Events: Historic Winton 2013

Date: 01.08.2013

Historic Winton 2013

Thirty-seven years is a long time for any event to run annually but Historic Winton, promoted by the Austin 7 Club, hit that milestone in May.

Historic Winton 2013

Although crowds were slightly down an dthe entry was a little lighter on for big-banger touring cars than in previous years, the pits were packed with race cars and motorcycles dating from the earliest days of motorsport, the oldest car being Stuart Brown's 1919 Dodge, competing in Regularity.

The car park was just as interesting with displays as diverse as gleaming Austin Healeys and Jaguars to the colourful FJ Holdens from the Wahgunyah Speedway. Stand-outs included a stunning 1966 Datsun Fairlady, a rare (and huge) 1927 Minerva 30HP AF Coupe, 1946 Packard Clipper, and even hot rods and customs, proving there is room for all types of vehicles within the historic scene.

Historic Winton also celebrated a number of motoring milestones including 110 years of Buick, Standard and Vauxhall, the centenary of Morris and Aston Martin, 60 years of the Sunbeam Alpine, FJ Holden and Triumph TR2, 80 years of the Singer ‘Le Mans’, 50 years of the EH Holden, Lamborghini and the Bathurst endurance race and 40 years of the increasinglyloved Leyland P76.

Races were on the original short circuit and with such a huge entry of cars and bikes the track was never quiet for long. Big winners on track included Peter Whaley (Standard Supercharged Special) and Mark Burns (Alvis 12/50) in Regularity; Ralph Pauperis (MG TC Milano) and David Reid (Faux Pas) in LB Sports & Racing; and Peter Wilson (Ford V8 Special), Michael Shearer (Ford A Special) and Rob Rowe (Roadmaster Speedcar) won in the J & K class.

The glory days of Group N were relived, with a swarm of Morris Cooper Ss and the triumphant Torana XU-1 of Gary Edwards harrying the big Falcon GT of Darren Smith in Division 1, while in Division 2, the Cooper Ss of Linda Devlin and Chris Cotton led the way. Richard Carter dominated M & O Sports & Racing with two wins in his Elfin Mono, while Kim Jones (March 80A), Jamie Larner (Ralt RT2) and Ian Ross (Osella PA5) shared the Q & R Sports & Racing honours.

In all, 45 events were packed into the weekend, Sunday’s 28 races punctuated by a 20-minute parade of significant road and race cars that virtually stretched the length of the circuit. The weather gods even smiled on Winton and competitors and spectators couldn’t have asked for a better weekend.

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