Taupo Historic Grand Prix. 2018

[khyndart in CA]

It is time to get ready for Taupo.
Make sure your vehicle is serviced and ready for the trip.
Make sure your significant other knows where you will be that weekend.
Get those hidden funds from under the mattress and head for the track.
This weekend should be a real "ripper."

Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park, 463 Broadlands Rd, Taupo, Lake Taupo
Saturday 20 January 2018 9:30am and Sunday 21 January 2018 10:30am

[John McKechnie]

An not forgetting to pass this magic event details onto as many previous competitors as you never know who will appear.
I know I have passed it on to all previous owners of the Monaro and some will be definitely there., Ken

[Roger Dowding]

Hi Guys feeling guilty as cannot make it.

Ken H,the funds under the mattress or elswhere seem to have evaporated, and I am committed with the " Significant Other " or as said in Minder " Her Indoors " to go to Waiheke to the old family batch, managed to squeeze in a week.

Guys Do enjoy and I will be watching for posts and plenty of pictures.

John Mck - sent you a PM too !!

[khyndart in CA]

I hope the work conditions have improved for the Camaro and Monaro crews compared to almost 50 years ago at Bay Park when Spinner Black was preparing to meet up against Norm Beechey etc. in his 1967 Chevrolet " Lexington" Camaro # 92. December 1968.

Ken Smith did not have it much better, working in the fields of Pukekohe, on his Lotus 41. Sept. 1969.

( Ken Hyndman photos. )

[Bruce302]

It was all very character building Ken, but things have improved with some nice facilities available.

Bruce.

[Ross Hollings]

Remember Pukekohe Circuit toilets behind the tote,you could "Hang Out", with all the famous drivers.!!

[kiwi285]

Here is the PROVISIONAL program for the weekend.

Note that the practice on Friday is unofficial and FREE.

Will see you there.

IMG_1739 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr

IMG_1740 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr

[khyndart in CA]

Thanks for that information Mike, that will be a busy and exciting 3 days.
I am so looking forward to getting away from the mess and sadness here around Santa Barbara. CA.
Last month it was the fires due to no rain and high winds and then last night we had 5 inches of rain
(Average annual rainfall = 15 inches !) The burnt out hillsides then caused all this to take place in Montecito, a very wealthy suburb, about 10 miles south of Goleta where I work at "Moss Motors".
Still more bad weather on the way.
Imagine having this to contend with.

A local news site;
https://www.noozhawk.com/local_news

(Ken Hyndman )

[kiwi285]

Thanks for that information Mike, that will be a busy and exciting 3 days.
(Ken Hyndman )

Looking forward to it Ken.

[khyndart in CA]

Sad to report that a dear friend of ours was one the victims of this horrible event in Montecito, California, as she was swept away from her home and drowned.
Hug your loved ones tonight.

Ken

[Paul B]

Gee Ken, very sorry to hear that, stay safe! in the atrocious conditions there. I have been looking at the carnage the fires and weather have caused. Get over to NZ, ASAP - summer and safety here. Hopefully you can enjoy and have some time out & relax.
Kindest Regards!
From kiwi land
P

[John McKechnie]

Heres the field for Historic Sports Sedans and Invited Allcomers-

4- Jamie Coyle- Bennenbroek...........Torana XU1 V8
7- Peter Hooper..............................Toyota Starlet
8- Dennis Running..........................Mazda RX8.
23-Bob Hyslop................................Mazda RX7
34-Murray/ Graeme Park..................Marina V8.
39- Cam Neil..................................Chev Coupe.
40- Adrian Dobbe............................Viva Viva Viva
50- Robert Bartley...........................Custaxie 2
59- John McKechnie.........................Cambridge Monaro
68- Roger Davis..............................Torana SLR 5000
69- Jon Telford................................Mazda RX8
72- Robert Jack...............................Escort V8
77- Neil Deighton.............................Chavenger
83- Bruce Thompson.........................XA Coupe.
96- Richard Quin..............................Starlet V8
118- Graham Barnes.........................Capri V8.
141- Craig Stacey.............................Zephyr Corvette 2
181- Ron Findlay...............................Capri V8
302- Bruce Goodwin..........................MK3 Zephyr V8.

