Motorsport News Issue 106 - 1-14 August 1997 by V8 Sleuth

The Emoner $3,95 (NZS5.95incl GST)

1-14 August 1997

By CHRIS LAMBDEN

MARK Skaife will take over Peter Brock’s role at HRT in 1998. The former Bathurst winner quit Gibson Motorsport last week to take on the role of Brock’s co-driver in the 05 Mobil Commodore for the Sandown and Bathurst V8 endurance racep this year. And, while there is no formal confir mation, the move - foreshadowed by Motorsport News as far back as May signals the ascension of Skaife to the full-time driver list at HRT in 1998. With Gibson Motorsport having struggled with diminishing funding since the end of the tobacco-sponsor ship era, the move re-launches Skaife’s touring car career and puts him back in the frame for an Australian 1000 Classic win. In the meantime, despite his team’s fortunes having fallen to a low ebb, Fred Gibson has confirmed that he plans to press on without Skaife, with plans to enter at least one car for Sandown and Bathurst as he starts the process of re-building. Skaife and HRT have, according to team boss John Crennan, “been talking on and off for three years, but the cur rent deal was done within a week”. Continued Page 3

HOLDEN’S NEW FACE: Mark Skaife tries out a Hoiden Racing Team suit for the first time as he ponders racing 05 at Bathurst.

INSIDE

to miss Bathurst PETER Brock is trying to withstand pressure from his V8 Supercar backers in a bid to be on the grid in a 24itre Super Tourer for the AMP Bathurst 1000. It has even been suggested that legal action is being considered to stop Brock going for his 10th oMcial Bathurst 1000 win. “There are threats, but they are just

words,” said a philosophical Brock this week. “But I am not one of those people Who will be dictated to. “That race means a lot to me and it is stiU my mtention to frnd an appropri ate vehicle and financial backing to get out there and do that (com^pete on : October 5).” -DAVID HASSALL

OS latest

Australians have been busy overseas lately and it’s all inside - Brad Jones at Spa, Neil Crompton in Canada, Craig Lowndes in F3000 and Mark Webber’s exclusive column.

Ralf stays The F1 silly season took an interesting turn this week when Ralf Schumacher decided to stay at Jordan. For all the latest developments, see inside.

Berger is ba^k Gerhard Berger put aside his health and ■ family problems to score a brilliant and surprising win in the German Grand Prix ; on Sunday. For the full story and colour ; photos, turn to Page 26. ;

na with SetDii I How would you like to . be sitting alongside | Glenn Seton for a hot A lap of Sandown? See -E inside for details of a S great competition. A

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Gibson vows to race on

Merger talks taking place with Garry Rogers

FRED Gibson is working to re establish Gibson Motorsport as a V8 Supercar power following the departure of long-time part ner Mark Skaife. Gibson has a number of plans hatching, but in the short term will run impressive rookie Darren Hossack in the car pre viously driven by Skaife at this

weekend’s Oran Park Shell series finale (see separate

story), Gibson also has a brand new Commodore close to completion. Originally earmarked for Skaife’s Bathurst bid, the car is now at the centre of a number of potential plans.

Industry chat this week has linked Gibson in a joint venture with Garry Rogers, whose fledgling Valovoline-sponsored team has risen to Level 1 status this year with Steven Richards at the wheel. Both Gibson and Rogers, who are good friends, confinned the chat this week, but said that it

was too early to suggest that they would join forces. “We’ve spoken along those lines for some time,” Rogers admitted early this week, “well before Mark’s departure. “Yes, we’ve spoken, but it’s far too early to say whether any thing will come of it.” - CHRIS LAMBDEN

Skaife to Skaife: This was my replace toughest decision Brock Continued from Page 1

n Although the name is being closely guarded, AVESCO is set to unveil a naming rights sponsor for the Australian 1000 Classic on Tuesday at the pre-event media day. The rumom- mill is suggesting a sponsor linked to the electronics industry... Meanwhile, we hear that entries for the V8 race have hit the 40 mark. n Channel 9’s Kim Watkins mildly damaged the Castrol Cougar Commodore during a test session at Calder last week. Watkins was unhurt when the car brushed a wall. Melinda Price is scheduled for her second race in the car at this weekend’s Oran Park SATCC finale. n There is increasing specula tion that Yamaha may be about to end its involvement in Foi-mula 1 after seven difficult seasons. The current supply deal with John Judd Engineering ends soon and Yamaha must now decide if it wants to invest again with Judd,look for anoth er paitner or accept that the pro ject is ill-guided and withdraw.

MN: To what degree did the commercial problems at Gibson Motorsport push you to negotiate this drive? MS: That's probably the major thing. If you look at that side of the act, it was an owner/driver-style arrangement, within which we've strug gled financially since the end of the Winfield thing. On the other hand, to genuinely have a chance at winning races, when John Crennan offered me this style of deal ... He, Jeff Grech and I discussed my ability, with Brock, to try and win his 10th Bathurst, and that was also a big consideration. IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT... Mark Skaife will almost certainly stay there in 1998. I went for the pack with Fred age which offered me over get out of the car for ent philosophies in the opportunity of win (Gibson) now, or is five minutes without terms of car set-up. Do ning again. being besieged by you expect to experi there a period of fans, do you expect to ence a fairly "different" notice, as it were? MN: Would it be cor take on a role in set MS: We've been car when you first rect to assume that together a long time and ting up the car, rather drive 05 next week? MS: I probably am. you wouldn't have left we've been business than the normal co-dri Gibsons and commit ver routine of minimal Our car has obviously partners overrihat peri ted to this two-race od. There's some things laps, look after the car, been Yokohama-shod deal if there wasn't a between Fred and I to just drive it and so and we've had to opti on? realistic opportunity to resolve, but there's no mise our performance there. The MS: I think, from our on those tyres and philo stay with the team next drama discussions so far, that sophically, yeah, we've year? Gibson family have been that's the case. Peter's had some different MS: Yes, absolutely. very good to me - and I My security in terms hope that in return I've design criteria in the way got a lot of other commit of Australian motor rac ments, but together we our car's been set-up. done some things for want to have the car the ing is dependent upon them. As a driver, you get in best that it can be, so and drive for anybody me being a professional In the end, Fred gen race driver and it is most uinely wants the best for we'li work away to opti and you drive an^dhing, beneficial to also be mise the car so we can don't you? In the end I'm me and he understands competitive. So, to con going to approachfit with that I really had to make go our best. tinue this association is this decision. We’ll From the sound of it, a very open mind something I would like to though, I'll have a fair because obviously their resolve any of the out workload. do and as time goes by standing things with performance is very we'll continue to negoti good already and I don't Gibsons, no problem. ate about it. MN: HRT and Gibsons want to tamper with MN: Given the fact that have, from the outside, things that don't need to MN: Is the relationship Peter currently can't looked to have differ- be tampered with.

n BMW confirmed one ofits Bathurst pairings at Amaroo Park. Brett Riley had a few laps in the Supercheap BMW on Friday and will share the car with Jason Richai’ds in the Great Race.

Ralf stays at Jordan

n At Amaroo Park the usual dental assault fi’om Peter Doulman and John Cotter hand ing out sponsor Allens’ sweets was compounded by Jim Cornish showing off his new sponsor. Skittles.

The deal was struck on Wednesday of last week, with an announcement concerning the Sandown/Bathurst co-drives hastily arranged for the following day. Peter Brock was on hand for the announcement at the Crown Complex’s Sports Bar and reflected obvious support for Skaife’s appointment: “It’s rather extraordinary that, at this late stage, a driver of Mark’s calibre is actually available -1 wish Collingwood had such players avail able this close to the final series ...” he quipped. “Skaifey is the sort of fellow that I feel very, very confident with. / “As a driving combination up there (Bathurst), we’d be giving ourselves as good a chance of win ning the race as any.” It was, it seems, Skaife’s off-track experience which got him the nod over other contenders such as HRT’s own Young Lions: “Something quite unexpected is happening out there as a result of the announcement I made a few weeks back and any plans we might have had of looking at people on pure driving talent alone have had to be modified somewhat,” Brock said. “The level of public interest, func tions and so on might well have had an adyerse effect on someone who hadn’t been exposed to them this far in their career. “Even though he’s only 30, Mark has an enormous wealth of experi ence in how to handle that sort of attention and that was a major fac tor in arriving at this decision.” Skaife was scheduled to under take his first test with HRT yester day (Wednesday) at Calder and will drive 05 during the Bathurst pre event media day next Tuesday. “It was the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to take in my life,” ; Skaife said of the Gibson/Skaife split. “Fred and I have been together for 11 years, we’ve got a very good association, the Gibson family have been very good to me and we’re GERMAN Ralf Schumacher will very close. stay with the Jordan GP team “But in the end, when I spoke to next season. Fred about it, he understood that The 22-year-old has had his the opportunity was something option picked up by team owner which doesn’t come along very Eddie Jordan, quashing speculation often; it’s one which allows me to he would transfer to McLarenMercedes to head a German get back to winning races again and he’s beep very good about it. ‘superteam’. “We will continue to be friends 'The brother of double world and I’m sure he can continue to champion Michael Schumacher have Gibson Motorsport as a force said that he was excited to be stay in Australian motor sport.” ing with the team, especially in

light of the recent announcement regarding next year’s MugenHonda engine deal. “Mugen-Honda are (sic) one of the best engine suppliers in FI and I believe their partnership with Jordan will be very strong,” ‘Ralfy’ said. Now the main talking point for the rest of the season will be wfiat McLaren will do without Ralf- and who will line up alongside the German at Jordan.

Last week (before the German GP) Benetton confirmed that Gerhard Berger’s place would be taken by current Jordan driver Giancarlo FisicheUa in 1998. Pit gossip nominates World Champion Damon Hill as the man most disgi-untled with his current situation. Hill and Jordan had discussions late last season but Hill went to Arrows, where he has finished in the points only once this season.

n Penske Motorsports Inc. and International Speedway Corp. have joined forces to acquire a controlling interest in the 2-year-old Homestead track in the US. Penske and ISC each paid $11.8 million cash for 40 percent ownership. n Rumours of a new FLA GT Championship program by Audi gathered stren^h when Frank Biela,the reigning BTCC Champion, remarked that he would like to be involved ifthe project went ahead. n Alfa Romeo will shake down its new 156 model Super Tourer towards the end of this month. n The ARDC has announced a $70,000 prize fund for the final round of its Amscar toming car series, to he held at Bathurst on October 4-5. This includes $1000 per car that starts the event. n Double Gold Star champion Spencer Martin and his son Mathew scored a few placings in the big Coys of Kensington Festival for historic cars at Silverstone in England last weekend. Mathew drove a Ferrari 250 GT to two third places while Spencer piloted a Jaguar C-T^'pe. n The only McLaren FI super car in Australia was crashed last week by its owner’s mechanic. The $2.5 million machine,owned by fonner Coke boss Dean Wills, crashed in Sydney last Simday.

n Motorsport, it appears, is thicker than love. With the imminent retirement ofPeter Brock, Jenny Bullard of North Sydney has moved her wedding date so that it does not clash with Brock’s last race at Bathurst. Seems her fiance is a mad Brock fanatic and being at Bathurst doubles as his birthday present!

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n The worries expressed in recent weeks about the change in the PIA’s interpreta tion about electronic rev-limiting are begin ning to settle down with teams accepting that the rules have changed and that they must now react to the new interpretation. Most teams say that they would have pre ferred the FIA not to change the interpreta tion mid-season. There are worries that the interpretation could lead to the return of what is effectively traction-control although this would be achieved by measuring and controlling engine torque. n Gianni Morbidelli’s recovery is continu ing with the Italian hoping to be back in the second Sauber Petronas at the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 10. If he is still not fully recovered from the broken arm he suffered in testing at the end of Jime, his place will again be taken by Sauber test driver Norberto Fontana. n We hear that a new draft Concorde Agreement for 1998 and beyond is being discussed by FI team bosses. If this is accepted it will mean that the FI flotation may be able to go ahead. n There are rumours in Italy that Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo is likely to move on to a new job if Ferrari wins tbe World Championship this year. We have also heard stories that FIAT may even be considering floating the Ferrari company. n Jordan Grand Prix is expected to test Formula 3000 drivers Ricardo Zonta and Juan-Pablo Montoya later this summer with a view to using them for testing pur poses now that Giancarlo FisicheUa is headed for Benetton. Zonta - who has con siderable backing from Brazilian oil compa ny Petrobras - won the F3000 race at Hockenheim. n Formula I’s high energy drink compa nies are having a bad time at the moment. Power Horse has run into financial difficul ties and has disappeared from the side of the Arrows cars and Hype hds similar diffi culties and is no longer on the WilliamsRenaults. The Williams team has a new sponsorship deal with Snap-On tools. n Benetton’s new 100% windtunnel, which was due to be opened in May,is run ning several months behind schedule. It will now not be operational until September at the earliest and will then need several months of calibration testing. n The FIA has warned teams that they are not to systematically shave tyres as there have been worries expressed by Bridgestone that Goodyear’s slightly thick er tyres- as used in Magny-Cours- could be used in qualifying and then shaved to be virtually new for the race. Shaving of the shoulders of the tyres will still be allowed. n Although things have gone quiet recently in Las Vegas, we understand that there are continued efforts in the city to bring about the staging of a United States Grand Prix. n Petronas last week announced a 44% rise in its profits in the last year. Turnover rose by nearly one-third and the company made $4.5bn profit. This perhaps explains the ease with which the Malaysian compa ny can come up with money for the Sauber FI team and its Sauber Petronas Engineering offshoot, which will be build ing its own FI engines by the year 2000. n Minardi has reached a settlement with Pedro Lamy,the Portuguese pay-driver who drove for the team in 1995 and 1996. The details ofthe financial settlement remain a secret but, as Minardi says it is now satisfied, one can assmne that all debts have been paid. n Salomon Brothers, the US investment bank which is handling the flotation of Formula 1, has settled a dispute with the UK merchant bank BZW over the possible involvement in FI of Rupert Mui’doch’s Sky Broadcasting. Salomon had been threaten ing to exclude BZW from the deal if it con tinued to advise BSkyB on the issue. -JOESAWARD

Brock’s last wish

eter Brock has given so much to Australian motor sport that it is hard to imagine anyone denying him a reasonable wish in his retirement year. Yet that is exactly what is happening right now. It is Peter Brock’s final wish to contest his last Bathurst 1000 - the traditional race on the NSW October long weekend organ ised by the ARDC, which he knows is the i sonly one that will count in the record books. n It is his last chance to win that elusive 10th ' ' '' Bathurst. PB, probably more than anyone, helped make Bathurst what is is today and he is rtr.4 justifiably angry about what has happened to the race this year. He feels hurt by the meddling with tradition and now he is being Supercar race. And it is a disgrace. Those associated with the Australian victimised by the political forces who are 1000 have been handed a promotional responsible for the meddling. In a nutshell, pressure is being exerted dream by Peter himself - his retirement will ensure a huge crowd boost, just as it has at on our greatest ambassador to boycott the Super Touring Bathurst 1000 so as not to the recent SATCC meetings - and yet they detract from the rival Australian 1000 V8 are trying to prevent him from running in

with David HaS:

the ‘rival’ race two weeks earlier. If nothing else, it proves that these people have no interest in the sport or those in it outside their own small group. Peter himself perhaps summed it up best when I spoke with him this week. “If nothing else,” he confided, “this has made me realise that my decision to retire was right.” What an epitaph to such a wonderful career. Providing there are no direct clashes of sponsorship (and Peter is making sure of that), then surely he should be allowed to contest the Bathurst 1000 without bemg pressured - commercially, verbally or legal ly - especially by those who have benefitted most from his standing. The crazy part of it all is that his appear ing at the Bathurst 1000 will have little or no affect on the Australian 1000. The October 19 race will still be his last at Bathurst in a V8 Commodore and no one who is interested in that will be swayed by his racing a Vauxhall Vectra there two weeks earlier. Give the bloke a break. If anyone deserves it, it is Peter Brock.

Honda wants FI return A LEADING Japanese sports newspaper has reported that Honda is aiming to be back in FI officially in the year 2000. According to an unidentified source quoted in the story in the Yomiuri Shimbun newspa per, the official announcement of a return to racing will be made next year. The story was denied by Honda spokesmen, although they did acknowledge that the improved financial situation means that Honda may soon be in a position to return. I After some troubled years in the early 1990s, Honda is now back in profit and wants to use FI to boost its sales in Europe - which remains FI’s major market. The story did not suggest whether Honda is considering returning to FI as an engine manufacturer or as a car builder as well. Honda has always been keen to play down links between itself and the Mugen company - which is owned by Hirotoshi Honda (son of the Honda company founder and 40 percent owner of the Honda Motor Co)- but there is , no doubt that there has been a factory involvement throughout the program. We believe that the contract between Jordan and Mugen states that the Mugen VIO engines which will be used by the team next year will be designed and developed by Honda and prepared by Mugen.

