One interesting advantage over my usual lens is the ability to see driver faces more clearly, which can be interesting.
Yes and long live open face helmets with no mirror visors.
Printable View
One interesting advantage over my usual lens is the ability to see driver faces more clearly, which can be interesting.
Yes and long live open face helmets with no mirror visors.
A quick dip into the Smales Farm Caffeine & Classics meeting this morning. Chatting to others from the race scene we expected a smaller turnout than usual, bearing in mind the holiday weekend. Just how wrong can you be? A staggering number of cars yet again, and the best monthly free show in town - ever. This just goes from strength to strength and is now a must every month (usually the 4th Sunday) and right alongside the motorway (Takapuna off ramp) - just as long as it doesn't clash with a race meeting of course and well worth a visit.
Something for everyone.
This Porsche was attracting a lot of well deserved attention.
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Hi Paul!
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Oh boy! This was also attracting a lot of attention.
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Expect to see this glorious Austin Healey out soon in Classic Trials.
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A Happy New Year everyone, wherever you are and whatever your fortunes or misfortunes of 2017, I sincerely hope 2018 will be better.
No New Year resolutions from me. No smoking to give up, no flab to get rid of (well, not much), never been addicted to the booze or throwing my money away on dogmeat racing, Lotto or mind altering substances anyway.
I will continue to post a 'Mix of Pics' whenever I can, but I hope Steve's Internet guru promises to resolve the frustrating picture uploading issue that has dogged the site for the last few months.
Meanwhile, thanks to all posters on here (all threads) who add so much value to "The Roaring Season" and a massive thank you to Steve for running it.
Ray great photos, missed it this month and as it happens the MX5 wouldn't start today so - wouldn't have made it anyway.
Allan Horner tells me the 3000 race replica is ex Andrew Shrimpton, and will be used in Classic Trials at Puke and Hampton in the future.
Ray also your next post agree, and your stuff has been brilliant, so many different events .. TRS is a great Forum for all of us with Petrol in our veins !!..
Just for a change... Part of the rogues gallery.
Now back to more attractive bodies.
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Probably one of my favourite pictures of the whole year.
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I'm not sure what happened to Arthur's Wolseley as this was taken early in practice, and I didn't see it on track again.
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I am not sure either Ray as it lasted 1 lap of qualifying and he put it on the trailer and went home.
I didn’t come up for the meeting as originally planned and after my wife suffered a sudden illness that put everything on hold.
I must give him a call.
Great photo of the car as usual Ray.
Cheers
Bruce
Thanks Bruce. Sorry about your wife. Hope all is OK.
No doubt someone will know about the car. I often take photographs on the first lap of practice as it isn't at all unusual for a car with problems to disappear. They may not have the same 'attitude' of cars going full tilt, but if there is a better pic later, so be it.
I won't be at Taupo - which is a shame, as it looks as though it could be a good meeting and a good opportunity to catch up with a few people - which really is one of the joys of any meetings, especially for those of us no longer competing.
Next outing (for me) will be the HD Bathurst meeting. It will be interesting to see what sort of support it attracts, from both sides of the pit wall.
Rhys. You'll be pleased to know that the Speedex has gone to a very good home... This pic taken 2015, not the new owner!
Some of my pics for the day will be similar to Nigel's - as we were standing chatting, between snapping the cars coming past!
I don't think JT realised the microphone was switched on when commenting about this car...
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Why is Hampton Downs my all time track favourite from behind the camera? Car attitude. Exactly what you don't see enough of in most modern racing - other than Aussie V8's cars bouncing off artificial kerbs of course. Fewer than 4 wheels on the deck always looks interesting.
The rise up and over turn 3 is a favourite for photographers and some of these pics (and Nigel's) show exactly why.
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The above set disappeared yesterday just after they were loaded and access to the site to correct it wasn't possible for several hours.
* Aaaargh! Now today's lot have disappeared - then reappeared - then disappeared again. Then reappeared again, now disappeared again... Reloading - what a waste of time.
PPG Classic Trial. The cost to enter a Trial has crept up over the years due to rising track hire costs and sadly, I'm sure that is why they aren't inundated with entries as a cheaper way to enter the sport. Although an entry of 23 cars appears to be pretty good, it should really be nearer 40.
