HSRCA SPRINGS BACK TO LIFE

WORDS: BLENDLINE MEDIA TEAM

COVID-19 DELAYED the Historic Sports & Racing Cars Association’s return to racing to the weekend of October 31 and November 1, and the weather conspired to make it uncomfortable . . . for a while at least. However, for those who stuck it out, it was rewarding to be back and racing.

GROUPS K, L & M:
It would have been a five-race haul in Groups K, L & M for Aston Roskill if he had made a decent start in race one. The Lotus Elite driver was slow away and passed Warwick McBean (Lotus 60-61) but had to settle for second behind Noel Bryen (Renmax BN1). McBean ultimately finished fourth behind Malcolm Reid and his Prad Holden.

In the following races Roskill was a clear-cut winner. Bryen was second in race two before he retired from the third. Nick Mansell (Hamilton) and Don Greiverson finished with a couple of seconds as a result.

FORMULA VEE:
Despite three out four Formula Vee victories, Kevan Peter had to work for them. Tony Paynter (Stag) and Don Greiveson (Spectre) led race one at stages before Peter won in his Renmax. In race two Greiveson led at first before Paynter took over, but subsequently spun and fought his way back to finish second. Paynter was clear in his race three victory however Peter who was second, scored victory in race four from Paynter and Dan Bando (Elfin). 

HISTORIC TOURING CARS:
The Historic Touring Cars were split into under and over three litres for the first two races where Andrew Bergan (Mini Cooper S) fended off David Noakes (Ford Escort RS1600) for all but the last wet lap. Jamie Tilley won the larger capacity group race ahead of the closing Noel Roberts. The Holden Torana XU-1 driver was penalised five seconds but still held second ahead of the Mustangs driven by Adam Walton, Harry Bargwanna and David Stone.

Ford drivers dominated race three for all apart from the BMC entrants. Tilley won ahead of Walton, Stone and Noakes. Alf Bargwanna was next in his Torana, ahead of his brother Harry. At the next outing which included all, Tilley won, just in front of Stone and Walton. With a depleted last race field, Walton edged out Tilley with a big gap to Peter Ferguson (BMW 2002) and Stephen Pitman (Holden EH).

FORMULA FORD:
Throughout the four races, Garry Watson and his Mawer were the Historic Formula Ford benchmark. Although in the wet first race it did not look that way when Watson lost the lead on the second lap to Philip Oaks. But on lap four Oaks slid off and bunkered his Van Diemen RF88 at turn two. The race was called early and Watson was the winner.

Watson was untroubled in taking a dry race two where Cameron Walters in his RF86 emerged clear of Travis Clark (RF86) who managed to pip John Pymble (Reynard) for third. It was closer in race three between Watson and Walters. Third place was resolved on the last lap where Pymble edged out Clark 0.69s. Watson won the last ahead of Walters again while Clark was third.

GROUPS O, Q & R:
DRIVING HIS Group R Kaditcha AF2, Malcolm Oastler headed the small field at each outing. Initially Groups Q & R ran on their own with Aaron McClintock second in his Richards until nabbed on the finish line by David Stone driving a March 82. Only Wayne Seabrook and Paul Hamilton took in the Group O race with both having spins on the wet track. Seabrook had one less and took his Rennmax to victory over Hamilton’s Elfin.

Oastler took out the first combined race which had to be restarted after Dan Nolan ran off at turn one and bunkered his Nola Chev in turn two. Stone was second with McClintock third just in front of Martin Dunlop (March 802). Stone was second in race three, well clear of Seabrook but lost his second place to Dunlop on the final lap of race three. In the last Stone again placed second with Kieran McLaughlin third in his Van Diemen Formula Ford third.

GROUP S:
The nature of the track and at times, slippery conditions, worked well for the Meyer brothers, Simon and Damien and their Group S Production Sports MG Midgets. Simon led throughout race one Sa and Sb while Damien dropped to fourth and worked his way back to second. Third went to Terry Lawlor who had a fight on his hands keeping the brutish Shelby GT350 under control to find a way past Colin Wilson-Brown in his Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV. 

The Sc event was dominated by Mikki Piirlaid over fellow Porsche 911 Carrera cup pilot Doug Barbour. Third went to Anthony Richmond (911) over Doug Selwood (Alfetta) after both had spins. The third race did not include the BMC cars and Piirlaid won ahead of Barbour and Lawlor.

Piirlaid started brilliantly in the next outing and led the Meyer boys until Lawlor passed them both and chased the Porsche driver to the flag. Barbour managed to split the MGs to take fourth behind Damien Meyer. 

Lawlor was finished for the day and Piirlaid handed his Porsche to Wayne Seabrook for the last. Barbour led early before Damien Meyer took over the lead but ultimately relented to Simon Meyer. Behind Barbour, Seabrook came from the rear for fourth.

The BMC Challenge included several Group N Minis, but none were able to get near Damien Meyer who won ahead of Brian Weston (Midget). Third went to Andrew Bergan who was able to win his duel with fellow Cooper S driver Paul Battersby.