HTCAV – 2023 The Bend Classic report
Words and Photos: John Lemm
Part of a Supersprint and Regularity meeting held at The Bend on 28-29 October, the HTC and F5000 events were races, running on the 4.9km International Circuit, rather than the 3.41km West Circuit used by other categories.
With 25 entries from NSW, Queensland, WA, Victoria and SA, the Historic Tourers had by far the largest field. They also had something the other categories didn’t – a Top 10 Shootout! That fell to WA’s Paul Stubber in his Camaro, while fifth-fastest qualifier, SA’s Josh Axford, had his Escort RS1600 lose top gear on his shootout lap, dropping him to last.
Race 1, Saturday afternoon
Stubber led the field away before having an off at Turn 9 on the opening lap. That let Qld’s Craig Allan (Mustang) into the lead. On the same lap, Axford’s replacement gearbox let go, putting him out for the weekend.
Stubber regained the lead, only for his gearbox to jam in third on the final lap, gifting the win to Allan. Stubber still finished second, ahead of Ian Mewett (Mustang), SA’s Adam Smith (Falcon GT), Vic’s Pete Meuleman (Nb Mustang) and NSW’s Mark Lenstra (Escort RS1600).
Race 2, Sunday morning
Stubber once again leapt to the lead, while Mewett’s Mustang was slow off the line before retiring with a distributor problem. On Lap 2, Lenstra’s Escort lost a wheel, bringing out the Safety Car.
When that came in, it was a one-lap sprint to the finish, Stubber leading Allan home, followed by Adam Smith, Meuleman and Vic’s Nathan Gordon (HQ Monaro). Behind them, a trio of Torana XU-1s was led by Qld’s David Streat and locals Mark Blyfield and Rob Smith.
Race 3, Mid-Sunday
Stubber got the jump, but couldn’t change gear as he exited Turn 17 on the opening lap, letting Allan into the lead.
The Safety Car came out again when Blyfield’s Torana and Robert James’s Capri tangled in Turn 5, leaving the Torana stranded on track.
Two frantic racing laps to complete the race saw Stubber fall into the clutches of Adam Smith, but he still finished clear of Meuleman, Gordon and Streat. Lenstra’s repaired Escort crossed the line in seventh, just ahead of Vic’s Richard Hill in the quickest of the Minis.
Race 4, Sunday afternoon
With his gear linkages sorted, Stubber took gleeful revenge in the final race, leading from start to finish and crossing the line five seconds clear of Allan, who in turn was well ahead of Smith. Meuleman just held off Lenstra for fourth.
Class trophies were awarded: Up to 1600cc - Richard Hill from Mark Lenstra and NSW’s Francis Meier (Cooper S); 1601cc to 3500cc - Streat from Blyfield and Rob Smith; Over 3500cc - Allan from Stubber and Adam Smith.
Exciting track, exciting racing.
