Evolution Motorsport Classic Speedfest 2015
Held at Teretonga on February 20–22, this year’s event attracted some 125 entrants from various parts of the world. Many of them not only brought friends, family and mechanics along, but left their cars for repair or storage, and encouraged others to take advantage of abundant local skills. Along with those visitors, the weekend brought a large chunk of money into southern businesses.
The weekend of camaraderie and fun motor sport was a big attraction for many, and the laid-back atmosphere enabled everyone to mingle with the drivers, talk motor racing and enjoy the cars. It was a bit like international motor racing used to be in the golden days of the ’60s.
Rain on Saturday meant a non-appearance of the Arrows Hart V10-powered three-seater version of the F1 car, and the Ferrari 412T1B F1 V12-powered race car. However, bright sunny conditions on Sunday meant everyone’s attention turned towards the pits at the lunch break as these magnificent-sounding cars burst into life for a very welcome extended track session.
Luckiest of all were the occupants in the two rear seats in the Arrows car as it howled around the circuit.
The racing was again great to watch this year, and despite it being a classic meeting, there were some great battles in all classes with very close racing.
Macaulay Ford Formula Libre
On Saturday the upfront battle was between John Williams, of Christchurch, in his Crossle FF 2000, and Dave Mckenzie, of Invercargill, in his Reynard 84F. It was close, with wins in the dry on Saturday to Williams and in the wet to Mckenzie. Trevor Early, of Invercargill, managed a second placing in his Reynard FF2000, while Ethan Anderson of Riverton, in a Van Diemen Stealth, scored two thirds.
It was Williams’ day on Sunday with a win in all three races, beating Mckenzie in the first race followed by Steve Heffernan, of Invercargill. It was close in the second with Mckenzie second, and Australian Lance Carwarding in a Brabham BT23 third. It was an entertaining result in the third race, with Williams taking the win over Mckenzie on the final lap.
Professionals Real Estate Classic Saloons
Allan Dippie of Dunedin, in his wickedly fast MGBGT V8, and Jim Wallace of Cairns, in his BMW, shared wins on Saturday. Formerly of Christchurch, Wallace first competed in the 1960s and has regularly raced in classic events in New Zealand. Roger Cunningham of Invercargill, in his Ford Shelby Mustang-r, was third in both races.
Sunday and dry weather saw Alexandra’s Grant Constable open with a win in his Datsun 240Z, no mean feat, with the closely following Steve Scoles, of Outram, in his V8-powered Triumph TR7 and Dippie third.
In the afternoon Constable left the circuit, with the win to Scoles, and Dippie second and a charging Paul Burnet, of Auckland, home third in his Holden Torana XU1. Constable regained composure in the last race to win from Scoles.
AJ Auto Electrical Formula Juniors and Sievwright Auto Vintage Racing Cars
Combining the two categories provided not just good-sized fields, but some interesting racing. The sight of Robert Boult’s huge Edelbrock Special thundering along with its lazy big V8 and a
backdrop of revving Formula Junior engines provided some real contrasts of racing styles.
In Formula Junior it was David Innes, of England, in his Lotus 27 and Bruce Edgar, of Australia, in his Elfin with a win each on Saturday.
Australia’s Neil Mccrudden, in a Lotus 20/22, won first up on Sunday, and then Innes came back to take the other two races.
The vintage racing cars provided a win first up on Saturday to Paul Coghill, of Dunedin, in his Jaguar Special with Martin Dippie, of Dunedin, in his Austin Healey second. The result was swapped for the second race.
On Sunday, the long legs of the Coghill’s Jaguar were supreme in the dry, with three wins and Dippie second in each.
Southland Pre ’65 Saloons
A real mix of entertaining classics in this class, with Invercargill’s Wayne Tuffley in his Ford Mustang beating clubmate John Smolenski in his Ford Falcon XP.
On Sunday Tuffley made it a dramatic finish in the handicap race, with a win on the line from Barry Morgan, of Wanaka, in his Ford Mustang with Greg Stewart, of Castlerock, third in his Ford Mustang.
Morgan pulled out the stops to just beat Tuffley in the second handicap race. In the final Pre ’65 handicap race, it was the deceptively fast Vauxhall PB Velox of Dan Patrick, of Christchurch, who was supreme, with Jon Michelle, also from Christchurch, second in a MKI Ford Cortina. Stewart finished the day with another win in the third race.
Jescos Historic Touring Cars
Bmw-mounted Aaron Black, of Dunedin, and Kevin Underwood, of Auckland, had a win each on Saturday.
Auckland’s Conrad Timms in his BMW M3 led the field home on Sunday morning from Underwood and Black. In the afternoon Dunedin’s Stephen Grellet and his BMW M3 won, with the impressively-turned-out Zacspeed Ford Escort of Gary Wilkinson, of Christchurch, second. In the final race it was another win for Grellet, followed by Timms, and then Allan Dippie in his Rover Vitesse.
Southland Tyre Centre Sports Cars
Dunedin’s Stuart Black, in his Porsche 944, won first on Saturday from Dave Robertson in the rapid little Ace/buckler.
On Sunday John Osborne, of Christchurch, drove his Nissan 300ZX to lead home Black in both races, only to be relegated to third in the second behind Black and Bryan Rusbatch of Dunedin, in his Porsche, after jumping the start and incurring a 10-second penalty. Osborne made no mistake with the third race, and led home followed by Black and Rusbatch.
Noel Mcintyre Drainage Clubman Saloons
Five races and five wins to Gore’s Inky Tulloch in his Camaro GT3 for a clean sweep of this class. He was followed home by Brian Scott, of Dunedin, and Jamie Hodgins, of Dunedin.
On Sunday Tulloch was followed home in the first race by Scott, and in third was 16-year-old NZV8 driver, Liam Macdonald, of Invercargill.
In the second race and starting almost a full lap behind the first car on handicap, Tulloch passed Dean Maw, of Invercargill, on the last lap to win, with Jason Crosbie third.
In the Flying Farewell, Tulloch left the field behind to win over Macdonald, and Martin Dippie in third.