McLaren tests 1998 Formula 1 THIS unusual looking machine is McLaren's 1998 test mule, as tested last week by the team’s test dri ver Nick Heidfeld. It is nar rower than the current cars, running the new treaded tyres and features a dual rear wing. (Photos by LAT)

Bernie pressures Mercedes By JOE SAWARD

Ecclestone spiced up his offer with the suggestion that FORMULA 1 boss Bernie if they were not willing to Ecclestone wants Mercedes- play ball he might have to Benz to supply a second team consider a 13,000rpm rev lim with its VIO engines next year iter. - but the German car-maker is This left the engineers refusing to give way on its speechless as they would all exclusive arrangement with have to completely redesign McLaren. their engines - and that would At a meeting of the FI be prohibitively expensive, engine companies at Ecclestone’s problem is that Hockenheim on Friday, FI is currently two competiEcclestone turned up and sug- tive engine supplies short for gested that he was willing to the 12 teams expected to be do a deal to limit testing if racing in FI in 1999. manufacturers - agreed to Yamaha is expected to dis appear at the end of this yeai’ expand their supplies. Fimther restrictions on test- and so both Arrows and ing would make life a lot easi Benetton still need engines er for the engine-builders as i for next year. Williams has a contract they currently have to pro duce almost as many engines with Mecachrome which for testing as they do for the restricts the French firm to races. supplying only one other

team.If, as is being rumoured, the BA Team Reynard opera tion has a Mecachrome test deal for 1998 it is logical that they will also have a deal to race the engines in 1999. This means that if Williams refuses to budge there might be only one supply of Mecachromes available, and for one season only, which is not very interesting for either Benetton or Arrows. 'This appears to be the rea son for the delays in the announcement of the second Mecachrome supply and it appears to have led Ecclestone to try to look else where for engines for Benetton and Aixows. We hear that his aim is to get Mercedes to agree to sup ply Benetton so that the Mecachromes can be given to

Walkinshaw for 1998. But Mercedes-Benz manage ment argues that it does not have the capacity to produce more engines and that the plan does not fit into the strat egy of building up the “Silver Arrows” image. In addition there are con tractual difficulties with McLaren as Ron Dennis has an exclusive Mercedes-Benz deal. Ecclestone is also under stood to be leaning on Ford, Peugeot and Mugen but only Ford is showing signs of help ing him out. Peugeot is believed to have said that it will withdraw from FI if the rules are changed and Mugen says it is not logistically possible to supply more engines before 1999.

1 August M

Defiant Brock close to Bathurst Vauxhall

motor racing and I love to race. Motorsport News, Brock confirmed “I’d like to take the opportunity of he was under “considerable pres A DEFIANT Peter Brock has having one last go in the Bathurst sure from various quarters” to for vowed to do his “very best” to sake the Bathurst 1000. 1000. Obviously, it’s in my blood. “The biggest problem I have is fit compete in the 2-litre Bathurst He said the pressure was coming ting in with existing sponsors. I do 1000, a fortnight before his V8 from people who “do not quite respect the fact that I have an ongo Commodore swansong start in understand the true impact on the the breakaway Australian 1000 sport in general and my stance” of ing relationship with GM-H. I the acrimonious split between the recognise that my name is tied at Mount Panorama. In fact, the latest tip is that a pro top Holden and Ford V8 teams and extremely closely to the Holden Commodore. I’d be foolish to turn the Mount Panorama Consortium gram for him to race a Vauxhall Vectra with Brit John Cleland will my back on this.” that precipitated the AVESCO deci be announced some time next week. He said his sponsors were not sion by its joint-venture partners Brock’s likely participation in the TEGA and the IMG marketing race was first tipped by Motorsport sports (( It wou ld be a pretty sad state of News on June 20. ^ group to stage an alternative, V8-only “I’m looking for a drive and a affairs if I was stopped from race on October 19. sponsor,” Brock said in a public decAVESCO has had a laration that he wanted to be enjoying my last few races. involved in the October 5 race that huge spectator attenhe has won nine times, despite dance spin-off in recent rounds of the Shell sympathetic to his Bathurst 1000 being under pressure to ignore the Australian plans. enduro. Touring . Car “They’re looking at it in the cold Brock revealed his intentions in Championship as a result of Brock’s hard light of their investment in the announcement in late May that the Sydney last Friday at a Bathurst sport. 1000 Event Management lunch inaugural Australian 1000 would be “I’m saying to them, ‘Look, how where he was the guest speaker his retirement race, about giving me a weekend off for The much-publicised fact that he for representatives of companies this one, just for old times sakp?’. will be having his final fling in considered to be potential motor “The situation I’m in is a' lulu. Bathurst’s second enduro is an sport sponsors. There’s no doubt about that. T can enormous bonus for AVESCO, “That race (the Bathurst 1000) is assure you it’s veiy, very difficult. which needs a bumper crowd to very much a part of me,” he said at “I’m -'a person who doesn’t wish to the conclusion of a speech studded cover the enormous staging costs, have any ill feelings, or be vindicBut Brock asserted on Friday with anecdotes from his colourful career which had been highlighted that he had become “the meat in the . tive in any way, shape or form. “But I believe there is a solution. the previous night in Channel sandwich between a couple of facBasically, it’s a case of a few people Nine’s ‘This is Your Life’ program. tions”. becoming less emotjonal about “I’ve grown up with it. “At the end of the day, though, I things and then some other step“The track has changed dramatibelieve it would be a pretty sad ping forward with some cash to cally, the race has become more pro- J state of affairs if I was stopped from ensure that a team can provide a fessional, but fundamentally it i^' enjoying my last few races. competitive car for me. “I believe motor racing needs to still a great challenge for everyone “There are certain parties out heal a few wounds and bring some who has a go. there who are working at ensuring “I can tell you I’ll be doing my parties together, in be given an opportunity.” very best to get myself a competitive “We don’t want divisiveness. I Brock’s answer to the question of car and some sort of sponsorship don’t want tp see one side try and whether he was confident of being activity.” cmsh another. on the Bathurst 1000 starting grid Afterwards, in an interview with “These are difficult times. I love

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was, “Look, I don’t know what to think. It’s like a pendulum that swings one hour to anothei’”. He said he had not received any “firm” offers so far of a Super Touring drive, “I’ve had peopl e say, Y'es, this is a possibility’ but to make the package come together, it does need dollars and cents. It needs interested par ties to step forward and say, ‘Let’s malce it happen’, “There’s been a wish, a desire, from various parties saying we want to be part of it. “Honestly though, the fans have an expectation of how I should go and I would only start in a competitive car, with my sights set on winmng. “I wouldn’t have to be the lead driver. I would take it as it comes and fit in with the team.” Brock was adamant that he will be at Mount Panorama for the Bathurst 1000, even if he was unable to score a drive.

Gibson to run Hossaek

iskhella in, Berger out BENETTON announced that it has taken up its option with Italian Giancarlo Fisichella for next season. A few days later Gerhard Berger told pressmen at Hockenheim that he is not planning to stay with the team next year - and then went on to win his fii'st race for the team in brilliant fashion. “I will definitely not be with Benetton next year,” Berger said, “but I want to make it clear that this has nothing to do with the team, or with the performance, or with any persons there. “It is just that we had a two-year contract; it is going to be finished this year. “I had a two-year plan and that’s over. If I am going to do something I am looking for another motivation for something new.” Berger, returning to FI after missing the last three races because of a sinus problems, said he did not know what he was going to

do.

“I have a few options,” he said, “some of them outside motor racing. I will remain in FI only if I can drive for a top team.” Having now won only 10 of his 203 Grands Prix, Berger wants to finish his long career with a flomish and is believed to be offering his services to Williams for free. He says he does not need any more money and that his primary motivation is improving his record. Faced with the current poor showing by the Williams drivers and the kind of financial saving Berger could bring the team, it should not be excluded that Gerhard might end up with Frank. The signing of Fisichella is no surprise as the JordanPeugeot driver has had a long-term Benetton contract since last autumn when Flavio Briatore took control of the Minardi team. Briatore wanted to have' more Italian involvement in the Benetton team and was looking for a young Italian driver to build up.

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Class place for Brad at Spa

BRAD Jones has had a semi-Successful weekend in the Spa 24 Hour race. The current Australian Super Touring Champion finished 12th in the race in a Volkswagen Golf diesel he shared with fellow Audi works drivers Yvan Muller and Tamara Vidali (pictured above). Their race got off to a bad start when Vidali, who quali fied the car 12th, crashed after four and a half hours and by the time Jones got into the car for his first stint it was 20th.-in the 77-car

field.

He drove for four hours in his first stint, hopping (liter ally, due to cramp) out of the car in eighth. “This is epic,” said Jones after his first stint on the dark, wet Belgian track. “The track is tricky enough in its own right but, in the dark with torrential rain and cramps ripping up my legs, it’s sure a tough one.” The car moved up to sixth during the second part of the race but gearbox problems in the final three hours sen tenced them to 12th, third in the ‘Eco-Challenge class. To show how seriously the

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“You couldn’t keep me away. But it would be much better to be in a car. “All I can say at the moment is that I would just love to be out there.” He indicated that one of his Bathurst 1000 roles would be as a co-commentator with the Network 7 telecast. Brock has a link with Seven, as host of the popular weekly program Police Camera Action, and it was significant that a camera crew tfom Seven attended the lunch and car ried out a brief interview with him after his speech. A subsequent offer was made to Brock to partner Neil Crompton in one of two works-backed Honda Accords that are being campaigned in this year’s British Touring Car Championship and will be starting at Bathurst. But a sponsorship conflict will j)revent Brock from accepting that drive.

By JOE SAWARD

By MIKE KABLE

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manufacturers take the cate gory the winner of the chal lenge was the factory BMM^ 318TDS. The race was won outright by the BMW 320i of Didier de Radigues, Marc Duez and Eric Helary ahead of the simi lar Johnny Cecotto/Jo Winkelhock/Nelson Piquet car-. The other Volkswagen had an untroubled run to fourth outright. Jones will visit the Knockhill round of the BTCC this weekend before return ing to Australia for the next BOG Gases round at Winton a week later.

SHELL series rookie Darren Hossack will undertake a one-off drive for Gibson Motorsport this weekend. The youngster in the Wynns-backed Faulkner-mn Commodore has made a com mendable debut in V8 racing this year and his backer, Gary Dumbrell, has just negotiated purchase of the ex-Skaife car in order to up grade for the endurance series. As part of the package, Gibson will run the hastily Wynns-stickered car for Hossack this weekend. “Darren’s sponsor, Gary Dumbrell is purchasing the car from us, so I said we’d run him in it this weekend,” Gibson told Motorsport News late on Tuesday. “It helps them get to know the car, but also gets Gibson Motorsport out there, shows were still here and getting on with business.” “As you know. I’ve always been keen on encouraging young talent as well, so it’ll be a good weekend.”

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t's been some while since my last column appeared and so much has happened in between time, it's hard to know where to start. But 1 guess the thing most of you will be wanting to hear about is my recent test in the Mercedes CLK GT car at Austria's A1Ring. Only two words can describe it ^ sim ply awesome! Although we had originally put the test off until after the British Grand Prix meeting so that I could concentrate on my F3 race there, I ended up running in the GT car on < the Tuesday before the GP. I got to the track the day before and was able to go through a lot of the data with the team. Afterwards, I went back to the team's hotel and I was somewhat surprised when Alexander Wurz phoned my room and said he would like to have dinner with me that evening, so that we could talk about the next day's test as Mercedes had hired the track for just the two of us. One of my main reasons for wanting to meet Alexander was to see how tall he was in comparison to me. I knew he was the tallest driver in Formula 1 and is right on the maximum when it comes to fitting into the cars, so 1 was pretty happy to see I was a good 4cm shorter than him. He told me that I would have no problems, so that was great news! Over dinner we also spoke about what Formula 1 drivers are expected to deliver

STEP INTO THE from computers to electrms to tyres BIG TIME: (Bridgestone). Our man Webber In the morning it was raining and the chief and engineer wanted to send me out in the (lurking in the rain, but the mechanics clearly didn't! They background far have obviously seen a lot of young drivers left in the shot before and know just how hard we'll be push above) prepares ing in our bid to impress, and they really didn't for his first oppor have much enthusiasm for scraping "their" car tunity to drive off off the wall - especially since Ralf in a factory Schumacher was driving it the 46 Mercedes-Benz I was surprised when Alexander following weekend. CLK GT(right). One came over the radio and Wurz phoned and said he would like said, "Mark, please look after this (Photos by LAT Digital) car," and next I heard my engi to have dinner...99 neer telling him to "shut up". It these days and I really did find out some inside was all in good humour,of course, I had already asked him what the accelera information on drivers and the technical side of t wouldn't be fair to give an impression of the tion would be like and he told me it would feel Formula 1 cars. I learned so much by just car in the wet and greasy conditions I first quicker than a Formula 1 car because, spending a couple of days with him. Alexander is hoping that he'll be driving at encountered but it was definitely an experience although nothing gets close to an FI car in Melbourne next year and he's pretty excited trying to control the wheelspin out of the slower first, second and third gears, after that the about coming to Australia as he's never seen a comers with a V12 engine with that amount of aerodynamics in FI really take over and the acceleration decreases by a large amount, torque. kangaroo before! He had quite a problem get I was extremely happy with how I went, but , whereas in a GT car you pull sixth gear and ting his head round the fact that we shoot them I was looking forward to having a run in the dry the acceleration is still extremely hard. - but then most Europeans are the same! All in all, it was a tremendous experience when I could really start to lean on the car with the brakes and in the fast comers. for me - not just driving the car, but working When the trackwhen at 7.30am thechief, next The biggest surprise to me (in the dry) was with the team and seeing how such a profes day itI got wastoamazing the team Gerhard Ungar, introduced me to my engineer trying to get a car that weighs exactly 1000kg sional set-up operates. I'm now waiting on a decision from for the day, who I got on with very well, and my into the fast comers. It felt very weird and not very responsive Mercedes on whether they will be including me physio/doctor. I wasn't sure if I was going to and I was sure I was losing a lot of time there. in their plans for 1998 and, if so, what the role need his services, but I didn't mind the mas But it turned out on the telemetry that I was might be. Norbert Haug has recently spoken to sage all the same! There were another 12 guys that had an shaping up well to Alexander through the Alan Docking and expressed his interest in me but no decisions have been reached yet. association with my car on the day, running quicker section.

his weekend is the F3 Marlboro Masters at Zandvoort in Holland and I can hardly wait for it. I'll be racing against drivers from other European F3 championships as well as the British regulars, so it ought to be a real test of the best. In our last two test sessions, the team and I have worked very hard on a new sus pension set-up which I'm sure has being a step forward for us, so I'm hoping the week end will be a good one for us. As Alan Docking Racing won the event last year with Kurt Mollekens, I have the questionable honour of carrying number one on my Yellow Pages Australia Dallara Mugen-Honda at Zandvoort! Autosport magazine tell me Jos Verstappen was the last driver carrying No. 1 to win the Marlboro Masters... n

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BMW is rumoured to be bidding for Cosworth Engineering. Parent company Vickers PLC has been struggling in recent years because its major business - the defence industry - is in decline, as is its Rolls Royce business. Cosworth - bought by Vickers for $250 million in ,1990 - is a major asset and may be sold to raise capital to invest in more profitable new businesses. at Ford sources Hockenheim tried to play down the stories, saying the story was out of date, but there is little doubt that the

German car company is interested in getting hold of Cosworth, to help its rebuild ing of the Rover Group and to provide a good facility from which to produce FI engines for its planned pro gramme in 2000. Cosworth has some of the most advanced engine-build ing machinery available in Britain and has a world-lead ing foundry. Cosworth, of course, designs and builds all Ford’s FI engines and a BMW takeover would mean that Ford would have to look else where for its FI power units. - JOE SAWARD

Founder loses Lola LOLA Cars, the troubled racing car manufacturer which has been in admin istration following the col lapse of its FI project in March, is expected to be sold by its administrator Peter Dunn to a consor tium offormer employees. This does not include company founder Eric Broadley. The group is led by Roger Tyler (director of engineering resources) and Chris Reeder (finan cial director). Also believed to be involved are engi neers Duncan McRobbie and Ben Bowlby. Broadley is still involved in Lola Composites with partner Barry Hobart.

Cam lands Falcon drive CAMERON McConville has been confirmed as Steve “Junior” Johnson’s partner in the second Shell Helix Falcon for Sandown and Bathurst. The signing, predicted by Motorsport News six weeks back, was confirmed on Tuesday. McConville tested with the Shell team at Mallala a fort night ago and settled back into the V8 Falcon as if he’d never been away, according to the team. The 23 year-old drove with the team in 1993 following his Formula Ford champi onship-winning season and.

while Bathurst ended in an unfortunately very public crash, his return to the team defuses opinion at the time that he was subsequently “dumped”. “At the time, the races at Sandown and Bathurst were always going to be a one-off deal because Steve (Johnson) was coming into the team as the regular third driver, but I’ve always stayed in contact and on good terms,” McConville said this week. Nevertheless, the young ster’s career went into a dead patch following Bathurst 1993, with a couple of priva-

team and now the Shell team. Team owner Dick Johnson is enthusiastic about his sec ond pairing: t “Having two young but experienced blokes in our second car is a real asset, I think Steve and Cam will

Cameron McConville teer V8 co-dxives. A stunning return to top level racing last year, during which he won the GT-P championship, has paved the way for a season-long drive with the Audi Super Tourer

keep the pressure on each other to perform and they’ll surprise a few people.” John Bowe concurs: “I reckon Cameron is the most complete young driver around at the moment. “To be honest, he’d go real ly well if he had the opportu nity to go overseas - he’s still young enough.” - CHRIS IxAMBDEN

PRESSING ON... Craig Lowndes had his best result to date with a fighting fourth place at Enna in Italy.

(Photo by lat)

Mixed bag for Craig

CRAIG Lowndes took a big step in the fifth round of the European F3000 Championship at Enna in Italy but, a week later, took a step back at Hockenheim - under the ■gaze of the FI teams. After scoring his first points of the season with a fourth, Lowndes headed to Germany with high hopes, but crashed out of the race on the fifth lap. He qualified 11th fastest on the ultra-fast GP circuit, but started 10th when team mate Juan Pablo Montoya was sent to the rear of the gild after failing a rear wing check in scrutineering. He made a good start and was running inside the top 10 after modifying the set-up of the RSM Marko Lola.

