets for he
was an active club member, an experienced competition driver,
an entrant with a collection of classics, a race organiser, a
technical authority and a renowned author of books on
competition cars. As a member of the Light Car Club of
Australia, he was a long serving official at Sandown and will
be remember for his smile as he looked after the track
crossing with a piece of rope for the public to enter the pits
at the end of the main straight. John took part in numerous
events in Victoria as both a driver and an entrant with one of
his favourites competing in his C- Type Jaguar or his original
AC Cobra at the Geelong Speed Trials. Over the years he let
other South Australian drivers compete in his Cooper-Climax or
his Lotus Elite or 18.
His biggest contribution to historic motor sport lay
in the skill and energy he exhibited as co-ordinator of the
historic section of the AGP program. This began in Adelaide in
1985 and continued until 2003 after which his efforts were
curtailed due to ill health. His leadership and administration
abilities were needed to solve many issues that arose from
complex international rules, determining the participating
vehicles each year, meeting the requirements of the Grand Prix
Board and in satisfying local enthusiasts. Never–the-less,
John’s success was outstanding and he received world wide
acclaim. Time may diminish the memory of all his competition
activity but as an author the memory of John Blanden will last
as long as there are racing cars. His first book “Historic
Racing Cars in Australia” published in 1979 is a universally
recognised authoritative text on the topic and is used by
restorers, collectors, race organisers, certification bodies
and classic car fans. John’s second book “Elfin Sports and
Racing Cars” written in conjunction with Barry Catford is an
important record of the establishment and successes of
Australia’s largest racing car manufacturer. At the time of
his death, John was nearing the completion of a new edition of
“Historic Racing Cars in Australia” following years of
constant research and it is a sincere hope that the book will
be completed and published.
Members of the VHRR send their sympathies to John’s wife Jan
and family, the group of AGP historic event organisers and to
his numerous friends in Motor Sport. John and his enormous
contribution will be missed.
Roger James
Lost Whiteford Trophy
Any member knowing the whereabouts of a large ex Doug
Whiteford perpetual trophy presented at Sandown ?? a couple of
years ago please contact Pat Ryan 9335-4666 BH or
ryansbus@ozonline.com.au
VHRR MEMBER MARRIES
Roger James
Ron Simmonds, long time Mini Cooper competitor and race
commentator married his partner of many years Margaret Neal on
April 18th. David Fogg was the best of best men at
the ceremony at Chateau Yering in the Yarra Valley. We wish
Ron and Margaret every health and happiness.
FUN FUND RAISER ………Sunday 22 August
Where: George Hetrel’s property 79 Basin Olinda Rd The Basin
BYO Food,Grog, Chairs & Tables BBQ on Site
If it rains we eat in the garage.
The garage tour will view cars from an 1896 Benz onwards with
Train rides, Rain Forrest walk, Rare Trees and Plants etc.
Cheques: $5-00 per person payable to VHRR for Donations to
Charity
Send To: Ron Townley 59 Mount Martha Rd Mount Martha 3934
Info: Hugh Jarse 5988-4846
RACING CAR FACTS
Ian Tate
ERA Lotus
Brabham Porsche
R4D 16 BT11A
GT3
Av. Speed
82.3mph 85.6mph 89.2mph 85.6mph
Max Speed
125mph 131mph 138mph 132mph
Acceleration
.42g .6g .56g
.42g
Cornering
1.14g 1.36g 1.22g 1.14g
Braking
.71g 1.04g .99g .83g
Vale: John Crouch
John passed away on May 30, aged 85, following a difficult
year in which he suffered a series of strokes. Always
passionate about cars, John began his motor racing career in
the mid-to-late 1930s, making his Australian Grand Prix debut
in 1938 at Mount Panorama in Bathurst. In 1949 he achieved his
greatest success by winning the Australian Grand Prix at
Leyburn, QLD in a Delahaye.
John’s involvement in competition sat easily with his business
interests, which included being the agent for Cooper racing
cars, Austin Healey sports cars, and Dellow.
In the post war years he continued to compete with vigour,
winning the 1952 Australian Hillclimb Championship at Rob Roy
in a Cooper.
John was also a founding member of a number of NSW car clubs
that led to his appointment as one of the six founding members
of the CAMS National Control Council in 1953.He became the
first Chairman of the NSW State Council, the first NSW member
of the National Safety Committee and served for many years as
a senior CAMS steward.