I think I'd reverted to my normal lens by this stage.
Alan Horner wouldn't get a CoD for this car! But would spectators know why - or care?
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And the prize for the most 'air', goes to Bruce Manon in February 2010.
(This pic also disappeared and has been re-posted. Maybe I shouldn't be posting at weekends?)
Ray - interested in your comment
" Alan Horner wouldn't get a CoD for this car! But would spectators know why - or care? "
The car looks good and Donald Healey was a great one for improving [ read modifying ] cars.
Would like to know more about it from you and Allan.
I would like to do Classic Trial, but even simple Motorsport requires a lot of gear [ read money ] these days.
Wonder in a NZ Standard 1971 Helmet NZS 1884, it is a Max Cheshire that i bought from an Overall Helmet and Speed Shop in Newton Road, got a set of fire resistant overalls around the same time - they have vanished.
Cheers, Ray
we must try to catch up !! keep either missing you at events or not getting there !!.
Roger
Roger. The helmet probably wouldn't pass today.
Chicane do a Clubman race overall and if you speak to Shane nicely, he'll probably do a deal on a suit, overalls, boots and gear bag.
One of the costs I now baulk at is the annual cost for a race licence and when I only did one race meeting in 2015 and also 2016, MSNZ copped the $50 meeting levy per driver, PLUS the annual licence fee ($190), which is now far more than the annual registration fee for the daily driver which includes an ACC component. It just made it just too expensive to carry on. That is one of the main reasons for deciding to retire in 2016. (No Gold card discount for over 65's either...)
With increased track hire fees - not forgetting the $25 'Safety Levy' at Hampton Downs, what was a reasonably justified hobby expense has moved the sport well away from the ordinary working person on a modest income. No wonder that some grids haven't really increased in size in recent years.
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On to the BMW's
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ERC Series - Arrow Wheels - back to the long lens
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Another new recruit to the ERC Series/AES group is obviously not pre 1977. If we'd stuck to our original structure of just 4 cylinder BMC cars, we wouldn't now exist as a series. Whilst many object to the pragmatism, we have no viable option. If ERC went back to one group only, by speed, we'd frighten away most of the slower cars. Equally, if we stuck to CoD only, or age or purity, we'd also fall over. As it is, the pragmatic approach sits comfortably alongside the two much newer series, HSC and HRC and those with a CoD or historically more correct, now have a choice of grids.
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Ray, I just wanted to comment that 100 pages on TRS and over 590,000 views, that is a lot of photos, Mate.
on another matter,not promising but, hope to get to Hampton Downs on Saturday for the very first time, have been asked by John B, an old Mate. for the " Legends of Bathurst " event
Will keep you posted.,
Had to pass up on the Taupo event the following weekend, a family commitment, so will not be seeing Ken H and others
Great Roger. Hopefully I'll be wearing a pink media tabard and if sunny, an "Australia" hat, or if just fine, a black ERC bucket hat. Usually there first thing and depending on what there is to see, maybe away early afternoon.
Yup, a lot of photographs and I'm trying to cull a few out of the library. So far, I've gone through the road cars - which are generally by country and make and sometimes by model and then, even by driver!
Just about to make a start on the British Race Cars section - about 5,400 before culling. I still have a fair sized bucket load of slides to scan and where scanning has been a failure, (out of focus), some re-scanning to do. One thing is for sure, I won't ever be bored with nothing to do ...
Sorry, pics have disappeared yet again. Re-posted pics 13/1/18
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This car is currently for sale. A trace of understeer.
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Meanwhile, on the skidpan, with an appropriate number plate?
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Look forward to it Roger! One for you first, from today. Not seen out on track though.
Legends of Bathurst meeting - Hampton Downs. I'll reserve any comments until after the event, but in the past, this has been a three day Festival and with a huge entry...
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Adrian Reynard has brought his own car this time.
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Amazing what some of the regular racers have tucked away in their garages...
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Slight difference in spoiler heights over the years.
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Father and son day out.
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Back to ERC/Arrow Wheels
Rob Halliday Senior - Lotus Cortina
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John Hudson, who has no idea what winter is. He spends the NZ winter in the UK where he seems to have made a name for himself working on cars - particularly a BMW owned by a regular contributor to a well known UK classic car magazine.
