Driving your dad’s car isn’t all that special unless your dad happens to be Jim Richards and the car in question is the Nissan Skyline HR31 that won the 1990 Australian Touring Car Championship.
We caught up with Jim and Steven between practice sessions at the recent Phillip Island historics.
Jim – “When people ask me what my favourite car was to drive, it wasn’t the GTR it was the HR31 because the results we got we probably shouldn’t have got as it was underpowered compared to the Sierras. It was always more a challenge to drive the HR31 than driving the GTR.”
Unique Cars (UC) How do you feel watching Steven race it this weekend?
Jim – “It’s good, I can watch, listen and enjoy one of the best-sounding race cars I’ve ever driven every time it goes down the straight.”
(UC) What was the secret to beating the all-conquering Sierras?
Jim – “To hang in there as the Skyline was kinder on tyres, but the Fords had at least another 100 horsepower. On a tight track that power advantage didn’t come into it as much so we could match them and sometimes beat them.”
(UC) What were your favourite tracks to race the HR31 on?
Jim – “Amaroo Park, Winton and Lakeside. They were the shortest tracks and we had a win at them.”
(UC) Were they a forgiving car to drive?
Jim – “It had around 460 horses and if you kept it in the higher rev range it was good with not a lot of lag. It still has close to that today”
Steven – “Driving it yesterday I thought the turbo was like a light switch but today I was using a bit more part throttle to get it to spool up and it was really nice and very predictable the way the turbo comes on.”
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Steven, Alan Heaphy (Team Manager), Jim, Pete West
(UC) Can you compare them in any way to a current Supercar?
Steven – “Back in the Group A days they were road cars modified to go racing and still retained a lot of the road car DNA. The current supercars are purpose-built with no compromise so there is no comparison.
“I’ve never driven a Group A turbo car, but the Nissan is beautiful to drive and we are talking about a car that was made 34 years ago. It feels fantastic around here. The handling is unbelievable; it turns in so well, is very predictable and is so stable through corners. At the time Gibson Motorsport built the best Nissans in the world and (looking at Jim) probably had half good steerers in them as well” – (both laugh).
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Pete built HR31 engines then and now
(UC) You watched your Dad race this car over the years, what does it feel like to now have a drive yourself?
Steven – “A piece of cake! Compared to 1990 I am still only 2 seconds a lap slower than he (Jim) was in qualifying and it is pretty much identical to how it was back then.
“But it is a very special feeling as I haven’t driven many of Dad’s race cars and to Dad, 1990 was a special year and the reality is that car won him the 1990 touring car championship and for me to have a drive and experience it is really cool, and it has been in our family for 10 years.”
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(UC) Were there any instructions to Steven before he went out in the car?
Jim – “Don’t scratch it and only do the minimum number of laps,” (both laugh).
From Unique Cars #477, April 2023