Remembering Graham Howard
“Our Doug Nye, Eoin Young and Dennis Jenkinson all rolled into a quiet package.” - Brian Caldersmith
On Saturday the 18th of May we gathered at the Austrian Club in Frenchs Forest to celebrate the life of a good friend and a great man, Graham Howard.
It was the culmination of our efforts to remember and celebrate the life of Graham, who is acknowledged as the greatest and most knowledgeable of the Australian journalists documenting and discussing historic motorsport. He was a long term committee member and contributor to the HSRCA.
Photo Gallery: 2012 Tasman Revival by Alan Heritage and Jill Cowlishaw
We spent a tremendous long weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park last November, and packed it with non-stop historic racing for our biannual Tasman Revival.
Our latest photo gallery from the event is by Alan Heritage and Jill Cowlishaw and takes a look at the friendships and, of course, the historic sports and racing cars which made it such a great weekend.
Check it out below, and over on our gallery page here!
Many thanks to Alan Heritage and Jill Cowlishaw for the photos!
Upcoming Events for your Calendars
A big thanks to everyone who attended our Marulan Time Trials and Come and Try Day over the weekend! We had a great day and appreciate the support.
Our next big historic racing meet is at Sydney Motorsport Park at the end of June, and there’s plenty going on to keep you entertained in the interim, with two events coming up that we’d particularly like to bring to your attention.
Up first is a club plate run on Sunday the 5th of May. Participants should assemble at the big truck parking area on the old Pacific Highway just north of the Berowa railway station. For UBD map holders itʼs around P8 on map 94; for Sydways users try E4 on map 176. Please arrive at 9:30am for a 10:00am start.
The plan is for an easy run including a stop for a lunch at a golf club or the like. Youʼll be home in plenty of time for dinner. Any questions etc to Garry Simkin on 02-9958 3935 or David Gleen on 02-9918 8092.
Then at the end of May Garry Simkin has organised one of the great drivers to attend and talk to us during our May club social meeting – John Harvey, who drove on the dirt in midgets during the sixties, raced Minis and a Twin Cam Brabham, which would be re-engined with a Repco, raced a McLaren Sports car and stomped around in various touring cars. An illustrious career that should be celebrated. This should be a very interesting evening with all areas of motorsport covered. Please attend.
Australian 1960s Racing Cars (M and O) Newsletter No.22
The first of Ed Holly’s magnificent M & O newsletters for 2013 has gone out to members, and is now up for download on the club website!
Ed kicks this edition off with a bang, pondering what makes M & O machines so compelling, before recapping our recent Wakefield Park Summer Historics, the Phillip Island Classic and New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing, and catching up with all the pit gossip and more in the world of 1960s racing cars.
Download it by clicking the handy link below, or right clicking and selecting ‘Save As’, and enjoy!
Australian 1960s Racing Cars (M and O) Newsletter No.22 [PDF]
Photo by Ed Holly.
Previous 1960s Racing Cars (M and O) Newletters:
Australian 1960s Racing Cars (M and O) Newsletter No.21
Australian 1960s Racing Cars (M and O) Newsletter No.20
Australian 1960s Racing Cars (M and O) Newsletter No.19
Loose Fillings #43 – Summer/Autumn 2013
About three times a year Garry Simkin, Terry Wright and founding editor, the late Graham Howard, put out a newsletter called ‘Loose Fillings’, which chronicles the many adventures of historic air-cooled racing cars from the 1950s.
They’re back with their first newsletter for 2013, which is now available for download from the club website.
This edition looks at New Zealand’s big-twin pioneers, features part two of their story about Lionel Hart and his Tassie racers, goes into a little more detail on the Meikle Kieft story, and a whole lot more. Download it below by right-clicking the link and selecting ‘Save as’ and enjoy!
Loose Fillings #43 [PDF]
Take a look at the previous editions in the links below. Right-click and ‘Save as’, or just click.
