HTCAV – 2019 season wrap
Words: Chris Ralph
Photos: Phil Wisewould
Wise heads in motor sport have always muttered, “a good big ’un will always beat a good little ’un” (cars), and “a good young ’un will always beat a good old ’un” (drivers). The latter was the case in the HTCAV in 2019 when 23-year-old Harrison Draper (no relation to fabled Mini quick Henry Draper) took out the big win.
It was a ‘come from behind’ win, too: after Historic Sandown in October, the 2018 champ, Darryl Hansen (Mustang) and Under 2-Litre competitor Rob van Stokrom were tied for a potential split win, while young Draper was almost 30 points in arrears.
However, Hansen’s Sandown accident ruled out the chance of achieving back-to-back championships in the final fling at Island Magic, while van Stokrom’s points total was amassed over six race meetings (only the best five count). That meant he would have to drive above and beyond at Island Magic to beat Draper for the overall win. Ripping around three seconds off his PB, van Stokrom certainly did his best, but it wasn’t enough to deny young Harry the win - in the same car that Russell Pilven had taken to three previous Club championships.
While he missed out on the championship, van Stokrom’s 219 points for the year meant he joined ‘The 200 Club’ and scored a big consolation prize - the 2019 HTCAV President’s Cup for most points scored.
Here’s how the 2019 championship year was defined.
Group Nc - 1965-1972
Over 5000cc
The biggest cars also had the biggest numbers - 16 competitors fought for honours. The legendary John Mann took the class win in his Camaro after two strong end-of-year rounds: even at 78 this warhorse cancer survivor has lost none of his brio.
Second was flamboyant Andy “Hollywood” Clempson in his 351 Fastback Mustang, with the steadily quicker Joe Calleja in his 351 Fastback taking out third in class.
3501-5000cc
The ‘smaller V8 and big six’ class featured 12 runners in 2019. Previous champ Darryl Hansen (’68 Mustang), won the class by a handy margin from the rapid Michael Miceli in his Boss 302 Mustang, with Alan McKelvie taking third in his ex-Fraser Ross ’68 Mustang.
3001-3500cc
Eight Toranas contested the year. Previous Club Champ, the consistent Stephen Pillekers, won from Nathan Gordon, whose strong start to 2019 was cruelled by a late-year engine blow up, while the ultra-rapid Andrew Williams took third position from only two meetings.
2001-3000cc
Western Australia’s Tony Gilfuis (V6 Capri) again raided this class with a strong win over Stephen Watt in his father’s Triumph 2500.
1501-2000cc
Providing more recent HTCAV championship winners than any other class, nine contestants and three different marques fought it out in 2019. New champ Harrison Draper (Datsun 1600) took the class from the BMWs of Rob van Stokrom and Justin Brown.
1101-1500cc
Until 1300 Escorts, 1300 Hondas or Fiat 124 AC Sports come on stream, this will remain a class for later Minis – this year Michael Holloway took the win from Len Read.
Group Nb - 1958-1965
Over 4500cc
A five-way contest in 2019 resulted in a strong win by Andrew Cannon (Mustang), who was consistently among the outright front runners at each round, ahead of son and father Brent and Bill Trengrove, who each variously drove their Mustang and Falcon Sprint.
3001-4500cc
Brock Green in his father’s magnificent 3.8 Jaguar took the class, ahead of newcomer Ben Dahlstrom in the S-Series Valiant.
2601-3000cc
Bill Trengrove in his EH Holden took the class from David Forbes in the XK Falcon.
2001-2600cc
Phil Barrow’s jaw-droppingly fast FJ Holden was the runaway winner after Eddie’s Dobbs’s FE Holden was sidelined for the year back in March.
1601-2000cc
Although Andy White battled strongly with other cars on track in his Volvo 122S, he was the lone competitor in this class.
1301-1600cc
In a field of seven Cortinas (five pushrods, two twin cams), former Club President Don Knight (pushrod) withstood a late charge for the class win from club Lazarus, Fast Johnny Luxmoore (pushrod), who after ill health was back on form.
The fastest car in the class, Peter van Summeren’s Lotus Cortina, scored enough points from only two rounds to take third for the year.
1001-1300cc
Surprisingly, only three entrants took part in 2019 - the 60th year of the Mini. The win went to Graeme Hill in brother Richard’s car, with Australia’s oldest HTC driver, Ted Brewster, in second and James Holloway in third.
Group Na – Pre-1958
En garde! Two French combatants: the winning Citroen 11D of Mick Stupka ahead of Vince Parisi’s Simca Vedette.
The Club’s perpetual trophy for Group Nb, the Graeme Raper Award, went to Brock Green in his Jaguar, with the Ian Jones Award for Group Nc going to Danny Myers in the Holden 308. Unsurprisingly, Harrison Draper took out the Rookie Award, Ben Dahlstrom the Encouragement Award and Rob van Stokrom the President’s Award.
Finally, the Teams Award for 2019 went to Andrew Lane’s family and mates who look after his outstanding black Fastback Mustang.
The JUST CARS Historic Touring Cars will be back in action at the Phillip Island Classic Festival of Motorsport on 5 to 8 March.
