Bumper fields set for Historic Sandown
Big bad Sandown will once again come alive this weekend with its 30th anniversary historic meet, with a mixed bag of open wheelers, sports and touring cars set to take to the track.
A highlight will no doubt be the Formula 5000s, a class synonymous with the wide-open straights of the suburban Melbourne venue.
Expect the battle at the head of the pack to feature Dean Camm (Chevron B24), Geoff Walters (Lola T330) and Bill Hemming (Elfin MR8), amongst others.
A sign of the diversity that is now becoming a fixture at modern historic meets, the National Sports Sedans will provide F5000 roar in a tin-topped package.
The big guns from around the nation such as Jordan Caruso (Audi A4), Steven Tamasi (Holden Calibra), Shane Bradford (Chev Camaro), Michael Robinson (Holden Monaro) and more will take on the cream of the local Sports Sedan scene, which has been highly competitive in 2022.
An interesting entry is son-of-a-gun Mason Kelly, who has been a regular in the class this year aboard an older-generation MARC Car, however, for this weekend, Todd’s son is listed aboard a Nissan Altima.
Two other categories stepping over from the Vic State Race Series will be the HQ Holdens and the MGs.
The bumper entry of HQs has attracted the best of the best from around the country, with numerous South Australian, Queensland, Tasmanian, and New South Wales competitors joined by Peter Anderson from the Northern Territory.
The local Victorian racers have turned on a premium show this season, and with champions from other jurisdictions joining the party, it will be a return to the heyday of the class.
The MGs and other invited British cars have pieced together a significant field.
The best of the V8-powered MGs, led by the likes of Robin Bailey will be joined by an assortment of lower-capacity cars, plus a healthy turnout of Triumphs, and Mike Roddy’s Jaguar TWR XJS.
Three generations of pre-1990 Formula Fords will take to the track, with the later model Fc class featuring a quality field, which is wide open for the taking.
The Group S Sports Cars perhaps features the best diversity of makes and models from across all categories.
From Corvettes to Porsches, examples from Lotus, Austin, Fiat, MG, Datsun and Alfa Romeo will be joined by the likes of Terry Lawlor’s Shelby GT350 and Ross Jackson’s De Tomaso Pantera.
Similarly, the old timers from the Groups J, K, Lb, Formula Vee and invited bring together machinery dating back to the 1940s.
Sitting in the middle of the timeline of classes is the Group M and O Sports and Racing cars, mixing together classics from Brabham, Elfin, Lotus, Chevron, Rennmax and more.
A highlight will be Laurie Bennett’s big banging McLaren M1B.
For open-wheeler fans, the Group P, Q, R Racing, plus Q & R Sports bring together a tasty combination, including a smattering of Formula Holdens.
The turnout for the Historic Touring Cars is so large, it has filled two grids, split roughly along cubic capacity lines.
With entries coming in from around the country, the legend of Australian motorsport, John Bowe, will be one to beat aboard a Ford Mustang.
As is typical of this style of event, there will be plenty of sideshows and attractions, with parades, displays and historic regularities.
Further details are on the Victorian Historic Racing Register website, with the event to be telecast online via Blend Line TV through the usual channels.
Mark Walker (administrator)
A vastly experienced Motorsport Public Relations operator, journalist, commentator and photographer, Mark brings his unique angle to The Race Torque in both words and imagery. As well as serving as our key photographer on the ground at major events around Australia (and overseas), Walker will often chime in with his unique and pin-point sharp viewpoint of the racing world via the keyboard too.