Loose Fillings #42 [PDF]
Loose Fillings #41 [PDF]
Loose Fillings #40 [PDF]
Loose Fillings #39 [PDF]
Loose Fillings #38 [PDF]
Entry Pack: Marulan Time Trials and Come and Try Day
Now that you’ve had a few weeks to rest up from our recent Historic Summer at Wakefield Park, you may be getting the itch to head out to the track again to hone your lines. And we have the perfect opportunity for you! We are continuing our one-day meetings at the Marulan Driver Training Centre in association with the Peugeot Club and are heading out there for a meeting on Saturday the 20th of April, 2013.
The meeting is open to beginners, experienced racers and anyone in-between, but priority will be given to those with the lesser experience. Instructors will be available. The tight circuit is very good for learning lines and smoothness and offers challenges to experienced drivers.
For the full details download the info sheet below, and to enter download the entry form below, fill in your details and return it via email, fax or post to the included details.
Summer Historics Photo Gallery: Peter Schell
Our third photo gallery from our recent Wakefield Park Summer Historics heads back out to the track for another look at the historic motorsport action, thanks to long time HSRCA photograher Peter Schell.
Check out more of his work on our ‘Gallery‘ page and in the Oily Rag.
Photography by Peter Schell.
Summer Historics Wrap Up and Photo Gallery
We’re back from another magic weekend of motorsport with our mates, and that means it’s time to sit back, check out some of the photos and reminisce.
Goulburn being Goulburn, our Summer Historics got off to a decidedly unsummery start, with the chilly circuit blanketed in a fine layer of horizontal drizzle throughout Saturday. Thankfully it was also adorned with a magnificent collection of historic sports and racing cars and a happy group of people tinkering, socialising and racing, so nobody paid the weather too much attention.
The soggy circuit kept things interesting for our drivers, who took to the track with vigor and shook off the cobwebs of the Summer break with glee. Everyone did an impressive job of keeping things pointed forwards, or at least travelling in a generally-forwards direction with a healthy dose of opposite lock and a generously-applied right boot.
And when the weather improved for Sunday’s races, everyone put the dry circuit to good use and sent the times tumbling.
Thanks to all of our entrants for preparing their cars so beautifully, and putting on an exciting and safe weekend’s racing! It was, as always, a joy to see you and your cars out and about putting on a spot of historic motorsport.
As it was to take a slow wander through the pits and paddock, which were as action-packed as the track and buzzing with gossip, banter and a welcoming, social and happy atmosphere all weekend long.
We, and I’m sure everyone involved in the event, would like to extend a huge and heartfelt ‘THANK YOU!’ to all of the organisers, entrants, spectators and especially the volunteers who dedicate such energy and passion to making these events possible. We are extremely grateful for your tireless and selfless support of historic racing and the HSRCA.
As fun and exciting as the racing is, and as lovely as the pits, paddock and cars are to explore, it’s our mates that bring us back to these events time and time again, so a special ‘THANK YOU!‘ to everyone for coming along, getting involved and putting on a brilliant weekend!
Make sure to check out our first photo gallery from the event, which is online on the ‘Gallery‘ page here, and keep an eye on the site over the coming weeks as we endeavour to bring you all the content that we can muster from the event.
HSRCA All Historic Summer Wakefield Park 2013: Seth Reinhardt
We love to promote the work of our many talented mates, so if you have photos, video, or stories from the weekend and would like to share them on the club website, send an email to seth@hsrca.com, or drop by the club Facebook page and say hi.
Up next? All Historic Winter at Sydney Motorsport Park on the 29th and 30th of June. Stay tuned to the site for more information as the event develops.
Provisional Entry List & Programme of Events for Wakefield Park Summer Historics
The provisional entry list and programme of events for next weekend’s historic racing at Wakefield Park are up to date and available for download from our ‘Events & Entry Forms‘ page, or the handy links below.
We’ve also added further regs and a blank scrutineering form to the ‘Events & Entry Forms‘ page, also available for download below!
