Images thanks to Seth Reinhardt
The HSRCA kicked off Australia’s historic motorsport season over the weekend, holding their New Year Historics meeting at Wakefield Park Raceway. Scroll along, and enjoy a few photos from the weekend.
After 2021’s dearth of motor racing opportunities, the club were quick to get out on the track this year and hosted the first historic event of 2022 in the country. Drivers were very much up for a run, and brought an excellent collection of historic sports and racing cars out to play.
The tin tops were out in force, with Group S sports cars and Group N touring cars making up the two biggest fields of the weekend and offering some fierce competition. Group N saw a collection of racing Mustangs dominate the action, with Minis in the thick of things as always, Escorts, Toranas and Mazda RX2s joined by a Cortina GT and Volvo 122s. Group S showed off plenty of variety, with the pointy end owned by quick 911s and a group of MG Midgets, a Lotus Seven S4, a pair of Chevvy Corvettes and an Alfa challenging.
Single seater racers were well represented, with M & O Sports and Racing, Formula Vee, K & L and Formula Ford all bringing out healthy fields. 15 M & O cars rolled out for qualifying, and it was great to see these iconic machines out in good numbers. A variety of Elfins formed the bulk of the field, with Rennmax and Brabham machinery making a healthy contribution and a Gard Formula Junior out for its first run with the club.
Only a handful of Q & R Sports and Racing cars made the road trip to Goulburn, with a highlight being the Mildren Formula 5000. The car was designed by Len Bailey and built by Alan Mann Racing and was out for its first run in 47 years.
Joined by a few cars from Groups K & L, the Formula Vees put on their usual style of closely competed, slip stream heavy racing. Renmax, Stag, Mako and especially Spectre cars formed the bulk of the field, joined by a 1950 Cooper Vincent, 1958 MG ARA Special and lovely 1960 Elfin Streamliner. Formula Ford was similarly competitive, with the added wrinkle of a freak downpour on Saturday that cancelled the afternoon’s proceedings. A collection of Van Diemens dominated the front, with cars like the Lotus 61M, Hawke DL11, Reynards and more great to see.
Two timed categories ran over the weekend, allowing a broad and interesting group of cars to compete. Regularity saw a collection of race and sports machinery including a Ginetta G4, a quick Mazda RX7, several Toranas, Sunbeam Alpine and an interesting Morris Minor. The Torana theme continued in Supersprint, which was also saw a South African GSM Dart, Xanthos 23B and the most modern car at the meeting – a Lotus Elise – compete.
Despite the aforementioned rain event on Saturday afternoon it was a great meeting. The racing was excellent as always, and the buzz in the pits and paddock was back with the club once again able to welcome spectators after two years of public health restrictions. We’re looking forward to the club’s one day meeting in April, and especially the Sydney Classic in June, for which they have big plans.
For lots more photos and everything the club’s up to, head to their website at www.hsrca.com.
Images thanks to Seth Reinhardt
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