HTCAV – 2024 Historic Winton report

Words: Darren Knight

Photos: As indicated

One of the world’s oldest historic race meetings, Historic Winton marked its 47th edition this year. For many, making the annual pilgrimage to the circuit north of Benalla is a must-do, but Historic Winton hasn’t been on the HTCAV programme recently. It was back this year, though, with a special attraction for drivers and fans alike.

A one-off Cortina-only race – the Cortina Challenge - was a first for Historic Winton, celebrating 60 years of Australian race wins for the ever-popular small Ford. A very healthy 15 entries for this special race included a mix of GT and Lotus models, familiar names from the current HTCAV field, a couple of new faces and the return of a past champion.

The Cortina Challenge, mid-afternoon Saturday

After three years in the shed, Nick Cascone’s rapid yellow MkI Cortina GT demonstrated all its old pace by jumping to the lead in front of the hard-charging Lotus of Peter van Summeren. Behind, an almighty battle erupted between the GTs of Stuart Barnes, Don Knight and the NSW trio of John Harrison, former Jaguar racer John Shuttle and Jerry Lenstra, with the proverbial blanket covering them.

Lotus-mounted Chris Dubois (NSW) fell from third place after slipping on oil exiting the esses and re-joined well down the order.

While the Cortina Challenge was only five laps, it was a frantic five, given most of the field was so evenly matched. At the chequer, Cascone took out the special trophy, with van Summeren second and 2023 HTCAV Club Champ Les Walmsley third in his GT.

This Cortina Challenge was a great success and testament to the vision and hard work of long-time HTCAV stalwart, Jim Collins. If the entry numbers are there, similar one-make races would surely be a popular attraction in the future.

Race 1, late Saturday

NSW’s Adam Bressington (Mini) lost a wheel after setting pole in qualifying, but he shrugged that off to grab the early lead over Victoria’s Richard Hill (Mini). All hell broke loose behind them when Van Summeren had a big tank slapper exiting Turn 1. Following cars went in all directions to avoid the Cortina slewing back across the track, but in a cloud of dust, there was inevitably some panel crunching. Barnes and Lenstra were out on the spot, while Kim Shearn (Lotus Cortina) and Phil Barrow (FJ Holden) continued with hefty damage.  

Hill, back racing after copping a big hit at the Phillip Island Classic in March, kept maximum pressure on the leading Bressington but couldn’t quite catch the Sydneysider by the finish. A huge dice for third raged between Tony Hubbard (Camaro), Cascone and the Minis of NSW’s Tom Tweedie and Linda Devlin. That quartet finished in the same order after ten laps of great racing.

Race 2, mid Sunday

Hill got the drop on Bressington to grab the lead this time, with the two Minis haring off at the head of the field, virtually locked together. Hubbard made an eye-catching lunge at the end of the short circuit’s back straight to snatch third from Cascone, who soon had Devlin all over his back bumper. Barrow, despite the damage incurred earlier, was in his element hunting Cortinas, holding down an amazing eleventh outright, closely followed by Dean McLaughlan (Datsun) and Harrison.

Behind this group, Shuttle pressured veteran South Aussie Ian Pringle (Mini), who was posting his fastest ever laps at Winton. Fellow Mini man David Cheney dropped a wheel into the dirt but managed to stay ahead of Walmsley.

At the end of six exciting laps, Hill just edged out Bressington for the win, with Hubbard similarly besting Tweedie for third ahead of the warring duo of Cascone and Devlin. Completing the Top Ten were Steven McKay (Mini), van Summeren, Cheney and Walmsley.

Race 3, late Sunday

With the late afternoon sun right in drivers’ eyes, the final ten-lapper saw a slightly messy getaway, with a few jumping the start and a few missing it! Bressington wasn’t hanging around to find out who did what, bolting to build a handy lead, with Hubbard slotting into second in front of Devlin. In contrast, Hill dropped several spots at the start, but was soon back on pace and picking off cars at will. Cascone and van Summeren ran side-by-side for a fair part of a lap as Hill went off the track while hounding Tweedie for third but re-joined.

Worse was to come for Hill when he was tapped into a spin by Hubbard during a three-way Mini attack. Cascone’s skilful avoidance on the grass just brushed the stranded brick as Tweedie nipped under Hubbard, whose tyres were now well past their best.

Start line infringement penalties lopped five seconds from ex-TCM racer Bressington and Sports Sedan legend Hubbard’s times, but such was the former’s margin it was still a ‘Bresso’ win ahead of Tweedie, with Devlin elevated to third for an all-Mini podium. Adding Hubbard’s further 15-second penalty for the Hill tap, Seymour’s fastest Camaro punter was relegated to eighth in the closely packed top ten, behind Cascone, van Summeren, Cheney and McKay.

Fittingly, Bressington received the Makulu Vehicle Storage Driver of the Meeting Award after some tiger drives.

All in all, the 47th Historic Winton was a great meeting. One can only hope the racing (and incredible weather) will again feature for the VHRR’s Winton Festival of Speed - using the full 3km circuit layout – on the first weekend in August. 

You’d be crazy to miss it!