D'un bout du monde à un autre - Salut les amateurs de voitures de collection - en France, en Australie - et partout.De la France - J-P Bush nous a envoyé de belles photos, y inclus celles d'une journée à Savonnières, (Indre et Loire)dans l' arrondissement de Tours, France...De l'Australie - Richard Abey et Bill Hunter apportent des images d'une journée passée parmi de belles voitures françaises dans un grand parc près du centre de Melbourne                                                             Au dessus - En voici quelques unes assemblèes au bord de la Loire.                             Au dessous -  et voici quelques unes assemblées à un French Day meeting à Melbourne (Australie)                                                                      Dessous - deux trèsors à la meeting à Savonnières.  

Hotchkiss	Roland Pilain (1906 - 1931)

                                                               Dessous - d'autres trésors à Melbourne,  Australie.  

My name is Buttercup. I am 100 years old.Je m'appelle Buttercup. J'ai cent ans.	Renault 4cv	Citroën Maserati

 

1972 Maserati  Indy	Peugeot 302 (francaise)

Ci- dessous - Déjà assez rare dans le monde  - une autre Peugeot 302 en Australie. La Matra vient aussi de Melbourne

Peugeot 302 à Melbourne	Simca Matra

                                             Et finalement  - cette belle 407 de Richard Abey a gagnê 1ère dans sa classe.

Lloyd Hocking - car number 105 Austin - Renault. "Renault Dauphine engine. 840 CC Gordini tune. It has had a fair bit taken off the head and it has only been ported and polished. It runs one great big carburettor. A big SU. It runs on heavy oil because if you don't it develops a real flat spot because the piston rises to quickly. I have had the car for 23 or 24 years."   MM:- It's a good-looking machine.   "Yes, yeah. David Lowe's wife used to race it back in the 1950s. It is extremely reliable, but having said that it will probably conk out. It revs very freely. Up to about eight, eight and a half. I bought it in pieces years ago for $3000. I have had about $20,000 worth of fun out of it."       John Hardy - Renault Alpine. Car number 110. He gives me the Renno Alpeen pronunciation of people trying to get the sound right. "I just say Alpine Rennoh. We're in Australia now not France."  MM: - The engine looks rather hotter than I would have expected.  "It is a full works group 4 specification car. It was never run by the factory. It was sold with a heavier body than the works car."  MM: - What's the body made of?  "Fibreglass. It has a central backbone chassis. The engine is a Marc Minutet(?) - Alpine's specialist engine builder. The Gordini engine had a 125 hp engine: this one has 165."  MM: - Was that originally a Gordini design head and all that sort of stuff?  "Yeah, but Minutet developed it. It runs a 11.3:1 compression with significantly more domed pistons, bigger valves. Makes maximum horsepower at 7800. Today I am using eight grand and a couple of times. I go to Phillip Island and Sandown and I run some of the Rob Roy historic events, and I will also do Mount Tarrengower in October. We were in France last July/August. I had long service leave from work that started in 1976. We need 12,000 km through France Italy and the UK. It was different this time because last time we went I spent such a long time at Dieppe where the Alpine factory is located. In Paris I went out to Billancourt drove on their track one of the Alpine mid engined Megane Sports - a 3 1/2 litre, 390 hp, six, under the care of Jean- Pascal. I had met him at the last Grand Prix at Adelaide in about 1995." 

Nigel Gray - Singer	Dick O'Keefe - Photon	Ted Geermans - Lagonda Rapier

  Don Green approaches the steep section of the hill in his Jaguar MK2 - apparently not noticing water in the dam for the first time in years

Photos by Richard Abey and Bill HunterTape recordings by Bill HunterText adapted from Wikipedia and the Official Program.

