SPORTS CAR HISTORY

This category of Main-circuit racing machinery has now become well established at Killarney, having been created to fill a growing need, one that no existing categories were catering for. There was a growing number of replica sports cars, whose owners wished to race with them, but, because most of them used non-original mechanicals, were precluded from participating in Classic Cars due to their non-originality. At the same time, there was a small but enthusiastic core of both genuine, as well as faithfully replicated sports cars, who were racing amongst the Classic saloons, often feeling out of place due to their size difference. The solution was both simple and obvious, and this new category quickly became well supported. Due to the more highly stressed nature of this type of car, we are sometimes afflicted by reduced fields, but there has nevertheless been a slow but steady growth in our fields, always with several new cars in the pipeline.

One area which is ripe for development however, is participation by street-legal sports or GT cars. It seems that we are on the verge of seeing growth in this area, with some exiting cars soon to hit the track.

SPORTS CAR TALK - Posted: 13/11/2007

Hi All,
As many of you will know, I have a pretty good excuse for being tardy in the writing of this edition of Sports Car Talk. It’s also likely to contain more typo’s than normal, as my hands are currently encased in miles of bandaging, covered in surgical rubber gloves. But at least there’s no more pain and I’m back at home.

To all those people who helped me out, in whatever way, over the last few days, as well as to everyone who paid me a visit in hospital, my sincere and heartfelt thanks to you all. It just proved what a great bunch of guys and gals participate in motorsport. One small thing though – why did no-one think to organise a troop of Mavericks performers?

Saturday’s racing produced another racing first for me, when my car erupted in flames in the middle of Turn 5. Had I not been dressed in the best available clothing from top to toe, I would have been in SERIOUS poo, and the burns I sustained on my hands would have been far less had I known that a better design of glove was now available. Nevertheless I still sustained a fair amount of burning on my right calf where the flame was entering the front of the cockpit, but after 26 seconds of exposure to direct flames that’s not bad. How do I know it was 26 seconds? Somehow the film in my video camera survived, altho’ not the camera itself, and I’ve been able to review the incident. The memory card in the data logger also survived, despite being melted along one edge. I’ll bring the film to next Monday’s meeting as there’s some quite nice footage of both races.

In the next day or so I’m going to write an essay on my experience, which I want to be distributed as widely as possible. There are some important lessons for every competitor that can be drawn from my misfortune, and I hope that everyone benefits. I don’t mind admitting that the last five seconds or so were terrifying and it was almost impossible to concentrate on getting out.

Anyway, enough about me. The main purpose of this letter is to implore everyone to attend next Monday’s meeting. We have to vote in any rule changes needed, as well as choose a new committee. It had been hoped that Cyril Ginsburg would be available as our new chairman, but he’s made the mistake of being too successful with his new business, which is growing so fast that he’ll be fully absorbed in keeping it on the right track. I shan’t be available in any form once this year is finished. I have my own personal preference for my replacement, as I’m sure you all do, but you’ll need to be there to make it happen. The bar is open from 7pm and the meeting will start at 8’ish.

Our annual prize giving will take place on Monday 10 December, being a repeat of last year’s event which seemed to prove most popular. I don’t yet have a price for the spitbraai, and I must also get a final confirmation that the Wesbank bouma is available, and whether we can use their bar. Basically, there’s still a lot you need to know about the event, but I’ll have it all available at Monday’s meeting. In the meantime, please start confirming numbers, as the sooner I can confirm that the better.

Finally, I’m sure you’ve all heard by now of the sudden and sad passing of Peter Barton. The amount he achieved around the circuit in such a short time is a testament to his diligence and energy. The club will be the poorer for his passing and I’m sure you all join me in conveying our condolences to his family.

See you on Monday, Peter Little.