Click the links or right-click and select ‘Save As’ to download them to your computer:
Provisional Entry List for Wakefield Park Summer Historics [PDF]
Programme of Events for Wakefield Park Summer Historics [PDF]
Further Regs for Wakefield Park Summer Historics [PDF]
Blank Scrutineering Form for Wakefield Park Summer Historics [DOC]
Previously, at Wakefield Park..
In just over a week it’s time to pack up our families, mates and historic sports and racing cars (along with all the paraphernalia that comes along with them) and make our biannual road trip to Wakefield Park for our first historic race meet of 2013.
So let’s get warmed up with a good old fashioned reminisce about our previous visit to Wakefield Park!
Our previous visit was back in September for our All Historic Spring meeting. We were greeted with a little preview of summer, as Goulburn put on an excellent show for the weekend and proved the perfect backdrop for a packed weekend of racing for all groups of historic sports and racing cars, headlined by our J, K and L feature event.
Check out our full wrap up and photo galleries from the event by hitting the links below and head to the ‘Events & Entry Forms‘ page for everything you’ll need for next weekend’s event.
Spring Historics Wrap Up and Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery: Spring Historics at Wakefield Park by Peter Schell
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST: Marulan Time Trial April
We’re putting together a time trial day at the Marulan Driver Training Centre on Saturday the 20th of April and need to know if you’d like to come along.
Read on for the official word from Richard Cardew, our Chief of Registrars, and make sure to get in contact with him via email on rcardew@iprimus.com.au, or mobile or text on 0405 459 546.
Looking for expression of interest in a time trial at the Marulan Driver Training Centre, Saturday 20 April.
This meeting can accommodate beginners as well as experienced drivers. We need to be confident in having the numbers to book the circuit very soon and we know that the Club we shared the day with last year, the Peugeot Club, has a clash and may field fewer starters.
The day is especially suitable for members that have yet to try themselves out on a circuit and perhaps have an historic or classic car they would like drive enthusiastically. Historic and modern cars are acceptable. And it is a very good opportunity to learn good lines.
If you think there is even a reasonable chance of you and/or your friends participating please email me on rcardew@iprimus.com.au or phone or text 0405 459 546. Messages can be left on my home phone 4384 1546.
Richard Cardew
Chair of Registrars
Formula Fords sizzle at Blistering Sydney Motorsport Park
The Tasman Revival packed Sydney Motorsport Park with historic racing action from dawn until dusk for three full days, plus a little more with Thursday practice. And amongst this, putting on some of the best shows out there, was a strong field of Formula Fords.
This Round Three review from Formula Ford PR wraps up the action-packed season finale at the Tasman Revival and catches up on all that’s news in Formula Ford. It’s a fun read and packed with plenty of great photos. Check it out by downloading it from the link below!
NSW Historic Formula Ford Round 3 Review [PDF]
Photo by Richard Taylor
Entry Pack for Wakefield Park All Historic Summer February 2013
Entry packs for our upcoming Wakefield Park All Historic Summer race weekend, coming this February 22-25, were sent out early this year. Additionally, the entry form, supplementary regulations (read them), and entry letter are available for download right here on the club website.
To enter the HSRCA Wakefield Park Summer Meeting:
- Click this link: www.motorevententry.org or type it into your browser
- If you are new to the system, click ‘Create an Account’ and follow the prompts – wait for a confirmation email in your normal email, then go back to the MotorEventEntry website,
- Go to ‘Toolkit’ and fill in your details, cars and team,
- Log on to the system using your MotorEventEntry ID and password,
- Click ‘Upcoming Events’, view the HSRCA Wakefield Park 2013 Summer meeting and then click ‘Enter Event’. You can pay by direct debit, cheque or credit card. If you pay on-line by credit card (via Paypal) the usual 3% fee will be waived.
You will also find the entry pack available for download by clicking the handy links below, or right-clicking and selecting save as, or by heading to our Entry Forms page here.
Wakefield Park February 2013 Entry Form [DOC]
Wakefield Park February 2013 Supplementary Regulations [PDF]
Australian 1960s Racing Cars (M and O) Newsletter No.21
As we barrel ever closer to the holiday season, we have an early Christmas treat from Ed Holly in the form of his Summer M & O newsletter, now available for download from the club website.