John simply loved his motor sport, and for recognition of his
long service to the sport he was granted Life Membership of
CAMS in 2002.
He has left behind a ‘paddock’ full of friends and associates
and will be sadly missed. We extend to his family and friends
our deepest sympathies.
Enter the Rotary Powered Touring Car
Roger James
A milestone in historic racing was achieved at the VHRR
Phillip island meeting in February when Tasmanian Lew Bush
competed in his Mazda RX-2 in the touring car events for cars
up to 3000cc.
The yellow Mazda is powered by the 12 A twin rotor engine with
the rare twin ignition system. Whilst learning the circuit in
the first race he came 11th, but then with
remarkable straight line speed and challenges to a flock of
Coopers S, Lew achieved a 5th and 4th in
subsequent events. All three races were won by Steve Land
(Capri) in exciting contests with Barry Seton (Capri) and
Henry Draper (Cooper S). The performance of the Mazda was
thrilling and to quote Lew “I was chuffed with the results”.
The history of the rotary engine is worth considering. First
designed and developed by Dr. Felix Wankel at NSU in Germany
in the mid 1950’s, the engine was heralded as a great
break-through , as with only 3 moving parts it would be
cheaper to manufacture and maintain, be more efficient on fuel
and since it recycled excessive exhaust gases be more
compliant with emission controls.
The design concept was simple. A three sided rotor is meshed
with an eccentric gear that revolves in a cranking motion, the
drive shaft in a combustion chamber with a cross section in
the shape of a wide figure eight. There are no camshafts or
valves and in the first of 3 cycles, the moving rotor creates
a vacuum drawing the air-fuel mixture from the carburettor via
the open inlet port. Then the gases are compressed against the
wall of the combustion chamber and ignition takes place
driving the rotor around in an anti clockwise direction to the
final stage where the burnt gases are expelled through the
open exhaust port.
The function of the three seals at the points of the faces of
the rotor are absolutely critical to performance and the early
models made by NSU were of piston ring material.
Unfortunately, their life was limited and with the constant
maintenance, the project received bad publicity, especially
from manufacturers with large investments in reciprocating
piston engines.
Although the Prinz and RO8O were innovative and excellent
vehicles, NSU went bankrupt in 1973 with the cost of engine
guarantees.
But, Mazda in Japan who were granted one of the original
production licences persevered with the engine and designed
seals that were made of a ceramic material which gave the
rotary powered cars a normal life. The Capella received
excellent reviews when released in early 1970’s as did the
RX-8 with the much developed Renesis engine in 2003.
However, motor engineers, journalists and
enthusiasts held conservative scepticism until the Bathurst
1000 race of 1983 when Mazda RX-7 cars in the hands of Allan
Moffat and Greg Hansford finished first and second in a much
televised formation. We wish Lew Bush every success with his
endeavours and will watch his progress with interest.
Dear Editor,
I don't normally write to Editors, but I
couldn't let Roger James' article go unanswered.
Whilst I agree that Audi are taking poetic licence with the
latest ad, Roger does contradict himself by firstly saying
that the Audi brand was introduced in the 1960's, and then
goes on (correctly) to say that one of the four companies that
made up Auto Union was in fact Audi!! Therefore Audi was in
existence prior to 1932, and the current company must have
some claim (a quarter) of the Auto Union history. At least
enough for the ad people! After all, Audi is the only one of
those 4 manufacturers to survive to today, so could quite
rightly claim to be the only continuing line from Auto Union.
Roger's other points also deserve some
response:-
1. MG.....this company has always been involved
in "badge engineering". Even old No One was a modified Morris,
and almost all of the pre-war MG's had lots of Morris bits in
them. But does this make them any less of a true MG? No, the
heart and soul of a marque is what those cars came out
like...fun to drive, competitive in competition, and loved by
their owners. Today's MG's continue that tradition, regardless
of where they are manufactured. Even Porsche manufacture
Boxsters in Finland...does this make them even less a Porsche.
And what of the MGA's and MGB's that were manufactured in
Australia? Just because they weren't manufactured in the
"Original Factory" are they to be scorned? Most manufacturers
move on from their first premises for many reasons.
OK, the last MG to run in a GP was the TC. Is
the current Jaguar FI car a "pukka" Jaguar anyway?? or the F1
Toyota, Honda cars? You can't "buy" tradition.
As for MGB's being girl's cars...they were
certainly a sports car that has stood the test of time.
