Hampton Downs Raceway -We arrived on Monday January 18, 2010 and went to the brand new Hampton Downs race track for a short session in the rental car to check the brand new and very challenging track. There was a bunch of shipping containers with all of the cars inside and there was lots of confusion as no one had the keys. We finally got the Old Yeller II and the 58’ Kilpatrick Speedster out of the containers as somehow our container was not locked…and we were one of the first ones into the “Mega Tent” for many of the select race cars. It was cloudy and with intermittent rain showers for a few days along some mist during the race weekend at times. On Wednesday we went to visit the Pukekohe track as it is a horse racing track venue (within the middle of the racing car circuit) as the track manager allowed me on the track with the rental car to get a close up look at the historic period track as that would be the second weekend racing event. In the late afternoon on Thursday, we put the OYII and the Speedster on the Hampton Downs track at reduced speeds to check the cars and see the turns.
It was tech inspection day on Thursday and we all had to present our racing licenses and as an international competitor, I had to present my FIA- ACCUS international license for 2010. We had an opportunity to meet Jan McLaren who is the sister of the late Bruce McLaren and also met and talked with the owners of the Hampton Downs track…Tony Roberts and Chris Watson. Paul Hunter is our local crew support along with his good friend John and his partner (as they say in NZ) Sandy who is the niece of Bruce Mclaren. Paul is the nephew of the late Bruce McLaren.
Friday was the Drivers Meeting and flagging is different somewhat from USA racing. We took goodies to the “Flaggers/ Corner Workers”… as we always try to do as they volunteer all of their time to enjoy and help at the events. The two morning sessions were for practice and the afternoon sessions were for Qualifying for grid positions. Both cars are finally working good … and it was an incredicle thrill with the OYII finally working with suspension issues after so many years of struggles with handling issues and we are at the very limits of the OYII. The OYII is in the group- “Invited Early Historic Racing and Sports Racing Cars” with almost 40 cars. The faster cars in our group are “full on” Formula Grand Prix Racing cars from England and blindingly fast… light with ½ the weight of the Old Yeller II… good disc brakes and they literally “dive” into the corners if there is barely enough room to squeeze in and slip under my mirrors … and especially at the start of the race as it is a game of playing “chicken” as it is truly wheel to wheel and “take no prisoners” attitude at its very best. There were cars that went off the track and the big Alfa Formula car punted the expensive Lister Jaguar from England in the tail of the car and the driver was not happy.
Saturday Races: The OY II was on the grid at 9th position based on the Qualifying results. When the overhead four red light go out at the start finish line at the start of the race, it is utter chaos with everyone smoking their tires… and bam… the race is on to the first corner and inches from wheels as everyone dives right… the intensity of racing is sensory overload is an incredible experience against the “kiwi” drivers and international drivers… we are hanging out the car at the limits and we somehow overachieved… against the legendary Formula Cars and we finished in 4th position in the very first race… we just knew that it was not to last long in following races as the front Formula cars are much too fast and agile… as well as being well prepared to race extremely hard which they do.
The race fans are great and are constantly around the OYII as it is featured with a full page in the race program with a full page of history and photos… we did a TV interview and one other TV spot in the early AM… we are totally overwhelmed with the interest and support by the Bruce McLaren Trust… and Chairman Jim Barclay brought the Mayor of Hamilton to the OYII to welcome us and we had the team together for a photo… and the Mayor had on his official English looking necklace with a big medallion and that was exciting for the team. At the morning “Flaggers” meeting we presented them with 3 flagger trophies and team shirts for the OYII and #7… and a great new USA SCCA Corner workers uniform with about 12 patches on it… and cookies… and it was a thrill for our team to see their eyes almost in tears with appreciation…
Sunday Races: We were able to run near the front and it was great to see the “Down Under” racing specials like the Old Yeller II but most of those cars were single seaters.
Thursday January 27, 2010 - Pukekohe
The weather has been spectacular with the blue skies filled with big white clouds… and short showers at times. The Hampton Downs racing was the toughest racing I have ever seen… but no major incidents… The Old Yeller II is “on song” and at “full chat” for the first time in years and years of handling issues. The OYII is still outclassed by the historic Formula One cars such as the 1958 Cooper T45/ 51s, Holden Repco R4, and the Stanton Corvette which looks like Can Am car with a chain drive…makes for very tight racing… but somehow still near the front… and when the red lights go out… it is incredible mayhem to the first corner again at Pukekohe as the wheels are almost touching and no room at all. We had noticed water loss and bubbles percolating from the radiator… not a good sign and eventually the temperature gauge was pegging early and with weather heat.
