2013 Historic Winton

For any classic car enthusiast or historic racing fan, there’s an almost tangible sense of anticipation in the air before a significant event.

This only magnifies once you hit the road, as you join many other like-minded people on your pilgrimage to a bygone era. With Winton Raceway some 2.5 hours from Melbourne, the chance to follow a convoy of classics up the Hume is most welcome.

This year’s drive had a distinct British flavour, with company from an immaculate Jensen 541R and Rover P5B. Oh, and the broken-down Triumph TR7 for that additional dose of period authenticity…

Historic Winton, organised by the Austin 7 Club, is now in its 37th year. Utilising the original ‘short’ circuit, the event offers a unique mix of historic cars, bikes and sidecars. The racing is varied, too, with classes catering for everything from Formula cars to humble Humpy Holdens.

In addition to traditional ‘grid them from fastest to slowest and go’ racing, Historic Winton adds spice with ‘Handicap’ races for some categories along with Regularity events which involve nominating a lap-time and trying to ‘hit the target’ each lap.

By using Winton’s 2.0-kilometre short circuit the organisers have enabled close, tightly packed racing-- the layout’s twisty nature giving smaller cars a real chance against larger machinery. This is no better evidenced than in the Group N race for Historic Touring Cars, where rabid Mini Coopers -- far behind at tracks like Phillip Island and Sandown -- can challenge for race wins against Holden Torana GTR XU-1s, embarrassing the mighty Ford Falcon GTs at the same time.

Other on-track highlights included a pair of GP Bugattis-- the Type 35C of George Hetrel and the 37A of Andrew Cannon-- which did battle in Group J, Graham Smith’s Allard J2 in Group Lb and Ian Ross’s 1977 Osella PA 5 Group Q Sportscar. In Regularity Trevor Montgomery’s 1928 Alfa Romeo 6C and Gary Ball’s Jaguar D-Type replica stood out amongst a gaggle of diminutive Austins and MG Specials.

There was also plenty for the ‘bike fans, with classic Brits (BSA Road Rocket, Norton Manx) battling with early Yamahas, Kawasakis and Ducatis.

Around the circuit club displays offered further variety. Weathered early Holdens rubbed shoulders with heavily restored siblings, a BMW M1 stared down a 1M and a Holman-Moody modified Ford Galaxie threatened to eat a Lotus Elan. Parts vendors plied their trade as old friends shared restoration war-stories on their way to pit-lane, where you could get up close and personal with cars and drivers alike.

With over 10,000 spectators attending across the weekend Winton’s humble front straight spectating area was packed deep. Importantly, several eager youngsters were beginning their classic educations, a sure indication that the allure of historic racing remains as strong as ever.

See full gallery at motoring.com.au: Historic Winton 2013 gallery

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