Witness the number of them being actively campaigned today,
40 years after the model introduced. The MGB was certainly the
TC of it's time.
2. Bentley. Just remember that Audi allowed Bentley to build
the Bentleys that won LeMans a couple of years ago, which
stirred the English fans to a frenzy. Audi do have a sense of
history here, and I don't think they need to claim the 20's
Bentley history....it's already well looked after.
3. Just think, a current V8 Supercar has one
nut that hold's it's wheel on. Does that make it a "real"
racing car?
Regards,
Ken Price.
All fair comments. The editor offers his
apologies, I added comments to Roger’s so please read the
article again.
I muddied the waters with MG B’s , Bentleys and
wheel nuts.
2004 Meeting Dates:
June 29th Guest
Speaker
24th August Annual General
Meeting
October 26th
December ??
Christmas Breakup and Prizegiving Night.
Sat Dec 4th At the Manningham Resort.
Contact Llyod Shaw 0415-351-164
Club Championship
$10.00…………….First Event was Phillip Island
To enter the Club Championship give Ian Tate
(9877-2317) $10.00 and your name to be part of the action.
Once again to be in it you must enter.
This will be your last chance.
TOUR D' YARRA VALLEY – Sunday 20th June
The Tour will commence at Yarra Glen's Mckenzie
Reserve in the main street. First car will depart at approx.
9.30am for a 2 to 2 ½ hour tour of the beautiful Yarra Valley,
with simple navigation and a few questions on the way. This
will be followed by a BYO picnic lunch at a winery near Yarra
Glen. Great fun to be had by all, bring your "special car" or
just the family hack. Registration is essential as numbers are
limited. Donation $20 per car. The event will held regardless
of the weather. For further details contact Ron Simmonds on
0427 031 737. Book Now - A few places remain.
HISTORIC MOTORSPORT IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Members planning a holiday in WA might like to avail
themselves of the following:
August 21st 2
Hillclimbs-Cuthill and Mount Brown
August 22nd Round the
Houses- York Flying Fifty
August 28th &29th
Barbagallo Historic Circuit Races
More Info and Entries:
Andrew Murray 0412-108-011
OR Nick Rahimtulla:
liftmat@iinet.net.au
COMMIT NOW TO BE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA FOR TWO MAJOR VINTAGE
EVENTS
–
26th SEPTEMBER - BAY TO BIRDWOOD
–
2nd & 3rd OCT – VINTAGE
COLLINGROVE
Sporting Car Club of SA Inc 51 King William St., Unley, SA
5061
Tel: 08 – 8373 4899, Fax 08 – 8373 4703, email
sccsa@iprimus.com.au
www.sportingcarclubsa.org.au
VHRR SMALL ADS
1. WANTED: Racing Car trailer to suit a Formula Junior car.
Will consider open or closed trailer. Contact David Reid
0418-352-182
2. SALE-Dunlop Racing Tyres
2 x 5.00L 15” and 2 X 5.50L X 15” Used , good tread, new cost
$475 each only $300.00 the lot.
Antony Osborne Richmond 0409-178-555 BH or 9820-8848
AH
3. MG Midget ’ 77 LHD
1500 Datsun Engine, MG Gearbox (in need of TLC) Body Good,
Clean & Tidy, Hoosier TDs & Radials. Good Club Car, New
Upholstery,Laminated screen and Tonneau, $6250 Negotiable.
Russ 0408-333-651
4. Tyres:
SLICK used racing tyres Ex F3 & F2Yokohama
240/45 VR13 8 OF,180/50 VR13 8 OF,Dunlop 230/570 R13 12 OF
190/535 R13 12 OF. TYRES USED A MAX. OF 4 MEETINGS
YOKOHAMA $50 EACH 20% of New.
DUNLOP $25 EACH 10% of New.
ROD ANDERSON 0419311914 or 0398826485 AH.
5. “Monoskate” Historic Racing Car
Famous George Reed car raced successfully at Bathurst, AGP
Narrogin 1951, etc. Side valve Ford V8, Offenhauser heads,
twin Stromberg 97, Scintilla magneto, Needham c/r gearbox,
aluminium hand formed body with all the patina of decades of
racing.
This car is probably the fastest most original
pre-war “Ka” car in Australia .CAMS logbook, COD ready to race
and win, nothing to spend.
$60,000 with all the spares. Barry Batagol
03 9670 8299 (BH), 03 9663 7131(AH), 0418 396 281,
barry@intercorp.com.au
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.
