The Official Website For The Tasman Sydney Motor Sport Park

Posts Tagged ‘Sports Cars’

HSRCA Display at the Shannons Eastern Creek Classic 2012

Brabham BT24

Once again the HSRCA is heading to Sydney Motor Sport Park to enjoy a weekend of historic sports and racing cars. We’ll be at the track this Sunday the 19th of August and will have a selection of wonderful racing and sports racing cars from the recent past on display.

The star of the HSRCA display will undoubtedly be the 1967 Formula 1 Repco-Brabham BT24 driven by Sir Jack himself that year. Displaying the No1 on the side, as Sir Jack was the Formula One World Champion, this car won the French and Canadian GPs and was second in the Dutch, German and Italian GPs. It finished second in the World Championship to Denny Hulme, Brabham’s teammate driving another Brabham.

Other cars will be another two Brabham 1960s racing cars, a locally built and very much used 1960s racing car called the Gryphon, a historic Formula Vee with quite a few wins to its name in recent times, a Nota sports racer from the 1950s being the Nota Minx, a Porsche 911, a Clubman, an Alfa Romeo and a Lotus Eleven from 1958 with early Australian history.

These cars will be on display in garages 11, 12 and 13 and will put on a spirited display around lunchtime on Sunday. Can’t wait to catch up with everyone there!

Photo by Peter Schell


The HSRCA & Tasman Revival Team at Motorfest

The HSRCA & Tasman Revival Team at Motorfest

Welcome back to the official website of the Tasman Revival! Preparations for the 2012 Tasman Revival are well under way and our efforts are building each and every day. We’ll be bringing you a lot of useful, interesting and fun content right here, so stay tuned!

Each year on Australia Day, the NRMA and the car community take over a large section of Sydney’s CBD, fill it with lovely old cars and open up the streets for people to wander and take it all in. It’s a fun day with a great atmosphere and is brilliant for introducing classic cars and car culture to people who have not experienced it before.

Our preparations for the 2012 Tasman Revival are building each day, and we took this as an excellent opportunity to meet new people and introduce them to the event.

We set up a miniature paddock across the road from Hyde Park and spent a relaxed and enjoyable day mingling, chatting about cars, life and everything and spreading the word about the Tasman Revival. A huge “Thanks!” to everyone who helped to organise it and who brought their cars along and, of course, any and everyone who stopped by!

Enjoy this small gallery of photos from the day.

Click this link for the full gallery


Tasman Revival Coverage Revived

[slide]

In a little over two months’ time, the HSRCA will be heading back to Eastern Creek International Raceway to burn off the winter blues with some hot historics.

Last time we were there was for the 2010 Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival, and a ball was had by all. We recently received some photographs taken by Roderick Mackenzie during the event, so it is time to share! Thanks to Rod for sharing his work!

Photography by Roderick Mackenzie

 


Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival Feature Race Winners

[slide]

Good times were had with great friends. Beautiful historic racing machinery danced, and sometimes pirouetted, with brave and talented drivers in the rain. Lap records were broken. Here are the results for Sunday’s feature races at the 2010 Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival.

Detailed results and timing can be found on our results page, and on this link to the Natsoft website. The HSRCA lap records for Eastern Creek International Raceway can be found here.

Thank you to Peter Schell for his fantastic photography.  Please hit this link to view the full gallery of his photography from the 2010 Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival, including photos of the feature event winners.

Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival – Sunday 28th November 2010, Feature Races