We have been trying to catch up with PR items and it is laundry time so not much for sightseeing. Today we went early to check our container and pulled out the Speedster and the OYII… and since there is a horse track in the center of the race track for cars… no starting of loud engines so we got a strap and towed the OYII with the Speedster which is not a loud race car… what a sight to see and caused some excitement. The organizers have been so supportive and again placed our cars under a permanent shelter … “Early Historic Racers Overseas.” I have been running to the race track each day in the early morning so I have had a chance to walk the track as it is challenging with a long straight which makes for a Drag Race if cars have the horsepower as it is considered the fastest track in New Zealand. It is a sight to see the early morning fog lifting and blocking the sun as one can hear the hoof beats of the elegant race horses on the dirt of the big race- track … as the large stadium is empty. We took a short trip to the town of Waiuku and on to th e peninsula stopping at Orua Bay to see the local catch. More NZisms’… Hello Mate, “Need a LayBy”, Marmite, Finger Bun, paua fritters, Bundaberg Ginger Beer, Lion Red beer, pumpkin balls, Nappys sold here (children’s shop/ diapers), “chips”(strawberry baskets), Ute (pickup) Silver Fern, apple cream, ‘waitperson’, fresh smoked Kahwai (was offered at beach Orua Bay campground… fresh caught fish and into hot smoker with sea salt and brown sugar with Manua wood chips), Tip Top ice cream… and lots of bare feet. We went to tech inspection to get our sticker for the cars and tickets… and refund for our entry fee as support gesture for our cars… strong and fierce down pour of rain and we all scrambled to move cars around the leaky tall old historic shelter. We had more offers to ship and support the car to Philip Island in Australia for the biggest Historic Racing event in Australia in March… but have to work sometimes. Suddenly there was the summer tropical rain storm and the tall old shelter was leaking on the OYII… we moved the cars and hope it would be clear for a good practice session and qualifying tomorrow.
Friday Practice and Qualifying: Up early and to the track… and with the horse workouts every early morning at the inside track… there is no starting of engines until 9:30 AM… at the Drivers meeting it is noted that passing by the checkered flag twice is $400!!! The Speedster is holding it’s own and a fine tribute to General Kilpatrick. The Old Yeller II is “on song and at full chat” with blindingly fast formula Cooper T 51s… F1 full single seat race-cars (one very rare and expensive UK Cooper smashed into the amaco and destroyed the front end… and there one really fast Lister Jaguar. Over 30 race cars still in the “Early Historic Race cars” class and a lot of racing Specials of NZ. There were “Parade Laps” in tribute to Bruce Mclaren with many cars somehow related to Bruce McLaren… we are fortunate to have the nephew and niece of Bruce McLaren on our informal local crew and they are spinning out great stories about Bruce. The schedule was pushed back and it was a tough 3 races in the afternoon. It was the important Qualifying session and I followed the fast Lister Jag and the OYII was in the groove with the Pukekohe Raceway as it is a horsepower track with a long back straight. About 2/3rds through the session with the hardest racing I have seen in Historic racing…I noticed the car being off power and the temperature gauge too hot from normal… I was coming into the very tight “Hairpin”” turn from the very fastest long back straight and the brakes went low… and lower and then completely down to the floorboard and the car seemed to keep flying forward (the slightly stuck throttle and carbys kept the rpms up also)…. and straight off the hairpin turn and on the grass trying to keep it in control and wham… into the big sand pit… could not get out so they red flagged the session and I waited for the tow truck… they pulled out the car and I started it up and went to the paddock… The throttle or “carbys” (as they say down under) got stuck at a higher than idle rpm… and ran out of brakes due to that as well as maybe low brakes or major brake fade… exciting for sure. We were still able to qualify the car in 5th position over all the great cars and we were completely pleased with the results. In first position was Rod Jolley of UK with the F1 1958 Cooper T45/51 F2/ 23A…Dick Willis was second with the Mildren Cooper T51… Greenfield was third with his Alfa Romeo Tipo with a supercharger … and fourth was Ray Smith in the legendary Lycoming Special with the Helicopter engine and very light weight with big disc brakes… for tomorrow we need to “bleed the brakes” and fix the stuck throttle or carby problem before we go out for the two tough races tomorrow Saturday.
The day was spectacular with big white clouds everywhere… in the beautiful blue skies. Elaine is everywhere helping and she is the best with all the race fans and friends. We are learning more each day with the “NZisms”… with gum boots, moonlight potatoes, rock melons, lamb knuckles at the butcher, pork loin with a big fatty outside strip, middle rasher bacon, sheep hearts, Patcari cheese, Puhoi feta, dandrals,, Neenees tart, white chocolate Afgan, and Neeling Moment cake. The strange racing fuel from the fueling truck in Hampton Downs caused havoc with engines and fuel safety bladders as there was some damaging ethanol substance that “nipped” the pistons as they say… and apologies everywhere from Organizers. The interest in the OYII is still amazing and they asked for a commentary over the PA at noon. John said that the OYII was on NZ TV a day ago…
Saturday- Race Day
We went to the Cambodian owned bakery and bought a large assortment of goodies for the volunteer “flaggers”/ corner workers. The Old Yeller II is having a heating problem and there is a possible crack in the block or the heads as water is percolating bubbles… and coming in hot. The Old Yeller II is on the grid at 5th position based on the qualifying times… and the Lycoming dropped out at the start so in 4th position. It is absolutely mayhem as the Alfa is slower at the start and is it smoking it’s tires… and blocks the OYII by being boxed in with some fast cars slipping by one by one. By the 3rd lap the water temperature is pegged at 230 degrees and moving higher fast… I thought of coming in as it is too hot for racing and related to prior problems… came to the big hairpin turn and car felt slippery… and at the apex of the entry to the fast front straight and without any warning… the car rotated like being on ice in a flash and tried to keep it off the steel armaco barrier to the left … was able to rotate the car in a tight incredibly fast loop on part of the track and partly on the grass and saw cars coming… disengaged the clutch quickly so the engine did not stall and stop… waited for traffic and slowly limped in with the car to the area beyond the start finish to pull off as the water was everywhere…. Fans said that at the “esses” prior to the big fast 360 loop… they all saw the right side blow a big white cloud … of what they thought was smoke from the engine but it was the water blowing all over the tires making for the icy like conditions and putting the car in a very fast spin… when being towed in past the corner workers at the spin… 3 marshals were cheering as it must have been something to watch and not hit the wall… and still face the right direction… it was too serious of a motor problem and no way to repair… but the motor was taken apart at the topside to check if anything could be done… must be a crack in the engine block. In the afternoon after the Speedster race… and skies suddenly opened up and a huge torrential summer tropical rainstorm started and flooded everything… lucky to be under a huge old tall shelter…There was the loudest bang and cracking sound with an incredible flash of lightening across the sky… going off as no one had ever heard such a sound… frightened locals and visitors alike. The rain completely flooded the open shelter floors with water… and we all scrambled to move cars around.