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Bruce Manon - in his own car.
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Ricky Cooper's well driven Datsun 240Z.
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Ron Findlay, V8 Capri.
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Beginner's luck with the new lens. Not quite as successful next time out.
Ray, I was just thinking to myself that you have mastered the 'bazooka' very quickly. It took me a bit longer to work out the best settings etc. It's absolutely ideal for turn 3 at HD. I'll be interested to hear of your impressions of the festival. I decided not to go this year - heading down to Taupo next weekend instead.
Thanks Nigel. I didn't go to the Festival Sunday, having been Friday and Saturday (half days).
I'm afraid that a so called 'Premier Event' over two days needs rather more than five race groups and a far better race programme entry list. Terry S grizzles that we don't post car details and in this case, the programme only had the car number, driver's name, car make/model and year (and some of that was incomplete). No colour, no cubic capacity, no driver home town etc. Several duplicate race numbers which works OK with transponders, but trying to work out which driver/car is which will give historian's nightmares.
Unlike Goodwood, demonstration cars are not listed so again, if Tony Quinn actually ran the Simtek F1 car and the Mortimers ran the Surtees, (they weren't run whilst I was there so no idea if they did run), no programme listing for them.
Whilst running an ex Dick Johnson car with #17 might be historically preferable, a small red/yellow/white disc somewhere on the car, or something similar, and a key, would have helped.
1) Legends/Historic Touring Cars - 22 cars. 2 x #21, 3 x #31 - 2 cars with no numbers.
2) Legends Invitation - 24 cars - 2 x #5, 3 x #17, 2 x #87 - 3 cars with no numbers listed.
3) Formula Libre - 29 cars - 2 x #23
4) Historic FF - 16 cars
5) Central Muscle cars - 32 cars.
Long track, small grids = a lot of time staring at empty tarmac. Just 123 cars listed.
My views on small grids is well known but just 5 race groups and 123 listed cars? The only race I actually saw was the first Muscle Car race and they certainly had the good crowd support but I'd be interested to hear other people's views.
Would I have paid a premium price for a ticket? No way. Seeing John Bowe and Jim Richards particularly, driving hard in practice, in iconic cars was a real treat, but if HD wants to make this Festival an annual must see, they are going to have to lift their game a long, long way. Last year was their first, so most were supportive but reserved. Friday, although not a competition day, just practice, there weren't even any programmes available.
Nigel, I think you have made the right choice doing Taupo and John McK will no doubt tell you what HD wanted to get the HSS cars to HD! Look forward to your pics as always.
I still have to finish uploading December, but couldn't resist posting this - on just his second day at the track... Very good to watch into the first hairpin too. Classic case of hard on the accelerator or hard on the brakes. No messing about. Apparently John Bowe really enjoyed the meeting, the facilities, the welcome and so on.
Ray, good pics, saw the " Healey - Corvette " and took a few photos of it [ will put on my Austin - Healey " thread ],plus some of the McLaren in the garage and the details on the sign board, wasn't in the pit area for long as was with John B in the Hulme Block with the end apartment which is right above the start finish line, so lots of pics from there, and it was nearly lunchtime on the Saturday when I ventured into the pit area - Mrs John B had put on a good spread.
"Peter M " from TRS was there too!!, so we chatted about things Motor Racing, and right up Chaindrive's alley, Model of Race Cars, especially McLarens and Kiwi themed cars, and drivers.
Next thing is to download them all.
Impressions of the Festival, I too will be interested.
Later
Ray just realised you were typing as I was, Understand that HD is For Sale again, as Mr Quinn needs a sum of money for personal reasons.
I felt that for my Day would have liked more racing, even though they had Friday's events qualifying the morning on Saturday was still " Q " qualifying so in the end only about 4 races on the day. and I left at 3;30 when the last race was on.
Aha! Thanks for that snippet Roger! Could be interesting to see what happens now.
* See later post #2007
I think I also chatted to Peter M - if he is a McLaren Trust member who was on the Monaco 2012 trip and red hot model collector.
Now that most of HD's basics are in place, it could be a good buy as there is no doubt that TQ had the cash available to finish off a lot of the vision initially laid down by Tony and Chris. We just don't want any potential buyer to ignore who actually supported the complex from several years before the first day of racing.