Event 34 – Regularity – Peter Finlay and Ian Forsyth Trophies

Heidi Jackel – 1970 Valiant VG Pacer

Jake Williams – 1974 Holden HQ

Event 35 – Frank Gardner Trophy for Group L Sports

Peter Giddings – 1953 Masserati 250F

Event 35 – Alec Mildren Trophy for Group L Racing

Dick Willis – 1959 Mildren Cooper T51

Event 35 – RACA Trophy for Sa Sports Cars

Peter Jackson – 1959 Austin Healey 3000

Event 35 – Jack Myers Trophy for Na Touring Cars

Allan Bryson – 1952 Austin A30

Event 35 – The VSCCA Trophy for Group K

Peter Greenfield – 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C-36

Event 36 – The Ron Tauranac Trophy for Group Q Racing

John Gale – 1972 Surtees TS9 F1

Event 36 – Trophy Race for Group R Racing

Guido Belgiorno-Nettis – 1985 Ferrari 156/85 Turbo

Event 37 – RACA Trophy Race for Group Sb Sports Cars

Tony Dains – 1970 Triumph TR6

Event 37 – Trophy Race for Group Sc Sports Cars

Stephen Borness – 1976 Porsche 911 Carrera

Event 37 – Trophy Race for Group T Sports Cars

Jason Lea – 1968 Datsun 2000

Event 38 – John Leffler Shield for Formula Ford

Fa – John Tarran – 1970 Lotus 61M

Fb – Geoff  Walters – 1981 Elwyn 003

Event 41 – The Jack Brabham Trophy for Group M Racing Cars

Ed Holly – 1963 Brabham BT6

Event 41 – Leo Geoghegan Trophy for Group O Racing cars

John Smith 1968 Lotus 49/R8

Event 42 – The Repco Matich Trohpy for Group M Sports Cars

Stewart Mahony – 1965 Bolwell MK 4

Event 42 – The Spencer Martin Trophy for Group O Sports

Murray Sinclair – 1969 Chevron B16

Event 42 – The Bib Stillwell Trophy for Group Q Sports Cars

Scott Whittaker – 1972 Milano GT 2

Event 42 Trophy Race for Group R Sports Cars

Jamie Larner – 1979 Ralt RT2

Event 43 – The Kevin Bartlett Trophy for F 5000

Stan Redmond – 1976 Lola T332C

Event 44 Trophy Race for Formula Junior

David Methley – 1960 Lotus 18 FJ

Event 44 – Trophy Race for Formula 3

Tom Tweedie – 1965 Lola T60 F2

Event 45 – Trophy Race for Formula Vee

David Cutts – 1984 Spectre FVee

Event 46 – The Ian Geoghegan Trophy for Nb Touring Cars

Victor Waterhouse – 1964 Jaguar 3.8 MK. 2

Event 46 – The Brian Foley Trophy for Nc Touring Cars

Vince Macri – 1972 Holden Torana GTR X


Tasman Revival Photo Gallery

[slide]

Legends, good friends, thrilling racing, deft drivers and beautiful cars– the 2010 Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival had it all and then some. Hit this link for a full gallery of photographs taken over the course of an action-packed, sometimes soggy and always fun weekend at Eastern Creek International Raceway.

Many talented photographers were present at the event, and this is just one perspective on what was a massive weekend, so be sure to check back here soon for even more photos from the 2010 Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival!

We are preparing some on-board video footage from the races and will have it online on our YouTube channel soon.

If you have footage, photos or writing from the Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival that you would like featured on the club’s website, YouTube channel, and social networking sites, send me an email or drop by our Facebook page to let us know. We would love to promote your work, and your talents show the world all the fun, challenges and friendships to be found in historic racing!

Please see the following links for photos from the 2010 Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival:

HSRCA’s 2010 Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival photo gallery

Motosport Retro’s 2010 Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival photo galleries: Friday, Saturday and Sunday


Let’s Go Racing! Saturday at the Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival

[slide]

All historics, all racing, all day. Saturday at the 2010 Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival was a scorcher, and it had nothing to do with the weather. Each class hit the track twice today, and after two days of practice and qualifying, they are going faster and harder than ever.

Sunday is what we’ve been building up to; look forward to some tooth-and-nail historic racing from every class, a paddock full of timeless historic racing machinery and a friendly group of people to share it all with.

Motorsport Retro has some great shots from the pits and paddock on Friday and Saturday, and we will have a full gallery for you early next week.

See you tomorrow for the 2010 Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival’s biggest, fastest and most amazing day of racing yet!


Tasman Wednesday Access

Wednesday access to track: Please note that another organisation has booked Eastern Creek for Wednesday, Nov 24. For that reason we do not have unrestricted access, but have arranged for the following two concessions:

  1. You may park your car and trailer off outside of the tunnel (grassed area where trailers are parked) any time on Wednesday. Security will be provided.
  2. From 5:00pm to 9:00pm you may unload and set-up.

Special arrangements for the overseas cars are being organised.


1972 EBS Porsche Spyder set to debut at Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival

[slide]

The EBS Porsche Spyder was built in 1972 as a one-off by the engineers at the Porsche Weissach works for the Interserie-European Can Am series (Under 3 litre small block division). Several engineers were asked to build an off-budget, “skunk-works” car using “spare” items from the works and is not recognised as an official Porsche model. Eberhard Braun designed and built the car which has a remarkable resemblance to the 917/10 series, just on a smaller scale. There is speculation that the car was completed or rebuilt in 1976 by prominent sports car makers URD who built it as a Group 6 Prototype sports car and gave it the serial number URD 676 #005. It is built on a tube frame chassis, has a fibreglass body, weighs around 700kg and is powered by a genuine factory 2.8RSR engine coupled to a Hewland FG400 5 speed gearbox.

