Mini and Moke

The 2022 season kicked off with the HSRCA organising this event. Fourteen HTCA NSW competitors with approved HTCA NSW sponsor signage on their vehicles lined up – four from Group Nb and ten from Group Nc. We also enjoyed seeing interstate visitors – Joe Calleja in his Group Nc Mustang and Jim McNiven in his Group Nc Mazda RX-2 Qualifying Qualifying was conducted on the morning of 29 January 2022. The weather was fine. Twenty five Group N cars set themselves in qualifying. Brad Tilley set the fastest lap of 1:08.6354. Jamie Tilley then followed, as the quickest Group Nb car.

Race 1 had twenty four Group N competitors. Conditions were fine. Brad Tilley brought his Ford Mustang home in first place, then followed by Chris Thomas in the Holden Torana GTR XU-1, and Jamie Tilley in his Group Nb Ford Mustang. Spectators marvelled at the expertise of Chris Thomas doing the “Torana Flick”, Andrew Bergan steering his Morris Mini Cooper, and Michael Rose coming to terms with his emerging talent in his Ford Mustang. Mark Lenstra pipped David Noakes Jnr on the last lap, to bring his Ford Escort in sixth place

Race 2 was scheduled for the afternoon, was cancelled. Rain and lightning were so intense that race organisers cancelled all racing for the remainder of the Saturday, advising that racing would resume as per the published programme the next day. Race 3. Race 3 got underway at 9:18 am on the Sunday. Chris Thomas and Brad Tilley vied for first place, with Chris Thomas holding out until lap 6, when Brad Tilley drove through to first place. Mark Lenstra started in sixth place and maintained that position. David Noakes Jnr circulated for three laps in eighth place, moving to seventh place on lap four and staying there. Michael Rose started in sixth place and brought his Ford Mustang home in eighth. Will Colton, starting in ninth, enjoyed some dicing with a Mini, swapping ninth and tenth, and coming home in ninth. Hugh Zochling improved one spot, bringing his Holden Torana GTR XU-1 in twelfth place.

Race 4 had twenty-two starters competing which commenced just after midday. Brad Tilley, starting from pole, retired on lap 1 with electrical issues. Jamie Tilley led the pack home, with Chris Thomas close behind. Mark Lenstra continued to improve, bringing his Ford Escort home in third place. David Noakes Jnr improved his eight place starting position, running sixth on laps two and three, eventually succumbing to the power of Joe Calleja’s Ford Mustang, and finishing seventh. Andrew Bergan had his Mini dialed up – starting fourth and maintaining that position for the full six laps.

Trophy winners for this event were:

Class Nb: 1st place: Jamie Tilley. 2nd Place: Andrew Bergan.  3rd place: Michael Rose