PO Box 3485 MELBOURNE VIC 3001 Website: www.vhrr.com Reg. No. 57/001 NEWSLETTER - February 2007 We meet Bi-Monthly - 8pm at the VHRR Club rooms 30-32 Lexton Rd Box Hill. Wednesday Lunch Group - every Wednesday except Christmas Holidays.

COMING EVENTS

February 4th Heathcote Sprints Ken Innes-Irons...... 0413 744 337 February 27th MGM Guest Speaker Bill Tuckey (Romsey Quints) 8.00pm March 3rd & 4th St Arnaud Speed Trials? More info- http://starnaud.net/speed/ March 9/10/11* Phillip Island Classic Sandra Caffin...... 03 9744 1807 March 10th Phillip Island Dinner Marg Simmonds...... 03 5962 2331 March 13th Rob Roy Hillclimb...... 03 9744 1807 Ken Innes-Irons...... 0413 744 337 March 15th - 18th Aust. Grand Prix - Historics “The Golden Era 1957-1977” April 7th - 9th Mallala & Collingrove April 24th MGM May 26th - 27th Historic Winton...... 03 9318 5000 December 8th (2007) Christmas & Awards Night (New Organiser Wanted)

CLUB LIBRARY HOURS Wednesdays 11.30-2.00 Club Nights 6.30-7.30 Club Permit Scheme Lloyd Shaw...... 0415 351 164 (Red Plate) PO Box 828 Glen Waverley 3150 *CCE = Club Championship Event

All the above club activities including the Wednesday Lunch are designated Red Plate activities.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed within this newsletter are not necessarily those of the VHRR Inc. or its Committee and/or its Newsletter Editor. Whilst all care has been taken, neither the club or its officers accept responsibility for the accuracy of information printed and the quality of any items or services advertised or mentioned in this publication. Incorporated association Number A 0007117C. The Editor reserves the right to edit contributions submitted for publication.

“Share the Passion” The VHRR gratefully acknowledges the support of our major sponsors Important notices

• Phillip Island 2007 March 9th 10th & 11th Entries closed today with 437 competitors as this newsletter went to press. Look forward to 2 F1 Tyrrells, 7 Porsches from the Porsche Museum in Germany, 2 Gurney-Eagles, a real ‘International’ F5000 Challenge, 3 Talbot Lagos, plus more! • Bus Drivers (3) needed to ferry patrons around the Island - small buses - 03 9877 2317 • Heathcote Sprints Sunday 4 February 2007 Venue: Heathcote Drag Strip. Located approx 19 km north of Heathcote, off the McIvor Highway. VHRR signage on the day. Purpose built track dual lanes. State of the art timing. Computer printout for drivers after each run. Under cover parking for competition vehicles. On site catering. 20 classes. Accommodation in Heathcote/Bendigo. Entry forms available now by: downloading from the VHRR web site www.vhrr.com or contacting Ken Innes-Irons 0413 744 337 • Rob Roy Hillclimb - Midweek March 13th 2007. Definitely happening. It would be handy if any members could also lend a hand on the day, or could offer to tow an OS guest’s car to the event. Note: Precedence will be given to ‘Interstate & International’ entries, but with 70-80 spots to be filled we expect all to get a run. Contact David White 03 9850 4795. • Featured Marque Porsche - at PI 2007. We now have a full range of photos of these fabulous cars on the VHRR web site. Go to: http://www.vhrr.com/photos_index.htm • Elfin Sports Cars sold to ’s “Walkinshaw Performance Pty Ltd” a division of Tom’s high performance automotive engineering group which runs ’s V8 Supercar racing operations and . See the full Elfin Story in the next edition of the Oily Rag, and the full story of this deal on the VHRR web site. • Call Marg Simmonds to make your reservations to the Phillip Island Dinner - Saturday night 10th March, at the Circuit “Pit Straight Dining Room” $45.00 per head, all welcome: 03 5962 2331 • New CAMS State Manager - Replacing Garry Grant is Steven Daws. Steven has a background in motorsport, is a current competitor, and is President of the Fiat Car Club of Victoria. We wish him well in his new position & look forward to working with him. • Vale Ronald Leighton Dearie The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport regrets to advise members of the death of former CAMS President, Ronald Leighton Dearie at the age of 86 years. He was a quiet, loyal and dedicated contributor to Australian motor sport in a myriad of roles, including service as president of the Light Car Club of Australia from 1966 to 1968, the Victorian delegate to the National Council, Chairman of the Motor Racing Committee and a Trustee of CAMS. Ron was one of the stalwarts in the period when CAMS was growing rapidly, and crowned his service by accepting appointment as President of CAMS in 1976. Ron Dearie will be remembered with affection as a dedicated, honourable and selfless contributor who shouldered every task which was asked of him, and who delivered one hundred percent with good spirit. • VHRR Library News Interesting books for the library will be considered for purchase or donation by George Spanos. Give him a call on 9885 7130. • Morning Tea/Library days, CH approved, will be held at the Club rooms on the 1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month. 10am - 1pm. Bob Morrow has further details - 0419 393 363 • Editor: Grant Campbell VHRR Newsletter, The Oily Rag and the VHRR Website. Send items to Fax: 03 9787 9108 Ph: 03 9787 3640 or [email protected] • Website - New pics of Presentation Night, Visits to John Sheppards, K11s Hens & roosters party, Press releases for Phillip Island.

