Ray, talk to Grant Clearwater some time about his Connaught and Goodwood :)
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Ray, talk to Grant Clearwater some time about his Connaught and Goodwood :)
Hampton Down's Legends - Saturday March 20th.
With Nigel, Mike Feist, Milan and James Watson, all toting cameras, Saturday should be well covered. I only stayed for practice, as I hadn't initially intended going at all until Sunday.
Horrendouse traffic backlogs on the motorway, in both directions due to accidents. Takanini southbound, Otahuhu northbound.
Geoff Harriman has switched from the Ralt to a Tatuus Toyota - which he claims is much easier to drive and feels that the car isn't trying to wipe him out!! The first pic with the new lens...
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A great meeting with good weather and such a shame that the final ERC race got cut short, after a wayward Porsche dropped the contents of the sump...
Over the weekend, I took about 1500 pics, but rather than post them in any sort of sequence or class, I'll post randomly.
It will take several days to go through and delete/crop/label.
Nigel's pics are always worth looking at and needless to say, we may have similar pics of similar cars, so apologies if there is any duplication.
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Good to catch up with Shane Drake of Chicane, who has really got back into the Formula Ford Scene, and was looking after the 'rent a drive' Van Diemen driven here by Mike Davidson.
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TRS contributor's Ford Escort! Just a comment Grant, but it looks to be handling very well.
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I'm not a huge fan of one make/one model series, but the BMW E30 series is without a doubt, probably the most successful in NZ's history, in terms of grid size and close racing. As one whose primary objective is to amass a library of different car makes and models, I rarely make an effort to photograph the E30's, but from a close racing point of view, fantastic.
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The two Mk 2 Jaguars were stunningly presented especially under the bonnet.
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Toby Annabel's McLaren M10B was originally a David Good, UK hillclimb car, but then painted red. David Good was a talented driver but only had one arm, so wasn't allowed a race licence.
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*I may have to post more than once a day as there are so many pics taken and with another Caffeine & Classics, the British Car Day and maybe a VCC/MGCC event, coming up shortly, I won't be short of material. Makes up for last year. H'mmm. No it doesn't.
Help required... Can someone please state the country of origin of these two?
Hulson Delta
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Ares
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Morris Marina - large rear engine
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Morris Minor - engine buried somewhere under the bonnet...
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MG set...
Dave Mallin - in the 4 cylinder, not the usual V8.
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The MGF is a really cheap entry level sportscar and the green one, driven here by Barry Hare, is the MGCC el cheapo '24 Lemons' car.
Unfortunately, the last ERC race of the weekend, the Legend's trophy handicap race, was cut short, when an errant Porsche dumped oil on the track, but this merely allowed Nev Thompson to retain his position at the front of the AES group.
For points calculations, I always recalculated finishing positions (and points) if the race was affected by safety cars or red flags, but this just wasn't possible, but as the series' longest serving member, an appropriate recipient of the Ray Green Trophy ("The slowest Living Legend" of the meeting!)
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Nev Thompson
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Swift
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McRae
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Tranzam Jaguar - though there isn't too much Jaguar in it!
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EJ Holden
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Minis.
To make a car attractive to photographers and maybe potential sponsors, it has to be, painted or coloured well.
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or it just doesn't look good,
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or it has to look interesting,
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or driven well (in this case really well!)
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Spectrum - I have to refer to the programme each time for the NZ sportscars, but at least this has the name on the front.
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Veen Smith may well be prepared to sell this Commodore
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The driver of this car claimed he'd been competing for 12 years and didn't have a single pic of his car. I'll post an action one later. Told him to look in here but he's probably forgotten.
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Sadly, the TVR wasn't seen again. This was early practice Sunday and I'd made a basic error when the ERC practice started. I'd hiked to turn 3 only to find that I'd left the SD card in the laptop the night before, so I had to return to the car as I was travelling light, and missed most of the session.
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Francois Cronje who has the Renault Gordini post 3849 - the front car of the pair, also has the Matra Djet 6 that has been at Caffeine and Classics - stated to be the only one in NZ, a photo features in the latest NZ Classic Driver - on the Mainland " Classic Alpine Tour ".
Didn't survive the full weekend - unfortunately
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Ditto - gearbox problems
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This caused a safety car intervention that seemed to last for several laps. The car (#11) was parked on the grass at the exit to the corner. Vehicle recovery or moved to safety ASAP, is an issue that needs to be addressed at Hampton Downs. It isn't fair on drivers to cruise for several laps of a sprint race behind a safety car - even more of an issue with handicap and reverse grid races.