“We were looking for some straightline speed on Hockenheim’s . long straights,” he said after the race, “so (race engineer) Alan (McCall) and I decided to mn as little wing as possible. “Unfortunately that caused the car to have too much understeer and, on turn one on the fifth lap, I ran a little wide, dropped a wheel over a ripple strip, bot tomed out and spun back wards into the wall. “I find it all very disap pointing.” A week earlier he qualified for the 200km Enna race in 16th position before charging through the field onto the tail of Brazilian Max Wilson, who qualified fourth. The two fought hard for the podium position but

Wilson held him off for the final 20 laps. “The result has given me a huge boost,” said Lowndes after the race, “particularly as the tracks we go to now for the rest of the Championship are aU circuits I have driven and tested on before. “Dr Marko said at the start of the season he expect ed me to be in the points by mid-year and that’s turned out to be the case.” Briton Jamie Davies won at Enna from Ricardo Zonta, the Brazilian who became the first two-time winner of the year with the win at Hockenheim. Wilson was second at Hockenheim ahead of Montoya, who charged through the field from the rear.

Tyres the key as V8s gear up for Bathurst shoot-out

'TYRE testing wiU concern most leading teams during Tuesday’s Australian 1000 Classic preview day at Bathurst. All the V8 tyre companies will be on hand with develop ment i-ubber for their teams to test during the two sessions, which precede a formal Tuesday’s Top Ten Shoot-out at 1.50pm. Public admission to the test day is free (gates open at 8.30am), with the V8s liitting the circuit for the first time at

10.15am (45 minutes) and later at 12.30pm for a full horn’. A further feature of the day will be some laps by Peter Brock in the just-completed (by son James),replica of his famous career-starting Austin A30. Brock will take James for some laps of the circuit in the Holden-powered special, which will also appear at this weekend’s Oran Park SATCC finale. ‘It’s a coincidence that the

car’s finished now,” Brock said this week. “It’s nothing to do with my retirement — James has been working on it for the past year or so. “He is a perfectionist. His workmanship is infinitely better than the original that my Dad and I built in the hen house!” he said. The A30, finished in its original electric blue with yeUlow stripe, will eventually reside in an auto museum being established at Rockhampton by Peter Champion.

Lowndes is up-beat about his ‘home’ race in Austria this Sunday. “The Al-Ring is a circuit I’m very familiar with now and, in a recent two-day test period we had there, I was running among the top 10 cars.”

FI goes green .

THE FIA has come up with an interesting pub licity stunt for FI and has declared Grand Prix rac ing to be “carbon neutral” thanks to a scheme designed to slow down global warming. As part of the project the FIA is to plant tens of thousands of trees in Mexico every year to off set the carbon dioxide emissions of Formula 1 racing, Working with the University of Edinburgh and the Mexican Government, the FIA has agreed to plant trees which will absorb all the carbon dioxide produced by Grand Prix racing from the racing cars, the trucks, the tyre production and even the aircraft used to fly the machinery from race to race, - JOE SAWARD

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n Rising Australian Superbike star Mark Willis broke his hand in his first international outing at Suzuka last weekend. Willis was in his first stint of practice on a factoiy Suzuki GSX-R750 when he fell, but is expected to be fit for the final round of the Shell Australian Superbike Series at Oran Park this week. H Get your passports ready, Mark Webber fans. Sydney’s Marco Polo Travel is having a trip to the Macau Grand Prix in November where Australian F3 hotshot will be among the favourites. The eight day trip will take in not only the race(with gi-andstand seats and a cocktail party) but Hong Kong, and will be hosted by MN’s Jon Thomson. Cost is $2760, twin share, exSydney. Ring Ray VennBrown at Marco Polo Travel on(02)92814888 for details. n The final round of the Formula Holden Championship this week end at Oran Park will have special importance for Dan-en Pate and Scott Dixon. They are fighting for the rookie of the year- prize of a test in a Mobil-HRT Holden Commodore at the end of the season. ■ In the Fastway Racing Bathurst camp Dwayne Bewley and Tony Newman are likely to drive in one of the team’s two Peugeot 405s,'with the other being available for the right price. ■ While he is sorting out his racing future Wayne Wakefield was at Amaroo Park, di'iving the Volvo 850R Safety Car. That meant he “led’ race two for six laps... ■ SH Racing will be adding Formula Ford to its program in 1998. Team owner Simon Hardwidge will buy a Spectrum for the effort. The top running Spectrum driver in this year’s series will get a test in SH’s Reynard 92D. Christian Jones cui-rently holds that position.

No attion taken on Amaroo imident

n Don’t go near the Wayne Gardner team at Sandown and Bathurst if you’re sugar-intolerant. The outfit is looking to compliment its Coke sponsorship with a com pany which makes donuts... n Miguel Duhamel won his second straight AMA Superbike race at MidOhio. The Canadian swapped the lead with Aussie Mat Mladin and Doug Chandler in a close race, with the Aussie third at the flag. Chandler holds a 20-point lead in'the series.

by PHIL BRAMAGAH

n BMW confirmed one of its Bathurst pairings at Amaroo Park. Brett Riley had a few laps in the Supercheap BMW on Friday and will share the car with Jason Richards in the Great Race. n Coops. Volvo’s Bathurst line-up will include Jan Nilsson from Sweden, not John Nielsen as we reported last issue. ‘Flash’ will share the 850 with “a fourth driver to be named”- almost certainly Cameron McLean. .■ Latest team manager tp head to Munich is Bob Holden. The veteran Bathurst winner headed over last week to see BMW Motorsport^regarding the Faber-Cafetell team’s 1997 Great Race attempt. ■ There is an internet site set up for the Bathurst 1000. Keep up with all the news and gossip in the lead-up to October at www.bathurstl000.com.au ■ There is also a new Formula Two homepage. Look for news on www.fonnula2.asn.au ■ The motoring commu nity has been saddened by the death of Jenny Bell. The 24-year-old Audi PR person was hit by a car in Sydney over the weekend. To Jenny’s family and many friends Motorsport News passes on its condo lences.

Lazier takes Charlotte IRL BUDDY Lazier made winning the first IRL race at Charlotte look easy. Finding Victory Lane was the hard part. The 1996 Indian apolis 500 winner came out on top after a tense struggle in the final stages of the race. Lazier used some artful dodging to outduel Billy Boat and win the VisionAire 500, the first Indy Racing League event at a track that stands as the cradle of NASCAR racing. “I didn’t know where it was,” Lazier said with a sheepish grin. “I had a hard time getting in there. I was so focused on the race, and then when it ended, they were shooting off fire works and all that, and I didn’t know where I was going.” In the final race to

BUDDY BURNS... Lazier was fast man at Charlotte. (Photo by David Tayior/Aiispon) the flag Lazier found his path repeatedly blocked by Scott Goodyear, enabling Billy Boat to apply pressure from behind. Goodyear eventual ly fell back, allownng Lazier and Boat to duel from laps 193196. Lazier slipped low as he and Boat came out of the fourth turn

on the next lap and he completed the pass that put him in the lead as they went down the front stretch. Lazier pulled away over the closing laps to a 3.3-second victoly, relegating Boat to his third top-10 fin-

ish.

There were just two minor wrecks. Series

points leader Davey Hamilton had his string of five consecutive top-10 finishes snapped when he tangled with Roberto Guerrero as the two went through the second turn on lap 143. Tony Stewart fi nished seventh, three laps down, after an unscheduled, green fl ag pitstop.

WHILE they were not exactly chummy before the Amaroo Park week end feelings between the BMW and Audi camps were lukewarm, to say the least, after the fourth round of the BOC Gases series. Cameron McConville and Paul Moiris took dif fering views of a race two incident that saw the 1995 Super Touring champion spin fi’om second to fourth but, after examining the evidence, no action was taken after the race. The incident happened on lap 18 when Morris, in second, spun on the exit of Goodyear. There were dif fering views from the two drivers, even regarding whether there had been contact: “Cameron McConville drove into the back of me and turned me around,” said Morris after the race. “If there was any contact between Paul Moiris and my car I didn’t feel it,” replied McConville. “His tyi’es were going off and he spun in fi’ont of me.” Race Director Peter Wollerman spoke to both drivers, team managers and Driving Standards Adviser Colin Bond after the race and, after viewing video from several angles, dismissed the matter. “It was ascertained there WAS contact,” he said, “but, in the circum stances it was considered a racing incident.” After the race Morris said he expected action to be taken and that he would be disappointed if there was not. BMW Motorsport man agement is said to have expressed it feeling that action should have been taken but no appeal was lodged and no fuiiiier action is expected to be taken.

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Baird, Jones top Bathurst test

BMW and Audi topped the time sheets at the AMP Bathurst 1000 Media Day last week, but the race promises to be much closer than the actual numbers may indicate. BMW Motorsport Austi'alia test driver Craig Baird and Brad Jones led the runners in the two Tuesday sessions, but other cars were run ning in different circumstances other than trying to set quickest time. Baird and Jones were the only drivers to crack the 2m20s barrier, the flying Kiwi leading the way with a 2ml9.53s,just under his pole time from the support race last October. Jones was a few tenths behind, but ahead of the other BMWs of Paul Moms and Geoff Brabham. However, all three BMWs were running in slightly different trim, using different gearchange points, in a data-gathering exercise to have as many options of possible in the lead-up to the race. Team manager Lyall Williamson was pleased with the efforts of his drivers but there is still no confir mation of the team’s driver line-up for the race. Jim Richards had a steady day in the Volvo 850. The newer 1996-spec car was present though, as it would not start due to a stubborn comput er, he concentrated on his ‘race’ car, which had been ballasted to simu late running with a ‘long-distance’ fuel load.

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CRAIG STORMS THE DIPPER... Baird, that is. The.Kiwi fiew in BMW Motorsport’s T-car. (Photoby Mnuorhs/Mpix) Despite a wild spin at Hell Comer the car ran solidly in -the 21s and 22s and, having confinned that Swede Jan ‘Flash’ Nilsson would drive the second car in the Great Race the Volvo team went home very happy with their day’s work. After iris fnistrating weekend at Amaroo Park Paul Pickett had a mishap when he put his Hyundai Lantra into a wall, while the other crashee of the day was Mike

Donaher, who lost his Ultra Tune Commodore on the first lap of the session for the AMSCAR V8s and damaged the right side of the car. AT the launch Bathurst Event Management Chief Executive Greg Eaton said that European, US and "New Zealand teams “woidd be entering the race”. “Super Touring is a proven inter national standard of motor racing,” he said.

“This is no imitation; this is the original and only Bathurst.” AMP also announced an award to the intemational/Australian driving combination which will be present ed after the Top 10 Runoff on Saturday. The award will ,be named after Bob Prichard, Bathurst’s long-time AMP representative who passed away earlier this year. -PHIL BRANAGAN

F1 Silly Season starts

AS the FI world continues to ruminate over engine supplies, the driver market is simmering and about to boom, despite the recent moves involving Ralf Schumacher, Giancarlo Fisichella and Gerhard Berger. According to William’s technical director Patrick Head the team’s 1997 drivers are likely to stay next year. “Heinz-Harald (Frentzen) has a two-year contract,” Head said before the race in Germany,“and, as far as I understand, we have taken up an option on Jacques Villeneuve.” The possibility of a free deal with Berger would, however, be hard to resist, particularly as Villeneuve looks to have long-term plans involv ing the planned BA Team Reynard. Jean Alesi’s position at Benetton is also in considerable jeopardy as the team has Alexander Wurz under an option - and his wage demands are likely to be a lot less expensive. Damon Hill’s position is less than solid as well, although Damon says he has no intention of pricing him self out of the game. Hill is reportedly asking for $10m for next year but says that his priority is securing a competitive car rather than a gi-and salaiy. McLaren could quite easily keep its two existing drivers. Hakkinen may want to move on after five fi-ustrating year's and Jordan seems vei-y interested. But McLaren looks closer to success than at any time recently. Eddie Irvine wants to stay at Fen-ari, but Mika Salo remains the man tipped as a replacement at Maranello. -JOESAWARD

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SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME... Seton, Bowe and Ingall have a lot to play for on Sunday. (Photo by Marshall cass>

Some things old,some things new for decider by CHRIS LAMBDEN

NEW brakes, tyres and engines are being thrown into the fight as the three title con tenders shape up for this weekend’s Shell ATCC decider at Oran Pai-k. As a resulj; of testing at Winton and Calder since the last round series leader Glenn Seton has switched his Ford Credit Falcon from Harrop ' to Brembo brakes: John Bowe has tested a new front Dunlop at Lakeside on Shell Falcon, and Russell

Ingall will race with a revised Perkins engine in the Castrol Comm odore. Seton’s team has been busy since return ing fi’om MaUala. After its practice shunt in WA, the car was returned to the jig for a check and has tested twice, resulting in the switch in brake brands. Seton heads to Oran Park with a simple phi losophy: “If we can win, we will. I’ve always gone well there. But the pri ority is to ensure we beat John (Bowe) and Russell IngaU.”

Bowe is similarly simplistic in approach: “I can’t do anything different to what we’ve done all year, which is do the best with what we’ve got. “We’ve been battling a mid-corner push all year, but Dunlop have come up with a revised shape front tyre for us and, on the basis of Monday’s test at Lakeside,it helps. “As usual. I’ll be going there to do my best and the team will maximise what we’ve got. U If that’s good enough, we’ll win.”

For his part, after dropping points at Mallala, Russell Ingall has no option: “I have to go there to get pole and win all three,” he said, “and whatever happens from there is pretty much out of my hands.” While all three are playing down the per sonal side of the cham pionship contest, there is no doubt Sunday’s decider could be a very tough contest. That, along with the current Brock retire ment phenomenon, guarantees a huge crowd for Oran Park.

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NEIL STREET, BLUES... Our man Crompton puts the hurt on David Donohue (Dodge, leading) and Randy Pobst(BMW)In race one.

by PHIL BRANAGAH

World of Sport

■

!■ Motor Huilng Calendar ♦SHELL AUSTRALIAN TOURING CAR C'SHtP Aug 3 . . . .Oran Park . . . .Rd 10 10 round series held around Australia.

AUST. 1000 CLASSIC Oct 19 . . .Mt. Panorama, Bathurst *BOC GASES AUST. SUPER TOURING CHAMPIONSHIP ,Rd5 Aug 10 . . .Winton . .Rd 6 Aug 24 . . .Mallala . Rd 7 Oct 26 . . .Lakeside 8 round series held around Australia

AMP BATHURST 1000 Oct 5 . . . .Mt. Panorama, Bathurst ♦AUST. FORMULA HOLDEN G'SHIP R d7 Aug 3 . . . .Oran Park 7 round series held around Australia.

♦SUCK 50 AUST. FORMULA FORD CHAMPIONSHIP Aug 3 . . . .Oran Park IRd8 8 round senes held around Australia

♦CENTURY BAHERIES AUST. GTP C'SHIP Rd5 Aug 10 . . .Winton . Rd6 Aug 24 . . .Mallala . Rd7 Oct 26 . . .Lakeside 8 round series held around Australia

WINSTON CUP NASCAR SERIES Aug 2 . . . .Indianapolis . . .Rd 20 Aug 10 . . .Watkins Glen . .Rd 21 Rd 22 Aug 17 . . .Michigan Rd 23 Aug 23 . . .Bristol . .

Aug 31 . . .Darlington . . . .Rd 24 32 race series held in the United States.

FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Rd 11 Aug 10 . . .Hungary Rd 12 Aug 24 . . .Belgium Rd 13 Sept 7 . . .Italy . . . 17 race series held around the world

♦PPG CART WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Rd13 Aug 10 . . .Lexington Aug 17 . . .Road America .Rd 14 17 race series held in the US. Aust. & Brazil.

♦SOOcc WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Rd 10 Aug 3 . . . .Brazil Rd 11 Aug 17 . . .Britain Aug 31 . . .Czech Repub. .Rd 12 15 race series held around the world.

NHRA WINSTON DRAG RACING SERIES Aug 3 Seattle, WA . . .Rd15 Aug 17 . . .Brainerd, MN . .Rd 16 23 race senes held in the United States

♦WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP Aug 2-5 . .Rally NZ Rd 9 Aug 29 . . .1000 Lakes . . .Rd 10 Sep 19-21 Rally Indonesia Rd 11 14 rally series around the world

All event dates in this calendar were correct at the time of printing. Please consult any individual tracks and/or associations for date changes.

Series or events telecast on Network Ten are marked with an asterix. Check your local guides for screening details.

