NEW CLASS / SERIES; Historic Sports Sedans. formation meeting.20/04/13 ACC

[Steve Holmes]

Interesting to see the old Kieran Wills Mazda RX8 is still in NZ. There was quite a lot of interest in this car a few years ago. I can't recall exactly its significance, but its either the first RX7 to be imported into Australia, or the first RX7 to have raced in Australian Group C. But Wills bought it out of Australia as a Group C car in the 1980s to run the Cool Wool series, which is what the ShellSport series morphed into. Obviously a LOT of work required to return it to Group C spec.

[Shoreboy57]

Well, I just want to say a big, BIG thanks to George, and the other drivers out there that committed to the day.
April wasn't that long ago, and today's races may have been a bit of a mixed entry, but you can see the intention is there to make this something great!
I look foward to the next couple of meetings, where maybe I will be able to watch, instead of having to wave the blue flag at ya!
Again George, thanks heaps for what you are doing - I'm sure I speak for all us marshals when I say we can't wait to see a full field of these Sports Sedans! !!!

+1 Worth the trip to HD for the Mustang alone, but the rest a bonus. Well done George for getting this started and I'm sure now its underway it will serve as inspiration for those who were going to need more time, and maybe draw a few other potential runners out of the shed

[Rod Grimwood]

Interesting to see the old Kieran Wills Mazda RX8 is still in NZ. There was quite a lot of interest in this car a few years ago. I can't recall exactly its significance, but its either the first RX7 to be imported into Australia, or the first RX7 to have raced in Australian Group C. But Wills bought it out of Australia as a Group C car in the 1980s to run the Cool Wool series, which is what the ShellSport series morphed into. Obviously a LOT of work required to return it to Group C spec.

Think Phil Henley also ran a RX7 Group C from Aus in series. Pretty sure Cran Judge (AC Gill Menswear) may have been involved in it (owned it). Got videos somewhere of them racing.

It is very different to Group C now, and has its own history now.

[Steve Holmes]

Yep, exactly right Rod. It has quite an impressive NZ Sports Sedan history. Would be a HUGE job reverting it back to Group C spec, I think Wills even had the rear axle moved back to increase the wheelbase. The interest is due to the rapidly increasing values in Group C cars, as with the Heritage Touring Cars series, only the original cars are eligible to race, and its become very popular.

[Rod Grimwood]

Steve, off thread but can you email/contact me at home. got package back yesterday that i sent to you in December last year. remove this when done, cheers or i can

[George Sheweiry]

Hi guys, Well it is Monday and we have had our first meeting of the series. I have to say I am very humbled by all the guys who promised they would be there who turned up and made an absolutely wonderful days racing for one of the largest and most convivial crowds I have ever seen at a club meeting in over 40 years of competing at them. The atmosphere at the track was absolutely awesome with more people than I can remember coming up and congratulating and wishing us well it was just all very humbling and such a neat thing to be part of. My condolences to Glenn Gordon and Graeme Addis who both put on the mammoth effort to get there but missed and thanks to Craig Stacey who brought out the Fahey Fastback Anglia to be on display, I don't know what happened to Gordon Burrs car that was going to be on display but then I didn't get to go everywhere. There was plenty of other good V8 action in the form of Production Muscle Cars, Northern Muscle Cars and Modified Saloons and the weather which the day before had looked so ominous turned out to be fine all day. A big thank you to my cousin Peter Benbrook who ran the yellow XE falcon for me and to Mike Dias who ran the "JPS" Mustang along with all the work he did to prep it, paint it and all the promotional work he undertook and badgered the ACC into that made for such a fantastic event. To all the people who helped or supported and spread the word thank you very much, "because it worked". As for myself, for the first time in 28 years I got to do practice in the old girl and although on a new track boy did that take me back! but on return to the pits we found the left rear wheel and wheel well awash with oil and even after a clean could not find where it was coming from, possibly the full floater hub. With having my son and daughters race cars as well and everything else that was going on I was just too busy to be able to look at it. A request to just do a few quiet laps at lunchtime fell on deaf ears so it was left on display for the rest of the day. So now in 5 weeks time for the 6th of October we have round 2 of the Historic Sports Sedan Series and if we get all the people who said I wont be there for the first meeting but will be there for the next then the field will be double the 14 cars which will give us around 25 to 28 cars. so come on guys, I gave you my word that I would get you a stand alone series, and that has now been done, remember its use it or loose it and we shouldn't loose the momentum with the spectators that has been started!!

