Magnificent Winton

Written by MotorMarques Team

Part One - Photographs by Martin Stubbs and Bill HunterStory and interviews - Bill Hunter

.Winton Raceway is close to the New South Wales/Victoria border.The aerial photograph above gives an idea of the topography of the circuit. The Administration area and the garages are seen top centre. The start of the 'Long Circuit' can be seen leading out from centre left of the picture. The photograph was taken from a single engine Cessna Skyhawk, flown by my grandson Patrick whilst we were on a flight from Moorabbin to Canberra in February this year. The aircraft was flying at rather less than 1000 feet at that time. I was too busy taking picturesto take notice of the instruments. Tthe Raceway is quite a distance from Melbourne -- Over 200 km, Something like 600 km to Sydney. Competitors and spectators came from Queenland, South Australia.Tasmania and Western Australia. One competitor came from Japan. In the past cars and drivers have come from further afield, including America, UK,and Europe. Whilst the course is brilliant, the event itself is even more remarkable .No fewer than eight cars racing there were built before 1930, some of which are featured In the story that follows. .I feel that, with the hullabaloo about the Formula One Grand Prix circus going on at the moment, it's good to reflect on the fact that all the hyped-up performance has its origins in meetings like this - where the excitement and wonder of the sport began.Note: In the series of photos below, click on each one to get an enlargement.


Above: 1928 Alfa Romeo 6C	1934 Fraver Nash TT Replica	Above: 1933 MG J2	Above:1931 Austin 7

Above: 1928 Austin 7 Special	Above: Macdonberg Special	Above : MG TC Special	Above: 1931 MG

More to follow: Click here for Part 2

Wednesday, 11 May 2011 04:31

in Melbourne Desk

Belles voitures françaises

Written by MotorMarques Team

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) P5010169

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.

Thursday, 05 May 2011 04:30

in Melbourne Desk

Myrniong Part 2

Written by MotorMarques Team

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."