NEIL Crompton is going from strength to strength in the North American Car Touring Championship. A week after his podium comeback in Cleveland Crompton hit his straps on the streets of Toronto, tak ing a win and a second in his newly-sponsored Tasman Motorsport Honda Accord. On a track less than 2km from their headquarters his results so impressed new sponsors, Canadian brewing giant Labatt’s, that the com pany is extending its deal to allow Crompton to finish the season. ' Originally the Labatts deal was for Toronto and Vancouver only, but he will

now carry the famous Blue colours for the rest of the season. ‘This is the ultimate sponsor for an Aussie - a beer

nother disaster - and just at the time and the

place I wanted things to go so much better than they have been doing of late. My start wasn’t bad . - but it wasn’t that h good either. I lost a Mr place to Alesi down to SB the first corner, while H Irvine came flying down the inside just as I was braking into the corner. He came alongside and we both went into the corner side by side. I stayed out wide to leave him room, but even though I had two wheels out over the kerb, it obviously wasn’t enough for him. He cut across the front of my car and whacked the front right wheel with his rear left. I managed to limp

„

company!” Crompton said this week, “It’s fantastic. It’s given us the opportunity to get on with our unfinished busi-

Cl'

has changed within the team - even after Hockenheim. H.

admit that Silverstone was my first mistake of the sea son. I am sure there will be others in my career, howev er, but the press made a lot more out of It than it really was. I guess that’s part of the price you pay driving for a top team - one day all the r

●

j ●

back to the pits with a By the time 1 arrived in

shredded front tyre, but the suspension was badly

Hockenheim on

ness - winning the champi onship.” Crompton qualified fmmth fastest for the first Toronto race and fell to sixth at the

●D

solution for the race. We had a balance problem from the first day, the same sort of problems we had experienced testing in Monza the previ■ ous week with the ( cars in a low downforce configuration. Hockenheim is a very sensitive circuit as far as the set-up and tyre temperature is concerned. It’s very diffi cult to get it right quickly and the wet weather on the first day didn’t help,

he car still wasn’t right for qualifying, but I got four good runs, going a little quicker each time. My final time was about the best that was capable from the car the way it was handling. Obviously we were disappointed and I was sure that we were going to have to make some different set-up changes

bent and there was no Thursday, it WdS almOSt for the race, choice but to park it for .„ . . 1 was confident that the rest of the day. I was aS IJ SOme people there the car would be a lot betshattered. I cannot say I was run the softer tyres sorry to see that It had showed us that’there was also cost Irvine his race. He headlines are positive, the had also driven back with his something not working as next they are negative. As well as it should this time. far as I am concerned the rear left tyre in pieces and On race morning, the only point about Silverstone obviously some other more was that it showed that warm- up was run on a partly serious damage to his Ferrari. damp track but, despite that, everyone is human and can make mistakes. I could still feel a big Apparently he wrote in his column after Silverstone that After the last disastrous improvement in the handling and I was looking forward to two races, I am looking for my accident with Verstappen a good race, ward even more to the rest was typical Frentzen, and of the season. Now certainiy that I had forgotten that there ther than if it had been is still five feet of car behind isn’t the time to start making me. myself on the pole or on judgements and conclusions. Wait until the end of the sea the winners podium, I Well, I couldn’t have put it couldn’t have been more son for that. better myself for what I happy that it was Gerhard thought about his move at after what he has been the first corner! Asin well all the Hocken pressure through the last couple of the aspress, heim also had all that extra months. It was a great effort ByHockenheim the time I arrived on Thursin and, for him at least, it also pressure from racing at home. You want to do well stopped a lot more gossip in day, it was aimost as if the press. some people there were sur in front of your home public Benetton had gone for the prised to see me. There had and you create your own soft tyres, while we went for been so many recent pressure. the harder ones. I was hop rumours stirred up in the Actually the pressure as ing it was going to stay as press that, according to a whole doesn’t really bother hot for the race as it had some journalists, I was me. I carry it around inside me as an extra motivation to been for qualifying and tyres about to be replaced on the do even better. might be a factor. However, team after what happened at Silverstone. the weather certainly didn’t The real pressure of the end up making any differ Well, I hate to disappoint weekend was to get the cars ence to my race. them all, but the truth is that performing. Our grid posi tions were the worst the Hungary’s next, and that’s I still have a good relation where I’ll be hoping for a team have had for a long ship with Frank Williams and time and we had to find a change of fortune. Patrick Head and nothing

were surprised to see me

start but motored through the field to finish second behind Dominic Dobson. Better still, fastest lap of the race gave him pole for race two, which he duly won. The Sydirey driver is now fourth in the NATCC points chase on 160, while David Donohue (Dodge) and Peter Cunningham (Honda) lead the series on 194 and 188 respectively. There are three rounds of the series to go, the next being on Crompton and Tasman’s home tmT at Mid Ohio on August 10.

3 05

5. ID

GREG MOORE... Players can be choosers...

Moore sticks with CART now By JOE SAWARD and PHIL MORRIS GREG Moore has denied rumours that he is about to sign for McLaren in Formula 1. The 22-year-old star insists he will race in CART until at least the conclusion of his cur rent contract with Gerald Forsythe which runs to the end of 1999. “It’s totally untrue,” Moore declared about the McLaren rumours. “I haven’t signed any thing with McLaren or anyone else in Foi-mula 1. “I’m a friend of David Coulthard’s and a Mercedes-Benz dri ver, and when people saw me in the McLaren pit in Montreal I guess one thing led to another. It makes a good story. “I have to focus on what I’m doing,” Moore added. “I want to win the CART championship before thinking about going Formula 1.

I also have two more years in my con tract with Forsythe Racing and Players, so this is where I’ll be racing for a little while.” There have been many rumours in recent months sug gesting that MercedesBenz wants a German driver at McLaren, but Mercedes’ sporting boss Norbert Haug says this is not essen tial and that it is only the German press which is clamouring for such an arrangement. Until last week the most likely deal was that Ralf Schumacher would be bought out of his Jordan option, but Eddie ended that speculation by retain ing him for ’98. Dennis has gone to great lengths in recent months to look for new talent, presum ably having concluded that there are none available in the current crop of FI dri vers. 66

;

lAugusIWI

New sponsor is just Magic By DAVID HASSALL

SHE may have been racing for only one year in state-level Formula Vees, but the implausi bly named Magic Pass has cer tainly made her mark on the sport she loves. Of course, female drivers do not stand out quite as much as they did a generation ago, but what makes Magic a little differ ent is that she is sponsored by a table-top dancing club, Lazar Melbourne. And some of the girls accom pany her to the meetings, where they have certainly turned plen ty of heads. Magic, who is a dancer herself, is very ambitious and would like to graduate to Formula Renault or Formula Atlantic overseas. But her immediate goals are not quite so lofty as she focuses on competing in the Vee Nationals at Baskerville (Tasmania) on November 23, with a view to stepping up to Formula Ford next year. At 25, she realises she has waited to long to start racing and encourages other girls to get out and have a go. “I think females feel uncom fortable about racing; they feel they don’t measure up to the guys,” she said. , U I think that girls ajre worried that they can’t achieve their dream of being a racing driver but they can.” Magic believes she has served

BRITISH music and air line mogul Richard Branson has said that his Virgin empire would be willing to fund a British Grand Prix free of tobac co sponsorship if FI boss es decided not to visit Silverstone because of impending tobacco bans. Speaking at an anti-smok ing conference in London, Branson said that if neces sary he would provide a rival worldwide”, spectacle adding that his offer goes for

CHECKING THE COCKPIT... Magic Pass(second from the right) and a few of her colleagues check out her Formula Vee during a break in proceedings at Calder recently. \Ne do not believe she is modelling the latest (Photo by Phil Scannell) fashion in flameproof underwear... her apprenticeship and now gets a little respect from the other drivers. ‘T used to get a hard time; you know, guys used to come up and say you should be home cooking, stuff like that.

‘But the sport is getting ‘female-friendly’ now, which is good, and I have lots of other girls coming up to me and say ing they want to race.” Magic is doing her best to encourage others to race

any sport that claims it can not survive without cigarette advertising. Branson said that the motor racing industry could do without tobacco sponsor ship if diivers were paid a lot less money. The naive outburst did not impress the FI world, which pointed out that Branson should stick to the business es he understands. FIA President Max Mosley told the Financial Times in London that FI was “an area about which Branson knows nothing. His record in areas

where he knows nothing - as with cleaning up litter for Mrs Thatcher - is not very good.” There are only four teams which do not rely on tobacco money: Sauber, Stewart, Tyrrell and Arrows and of these Sauber is reliant on the Marlboro-backed FeiTari for its engine supply. The only team which says it is openly anti-tobacco is Stewart while Tyrrell and Tom Walkinshaw’s Arrows both have long histories of involvement with tobacco companies.

r I

through official lines, having taken on the marketing for the Formula Vee Association of Victoria, which involves organ ising displays and promotions. And what about that name? She thinks it’s just Magic.

Si(wt

to partner team drivers. Preference give to Australian drivers witja support budget. (Ample signage space available.)

an end ofseason test drive in a

Group

Commodore!

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International motor racing team, competing with 2 car team in Bathurst 1000 requires

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n The vast Bertels mann entertainment com pany is increasing its involvement in FI. In addition to merchandising deals with Ferrari and Stewart- and a financial involvement in McLaren Cars - the company is now working in a partner ship with German TV magnate Leo Kirch to pro mote digital pay-per-view services in Germany. We also hear that there are plans for a major new merchandising deal involving the company and West cigarettes.

cafie&i

« VACANT Z r1

n David Hunt may not be the only one tiying to get the name Lotus back into FI. We now hear that the Proton-owned Group Lotus is considering FI as a means of promoting its sportscars with a program starting in 2000. The Malaysian connection could see the cars powered by the new Petronas engine being built for Sauber. n The Portuguese Grand Prix - which had been ten tatively rescheduled for November 9-is not going to take place and the FI calendar will remain with only 17 races. In an effort to save the race,the Portuguese government took a controlling interest in the track and made $5m available for the necessary work, but FeiTari and McLaren refused to accept another race and the idea had to be cancelled.

Virgin GP plan By JOE SAWARD

Post all entries to: JBE Suite 179/9 Crofts Ave, Hurstviile NSW 2220 Please send me tickets at $20 Name Address Ph (h)

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Uugust1997 PENALTIES seem to bring out the best in Alex Zanardi. As he did earlier this month at Cleveland, the Italian charged back from an early penalty to win Simda/s US 500 CART race at Michigan Speedway. This time he did it in the smothering heat and humidi ty of Michigan Speedway, a track that took a heavy toll on the 28 starters. The victory was Zanardi’s third this season but his first on an oval. It boosts him into the series points lead, six points ahead of previous leader Paul Tracy, who fin ished a lap down in fourth. “There were a lot of people

230mph CHARGE...

Pruett and Boesel lead away from the pack, led by Gugelmin (centre)and Vasser. WHEN it rains it poxirs. After struggling for most of the last two seasons to take his first win Mark Blundell scored his second victory in the Toronto. He led the race from lap one after polesitter Dario Franchitti and third place starter Bobby Rahal touched in the first corner. Blundell was poised to pass Rahal and Franchitti as they recovered from their bump. He spent the better part of the race looking in his rear-view mirrors at a very persistent Alex Zanardi, who finished only 0.659 seconds behind Blundell. Andre Ribeiro came in third place with his best finish this season after switching to a Reynard chassis prior to the Cleveland race. Michael Andretti and Scott Pruett round out the top five finishers. / This was Blundell’s second podium fin ish of the year, this victory just three weeks after his Portland win. He’s earned 61 of his 72 points in the last four races, including Michigan’s second place. “We came from the front row and we stayed there ’til the end.” But Zanardi was never far from his mind or his line of vision. “The last few laps were a little nerve-wracking obviously.” Blundell cred its the Mercedes with that little extra something that kept him on top. Zanardi did his best to tiy to get around Blundell, but every time he got close, he could never pull out the extra few horse power needed to execute the pass. “I was hoping he would get nervous and try to take over a back marker,” said Zanardi. There were several chances for this to happen as the front runners encountered some unyielding lapped traffic. But Blundell never made a mistake. So Zanardi settled, “ Second is better than third.” And surprise third place finisher Andre Ribeiro added, “And third place is better than nothing!” The race was interrupted only once after the opening yellow and that came on lap 60 when Zanardi and Greg Moore made contact, ending Moore’s day in

sidepod. There were just 10 cars running at the end. Mark Blundell, winner of two of the previous three races, was the only driver able to stay with Zanardi on the lead lap. But the Englishman was 31.737seconds - nearly a full lap behind at the finish. “It was a little bit tough at the end,” Blundell said. “I picked up a little vibration, and I was holding on so tight I lost the circulation in my left hand. I felt for a while

Mark two in Toronto spectacular fashion. Zanardi was driving on cold t3rres and he and Moore got into a corner together. Moore tried to get by Zanardi but the Italian was unahle to quite get out of Moore’s way. “I didn’t try to keep my position; I just tried to make the turn,” said Zanardi. He realised the misery he caused Moore but said it just couldn’t be helped, and he’d understand quite well if Moore was a little upset at that moment. Although there were only two full course yellows there were several people eliminat ed from the race including Franchitti. He made a great recovery from his opening mishap. He fell to 27th on the opening lap but steadily worked his way beck up to ninth bji lap 33. He made a pit stop on lap.34 and re-entered the field in 13th. A few laps later he made contact with the wall and that was the end of the day that could have been. “I just came in and clipped the wall and everything snapped and we were done.” As for the beginning of the race, it was probably, as they say, one of those racing deals. Franchitti said, “I believed I had a clear line there and Bobby caught me.” Rahal said, “I got a good start and Dario left and opening on the inside. I think he saw Mark on the outside and didn’t see me up next to him on the inside. I think I sur prised him.” From Blimdell’s vantage point, he said, “I was going to him in as tight a line as possible.” NIGEL WHO?... After two hard years Blundell has hit his stride in the CART series, taking.a win in Toronto and second on the ultra-fast Michigan oval.

PfKfOKUANCf PKODUCn 1

fourth, passing Tracy in the last 10 laps for that position.^ Zanardi came back from 22nd at Cleveland after being sent to the rear of the field for entering a closed pit lane. This time, he was penalised for running over an air hose in the pits on lap 36 and had to drive through the pit lane at the speed limit of 80 mph under the green flag. That dropped Zanardi firom sixth to 18th, just ahead of was Tracy, who also an penalised for running over air hose on the same lap. The attrition helped Zanardi some, but his Hondapowered Reynard was flaw less as he took the lead for good on lap 220 when de Ferran made his final pit stop. “Today, I had the car,” the 30-year-old Zanardi said. “I just had to bring it home. This is one of the best days of my life. The Honda engine was great in the heat. I was able to run hard all the time. Some of the other drivers couldn’t do that.” Broken gearboxes and crashes caused most of the attrition. Transmission failures elim inated Michael Andretti,

Points after 12 races: Zanardi 127, Tracy 121, de Ferran 108, Andretti 103, Moore 95, Pruett 82, Vasser 75,BlundeU 72.

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like I didn’t have a hand.” Gil de Ferran finished

,Andre Ribeiro, defending series and US 500 champion Jimmy Vasser, Raul Boesel and rookie Dario Franchitti. Parker Johnstone, Bobby Rahal and poleman Scott Pruett all slammed into the second-turn wall. Both Andretti and Ribeiro led and looked particularly strong when they were knocked out. Rahal was sec ond, and Pruett fourth when their one-car crashes occmTed. Johnstone came within inches of a veiy serious injury when he crashed hard after his right rear tire was cut and deflated. A piece of the sus pension from the front of the cai- came into the cockpit and penetrated his helmet, leav ing Johnstone with a cut and dark bruise on his forehead. Rahal came away with a bruised left hip. Pruett was not mjm’ed. Both got too high on the banked track in traffic and shd up into the wall.

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J .

who said, Teah, he’s quick everywhere, but he can’t win a 500-mile race,’ Well, this proves they were wrong,” Zanardi said after leaning down to kiss his car on the

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“V

FORIVtULA. t

1 August 1997

The winds of m change in FI elcome, race fans, to the “Silly Season”, that time of year when you read all kind of daft stories in the newspapers. I am not just talking about F1, either. In many walks of life in Europe, late July and early August are the time when people take their vaca tion, so that they can spend time with their children during the school holidays. As people are busy fight ing over towel space on the beach es, there is less news being gener ated. The only thing which happens without fail at this time of year is that the number of children being mur dered increases, presumably as a result of parents getting to know them better. With only the odd child murder going on and all the politicians, busi nessmen and arms-dealers fighting for the beaches, journalists are struggling. This is made worse by the fact that the experienced reporters have figured out that the best thing to do is not to fight the system but to join it anpi go on holi day as well. , This leaves the'second-string men and the junior reporters with the problem of digging up the non-exis tent news which means that one often sees stories abodt ducks on skateboards and little old ladies who collect bottle tops.

le Formula 1 “Silly Season” is a _ little different because in the summer the sport is at full tilt with a race meeting every two weeks. Nevertheless, as August beck ons, minds in Ft are already looking ahead to next year. Design teams are busy twiddling with their comput er mice. Aerodynamicists are getting the wind in their hair again and the production bods will soon be making the first patterns for the 1998 racing cars. It is the time to finalise engine deals and to work out who will be dri ving where. This is not silly at all. It is very good planning. The silliness comes because of the conflicting stories about which team is talking to which driver and so on. Some con tacts are spotted, others are not. It can be a fmstrating time of year if you let it get to you because finding the truth among the smokescreens is not easy. This year’s Silly Season has been curiously flat, not because there are not going to be major moves but rather because it is not just a question of established stars switching about. We are looking at the replace ment of an entire generation of dri vers with a band of new - and cheap - youngsters such as Ralf Schumacher, Giancarlo Fisichella, Alexander Wurz and Jarno Trulli. Some of the old names like Gerhard Berger, Jean Alesi, Mika Hakkinen, Eddie Irvine and Damon Hill may be facing a more difficult task to hold onto drives in F1. Formula 1 is, of course, a con sumer society. There is not much in the way of recycling. Young drivers come and go. If they make an impression they perhaps get the chance to stay. FI squeezes them and then pops them out when it is finished: only the clever, the lucky and the very quick are able to sur-

i 1

% » *

THEM AND NOW: The dapper Italian businessman who arrived in FI (above)and the troubled team owner this year (left). The changing face of Flavio Briatore. (Photos by Nigel Snowdon and Marshall Cass) VIve.