Ray...John McK was doing some Bathurst Revival at home today........new seat covers for a HG Monaro GTS 350, same owner since 1973.
In the late 60s , early 70s, He was filling Hot Rod Mag, Auto news with Bathurst Monaro raves under title.-
"Flink thinks that Ford stinks"
Just had an email from Mike Sexton. He is selling his immaculate Mk 1 Ford Escort. This is the car that Bruce Manon drove from last to first in what is my favourite YouTube in car clip January 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J42ayb1Js2A
"The last dyno sheet had 250 bhp at the rear wheels at 7500 rpm. The Dyno used is the one we have always used and we have good calibration against an engine dyno which has shown a pretty constant 22% loss through the drive line…so 250 bhp at the wheels equals 320 bhp at the fly wheel. Torque is 240 ft Lb at 5500rpm with 200 available from 3500…so it pulls really hard and spins to high 8000s with ease."
The car is road registered and has a CoD. Since Mike acquired Formula Juniors, the Escort just doesn't get used, hence the sale. Anyone who knows Mike will be aware that this car has been maintained regardless of expense and anything Bruce Manon looks after is to the highest possible standard.
If you want to get in touch with Mike or further details, send me a PM. Car is located on the North Shore.
Just got back home(Sunday)I too had an interesting day as well, quite a few people asked where HMC and HSC were and in fact most thought we were supposed to be apart of the program and stunned to find us not there, I explained that after last years mismanagement, disorganization and been left out of any formal information until a month out, we(like F5000, FJ, HSS, ERC/Arrows) decide it wasn't us anymore..........let alone this years massive proposed entry cost been asking around mid last year, just to find out that the SI Touring car group were subsidized or they wouldn't come..........bizarre.
I got told yesterdays crowd(Saturday) was larger but to be quite honest I thought in reality there was really no one there in proportion today...........a very piss poor crowd considering the advertising and high profile........I can see some marketing people getting hauled over the coals id say....LOL
Still, for me after 7 years of back to back weekends every January plus organizing Australian Trans Am over four times I was more than happy to wander around, chatting and having NO part of any of the organizing or any racing group.........I felt really good and enjoyed my day. Was also great to catch up with Jim Richards, Charlie O'Brien and others too.
Also an interesting note, most I spoke with knew little about the Taupo event too........based on that I'm not expecting it to be a spectator haven...........oh well next week will tell.
PS: didn't know Hampton was for sale again, certainly no talk about it from anyone today!
Agree Dale. I can't see the point in promoting an event and not really delivering. Add ERC to the above list who were not really overly happy with 2017. Remember we had a full 46 car grid (with 7 reserves!) in 2015.
Having promoted several events over the years, I'd far rather attract plenty of paying drivers and turn a profit without advertising or relying on spectator income, than paying for advertising and not delivering a good event - and running at a loss. Like it or lump it, the days of guaranteed solid paying spectators and huge crowds are way gone for most meetings. Clashing with other summer events is always on the cards (men's tennis final Saturday).
I know the early Festivals lost a lot of money, but I can't see how this one would have made money either.
Neither Hampton Downs nor Taupo offers decent covered spectator facilities with an escape from the sun or the rain, so better to make access cheap and get the money in from the drivers.
It was pretty warm at the weekend and I was more than happy to leave midday having bagged enough photographs to give me plenty to add to my collection.
Had I been running it, I would have had any grid with less than 30 cars on the National track rather than scattered around the extended track, well away from spectators. A promoted meeting has to put spectator considerations high on the list. A non-paying spectator event or club event, drivers always come first as they are paying. Simple enough I would have thought.
The GT meeting back in October was another fizzer with just 11 cars starting on the Sunday for the feature event. Both events have been propped up by the Central Muscle Cars. That is both car premium events failing to deliver and merely shows that the TACCOC and HRC organising teams outperformed the current full time team - and they both understand what makes a good meeting.
Looking forward now to a day out at Leadfoot early February.
CMC went to Bathurst last year, so they would be the natural Bathurst Revival class....... along their classic looks,high technology and unlimited horsepower......superspectacular........great troika shot Ray