HSRCA Summer Festival 2024

The last race meeting for Group N Touring cars for 2024 was the HSRCA Summer Festival meeting at SMP November 30-December 1, 2024. A strong field of 24 Group N cars went out on a damp track in very warm conditions including interstate visitors Mark Johnson #97 Mustang, Kim Shearn#58 Cortina both from Victoria Craig Robertson #131 Charger down from Queensland. Qualifying seen Mark Johnson put the Mustang on pole with 2.00.6 followed by Peter O'Brien #27 Falcon XY, David Nokes Escort #1 the ever-present Greg Toepfer #88 Mustang Anthony Colton Cortina#5 Spencer Rice #295 Alfa Chris Dubois #3 Cortina Steve Page #54 BMW John Harrison #89 Cortina then it was Paul Battersby #271 Mini Paul Tierney Torana#72 and the usually reliable Francis Meier Mini #188 that's the top twelve. On to race one Saturday afternoon again a damp track over five laps and an unfortunate start for Toepfer who stalled in P4 and brilliant driving from all cars seen them all get around Greg, who did eventually got off the line for some reason the safety car was deployed for two laps. Peter O'Brien won in the XY but both he and Mark Johnson Mustang both received 5 second penalties the latter finishing third, David Nokes crossed in second, Toepfer up to tenth from last, Paul Battersby eighth, Paul Tierney ninth, one car that was of note is the Matt Sullivan #180 Torana was on the move forward and looking faster and faster as the meeting went on along with David Wheatley #61, David Roberts#20. DNF for Jerry Lenstra#41 Cortina with a gearbox issue but Jerry would change the box and return to racing. Race two again on Saturday 5 laps this time no safety car O'Brien again the winner from Nokes, Johnson, Anthony Colton#5 Cortina, Rice, Toepfer, Chris Dubois#3 Cortina, further back seen some spirited driving by John Battersby#270 Dave Gray#181 both in mini's followed by the bullet proof Volvo#22 of Loris Mariotto. Bad luck for the popular driver Mick Bevan Torana#353 who lost an oil line and had a DNF. Sunday was hot and dry for race three over six laps. Johnson was home first followed by O'Brien (with another 5 second penalty) then it was Nokes, Toepfer, Matt Sullivan was on the move up to fifth, Lloyd Parry#289 Mustang Paul Tierney Torana, Hugh Zochling#73 Torana DNF's for the following Rice, Gray, and Meier. The last race for 2024 over 7 laps was a little depleted. Johnson again the winner from Rice who recovered from the previous DNF, Nokes third, Matt Sullivan showing that both he and the Torana had the pace to get up the front in forth then Tierney, Zochling, Paul Battersby was the first mini, 5 second penalties for Kim Shearn and Mick Bevan. That's it for 2024. Thanks to all the drivers, crew, members, and supporters of Group N plus the event organisers and track marshalls, recivery teams see you all back in 2025 for another great season.

Mark Walsh, Throttlejam Photography

Grant received at CMC Day

During the CMC Day at Sydney Motorsport Park on 25th August 2024 our members displayed several cars and an important visitor made his way there to see our club.

Hugh McDermott, MP State Member of Prospect, came to hand over a cheque over $2,010.50 as a grant provided under the Local Sport Grant Program. He enjoyed the stay and the discussions with our members present on the day.

His post on social media:

Congratulations to Historic Group N Association for receiving $2,010.50 as part of the Local Sport Grant Program.

This grant will support the delivery of competitive driving skills, while encouraging more drivers to enter Motorsport in Australia.

A big thank you to President, Stephen Pitman, Vice President, John Battersby and the entire team at the HGNA for their amazing work in our community.