Sunday races: At just before 8:00 AM two people from the Marshals and “”Flagger/ corner worker” group came to ask us to go to the morning meeting/ briefing and I thought it was for the big fast 360 degree loop. They wanted me at the meeting to present our team with special hats for recognition of the gestures we extended to the group of volunteer marshals of New Zealand… and we thanked them for their efforts to keep us all safe on the track. One memorable moment was having a family visit us again as they brought the scrapbook they made of Goodwood England races in 2003 and showed us a photograph of their son sitting in the Old Yeller II and he was starting college shortly and majoring in engineering… and we were able to duplicate the original photo of 2003 as he sat in the car again …and was now taller than the roll bar!) Elaine helped with the fans and around the paddock… she is the very best PR committee of one and makes for fan appreciation for sure. We were lucky to have a “snapper” (UK for photographer) Simon Feek that was professional …and the very accomplished Simon was on our “local team. “ It was raining off and on and during the race with the Speedster, I had to constantly wipe my helmet shield like a fast “manual windshield wiper” making for anxious times on the track at speed. The afternoon races were even worse as I could barely see the corners at times and going fast down the straight was tricky at best. We had our own “team meeting” after the races and gave out our thank you gifts to our team… Bill was incredible helping everywhere as problems arose… and he was presented with one very rare photograph by Alan Khun of USA …of Bruce McLaren and the photograph was autographed by some of the McLaren family as well as some of the mechanics for Bruce (thanks to Paul and Sandy)… a treasure to keep for Bill. After the last race of the day there was the assembling of all the drivers (over 350 race cars/ drivers and 127 overseas teams) for the Awards Ceremony. The event Chairman Jim Barclay spoke of the importance of the very first inaugural Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Festival and their goals and mission for this huge historic racing endeavor that the Bruce McLaren Trust had taken on. The event had become the biggest Historic Racing event in New Zealand overnight. The first award was the main very first New Zealand Motorsports Festival- Tribute to Bruce McLaren to be presented, which was an award for performance of a race car, teamwork, presentation, sportsmanship, and the car- team-driver that best represented the spirit of Bruce McLaren… as Bruce was the most important Kiwi Racing Legend… who was also known for his dedication for his team. The Bruce McLaren Perpetual Trophy Award was a large silver perpetual Award that will have the winner’s name engraved on it… and large silver fern (New Zealand symbol like the Kiwi) trophy for the winner of the Award… and the individual Class awards would follow the main award. To our complete amazement and surprise, I was called up to the podium by James Barclay who is the race Director of the Festival, and I was awarded the coveted trophy in the late afternoon sun at Pukekohe Raceway in New Zealand…and Elaine and I went up to accept the Trophy Award for our great team. We were overwhelmed and humbled … and we can thank Max and Ina somewhere up there for the incredible journey that the “Junkyard Dog” of a race car has taken us. As they say in New Zealand… “Good on you Max and Ina” The skies opened up in the late afternoon and it was a perfect end to meeting great people and great racing as well. After the “Prize Giving”, we went to a small restaurant in Pukekohe and Paul Hunter (nephew of Bruce) and Sandy (niece of Bruce) with her partner John found us in the small town … and we all had a chance to reflect on the memorable weekend as they were all our “local NZ crew” for the two cars… Paul Hunter brought the original medal and watch that was engraved…that Bruce had won at Laguna Seca with his Can Am car… and the family shared photographs… and we all learned more personal insights about Bruce (“Uncle Bruce” to them) and there were some tears to share as well… as the respect for Bruce as New Zealand’s greatest Sports Icon is awesome. The competitive racing…new friendships… incredible teamwork, and the sharing of stories made for a priceless two weekends in New Zealand for Elaine and I.
Ernest Nagamatsu
1959 Balchowsky Buick Special 
