The outing in the classic Ford racer, whose low-profile shape maintains timeless appeal, will be part of a demonstration of rare, characterful historic performance cars that Manfeild chief executive Heather Verry says are of special significance to New Zealand motorsport.
The timing could also not be better, she says, since the New Zealand Grand Prix will be hosted at the circuit just three weekends afterward, on February 12.
"It is a great opportunity to make it a double-header of sorts - motor-racing buffs can come along in January to see some of the most fabulous racing cars of times gone by then return on February 12 to see the latest motorsport machines, of the Toyota Racing Series, battle for the country's most prestigious domestic motorsport prize."
The rally is expected to generate $12 million and attract in excess of 30,000 people - one of the biggest events Wanganui has ever hosted, Mrs Verry noted.
"It's fantastic that the programme also allows these automotive treasures to be seen throughout the region, and especially on our circuit where fans will be able to tune into mechanical music from virtually every important era of motoring history."
The Trophy event is open to the public ($10 per adult, children free) and will give old car fans of all ages particularly good opportunity to get close up to a multitude of NZ and overseas-owned vintage and veteran cars here for the 12-day international rally.
While around 70 cars are involved in the trophy competition itself, it is envisaged many more vehicles from the full field of 700 vehicles attending might tour down from rally central in Wanganui for the day.
The entry includes 42 cars from England, Europe, America, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Sweden and the Cook Islands.
The most ancient of the old-time racers participating in circuit activity is a true track veteran, a 1906 Darracq 14-litre Grand Prix car, owned and driven by Anne Thomson. The car is the only survivor that can be traced back to the world's first ever Grand Prix, staged in France in 1906. In 2006 it went to France as a 'guest of honour' for the centenary of that event.
Demonstrated on the day will be two cars from the Southward Museum Trust that have previously run at Manfeild during New Zealand Grand Prix outings.
The ex Owen Organisation 1954 Maserati 250F Grand prix car was raced by Ken Wharton, Peter Collins and Mike Hawthorn before passing to Jack Brabham who brought it to New Zealand. This is the car in which Amon's talent was first noticed.
The second, a 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza sports racing car, was brought here by Briton Wharton who fatally crashed it at Ardmore. Resurrected by Ken Harris it was campaigned in various hands, and has been restored by Southwards
Rounding out the field are a 1920s' Bugatti Type 35 raced in New Zealand in the 1950s by Ron Roycroft (and now owned and driven by his son, Terry) and a true Kiwi special, the Stanton Corvette. This 1960's one-off will be demonstrated by its owner, Russell Greer.
The Manfeild event comes four days after the rally's formal opening in Wanganui. The entrants go on daily return road tours around the region and Mason's itinerary takes him to Feilding on January 20.
The Pomeroy is a light-hearted event based on serious data, adapted to determine the ultimate touring car, For the first time, motorcycles have also been invited.
It stays true today to the formula devised by namesake creator, British technical motoring writer Laurence Pomeroy, when he set out to fairly compare Grand Prix cars from differing eras.
The circuit work obliges entrants to undertake standing start and flying sprints over a quarter mile, a precision braking test and a slalom. There's also a road-driving test.
However, driving is only the half of it. The process equates engine size, wheelbase, age of vehicle and braking ability. For cars, marks are awarded for the ability to carry the regulation pair of suitcases inside the car, the carrying of a spare wheel/tyre, and an appropriate hood, which must be erected for a stipulated part of the event.
Results from each test are fed into a formula complex enough to baffle Einstein and the number-crunching will produce an ultimate victor.
Mason is unlikely to be fazed by this being his first time on Manfeild circuit and in the New Zealand-owned GT40. The musician is a seasoned racer of contemporary and historic performance cars, with five Le Mans' races under his belt, and also has a genuine GT40 amongst his large personal collection of classic racing cars.
His driving skills are such that he has become one of very few non factory-aligned drivers signed by Audi to race their mighty and now priceless pre-WWII Auto Union Grand Prix cars.
The GT40 is just as special. After McLaren and co-driver Amon gave the car its first big win in France, with Hulme close behind, 45 years ago the type secured the top three places in the Daytona 24 Hour, followed by Gulf-branded Ford GT40 victories at Le Mans in 1967 and 1968. The Gulf brand is also forever linked with Bruce McLaren's Can-Am cars.
