About TACCOC
The Thoroughbred & Classic Car Owners Club Incorporated was originally
formed to cater for enthusiasts with English and European sports and
grand-touring cars. This was soon extended to include historic racing cars.
From this base the club has grown to become the major club promoting classic
motor racing in New Zealand. Over the last twenty-five years it has organised
numerous Classic & Historic race meetings at Whenuapai, Pukekohe, Bay
Park and Taupo. Currently the race programme includes two Pukekohe and two
Taupo meetings. All of these traditionally involve competitors from most
of the other marque clubs in the New Zealand classic scene.
Other TACCOC activities include social events such as the occasional lunch
or picnic run, an annual "Relapse Weekend" away, and the annual "Awards Dinner".
As TACCOC has no permanent trophies for anything other than service to classic
racing / historic racing, the dinner is a convivial evening dedicated to
good company and good food with hilarious interludes for the presentation
of blooper awards. Numbers are restricted and tickets are keenly sought after.
If you own a car that you think may make you eligible for membership, you
can apply on the Register form on the "Membership" page or e-mail
secretary@taccoc.co.nz.
TACCOC History
Foundation:
The Thoroughbred & Classic Car Owners Club (TACCOC ) was founded on the
20th of May 1976. It was registered as an incorporated society in October
of that year, and affiliated to MANZ, now Motorsport New Zealand, early in
1977. The Club Patron was Les (Pop) McLaren.
Aims:
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To preserve and promote the sporting fellowship of like-minded enthusiasts
for cars deemed by the Committee to be Classic or Thoroughbred.
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To maintain affiliation with Motorsport New Zealand Incorporated and to abide
by its rules and those of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile.
Early Activities:
Sunday
5 September 1976 |
The first event: a Trial on commencing at the Sunken Gardens in Cornwall
Park, and finishing with a smorgasbord meal at Windsor Park, Mairangi Bay,
at a cost of $5 per head. |
| 7 November 1976 |
TACCOC Concours at Totara Park, Manurewa. 29 cars and 58 people present. |
| 21 November 1976 |
Corban's Vineyard: tour and catered barbecue lunch. 52 attended. |
| 18 December 1976 |
Christmas function at The Diamond Chinese restaurant. |
Classic Racing:
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February 1977: TACCOC's first sprint meeting held at Bay Park Raceway. The
permit limited us to dual sprints with a maximum of four cars on the track
at any one time.
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Noted in the Minutes of 21 March 1977 was the resolution to set up a TACCOC
"Register of Historic Racing Cars".
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There followed a pattern of social events interspersed with classic race
events, trials and gymkhanas.
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The Bay Park and, subsequently, Taupo and Pukekohe track meetings were building
from dual sprints to triple sprints and pursuit sprints as our members were
gradually introduced to classic racing.
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The first official Thoroughbred & Classic Racing Regulations, Schedule
K, was written by TACCOC with assistance from the RAC and Trevor Birch from
MANZ. Adopted by MANZ at their 1978 conference and AGM.
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The first TACCOC Whenuapai Wings & Wheels event was held on 26 February
1984 with over 200 cars entered. It was a great success and rapidly grew
to become the largest motor sport event held in New Zealand at that time,
with over 20,000 spectators on numerous occasions. These Whenuapai events
raised many thousands of dollars for charity over those years and established
a tradition that ended when the RNZAF closed the airfield to motor-sport
events in 2000.
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The concept for Regularity Trials, now called Classic Trials, was introduced
to New Zealand motorsport in 1998 by TACCOC, along the basic guidelines used
in similar events seen in Australia. This now provides a low-level introduction
to circuit driving, without the stresses and requirements of full racing.
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