Constant movement is a general rule in Grand Prix racing. Every year there are guides published with all the names of the people in the dif ferent positions within each team. These are out of date within weeks. About the only people who do not move around frantically are the team bosses and the press. It may be brutal to say it, but the other day I couldn’t help thinking that it was a bit of a shame that team bosses do not change around more often. One can argue that at the moment there is a zephyr of change with Jordan beginning to come on strong as a team and the arrival of Jackie Stewart and Alain Frost, but it seems sometimes that no matter what happens we are stuck with the same old faces in most of the teams. We know their foibles and their vices and, despite their earnest efforts to surprise us, they are becoming more and more predictable. They have also become a little bit too alike as the commercial pres sures have made them afraid to communicate anything of interest in case a rival tries to steal the deal or screw the pitch. If they say anything of interest you have to ask yourself why you are being told. A journalist Js only ever told things these days if it is in the inter est of the source to let the informa tion leak. Some of the team princi pals do release things in good faith but figuring out which ones to trust and when is a very complicated business. The need for secrecy and discre tion is really very dull and tends to make them all seem rather bland talking heads, mouthing away in marketing speak. What worried me the other day was when I heard that Bernie Ecclestone, Flavio Briatore, Eddie Jordan and Tom Walkinshaw had all decided to go on holiday together in Sardinia. I always assumed that the purpose of a holiday was to have a break from business. It is impossible to imagine that these four high-fliers love one another like faithful old

friends. Even taking into account the abili ty of FI movers and shakers to for get the fact that someone doublecrossed them the previous day, this is extraordinary and the only possi ble conclusion is that they concluded that they would make more money or whatever it is they are searching for. When first started aboutI motor racing I reporting was fasci nated to find out the motivation of the drivers. There were many differ ent reasons why people raced but gradually they divided into a number of common themes. The motivation of a team boss is much the same. There are those who chase glory; those who chase recognition and those who chase money. For many years Flavio Briatore has long been one of my favourite targets for psychoanalysis. His involvement in F1 has never made any sense at all to me, except as a broker of commodities. He buys a driver,cheap and sells him expen sively; he buys a team when it is in a mess and sells it when things improve. You must, of course, add the fact that Flavio enjoys a high-profile life and never lets a camera go by without somehow getting his face in front of it. He’s made a lot of

money. He has read his name ir'i the papers - so what does he do now? There has been much specula tion in recent weeks about Briatore’s future and it seems to me that he could be on his way. Mis time is passing. As a buccaneering capitalist, he had his place in F1 in the iate-1980s and he taught the old team owners a few ruthless tricks about wheeling and dealing, increasingly, however, these are the days of corporate strat egy and glossy public relations work. At Hockenheim Flavio was put up in front of the press and asked ques tions about why he had not announced his engine deal for next year. In the end he became exas perated. He would tell everyone when he was ready to; it was none of our business. For some time now Flavio has looked an older and wearier man. Take a look at photographs of him when he came to F1 and compare them to today and you see that the stress has taken its toll. Ron Dennis and Frank Williams have a different kind of motivation. They are racers. They are driven by the racing itself and that sustains them when the going gets tough. For those with only financial incentives it is less easy to have the drive and resources to fight back. There are easier ways of making money. We shall have toPhase wait and the Briatore in see FI isif over and we are entering a new cor porate era. After commodity brokers, what can we look forward to next? I guess ,we will soon be seeing driver managers with managers and press officers with press officers. Thankfully, this is - in a way one of the joys about being an FI reporter. People often ask me how we can stay for years writing about the same old things, but I can hon estly say that it is not like that. I started out reporting on racing. They were happy, innocent days and a lot of fun. Since then, as the years have gone by, I have found myself writing about finance, politics.

the law and even murders. These days one needs to know as much about the workings of European Law and how flotations work as one does, about automotive technology. And I can see that we will need to learn still more in the years ahead.. There are aspects of the business which are only beginning to be developed. People in the F1 paddock love to talk about the F1 “bubble" bursting but I just cannot see it happening. ) see the growth continuing around the world. I can even see the pace accelerating as the business realises just how much there is to be gained from merchandising the sport properiy. You have only to wander out into ; the public areas at Hockenheim - , something which team bosses never do - and look at the race fans to realise that here is a vast resource ' and all over the world are simitar ; armies with their pockets full of ‘ money they wish to spend to buy an| association with Michael ; Schumacher, Ferrari, Minardi or ' whichever brand they feel suits their i personality. | I have never understood why n anyone would want to wear Michael ; Schumacher underwear but then | i have trouble accepting the concept ' that it is cool to wear a tee-shirt say- i ing you have been to the Hard Rock Cafe in Bangkok. Still, I am looking forward to j learning more about branding. As ! we were driving into Hockenheim ; this year I had a quick crash course j which involved a couple Volkswagen| products: the Golf Bon Jovi and the Pink Floyd estate. l The Bon Jovi had a bumper stick-| er which left me rather confused: It j is time to pull over and change the i air in your head,” said the bumper i sticker. The only possible conclusion , is that the driver was proud to be an airhead. I The Pink Floyd was rather| depressing. Once upon a time Pink 1 Floyd was a rebel rock and roll band. n Today that image is being used to sell cars for middle-aged rockers who want to put kids and labradors

1 August ^397

INTERVIEW

The

states Russell Ingall has been the driver to watch in 1997, both on and offthe track. DAVID HASSALL spoke to Mm about his new-foundfame, and infamy oeo

MOTORSPORT NEWS; You seem to have established yourself now in the upper echelon of touring car racing; you must be pretty satisfied by what you’ve achieved this year. INGALL; Oh, for sure, compared to last year, where i suppose it was a learning curve. There were a lot of factors last year that I couldn’t pull the results that I wanted to. It was no secret that we had a few tyre problems last year and the budget restricted how far you could push to the limit, that sort of thing. This year those factors were com¬ pletely turned around ... well, not completely, in as much as there’s still a budget, but Dunlop gave us a good package and we had a healthier bud¬ get. With those two factors alone, you can start pushing things to the limit a bit more and the results have come because of that. MN: Was there any work you needed to do on Larry to take the Touring Car Championship more seriously than perhaps he has in the past? INGALL: Not really. The deal with Larry right from the start was that 1 do my own thing. He supplies the mechanics to run it, I deal with them

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and set the car up myself, as long as I keep him informed on what I’m doing. It’s sort of like running two separate teams within a team, if that’s the right way to put it, so how I approached the Championship was up to me as well. This year we had the goods to win right from the start, so that’s what I was aiming for. I was aiming for the Championship. It was probably up to me more than Larry how seriously I wanted to win the thing. Larry does his own thing and he felt confident in me to do my own thing. Which is excellent for me, because I’ve always run my own race teams, done my own thing. He’s shown a lot of confidence in me by doing that, to give someone a touring car and say, ‘Right there’s your mechanics, go out and set it up your self’. Obviously, if I need advice, which i regularly do, I can go to him. It works really well. WIN: You seem to have been fairly confident with your set up changes though, would that be fair to say? INGALL: I’ve always, how can i put this, gone down the road of car set up; 1 suppose it’s because of my background in Europe for five years. And when you haven’t got much practice time, as is the case in the touring cars, then that knowledge comes in handy. You’ve only got two sessions to get the car sorted before a race meeting. MN: And yet there have been some times where you haven’t qualified very well. What are some of the problems? INGALL; It’s been a strange thing. I haven’t been able to pinpoint it in myself because I always used to qualify very well; that’s one of the things that used to get me out of trou ble in England. There is a knack to qualifying these cars. It’s one of those things that only comes with experience. Murphy's been pretty stunning in qualifying and the Bridgestones we all know have got a very good quali fying lap in them, but, generally, you watch some of the more experienced drivers and they might not be quick in the untimed sessions, but all of a sudden they’ll pull that one lap out and be out the front in qualifying. And it’s just plain experience, 1 think. MN: And you think it’s in the dri ving rather than the set-up? INGALL; Yeah, I think so. It’s something that I have to deal with and something I’m trying to rectify at the moment. I think that one of the down sides

i 5

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INTERVIEW

IkiguslWI

forcer case because I’m a fairly forceful driver.

of being a bit too mechanicaily mind ed is that you’re aiways tinkering. You’re sitting back in your hotei on Friday night thinking, ‘Weii if I changed this and this I reckon I’ii go better tomorrow’. So you do it and you end up going backwards because you start going overboard, tinkering too much. That’s one of the probiems i had at Maliaia and that’s going to cost me deariy for the championship. I reckon i couid have got more out of the car than what was reaily there. Realiy, there was no more pace in the car at that time, but I tried to find more, so i was scratching around for something that wasn’t there and that made me go backwards.

MN: As long as you don’t mind being seen as a bit of the bad guy... INGALL: No, no. Dale Earnhardt is seen as the bad guy of NASCAR and I wish I had his bank balance. (Laughs) I’d be pretty damn happy. You can have that reputation and there's no real down side to it, as long as you’re not seen as arrogant. I think arrogance in any sport is hard to cop and I don’t think I’ve been ... no, I know that I haven’t been seen as that. This year I’ve got a competitive package and when you have that and you know you can win races, and you’re running door handle to door handle with other cars, some times you’re going to get a bit of rub bing and touching, but it’s all part of the sport. When you know you can win, it gives you a bit more keenness to take the thing to the limit a bit more.

MN: There comes a time when you have to stop playing and just grab it by the scruff of the neck. INGALL: Exactly right.

Omi&

MN: But there did seem to be a bit more to it than just the media and PFi thing that you were called The Enforcer; behind that there seemed to be some substance ... that you decid ed that, ‘I have to make my mark here, I have to shake this whole scene up’. From the start of the year you seemed to be on a mis sion ... INGALL; Oh,for sure.

stick the car in it, there’s no doubt about it. That’s the way I’ve always driven, always was brought up to drive. Remember, I’ve done the majority of my driving in Europe and you’re brought up in a hard back ground over there. There’s no slack ing off. If there’s a hole there you take it. If you leave the hole expect it to be filled, simple as that. I just found the racing here a little bit lacking in that area. When you start' driving like that you get a few fingers’ pointed at you, but to be honest, that’s racing. That’s real racing. MN: So you’ve got no regrets

probably a bit rude was Gardner at Eastern Creek. That was a mistake on my part. Gardner was in a fair bit of trouble tyre-wise and I got a bit close to him and gave him a bit of a nudge. I copped a $2500 suspended fine for it and that was fair enough. It was a genuine mistake and I freely admit it. Any others, not at all.

about any of the incidents this year? INGALL; No. MN: You’ve been involved in a few. INGALL: Oh, for sure. But you take Phillip Island, for instance; I think that was good, hard racing. Murphy spat the dummy a bit, but I don’t know why. People told me it was some of the best racing that’s hap pened over quite a few years. It’s not like anyone lost any positions or was pushed out of the race totally. It was racing for position, simple as that, nothing more, nothing less. The only instance where I was

STUCKEY

Austnaiia's mo^ [technically advanced Engine Management Systems Greg Murphy Mobil HRT Commodore Ist-SATGC Rd.8 Mallala, SA

actually hit the nail on the head. And this is what half the incidents have been a result of. You’re absolutely, positively correct in that. I was watching the same race at Oulton Park last weekend and I saw exactly the same thing. There’s no blocking, or if they do block it’s a half hearted attempt. All they’re con cerned about is pacing themselves, getting the maximum out of the car lap after lap and making people chase. All they’re concerned about is going as quick as they can and if someone else who’s quicker can get past them, well, they get past, simple as that. When you’ve got someone that starts blocking severely, like a couple of drivers are fairly renowned for here, it makes it hard to get past and it just slows the lap times right down and you’ve got more chance of something happening. And when something does happen, the finger gets pointed.

MN: So you think it’s all good, hard, fair racing? There’s nothing dirty? INGALL: I think on my part it’s good, hard racing, but the trouble is because the racing’s been a little bit tame here in previous years, they’re just not used to it and they’re having a moan and groan about it. It is proper racing. I would love to throw every one of these drivers into a couple of British touring car championship races or any races in Europe or England and MN: Particularly when you’re one say, ‘Hey, this is real rac ing, this is what it’s about’. or two or three cars back... INGALL: When you're all bunched Because they just haven’t sfeen that, apart from guys like Alan Jones and up that’s when accidents happen. To Larry ... and you don’t see them be honest, I think it’s far less safe for whinging. They’ve been to Europe someone to block than just full-out racing. I think something should be and they know what it’s like. done about it. It’s just not on. I think MN: There’s one thing I noticed of it as a cowardly way of racing. If you look at the race we had at just last weekend watching the Lakeside, the third race, where I was British Touring Car Champion in front of Bowe, I was flat out from ship; they do give each other rac start to finish. I was going flat out and ing room. There’s none of this dri ving down the inside and blocking Bowe was struggling to keep up and business; they stay on the line it makes it harder for him to pass. If I and if you’re good enough to get started blocking, he would have had down the inside then good luck to more chances to get past me. If peo you. Is that a problem in ple realised that I think the racing Australia? Continued next page INGALL: A huge one. You’ve

That’s the coward’s way out.

MN:... not just to win races, but to really impose yourself. INGALL: Last year was a very frustrating year because I couldn’t drive how I wanted to ... I know how I can drive, but it didn’t come out of me. This year, because we've got a competitive package, I can do that. Like I said, if there’s a hole there I'll

mOALL

BATHURST GLORY: Larry and Russell after their 1995 win.

^‘John Bowe is playing silly buggers, which doesn Y amuse me too much.

MN: It was fairly early in the sea son, at Phillip Island I think, that I suggested you were playing the role of The Enforcer. You seemed to have decided to impose your self on the rest of the field and make your presence felt. Are you fairly comfortable with that image now, now that it’s taken hold? INGALL: The image thing was brought on by the press, I suppose, but to be quite honest I didn't try to can it, because I feel touring cars over the years have probably lacked personalities. You look at any sport and you’ve always got a few people that have got nicknames or traits or something they’re known for and I think it’s great. I don’t think there are any down sides to it, because at the end of the day we’re putting on a show for the public. It’s not like they were call ing me something because I was out of control or punting people off left, right and centre or being arrogant or whatever; I've got a nickname

Formula W'-l

Peter Brock - Mobil HRT Commodore 1st - SATCC Rd.8 Wanneroo, WA Congratulations to Peter Brock, Greg Murphy & the Mobil Holden Racing Team

with a little helpfrom MoTeC. -I MoTeG^ustralia

Ltd GabEielle Gouii Bayswafer 3153 Ph 0307615050 Fax 07615051{ i

VIC - 828 Sycfney Rd

-. Brunswick 3056

Ph 03 9386 5331

«ISW - lOCarnegiei place Blacktov/n 2148 Ph 02 9676 8655

INTERVIEW

1 August 199/

Continued from previous page would be better: you’d see more passing as well because if someone is far quicker, they deserve to get past, there’s no doubt about that, MN: They seem to have forgotten a very old convention in motorsport which is you give the other guy racing room. Make it hard for him to pass by ali means, but give him racing room. INGALL: Yes. In saying that, you don’t just wave the guy through, but if someone’s three-quarters of the way past, you can’t just pull back down on them. When you do that you’re going to come off worse, then the other guy thinks he’s a mongrel because he's hit him. People still do it and the fin ger still gets pointed at the guy doing the overtaking manoeuvre, which is wrong. I thought that’s what motor ^ racing was about, trying to win a race and passing people, but apparently not. MN: So what about John Bowe calling you the dirtiest driver he’s ever seen? INGALL: That really surprised me. At the beginning of the year I didn’t get along too badly with John and we were actually quite friendly. I don’t know what his problem is; he's obvi ously got a problem somewhere that I think lies a bit deeper, whether it be motor racing or his personal life, I wouldn’t have a clue. It just y seems that there’s a bit more / there than just me. / As I figure it, he’s playing a / few mind games. He seems A to be buddying up to a few peopie which would help his cause. Even people who are with different manufacturer cars. He’s playing silly buggers off the track, which again doesn’t amuse me too much. Again, that’s the coward’s way out. Like I said before, I refuse to comment on any incidents if someone taps me off the track, which has happened a couple of times just recently, I just cop it on the chin. As they say, if you want to be a boxer you’ve got to expect a blood nose. There’s no use raving and ranting about it; just get on with it. It’s all a big circle as well. What goes around comes around, so ... don’t get mad, get even. The thing is, it's all part of racing and you just have to cop it. John seems to feel a bit threatened with his racing. I don’t know why. There are people who are always going to come along sooner or later who are going to be quick, maybe faster than them, it does

ed out? Should the drivers just sort things out among themselves rather than having all this business with stewards and video replays? INGALL: No, I don't want that to be taken the wrong way as if you’re going to go out and deliberately waste them in the next race. I mean ‘get even’ by beating them. If you put them off the track all that causes is more arguments and they’ll moan and groan and complain a bit more. You go out there, pass them, beat them fair and square and that just really gets up their jumper. I look at it that way. I’d rather go out and kick their butts on the track. /\ MN: But is there too much offi cial inter- , vention? / can it be / left for / t he / d ri- / vers / t o

MN: Speaking of revenge, and you used the phrase yourself, of ‘don’t get angry, get even’, have there been some instances of that this year? And probably as a follow-up to that question, is that the way that these things should get sort-

^^The racing^ been a little bit tame here in previous years; they ^rejust not used to it and they^re having a moan and groan.

