Classic cars still have that racy feeling

JOHN BISSET/Timaru Herald

PRIDE AND PASSION: Timaru's Bruce Tinnelly will jump behind the wheel of his 1969 Ford Lotus Cortina and battle it out with 40 other small saloon cars at the classic car racing event this weekend.

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Classic car drivers may see their machines as their pride and joy, but when it comes to race time, it's every driver for themselves.

Timaru's Bruce Tinnelly and his 1969 Lotus Cortina will be in the thick of it this weekend at Timaru's Levels raceway, when he lines up against 40 other small saloon cars.

Tinnelly said the good thing about classic car racing was that cars must remain as original as possible. He got involved five years ago after nursing a long-time passion for cars. He was drawn to the Lotus Cortina because of its quality.

"The Lotus is the top-of-the-line [model for this car] and with the top motor ... it's such a genuine car.

"It's got aluminium doors, boot and bonnet on it. They built them lighter for the racing ... they're an easy car to work on."

Tinnelly spends weekends doing little things to improve the car, especially before events. While there was a lot of respect from the drivers towards each other, the racing was always competitive, he said. "Everyone respects each other's cars because a lot of them are irreplaceable now ... They're definitely not into that banging and crashing, you'll yield before you crash in to someone.

"It's competitive though, you still get the red mist," Tinnelly said.