[Malcolm McLeod]

I've got to agree with you on the crowd size George, certainly more people then I expected! Easiest way to judge it - long queue for the hot food at lunchtime!!!
I will be attending the next ACC meeting, but whether to flag, or to "spectate" I have yet to decide.
How do you spectate, anyway - I've never done that, always been helping!

[Snoozin]

IMG_4644 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr


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[Snoozin]

IMG_4624 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr


IMG_5043 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr


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IMG_5076 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr

[Paul Wilkinson]

Was looking forward to watching this - I haven't been to a track in about 12 years. Gutted that I was on a plane to the UK when it was all happening! I hope you don't think this is too gimmicky but I think that from a spectator/marketing point of view it would be great to put a year on each car, i.e. the year its 'state of tune' represents. This could be in one colour while championship years would be in another colour. This would help show the development of the cars, as well as highlight why there are performance differences.

It would be great to put together a display board for each championship car, telling their history and where they are now or what happened to them. These would go well with the rest of the cars in a chronological static display at each event. It might also help flush out cars or generate interest in bringing the old cars out, even just to be on show....

Anyway, well done. Looking forward to watching the next event.

[Frosty5]

Perfect, just perfect. Well done George, as Fitzy would say "full credit"

[Snoozin]

IMG_5362 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr


IMG_5375 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr


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[Grant Sprague]

Cool

[kiwi285]

This is the car Rod was referring to in post #349 above. Check out the front suspension setup. Rod (in the background) informed me that the car was built in the 1980's - so some smart thinking. That would have been exciting to watch in action but it was not to be.





A really great start to the series George and hopefully you can take a breather now and get that Mustang going again.

[Rod Grimwood]

This is the car Rod was referring to in post #349 above. Check out the front suspension setup. Rod (in the background) informed me that the car was built in the 1980's - so some smart thinking. That would have been exciting to watch in action but it was not to be.





A really great start to the series George and hopefully you can take a breather now and get that Mustang going again.

I notice a photo of car on track, so boys must have got her going in the end. I had to leave a little early. wizard Ralph Mossman in man under bonnet trying to diagnose the problem.

[Ellis]

Well done George...and the other owners that made it to the track with their cars.

Some interesting cars thats for sure.
Like that front end....pretty good for the 80's
Out of interest what powers the Merc?

[George Sheweiry]

IMPORTANT MEETING at the Auckland car club rooms this coming Saturday the 14th of September 10am to finalise a set of rules for the new Historic Sports Sedans series. So if you want to have a say you need to be there. I would suggest you read the comments about which way the class should go that have been offered on this thread and talk with other interested parties BEFORE THE DAY!! For instance. Should the cut off date for cars be 1986 to make sure all the earlier lotus twin cams arent made uncompetetive by the Cosworth Sierra motor. Should we allow only replicas of NZ cars no longer around or include overseas types, and a host of other problems. If you cant make it then send me an email with your preferences and ideas because we want to include everyone and try to get it right. mailto:?subject=&body= Remember its your class so have a say!!

[George Sheweiry]

What powers the Merc ? yes that is a question that has been bandied around. I will lay money on it that its not a set of period 292 heads

[Malcolm McLeod]

Which way have the Aussies gone with their Historic Sports Sedans class?

[rogered]

I notice a photo of car on track, so boys must have got her going in the end. I had to leave a little early. wizard Ralph Mossman in man under bonnet trying to diagnose the problem.

now might be a good time mention a few people.

as you know rod the thing was running in the morning but failed to fire a shot come practice time. so after a far bit of pissing around managed to have a run in the last two races which was great , as you know it has not turned a wheel for 12 years.

alot of people jumped in and helped, which we really appreciated.

So thanks a lot to
Steve james.
Rod Grimwood
Ralph mossman
graeme park
syd davis
brendon davis.

and the folks whose names i dont know, who freely offered a hand.