2013 37th Historic Winton report
Conducted over the weekend of May 25 - 26 by the Austin 7 Club Inc., assisted by the Historic Motorcycle Racing Association of Victoria (HMRAV), this year's 37th Historic Winton was conducted without one of the stalwarts of the event in Mick Ronke, the CEO of Winton Motor Raceway, who passed away on April 30 (see tribute at end of this article).
On-track action covered Vintage, Class C, Period 2, 3, 4 and 5 solo classes, including Sunday's Bill Luke Memorial Trophy and Ken Lucas Classic Solo Trophy races. Sidecars also featured, with this year's event seeing a particularly good number of outfits represented. Saturday saw some fiercely contested racing, which resulted in more than a few accidents. Fortunately, these were minor.
In the combined Vintage, Class C and P2 & 3 events saw bikes as diverse as a BSA Goldstar, Ducati Diana, AJS 18, Harley WL and Suzuki Stinger on track. Phil Paton's '62 Bultaco TSS 350 was streaks ahead of the opposition, but the 1926 Indian Altoonas of Stan Mucha and Peter Birthisel proved they've still got what it takes, outpacing a number of much newer rivals.
Terry Morris, on the Nico Bakker TZ was the best of the P5 under 600cc entrants, Garth Francis was quick on his Atlas-engined Norton Manx in P3 all weekend, and won Sunday's Bill Luke Memorial P2/P3 race, while Denis Brown's Harris TZ400 was popular with fans whenever it took to the track.
In the unlimited P4 and P5 races, the all-black Irving Vincent 1300 was like Black Caviar: unbeatable and unbackable! Beau Beaton lived up to his 'Beau Show' nickname, turning on wheelies for the fans at the end of each race. While it was in clean air on the track, the beautifully sleek Irving Vincent was surrounded by fans and enthusiasts each time it was parked up in the pits.
The sidecar class was owned by Doug Chivas and Matthew McKinnon. A stalwart of sidecar racing, Chivo's Yamaha TZ 750-powered 'Peterbuilt' outfit won all sidecar races. Being at the head of the field, Chivas/McKinnon also avoided the coming together between the #78 TriBSA and #92 Honda Martin outfits that caused one of Saturday's races to be red flagged.
Doug Gorrie and Peter Large performed 'double duty' for much of the weekend, switching between P3 and P5 bikes and their sidecar outfits. Other on track highlights amongst the bikes included Ken Lucas' 1928 Douglas TT, Kelton Cheeseman's quick 940cc P4 Honda CB750, Cameron Rock's battered '41 Matchless G3R, Joe Valenzisi's well-presented Ducati Diana, and an impressive turnout of Yamaha RD250 and RD350LCs.
Away from the track, highlights amongst the display bikes included a 1903 Minerva-engined "Relay" motorcycle and a rare BSA Y13 sidecar outfit. This 750cc v-twin classic also took to the track for Sunday's parade laps of invited vehicles.
Also on show was a small selection of cyclecars on show, comprising a Burrell, Minervette and Tweenie. These lightweight combinations of car and motorcycle componentry drew attention in their pit display all weekend.
At the conclusion of the weekend's racing, this year's Historic Winton was judged be another highly successful event.
www.historicwinton.org
images: JUST BIKES
VALE Mick Ronke
Winton Motor Raceway lost its guiding light on April 30 with the passing of Mick Ronke, aged 66.
As a teenager, Ronke saw his father and other local enthusiasts literally carve the track out of the bush and farmland at Winton 52 years ago. Ronke would then spend all his adult life working at the regional Victorian circuit.
As CEO of Winton Motor Raceway, it was Ronke's tireless efforts in promoting and improving the circuit over the past four decades that has seen it continue to be one of the top attractions in the region, as well as one of the most popular race circuits in rural Australia.
With so much of his family's - and his own - history invested in Winton, Ronke was both immensely proud and fiercely protective of the circuit, and has been regarded by many as its greatest champion. His passion for grassroots motorsport ensured events like Historic Winton, amongst others, always had a home at the circuit.
Ronke oversaw the extension of the track in 1997, creating the 3-kilometre 'long' circuit and expanded facilities used by V8 Supercars, which has ensured Winton's survival and continued relevance in era when dedicated racetracks, especially in regional areas, have all but disappeared.
The latest development under Ronke's direction was the addition of a hardstand area at the 'sweeper' section (aka the Winton oval), work on which had already commenced by the weekend of Historic Winton, along with improvements to the circuit's power supply.
Ronke is survived by partner Heather, and sons Matthew and Adam. JUST BIKES extends its sympathies to the Ronke family and friends.
