Bob McMurray writes from the Toyota Racing Series, Thursday 9 Feb ......
The final weekend of the 2012 TRS season starts right here.
Lots happening over the weekend and lots to look forward to but I want to take a second to look back just a little bit here.
On Monday last, Waitangi Day, the Jason Richards Memorial Service was held in Auckland.
A very sad and emotional occasion where various members of our motor sport community spoke about Jason and his life, his disarming smile, his racing career, his bravery in the face of tremendous adversity and his strength and stoicism as he fought his ultimately losing battle with cancer.
It was very moving to hear his Father, Mother and Wife try to do the impossible and explain how much he will be missed by them all.
It was a very fitting tribute.
He is, and will be, missed by us all.
The life of motorsport goes on as it does in all walks of life and this weekend it may well be a good time to reflect on the way Jason ran his life, forever positive and looking forwards.
Our thoughts are also with TRS media maestro Murray Taylor.
He has been prevented from attending any of the TRS events this season due to a family illness. The last few weeks have been tough on both him and his family and all of us involved with the TRS wish him, and them, well.
So, to the NZGP 2012 TRS season finale weekend.
Thursday dawned bright, clear, sunny and warm.
Two ‘free’ forty five minute sessions for the drivers today and you can feel that there is something special about this event.
It is, of course the last TRS event of this season and as well as that it culminates with the New Zealand Grand Prix.
A race and a title that all the drivers want, be they from India or Invercargill.
The names on that trophy make a motor racing enthusiast’s eyes water.
Starting in 1950 with John McMillan, then names like Prince Bira, Moss, Parnell, Brabham, Surtees, McLaren, Hill, Stewart, Amon and Rosberg and on through the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and right up to this weekend in 2012 when who knows which drivers name will follow all those icons.
Another beautiful trophy for this weekend is the ‘Dorothy Smith Memorial Trophy’ in honour of Kenny’s mother who passed away here in Palmerston North in 2009.
We also have the ‘Dan Higgins Trophy’ kindly presented by the Higgins family, a TRS specific trophy won by the very best drivers over the years.
The first session got underway and it was only a few minutes before the red flag came out and that was for van Asseldonk sitting in the gravel.
You know, I would miss the red flags if they didn’t appear at some stage.
A few more little excursions but pretty much all good and the session ended just before midday with Mitch Evans at the top.
During the break a fearsome noise erupted at the end of the pitlane and the even more fearsome looking ‘Custaxie’ rumbled out on to the track.
This beast, with it’s 427ci - 7.0 litre engine was built by Robbie Francevic from a 1955 Ford Customline and with a Ford Galaxie V8 race boat engine.
The beast only raced for one season, in 1967, but won more than twenty races before it was retired.
‘Only the brave’ is a phrase that comes to mind when I see it on the track now.
Still sunny and warm for the second session, in fact downright hot.
Three kiwis topped the charts this time in the form of Evans, Cassidy and Leitch.
All had new tyres and the new tyre brigade was spread over the top twelve times meaning they were all within one second of the leader.
The cars of Marciello and van Asseldonk were towards the bottom of that list but they were running ‘old’ rubber which means they are looking very good indeed for the time when they fit new stuff.
A sedate sort of day to be honest but one that may well liven up this evening with the NZGP dinner to be held at the events centre here at the circuit.
Always good fun and sometimes sore heads the next day although I’m sure that will not apply to the drivers. Some of them aren’t actually old enough to drink!
We hope to see you over the weekend to help us make the 2012 NZGP a weekend to remember.
More later.........
Bob