Winton Festival of Speed

The VHRR Festival of Speed meeting at Winton Motor Raceway was again another great event headed by a big field of Historic Group N Touring Cars. Thirty-six in all entered. Over from WA was Aldo De Paoli Camaro #96 NSW had Brad Tilley Mustang #28, Adam Walton Mustang#57 Francis Meier Mini #188 both drivers on their first trip to Winton Adam Bressington Mini #88, Chris Crowe Torana#3, John Harrison Cortina #89, Qld's Graeme Wakefield Mustang#150,(although he did practice with #88 on the car) David Streat Torana#202, and Robert James Capri#111. The lone SA entry of David Cheney Mini #58 would take no part in the meeting after a nasty turn one incident in the last practice session on Friday afternoon. Glad to pass on that the driver was ok. Over twenty-five local Victorian cars made up the grid. Saturday morning practice was a very quick affair with the faster cars only managed to complete four laps and the small capacity cars less than that. Brad Tilley was on pole from Adrain Moyle Vic Camaro#25, the impressive Adam Walton from P3, then Peter Mc Niven Vic Mazda RX2, Tony Hubbard Vic Camaro 24 however Tony wouldn't be on the starting grid, the improving Dom Leo Vic #84 coming to terms with the Camaro, Brent Trengrove Vic Camaro #22 Wakefield P8, the fast mini of Bressington P9 De Paoli P10, Andrew Beard Camaro Vic #86, rounding out the top twelve Rob Burns Charger Vic #70. Francis Meier had a few gremlins on the Friday but along with crew chief David Wheatley had the mini sorted starting from P23. Race one on Saturday afternoon was unfortunately a non race due to a red flag after a turn one accident involving Wakefield (who would take no further part in the meeting) Andrew Beard, William Trengrove Vic Mustang#64 and Peter Meuleman Vic Mustang#43. On to Sunday race two was a timed event over 10 minutes. No red flags or safety car for this one. Brad Tilley came out on top with a new race lap record 1.34.44 from the fast De Paoli a good drive from Walton seen him 3rd then Moyle the quick Mazda of McNiven, Dom Leo, followed by the flying brick of Bressington,

Andrew Beard showing signs of the race one accident on the left front guard, Nice to see the HQ Monaro of Marc Tessari Vic #8 up to 9th, Brent Trengrove 10th (add on a 15 second penalty) next in Geoff Munday Vic Camaro#68. Further back in the field spirited driving was on display throughout with Dean Mc Laughlan Vic Datsun#50 Gordon Cox Vic#77 and Don Knight#32 both in Cortian's being hunted by Steven Russell-Clarke Vic Austin #82 Philip Burrow Vic FJ# 72 Chris Finlayso Vic Mini#6 and Peter Oliver in a Cortina Vic #54 hunting then all. Francis Meier up to 21st at the checker. DNF recorded by the Burns Charger overheating Neil Crowe Mustang #30 Richard Hill Mini Vic #12. Race three was the Just Cars Group N Touring Car Cup over 50KM. This event went through with no stoppages or safety cars. Peter Mc Niven had that rotary on song and was after completing 16 laps was the winner from Brad Tilley in 2nd Aldo De Paoli was looking threating but had an issue finishing with a DNF. Great drive by Adam Walton for 3rd shaking off race long challenge from Moyle 4th, Dom Leo 5th, Marc Tessari 6th, Brent Trengrove 7th The ever-present Bressington 8th, David Streat 9th, Peter Meuleman 10th Stephen Pillekers Vic Torana#14 up to 11th Richard Hill 12th, Robert James 13th. All of the above finished on the lead lap and should be congratulated. other notable performances Francis Meier up to 15th, Les Walmsley Vic #99 16th John Harrison 17th both in Cortiana's and John Clarke with a steady drive in the Mustang Vic #196. Thanks to all at the VHRR, officials, medical staff, and flagies for another memorable event......and Group N drivers who took time so I could annoy them. Please check the following images of the cars on track.

Thanks to Mark Walsh / Throttle Jam Photography

Vale Brian Titheradge

Dear Members,

It is with deep sadness to let you know of the passing of Brian Titheradge.

Brian was a long time Group N competitor. 

Our condolences go out to his family and friends during this difficult time. 

Rest in peace Brian. 

6 Hour Regularity Relay Report

On Saturday the 27th of April The Historic Group N Association participated in the NSW Road Racing day night motorsport event. We had also participated last year, however this year we fielded 6 more mechanically reliable cars and completed all the possible laps without failure.

According to the results we finished in 22nd out of 31 participating teams. More important than the result was the bonding as a team with a common goal to support each team member to work together towards a common goal. The day night concept was a brilliant and all participants appreciated the experience of driving at night and spectators were treated to the spectacle of cars travelling at speed with headlights blazing.

I would just like to thank and acknowledge our team,

Drivers:

Kevin Allen, Volvo

Loris Mariotto, Volvo

Wayne Lacy, Ford Focus Turbo

Craig Anderson, Ford Focus Turbo

Ashley Yelds, Volvo

David Stone, Subaru BRZ

Support Team:

Manager: Steve Pitman

Assistant Manager: Paul Tierney

Pit lane: Nicole Pitman

Pit lane: Colin Barrell

Pit lane: Bruce Whitford

Also a special mention for Julie Lacy and Amanda Anderson who surprised us all with some amazing food at a critical time late in the event when all of the team were experiencing late night fatigue.

We definitely need to enter next year and learn from our experience to achieve a better result next year, concentrating on being consistent with our nominated times and displaying time to our drivers.