The Roaring Season

Posted: **Sat Jan 26, 2019 1:42 am**

Last of my F5000 photos.

David Banks in his 1976 Lola T 332 # 50

Michael Collins in his 1972 McRae GM1 # 94

A driver who never fails to impress, Ken Smith in his 1976 Lola T332 # 11.

(Ken H photos.. )

Posted: **Sat Jan 26, 2019 3:24 am**

aussiemonza wrote:Huge weekend for me and made all the better to give them Webers a blow through!!! Couldn't have made the laps without Kenny's navigation. Huge thanks to John McKechnie for the drive in the Cambridge Monaro. Bruce Thompson and Family are the best hosts at the Howick Hilton. The Inaugural ANZUS IMSA Monza Conference was also held at Taupo with Guest Speaker Chad Raynal, Angus Fogg, Roger Williamson and yours truly forming the core group. More hospitality on the Monday following with visits to Angus Fogg, Wayne Anderson and Tony Antonievich workshops. I will get to posting some images after a hectic week at Bathurst. Thanks again to all, fantastic!!!

Chuck, it was our pleasure to have you here, glad you enjoyed your short stay here, but we packed a bit in.
I can confirm that you hold the lap record for Taupo by an invited Australian in the Team Cambridge Monaro whilst having Kenny H navigating. No mean feat

We are looking forward to the next ANZUS IMSA Conference.

B.

Posted: **Sun Jan 27, 2019 7:35 am**

Some more of the Historic Sports Sedans and Allcomer entrants.

Roger Davis in his 1976 Holden Torana SLR 5000 # 68

Ivan Bevins in his mighty powerful 6 litre 1974 Ford Falcon XBGT # 80

Robert Bartley in the 1955 Ford Customline "Custaxie" # 50

Peter Hooper in his 1982 Toyota Starlet # 7

(Ken H photos..)

Posted: **Sun Jan 27, 2019 7:49 am**

HSS & A class continued.

Cam Neil in his beautiful 1939 Chevrolet Coupe # 39

Darcy May in the 1963 Ford Consul 315 # 63

Graham Barnes in his 1970 slightly modified Ford Capri # 118

Posted: **Sun Jan 27, 2019 8:17 am**

Chad and I were standing with Graham and his crew next to this Capri.
I said to Chad- Did you ever see the movie "Shaker Run" in USA ?
Yep, many times.
Well, here is the Capri that was yellow in it.
No s**t ?
Yep, the same one.
I left Chad and Graham to talk into the afternoon.
Thats what these Historics are all about...the cars and their lives,they keep on living.
He also told me there exists stateside a V8 Morris Minor.....has Minor Trouble on the side.

Posted: **Sun Jan 27, 2019 8:39 pm**

My final photos of the HSS & A class cars.

Jon Telford in his 1991 "RX 8" Mazda RX 7 # 69

Gordon Burr in his 1968 Ford Escort # 567

Mark Allan in his 1972 Vauxhall Firenza. # 93

Roger Williams in his recently acquired 1975 Chevrolet Monza # 5

(Ken H photos..my apologies to those I did not capture in this class.)

Posted: **Sun Jan 27, 2019 9:11 pm**

I feel very privileged to have had to opportunity to see some of these cars race back in their heyday and then to see them so beautifully restored and prepared to race here again at meetings like this many years later. The camaraderie and support amongst you all was very impressive.
I have to admit I have a soft spot for Dale Mathers 1969 302 Boss Mustang which is so well presented and it reminds me of the events I went to in Australia in 1970 and watched Allan Moffat throw his Boss Mustang # 9 around.
Well done everyone I thoroughly enjoyed my 3 days with you.

Thanks Dale for a beautiful Mustang. (Don't forget to use that calendar !)

I do have to admit that I was disappointed in the size of the general public at an event such as this, that has such great racing with little damage done to these historic treasures. As this last photo shows hardly anyone around apart from the participants plus their friends and families etc.
As Fred Dagg used to sing "You don't know how lucky you are."
Anyway that is enough out of me and I am signing off.
Cheers,
Ken H

Posted: **Thu Feb 14, 2019 3:58 am**

A part of me has not come all the way back from my time at Taupo. Today I found some camera photos that had been hidden away and although it has been 5 weeks since the event I still wanted to share these pix of my guest ride in John McKechnie's 1969 "Cambridge" Monaro with Australian Rowan Harman driving. Rowan is the promoter of the Australian Touring Car Masters series and thoroughly enjoyed his time in NZ before heading back for the Bathurst Meet.

Rowan Harman at ease behind the wheel of the Holden Monaro.

And away we go with Hyndman just hanging on and trying to hold my camera as we exit Turn 1 heading toward Turn 2.

Heading along the short straight towards Turn 6

Rounding Turn 7. I was surprised at the elevation compared to how it looks from the stands.

(Ken H )

Posted: **Thu Feb 14, 2019 4:18 am**

The Monaro ride continued.
Going around Turn 8.

Along the straight toward the Turn 11 Hairpin corner.

On to the long back straight.

On to the start / finish straight. Note the high coolant temp. reading on the middle gauge. (John will describe why.)

So that is one of my laps around Taupo with photos taken from under the dash ! (An unforgettable experience for me and as mentioned before, a huge thanks to John McKechnie and all of our "Crew" and Rowan Harman.)

(Ken H.)