From: Warren Evans   I first saw tether cars run In Melbourne in the mid 1950’s at the Exhibition Building in Carlton at a model fair . The cars were run In The Great Hall.The sound stayed in my memory  until 10 years ago when I read an article in “Rod And Custom” Magazinethat triggered my memory .Since then I have taken on the tethered car hobby and now have over 30 cars that  inlude Doolings. McCoys, Bunches, Kings, Morrisons, B.B.Corns, Satans, Dallaires, Rowells, Popp and several customs and one-offs.I find It an Interesting hobby and tried to get a trrack going in Melbourne .But to no avail  The only people interested had nomoney or were not prepared to put up any. as I was.They have no real Interest in the hobby but only want to make a quid out  of it. Here are some photos of  my collection of tether cars .and my 1938 Hinman Sprint Car.I also have a half built tether car portable track, 35 foot In diameter.I will keep In touch as I hope to have the track running  later this year.                                                           Above: The 1938 Hinman Sprint Car.              

Greetings Bill,   Trust this finds you well.   Over the last few months I’ve been working with a group of  fellow Waitemata Branch VCCNZ colleagues on an event we’ve named ‘The Roycroft Trophy’   It is to be held at the new ‘Hampton Downs’ Race circuit, .about an hours drive South of Auckland, over Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th of April (being Easter) this year.It was to be a vintage and historic car and motorcycle event run as an entertainment alongside a Wine, Food and Jazz Festival organized by Hampton Downs Management. In the last few days Hampton Downs have dropped the ball and essentially said, it’s your venue make it work and we’ll build it in the future.   My major contribution has been to produce poster images. Now that the administration has ‘pulled’ I’m thinking of ways we might get our message out as we’re no longer just responsible for finding competitors but need to attract spectators who fancy a weekend of motoring nostalgia. It might be a long shot but if you could publish the ‘Roycroft’ poster as it’s gone to local publications it just may get through to a wider audience (maybe Motormarques has a following here in NZ? and we want to attract drivers/cars from Australia and beyond too!)   A little background to the name: 3 generations of the Roycroft family have made a significant mark on motor racing in New Zealand, and Terry, the latest and his sister Deanne have given great support and enthusiasm to our suggestion.   What I’m asking constitutes advertising and may not fit with your objectives. But maybe from a contemporary motoring art point of view?   Also find attached the latest picture of the Class ‘H’ model Austin 7.... more or less finished. The paperwork to get it closer to road legal may have been lost in earthquake ravaged Christchurch!   very best wishes   Richard

   Photos by Lucas and Bill Hunter

Anne Thompson's  (NZ) 4 cyl Darracq .

The Darracq company was founded in 1896 by Alexandre Darracq. In the early years of automobile manufacture Darracq was prominent in automobile design and manufacture. The company also built a 200 hp V8 Special that set a land speed record of 168.22 km/h in1904. and again in 1905. at 176.46 km/h. In 1906 at Daytona,it reached 197.06 km/h.The car shown here is clearly a 4 cylinder car. It was specifically here for the AGP and PI as a bonus. In fact Grant Campbell (VHRR) knows  the lady owner  - Anne Thompson - quite well. She comes from NZ. The car was the first ever to win a Grand Prix and Anne took Grant  for a ride in it at the Australian Grand Prix. He describes it as "Quite an experience!" It is definitely a 4 Cyl - 14400cc.  A restoration. Grant  believe Anne has owned it for some time. She said she would have liked to stay for Historic Winton but the carnet didn't extend that far. Grant Cowie - 1934 Frazer Nash

Archie Frazer Nash had developed a chain-driven sports car as early as 1924. It had a dog clutch, separate chains for each of the three forward speeds driving a solid rear axle. Quarter elliptic springs, and very highly-geared steering were another inheritance from the 1924 car. In its day, the Frazer Nash could  "carry on all day at 40 m.p.h."- althoughin fact it could cruise between 60 and 65 m.p.h. Considering its fairly low price of £315, the "Nash", though distinctly crude in places, with almost solid suspension at low speeds, represented very good value for money.    The chain drive and very smooth plate clutch gave an exceptionally rapid gear change and the solid rear axle made the car stable under the most difficult conditions, although with some tendency on greasy surfaces to go straight on. The steering was always of the highest quality, absolutely accurate and devoid of play, rather heavy, and very high-geared (usually less than one turn from lock to lock)

The 1500 cc car displayed here is owned by Grant Cowie (Up the Creek Workshops)   Ah. Yes. There were some more familiar classics as well. Thanks for watching Motormarques ! .