TI3 sort it out amongst themselves? INGALL: I think there always has to be intervention by officials: You can’t just have open siqther or it would be just like demolition derby out there. You have to have rules to make it safe for everyone. But on the other hand, it seems at the moment that as soon as there’s any minor touch, team managers go running off to thfe officials and start moaning and groaning and throwing their arms about, so I suppose the officials have to be seen to do something. It’s amazing how a lot of these people can see everything that goes on around the track from pit lane. It’s silly. The facts should be heard after the race when everybody’s got time to calm down before action is taken to the steward. It seems like people act before they think. I think there has to be something done about actual racing conduct. Of what is fair or what isn’t fair. Whether we have a meeting of all the drivers, some sort of forum or something to draw a line on what’s racing and what’s deliberate blocking. It’s quite easy to control because you give them the ‘bad sportsmanship flag’ for a few laps and if they continue to. ,do it then the black flag comes out, simple as that. It’s an easy fix. It’s not n like you have to black flag someone straight away and hoik them in and there’s a big spit about losing a race; you can give them some warning. It’s something I’ll be trying to lobby for. How much resistance I'd have ... I should imagine I’d have a fair bit, but luckily we’ve got someone like Tim Schenken who has raced overseas and he knows proper racing, so some sense might prevail.

^l^m the one playing catch-up now and the pressure is on the other teams. For me, ifsjust gofor it. shock you. But I think that’s what builds character. You have to say, 'Right, if he’s getting that sort of time out of the car, I can go quicker'. You just have to make yourself go quick er and beat him, simple as that, not moan and groan about it. No matter what you say through the press or whatever, there’s no better revenge than getting out there and beating the guy on the track. That’s the way I’ve always raced. .

that. He seems to be a good steerer. I don’t think he’s the best racer under the sun, but he’s very quick in a single lap. He seems fairly committed to the sport. Outside the car I have no respect for him at all. I think he’s one of those guys who opens the mouth before he engages the brain and I think he’s proved just recently that it’s not the right way to do it. It just seems the mouth is in sixth gear and the brain’s in first. It should be the other way around. He’s landed himself in quite a bit of trouble just recently because of it. It’s quite strange really, because I thought he’d be a bit more switched on than that. If he wants any career overseas he’ll have to be a bit more switched on than that. In Europe you keep things in-house and there’s only one

MN: What do you think of Greg Murphy? INGALL: As a driver'l think he’s very quick, there’s no doubt about

place to sort things out and that's on the race track. MN: Are there any others that come into that category? INGALL: No, not really, all the rest of them seem pretty resen/ed. I personally don’t have a problem with any of them. I actually probably still get on alright with Gardner, even though we’ve had a few incidents, Again, he’s experienced the overseas factor and it’s amazing how the guys who have had that type of experience just let it pass. Gardner’s had a bit of a session in the press now and then, but at the end of the day he’ll still come up and talk to you. MN: So when you hear people say that you only came back here because you couldn’t cut it overseas, does that hurt? INGALL: I won the Formula Ford Festival, British Championship, the World Cup, I’ve raced against guys like David Coulthard, Barrichello and beaten them on equal terms in Macau and in Formula 3 and those sort of things. If you take those sort of achievements as being a loser, then the people saying that must be pretty hard to please, At least I went over and had a go at it. How many other drivers do you see around the place who have actually gone over there for a couple of months and thought, this is too hard and ended up coming back. At least I went over and made sure I had nothing to come back to when I left. I had no possessions, sold up everything, so there was nothing to come back to; I had to make or break. There's no comparison between motor racing here and in Europe. Until you’ve experienced that ... If any of the comments.have come from drivers who are planning a

career over that side of the world, they’ve got a nasty shock coming. With that sort of attitude they won’t make it.

week, what are your chances of pulling off the title, realistically? INGALL: Obviously Mallala was a huge loss. I should have come out of Mallala with the championship lead MN: How do you get on with and going to Oran Park with enough Larry? You seem to be very alike. of a margin to actually be conscious Are you too much alike or do you of getting points, not so much going out and out to win all the races. That complement one another? INGALL: I don’t know. We’re both didn’t happen, which is obviously a huge setback. very strong-willed. I don’t mind say ing what I feel and I’ve sort of regu Looking at the mistakes that lated that a little bit now because in some of the other teams have made, previous years it’s gotten me into a mechanically as well as drivers, anylittle bit of trouble, being a little bit thing can still happen. Seton has hot-headed. I have calmed that side made a few driver errors just lately and it’s cost him a fair bit. It could of myself down a little bit. I see that in Larry as well. If he’s happen to any of us, but the thing is, got an opinion he’ll express it. I if it does happen again it won’t take thought we might have a much to get the points back again run-ins and we’ll be back up there. because Obviously it makes it hard work, we’ve I’m going to have to really go out and ^ got try to win all three races. We’ve done it before, but the thing is, it’s going to be hard work. You’ve got a few other people in there who are not in championship contention, but will still take points off you. That might be handy, because if those sort of people are slightly in / between some of the championship / contenders, that could mix things up / a little bit as well. vVE$S0W3 It’s going to be tough, but I’ve got my objective. I’ve just got to get the thing qualified well and just try and win all three races. peop I e MN: Pretty simple really! who INGALL: Sounds simple. Sounds 1 can be damn easy sitting here! fiery at times, but MN: Have you got anything up it’s a matter- your sleeve? of having an INGALL:. We’ve got another understanding power plant slotted in there that and knowing should be better. There are a few lit who’s the boss. tle ideas that we picked up at Mallala He runs the show which we’ll be trying at Oran Park to and that’s the way it hopefully give us a bit more pace. IS. ,,lt’s a tough call because Oran We didn’t really Park is a little bit tricky to set up for know each other before Bathurst in and I haven’t done a great deal of 1995; we’d spoken half dozen words racing there; it’s not like I’ve done a to each other and a few of them million laps around Oran Park. were having a dig at each other. Tyre-wise we’re going to be look We had a little bit of a slanging ing pretty good. I think our tyre pack match at Sandown in ‘94 when I age will be very good. We had a few came back to race for Wayne problems with bumpy circuits, but I Gardner’s team and there was a cel think we’ve cured that through ebration for the 25th year of Formula Lakeside. Ford. All the previous Formula Ford champions were lined up and Larry MN: Your hopes are still alive? made a comment about how he INGALL: Oh yeah, no doubt could probably jump into a Formula about that. To me it feels like the Ford and kick the butts of most of the pressure’s off me now. There would drivers now - and he said it quite probably be more pressure on me if I loudly so they could all hear. All of had the lead in the championship them just dipped their heads and and had to go there with that resting looked to their shoes, except me. I on my shoulders. But I’m the one was the only one who went back at playing catch-up now, coming from him and said, ‘Alright, any day, we’ll behind and the pressure is on the go out and I reckon I’ll kick your butt other teams. For me, it’s just go for it. no problems at all’ and he grumbled MN: You compared Oran Park something and that was it. with Lakeside, does that mean They were the first words I’d actu ally spoken to him. I thought he’d for you’re going to be fairly equal? gotten that, but he mentioned it him INGALL: More so most probably. self in an interview some time later [It It seems to be coming down to who was actually Motorsport News, issue ever jinxes onto that right set-up in that very first session. Seton has 60- Ed], He’s that sort of guy. been very good on that side of it up MN: I think he’d respect you for til recently. He’s been getting there that. and struggling a bit for some reason. INGALL: He did; that’s what he It’s hard to say what the reasoning is said in that interview. When they behind that. \ thought he’d be very strong at were going through the list of drivers (for Bathurst) he remembered Mallala but he wasn’t. He seems because I was the only one who had pretty confident for Oran Park, but I probably wouldn’t be if I was him, the balls to snap back at him. I’m a bit more cautious these going on previous results. days; I don’t want to push my luck! MN: Good luck to all of you. A He signs the cheque. nice clean race! INGALL: Famous last words! n MN: Turning to Oran Park next

UuguslW?

The Peter Brock Story - Part 4

Back to Holden

that they were good blokes. The new boss listened, but still put them on a trial period, it wasn't very long before the team was working like a well-oiled machine, though, as the mechanics proved they could work to Sheppo's high standards.

After three years as a privateer, Peter rejected an offerfrom Allan Moffat to drive a Ford and returned to the Holden factory team, as DAVID HASSALL recalls in the continuation of The Peter Brock Story:

hen Harry Firth retired at the end of 1977, John Sheppard moved in as head of the Marlboro Holden Dealer Team. Sheppard was highly thought of in motor racing circles, having masterminded the famous Geoghegan brothers' activities in the 1960s before building such famous cars as the Chevrolet Camaro, Holden Monaro and Torana-Repco for Bob Jane in the early '70s. Sheppard retained John Harvey to lead the re-constituted team while Peter was initially signed on as the number two driver! Nevertheless, it appeared that the team at last had the makings to turn the tables on Allan Moffat's allconquering 1977 line-up. It wasn't generally known at the time, but the MHDT and Bil l Patterson Racing weren't the only teams vying for Peter's services for 1978. Moffat himself had tried to convince Peter to change carpps, as he had done with Colin Bpnd a year earlier. "Allan and I were talking at the end of 1977 and he inferred to me that he wanted to give up racing. "His words to me were something like, 'Look, Brock, I know you won't do what my other driver does (in other words, if he told Colin to come second, he'd come second) and I know that you and I couldn't really race with one another in the same team because there'd be no such thing as team tactics, but I'm thinking of curtailing my own activi¬ ties and you'd be the ideal bloke to take over. Think of the team we'd make... I could hop in for the long distance races with yourself and Bondy and we could do really well.

Before you say anything, though, promise me you'll give it your hon est appraisal'. "Moffat also guaranteed that I'd be the highest-paid racing driver in Australia, but money has never motivated me and I rang him back the next week and said, 'No, thanks '. I told him I believed that Colin had made a mistake chang ing camps and that Australia was too small a place to go around switching makes like they do over seas. "I did think about it a fair bit,''^ though - I owed hipi that. He'd made me an honest offer; he was- , n'tjusttryingto wind me up." n

"The first time I hopped into one crew into shape. He had certain aving made this important deci H sion, it was easy to make the ,,of Harry's cars, I couldn't believe standards of both preparation and choice between Patterson and the how good it was. After driving my behaviour which he imposed on his

MHDT and Peter was soon back in a red racing suit. The prodigal son had, indeed, come home. The first thing Sheppard and Brock did was take the cars that Harry Firth had been racing out to Calder to see what they had to start with, and Peter was amazed.

own Toranas and then Patto's, it was quite an eye-opener. They had obviously done so much more homework than we had and the cars were really qpick." From Sheppard's point of view, however, that Calder test proved that he would have to slap the

mechanics and was neither impressed by the visual condition of the cars or by the fact that they had backed the Torana into a pole while unloading it. Peter leapt to their defence, telling Sheppo that he'd, worked with or near them for 10 years and

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HttSaraOlfcliT. BATHURST

ITS THE T0R4NJS

Some members the team cold hier archy were ofinitially towards Peter and gave their atten tions to John Harvey, who had been with them for a few seasons already. Peter was still the turn coat in their eyes, having left them three years earlier. Much of that feeling was put aside after his come-back drive at the traditional non-championship season-opener at Sandown in February, 1979. Driving the team's inferior four-door sedan, Peter outqualified and out-raced Pete Geoghegan, Harvey, Allan Grice and Bob Morris, who were all dri ving two-door hatchbacks. What's .more, he made it look easy. The real test came with the opening round of the ATCC at Symmons Plains, where Moffat and Bond joined the line-up with their potent Falcons - the cars which had dominated the previous season. Peter, having been 'pro moted' to an MHDT hatchback, took the pole from Moffat and then drove away to an impressive win from Morris, Harvey, Bond and Grice. The second race at Oran Park went much the same way as Peter beat Morris again, while Moffat retired with yet another in a succession of blown engines. Moffat, perhaps hurt by Peter refusing his lucra tive offer months earlier, but certain ly frustrated by blowing engines trying to stay with the brash young charger, appeared at the next race (Amaroo) running roller bearings in the Falcon's rockers - strictly against the rules of the day. To make matters worse, Allan inad vertently gave Peter a nudge as the Torana moved into the lead, sending both cars off the track and back a couple of places. It was the only time that these two great drivers have ever had an on-track altercation but, combined with the roller rocker business, it helped erode relations between the two leading teams. At Sandown one week later, the whole affair took a turn for the worse and became quite bitter.

The move stopped Sheppard^s plans to have theforthcoming Commodore homologated with a 5,74itre Chevrolet V8 engine.

AWESOME: Brock at his peak at Bathurst with the Torana Hatchback. In 1979 he led all 163 laps, won by six laps and set a new record on the last lap. TOP: Accepting the trophy with the late Evan Green, co.-driverJim Richards and team owner John Sheppard. (Photos by tan Smith -Autopix)

For the and full 26 laps at Sandown, Peter Allan were joined in one almighty dice by Morris and Geoghegan, a battle settled in Moffat's favour only by the fact that Bond, a full lap down after having a puncture replaced in the pits, had run interference with the Toranas. The MHDT's fury over that inci dent paled into insignificance later, though, when Moffat lodged a 16point protest against their Torana, which resulted in Peter being disContinued next page

Mf(o.

Uiigusl 1997

0 Xo)>

The making of an Aussie legend

he 1978-79 seasons back with the Holden factory team cement ed Peter Brock's standing as the best touring car dri ver in the sport, but it was the 1979 Repco Round Australia Trial which made him a household name in this country. The two-week event in August, 1979 was very important to both Peter and General Motors (which was launching the all-new Commodore) and Peter REPCO committed himself fully to Casual the MHDT effort - which jaiPCO rAA\ was being master-minded by the team's rally boss, George Shepheard, in Sydney. GMH put the Commodore's good reputa tion on the line for the event and assembled three strong r crews - Peter Brock/Noel Richards/Matt Phillip: Rauno Aaltonen/Shekhar Commodores finish the waste of time. But we came Metha/Barry Lake and event - they did so in an up with a few good things which helped us win the Wayne Bell/Barry Ferguson/ unbelievable 1-2-3 forma event. For a start, we tion finish. David Boddy. changed the differential Among the other 164 entries were three factory he event itself had cap-, ratio because we burnt out Ford Cortinas (led by rally tured the public's imagi- a clutch during the test tryaces Bond, Greg Carr and nation and massive crowds George Fury), a dealer- turned out all around the u backed Volvo team (with country to cheer the com rally champion Ross petitors on. Media attention Dunkerton in the lead car), was enormous and GMH Geoff Portman's private gained untold publicity with ●Stanza and a number of the crushing victory. It per overseas entries, including haps prompted the compa Andrew Cowan in a Citroen. ny to quit all forms of motor ing to drive in the sand, "After the event, many There was never any sport on such a high note. doubt that the 20,000km "We did quite a bit of pre- people said the team did so event would take a high toll e^ent testing for the Repco well because we spent on machinery (only 14 com /’trial," says Peter. "With cubic dollars and had a petitors eventually finished ' Matt Phillips very analytical massive service operation, the course) and not even mind and Noel Richards' but that wasn't the case at the most optimistic GMH knowledge of rallying and all. George Shepheard is people would have dared to the countryside, we decided not one of your big-time imagine the final result. Not to test in the s^nd country, spenders, that's for sure, only did all three MHDT which everyone said was a but his planning was brilliant

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THE PEOPLE’S CHAMPION: Peter Brock became a genuine Australian sporting icon with his inspirational win in the Round Australia Trial.

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and the crew he assembled - four or five mechanics and a lot of volunteer helpers who took a couple of weeks off work - would do any thing he asked of them. "Our budget wasn't very

That was the greatest thing Fve ever done in a car

Continued from previous page qualified. Moffat had already' been excluded by the Stewards when the roller rockers were again found to be fitted. He was later suspend ed for six weeks, which caused him little pain for it ended before his next scheduled outing, anyway. It was, in fact, the MHDT which was most severely punished for a crime which was not only debat able, but which had no effect on performance at all. Only of the points had beenone upheld and16that involved the mounting of the front sway bar through a chassis crossmember, a method which CAMS had inspect ed and cleared just a week before Sandown. After the disqualification, Sheppard had the mounting changed back again and the team scored a history-making 1-2-3 at Wanneroo in Perth as if to prove its point. The team's appeal hearing was unsuccessful, though, and Sheppard was left speechless when a four-week suspension was handed down, causing Peter to miss the Calder round. With the Sandown disqualifica tion standing, Peter was left with only a marginal lead in the title with two rounds remaining and that was reduced to nothing when an engine problem dropped him to fourth place in the penultimate round. _ For the final round of the title at Adelaide International Raceway, therefore, Peter lined up against Bob Morris in a winner-take-all sit uation.

