The Roaring Season

Steve Holmes wrote:Looks great Dale! Beautiful work as always.

These two are making good progress as well Steve, the Mustang should be at Taupo for our last meeting this weekend and HQ Holden for next season. Its amazing the builds in progress and others taking interest......this season has been about steadying the ship(as the say) and we are now moving forward full bore......

Here are the entries for this weekend at Taupo. As you can see a great line up and a variety of cars.

1. #94 Brady McCaughan, Waipapa, Ford Capri 1972, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HMC)
2. #102 Brent Smith, Auckland, Ford Escort Twin Cam 1968, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HSC)
3. #4 Colin Campbell, Tauranga, Ford Escort RS2000 Mk1 1974, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HSC)
4. #23 Dale Mathers, Tauranga, Ford Mustang Boss 302, 1969, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HMC)
5. #103 Dennis McConnell, Warkworth, Ford Escort 1968, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HSC)
6. #20 Dennis Mills, Hamilton, Datsun P510 1969, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HSC)
7. #58 Graeme Bagrie, Levin, Ford Mustang 1969, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HMC)
8. #72 Greg Goudie, Auckland, Ford Mk 1 Escort RS 1972, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HSC)
9. #483 Neville(Hillsy)Hills, Auckland, Ford Escort 1973, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HSC)
10. #08 Ian Williamson, Wanganui, Mazda RX2 1972, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HSC)
11. #117 John Sampson, Auckland, Ford Capri RS2600 1970, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HMC)
12. #172 Karl Sentch, Auckland, Datsun 240Z 1972, Historic Sports and GT(HSGT)
13. #3 Kevin Gimblett, Papamoa, Chevrolet Camaro, 1967, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HMC)
14. #21 Michael McCaughan, Northland, Ford Falcon 1970, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HMC)
15. #227 Natalie Campbell, Palmerston North, Ford Capri 1973, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HSC)
16. #66 Nick Bowyer, Sydney, Australia, Ford Escort 1977, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HSC)
17. #187 Pat Excell, Tauranga, Ford Anglia 1965, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HSC)
18. #1 Poul Christie, Auckland, Ford Escort MK1 RS2000, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HSC)
19. #25 Rex Bentham, Tauranga, Mk2 Jaguar, 1960, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HSC)
20. #104R Rodger Cunninghame, TeAnau, Ford Mustang 1966, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HMC)
21. #10 Sean McCaughan, Waipapa, Northland, Ford GTHO Falcon, 1971, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HMC)
22. #104 Tony Mexted, Auckland, Ford Mustang, 1970, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HMC)
23. #70 Tony Roberts, Napier, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, 1970, Blue, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HSGT)
24. #35 Nigel MacDonald, Hawera, Red Dawson Mustang, 1967 Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon cars(HMC)
25. #59 John McKechnie, Auckland, Cambridge Monaro, 1969, Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars(HSC)

Well done Dale on getting a great grid together. Better than the Improved Production grid of 8 cars, or the Hooters Vintage grid of 7...…..

Andrew Metford wrote:Well done Dale on getting a great grid together. Better than the Improved Production grid of 8 cars, or the Hooters Vintage grid of 7...…..

Thank you Andrew. We would like to thank the guys and girls for continually supporting us by entering these events.
We can’t do it without their support.
If you want racing these days you must commit to your group because the day that no one turns up is the day that it ends.
There is also to many race meetings these days and to many classes competing for the same bit of property...
Your welcome to join us with your lovely MGB GT as well for next season.

Few pit images from the weekend, last race cancelled due to track conditions(wet, more like a Lake). We(HMC/HSC) have had probably the best season ever, 6 rounds with no major damage and great turn out of cars. Driving standards have certainly lifted with respect amongst the group for each others vehicles.

The 2 Sports and GT cars attracted lots of interested with a possible Schedule K mid year corvette been imported just for the class.

We even had one person fly up from Queenstown just to view HMC/HSC with an eye on been apart of this plus offcourse Rodger Cunningham's huge effort bringing his brand new built 65 Fahey Replica Mustang up from Te Anau. Overall the best season ever. Dale M

Well said Dale and I concur, the best season ever and such a respect for each other’s cars and the track conditions.
We had some serious period Historic cars racing with the group for this meeting as well.
Nigel McDonald in his 67 Shelby TransAm Mustang, Brent Smith in his Dads Willment/Richards Escort Twin Cam, Dennis McConnell in his Halliday Bros/Woolf BDG Freighters Escort and John McKechnie in his Cambridge Monaro.

Tremendous effort by Rodger and Barbara Cunninghame to bring their new build Fayhe Tribute Mustang up all the way from Invercargill.
What a glorious build this car is as well.

Visitors were Wayne Perkins from the South Island and Trevor Griffin with his 1972 Ex B&H Fiat 125T which he drove from Napier and put on display, Top effort guys..

Karl Sentch fitted straight in with his Datsun 240Z and really enjoyed racing in a grid of correct cars.
No dents and just total respect...we have come along way this year and now busy planning next year.

Finally, after 6 months its back from the painters, now the fun starts.....

Finally after 6 months the Camaro is back from the painters, now the fun bit starts

Looks awesome Dale! How did you get the correct Sunoco blue colour mix?

Steve Holmes wrote:Looks awesome Dale! How did you get the correct Sunoco blue colour mix?

Steve, i contacted Jon Mello in the USA and he linked me to this E-mail below:

"Pat Ryan (who owns the #15 above) says that for Ditzler paint the color codes are...

Sunoco Blue: 12302

Sunoco Yellow: 81229"

Whatever Ron used on this replica, it looks very accurate to the original.

Hello Dale,
Looking forward to seeing you driving this great looking vehicle.
Here is another Sunoco Penske machine I photographed at Laguna Seca. 2016.
A great colour blue that changes as you walk around the car.




(Ken Hyndman photos..)

Thanks Ken, the colour is also similar to a Ford Fleet blue from back in the day but we wont tell the Chebbie guys that ha ha.......

Couple more pics of progress. Dale M

Looking good Dale - it is easy to see the work that goes into a car when you see such photos.

Looking at the different colours that appear from the different photos - can see why some people get sidetracked.

Philip Maceys XC Falcon coupe historic race car on display at the Speedshow yesterday(Sat 13th July). Had a good chat with Philip, he has not driven the car yet but will test in the next few weeks, he wants to go south for the Waimate 50 to kick off and then start the season with HMC/HSC Inc. He had a prime spot at the show and received a ton of positive comments, mainly how correct the car looks especially the wheels.

That is a fantastic looking car and will be a great addition to the grids.

Had the pleasure of having the Segedin Mustang in my shop today, along with Ian Rankin, Murray Maunder and Steve Holmes doing film work for a new TV program(watch this space).

Thanks to Sean and Jane McCaughan for bringing this fabulous Mustang down that now races in the "Historic Saloon Car" Group with its next meeting the Taupo GP, January 2020.

Thanks for letting us take over your workshop Dale! And the for chocolate muffins. I should visit more often! Ha ha. The cars in your shop and the automobilia etc made for a great backdrop.

For those interested progress on the 68 Camaro....

Looking Good Dale.

Very nice, your usual high standard of workmanship and presentation. Well done, I bet the owner can't wait to get it on the track - at the opening round next month?