Vintage Lithgow
Tweetpress release
Last weekend 11th / 12th and 13th of May, saw the Vintage and Historic Kart Club of Australia conduct one of their annual New South Wales gatherings at the superb Combined District Kart Club facility in Lithgow.
Some 30 Vintage karting enthusiasts from Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia, joined with their counterparts from New South Wales, to present more than 60 “OLD” karts from our past, for a 3 day Vintage demonstration spectacular that was enjoyed by everybody.
Friday saw the teams arrive, set up camp, and sample the enjoyable Lithgow Circuit with the weather playing the game and providing a beautiful sunny day. After many testing laps everybody was convinced that their “Old Karts” were ready for a thrilling Saturday demonstration, then adjourned to the local Chinese restaurant for a great night of fellowship and fine food.
Saturday was again blessed with wonderful bright sun-shinning weather and the “old” karts were fired up for a day of memories and extreme excitement that driving some of these “blasts from our past” always provide, not only for the drivers, but the considerable number of gathered spectators who were just amazed at the performance of some of the immaculate prepared and presented equipment.
There is absolutely no doubt that while the performances of some of the twin rotary engine beasts, that claimed to have more than 70 HP on tap, were just breathtaking, some very well prepared single engine beasts from our past were almost as quick around the Lithgow circuit, but they lacked the thrill of the twins leaving big black rubber marks when their drivers put the pedal to the metal on entering the two Lithgow straights.
Saturday night was another gathering with a tremendous meal provided by the staff of the Commercial Hotel in Lithgow and everybody would suggest that if you are ever in Lithgow that you really give the venue a try for what must have been the biggest, quality meals that were ever presented.
Many presentations were made to karters for; The Most Original, Best restored, etc were the order of the night with the “GOLD” (Yes GOLD!!) Jacket being shared by Leigh Hunter and John Robotham for the preparation and effort that they have put into the restoration of their twin engine monsters.
Kart 1 was the first Australian kart, the absolute originally restored, ALVIN Kart, beautifully presented by the son of the builder John Lawrence. This kart was the very start of our great sport here in Australia.
Photo of the event can be viewed / purchased at PAMS PICS, for we appreciated the effort of Pam and Andy Mathews who not only took many photos but assisted in many other ways over the weekend.
All the members of the New South Wales branch of the VHKA can be very proud of the effort that was put in, a truly team effort that was appreciated by all who attended.
The troop now prepares for our next outing at Tamworth where we will have another enjoyable outing as the Tamworth club has always provided a truly country style friendly meeting over past years, then it will be down to the Numurkah facility in Victoria, and there is no doubt that the Victorians will be presenting a weekend at least equal to that provided over last weekend by the New South Wales Group.
The Vintage and Historic Karting of Australia continues to grow with state clubs now formed in most states of Australia. Should anybody require any information it can be gathered from the State branches of the Australian Karting Association, or from the Association web site www.vintagekart.4t.com
