The Historic Racing Car Club Queensland ('HRCC') held its Historic Queensland event on the weekend of the 5th and 6th July 2025 at Queensland Raceway, WIllowbank (Ipswich) QLD. HRCC's program was replete with all forms of historic motorsport categories and Groups, and for the first time this also include motorcycles. A major feature of the event was the Formula 5000 race cars that took part along with some other great motorsport machinery such as the BMW M1 from the Bowden Collection.

Although Group Nd competitors have previously gathered and competed together, during May 2025 the Historic Racing Car Club of Queensland ('HRCC') opened their Autumn Classic Speedfest to include Group Nd cars.  The Autumn Classic Speedfest was held from the 9th to the 11th of May at Morgan Park Raceway and this was a 'first' for Group Nd competitors at an all historic event.

Another 'first' for the 'Group Nd almanac' is that on the Saturday morning Group Nd was called over the public address system to the dummy grid - we breathed in the moment, as never before at any other track in Australia had this been done! As another first for Group Nd, HRCC were incredibly supportive and provided us with trophies.

Prior to the event we had received around 12 registrations of interest and when entries were finally sorted we had six Group Nd cars entered plus three additional cars that were welcomed onto our grid but were not cars that would be eligible for Group Nd.  So the cars entered for the first of four super sprints we had the following:

• Nissan R30 skyline (New Group ND spec car)
• Triumph Dolomite Sprint (existing Group ND spec car)
• Alpa Romeo (existing Group ND spec car)
• VC Commodore 308 (what we believe is an ex Commodore cup car, which is basically on spec for Group Nd)
• VB Commodore 308
• Ford XB Falcon GT

The point score was taken over the first three super sprints and John Gilbert in his VC Commodore came home first with 68points while Dave Richardson in the Alfa brought home second on 59points. Joshua Schauer came incredibly close to the silverware with 54points, which was only 4points behind Gary Hunt in the Triumph.

With the final Group Nd super sprint being the very last event on the schedule and also being outside the point score the competitors decided to make it fun outing on the track. All competitors took turns in leading the peloton and messers Richardson and Hunt did a 1-2 finish a-la Moffat and Bond style across the finish line.

The camaraderie amongst the competitors was certainly a highlight of the weekend. This along with great competitive fun, good track time and amazing support of the HRCC certainly made the weekend of 'firsts' incredibly enjoyable. We are looking forward to July when HRCC will be running their Queensland Classic at QR!

Throughout 2024 Group Nd competitors presented and competed across the four rounds of the Queensland Super Sprint Series at Morgan Park Raceway.  The Group Nd competitors were a regular staple in the 'C Series' which had rounds held in April, May, September and November. The calendar made for an even spread across the seasons but the weather was accomodating throughout the year.

In 2023 Warwick District Sporting Car Club agreed to include 'Group Nd' cars by way of an entry that allowed for Group N to also included 'invited' cars.  With that in place the first car to be entered was a Triumph Dolomite Sprint.  This car has been effectively the 'working example' for the draft regulations with it being compliant with the draft eligibility and its modifications being compliant with the freedoms allowed. The car was presented well too with period correct wheel arch flares, spoilers and wheels.

Other cars joining the field included an Alfa Romeo, Toyota AE86 Sprnter and a Volvo 240. An interesting aspect to these cars is that they are not only compliant with the draft eligibility but are also very reflectivce of the 'grass-roots' nature of cars that will propel Group Nd over the coming years. In addition to these cars though was a number of others cars that fit with the elgibility criteria such as Commodores, Datsun 1200's and Geminis. The presnetation of the Group Nd cars kicked off a lot of discussion with other competitors about eligibility and participation. 

There were no trophies on offer in the 2024 season specifically for Group Nd, but what was most evident is that comaraderie amongst competitors (and spectators) around cars from the era is perhaps the greater reward. Lots of fireside chats and stories has now become a key facet of the Group Nd community!