Posted: **Thu Feb 14, 2019 5:57 am**

Monaro just got through this event with careful watching of the water level.
High temperature was caused by a cracked block in one cylinder.
Low compression engine was pumping water out, at least was not getting in.
Discovered this 2 days before Taupo, did not want to park it as there were some
major committments-
Had Rowan coming over to drive his old Moon manifold and Webers,also couldnt disappoint Ken, also Scott, Grant ,flaggies.....
Most important though was to have it running in the first ever Historic Saloon Car race..which it did.
So its off to Uncle Jims to have a sleeve fitted, rest of the motor is fine, reassemble and ready for Legends.
And no, a replacement Dart block was never considered...its 010 blocks for the Monaro.

Posted: **Fri Feb 15, 2019 6:51 am**

John McKechnie wrote: So its off to Uncle Jims to have a sleeve fitted, rest of the motor is fine, reassemble and ready for Legends.
And no, a replacement Dart block was never considered...its 010 blocks for the Monaro.

Good on you John for doing it right. Be much easier to buy a new Dart block off the shelf, but it just wouldn't be right. Have you managed to find a replacement 010 block?

Posted: **Fri Feb 15, 2019 7:18 am**

Your a shining example to all those out there that own a historic racing saloon, doing it as it should be and retaining its originality.

Well done mate.

Posted: **Sat Feb 16, 2019 4:17 am**

Thanks Ken, for some reason I missed this posting of yours...…however I do appreciate your kind words. I've always been a 69 Muz fan since the days when I saw the Moff stang and Jims siddy both at Bay Park and I also remember the 70 PDL in lace green paint work, quite radical in its day.

I actually agree with you Ken, "WE don't know how lucky we are" but these days there's never a sizable crowd at motor racing, well certainly not enough to pay for anything that's for sure...………..mind you I've been to Monterey a few times to find im the only one in the grandstand as well.

Take care. Dale M

khyndart in CA wrote:I feel very privileged to have had to opportunity to see some of these cars race back in their heyday and then to see them so beautifully restored and prepared to race here again at meetings like this many years later. The camaraderie and support amongst you all was very impressive.
I have to admit I have a soft spot for Dale Mathers 1969 302 Boss Mustang which is so well presented and it reminds me of the events I went to in Australia in 1970 and watched Allan Moffat throw his Boss Mustang # 9 around.
Well done everyone I thoroughly enjoyed my 3 days with you.

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Thanks Dale for a beautiful Mustang. (Don't forget to use that calendar !)

I do have to admit that I was disappointed in the size of the general public at an event such as this, that has such great racing with little damage done to these historic treasures. As this last photo shows hardly anyone around apart from the participants plus their friends and families etc.
As Fred Dagg used to sing "You don't know how lucky you are."
Anyway that is enough out of me and I am signing off.
Cheers,
Ken H

Posted: **Sat Feb 16, 2019 5:26 am**

At Rebel Roundup , Pukekohe today, there was a large crowd, people in the stands were standing and cheering as the 10 Historic Sports Sedans entertained them in 2 X 30 minute sessions.
Great track time for $20
Everybody knew how lucky they were today

Posted: **Sun Feb 17, 2019 1:20 am**

John McKechnie wrote:At Rebel Roundup , Pukekohe today, there was a large crowd, people in the stands were standing and cheering as the 10 Historic Sports Sedans entertained them in 2 X 30 minute sessions.
Great track time for $20
Everybody knew how lucky they were today

Seen there was a large crowd that might be the secret John, mixing events like this with historic motor racing...……..thoughts?
Dale M

Posted: **Sun Feb 17, 2019 2:11 am**

Looks like a great event which pulls the punters in. Basically a rock a billy event with HSS doing 30 minutes of lap time in display mode.
Certainly looks well patronised.

Posted: **Sun Feb 17, 2019 2:52 am**

Kiwiboss wrote:Seen there was a large crowd that might be the secret John, mixing events like this with historic motor racing...……..thoughts?
Dale M

OK, last year Adrian and friends attended as a wild card.
Organizers liked us so much they wanted us back doing the same....display, run, noisey V8s, passenger rides.
This event combines many thing of which we were only a minor part....
Hot Rods...Sports Sedans are hot rods., never homologated or mainstream
Pukekohe....Auckland home of motor racing, and strong seat of hot rodding. My Monaro lived out here,
Hot Rod event like this is perfect for us.
As Spagetti said...a great event which pulls the punters in.

Posted: **Sun Feb 17, 2019 6:28 am**

There was a display time when the attendees could walk around the HSS cars and a selection of the Hot Rods on the front straight.
It was good talking with people who love all things automotive, and from the people I spoke to they loved seeing the cars on the track, making noise and a spectacle.

Posted: **Sun Feb 17, 2019 7:49 pm**

Yes I agree. Hot rod and classic car shows tend to attract good size crowds - you only have to go to the Whangamata Beach Hop to see that. From a spectator viewpoint it would be great to have, at the next Rebel Roundup, more HMC and Sports Sedans plus some classic racing motorcycles limited to say 350cc and 500cc. Classic British bikes, Nortons, Matchless, AJS, BSA, Triumph etc also have quite a large following. So the theory is, that if you provide a quality hot rod display coupled with some classic car and bike racing, the crowds will come, and maybe some will get to enjoy this class of racing for the first time and get hooked. I wouldn't mind betting that heaps of potential fans don't know anything about classic motor racing. Just a thought.

Posted: **Sun Feb 17, 2019 9:39 pm**

Agree with Nigel, Some Historic motorsport events need to cover a broader automotive interest level, plus event location for ease of spectators attendance, which, in turn will potentially grow Historic motorsport interest.
Separate grouped displays of cars such as, Schedule K, FIA, T&C, etc.
Classic Bikes are a great idea.

The Roaring Season

Taupo January 19th- 20th 2019.

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