The Roaring Season

The latest team confirmed for the HMC/HSC 2017 South Island Tour. This beautiful MkI Escort was originally built and raced by Ross and Jimmy Stone (of later Stone Brothers Racing V8 Supercar fame), in the 0 - 1,300cc class in the NZ Saloon Car Championship during the early 1970s.

Several years later it became a front runner in the ShellSport series, raced by Roy Harrington in the guise its now presented and raced by current owner David Thompson.

Wow, I LOVE that photo Ross!

Some thing about Escorts these days............ every one seems to be jumping on the Eski wagon , might be a baby boomer thingy, either ways its fantastic to see them coming out of the wood work more often than not .....

Another just confirmed, John Sampson and his beautiful Capri RS2600. This car is stunning! And John has been a great supporter of HMC since its inception. Fantastic news!

Am pleased to announce the latest driver to be confirmed for the 2017 SI trip. Tony Mexted and his 1970 Mustang fastback PDL tribute.

Promotional poster for the Teretonga Classic Speedfest.

Although he hasn't yet booked, Bob Hyslop has just told us he wishes to make the trip with his awesome and historic Mazda RX2.

Happy to confirm Nigel MacDonald will be making the trip South. Nige still has a couple of issues he is trying to sort out with the famous Red Dawson Shelby Mustang. He'll run the car at Manfeild in a couple of weeks, and if he is happy with it, he'll take this car South.

If not, he'll be taking his maroon '67 fastback.

Colin Campbell has confirmed he'll be part of the HMC/HSC 2017 South Island tour. Colin is keen, he is also doing the Skope event the week before Timaru.

This is Colin's beautiful T&C MkI Escort.

Another of the little HSC rocket ships that is now confirmed for the 2017 South Island tour; Howard Wood and his hugely popular and very fast BMW 2002 FIA Appendix K car.

I can't wait to see Dale and the other HMC cars on Teretonga in February. I'll be at the Elbow watching, just as I did in the early-mid seventies with my Dad. It really doesn't seem that long ago......sort of :-) As one of the many who just watch, and don't race, thank you all for making the long trek south.
Cheers,
Bob.

Hi Bob, Invercargill HMC racer Rodger Cunninghame was supposed to be racing his beautiful '66 Mustang with HMC, but unfortunately had a big shunt in the car just recently. Rodger was a big part of the inspiration for organizing this trip.

Sadly, our good mate Rodger Cunninghame of Invercargill, who was a big part of the inspiration for putting together the 2017 tour, won't be on the grid with HMC/HSC. He recently had a nasty shunt at Teretonga in his beautiful HMC '66 Mustang, and both Rodger and the 'Stang will be out of action for the foreseeable future.

We wish Rodger a speedy recovery.

Jac Mac wrote:[color="#0000CD"]Did that car have an alloy or lightweight bonnet skin? seems odd that its been completely removed in the incident with little damage to the inner stamping.[/color]

Most of the reproduction Shelby bonnets were steel frame with a fiberglass skin just glued on Jac.

Ouch! That's a real shame. I'm in the same Mustang Club as Roger, but hadn't heard about his off. I hope he's not hurt too bad. Looks like he's still smiling in the pic, so that's a good sign.
Cheers,
Bob.

OK, so as we expected, several people who said they were going to go down South have since changed their minds. Meanwhile, others suffered damage and/or mechanical failures at the back-to-back Tasman Revival and NZFMR weekends and don't have the time to make the necessary repairs.

And so here is a final list of entrants for our tour:

1. Colin Dawson: Chevrolet Camaro
2. Colin Campbell: Ford Escort
3. Sean McCaughan: Ford Falcon
4. Nigel MacDonald: Ford Mustang
5. Howard Wood: BMW 2002
6. Pete Stevenson: Ford Mustang
7. Glenn Allingham: Chevrolet Camaro
8. Dennis McConnell: Ford Escort
9. Bob Hyslop: Mazda RX2
10. Tony Mexted: Ford Mustang
11. John Sampson: Ford Capri
12. Gareth Sampson: Ford Capri
13. Craig Horn: Holden Torana XU1
14. Gary Raiti: Ford Falcon
15. Neville Hills: Ford Escort

Plus:

16. Roy MacDonald: Ford Mustang

Roy MacDonald will be joining us as invitational in his 1967 Mustang, which is very close to HMC correct, but not 100%. We’ve also invited Richie Biddles with his 1970 Camaro, another car that is very close to HMC correct. I believe Richie will enter for Timaru. Roy MacDonald will only be racing with us at Timaru.

Sean McCaughan is so excited he hit the road yesterday!

I don't believe he could have got any financial help from Stalworthy the owner of Mancave, they don't come any tighter ar*(ed.

it is another half a day from Kerikeri to anywhere