Plus a couple of people yet to confirm.
Hope all the fans enjoy the show.

[kiwi285]

Here is the link to the Bruce McLaren Park Facebook page for the official program.

https://www.facebook.com/events/155368248424830/permalink/160714151223573/

[Spgeti]

Heres the field for Historic Sports Sedans and Invited Allcomers-

4- Jamie Coyle- Bennenbroek...........Torana XU1 V8
7- Peter Hooper..............................Toyota Starlet
8- Dennis Running..........................Mazda RX8.
23-Bob Hyslop................................Mazda RX7
34-Murray/ Graeme Park..................Marina V8.
39- Cam Neil..................................Chev Coupe.
40- Adrian Dobbe............................Viva Viva Viva
50- Robert Bartley...........................Custaxie 2
59- John McKechnie.........................Cambridge Monaro
68- Roger Davis..............................Torana SLR 5000
69- Jon Telford................................Mazda RX8
72- Robert Jack...............................Escort V8
77- Neil Deighton.............................Chavenger
83- Bruce Thompson.........................XA Coupe.
96- Richard Quin..............................Starlet V8
118- Graham Barnes.........................Capri V8.
141- Craig Stacey.............................Zephyr Corvette 2
181- Ron Findlay...............................Capri V8
302- Bruce Goodwin..........................MK3 Zephyr V8.

Plus a couple of people yet to confirm.
Hope all the fans enjoy the show.

A good looking field John.

[John McKechnie]

Yep, and a big welcome back for Bob Hyslop in his RX7 which is an original Sports Sedan,
He would have been at Manfeild , but let down by the electrics.
Car is as how built it in the late 80s , has a COD and ,of course is a rotary.

[Spgeti]

Yep, and a big welcome back for Bob Hyslop in his RX7 which is an original Sports Sedan,
He would have been at Manfeild , but let down by the electrics.
Car is as how built it in the late 80s , has a COD and ,of course is a rotary.

Yes John, a car that Bob won the 2000 Kiwi Sports Sedan title. Car is a tri-rotor which Bob built in 1989.

[khyndart in CA]

Time for a Formula A / 5000 flash back to December 1968 at Bay Park.
The first race of this formula in Australasia.

Preparing for the race in very basic conditions. " A bit of sand on the throttle linkage. No worries mate !"
Ron Grable's Sceptre HR is closest then the Eisert 67 # 5 driven by Stew McMillen and the LeGrand FA 67 of Rex Ramsey furthest.
(Ken Hyndman photo )

This Ron Grable Collection photo shows the field on the pace lap before coming around to the start/finish line.
Ron leading the pack and would go on to win that day.

December 1969.
Ron Grable was back at Bay Park and again won the F 5000 race in his very modified McLaren M 10 A. 300/05.

( Ken Hyndman photo.)
In 2014 I wrote this; "It is ironic that this car was M10 A / 05 and ended up after accident damage as " crushed into a two foot square coffee table ! " Graham McRae's M10 A was / 06 and the " tub ended up in a children's playground and was eventually disposed of." After seeing the work and skills that went into building these cars at Trojan Works, that seemed such a shame."

So lets all be grateful when we see the F5000 and ALL cars and bikes at Taupo that they did nor suffer a similar fate and have been beautifully restored and maintained.
Thanks to everyone involved in bringing this wonderful series back for all of us to enjoy. It is very much appreciated.
(Ken Hyndman)

[John McKechnie]

Historics are about celebrating those who survived and always remembering those that didnt
The Fat One was always the loudest.

[Rod Grimwood]

Ken, bring your drinking shorts, as we need a beer together mate. so looking forward to catching up again, when do you arrive.

[khyndart in CA]

Rod,
I don't think the shorts will work as I would look like a light bulb compared to your Kiwi tan although we might have plenty of beer time if the weather forecast is correct with rain on each of the 3 days !
I arrive on Friday and look forward to seeing you also.
Ken