8 minute read
Performance & Racing
TRAVEL WITH A PURPOSE
The iconic Variety Bash is on again
For the ultimate bucket-list travel experience, how about putting the iconic Variety Bash on your calendar for 2022? You can kick off in Winton, Hyden, Tassie’s wild west coast, Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, Adelaide, or the Northern Territory for the adventure of a lifetime. The first Variety Bash was held in 1985 following an idea by Dick Smith, in which he invited his mates “for a drive in the bush” and raised $250,000 for Variety - the Children’s Charity, to help kids living with disability, disadvantage or illness. This inaugural event travelled from Bourke (NSW) to Burketown (QLD) and was such a success that many more Bashes have been held since then across all of Australia, raising hundreds of millions of dollars for Variety kids. The original concept continues today, whereby hundreds of Australians annually grab an old car, rally their friends to join in, all the while fundraising together to raise more than $7 million nationally in funds to help kids. There are eight Variety Bashes which are organised annually throughout Australia, most of which are 10 days long. In addition, there’s a myriad of other Variety touring events such as jet ski and motorbike journeys to choose from. What they all have in common is a chance to experience the roads less travelled. “It’s a great way to experience the outback while making new friends and you’ve got the security of knowing you have a full support group including mechanics and first aid crews,” Variety Australia General Manager David Small, said, speaking for all the states and territories that manage and stage the eight Variety Bash events nationally. “Not only do we help kids via the funds raised, but we bring important economic impact to the regional towns we visit.” Studies have shown that larger Bashes leave around $40,000 to $60,000 in towns they visit. Another advantage of the Bash is the usually “unobtainable experience” – the opportunity to tour on private roads and perhaps stay at places only exclusively available to the Bash, or even meet a famous face or two. For example, last year the Queensland Bash stayed overnight at RM Williams’ property where James Blundell performed some of his country music hits, while on last year’s NSW Bash singer John Williamson took part in the Bash and Dave Gleeson of Screaming Jets performed a surprise gig in Lightning Ridge. The 2022 Variety Bashes cover many different routes all over Australia, so there will be a trip to suit everyone. To register your interest or to find out more, go to www.variety.org.au/state-events
HISTORIC RACING AT ITS BEST
The 2022 Australian Phillip Island Classic lived up to its reputation in March
The Victorian Historic Racing Register (VHRR) once again staged the biggest historic event in Australia at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in recently. The event is proudly sponsored by Burson Auto Parts, CoolDrive Auto Parts and Penrite, and 450 entries provided interesting fields across a wide range of categories from the five litre V8 Touring Cars, through to a field of fifty-seven Formula Fords. There were no international cars due to shipping difficulties, however the huge field included three overseas drivers: Richard Tarling from the United Kingdom, Gislain Genecand from Switzerland and Xavier Michel from France; who all did battle with the locals for The Perkins Cup. The International drivers enjoyed great success with Gislain Genecand winning the Formula Ford outright with Richard Tarling seventh and Xavier Michel eleventh in a 57-car grid. The Don Kinsey Encouragement Award for Young Drivers went to 16 year old junior member, William Sala, who was driving a 1975 Elfin Formula V and winner of the Q & R F5000. F1, Indy Cars and Invited, was won by Guido Belgiorno-Nettis in his 1985 Ferrari 156/85. In Saturday’s race Guido was challenged closely by second place winner Grant Doulman in a 1988 Shrike NB89H although Guido stretched the margin out in Sunday’s final race. Q & R Sports & P & Invited was won handsomely from start to finish by Thomas Tweedie in a 1974 Elfin MS7 who wasn’t seriously challenged over the three-day event. Larry Perkins and his son Jack were at the Island to race Holden Commodores in the Australian fans’ favourite category, the five litre touring car races. Following his successes in Europe, Larry became a local legend in touring cars and the seventy-one-year-old, six-time winner of the Bathurst 1000-kilometre race, was enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of historic racing. Jack was the outright winner of this spirited challenge. Andy Newall was the fourth overseas driver to make the trip down under. Unfortunately, Andy’s borrowed McLaren M6B suffered a hub failure on Friday so he missed racing on the weekend. The single seater event for cars from the seventies through to the nineties provided the fascinating sight of famed racing car designer Malcolm Oastler in a Ralt RT1 dicing with a Reynard 92D, a car he designed. After following the Reynard for a number of laps Oastler edged his 1600cc Ralt past the three-litre car taking fourth place in the Sunday morning race. The winner of the Sir Jack Brabham Trophy for Driver of the Meeting was Nick Bennett who raced in two categories and achieved 3 outright wins in Class M & O Sports Racing driving a 1970 Elfin TC-W 600B. Many of the spectators took the opportunity to drive their special cars to the track, with car clubs providing displays in the vast area overlooking the main straight. Organisers hope that next year some international cars can add further interest to the VHRR’s impressive event. For more information, visit www.vhrr.com
