The Lufra Hotel, overlooking the Tessellated Pavement on the shores of Pirates Bay at Eaglehawk Neck, Tasmania, is normally a serene setting where the loudest sound is the dull boom of incoming surf. Not so once a year, though; each August, the state's southern-based Italian car club, Club Motori Italia (CMI), runs its annual Lufra hill-climb and the still, chilly winter's air reverberates to the sound of classic sports- and performance-cars as they vie for honours on the steep and winding road from the hotel to the scenic look-out that provides sweeping views of the majestic Tasman Peninsula, an hour or so's drive south-east of Hobart.
This year's event got off to a nippy start with a sharpish breeze and an early morning sun that failed to deliver the warmth it promised, and did little - if anything - to dry the dewy course surface, although it did cast a beautiful golden light over the bay. But it wasn't just the lovely setting that excited the eye, with a truly gorgeous array of classic and sports cars assembled as part of the competition field and an accompanying display, with vehicles as diverse as a 1940s' bus, complete with World War II era charcoal-fired gas producer mounted on its rear bumper, through to the finest marques from the world's greatest car producers.
Amongst the competitors were Aussie-made cars like the tough-as Torana GTR XU-1 seen above, as well as a replica Peter Brock Mobil 05 Commodore that looked right at home next to a Dick Johnson / Shell Racing EA Falcon homage from the same era, as well as an AU Falcon XR6. Britain was well-represented with everything from the lithe Lotus Elan featured below, right through to E-Type and XJ series Jags, a 1938 Riley Elf, three Minis - a 'classic', a Clubman and a contemporary BMW version - a left-hand-drive MGB, an Austin Healey 3000, a Triumph Dolomite Sprint, a rotary-powered, chop-topped Morris Minor, a Westfield and an awesome V8 1970s' Aston Martin Vantage. German entries included a Porsche 358 Carrera, a BMW Z4 M and a Mercedes SLK, while Japanese contenders comprised of a couple of Subaru WRXs, a Nissan Skyline GTR, a Toyota Celica and a pair of Corollas, a late-model Mazda RX7, a Suzuki Swift and a Honda roadster.
Having been organised by CMI, there were of course a few Italian classics competing, too, including Phil Blake's hugely successful Targa-class winning Fiat 850 Abarth replica, as well as Pat A's highly competitive Fiat X1/9, Tristan's punchy Fiat 850 Sport and a very tidy Alfasud Sprint. Also flying the flag for CMI - although proudly French (or Argentinian?) - was Chris E's superb Pur Sang (Pure Blood) Bugatti Tipo 35 replica that was doing duty as the event's flag car.
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| This year's flag car: Chris E's magnificent Pur Sang Bugatti Tipo 35 replica. |
The accompanying display was well worth a look, too, featuring as it did another two Jags, an FJ Holden, a 1950s' Ford coupe utility, a really straight and tidy XD Falcon wagon, a Corvette and a couple of much older vehicles, the details of which I'm not sure. There was also a quite spectacular, rather rare Tommy Kaira edition Nissan Skyline GTS in almost fluorescent metallic green that would be sure to ignite the passions of Japanese domestic market (JDM) car fans!
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| Spectators enjoying both the natural and automotive scenery from the Lufra's front terrace. |
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| Tristan's Series 2 Fiat 850 Sport. |
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| Mike C's Riley Elf. |
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| Mike C. |
The hill climb is a regularity event in which drivers nominate a time within which they believe they can consistently complete the course, then undertake a number of timed runs with the aim of staying at, or as close to, their estimates as possible. The winner is the person who most accurately matches their estimate to his or her actual times. This means that outright speed is not required to win the event. However, that's not to say that competition isn't fierce and there isn't some great driving to be seen! Participants drive fast and well, often pushing themselves and their machines close to their limits and providing a great spectacle.
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| Luke A's 2.4 litre, IRS Celica. |
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| Mike B's 356 Carrera. |
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| Pat A in his stripped-down Fiat X1/9. |
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| About to be let off its leash: Pat's X1/9 on the starting line. |
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| Hunkering down: Pat drops the clutch on his X1/9 and burns some rubber! |
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| Smokin': The RX7's rear wheels light up! |
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| Going ... |
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| Going ... |
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| Gone! |
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| Forget the footy! This is Australia's most enduring sporting rivalry. |
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| Chocks away! |
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| Father and son competition: Pat and his X1/9 -v- Luke and his Celica (below). |
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| The Phil Blake 850 Abarth replica. |
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| John K and his ex-USA / ex-Dugney MGB. |
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| The Stig? Or My Favourite Martian?? |
From a spectator's point of view, the Lufra hill climb is a real ripper with great access to multiple viewing points and the ability watch all the starting line action, too. Because competitors are permitted several goes at the course, it's possible to see your favourite cars light-up at the start and then move on to a new position to see them tackle any number of the course's tight - and often still damp - corners during subsequent runs. The sound of roaring exhausts echoing off the nearby hill, amphitheatre-style, isn't too bad, either!
For me, the Lufra hill climb is as much a celebration of motoring as it is a competition and, as such, I didn't pay much attention to the overall victor and various class winners. The results are, however, available from the following link: http://cmitas.org/blog/2018/08/lufra-2018-results-available/ for those who are interested.
Thanks go to CMI and all their volunteers for having organised another stellar hill climb. Sincere appreciation also goes to the people of Eaglehawk Neck for allowing the event to proceed in your lovely, usually peaceful, bay-side hideaway!
U M P H
(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)
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