Following an early morning start from Hokitika and an interesting drive across the South Island taking in Arthur’s Pass, we arrived at lunch time at Ruapuna on Thursday for the start of the Platinum Jubilee World Tour at the Skope Classic, and to unload the two containers which had sailed from the UK, and the one from North Island.
What a warm happy welcome we received from all the Formula Junior friends who had travelled from far and wide. Lots of hand shaking, hugs and welcome smiles. Then came the friendly banter and much laughter taking place which swiftly moved on to standard micky taking that the New Zealanders seem to be very good at!
Yes, we are back in New Zealand! No talking of politics, just talk of enjoyment and our love of all that is Formula Junior.
What a selection of cars that made the Journey! If someone new to Formula Junior needed to see the evolution of FJ it was all here. From Graham Barron’s 1959 Gemini looking like a Half Sized 1950s Formula 1 car, to the Brabham BT 2 of Geoff Underwood, looking like a small nimble 1963 Formula 1 car, with lots of other interesting cars too, like the lesser known Caravelle Mk II of Richard Bishop-Miller, and the well-known Cooper T52 of Kevin Anderson that he has owned now for over 50 years. Another very interesting car to mention that has made the trip is the unique front-engined Nike of Charles Cook, looking absolutely fantastic.
As for the drivers, what a bunch of brilliant people; everyone has a funny story to tell of their ownership of their respective cars. There is Nigel Hunter Russell who seems to find Juniors all over the World, Mike Sexton who seems to be an expert at taking the Micky! Richard Bishop-Miller, the man to go to for that tool you need and the man who will help anyone who has a mechanical problem. Graham Barron the BMC engine expert helping Nigel with his problems, having too many ACCESSORIES on his ignition system, also helping Kevin Anderson diagnose the reason why his Cooper was only on 3 cylinders. Not forgetting Robin and Sue Longdon for all the organisation that has taken place.
On behalf off all involved, many many thanks to all for what will be I am sure an unforgettable visit to New Zealand with the Formula Junior members.
First session on track was Friday, with 10 minutes untimed, as a familiarity session, for the competitors to get accustomed to the circuit and give the cars an early shake down.
This brought various Gremlins to the surface of cars that had been transported many thousands of miles from the Northern Hemisphere in the past months. Yet even the local cars misbehaved with various gremlins.
Richard Bishop-Millers Caravelle stopping and Tony Olissoffs’ Brabham F3 car was not playing ball so the session was stopped after just one Lap whilst the cars were recovered, so there was then only a couple more laps before the remaining cars headed back to the paddock for repairs and adjustments; Iain Rowley, was especially busy.
R B-M replaced a faulty fuel pump, and other fixes were carried out for the later session.
The second session went a little better, however as normal with racing cars, you fix a problem and low and behold another problem rear its head!
So, following various further adjustments to various settings, and then adjusting back to the original settings, it was time for Qualifying.
The weather by the afternoon was very hot. It was local Noel Woodford (Gemini Mk 3A) who set an early benchmark. Two red flags were needed to, first, recover Tony Lees (Lola Mk 5A) and then Roger Herrick (Lola Mk 2) after he found himself down to three wheels. Finally, some times could be posted, with Robin Longdon at the top of the tree by a mere 0.3” from Noel and Marty Bullock (Wren) in 3rd place, Geoff Underwood 4th in his still immaculate Brabham. Ray Mallock was fastest of the front-engined cars.
So, following a Friday evening of frenzy in the paddock as tyre pressures were altered, oil levels checked and deliberations over how much fuel to put into the car, everyone was ready to go Saturday morning.
But I really must mention Karen Bishop-Miller, always with Richard, she sits and watches all the toing and froing of men with spanners and screwdrivers while knitting Babies Bonnets for her local Children’s Hospital back in the UK.
Race 1
So, finally, it’s race time, for what the Kiwis call the Scalextric cars, and it was a wonderful bright sunny day for this the first day’s racing at the Ruapuna Circuit for the 36th Skope Classic.
It was 23 cars that took to the grid, including a couple of invited cars to start this 5 lap encounter. With Robin (Lola Mk 5A) on pole, it was lights out and a dash of acceleration to the first corner. Noel Woodford in the Gemini won this sprint with Robin tight behind and Marty thereafter. Ray Mallock took charge of the front-engined class.
It was hammer and tong between the 3 lead rear-engined cars, with other equally frantic encounters taking place throughout the field. Geoff Underwood, trying a little too hard, altered the appearance of his Brabham following a little coming together with another competitor (unharmed), and Tony Lees came through the field from the back, having had clutch issues in qualifying.
Adrian Russell was out early in the race with transmission problems, while Nigel Russell was only progressing slowly with a lack of sparks. Tony Olissoff’s F3 car also had transmission not working as it should!