AUSTRALIA BECOMES A NITRO NATION
The Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship will make history next season, visiting every Australian state and territory with a national level drag strip for the first time. Dates for the 2022/2023 season have been locked in, with three new venues joining the series for a total of seven races. Season two of the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship kicks off on Friday the 2nd of September in Alice Springs as the headline act of the incredibly popular Red CentreNATS festival in Alice Springs. Other new venues for season two will see Top Fuel race at the new drag strip being constructed at the world-class facility The Bend in South Australia, and the fire breathing dragsters will make their long-awaited return to Willowbank Raceway in Queensland in the New Year. Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship Season Two dates:
• Round One: Red CentreNATS,
Alice Springs Inland Dragway, NT — September 2, 2022 • Round Two: Summernats Slam,
Heathcote Park, VIC — October 1-2, 2022 • Round Three: Goldenstates,
Perth Motorplex, WA — November 11-12, 2022 • Round Four: New Year Nitro,
Willowbank Raceway, QLD — January 7-8, 2023 • Round Five: Top Fuel Slam,
The Bend Motorsport Park, SA — March 11-12, 2023 • Round Six: Nitro Champs,
Sydney Dragway, NSW — May 5-6, 2023 • Round Seven: Darwin Supercars,
Hidden Valley, NT — Date TBC “The Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship is truly national,” Andy Lopez said. “When this series began, we said we’d get Top Fuel racing in front of more fans all over Australia, in festival events that showcase these incredible nitro racing machines. “That’s what we’ve done, and in Season two we’re looking forward to other professional categories including Top Bike, Door Slammer, Pro Mod, Pro Stock and Pro Alcohol racing at any of our events that they choose.” Sportsman categories, including Junior Dragster, will also be invited to race at all Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship Series rounds. Each event will be developed with its own identity, creating unmissable experiences with a much wider offering of motorsport fun, such as burnouts, drifting and freestyle motocross, encouraging spectators to travel the country with the series. “In season one, fans are already being treated to unique events. We’re at Summernats Slam at Heathcote where the Burnout Masters series meets Top Fuel racing two weeks from now. Then Top Fuel heads to Darwin to run alongside Supercars and Superbikes, in what will be the wildest motorsport event in Australia this year. It’s an opportunity to enjoy the most ridiculously powerful motorsport on earth with a variety of other high-horsepower activities,” Andy said. The industry leading Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship TV broadcast returns for season two, with all rounds to be aired live on 7plus and Facebook, followed by an in-depth post produced show on 7mate. Series broadcast chief Nathan Prendergast said nitro drag racing fans will be able to enjoy the action from anywhere in the world at any time. “Our fans want to be able to watch the racing when and where they like, so it’s up to us to meet that expectation,” Nathan said. “Whether they are watching at home or on the go, we want to make sure the quality is outstanding. We’re really proud of the broadcast from season one, and it’s only going to get better with more cameras, more stories, and more analysis.” Burson Automotive’s Anthony Hughes said that Australia’s preferred trade supplier of parts, tools and workshop equipment was delighted with their first year supporting the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship. “The mix of racing classes and the support events has provided a very exciting spectator focused platform to demonstrate horsepower at many levels. Burson teams and customers in states without rounds in 2022 have been eager to get Top Fuel in their hometowns, and I envisage some big smiles when they read the calendar for Season two,” Anthony said. To visit with as many Australian motorsport fans as possible, the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship remains sanction-neutral, and racers will simply align with each track’s choice of sanctioning body. Andy said that a changing feast of drag racing entertainment will be served up at each and every event on the calendar. “Festival-style, engaging events are what everyone wants, whether they be racers, fans, or sponsors. That’s what we’re delivering,” Andy said. For more information about the ATFC, visit www.topfuelchampionship.com.au For more information about Burson Auto Parts, visit www.burson.com.au