Peter's position looked strong after he had taken pole, but his plans were thrown into turmoil when Moffat and Bond burst into the lead, leaving Peter to run slow er than he would have liked and, at the same time, trying to stave off Morris's determined thrusts. The championship was finally settled when Morris clipped the back of Peter's car during a des perate passing attempt, spun off and became bogged in the soft out-field. Peter spent the rest of the race fighting his instinctive desire to pass the Falcons, but he eventu ally settled for third place and his second touring car title. In the meantime, the team had contested the first two long-dis tance races of the year and won both. Peter teamed up with an Australian-domiciled New Zealand ace by the name of Jim Richards for the first time in the Rothmans 500 at Oran Park, but lasted only three laps before a loose gudgeon pin stopped the car. Harvey teamed up with Charlie O'Brien in the second car and, after running out of petrol and dashing to the pits for a jerry-can, scored a famous victory. Next up was the ManChamp opener, again at Oran Park, a race which was a few laps longer than what a Torana would comfortably do on a full tank of fuel. The team froze the fuel before filling up in order to get more in and Peter made no mistakes \^ith a smooth and precise flag-to-fiag victory. After the race, it was reported

big at all. The only money that wasn't wisely spent was on snow chains,, because it didn't snow. We had four service panel vans and an aeroplane, but that wasn't unusual during that event. "The reason the cars won was because they were reliable. They rode and han dled so well that they didn't

that Peter had run out of fuel on the slow-down lap, but that wasn't exactly the case. Oran Park's clever promoter, Alan Horsley (who now co-ordinates Mazda's motorsport team), asked Peter before the race to stop just past the che quered flag If he won and claim that he'd run out of fuel - all for the sake of publicity,, of course. Peter did just that but, when no one arrived to tow him back to the pits after a few minutes, he fired the Torana up again and drove back! There was plenty of petrol left... By this time it was clear that Bob Morris in the Ron Hodgson Torana had become Peter's great est threat as the Falcons simply were not as competitive as the pre vious year. Morris kept the pres sure right on Peter during the opening stages of the Sandown 'Hang Ten 400' but Peter carved through the back-markers superbly to open up a gap and head for his fourth successive Sandown victory, a great lead-up to Bathurst.

John his broadSheppard, experience,despite had never run a car at Bathurst before, but Peter provided him with a first-up win by brushing aside the firstclass field, ably assisted by the brilliant Jim Richards. The Brock/Sheppard combina tion appeared to be a marriage made in heaven. Peter's remark able driving ability seemed to mesh perfectly with John's tightly-run workshop. He had the staff perfect ly drilled and the cars appeared in pristine condition at every race.

crash themselves to death and the crews had a fairly pleasant ride, which helped in the fatigue department. "The other thing was that the service crews were there for back-up if it was required, but we never had any breakdowns on the way which we couldn't fix our selves or ignore until we got to a major service point. Generally, we would come Into a service point and the conversation on the CB radio wouid be something like, 'Righto, we've had a couple of flat tyres, so replace those, run a span ner over the nuts and bolts here and there to see if any thing is vibrating loose and three white teas with sugar, please'. Then they'd get a call from Barry Ferguson saying, 'Make that

Peter finished the season with a second place to Bond at Adelaide and a victory at Surfers before turning his attention towards the following season. In February 1979, Ford announced its withdrawal from motor racing, but Moffat put aside his disgust and decided to press on with just one Falcon for himself to drive. The move did, however, stop Sheppard's plans to have the forthcoming Commodore homolo gated with a 350 cubic-inch (5.7-litre) Chevrolet V8 engine. u The engine was test ed by GMH and proved to be feasible but, as Sheppard explained, "Ford are just scared spitless at the thought of a 350 Commodore and they won't even entertain the thought of coming back if we build one." In the interest of racing, therefore, the project was canned. There was no intention of racing even the five-litre Commodore in 1979 - that was aimed purely at the 1980 season when new rules would come into force - so the team buckled down on a program which would maintain the Torana's competitive edge for the full season. A key to this programme was an exclusive tyre deal with Bridgestone, a follow-on from the three years Peter had spent work ing closely with the company while away from the MHDT.

the same for this crew". "At the start of the event, I'm sure the rally drivers felt that I was not one of them, that 1 was just there as a PR exercise and was not to be taken seriously. I was even joking with Andrew Cowan before the event that we were just the amateurs, but we saw him again in Perth and he complimented us on how we were going, which was great because I was using guys like him as a gauge. I guess that people figured I'd done my appren ticeship by the time we got to Perth, but I still felt the amateur all the way through. "Winning that event was a fantastic feeling. There's no doubt in my mind it was the greatest thing I've ever done in a car."

Although rival teams com plained about the exclusive deal, it actually worked against Peter for the first half of 1979 and possibly cost him his touring car title. The team went to a larger diam eter front wheel which required the car to be lowered and this created two problems; first, it caused the car to run on the bump stops, which resulted in spooky handling, and, second, it made the brakes

Sh eppard questioned Peter^s fitness: He^s living on a diet of tea and hamburgers^’. work harder, which caused Peter to run out on more than one occa sion. Bridgestone produced a lowprofile tyre which, although coming too late to rescue the ATCC, put the team in a good position for the all-important endurance races.

ith Moffat falling further off the pace, and continuing to blow more Ford engines despite the allowance of roller rockers, Morris continued to become an even greater force in 1979 and gave notice of his intentions at the first ATCC round by punting Peter off the road at the notorious Symmons Plains hairpin. Continued Page 46

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Report by PHIL BRANAGAN AUDI maintained its dominance of Amaroo Park in the fourth round of the BOC Gases Super Touring Championship. Brad Jones may not have qualified on pole position - BMW’s Paul Morris did, twice - hut the defending Champion dominated hoth races to take narrow hut convinc ing wins. The racing was not without controversy. Jones and Morris made contact, without incident, hut when Cameron '^^McConville and Morris were duelling it out for second the BMW driver spun back to fourth. There were differing ver sions of the incident from both men. Not so fortunate was the Mark Adderton. Having his second run in the Toyota Camry, the Atlantic Relocations dri ver spun around 120 metres from the start of race two and contacted the earth bank. The car was badly damaged and a pace car was sent out for six laps while the track was cleared. Best of the Independent competitors was Steven Richards, who took the class in the first race while, in the second, Cameron McLean put a weekend of tyre woes behind him and charged

LOOK FAMILIAR?... Brad Jones and Cameron McConvIlle turned on the now-traditional Audi Amaroo formation finish in race two. (Photo by oirk Kiynsmuh) through the ranks after pitting for new rubber while the yellows were out. The other highlight of the weekend was the debut of Jason Richards. New The young Zealander, no relation to his illustrious namesakes.

cut a swathe in the ranks, running swiftly in the exWayne Wakefield BMW 318i.

Entry and qualifying Sydney in winter presents a nice vista to anyone from the ice-locked south. The sun usually shines and the natives head out of their shelters to go out into the fresh air, hop into their cars and drive around - and into each other. Amaroo Park presents the opportunity for the BOC cir cus to show off at its best. For the first time the series had a 5-litre support race and, not surprising, the Super Tourers proved faster than the Goodyeqr-shod V8s. And the BMWs,or at least one of them, proved faster

CONTACT SPORT... Steven Richards and Cameron McLean got close and personal in both races. (Photo by John Morns/Mpix)

BY ANY OTHER NAME... Jason Richards made a brilliant debut in the BMW ‘Junior’ 318i.

again. Morris was on the pace in both sessions, as usual waiting until the last third of either session to move out and take the point with a minimum of fuss. The Individual 320i was good for a blinding 49.32s in the first session and 49.65s in the second to take two championship points and

join Geoff Brabham in the series lead. For Brabham it was a pair of thirds on the grid. The Queenslander was a little miffed to miss out on the front row, but was at least a quarter of a second off the pace of second fastest qualifier Jones. Both BMs were feeling to

pinch of their ‘gift’ of 30 additional kilos since Calder. “We can put the power down better,” said team manager Lyall Williamson, “we’re doing the best job we can.” It appeared that the BMW team knew the same thing Continued over page

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A broken water line cost later. Son Steven was right Peter Hills dearly. After behind in the Garry Rogers computer problems on Motorsport Nissan Primera. Friday the Knight Racing The car, like many in the Mondeo made it out for the field, was festooned with first session but lost all his what appeared to be a metal times after failing a ride bucket at the back to height check. The second appease the noise police. He session was much better, improved the balance of the Hills running neatly in the car and times came down 54s to line up 14th. from 50.99s from 50.73s, for Right behind was David a sixth and a seventh on the Auger. The immaculate red grid. Alfa Romeo was handling The only problem was badly. “It won’t go in, Ac* l that fixing up their noise around, or out of corness,” problems caused them to he said, “it actually isn t rush getting the car out for badly balanced, but there s no gnp. Q1 and a front left guard There were those that ended up flapping in the breeze. didn’t quite make it. Both LINES, LINES... The other Richards was Hyundais were present, Justin Matthews and Bob right there with him. Jason Paul Pickett stepping down Tweedie are about to be after a payment due from a arrived from the Shakey swallowed by Carrieron Isles after getting the go- client didn’t arrive. McLean during his race two Team-mate Jim Cornish ahead to race the Monday charge. before, bringing BMW NZ ran in Saturday practice CONGA LINE... Jones but, after dropping a valve, veteran Brett Riley with leads Morris, Brabham, missed qualifying while him to have a few set-up McConville, Jim Richards, Pickett’s head (well, his laps on Friday. McLean and Steven The Supercheap BMW car’s) was transferred to his Richards in race one. was in fine form. He engine, The new unit (Photos by Dirk Kiynsmith) stunned everyone with a allowed smoke to blow 50.34s for sixth in the first everywhere during the Continued from page 19 session before a 50.95s put Sunday warm-up and, wdth as their Audi rivals: that him behind Steven in the that, the Sydney vet sat out to concentrate on distribut pole was nice, but this is second. McLean was having a ing Skittles, courtesy of his Audi country and any incur sion into their 4WD ranks is lonely time with two new lolly company sponsor. eighths. The Opel had ‘rock only temporary. Jones took two seconds, hard’ Michelins on the front Race 1 (31 laps) and McConville two fourths, and what Cam described as If qualifying was close the iteer giving best to Morris “qualifiers” on the rear. “I warm-up did nothing to dis by 0.1091s in the first ses- just cannot get any heat into pel things, with Morris pip sion Brad was much closer the rears,” he said, ping Jones by 0.007s for fast to the point in the second. But, with the high-down- time, and Jim Richards was with a best of 49.6747s in force ’97 wing kit back only 0.09s back. The other feature of the Q2 to miss by 0.02s. aboard and after no tyre “I got a little baulk,” said woes at Calder he was at morning were the queues to Jones. “Look, I know how it least confident of getting a get into the track. Even at SAM there were lines of is: in an ideal world they good run at Amaroo. would roll off the throttle on Adderton was right punters and, all told, almost the straight and let you by, behind thb Opel in the first 10,000 sat down to watch but it’s not like that. session in the Toy'ota the first race. Jones, finally, got a good McConville, as usual, was Camry, but fell back a spot driving neatly and backing in the second grid to start. More: the best start of up his team leader - dis- Dwayne Bewley. The differ- the season as he zoomed up counting a little mishap on ence was that the muffler the hill clear of Morris, Saturday morning. The A4 had to be re-packed after Brabham, McConville, Jason locked up approaching being pinged foh 95dB in Q1 Richards, Jim, McLean, Goodyear, the engine stalled (this after having a similar Steven Richards, Adderton, Matthews,'Tweedie, Bewley, and, as Cam got off the complaint on Friday), The loss of track time cost Newman,Auger and Hills. brakes a little he hit what was in front of him - Jim them as well, with the crew Jason Richards’ great run Richards. changing camber a toe-out lasted until he ran wide at at the front between ses- Honda and took to the kerbHe apologised immediate ing on the exit, losing two ly after the session and, sions. while his 49.75s and 50.08s Bewley’s series debut was spots. The distance between the in the two sessions wasn’t impressive, especially after really threatening the man not having raced anything lead four cars concertinered in front of him on the grid for 18 months. Team owner during the early laps, McConville knew that the Tony Newman decided to Morris breathing right down race would stand the cars in give the newcomer ‘his’ car Jones’ neck for most of the good stead. Both Audis were (the fresher of the two) and first half of the race. The in Dunlop’s 507, the same stepped backed into the first four sprinted away from the Volvo, the eldest tyre the team ran at Calder. other car for the weekend. Bewley gained 0.2s and Richards in for a lonely dri With a pair of fifths (50.24s and 50.48s) Jim led one spot between sessions, ver while McLean and the Richards-fest in fifth. As ending up half a second Steven battled ahead of a usual the car sounded glori- ahead of Newman on the recovering Jason Richards. Until lap five. “The tyres ous - there is something grid sheets. Or rather, about Amaroo the reverber- where Newman should have were fine for four laps,” said ates sound wonderfully, been. For the second race in McLean later, “then they even if the Enviro-Police a row he failed to start the just fell to bits.” His times hate it - and Jim was dri- car on the weighbridge and quickly fell from the high was sent to the rear in race 51s to high 53s, struggling ving as well as ever. But the car was misbe- one. around until pitting for new It was business as usual I’ubber on lap 17. having. Richo formd a stick for Bob Tweedie. The IBC ing throttle in the first ses Jones shattered the lap sion (just what you don’t Vauxhall Cavalier was reli- record with a 50.27s on lap need at Amaroo) and was, as able and Bob was concen- two to pull out a car’s length usual, resigned to the fact trating on driving neatly lead which would be almost that a two year old car was and not hurting his tyres in as far as he could get away not going to be able to duke qualifying. “We’re down on over the first dozen laps. Further back the it out with a newer model at qualifying speed, but we’ve most circuits. Matthews versus Newman got no worries,” he smiled. war came to a head when Justin Matthews got a The team had the ’96-spec Rydell BTCC car in the 12th and a 13th in the the Peugeot ranged down the outside at Goodyear on transporter but resisted the Faber-Castell car, which temptation to pull it out. In was going solidly as usual, lap five, spending a lap on reality it was not 100 per- The team was running hard the side of the road before cent ready to roll, as the tyres and had little to resuming. He had not been able to team found out three days report.

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OUCH... Mark Adderton’s get reverse in the otherwise But something important healthy car, though Bewley was going on at the other Toyota Camry hit the bank quickly took his place on the end of the track. Jones got in race two and was badly tale of the green Bimmer alongside Morris out of damaged - but it was until stopped by a broken Goodyear and nosed ahead straight again 48 hours later half shaft on lap eight. He on the way out - and (and at the Bathurst Media day would miss race two. McConville) they had (Photo by John Morris/Mpix) UPHILL BATTLE... Jones McLean, Steven Richards missed the yellow at the and Morris were close all and Adderton were having a first flag point, Goodyear, weekend but the extra huge battle,* which was Brad was in front - but who quickly caught by Jason should have been leading 30kgs in the BMW told. Richards. As the front two under the Safety Car? (Photo by Dirk Klynsmith) sorted themselves out Just to be safe Brad Adderton and the Kiwi went waved Paul past into the at it, putting on the battle of lead and followed him for Lakeside and S Richards at the race. They swapped two laps of so until, having Calder Morris expected positions only while being conferred with Race Director action after the race. They lapped until Richards Peter Wollerman Kim Jones looked at the evidence and sneaked past with a handful radioed in to tell him to pass decided that there was no of laps to go to take second again. conclusive blame. Independent honours. And, under the pace car, Well back in the field The front two were still another significant thing but not for long - McLean, close, as was the Brabham happened. McLean had been After a gentle lap or three to and McConville. Several thinking of a lap 10-or-so get heat into his new tyres times the Audi pulled along- tyre stop anyway and now, he absolutely rocketed side the 320i on the run being a keen student of through the field. The car through Goodyear but CART racing, screamed in was fast afid consistent on Brabham always had the for rubber early ‘under yel- his fresh rubber and, even inside covered and the A4 low’. though Jim Richards’ Volvo had to wait. Despite getting what was out of reach, everyone The Jason/Adderton battle Michelin later described as a else was not. provided the opportunity, “lucky dip” compound it was In 20 laps he went from s The Toyota sneaked past the turning point of his last to sixth. “I don’t know where those when the lead pair came'weekend, maybe even seathrough and, when thir^ son. tyres have been all week and fourth zeroed in After six laps the Volvo end,” he said later... So Jones led home a Richards tried to stay out of 850R pulled aside and the Brabham’s way at the Loop , world got loud, Jones lead- (close) formation finish to and McConville fired past ing Morris, McConville, keep Audi’s Amaroo fairy both BMWs into third. Brabham, <,Iim, Steven and tale alive. Brabham took So that’s how they fin- Jason Richards, Matthews, third from Morris, Jim ished, the battling German Tweedie, Newman and Richards and McLean who, the pairs separated by almost McLean, along way to six seconds at the flag. Jim Again the Morris chal- Independent honours, had was a lonely third from lenge wasn’t going to be banged doors with Steven Steven, Jason and Adderton, ignored. He was right Richards oq the way out of while Tweedie and behind Jones on lap nine Goodyear. Matthews brought home when the Audi got sideways No complaints,” said their cars in the points. under brakes and Morris Steven ,“that’s the way it is.” Jason R followed after a By the end of the race the tapped him unintentionally, struggling McLean was both resuming the battle mostly lonely run, ahead of 11th, and not looking for- immediately. the lapped Tweedie and ward to more of the same. ^ By the middle of the race Newman. the gap was out a little and As everyone packed up and Race 2(31 laps plus Jones was free from harm, hurried away for the But not Morris - McConville Bathurst media day the 6 under Safety Car) was right on his hammer, BMW team had the look of a The second start was less probing for a way past and, team who had, basically, successful for Jones. Morris on lap 18 the two made con- done as much as they really beat him away and took the tact under brakes at had hoped to do this week¬ end. lead, while Brabham again Goodyear, This time there were conbeat McConville away. The 30kg weight penalty But behind there was sequences. Morris went has slowed the cars down, chaos. The fast-starting around and rejoined behind alright but, realistically, it’s Tweedie got alongside Jim Richards, whom he hard to see them beating the Adderton and, suddenly, the immediately passed. But he , Audis at Amaroo anyway. Camry flicked sideways and was fourth and, with the The venue for the final the rear of the car crunched front three not slowing round of the series is undeinto the bank. It was half down, that would be where cided, either Eastern Creek stuck on the track and, he stayed. _ or Amaroo Park. It ain’t quickly, the Safety Car was After the stewards had hard to figure out which sent out. acted on McConville at team wants which track...