So, we had 21 finishing the 5 lap race, with front-engined honours going to Ray Mallock (U2 Mk 2), from Charles Cook (Nike) and Mike Sexton (Gemini Mk II). Paul Halford came home in 18th in the Italian Autosud representing the Italian Cars, and fastest lap went to Marty Bullock (Wren). The first race was over with the whole race only lasting less than 10 minutes.
Race 2
By mid-afternoon at Ruapuna, with relentless sunshine, all the drivers lucky to have their dolly brollies of various shapes and sizes to keep the heat off.
There were seven front-engined and fifteen rear-engined cars this time, as Adrian’s Lotus did not come out to play, but there was a lovely Lotus 18 of Grant Walker and the black Cooper T52 of Kevin Anderson, driven in period by Denny Hulme, looking so very original.
So, onto the race, this time a 6 lap encounter, with a lights out a dash to that first corner again.
It was again Noel from Robin and Marty already pulling out a lead on the rest of the field, however due to the front three protecting their positions, the field had caught up by the end of lap 2. Then there was a coming together with Robin and Robert Hoemke with Robert taking the place and putting Robin down to 8th place for a while, but unfortunately, the rear bodywork of Robert’s car was flapping quite dangerously, so a black flag was put out for him.
Robin worked his way back to fifth at the end of lap 6, overtaking Ray Mallock, while at the front it was Noel Woodford from Marty Bullock, Geoff Underwood and Tony Lees.
Ray Mallock was again first front-engined car home and Paul Halford first for the Italians.
Another performance of note was Richard Bishop-Miller, who came home 9th so congratulations to him in the Caravelle.
Just 19 cars took the Chequered Flag, fastest lap to Martin Bullock, with Nigel Russell (Sadler FJ) and Matt Adams (Brabham BT9) joining Robert Hoekme as retirements.
Race 3
Sunday morning at the Scope Classic, and the weather was a top coat cooler!
Lots of work had taken place throughout Saturday evening and Sunday morning to get Juniors onto the track, including Graham Barron’s diagnostic skills finding that Nigel was trying to save the planet by double condensing his sparks so one condenser was removed, giving a slight weight advantage, and Adrian Russell’s car had been fixed with parts various.
It was 24 cars who lined up on the grid for another 6 lap thriller, again seven front-engined and this time seventeen rear-engined cars. Tony Olissoff (gearbox problems) and Roger Herrick (rear wheel still not attached) were the non-starters.
As the lights went out it was charge of the light brigade for that first corner! Noel again first to the corner, closely followed by Marty and Robin.
Ray Mallock seemed to be absolutely flying up to 8th leading the front-engined class.
By Lap 4 Noel was pulling away from Marty, however Kevin Anderson pulled off in a dangerous place along with Adrain Russell, who’s fix had only lasted 4 laps, so the yellow flags were deployed, and the Race was completed behind the safety car.
The results were a third win for Noel Woodford, followed by Marty Bullock and Robin Longdon, with Ray remaining in eighth. Other notable results were Tony Lees up to fourth, and Nigel Russell finished the race, giving a tally of 22 finishers.
Fastest lap went to Noel Woodford breaking the 1’ 38” barrier with a 1’ 37.9472.
So three races down one to go!
Race 4
The weather was still quite cool for the final race of the weekend, with 24 cars taking to the grid, with Noel on pole for the fourth time and going for a clean sweep!
Robin was the first off the line and snatched the lead into the first corner ahead of Noel this time, meanwhile the Autosud of Paul Halford broke its differential at the start and was pushed out of harm’s way. Noel was ahead by lap 2, from Robin then Marty, but unfortunately Robin had a huge spin, leaving Marty having to take evasive action to avoid a collision, thus giving other cars an opportunity to take advantage. So, then we had Noel from Robert from Geoff Underwood, with Ray Mallock up to 6th and Tony Olisoff going well in 15th. Grant Clearwater pulled off in his Lotus 18 on lap 5.
This was the most exciting race of the Juniors this weekend, and the results were Noel 1st, Robert 2nd, Tony Lees 3rd, Geoff Underwood 4th, Marty 5th, Ray 6th, and Robin 7th. 21 cars finished, and Noel Woodford did indeed get a clean sweep 4 wins from 4 starts!
He was also presented with a Huge Cup – as winner of the Sir Robertson Stewart “GP” Trophy race! Also, lots of “well dones”!
Following a photograph session, the Cup was handed back to the Race Organisers, before all the cars were packed back into their containers for the next encounter at Timaru.
There appeared very little damage to any cars and just a fantastic weekends racing with the Juniors.
By Tony Pearson