Registration for Club Championship - Please fill out this form & fax or post to Ian Tate with payment of $10.00 Fax/Phone 03 9877 2317

Name...... Car...... Group...... Address...... Phone...... Fax...... Call for support After over twenty years Sandra and John Caffin need a break from the role of Membership Secretariat for our club. Thus we ask any member who might be available to take on this task to contact any committee member. If you want to know more about the role Sandra or John would be happy to talk with you. This is a vital role for the club and your support is needed. We also need a member to volunteer to manage the Christmas function this year. Lloyd Shaw is not able to continue this job in 2007 though he has booked the venue. The work of the Caffins and Lloyd Shaw in these roles is very much appreciated. VHRR members were at the forefront of the RACV Great Australian Rally on Sunday January 21st. which raised more than $40,000 for the Peter MacCallum Centre. George Hetrel entered five cars, Maurie Monk his A7 and Graham Ankers his Porsche 911. Bob Harborow took his F5000 Lola, Ken Bedgood and John Coffin demonstrated the Penrite Cooper. Ian Tate and Ron Townley brought the Lago Talbots while Ron Simmonds, Mini Cooper, and Roger James, NSU, showed their cars and conducted the commentary. Col Marsdon did his usual excellent job as marshal. F 5000 activity for the final Round of the Trans Tasman Championship at Phillip Is has reached an all-time high with 8 cars being prepared in Melbourne, 1 in NSW, 1 in SA , 13 confirmed entries from NZ & 3 UK cars “ on the water”. This event will not only be our biggest field to date but will be the greatest representation of manufacturers ever assembled in Australia with Begg, Chevron, Eagle, Elfin, Lola, McRae, March, Matich & Talon. Sadly no Mclaren as yet but Bruce’s sister Jan will be present to see Phil Maugers magnificent M 23 F1 compete in the P,Q & R races. Also present and representing the manufacturers will be none other than that great Australian Icon, Frank Matich Bob Harborow

