PDA

View Full Version : 2012 HRC Icebreaker, Hampton Downs



nigel watts
09-18-2012, 05:00 AM
The plan was to go to the Icebreaker meeting on the Sunday.
Check the forecast - starts out dry and turning to showers after 3.00PM - sounds ok to me!
Up at 5.30 - raining in Tauranga - that's ok because it'll be dry over the hill - won't it?
Actually it pretty much rained all the way up to the circuit.
As I drove into the circuit at about 8.30ish it started to fair piss down at which point I was thinking that it might not have been a bad idea to stay in bed - had my raincoat & brolly so what the hell, in I went.
Turned out to be ok once the heavy rain turned to light drizzle.
Enough to keep the track wet and spice up the spectacle a wee bit - and of course the sun came out after lunch.
So, here are the images I made - you'll have to be a bit patient as I've got heaps that I have to work through & process before I upload.
Finally I'd like to say a big "Thank you" to all of the competitors and their teams for turning out. Much appreciated.
Cheers
Nigel

nigel watts
09-18-2012, 05:06 AM
10967

10970

10966

10969

10968

nigel watts
09-18-2012, 05:54 AM
Race 15 - Arrow Wheels Sports & GT Challenge

10971

10973

10974

10975

10976

10972

nigel watts
09-18-2012, 05:59 AM
10979

10978

10977

10980

10981

10982

kiwi285
09-18-2012, 06:29 AM
Great shots Nigel - keep them coming as time permits.

nigel watts
09-18-2012, 06:50 AM
Race 16 - Formula Junior & Historic

10984

10983

nigel watts
09-18-2012, 06:52 AM
10985

10986

10990

10987

10988

10989

Lee Tracey
09-18-2012, 07:07 AM
Race 16 - Formula Junior & Historic

10984


Are we having fun yet? :)

Thanks for the intrepid work Nigel.

Cheers
Lee

ERC
09-18-2012, 07:32 AM
Might have to have a word with messr's Honore (Ferrari) and Roberts (Corvette) as our rules demand some form of front lighting as when racing in handicaps in grubby weather, it isn't always easy to see drivers coming up to overtake. Great pics.

Kiwiboss
09-18-2012, 08:20 AM
Great pics Nigel, you could have called me to check conditions, but them we wouldn't have these great shots, well done!!

PS: Didn't realise how wet it was until looking at these pics

Yes Ray, tut tut no rain lights and the race was call "wet" in the morning

Dale M

EType
09-18-2012, 08:26 AM
Here's a drivers view:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yNcQoXlFvU

Stewart

Rod Grimwood
09-18-2012, 08:51 AM
Thanks Nigel, great shots as per the schedule.

David McKinney
09-18-2012, 09:32 AM
[QUOTE=nigel watts;18142]Race 16 - Formula Junior & Historic

10984
Is this a new build? I don't recognise it from period - not with that name, anyway

RogerH
09-18-2012, 09:47 AM
[QUOTE=nigel watts;18142]Race 16 - Formula Junior & Historic

10984
Is this a new build? I don't recognise it from period - not with that name, anyway

Yes its a "newish" build and not a period historic car - HRC allow it in the historic grid but TACCOC won't.

ERC
09-18-2012, 06:31 PM
Yes Ray, tut tut no rain lights and the race was call "wet" in the morning

Dale M

MSNZ only require rear rain lights and the flaggies do report drivers who do not have working rear lights. Bruce Manon was penalised last season by the officials but his rear lights were in fact working - though they are not too bright. (I think all the power goes into the engine...)

As most of you know, we are very light on series technical rules, but this is one of the few rules we do have and believe it is a safety issue in bad weather, as many of us have limited rearward visibility. Lights do show up, even through a misted rear screen and wet mirrors. The only other additioanl rule we have is that all cars must have a race harness, even though under MSNZ rules, you can race a standard car with a lap and diagonal belt.

Steve Holmes
09-18-2012, 11:19 PM
Nigel, many thanks for making the effort to get to HD and take these. The weather looks miserable! I'd have stayed in bed! Beautiful photos as always Nigel.

nigel watts
09-19-2012, 06:22 AM
Thanks Mike, Dale, Rod & Steve
Wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Race 24 - Historic Muscle & Under 3000cc Historic Saloons

11123

11124

11125

11126

11127

11128

nigel watts
09-19-2012, 06:24 AM
11129

11130

11131

11132

11133

11134

nigel watts
09-19-2012, 06:51 AM
11136

11137

11135

11138

11139

11140

nigel watts
09-19-2012, 06:55 AM
11142

11141

11143

11144

11145

11146

nigel watts
09-19-2012, 08:32 AM
11147

11148

11149

11150

11151

11152

nigel watts
09-19-2012, 08:36 AM
11155

11153

11156

11157

11154

11158

Snoozin
09-19-2012, 09:59 AM
Great shots!

If it's ok, here's a link to some I took on the Saturday only (unable to make it Sunday!).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/snoozinrichy/sets/72157631539013798/

Rex Bentham
09-20-2012, 01:02 AM
Well done Nigel & Co, great photos. Anyone brave enough to stand out in that weather with an expensive piece of electronics deserves a medal!! What the track photos don't show is the presentation of most of those cars, especially in the Muscle Car grid. Both inside and out they are immaculate, and a credit to the guys doing the work. I'm glad our races were scheduled so we could watch them on the
track. Also some very good times, especially when the track dried out. Bring on more of that!!

