Photo: Canadian Jack Ondrack in his TVR Tuscan Once again the annual Classic SpeedFest at Teretonga Park in Invercargill has produced memorable racing.
It was the twentieth edition of the event and Kerry Anderson of Auckland was the only driver competing who has raced at every one of the them.
The Evolution Motorsport sponsored event was held in contrasting conditions with drizzle on Saturday through to warm, dry conditions on Sunday. Some elected not to risk their exotic machinery on the damp track on Saturday while others treaded carefully, meaning some classes featured very different results from one day to the next.
However the track conditions did not impede regular visitor Jack Ondrack of Canada. Ondrack dominated the Sievwright Auto Sports Car class in his TVR Tuscan, qualifying fastest and winning all five races over the course of the weekend. Others to shine in the class were Gary Cooper of Mosgiel in a Lotus 7, Chris Chiles of Christchurch in a Lotus Elan, Dunedin driver Allan Dippie in a MG BGT V8 and John Osborne of Christchurch in a Nissan 300ZX.
Ondrack was also a force in the Southland Tyre Centre Classic Saloons, again qualifying fastest and winning both races on Saturday with Jim Little of Timaru in a Valiant Charger and Australian Jim Wallace in a BMW M3 second and third on each occasion. On Sunday he won the first race but it was Tony Mann of Dunedin who won the other two in his Ford Capri with Rod Hayman of Timaru in another Capri also picking up placings.
Dave McKenzie of Invercargill (Reynard) and Canadian Jay Esterer (McRae) shared the wins in the Southern Paints Formula Libre Class on Saturday with fastest qualifier Carl Wall of Christchurch second in both races in his Reynard with fellow Cantabrian Murray Sinclair third in both in his Brabham BT29. On Sunday Esterer won all three with Jamie Conroy of Invercargill in fine form in his Swift and the Formula 1 McLaren M23 of Phil Mauger and the Formula 5000 Begg of Lindsay O'Donnell also to the fore.
Rolleston driver Gary Johnstone (Jaguar XJS) and Stephen Grellet of Dunedin in a BMW M3 shared the Jesco Historic Touring Car wins on Saturday before Grellet went on to grab two more on Sunday while Brett Stevens of Motueka who did not run in the rain picked up one race in his Ford Sierra Cosworth.
Local driver Rodger Cunninghame in his Ford Mustang won the first AJ Auto Electrical Pre 65 Saloon car race before Dunedin driver Brian Scott won three of the handicap races and Ford Anglia driver Nigel Lavender of Rangiora the other. Manny Sim of Ashburton, Barry Morgan of Wanaka, Cliff Bruning of Nelson and Gary Parker of Christchurch were all prominent while Wayne Tuffley of Invercargill was ultra consistent snaring two seconds and three third placings in his Ford Mustang.
Dunedin drivers Allan Dippie (Porsche GT3) and Arron Black (BMW E30) shared the Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans Saloons Group A wins on Saturday. The following day Greg Elder of Gore won the Class 3 race, Bradley Dawson of Invercargill Class 2 and Ian McKenzie of Otautau Class 1. Arron Black took Class 4 while Dean Maw and Paul Muir shared Group B wins. Colin Dawson won the Flying Farewell, a magnificent sight with 38 cars on the grid, and also the Allcomers race.
Martin Dippie of Dunedin in an Austin Healey and Noel Woodford of Auckland (Gemini Mk3A) won Saturdays Global Diesel Parts Vintage Car Class races while on Sunday Woodford, Graeme Hamilton of Lyttleton (ACE III) and Nigel Russell of Auckland in an FM2 Formula Junior shared the successes. Anthony Olissoff of Auckland in an Emeryson Experimental and Ralph Smith of Dunedin in the Lycoming were also amongst the results.
Barry Forth and Jay Esterer (Lola) won a Macaulay Ford Racing Car Class race apiece on Saturday with Forth of Christchurch adding two more on Sunday in his Royale before Peter Boel of Pukekawa in a Lotus 41C won the finale from locals Justin and Steve Heffernan.
The next meeting at Teretonga Park is the last of the season on Sunday 11 March.
