The Victorian Circuit Racing Championships have concluded for another year, and our own Tom Hutchinson (TR8) has finished a very creditable 5th place for the season. Congratulations Tom!

Neil Martin took part in the Austin 7 Club Regularity event held at Mallala on Nov. 9th where he continued to learn more about his TR7V8 (ex- Bob and Natalie Farrell) whilst posting very respectable and consistent times in the 1:34 range. Neil placed third in two on the runs for the day and is looking forward to next year’s regularity and sprint events.

Trevor Lindsay (GT6) and I competed in the last SA Championship race meeting for the year, held as a twilight event, at Mallala on Saturday Nov. 15. The conditions were perfect – cool and with slight breeze. The racing programme was full, with the two GT6’s entered in Sports Cars /Sports Saloons and Tarmac Rally Cars. They looked tiny when lined up against Chris Smerdon’s ex Stone Bros Falcon, lots of Porsches, a couple of HSV Commodores, a Nissan Sylvia etc.

Trevor qualified 9th and Roger 11th in a field of 17 cars. Race 1 was action packed, with Trevor getting a great start to mix it with a few of the Porsches finishing the 6 lap race in 6th place, with Roger coming in 10th. Trevor was off to a great start again in Race 2 but was black flagged mid race because of a suspected fuel leak. This turned out to be a simple problem with an easy solution, but it meant that Trevor finished back in the field for the start of race three. I had a bit of brain fade and gave myself a drive through penalty by following Trevor and a couple of other cars into pit lane thinking that I had missed a direction from the face officials. I hadn’t, but that action also placed me towards the rear of the field for the next race.

Race 3 had Trevor in P12 and Roger alongside in P11 in a reduced field of 15. Trev finished 8th and Roger 9th in this night time race, Trevor mixing it again with the Porsches thankfully avoiding any serious panel damage (unlike the pesky Porsches that he mixed with).

I found out something about night racing that I will be better prepared for next time. I have a shift light installed in my GT6. It helps me know when to change gear without paying really close attention to the Tacho. The shift light is very bright so that it is clearly visible in the day time. It is however, like a spot light at night, so when I had exceeded the ideal gear change revs in top gear (this happens three times around the Mallala circuit) I was blinded and couldn’t see a thing. This meant that it took me the best part of 6 of the 8 laps to get around a Holden Torana that I should have gotten past in the first lap. Thoroughly good fun though!

The Classic Adelaide Rally was concluded just yesterday as I write this, and it was another outstanding success. There were a number of Triumphs running, with the bright yellow TR7V8 of Ian Wilson placing in the top three consistently for the four day event. Ian is very ably guided by partner and navigator Jahmeil Taylor and finished the event in third place, only to be excluded from the results due to a post event scrutineer deeming the front sub-frame of the car to not meet the regulations. On checking the Supp Regs later, Ian believes that the car does comply, and will take the matter up with the Rally Officials. Disappointingly, the 3rd Place Trophy was awarded to Jim Richards.  Never-the-less, this was a tremendous performance by Ian and Jahmeil, and it was great to see a Triumph in the leading bunch of this world class event. We are all proud of your achievement Ian and Jahmeil, and share your bitter disappointment with the outcome.

Others to take part in the 2008 Classic Adelaide included the Fisher / Twycross TR7V8 (finished 42nd) and the Webb / Webb entry that unfortunately did not reach the finish. The Rochester’s from Queensland placed 33rd in the Classic section in their TR3A so well done to them. Also taking part in the Thoroughbred Touring section was the Trotter / Veale team in a TR7V8 – when I spoke with them at Victor Harbor, they were all smiles.

TSOA member Bruno Franchi took part in the Rally as co-driver in an Alpha Romeo that unfortunately rolled on the last day of competition. Not a nice way to end the Rally and we hope that Bruno and his driver escaped with minimal personal injury.

The last event that any of our members may have an interest in is the Austin 7 Club Regularity scheduled for Dec 7th. And that’s it for 2008!

The MSCA picnic Presentation Day at Peter Lehmann’s Winery is scheduled for Sunday 15th February (one week after the All British Day) and this will provide TSOA with another early 2009 function to support and enjoy. If you have any ideas for a club display theme, contact me and put your thoughts forward. TSOA has won two of the last three club display awards, and it would be great to take it out again.

That’s enough from me . . . . see you trackside!

Roger