Rex

Snoozin
09-20-2012, 04:27 AM
Hey Nigel, what kind of gear are you using? They're nice sharp images :) Would love to have a yarn sometime trackside.

nigel watts
09-20-2012, 04:46 AM
Hey Nigel, what kind of gear are you using? They're nice sharp images :) Would love to have a yarn sometime trackside.

Hi Richy,
I'm using the same outfit as you - 7D with 70-300L
It's a great combo
Cheers
Nigel

p.s. You know me as spooky21 on Flickr!!

nigel watts
09-20-2012, 05:22 AM
11210

11211

11212

11213

11214

11215

nigel watts
09-20-2012, 05:24 AM
11217

11216

11218

11219

11220

11221

nigel watts
09-20-2012, 05:26 AM
11223

11222

11224

11225

11226

11227

nigel watts
09-20-2012, 06:09 AM
11230

11228

11231

11232

11229

11233

nigel watts
09-20-2012, 06:11 AM
11234

11235

11236

11237

11238

11239

nigel watts
09-20-2012, 06:14 AM
11241

11242

11240

11243

11244

11245

nigel watts
09-20-2012, 07:42 AM
11246

11247

11248

11249

11250

11251

nigel watts
09-20-2012, 07:44 AM
11254

11253

11252

11255

11256

11257

nigel watts
09-20-2012, 07:48 AM
11259

11258

11260

11261

nigel watts
09-20-2012, 08:41 AM
Race 18 - Super Historics & Formula Suzuki
The wet track kept most competitors in the pits

11262

11267

11263

11266

11264

11265

nigel watts
09-20-2012, 08:43 AM
11269

11268

11270

nigel watts
09-21-2012, 09:37 PM
11355

11353

11354

11358

11356

11357

nigel watts
09-21-2012, 09:38 PM
11359

nigel watts
09-21-2012, 10:00 PM
11361

11362

11363

11360

11364

11365

nigel watts
09-21-2012, 10:03 PM
11366

11367

11368

11369

11370

nigel watts
09-21-2012, 10:05 PM
11373

11372

11371

nigel watts
09-21-2012, 10:59 PM
11375

11374

11376

11377

11378

11379

nigel watts
09-21-2012, 11:02 PM
11385

11383

11380

11381

11382

11384

Steve Holmes
09-22-2012, 03:56 AM
I love those Swift DB4s. I thought they looked great when they were new, and still do now.

nigel watts
09-22-2012, 09:18 PM
I'd like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the BMW boys. I'm always blown away by the volume of entries. Imagine the Icebreaker if they hadn't been there!
I remember when the E30 series was first introduced the state of the field deteriorated as the races progressed and soon there would be several cars with bits hanging off and missing altogether.
Things have calmed down a lot since then and now we have full grids and close racing.
So whilst the BMW's don't fit the criteria for the Roaring Season, I've made a small Photobucket album so those who are interested can have a squizz.
http://s831.photobucket.com/albums/zz236/21spooky/2012%20Icebreaker%20-%20BMW/?albumview=slideshow

ERC
09-22-2012, 09:45 PM
BMWs are now an integral part of the local classic scene and they have transformd the classic meetings. I do understand your point about possibly not fitting the criteria for Roaring Season. The E30's for me, being an identical one make series, may be good racing for the participants, but for a photographer with an interest in variety of make and model, they leave me cold.

With potentially 4 race groups though, meetings are swamped with BMWs and although the older ones such as 635s, 2002s etc qualify for AES and Arrows, we have made a concession to lift the qualifying age for our groups to include post 1977 cars (including E30s) provided they choose one group or the other. That means if you see an E30 in AES or Arrows, it won't be racing with the E30s.

The explosion of interest in E30s has possibly diverted some drivers away from more traditiinial classics, but we have to accept that the supply of parts for traditional or older classics is getting harder, so we opted to move the qualifying dates rather than see shrinking fields.

nigel watts
09-24-2012, 06:16 AM
11536

11537

11540

11542

11544

11545

nigel watts
09-24-2012, 06:18 AM
11560

11558

11559

11561

11562

11563

nigel watts
09-24-2012, 06:20 AM
11568

11569

11570

11571

11572

11573

nigel watts
09-24-2012, 06:23 AM
11574

11575

11576

11577

11578

11579

Steve Holmes
09-24-2012, 06:27 AM
Looks like the weather got better and better Nigel.

nigel watts
09-24-2012, 06:28 AM
11580

11581

11582

11583

11584

11585

nigel watts
09-24-2012, 06:31 AM
Looks like the weather got better and better Nigel.

It certainly did - ended up in sunshine - T shirt weather

nigel watts
09-24-2012, 06:36 AM
11586

11590

11591

11588

11589

11587

nigel watts
09-24-2012, 06:40 AM
11592

11593

11594

11595

11596

11597

nigel watts
09-25-2012, 05:27 AM
11629

11630

11631

11632

11633

11634

nigel watts
09-25-2012, 05:36 AM
11641

11642

11643

11644

11646

11645

nigel watts
09-25-2012, 05:40 AM
11647

11648

11652

11649

11650

11651

nigel watts
09-25-2012, 05:45 AM
11654

11655

11653

11656

11657

11658

nigel watts
09-25-2012, 05:49 AM
11660

11659

11661

11662

11663

11664

nigel watts
09-25-2012, 05:55 AM
11665

11666

11667

11668

11669

11670

nigel watts
09-25-2012, 06:13 AM
11671

11672

11673

11674

11675

11676

nigel watts
09-25-2012, 06:16 AM
11682

11679

11678

11680

11677

11681

nigel watts
09-25-2012, 07:01 AM
11684

11687

11683

11685

11686

nigel watts
09-25-2012, 07:02 AM
11688

11689

11690