The car was raced by prominent European racer Max Moritz and driven by Hubert Schmidt at the famous Nurburgring in 1976 as well as Zolder, Salzburgring and Hockenheim. It was then sold in 1980 and went to the US where it raced in Historic Can Am races, SCCA, SVRA and HSR meetings. It was owned by a few other Americans until an Australian, Warwick Miller purchased it and bought it back to Australia where he began a partial restoration.

In 2008 it was purchased by Terry Lawlor who has since completed a more extensive restoration and rebuild. It is anticipated that its first event in Australia will be the Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival at Eastern Creek,  November 26-28, 2010.

Terry won the HSRCA Group Sc Championship in 2008 and was runner up in 2007 and 2009 in a Porsche 911. Terry will campaign the EBS Porsche Spyder in HSRCA Group Q in 2011.

Images: Terry Lawlor and John Shingleton

Via: MotorsportRetro.com


Win a Lotus Elise tickets Going Fast!

[slide]

The HSRCA was out in force at Sydney’s Concours d’Elegance Australia this weekend, and took a few examples from the Tasman Revival’s stellar line-up, as well as a beautiful example of the Lotus Elise we are giving away, along for the ride.

The cars looked stunning as they basked in the sunshine at Manly, and did a great job getting people excited for the Lotus Sydney 2010 Tasman Revival. I’m really looking forward to seeing and hearing them out on the track! Bring on the roar of engines, the smell of petrol and hardworking brakes, clutches and tyres and the excitement of historic cars racing on the raggedy edge.

Getting people pumped for the Tasman Revival wasn’t all the cars did. Tickets to our Win a Lotus Elise competition were on sale and going fast and we now have only 588 left.

Chances to win one of the next generation of trackday classics are running out faster than Avgas on raceday, so head to our Win page to buy your ticket now!

Only 588 tickets to win a Lotus Elise are left and they are going fast, click here to buy one today!


Matich SR4: Winner of 1969 Australian Sports Car Championship driven by Frank Matich

[slide]

Few Australian made racing cars have the credentials of the SR4.

Its racing history speaks for itself; 19 starts, 19 pole positions, 15 wins, 8 lap records and only one defeat (second due to throttle spring problem requiring a stop). A car that was faster than the Formula One cars of the era, driven by one of Australia’s best ever drivers.

Built in Sydney by Henry Nehrybecki for Frank Matich to take to the 1968 CanAm series, it raced only in Australia, unlike its equally famous sister car, SR3. It totally dominated the class and lead to coining of the phrase “doing a Matich” (i.e. to take pole, to win, take the fastest lap and also the lap record).

The frame is made from tubular steel and weighs only 81 pounds (35 kg), extremely light considering the power of the engine, which was 550 BHP as raced. The gearbox is a Hewland LG500 with 4 forward gears and reverse. The gearbox is the only major item not made in Australia since the uprights, wheels, brakes and even the steering rack were locally produced. The body is made from fiberglass though the original intention was for this to be aluminium.

The engine was a 760 series 5 litre Repco Brabham quad cam racing engine developing around 550 BHP. (Shorter block 3 litre 860 series engines were used for Jack Brabham and Denny Hulme’s Repco Brabhams in 1968).

The SR4 was retired from racing at the end 1969 since there was little else to be achieved for it in Australia. Also a year had slipped by making a later foray into CanAm series futile. In any case Frank Matich had his eyes on the emerging F5000 series.

The car was cosmetically restored by Don Halpin while still owned by Repco during the eighties and was for many years displayed at the Birdwood and then the Launceston auto museums. It was never possible to undertake a full and running restoration since the engine in it was very much incomplete. Acquisition of a complete and running engine from Les Wright some years ago made the full restoration feasible and this was carried out by Jim Hardman. The engine in the car is actually an ex Jack Brabham Indy engine of 4.2 litres, though of the same external appearance as the 5 litre version originally fitted. Naturally this has been set up to operate on petrol as opposed to methanol as per Indy. A 5 litre engine is now in preparation.

Nigel Tait, managed the restoration and movements of the SR4 over the last years of Repco’s ownership and subsequently during ACL’s ownership, and purchased it from ACL in July 2005.

In 2006 a full chassis restoration was undertaken since it was 38 years since it was constructed. It is a testament to Henry Nehrybecki’s workmanship that it was found to be in excellent condition with only minor repairs needed and only one tube required replacement to upgrade the seat belt mountings to modern standards. Jim Hardman undertook most of this work including making new aluminium skins and undertray and reassembly.

