Sat, 21st Mar, 2015 Malcolm & Kerry’s farm, Westbury (Longford Revival Festival)

Clear sky and 7.3 degrees at 7.30. When we got up at 8am it had dropped to 6.9 degrees. Had breakfast and got dressed – dug out the old Bathurst coats to wear, and my gloves. It was 4 degrees outside!! There was frost on one of the cars.

The truck was not happy with the cold air and took a while to get going. Found a park at Longford and headed into the Village Green. Malcolm had given us two of his tickets which was lovely. The competitors were all out of town at the site of the Flying Mile. Unfortunately due to problems between the organisers and the landowner last time they can’t allow spectators out there to watch anymore. There was a huge screen set up in the Green for us to watch but they were having problems getting reception.

We wandered around checking out the other cars that were there for display. Took heaps of photos so here are just a few. Morgan Plus.

Grandad Geck’s old ute!!

Fozzie’s ute.

Steve loved old ‘Olive’ – even had the 44 in the boot.

There were Formula Vees and Sprintcars too.

E Type Jaguar 4.2 – the boot opens sidewards.

They got the picture going of the competitors on the Flying Mile but there was no sound. Malcolm came on so I was able to video his first run. His speed reached 195km over the 800m as the Mile was shortened due to the change in roads and needing braking area etc. It used to be part of the street circuit. He got 200km for his second run.

During the 50s and 60s the quiet country town of Longford came alive. The circuit was built on public roads around the town and was just over 7 kilometres long and attracted some of the era’s biggest and brightest racing stars including the likes of Formula One drivers, Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Bruce McLaren and New Zealander, Chris Amon. Chris set the fastest lap record on the country track in a Ferrari P4 sports car at the final Tasman Series race meet in 1968 with a time of 2:12:6 and an average lap speed of 196km/h. This record remained the fastest lap record for any Australian racing circuit until Formula One moved to the Calder Park Thunderdome in 1987.

The circuit was a challenging one that passed under a railway line viaduct and cross the South Esk River twice via wooden bridges, Kings Bridge and the Long Bridge, a hard right turn near the local pub and the straight, the Flying Mile.

The first race meeting was held on March 2, 1953. By 1960, the circuit became the fastest in Australia when Jack Brabham averaged 169km around the track. Unfortunately the track’s history ended shrouded in financial difficulties but was also around the time public road circuits were closing all over the world with a series of tragic events resulting in deaths. Very little of the original track now remains.

Will and Alex Davison of V8 fame were here as their father and grandfather raced in the series. They had the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3(which used to be shiny silver at previous V8 GT class). Got a shot of it going down the Flying Mile.

This is a Ford, Smith V8 Special. Chatted with the owner. He found it buried in a paddock and didn’t realise what it was until he had bought it – worth a lot more now.

A European wasp decided to have a feed whist hanging off Steve’s hat.

They got the sound going so we could hear the cars roar down the road and the commentator telling us what speeds they reached etc. This Holden supercharged Ute reached 256km/h so we texted Jon – he said his could do better!! His second run reached 260. A Toyota Supra with inline 6 cylinder and big turbo though pipped him with 262km/h.

Will Davison had to abort his run in the Mercedes Benz when he door flew up!!

There was a video of old footage etc they played in between runs – this is a map of the old circuit.

Malcolm found us and we had some lunch then wandered over to check out all the competitors’ cars. The men were in heaven.

A Replica of the Porsche Spyder.

A mini then Malcolm’s 2003 PRB Clubman with Lotus engine.

Grand old Bentley.

A Ford, Shelby Cobra replica.

The Ford, Smith V8 Special was having some difficulties.

1979 Pontiac Firebird, Yellowbird Espirit.

Ford Factory Five Challenge Cobra.

Replica Brocky special.

Steve hadn’t ever heard of a Jensen Interceptor III. It is an English Company that were chasing more horsepower so they fitted it with a Chrysler Mopar engine and running gear.

There was even one old motorbike.

There was certainly a big crowd.

They were still working on the Special.

Will Davison popped out of the truck so snapped of a shot of him having a laugh.

Malcolm was chilling out.

The fast ute.

Ferrari V12 456GTA.

Steve poured over the Supra’s engine – these photos are for Daniel.

Malcolm’s friend’s Elfin Clubman.

The ‘Harry Potter’ car, Anglia only has a little engine.

This one looks like an old Speedcar – they are having problems too. Malcolm already helped them out yesterday – water in their fuel!!

There were a couple of great cars parked out on the road too.

Greg Crick was there with his 1973 Valiant Charger E55 that he races in the Touring Car Masters.

Cute Morris 1000.

1973 Jaguar Series 3 “E-type”.

Another unusual name  - 1972 De Tamaso Pantera – mid mount engine (right behind the driver!!)

Another Shelby Cobra.

A Datsun 2000.

GTR-XU1 Torana – one standard and one done up.

1960 Cadillac Coupe de Ville, imported to Australia from California in 1987. It is 5.715 metres long – fancy parking that!!

There were two live bands entertaining us through the ‘lunch’ session. The street course was supposed to start at 3pm but it was nearly 4 when they started. We had walked outside to be beside the track but couldn’t get close enough. Ended up standing at the intersection so we could see up the street and also see the big screen.

A few got a bit excited when doing the sharp left turn into the straight by the green. Others just enjoyed the ride. Got Malcolm’s first drive on video – nice and neat with a little tyre squeal.

The ute driver though got right into it smoking up the tyres big time then fishtailing as he came around the corner. Unfortunately went too far and crashed into a fence and shed and wrote off his ute!!! I got it all on video too. I then took some photos when they put up the replay. 

Malcolm’s next run though didn’t go well as he overshot the corner and ended up going through the safety tape but he backed it up and went around past the green ok with no damage to the car. I got that on video too!!!

We decided to head off as it was already 6pm and there were still a lot of cars left to run through. They were lined up near the “Pub Corner” ready for another run as we headed out of town.

Rick texted to say Kaylene’s father, Bill, had passed away. Our thoughts are with all the family. He will be missed by all.

Had some dinner then Malcolm arrived – they had a few more runs so he didn’t get out of there till 7.30pm. Enjoyed himself .

Erica rang from Renmark in South Australia on their Murray River trip – having a great time.

Sophie had made Sticky Date pudding so we joined them for dessert – delicious.

Not as cold tonight though the sky is clear. We rang Tracy Pink to see how she is going too as she sent a text updating us on Grant’s progress. Long road ahead but he is doing well.