Australia’s Historic Sports & Racing Car Association (HSRCA) has announced the creation of a 1960s-era Tasman Revival race meeting to be held December 1–3, 2006 at Eastern Creek Raceway near Sydney.
Cars from the 1960s Tasman Series races in New Zealand and Australia will be the centerpiece of this three-day race meeting with practice and qualifying on the Friday and racing on Saturday and Sunday. Sunday will be the preserve of cars manufactured up through 1969 (the year when the Tasman Cup for 2.5-liter cars ended). Organizers have also announced that Sunday will require period dress and mutton-chop sideburns for entry into the pits a la Goodwood! Other race groups will feature touring cars and sports cars from the 1960s.
The Tasman Series officially started with the introduction, in 1964, of an FIA-recognized Tasman Formula for 2.5-liter cars running on Avgas. The series evolved from international participation in off-season races in New Zealand in the late 1950s to also encompass similar races in Australia in 1961. In both countries, these races were the high point of the motorsport year. They brought overseas greats—including world champions Brabham, Clark, Stewart, Hulme, Graham Hill and Phil Hill—to race against the best local drivers such as Palmer, Stillwell, Matich, Geoghegan, Bartlett and Martin.
The HSRCA is seeking to contact owners of cars with Tasman history, and also to contact drivers and behind-the-scenes personnel from the New Zealand and Australian races of the 1960s. The club can be reached at members@hsrca.org.au and for further information, visit www.hsrca.org.au.
