Sandown 360 Regularity Relay

Sunday 19th March

See page 64 for competition results

The 2023 Mobil1 Sandown 360 Regularity Relay was successfully held on Sunday, March 19, 2023. Eighteen teams participated, with four to six drivers on each team. The Club was well represented with eight teams entering. The number of participants was slightly lower this year, partly due to an unintended clash with another event.

In the Regularity format, drivers aim to achieve lap times as close as possible to their self-nominated time. The winning team is the one that averages closest to their target across all drivers. This event rewards consistency, not speed.

Our previous naming rights sponsor decided not to continue, and we were fortunate that SpeedCraft stepped in to support the 2023 event. Competitor numbers were highly visible with their distinctive SpeedCraft printed numbers. More information about SpeedCraft can be found elsewhere in this magazine.

For the past few years, the event has included practice time on Saturday, provided in conjunction with the Marque

Sports Car Association, and this format continued successfully in 2023. By starting on Saturday, competitors enjoyed track entry, registration, vehicle scrutiny, and the ability to set up before the event day.

The Triumph Sports Owners Association deserves special mention. 2023 marks the 100th year of the Triumph marque, and as part of the celebrations, they decided to acknowledge the 360 Regularity as “one of our valued competition events of the calendar year.” Thanks!

After a short practice session in the morning, the event started just before 10:30 am on Sunday behind the Safety Car. Some six hours later, just before 4:30 pm, the radio operator counted down the time for the Officials, marking the end of another great event. Competitors must be commended for their participation. Running for six hours without incident, despite a wide mix of cars and driving experience, was remarkable and provided a very positive experience for all involved.

Congratulations to the Panorama Mountain Men from New South Wales, who backed up their win from 2022. The team, consisting of Stewart Temesvary, Glenn Thomas, Sean Byers, and David Johnson, all driving Mazda MX-5s, has an enviable record in Regularity events. In addition to winning the PCV Sandown 360 twice, they have achieved multiple successes at the Victorian 6 Hour at Phillip Island, the AROCA event at Winton, and the NSW 6 Hour at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Porsche Club of Victoria teams secured the remaining positions on the podium, with Team JAAMP in 2nd place (Anthony Bulloch, Adam Stafford, Joseph Di Benedetto, and Peter Bell) and Team FourPlay (Garry Saber, Phillip Cox, Garry Voges, and Brent Howard) in 3rd place.

The event is a significant undertaking for the Club. We invest considerable effort in its development and promotion and pay close attention to participant feedback. The day is complex because many competitors only run with us once a year at this event, requiring an expanded marshal and safety team. We make significant efforts to create an enjoyable day.

The Club cannot run the event by itself and continues to enjoy the support of the Victorian Motorsport community. The crew from the Victorian Flagmarshalling Team has brought their trademark no-nonsense professionalism to the event for many years. Representatives from Motorsport Australia, particularly our Chief Scrutineer Drew Wilson and Steward Gale Smith, help keep us on the right track. WAP Motorsport Safety and Emergency Response Services Pty Ltd were present to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being. Kristy Roberts and Darren McKemmish had a hectic day in the timing tower, as did all the Officials in Race Control and Administration.

Pizza Party Hire Mobile Wood Fired Pizza provided nourishment, and Code Black Coffee Roasters supplied essential coffees (thanks Joseph!).

We extend our gratitude to the Mobil1 Sandown 360 Regularity Relay organising committee, including Andrew Bonwick, Grant Stephenson, Andrew Smith, Mark Horton Andrews, and Murray Seymour from Porsche Club Victoria, and Bruce Astbury (MSCA). The PCV team, with significant motorsport experience, has been running the event for over a decade, consistently aiming to deliver a fun, relaxed, and professional experience.

Thanks to the many PCV volunteers who helped with the event, including scrutineering, marshalling, administration, timing, and general support in running the Club!

Former President Andrew Bonwick has been a driving force for this event, and his contribution cannot be overstated. Additionally, after many years, Grant Stephenson has decided to retire from the organising committee. The Club appreciates both of these fine Club members for their contributions.

Finally, we extend our thanks to all who participated, volunteered, and supported the event. We hope to see you back at the next edition in 2024!

MONDAY – DINNER SODAFISH

Harriet & Ken Anson

The first night of the Canberra Grand Tour 2023 began with catching up with old friends in the foyer of the Bellevue, also meeting members who had never been on a club driving tour before. After a brief word from Alison we walked to our dinner destination “Sodafish” on Middle Boat Harbour, The Esplanade. Sodafish began in 2000, it was previously a Raymond Island Ferry, converted into a floating cafe and now shares the wharf with the Lakes Entrance fishing fleet which means there is never a shortage of fresh seafood. Once seated we filled the whole restaurant and further conversations flowed through the room. According to the owner the menu is about showcasing what the region has to offer and supporting the local community – “nostalgic charm meets modern classic” this was evident in the menu selected for the evening.

Our dinner menu for the night was called a “Taste of Sodafish,” with shared plates of

TUESDAY – LAKES ENTRANCE CRUISE

Peter Janusik

We were very lucky to have lovely autumn weather for a 2pm departure on the MV “Seabird” for a 3 hour cruise on the Gippsland lakes. After a little organisation there were plenty of seats inside and we got settled with a drink from the bar, got chatting and enjoyed the view. The cruise passed the Entrance, then into Reeves Channel, Bancroft Bay, around the shores of Metung, shortly after heading off, the crew served our grazing boxes. The selection of assorted cold cuts, cheeses, pickled vegetables, breads, grapes and dried fruits went down well.

After lunch we settled into the cruise, and enjoyed the great atmosphere and camaraderie which was a common theme for the entire grand tour. The weather stayed great and we enjoyed the scenery along the shore and the birdlife - black swans were a real surprise to see. Towards Metung we pulled into a few small bays which were quite picturesque. The lakes have their own colonies of seals and on the way back from Metung we were treated to a short stop where they were enjoying the last of the afternoon sun. At around 5pm we arrived back at the dock - a really enjoyable afternoon.