Photo: Giddings Maserati 250 F at Laguna SecaThe fantastic summer of motorsport is less than a month away from
celebrating 20 years of classic and historic car racing at Powerbuilt
Tools Raceway. Waitangi Weekend plays host to the 2011 edition of the
SKOPE Classic which promises to be the best ever with a large number of
local, NZ and overseas entries received to celebrate the occasion.
Whilst the focus will always be on the track action, there is no
doubting that much of the attraction of this annual classic motor race
meeting centres around the cars and the drivers off the circuit. The
SKOPE Classic has developed into an iconic event which draws thousands
of spectators across all ages and gender from throughout the South
Island and much further a field and make’s for a very special event on
Canterbury’s entertainment and social calendar. To further cater for the
family atmosphere that exists at this meeting, this years event will
feature a wide range of children’s entertainment in Baldric’s Paddock as
well as Canterbury Food and Wine among the hay bales on Baldrics bank
overlooking the main straight. Period dress is encouraged and those
excelling at dressing up or down for the occasion will be rewarded with
spot prizes on the day.
Racing and on display in the pits will be a number of memorable and
historically significant vehicles such as Peter Giddings famous 1953
Maserati 250F, No 1 off the production line and campaigned by Stirling
Moss. This car also competed at Wigram in the late 50's,early sixties
and was owned by Kiwi's Ross Jensen, Brian Prescott and Christchurch's
Leon Witte over this time before being traded back to the Northern
Hemisphere. Chris Amon drove his first Lady Wigram Trophy race also in a
Maserati 250F in 1962. David Fenton is a 74 year old American who
summers over in New Zealand . His pride and joy is a 1959 Lotus 18 FJ
which he raced in America almost 50 years ago and which he still races
with as much enthusiasm today. He will be dicing with the Giddings
Maserati in a mouth-watering assembly of vintage race cars.
Also on display courtesy of Ron Maydon, will be the infamous Chris Amon
built 1974 AF101 which saw four F1 outings without any hint of success
before being consigned to the scrapheap. This has recently been restored
by Ron Maydon and with help from Red Bull’s Adrian Newey was able to
overcome the cars handling issues which plagued it's early performances.
Gary Johnstone’s superbly presented collection of 60’s and 70’s American
and Aussie muscle cars will be admired and envied by many and includes a
Monaro, a Torana, a Camaro, a Corvette and three Ford Mustang's in
fastback, notchback and S Code Mach 1 guise. The array of classic
Porsche racing machines entered to compete in the Sir Robertson Stewart
Grand Prix will be second to none on NZ soil, lead by the Hong Kong
based Clive Bate Martini liveried Porsche.
This is but a small taste from the full menu and when you consider the
healthy main course grids of F5000’s and Historic Touring Cars wowing
the senses, it is surely going to be a weekend to remember.
The SKOPE Classic 2011, Waitangi Weekend February 4th/5th/6th
