Pottsy wrote:
Don't forget that this meeting is an Historic Race meeting. As such, it exists for all those Historic categories to go racing.
The whole event was run by the VHRR in conjunction with the VMCi and a few other regulars. It's timetabled down to the second. Every time there's a recovery needed after a breakdown or whatever, things shift into a higher gear to make up the time. That's why the next field of cars is often released for their warmup lap even before the last car fromt the previous race is off the track.
Trust me guys, there was simply no space anywhere in the program that a parade of Minis could have fitted. We struggled big time to find enough people to officiate at the meeting as well as organise and oversee the displays that were there. As it happened, it all went well, thanks to some stalwarts who made their time available.
The Mini regularity was a new event this year which saw things having to be tightened up even more to avoid disappointing all of the other categories that are a regular part of Historic racing.
It was introduced this year solely to celebrate the 50th Mini Birthday, and was the brainchild of the inimitable Mike Holloway, VMCi Life Member and the Clerk of Course of (and driving force behind) the Phillip Island Historic Meeting since the mid '90's.
The only opportunity for a parade would have been if MIni & Moke people had paid Shannons a few quid to join the Shannons Calvalcade. This is a sponsored drive to the Island with the bonus of a single lap of the course. However, if there had been any more cars in the Cavalcade, the timing would have been severely damaged anyway. Speaking as someone who spent a few years as Chief Paddock Marshall and had to shepherd the Cavalcade on and off the track, it's a nightmare!
I was on Turn 3 Communications again this time (on Sunday only due to a friend's wedding on Saturday). The discerning attendee may have noticed my large, white, shiny Citroen DS parked by the track at Turn 3. Yes, that's right, I didn't even take the Mini down there this year! (I'm hanging my head in shame as I write this, but unlike the Mini, the DS has a heater, and I left town before dawn on a very cold Sunday morning!) But I cheered, waved at and clapped every one of the Bricks running around there on Sunday.
It was a stirring sight to see 40 odd Classic Minis buzzing around the track. And the Group N races with quite a few Bricks aboard were just as entertaining. (Watching James Holloway dicing with the Humpy FJ down the tail end of the field was like being in a time warp back to the Island in the late 60's!)
It was a great meeting despite the weather and the consequent rather poor attendance. The racing was still great to watch, the camaraderie was as good as ever, and the bonus was a track full of nearly enough Bricks to build a wall!
Doesn't get much better than that!
Cheers, Pottsy
Pottsy, as another communicator who uttered the immortal "how many flaggies does it take to fix a Citroen?", I agree with most of what you have said...and yes, I would have killed to have been at Turn 3 with my back to the gale force winds and driving rain
(Luxury
)
I fully understand that this was a VHRR Historic meeting...but did the VMCI even think to ask about a parade??? and before you get too carried away with Mike Holloways hyperbole and praise...I have been involved in meetings that ran to a much tighter schedule and like a well-oiled machine...it can always be done better mate
Whilst the Sunday ran OK, the weather intervened and stuffed things up, however, the Friday and Saturday had plenty of opportunity (read delays) for a lunchtime parade of a couple of laps
Did the VMCI even ask Shannons if they would consider a Mini contingent??? I noticed some historically significant Minis at the track...
.
