HSRCA Summer Festival SMP

The racing season for Group N Touring Cars in NSW is now over with the running of the HSRCA Summer Festival at SMP Eastern Creek November 29th-30th. Twenty-eight cars on the grid for qualifying. Interstate visitors firstly from Queensland Ian Mewett#55 Mustang and Grahame Wrobel#201 Mustang. Three Victorians made the trip up the Hume Hwy Mark Johnson#97 Mustang Luke Paterson#931 Mini and Kim Shearn#158 Cortina. Jason Foley#15 had the XY Falcon up from the ACT. Greg Barr#51 made the huge effort from West Australia driving a stunning Cortina. Of the local brigade headed by the Mustangs of Brad Tilley#28 Greg Toepher#88. Mini's galore John Battersby#270 Paul Battersby271 David Gray#181 David Wheatley#61 Nathan Stevenson#103 David Roberts#20 Hamish Bedwell#21and new comer David Buckley#36. Nice to see Steve Pitman#58 return to the track with the EH Holden along with John Burke#93 Charger. Anthony Colton#5 Falcon XY Peter Ferguson#37 in a local Cortina Other Holden pilots Matt Sullivan#180 Hugh Zochling#73 Greg Luca#202 all in Torana's Paul Cameron#47 Monaro. Ross Muller#6 in his trusty Hillman Loris Mariotto#22 in the bullet proof Volvo and David Nokes jnr#27 in the Escort. Qualifying Saturday morning in overcast humid windy conditions seen Tilley on pole with a 1.45.9 from Mewett, Toepfer, Burke in the Charger showing great pace, Wrobel both Qlders in the top five, Luca driving very nicely, Colton first of the Falcons, Nokes jnr, Johnson, Matty Sullivan ever improving in the Torana, Ferguson keeping the Cortina in the top 11, then Paul Battersby leading the Mini's. And that's the top twelve. Race one Saturday morning over five laps pleased to report no red flags or safety car periods Tilley was never headed from pole but strong performance from both Mewett and Wrobel seen Mustangs fill the top three Luca next driving the wheels off the Torana, Nokes strong drive in the four-cylinder Escort Paul Cameron Monaro not too sure where Paul started after not recording a qualifying time then Johnson, Foley Paul Battersby again leading the mini's of Patterson, Stevenson, and Dave Grey. Disappointing to see Toepher DNF engine issue and Burke DNS diff after qualifying in P3 and P4 along with Matt Sullivan DNF driveline, but Matt would fix the Torana and be back. Race Two Saturday afternoon six laps again all green running flag to flag Tilley got the job done again from Mewett, Wrobe, after a race long battle with Luca Torana, Cameron, Nokes, Johnson, Sullivan the consistent Paul Battersby Colton, Paterson, and Zochling. Steve Pitman having a frustrating meeting with the EH overheating resulting in a DNF. Sunday and again hot, humid, and windy race three over six laps this time a handicap with cars leaving the start line at timed interval's really a great concept and very entertaining. No red flags or safety car periods. David Wheatley Mini was the first to see the checkers form Gerg Barr Cortina, David Roberts mini, Nokes Jnr Escort. Anthony Colton Falcon, Brad Tilley Mustang, David Buckley showing promise in the mini, Greg Luca Torana, John Battersby mini, and Nathan Stevenson mini, Luke Paterson mini and Grahame Wrobel mustang so good to see a few new names in the top twelve. Last race for the weekend and 2025 Sunday afternoon six laps a bit of a depleted field and for the first time on the weekend three laps of safety car due to Dave Gray not getting off the start line and Paul Battersby pulling off at turn two with a brake issue. With no Tilley Mewett won from Wrobel, then the Torana's of Luca and Sullivan, Johnson next followed by Paterson, Stevenson, John Battersby, Colton, Wheatley, Mariotto, Barr, and Buckley and they were the only finishers. Special mention to our members racing at the meeting in other classes Geoff Pike#5 driving for Grahame Russell MG and David Stone#76 MG both in Group S Paul Tierney#172 Nissan Supersprint and Damian Ross#70 Torana regularity images of these cars appear in the gallery. That's it for 2025 special thanks to all officials, medical, and recovery teams, the HSRCA, competitors, and supporters of Group N Touring Cars and our generous racing partners. Stay safe out their people see you all back in 2026. Please keep in mind all images by Throttle Jam Photography if using or sharing any of these images ALWAYS GIVE ACKNOWLAGEMENT TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER much appreciated.