The car has been taken to a number of circuits for display and demonstration and has been driven by John Bowe and Brian Sampson and as well as by Nigel Tait and Jim Hardman at various events. Due to its historical importance and the scarcity of critical engine components for the quad cam engine (which may well be the only one still running) there are no plans for the car to revert to all out racing.


Category Focus: Regularity

[slide]

The Regularity Category is for Sports, GT & Invited Cars manufactured prior 1970.

Expect to see a smorgasbord of interesting vehicles including Mini’s, Cobra’s, Datsun’s, Alfa’s, Jaguar’s, Holden’s and Ford’s


Tasman Legends: Vern Schuppan

[slide]

Vern Schuppan won the Rothmans International Series Formula 5000 series, driving a Lola T332 and placed second in the 1976 Australian Grand Prix driving an Elfin MR8. In 1978 he was runner up in the Rothmans International Series.

Originally from from Whyalla, South Australia. He drove in various categories, but arguably most of his success was as a sports car driver and was heavily associated with Porsche till the end of his career.

His sports car career, particularly at the Le Mans 24 Hours flourished, firstly as a long term member of the Mirage team and later as a member of Porsche’s official factory squad. After coming close to victory many times, a win finally arrived in 1983.

Schuppan participated in 13 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, mostly for Ensign and Surtees, making his debut on May 12, 1974. He failed to score any championship points during his sporadic six year career.

In 1971 Schuppan won the British Formula Atlantic Championship and this led to a test drive with BRM.

In 1972 whilst BRM’s test driver he tried unsuccessfully to qualify for the 1972 Belgian Grand Prix. However Schuppan had some good non-championship race finishes with a fourth in the Victory Race and a fifth in the International Gold Cup. In 1973 he finished ninth in the BRDC International Trophy in a BRM.

Schuppan competed in three Indianapolis 500 races (1976, 1979, 1981), with a best result of third in 1981 driving a McLaren-Ford. He won the 1974 and 1976 Macau Grand Prix races, dominating the 1974 by four laps.

He was the 1983 Japanese Sports-Prototype Champion, and followed his 1976 5th place finish, 1975 3rd place finish and 1977 & 1982 2nd place finishes of the 24 hours of Le Mans by winning in 1983 driving a Porsche 956 with Al Holbert and Hurley Haywood. In 1984 he finished 6th at Le Mans with former Formula One World Champion Alan Jones. He had a number of other podium finishes in the World Sports Car Championship. These include a second in the 1973 & 1982 Spa 1000km, third in the 1983 & 1984 Fuji 1000km and a third in the 1985 Selangor 800km races. Schuppan also placed third in the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship in 1984, 1985 and 1986.

With Japanese backing, he also produced a road going evolution of the Porsche 962 called the Schuppan 962CR. At the then price of 195 million yen (1.5 million USD) only six were built.

Via : Wikipedia


Category Focus: Groups Sb and Sc

[slide]

Group Sb and Sc are hugely popular categories featuring production sports cars.

1. Group SB – 1961-1969

Production Sports Cars manufactured between 1961-1969.

2. Group SC – 1970-1977

Production Sports Cars manufactured between 1970-1977.

Expect to see Porsche 911’s, MGB’s, Sprite’s, Alfa Romeo GTV’s and BMW’s


Peter Schell Photo Gallery: Tasman Revival 2006

[slide]

A series of wonderful photos from Peter Schell. Tasman Revival Meeting 2006


Trent Wallis Photo Gallery: Tasman Revival 2008

[slide]

Fabulous photo Gallery from the 2008 Tasman Revival Meeting.

Images: Trent Wallis


Tasman Revival 2006: Race Report

[slide]

Over the years I’ve written quite a number of these race reports – you might think I’d be getting quite comfortable with the role by now.

But as I write this, my last report, it seems just as hard as the first time I wrote one while John Sexton was still editing this magazine. I think the fact that so much work, by so many people, went into the organisation of the Tasman Revival, I should really try to do it justice. Fact is, as so often happens, I didn’t get to see much. Luckily you will see that I’ve enlisted the help of some friends to add their comments. Nonetheless this will be less a race report and more just a series of observations. Maybe a future report?

And, as usual, you will find some details in some of the Group Gossip reports later in this magazine; in particular turn to Steve Wood’s coverage of the event where you’ll find some details of the racing amongst the cars that were the real feature of this event. (more…)


Tasman Revival 2008: Onboard in a Bug Eye sprite

Some excellent onboard race footage featuring XYZ in a Sprite