2011 Summary
We are happy to report the two day VCC event held at Hampton Downs (near Auckland) went ahead during Easter Not quite as planned but a resounding success nevertheless! The initial concept was that the circuit operators would host a wine and food festival with the VCC and friends (HRSCC and Classic Motorcycles) providing the ‘on track entertainment’.
This was not just about vintage racing, although that was the original objective of the events chief architect, A7 racer Ian Williams. His initial tentative enquiry for the cost of hiring the circuit for a day’s club racing met with such an enthusiastic response from the Hampton Downs team, that it became obvious this was a magnificent opportunity to showcase the kind of nostalgia that the vintage movement is all about. As the event neared, the emphasis changed, with the motor racing taking prominence. Our estimate of 50/60 cars plus 40/50 motor cycles was hastily revised upwards to just on 100!
This event was always planned to be a salute to the premier family of New Zealand motoring enthusiasts, the Roycrofts. Terry and his sister Deanne generously donated the Ryal Bush Cup which had been awarded to their father Ron for being the first New Zealander home with the Bugatti-Jaguar in the 1956 race. This has now become The Roycroft Trophy. The recipient to be selected would be the person who most demonstrated the true spirit of vintage motor racing.
We were all praying for fine weather and it paid off! Saturday dawned lightly overcast and a steady stream of competitors began arriving from about 7.30am. The preliminaries were soon over and the pre 1945 cars headed out for practice, this was by far the largest grid, with 29 competitors! We noted some quite interesting lines through the corners as drivers tried to find their way round. Considering the number of complete novices at circuit racing it was quite remarkable how quickly everyone settled down into the groove. Watching the cars come back to the pits, the sun seemed quite eclipsed by the combined beaming smiles of those intrepid navigators. This has to be said for every grid!
The variety of cars was quite astounding, a baker’s dozen of Austin Sevens pitted against six MG’s (Most with their superchargers whining aggressively) two Riley’s, Fords ‘A’ and Ten, then the exotics, Anne Thomson’s 1906 GP Darracq, the oldest grand prix car in the world, Danny Ryan’s beautiful Lancia Kappa (as featured in the last Beaded Wheels) and probably the most important for this event, the Roycroft T35 Bugatti piloted by Terry himself. Other ‘notables’ were Ryan McDonald’s ‘Grasshopper’ Chevrolet 490 (acquired from the Roycroft collection) what a lovely rasping exhaust! Then there was the delectable SS100 works replica of Alan Blundell, which was giving constant battle at the front to the only supercharged Austin Seven, that of Steve Aldersley. Well, what an eclectic mix and all on one grid! So how’s that for excitement?
The pre 60 grid fielded ten Bucklers of various configurations, there was a special reason for such a prolific turnout, a world record was at stake! Previously, it was thought that the most Bucklers ever seen at an event was eight and then not all on the track at the same time. All ten made it to practice but there the attrition started, a burnt piston, a blown head gasket, took their toll. However, they had made it, all on the track together! Congratulations to everyone for such a fantastic effort, you have really thrown down the gauntlet to the Brits. Three entrants came from the South Island (together with Kelvin Brown, the man who wrote the Buckler bible) but the biggest bonus of all, was the appearance of Ivy Stephenson, who campaigned the unique ex works DD1 for ten years which included entries into nine New Zealand GP’s. Bruce Ellwood, the current owner of the car was ecstatic, especially when Ivy loaned him her precious log book detailing the history of her ownership. A special mention must be made of Craig Laing, who masterminded the gathering, welcome to the world of organizing Craig!
On the Saturday, displays of steam and stationary engines were featured, together with spectator cars of the correct period. (Modern’s were discouraged from parking in the infield) Vintage competitors were handed a bottle containing “Essence of Roycroft” evoking the aroma of pre 60 motor racing, alas, most kept them unopened as souvenirs! The organizers were hoping that had it been added to the fuel, everyone would have experienced that wonderful smell of burnt castor oil. Competitors were issued with cardboard armbands for ‘driver’ or ‘mechanic’ just as the in the ‘50’s. All competitors were given chocolate fish at documentation and reminded at the drivers briefing that that was the only prize they would get, they were only there to have fun and not to be champions, and it obviously worked! Everyone not racing was encouraged to dress up in period costume, it was gratifying to see how much effort people put in, to ‘get it right’
Sunday’s feature included the ‘Posh Picnic’ crowd, who put on a mouth watering display of elegance and refinement not seen today! Their cars were quite breathtaking to. A superb jazz band played in the ‘Hamptons’ marquee at lunchtime and Alan Woolf fired up the Ralph Watson rotary aircraft engine (rotary not radial!) Peter Benbrook and a relay of volunteers cranked his Rover gas turbine into life adding more thrilling sounds to the mix.
Both days featured a fascinating display in the marquee, including examples of an Austin Seven Wasp (an Australian variant) A Ford model ‘T’ Racerbout, Cooper Jap 1100cc racer, Lancia Lambda, Lotus Six, a replica supercharged Brough Superior Brooklands record breaking bike, together with a ‘Monza’ Alfa Romeo in the making and Ron Rycroft’s last racer, the partly restored ‘RJR’ (it will be racing next year) Besides the Bugatti, Terry had brought along the Marlborough Thomas complete with story boards depicting its notable history. No event celebrating the Roycroft family would be complete without the vintage speedway midgets. A.J. introduced them into New Zealand, Ron learned his craft in them and Terry maintained the tradition. Despite their unsuitability on tar seal, or for negotiating right hand corners, enthusiastic demonstrations were seen on both days. A nice touch here, Bruce Ellwood has Ron’s ‘old cap’ amongst his memorabilia, which he brought along for Terry to wear throughout the event.
Another great attraction was the lunchtime parades where anyone with as suitably ‘vintage’ car could follow a (moderately quick) pace car around the track for three laps, passengers were also allowed. The enthusiasm shown by everyone involved was absolutely astounding. Old friends and now new friends, they all made it worthwhile. Hampton Downs owners Tony Roberts and Chris Watson were so enthused that they want their venue to be “The Home of Vintage Motor Racing” That just about says it all doesn’t it? So we at Waitamata hope to see you all again next year, bring along your friends!