Race Report: The HSRCA's 2020 Autumn Festival at Wakefield Park
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In the weeks leading up to the COVID-19 lockdowns we currently live with in New South Wales, a number of Group N competitors ventured to Wakefield Park, Goulburn, for what was to be our last race meeting for the foreseeable future.
Strict controls were in place to manage numbers and conduct at the meeting.
Putting all the doom and gloom aside, the event proved to be a very enjoyable occasion in pleasant weather. It provided some great racing with fantastic dicing and some heart in the mouth action.
David Stone stretching the Mustang’s legs
David Stone out qualified everybody else, leaving Paul Tierney in his Torana to narrowly defeat Chris Collett in the Mini Cooper S in a close qualifying battle. Followed by the rest of the Group N drivers including Graham Gulson, Graham Russell, Nathan Goulding, Mark Lenstra, Stephen Taite, Rod Wallace, Jerry Lenstra, James Waugh, and Geoff Pike.
The Lenstra team were experiencing frustration, with Mark contending with oil surge issues and Jerry not having much luck with his new car. Geoff Pike in his Mini Cooper S had mechanical problems that prevented his further participation at this meeting. Listed entrants Dave Roberts [broken ankle] and Francis Meier [lockdown due to recent overseas travel] had withdrawn the previous week.
Race one witnessed the Mustang of David Stone streak ahead of the competition with congestion mid field as the group jockeyed for positions.
As the race progressed towards the final laps there was an unprecedented incident involving the Torana of Paul Tierney and the Mini Cooper S of Chris Collett. As Paul exited the corner at the end of the main straight, Chris Collett’s Mini coming from three car lengths behind launched off the inner ripple strip and catapulted onto two wheels to rest lightly on the rear quarter panel of the Torana. This facilitated a rather excited spin for the Torana, but fortunately also encouraged the Mini Cooper to return to its wheels. The Cooper was able to continue on and finish the race, with Paul back for race two.
Race two saw David Stone’s Ford Mustang dominate again, setting the pace out in front and leaving a hotly contested battle for the remaining positions. This event was incident free with some interesting dicing up and down the field. Paul Tierney in the XU1 Torana produced a spirited drive through the field to avenge the previous mishap, just managing to pass Chris Collet’s Mini on the finish line.
Next a Group N Challenge was held for the eight vehicles not competing in the BMC Challenge event. David Stone again showed the way, winning the event which also featured a great midfield dice between Paul Tierney’s XU1 Torana and the Alfa Romeo GTV of Graham Gulson. The event finished without incident. It was great to see the name Gulson appear again in motor racing synonymous with not only Bathurst but also driving the marque of vehicle that the name is famous for.
The BMC Challenge is proving to be a fun and competitive event.
Following on from the inception at the HSRCA’s 2019 Summer Festival race meeting, the BMC Challenge highlighted a great competition comparison between SA/SB and the Nb group of historic BMC A Series cars. The placings were mixed, with the MG Midget of Damien Meyer winning the event closely followed by the Mini Coopers of Chris Collett and Graham Russell. Colin Dodd’s MG Midget, Nathan Goulding Mini Cooper S followed by four MG midgets and the sole Austin Healey rounded out the placings.
Paul Tierney went on to be recognized for his driving skills, being selected as the HSRCA’s driver of the meeting.
Jim Waugh in the BMW 2002 deserves a mention after competing at the recent Phillip Island event and then having a run at the Wakefield Park circuit on his way home to Queensland.
A brief mention of our member Kerry Hughes, Ford Aussie Racing Car, and other regulars David Ellis, LJ GTR Torana and Phillip Hoad LJ GTR Torana who participated in Supersprint and Reguarity events.
The HGNA club acknowledges the following people who were present to support members taking part in the event: John and Trish Battersby, Steve and Maree Pitman, Jenny Tierney, Michelle Cocks and Elizabeth Wilks, who not only captured a great piece of video footage of the Tierney & Collett incident but also provided some great photographs over the weekend.
Thanks to the HSRCA and Wakefield Park for persisting with the meeting under such challenging circumstances, and running it safely and smoothly both in terms of the motorsport and prevailing global situation. For their wrap-up of the meeting, head to their website here.
Having not made the deadline to have my EH Holden ready for this meeting and realising that this may well be the last historic event for the year, I was rather envious of those competitors who were competing at this meeting. That said, as a team member and roving motorsport journalist it was most enjoyable being at a venue that creates an atmosphere of going back in time giving a realistic picture of motorsport how it was twenty to thirty years ago. For a short time this allowed the mind to forget about the serious health and economic issues we are all dealing with at the moment.
Stay Well!
Steve Pitman
Photos with thanks to Seth Reinhardt, HSRCA