It’s another bumper edition; packed to the brim with all the news, gossip and adventures of ’60s racing cars and their drivers. This edition features an absolutely massive recap of the 2012 Tasman Revival, checks in at Barbagello, Sandown and Motorclassica, and catches up with all the pit gossip and more in the world of 1960s racing cars.
It’s packed with stories both fun and informative and plenty of stunning photos, and is well worth a read. Download it by clicking the handy link below, or right clicking and selecting ‘Save As’, and enjoy!
Australian 1960s Racing Cars (M and O) Newsletter No.21 [PDF]
Thanks to Ed Holly for putting it together, and to the many contributors that create such a great read!
Photo by Steve Koen
Previous 1960s Racing Cars (M and O) Newletters:
Australian 1960s Racing Cars (M and O) Newsletter No.20
Australian 1960s Racing Cars (M and O) Newsletter No.19
Australian 1960s Racing Cars (M and O) Newsletter No.18
Happy Holidays!
As we settle down to enjoy a spectacular Sydney summer and head off to join our loved ones in sharing these happy holiday days, we’d like to send out a huge and extremely heartfelt ‘THANKS!’ to our wonderful community.
So ‘THANKS!’ to each and every one of you; volunteers, organisers, fans, friends, families and competitors alike. You support and nurture our historic racing adventures, and each other, and give us bountiful opportunities to enjoy our cars and very special friendships. We are deeply grateful!
We wish everyone a brilliant holiday season and an even better New Year and look forward to seeing you all very soon!
Loose Fillings #42 – Summer 2012
About three times a year Garry Simkin, Terry Wright and journalist Graham Howard put out a newsletter called ‘Loose Fillings’, which chronicles the many adventures of historic air-cooled racing cars from the 1950s.
They’re back to wrap up the year with another brilliant edition, which is now available for download from the club website!
This edition looks at Lionel Hart and his Tassie racing cars, finds an easy way to perform methanol tuning, tells Les Taylor’s story, and a whole lot more. Download it below by right-clicking the link and selecting ‘Save as’ and enjoy!
Loose Fillings #42 [PDF]
Take a look at the previous editions in the links below. Right-click and ‘Save as’, or just click.
Loose Fillings #41 [PDF]
Loose Fillings #40 [PDF]
Loose Fillings #39 [PDF]
Loose Fillings #38 [PDF]
Loose Fillings #37 [PDF]
Tasman Revival Photo Gallery: Tom Taylor
This gallery from the Tasman Revival, by Tom Taylor, is all about the little things.
It gets up close and personal to study the details of the magic machines that competed over the weekend and find the luscious lines, compelling curves and alluring angles that make these cars such a delight to behold.
Tasman Revival Wrap-Up and Photo Galleries
We’re back once again from an absolutely immense and unquestionably tremendous weekend of historic motorsport, and have had a week to catch up with every day life and put together a neat collection of awesome coverage of the Tasman Revival. So let’s take a look at how it all played out.
Sydney Motorsport Park greeted us with open arms on Wednesday, as an incredibly diverse and storied collection of historic racing and sports cars began arriving at the track from around the world. Containers were unpacked, trailers unloaded, road-registerable racers rolled in and people got down to the details of preparing for four full days of racing historic cars.
Sydney Motorsport Park’s upgraded facilities were a joy to settle into for the weekend for all involved, and the Garage Cafe, corporate boxes and media centre only got more wonderful as the weather began to heat up over the course of the event.
The historic action got under way for private practice on Thursday, and had the track singing until early on Sunday evening. The tight but fair and considerate racing was a joy to spectate and with cars mostly pointed in the right direction on the black stuff, the events rolled on remarkably smoothly.