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Eddie's Alfa with a nice new set of wheels
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This crazy image posting won't let me delete the double posting of the report.
Caffeine & Classics today, a much smaller turnout than usual, probably because it is Beach Hop weekend.
Still worth taking over 50 photographs - and several people to chat to, as usual.
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Juno
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Tatuus
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Love this pic!
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Great photo of Derek Cecil in his Wales Motorsport Mk2 Escort RS2000
Thanks Bruce. As I have said before, cars with 'attitude' make far better pics than those cornering as if on rails.
A couple from Ellerslie that were in the 'waiting to post' folder.
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Lincoln Capri. Can't say as I'd enjoy parking that when going shopping...
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Back to Legends.
As least we are seeing some of these these ex Toyota series cars being used.
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One wheel off the deck usually makes for a decent pic.
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FOR SALE:
Due to a change in circumstances, this Porsche Turbo is reluctantly for sale at a bargain price of Just $4,999 ono.
Beautifully built and not even run in.
Bid on here. Quick sale before the bailiffs arrive and must go today. Selling on behalf of a friend.
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Didn't sell. Must gave been something to do with the date...
Little cat left its mark
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on the big cat. This Andy Culpin built E Type is a real stunner, with a very proud owner who had lusted after an E Type Jaguar since he was a lad. Not his first E Type either. Of all the cars that I have seen at Caffeine and Classics, this would be in the top 3 of the ones I'd want to take home.
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Essex replica - as per the rego label. Not a great fan of any Rat Rod look, but just shows the variety on display and all are welcome.
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The Ford Focus RS brigade were out in force
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That E Type looks fantastic. Come on Lotto, surely it's time for me to win big.
The E type is indeed fantastic Nigel - inside and out.
From the other end for a change.
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Synchronised parking...
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Chris Browne, the current ERC Series convenor.
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McRae
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" Synchronised parking. ", lovely Bambina's ... and what is the red in the top left corner a TVR ??.
See John Crook's AH 100 too - from the rear. Nice car - Post #3864
Chevrolets
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Gordon Campbell's Corvair turbo. Gordon wrote the book on Ray Stone "There's no such thing as She'll be Right". Beautifully presented book in a hard slip case. I haven't started reading it as yet, but I'm assured it is a very, very good read. I only came to NZ early 1983, so a lot of Ray's history is new to me. Incidentally, unlike me, he was actually Christened 'Ray'.
Gordon almost seemed surprised that I asked him to sign the book as well as Ray. Always seems a shame that the researcher/biographer often gets overlooked.
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Gordon is talking to John Windelburn
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I really applaud anyone who can and will throw a Thunderbird around, as I think that personally, I'd be more inclined to choose a Lotus Elan sized car!
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Sampson family outing (Glendene Engine Reconditioners) and as always, immaculately presented and well driven.
John (117), Gareth (118) and Scott (16).
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As part of my UK trip, I have booked 2 nights at Bicester Heritage, as it is well located and hopefully I'll get to wander around. That isn't normally possible.
If there is a 'Sunday Scramble' on September 5th, will do that instead, on the assumption that my flight is scheduled to arrive at 9:40am.
Not sure what else I'll do for the two days. Might need to decide whether or not to go through the Mini factory (again), the Gaydon Heritage Museum (again) or will probably do the Silverstone Experience. Open to suggestions!
Ray,
Excuse my intrusion but seeing your Cortina photos plus it is 53 years here today April 8th, since we lost the great Jimmy Clark.
I just wanted to share this Crystal Palace clip of the Master at work.
( Ken H)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWp-0TuY4Sk&t=11s
Great clip Ken! I haven't watched it all the way through or with sound as yet, but that Mini rollover crash is horrific - and no roll cage.
I was always a Tony Brooks/Graham Hill fan rather than a fan of Jim Clark. It doesn't mean I don't recognise his greatness.
Apologies if so many pics are from turn 3, but it is a favourite spot and I take far more pics from there than anywhere else, mainly as the shots show car (and driver) 'attitude', more than at any other location. When I get to Goodwood, more pics will be from right to left, as there is only one location where we can get left to right shots - and even there, not on a corner!
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Apology not required Ray!
My favourite possie as well Ray.
Four legends - three running in the ERC Series. By the way, there may be a sponsorship opportunity for the AES part of series if anyone is interested.
Win Jacobs - 3.6 Jaguar
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Bryce Platt
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Long time racer John Hudson
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Greg Murphy
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Brit Euro show today. Started off a bit damp then warmed up.
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