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Uncles Club returns to Hampton Downs National Circuit!

3 March, 2017

 

After a brief hiatus from the Hampton Downs National Circuit — instead using the Club Circuit — Uncles Club have announced that their twilight track nights will return to the National Circuit on Tuesday, March 28, 2017.

Regular supporters of the events questioned the move to the Club Circuit late last year, and the management team have recently addressed this in a statement. 

The statement said, “With the new ownership of Hampton Downs there has been a huge investment in the facilities to complete the dream that was founded by Tony Roberts and Chris Watson.

“No one can deny that the vision was bold and many people got behind the concept by investing in the apartment complex. As time progressed and the funding lines became exhausted, the development at this world-class facility came to an abrupt halt and so Hampton Downs was offered for sale — up stepped Tony Quinn and in record time he has transformed the facility.”

“Uncles Club was originally formed by a group of apartment owners wanting to enjoy the track on a casual basis in the twilight hours. After a period of time the number of people attending the track time grew and the need for better systems around the management of each group was required, and so we took over the management of the track activities. 

“Under the new track ownership the cost of track hire was increased to reflect the capital investment, and at the same time the availability of the National Circuit was reduced so the only option was to continue the Uncles Club track sessions on the newly formed Club Track. 

“Since that time we have seen a reduction in the support of Uncles Club and this has been due to a number of reasons, but by far the largest reason for the drop in numbers attending has been the size of the Club Track. We have been able to negotiate a return to the National Circuit as a one-off on [March 28], 2017 to see if there is still support for Uncles Club. It is quite simple: ‘use it or lose it’.”

With the announcement of the one-off move back to the National Circuit as a tester, and all other Uncles Club track dates cancelled, it will be important to show your support by attending the twilight track session to ensure future events can, and will, take place.

 

Event date:
Tuesday, March 28

Where:
Hampton Downs Motorsport Park.

Times:
Registration: 4pm
Drivers’ briefing: 4.45pm
Track time: 5–7pm

Cost:
$125 bank transfer, credit card, or cash on the day (subject to availability)

 

Reminders:

  • All drivers are to be over 18 years of age
  • All drivers need to hold a current full driver’s licence and not a probationary licence
  • Fire-retardant overalls are required (drivers and passengers)
  • Helmets required (drivers and passengers)
  • Enclosed footwear required
  • Cars must be to WOF standard
  • No drifting allowed
  • Passengers can only travel in caged cars
  • Base boards for jacking in the pits are required to prevent damage to tarmac

“Gotcha!’’ The continuing tale of a Nissan/Datsun tragic – part two

8 May, 2026

In 1996, I was on a mission to buy a suitable pavement scorcher and visited the now-defunct Manukau City Car Fair. Unbelievably, among the sea of four-door utilitarian Japanese compacts was the absolute jewel in the crown, my automobile wet dream — a 1985 two-door R30 RS Nissan Skyline FJ20 Turbo five-speed manual in nice condition. The owner wanted $10,000 — a great deal.
But what did I do? I bailed out, paralysed by indecision. The money would have been a stretch, but it was the worst automotive choice I ever made. Instead, I went for a rusty Toyota Sprinter 8 Valve Twin Cam Coupé, which was pretty terminal from the get-go. I know. We’ve all done it, but there was really no excuse for passing up the Skyline, and I was haunted by that for years.

Last Tango in the Fast Lane

30 April, 2026

In the mid ’80s, I locked into a serious Nissan/Datsun performance obsession. It could have kicked off with my ’82 Datsun Sunny, though this would have been a bit of a stretch of the imagination, given its normally aspirated 1.2-litre motor — not the sort of thing to unleash radical road warrior dreams. But it did plant a seed, and it was a sweet little machine and surprisingly quick, in contrast to all the diabolical English offerings I had endured.
I was living in South Auckland at the time and was an unrepentant petrolhead. Motor racing was my drug of choice, and I followed the scene slavishly. Saloon car racing, with the arrival of the international Group A formula, was having a serious renaissance here and in Australia and Europe. There was suddenly an exotic air in local racing that had been absent for 15 years.
I was transfixed by this new frontier of motor racing that had hit our tracks in 1985–87 and the new array of machinery on display. In 1986, the Nissan Skyline RS DR30 made a blinding impression on me. The Australian Fred Gibson-run, Peter Jackson-sponsored team of George Fury and Glenn Seton were the fastest crew of the 1986 Australian Touring Car Championship. But Kiwi legend Robbie Francevic snuck through to win the Aussie Championship in his Volvo 240T after a strong start and consistent finishes.