Formula Ford Digest
Letter from a concerned member regarding Formula Fords
Sir,
In recent years there has been a reduction in the number of
formula Fords on grids at the various historic meetings around
Australia.
Given that other categories seem to be getting full or near
full grids, at least at Phillip Island and Sandown, this is a
worrying trend.
I was interested to hear the formula Ford Group Representative
Phil Randall , tell members at the recent general meeting ,
that there are some 90 odd Formula Fords in Australia that
are log booked and eligible to race as historics.
So, where are they all hiding and why are they not being
entered at historic meetings, particularly our own Victorian
events?
I know this is a matter that is concerning the competitors who
are regular entrants in this category, and that Phil and
others are trying to encourage those, who are not regulars, to
participate.
However, all of the players with Formula Fords, particularly
those that are idle, need to carefully consider the
consequences of not running their cars.
With the expansion and recent introduction of new classes, not
to mention the discussion of additional new Formula Vee and
perhaps sports sedan classes, it doesn’t take an Einstein to
work out that we don’t have enough time on meeting programs to
include everything.
It is an unfortunate fact of life, that we live in a very
commercial and money driven age, where it is important to turn
a profit. This equally applies to Historic Motor Sport where
we at least need to break even.
The cost to promoters of staging historic events is ever
escalating, and if they have to make a choice of which
category to exclude, because of program space, they will
choose the ones with the least entrants, unpalatable as this
may be.
Currently an Historic Formula Ford changes hands for an
average of around $25,000 which, given performance for money,
represents outstanding value compared with other historic
classes.
Imagine, if you will, what their value might be if there were
reduced (or worse) opportunities to race them.
The owners of the cars currently and loyally racing them will
be penalised, through no fault of their own, and the rest who
are sitting idly by and saying “I’ll get there someday”, will
have missed the boat and be penalized in their pocket as well.
I know there are those who would like to see the introduction
of cars of a later date than the current cut off of 1983, and
believe this will help to swell the numbers. Well, it didn’t
help much when Group R was brought in to help numbers, and I
suspect it won’t help much now.
There has always been a delay in getting great numbers in a
new class on the grid, and it won’t be much point having a new
class of Formula Fords if there is no grid to be on.
It certainly will not provide the capital gain that could be
expected by the owners of these later cars who are currently
sitting on them, waiting for them to be included in the fifth
category.
As a former owner of an historic formula ford, and past member
of the historic car Commission, whose portfolio included
Formula Ford, I make this appeal to all interested parties.
To those running currently, please keep it up, but make sure
you enter early to give the promoter some encouragement.
To those doing nothing with their cars, particularly multiple
car owners either sell them to someone (while you still can)
who is prepared to use them, or offer them to someone to drive
for you on a mutually agreeable basis.
To those wanting to bring in the new cars, for goodness sake
get behind the current class first. You will benefit in the
long run as without them you may have nowhere to race.
To anyone considering an entry into historics, there is not a
better value for money car than a Formula Ford. They provide
ease of maintenance and handling along with the opportunity
for competitive Motorsport. A Formula Ford will teach you an
enormous amount about driving and car setup, at quite low
cost, while at the same time providing fantastic fun.
We should all get behind this really dynamic class of car,
which after all has produced a vast number of top drivers both
here and overseas.
Why not get the same experience that they did? It’s great bang
for your buck.
Ken Williams.
Historic Formula Ford Survey
2004
This survey if you wish to participate is
designed to gather information and feedback from currently log
book Historic Formula Ford owners.
To improve communications and to advise owners
and drivers of the up coming events, we need to create an up
to date listing of all owners and drivers wishing to compete.
-
Would you be happy to provide this information to the VHRR
Name
Make and Model of Car
Phone and fax Numbers
Email address (preferred}
-
Are you willing to participate in future racing events
conducted by the VHRR?
Yes No
If not, are you intending to compete in
the car in the future? Yes No
-
Did you buy the car as an investment or to drive
-
Will you be competing at: Please Tick
Sandown in November? Yes No
Phillip Island in 2005?
Yes No
Comments.
Please note the next meeting will be held at
the VHRR club rooms at 30-32 Lexton Road Box Hill on the
7th July 2004 at 7.30 PM.
Reply to: Victorian Historic Racing Register
GPO Box 3485 Melbourne Vic 3001
Email mdevine@kangan.edu.au
[Back]
|