Letter to the Editor Having read the article, “FIA Reviews Historic Racing” by Roger James in the January 2007 newsletter, I thought it was appropriate to correct one incorrect conclusion and perhaps provide more background details of the report. His comment “The report makes no mention of the eligibility of replica cars” Roger makes this makes the understandable mistake of misunderstanding the term ‘Continuation cars’. This term is in fact ‘FIA speak’ for replicas. Personally I prefer the much more meaningful word FAKE! Thus replicas were “deemed undesirable” in the proposal. The raft of new proposals was a result of a Working Group appointed by FIA President Mosley at the December 2005 World Motor Sport Council charged with the task of complete reviewing the FIA protocols governing historic racing. The chairman was a competent British businessman by the name of John Hughes and the group was chosen to have the widest possible grasp of the subject. For example a representative of Bonhams, the specialist auctioneers of historic cars was included. Some 18 individuals formed a group and I was included as a representative of CAMS. The group met in Paris in March, Monaco in May and in London in October 2006. I was one of only three individuals who attended all three meetings. The other two were Michel Perry of Monaco and Dirk Johae of Germany. Perhaps it is rather immodest of me to say I made a significant contribution to deliberations of the group. The formal report of the group was a lengthy one, which was presented to the World Motor Sport Council at the final meeting of 2006 and was accepted in totality by the Council. The summary quoted by Roger covers the substance of the report. I look forward to it indicating future policies as John Hughes has been appointed as President of the FIA Historic Motor Sport Commission. He replaces Gunnar Elmgren who announced his retirement for health reasons last year. Many VHRR members met Gunnar when he visited Australia some years back - he drove Maybach in demonstration at Sandown and Geelong Sprints thanks to the generosity of Bob Harborow. John Hewson will be attending the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix and has advised me he will arrive a week earlier, so he can attend the Phillip Island meeting. I believe the VHRR will help in every way to roll out the ‘red carpet’ for John’s visit. Incidentally, to those with an interest in financial matters, I can report that the total cost to CAMS of me attending the three meetings was just under $8,000.00. Regards, Graham Hoinville. A 1917 Electric Car – Is nothing new? By Roger James With all of the talk of alternative energy sources to power today’s cars, it was most interesting to inspect the electric powered Detroit car at the RACV Great Australian Rally held at Mornington Racecourse on January 21st The Detroit car took its name from its city of origin and was purchased by motoring enthusiast Mike Sheppard at an e-bay auction in August 2006 from South Carolina U.S.A. It arrived here by ship in mid-December. These cars, built between 1917 and 1923 are two door coupes with very large battery cells split between front and rear. The 5KW DC motor drives a short tailshaft to a differential (5.9 to 1) and there is no gear-box or clutch. Charging the batteries takes 10 hours which renders 4 hours of driving with a range of speeds up to 160km. The driver steers by a tiller and has a choice of 5 speeds using a small lever which varies the use of individual battery cells. Mike, who drove the car to the rally, plans to restore it by returning it to the original dark blue with cream wheels and obtain registration for regular use. Detroit’s were famous in the states and used by professionals such as doctors because of their reliability. Clara Ford, wife of Henry Ford preferred Detroit to ‘other brands’ and one of her two is today displayed in the Ford Museum. It was paradoxical that immediately adjacent to the model at the rally was displayed a 2007 Lexus Hybrid which is the very latest electric car, but supplemented by petrol and brake energy power sources. Is nothing new?

Gunnar Elmgren Dies It is with great sadness that I must report the death of Gunnar Elmgren on Friday 19th January 2007. Gunnar served for a number of years as President of the FIA Historic Commission. He resigned from that position late in 2006 due to ill health. Members of the VHRR may recall his visit late in 2003 where at Sandown thanks to Bob Harborow he drove the Maybach in a demonstration. The weekend later he drove the Maybach at Geelong Sprints. He was an active competitor (including Formula 3, Lotus Elan & Cameron Miller 250F replica) and served as Secretary General of the Swedish Automobile Sports Federation from 1989 to 1996. He was also interested in aviation, previously owning a Tiger Moth and at the time of his death was restoring a Harvard WW!! trainer. To me it was the loss of a very dear friend. Graham Hoinville.

Classifieds Note* These ads are most welcome, but should reflect a ‘non-commercial’ nature. PRB Clubman - 1995 model factory built by Peter Bladwell. 1600 4AG twincam, cycle guards, wet weather gear + tonneau, black leather interior, rego until Sep, Metallic black over polished aluminium tub, 22,500kms. Rego plate # PRB53 (build number), Serial # 7001340. Ideal for road or track. Priced for a quick sale: $27990 with a RWC. Call Damon Hill 0411669910 or Peter Hill 0411111439 Wanted to Buy - Volume 2 “The Grand Prix Car” by Laurence Pomeroy - John Hartnett 03 5987 3667 Wanted Derrington Crossflow Head for BMC B series. I found an Elfin Streamliner, Danny Landrigans for those who remember, I wanted to buy it when I was eighteen but couldn’t afford it and some thirty two years later I got it. Thanks to all concerned who helped track one down. Colin Sullivan 0419 312 299 For Sale - KM 300 fibreglass body, one of only 3 or 4 built by Keith Morrison in the ‘50’s but never used, and a completely restored MG Y-type chassis and running gear. Also included is a set of MGA instruments. Body has not been fitted to the chassis. Was going to be the basis for an interesting sports-racer but other projects and house renovations mean it has to go. Photos available. $5,000 ONO or will separate body, chassis and running gear. Andrew Clayton Ph - (03) 5967 3139 or mobile 0413 273499 Elfin 622 F2, first of only 6 cars built. Original factory team car with fuel injected twin cam, FT200 gearbox and long racing history. Just undergone a total restoration, this car is a front running Group Q racing car in the right hands. Asking $75K or near offer. Call David on 0409 603 749 for more information.