The Wanderer is of German manufacture produced in the early 20s as one of the earlier designs of Doctor Porsche.  This car was imported into Melbourne as a chassis in 1924 and remained in bond until the early 60s.  It has a total mileage of 150 miles and was in the Davison family until 2008.  The car is now owned by Chris Terdich and keeps Chris's other 1924 Wanderer company, which was entered in Australian Grand Prix by Wagners the importers.    

Rob Roy - 29 November 2010  Martin Stubbs and Bill Hunter  

Lineup of three Leo Bates built cars

Manufactured by Cooper in 1953 (Car #3) this rear engine air-cooled vehicle is somewhat unique in having a 1:1 differential,a specification confirmed in writing by the late John Cooper as factory-fitted. The car was originally owned by Mr. Les Stone of Basingstoke, U.K and used in hill-climb and other closed circuit eventsduring the 1950’s & 60’s in the United Kingdom and Europe at such venues as Firle, Mansetter, Trengwainton, & Wiscombe.  A later owner fitted a Hillman Imp engine exclusively for hill-climbing during the 1970’s. In 1995-6, it was restored by Mr. Bernie Allen of Wiltshire U.K, a noted Norton motorcycle restorer and replica builder who, in carrying out a general restoration of the car, returned it to its original engine specification vis. a Manx Nortonsingle-cylinder 500 c.c unit, with which it is currently equipped. Bernie Allen competed with it at the Inaugural Goodwood Revival Meeting in 1998, and won the National (U.K) 750 Formula Championship in 1999.  Imported in 2000 by the current Phillip Island-based owner, it is the only example of a Mark VII existing in Australia, and is run regularly in historic hill-climb, sprint and circuit events. Winner 500cc Class Rob Roy International Challenge 2007 with a time of 29.78 seconds.    

Bahamas Speed Week   BAHAMAS SPEED WEEK REVIVAL 30 Nov - 4 Dec 2011 The original Nassau Speed Weeks took place from 1954 to 1966 andfeatured many of the great racing drivers of the period. Following a gruellingrace season they took the opportunity to combine racing and relaxation inthe sun. Iconic race cars such as the Ferrari GTO, Maserati Birdcage, ChevroletGrand Sport, Chaparral, AC Cobra and Ford GT40 were driven by starsincluding Roger Penske, Dan Gurney, Bruce McLaren, Mario Andretti, PedroRodriguez, Mark Donohue, Phil Hill, A. J. Foyt and Stirling Moss.The First Speed Week Revival will cover five days and include a RevivalIsland Tour, Street Course Demonstration, Drag Racing, Concoursd’Elegance, Road Show, Fashion Show and Charity Ball. The Bahamas Speed Week Revival will take place on it’s traditional datefrom 30th November to 4th December 2011. The intention is to invite fiftyRace Cars of the type which graced the original events supported by aCavalcade of Ferraris, old and new, to create a magnificent spectacle asthey visit the Island’s beauty spots including a tour of New Providence anda drive on the most beautiful roads all of which border the sea ! Invitations will be extended to original drivers and car owners as well aslatter day celebrity residents of Nassau to join the event and in particularattend the Gala Dinner with it’s Auction of Promises for Bahamian Charities.Finally a cavalcade of all the cars on a street course specially devised forthe Revival through downtown Nassau, around one of the islands newMarina complexes followed by a Time Trial on a street circuit between WestBay Street and Arawak Cay on Nassau Harbour Front.   For more information go to: www.bahamasspeedweekrevival.comContact: Gary Critcher 0777 160 2771 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. McLaughlin 01 306 730 517 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. event details, tourist information and images on request.