HTCAV – Winton FoS Preview

Words: Chris Ralph

Entries are rolling in for the second of two JUST CARS 50 km Cups this year – the feature event of the Winton Festival of Speed on August 3 & 4. This meeting comes two weeks after the Sandown HTCAV state round JUST CARS 50 km Cup, which you’ll read about next issue.

With entries yet to close at press time, the field looks fat, with major muscle at the top end and plenty of action to look forward to, right down the classes. West Australia’s Aldo de Paoli in his yellow Camaro, whose full-bore drifts on to the main straight at Phillip Island earlier this year had fans on their feet, heads a star-studded line-up. 

Current HTCAV Club Champ Darryl Hansen in the ’68 Mustang is in. Dean Neville, John Mann, Brent Trengrove and Gary Treloar are early Camaro entrants, with Michael Miceli and Andy Clempson in ’70 Fastback Mustangs, Chris Stern and Alan McKelvie in ’68 Mustang Trans-Ams, Harry Bargwanna in the ’64 Mustang and brother Alf in his Torana also staking early claims on the Cup.

Hard driving WA competitors include Graeme Woolhouse and Shane Atwell in ’64 Mustangs and Stuart Young, (Torana). Closer to home, the Nb Mustangs of Bill Trengrove and Andrew Cannon will certainly be in the mix, while Glenn Miles’ recent form shows he’ll be a factor in his Charger.

Stealing a march on all of them could be Craig Allan’s ultra rapid Torana from Queensland, while this great meeting often attracts super-quick Mazda RX2s from New South Wales. Mark Johnson’s Porsche 911 won’t be suffering brake fade or too much tyre wear over the 17 laps - he’ll be right there at the finish, as will the strong local Torana contingent of Stephen Pillekers, Nathan Gordon and Pete Melick.

The 4-cylinder brigade will fight among themselves: the rapid Datsun 1600 of Russell Pilven has been bought by young gun, Harry Draper, the exuberant Rob van Stokrom will have his BMW flying, Phil Barrow’s astonishing FJ Holden will be there – there’s so much action to see right through the field.

Be there this August 3 & 4! Make a weekend of it and see two days of action, or add a winery visit or a few days skiing. It’s a great time of the year to be north of the Great Divide…