The feature Tasman Revival event was a sight to behold on Sunday, with the massive grid filling the main straight of Sydney Motorsport Park with a particularly alluring sparkle in the sunshine. Wonderful performances of the Australian and New Zealand national anthems were an inspiring way to kick off the race, which, after a bit of delay, fulfilled its promise in an exciting and beautifully-driven manner.
The Formula 5000s were, as always, as spectacular to watch as they are wonderful to listen to, and the brave drivers who flung them around the track put on a tremendous display.
As did the entirety of drivers who took to the track over the weekend in all historic classes. Sports cars, racing cars and vintage cars all weree immaculately prepared, raced to match and made an irreplaceable contribution to this very special event. We thank you all for getting involved, and especially for braving the particularly fierce sun over the weekend!
We’d also like to thank you all for making the pits, paddock and dummy grids a magical place to explore; full of stunning machines, good friends and all the tinkering and socialising that goes along with them.
Most importantly, we, and I’m sure everyone involved in the event, would like to extend our most immense and heartfelt ‘THANK YOU!’ to all of the organisers, entrants, spectators and especially the volunteers who dedicate such energy and passion to making these events possible. We are extremely grateful for your tireless and selfless support of historic racing and the HSRCA.
As we so often say, it’s the good friends, great people and camaraderie that make these events so wonderful. We’d like to thank everyone for coming along and getting involved. We may put together the framework, but it’s all of you who make the event!
We’ve had an absolute smorgasbord of photo galleries come through this week, and you can check ‘em all out below or on the HSRCA gallery page here. Thanks to all of the photographers who were so diligent in their coverage and quick to share it with everyone here! Make sure to check out their individual news posts, which have directions and contact details for their official websites and full galleries.
Photo Gallery: Jeremy Braithwaite
Photo Gallery: Christopher Dobie of Southern Drive
Photo Gallery: Roderick Mackenzie
Photo Gallery: Brent Murray of At Speed Images
Photo Gallery: Seth Reinhardt of the HSRCA
Tasman Revival 2012: Tom Taylor
We love to promote the work of our many talented mates, so if you have photos, video, or stories from the weekend and would like to share them on the club website, send an email to seth@hsrca.com, or drop by the club Facebook page and say hi.
Up next? A relaxing holiday season! Then it’s all on again for 2013 at Wakefield Park in February. And we can’t wait to catch up with everyone there!
Tasman Revival Photo Gallery: Jeremy Braithwaite
One of the fun moments of Sunday at the Tasman Revival is the drivers’ parade, which brings together a group of Australia’s motor racing icons for a few laps of honour around Sydney Motorsport Park.
Tasman Revival Photo Gallery: Roderick Mackenzie
For this gallery, from Roderick Mackenzie, we take to the dummy grid, pits and paddock in a little more depth.
Tasman Revival Photo Gallery: Christopher Dobie of Southern Drive
This spectacular gallery of the track action at the Tasman Revival comes from Christopher Dobie.
Tasman Revival Photo Gallery: Peter Schell
Our first photo gallery from the 2012 Tasman Revival comes from long time HSRCA photographer extraordinaire - Peter Schell.
The Winning Ultimate Goodwood Getaway Ticket
The winner of our Ultimate Goodwood Getaway competition was drawn during a busy afternoon of historic racing at the 2012 Tasman Revival.
The winning ticket was #3487. Congratulations, and enjoy your Ultimate Goodwood Getaway!
Tasman Revival Photos: A Few from Friday
After a big day of historic motorsport at Sydney Motorsport Park, we’ve wrapped up Friday’s qualifying and racing and are ready for a full day of racing tomorrow.
Today we enjoyed Channel 9′s TODAY show joining us for the weather, fashion photo shoots roaming the pits and paddock and, of course, plenty of historic motorsport and all the fun that goes along with it. We can’t wait for tomorrow!
Check out these photos from the day and make sure to keep checking in at the site over the coming days as we’ll have more photos and video going up as the event progresses along with full photo galleries in the days following.
If you’re heading out to the track this weekend and there’s anything you’d like to know we’ve compiled all the basics into a post on the Tasman Revival site, so hit this link!