BOC Gases Super Touring Championship ' Round 7 and 8, Amaroo Paric My 19/20 Race 1(31 laps)

Pos Driver

Car

Race Time F. Lap On

Qua!

1 Brad Jones Orix Audi A4 Quattro 26:35.3030 50.2715 2 49.4321 2 2 Paul Morris Individual/Diet Coke BMW 26:36.6221 50.3518 3 49.3230 1 26:42.4622 50.6079 3 49.7594 4 3 Cameron McConville Orix Audi A4 Quattro 4 Geoff Brabham Individual/Diet Coke BMW 26:45.0231 50.5987 3 49.7121 3 5 Jim Richards Valvoline Volvo 850 27:15.8851 50.6860 3 50.2488 5 6 Steven Richards Valvoline/Cummins Nissan Primera 30 laps 51.7492 3 50.9972 7 7 Jason Richards 30 laps 51.5735 5 50.3742 6 Supercheap BMW 3181 8 Mark Adderton 30 laps 51.8300 3 51.5147 9 Atlantis Reloc ations Toyota Camry 9 Robert Tweedie IBC Vauxhali Cavalier 30 laps 52.5981 4 52.1129 11 10 Justin Matthews Faber-Castell BMW 318i 29 laps 54.0069 3 52.9282 12 11 Cameron McLean Greenfield/RedeX Opel Vectra 29 laps 51.9049 2 51.1926 8 12 Peter Hills Knight Racing Ford Mondeo 29 laps 54.2833 10 No time 14 13 David Auger Fishing Magazine Alta Romeo 155TS 28 laps 55.2759 3 54.1838 13 DNFTony Newman Fastway Couriers Peugeot 405 23 laps 53.4028 3 No time 15 DNF Dwayne Bewley Fastway Couriers Peugeot 405 Slaps 53.8666 4 51.8918 10

Race 2(31 laps plus5pace car laps)

Pos Driver

Car

Race Time F. Lap On

Qua!

Drivers Points: Morris 94, Brabham 92, Jones 72, McConville 68, Jim Riohairts 52, McLean 33, S Richards 29, Matthews 21, Newman 16, Auger 13,Tweedie 12, Wakefield 10, Jason Richards 7, Briggs 4, Adderton 3, Cornish 2. Pickett 1. Manufacturers Points:BMW 111, Audi 91, Volvo 74. Teams Points:BMW Motorsport 183, Orix Audi Sport Australia 148, Hyundai Hve Motorsport 20. TOCA Challenge Independents Cup Points: McLean 84, S Richards 78. Matthews 65, Newman 46, Auger 39, Tweedie 34, Wakefield 24,Jason Richards 23, Briggs 12. Cornish 11, Adderton 10, Hills 8, Pickett 4.

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Grid

1 Brad Jones Orix Audi A4 Quattro 33:36.0280 50.1568 5 49.6747 2 2 Cameron McConville Orix Audi A4 Quattro 33:36.1180 50.3790 7 50.0880 4 3 Geoff Brabham Individual/Diet Coke BMW 320i 33:39.1845 50.6187 5 49.8871 3 4 Paul Morris Individual/Diet Coke BMW 320i 33:46.1982 50.3841 4 49.6516 1 5 Jim Richards Valvoline Volvo 850 34:00.1623 50.8716 5 50.4628 5 6 Cameron McLean 34:17.7696 51.4930 9 51.0642 8 Greenfieid/RedeX Opel Vectra 7 Steven Richards Valvoline/Cummins Nissan Primera 34:22.6719 51.5890 3 50.7371 6 8 Jason Richards 34:27.6040 51.8260 3 50.9534 7 Supercheap BMW 318i 9 Robert Tweedie IBC Vauxhali Cavalier 30 laps 52.7683 9 52.5844 12 30 laps 53.2814 12 52.3443 12 10 Tony Newman Fastway Couriers Peugeot 405 11 Justin Matthews Faber-Castell BMW 3181 29 laps 53.7868 3 52.9055 13 12 Peter Hills Knight Racing Ford Mondeo 29 laps 53.9535 7 54.1399 14 Fishing Magazine Alfa Romeo 155TS 29 laps 54.3762 6 54.9023 15 13 David Auger DNF Mark Adderton 51.8906 10 Atlantis Relocations Toyota Camry 0 laps 51.8778 9 Fastway Couriers Peugeot 405 DNS Dwayne Bewley

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Report by STEVE NORMOYLE ALLAN McCarthy’s clean sweep of round one of the AMSCAR series wasjust an aberration as far as Mai Rose was concerned. That was Eastern Creek, but this was Amaroo - the venue that had been a happy himting ground for Rose in his production car days. Sure enough, in what was his first touring car appearance at the Sydney track. Rose was unstoppable, winning all three races after starting from pole. McCarthy fought noise problems and handling woes as much as the opposition on the track but came through for a hard-fought second overall on the day to retain his series lead. The ever-consistent Mick Donaher was third, although Rose’s performance relegated Donaher to third in the points. .

Practice & Cjuallfying

informed as to the charge. “They didn’t tell me and I thought it was noise,” Rose said. “So I was off the throttle each time through Honda so I wouldn’t go over the limit.” No such problems for Peter Doulman, though, and he ended the morning fastest at 51.9041s. Pleased with his effort, Doulman was pre pared to venture out in the afternoon only in the event of someone beating his time. He sat in the M3 Motorsport Commodore VP a long time before Rose finally nailed a 51.6589s. But Doulman couldn’t respond. “It was too late in the ses-

Mai - adjusted

sion,” he lamented. “I’m surprised anyone was able to go quicker.” Rose always felt a mid-51s lap was possible, and the first time he did make it through Bitupave on full throttle, the desired lap time came easy. But nothing was easy for

McCarthy whose Falcon was

Bob Pearson had set some plagued by noise problems, fast times in rmofficial practice “We’ve had to destroy an but towards the end of the day expensive exhaust system to he lost the Pro-Duct comply,” McCarthy said. Commodore, spinning off and The loss of power did httle slamming the wall at Honda to help the team acclimatise at a fair clip, destroying the to the circuit, but McCarthy rear ofthe car. knuckled down in the afteVIt was fixed in time for noon to set a 51.9254s to Saturday, but Pearson elected vault from sixth to third, to remain on the sidelines. Donaher was pleased to be Also out was Waldock, with- fourth at 52.1354s in the drawing due to overseas busi- Ultratune Commodore VP, ness commitments, while ahead of touring car debutant engine problems prevented Gavin Monaghan who did Geoff Kendrick from making weU to get Mike Conway’s VP the trip from Perth. around in 52.562s, which was Rose was ordered in for a faster than Mike himself had stop/go penalty for speeding in , managed in his ex-Trimbole pit lane, but his team was not. Falcon (52.752s).

MAL ROSE, PACE... The Mai Rose Commodore was the pick of the class. Here Peter Doulman presses.(Photo by otrk Kiynsmim) Bill Attard’s Xerox to the handling of the West Commodore was slightly Racing VR, Slako having slower, seventh at 52.8798s, updated - but not tested but might have done better the car’s rear suspension. A had it not been for a faulty best of 53.2616s was 10th. rear shock. Garry Willming- Also in need of a decent sort ton’s Falcon was eighth on ing session was Neil 52.9936s and Richard Mork Schembri’s VR (53.4122s), ninth on 53.06s. while Don Pulver (53.5116s) Tim Slako admitted his'' was another to strike noise team was “lost’ when it came problems, the Smash Repair

Team solving matters with the simple addition of a flap over the outlet. Gary Cannan found Amaroo much more to the lik ing of his VL (55.955s) but the meeting had begun on a sour note for the Tasmanian team when they arrived in Sydney to discover their truck had been broken into, the

thieves escaping with aU their tools. A persistent oil leak pre vented Simon Emerzidis from qualifying, while Brian Walden’s ex-Finnigan VP was afflicted by a catalogue of woe - an under-bonnet fire and then a misfire - which saw him put the car away on race morning.

N E E

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1 August 1997

Race 1=10 laps

Rose was that driver in race one, the black Commodore only just heading Doulman and a brilliantly starting Conway. But Conway glanced the wall coming onto the straight to start lap two, Donaher seiz ing the opportunity to slip by into third place. McCarthy n made it by as well before they reached Bitupave. It had been a productive opening lap for McCarthy. He’d made a bad start to be sixth into the Loop, but he had rounded up Willmington around the outside of stop/go moments before taking Conway. Willmington spent the rest of the race tucked in behind Conway, while Mork, Slako and Monaghan (slow start) battled away behind the two Fords. Monaghan eventually found a way past both to fin ish seventh, while Mork slipped to 12th behind Attard and Pulver, who nailed Mork right on the line. At the head of the pack. Rose set a pace that main tained a buffer over Doulman of around two seconds. “He was a bit more adventurous on cold tyres,” said Doulman, happy to start the day with a solid result. Donaher, too, was rapt with third, surviving a strong attack from McCarthy.

Race 2-10 laps Slako was a non starter, an injector 0-ring failing while the car sat in the dummy giid. It dumped fuel all over tire engine and the team )v'as lucky to escape without a fire.

GOODYEAR FOR ALL... Willmington had an eventful weekend. Here he loops the Falcon out of Goodyear.(Photo by John Moms/Mpixj The start was a mirror image of race one, except that Conway’s start was good enough to see him through into second place ahead of Doulman, McCarthy, Slako, Donaher, Mork, Ajtard, Schembri and Pulver. Doulman slipped ahead of Conway on the second lap, fol lowed next time around by McCarthy. But Doulman would not get his chance to put Rose to the test, a broken valve ending his day after five laps. Meanwhile Mork had spun at stop/go, Pulver stopping and stalling - in avoidance. The ex-Lansvale VP refused to restart, officials pushing

the car offthe track. Suddenly Rose’s formerly comfortable lead slipped to less than three seconds as McCarthy homed in on lap six. But the challenge never came. “I thought Conway was holding them up,” explained Rose, “so I got off the throttle to save the tyres. Then sud denly Doulman’s gone and McCarthy’s there.” But Rose never let the Ford get too close and took win number two with two seconds to spare. McCarthy had already conceded the week end. “It’s just not our day. We’ve made five different sus pension changes for this race, and while it’s better, that’s not

the way to do things.” Slako was a surprised third, benefiting from a clash with Donaher and Conway that saw the Ford spin off coming onto the straight. Slako had slipped by them both, and spent the rest ofthe race hold ing out a queue comprising Donaher, Schembri and Monaghan. Attard was next from the recovering (and not best pleased) Conway, Mork and Cannan.

Race 3 = 20 laps “I’m not mucking around in this one,” warned Rose, who once again he led them away. This time the Blistering Start Award went to Schembri, who

very nearly took the lead over the top. McCarthy had a run at Schembri through Honda but ran wide instead, falling to fifth behind Monaghan, while in the confusion Donaher and Schembri clashed, the latter spinning as Donaher moved into second place. It all played nicely into Rose’s hands. Having opened a gap on the opening lap, he extended his lead and came under no pressure for the rest ofthe race. McCarthy once again had his work cut out, but the out side move at stop/go he’d per formed oh Willmington earlier also worked a treat on

Monaghan on lap two. Behind them came Attard, Conway, Mork and Willmington, the four about to go to war over sixth place. But Willmington’s eventful day (he’d missed race two on account of a failed crank sen sor) was to end early when a front upright broke after 10 laps, spearing him into the side of Pulver at Honda, the Commodore driver rejoining with battered offside doors. With Rose clear out front, centred on interest McCarthy’s attempts to dis place Donaher. Lap after lap the Falcon rocketed out of stop/go only to be thwarted by an insidehugging Donaher at the next right-hander. Finally, two laps from home, his tyres shot and the car jumping out of third gear, Donaher slid wide through the Loop, McCarthy sneaking into sec ond place. Monaghan was a lonely but impressive third, ahead of the recovering Schembri, Conway, Attard, Mork, Cannan and Pulver. But in anyone doubted it was Rose’s day the series of burnouts he performed to delight the crowd at the end ofthe day confirmed it. It was just the boost he needed after mixed run at the Eastern Creek opener, and Rose left Amaroo more than $500 richer and plan ning another set of three at Eastern Creek on August 31. Pointscore after two rounds McCarthy 91, Rose 77, Donaher 67, Schembri 33, Pearson 25, Slalto 23, Attard 22, Douhnan 20.

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1 August 199?

Bad blood in GT-P

JOHN Bowe continued his strong recent form aboard the Poz Cola Ferrari to score two wins from two starts in the fourth round of the GT Production Car Champ ionship at Amaroo Park, but the day wasn’t with out a deal of aggro and committee room drama. Bowe, who has won three of his last five races in the Ferrari, was fastest in both qualifying sessions grabbing pole ahead of the series

leader Peter Fitzgerald in his Porsche who would prove to be the most forceful rival to the Fen-ari driver. The second race was deter mined several hours later after long deliberation in a stewards hearing. Fitzgerald was relegated to second spot giving Bowe both race wins.

Qualifying

Bowe clocked a time of 52.002 seconds in the first ses sion to grab pole for the first race breaking the track record

in the process. Fitzgerald was also under the class track record but was 0.12 secs behind Bowe. The second row saw Calder winner Dominic Beninca (53.228) ahead of John Smith (Porsche 911RSCS). The front two rows and fifth fastest Ed Aitken in his Porsche were the same in both races, while Max Dunn’s Porsche took sixth and Peter McKay’s Maserati Ghibli sev enth in race one ahead of Chris Kousparis’ Subaru

WRX. In race two Kousparis grabbed sixth ahead of the similar Lancer of Ross Almond. Andre Pavicevic missed qualifying altogether after having a massive moment on Friday when the ABS system on his Subaru failed at the top of Bitupave Hill putting the young driver into the scenery. The badly damaged Subaru was repaired by his crew n time for Sunday’s races start ing offthe back ofthe grid.

Keene, Morgan share honours Report by JON THOMSON THE Porsche Cup was one of the highlights of a packed program of entertaining racing at Amaroo Park, the German sporties provid ing some close dicing and interest ing results in both races of the fourth round of the championship. Reigning national Porsche cup champ Geoff Morgan captured the sec ond race after being pipped for the sec ond race honours by Greg Keene. A field of 22 Porsches faced the starter with Morgan grabbing pole position for the first race by the nar rowest of margins. The Vodafone Porsche driver was only 0.02s faster than second fastest Chris Hones while behind them were Greg Keene and Martin Wagg on the second row. The third row saw Stan Adler and Trevor John in his 944. Morgan got the jump from pole in race one to lead the race ahead of Keene with Hones slipping back to third as they headed up the hill for the first of 15 laps. Hones regained second place at the end of the first lap ahead of Keene with Trevor John in fourth, Stand Adler in fifth and then Wagg, Dunn and Stannard. Morgan had his hands full fending off the challenge which was being mounted by Hones who was desperately ti-ying to take the lead over the next four laps until an engine problem sidelined the blue Porsche leaving Morgan in com mand. With Keene in second spot Morgan soon had to fend off his advances while behind them the fight for the other podium finish was quite ferocious John, Adler and Martin Wagg doing the fightmg.

DUEL... Keene (nearside)and Morgan put on great racing. (Photo by Diri< Kiynsmtth) Morgan clearly had a problem and had slowed enough to give Keene the chance to challenge for the lead. The Porsche Cup champ had apparently picked up some gravel and debris on his rear tyres and this gave him the impression that perhaps the tyre was going down. This gave Keene the oppoidunity he needed and with two laps to go he got past Morgan to take the lead. Morgan’s tyre debris cleared itself and he was back on the money staging a desperate attempt to get back into the lead on the closing lap but the South Australian was able to hang on leading Morgan across the line by just 2/lOths of a second. John was third while Adler tangled with Wagg on the final lap with both of them going off and delivering fourth place to Chris Stannard, with Dunn in fifth and Ed Aitken sixth, Just before the start of race two Hones was forced out of the race with a major engine problem.

Morgan again got the best of the start racing up the hill to lead from Keene, Adler and Trevor John. The Vodafone car reaUy opened a gap on the dice for second place with Keene and Adler having a great scrap until the latter lost it on lap four rotating the 911 RSR in the loop and giving third place to John. In the fall out of the spin Wagg snuck past Dunn to gi-ab fourth. Adler recovered from the spin and was now battling with Dionn for fifth place. Adler finally got past Dunn and stayed there,. Up front Morgan was doing it easily and took the flag on lap 15 with a healthy margin from Keene with Tr-evor john taking third just ahead of Wagg with Adler and then Durm. The win has secm-ed a strong lead in the cup for Morgan once again. The Vodafone sponsored driver now has 57 pts in the title, 18 clear of D’arcy Russell who took class B points in both races with Wagg in third place on 35 points and Keene in fomth.

THE INCIDENT... Bowe heads into Goodyear and gets nudged by Fitzgerald (centre). The Ferrari spins and Fitzy (with a creased guard)is on his way to a (temporary) win. (Photos by John Morhs/Mpix)

Race 1 (20 laps) Bowe blasted up the hill to lead race one with Fitzgerald forced to follow, the Ferrari clearing a small gap while Beninca and Smith were trail ing in third and fourth. Bowe and Fitzgerald were locked in a tight struggle as the opening laps unfolded while the two Porsches behind had slipped back a little Beninca and Smith engaged in their own battle. ^ On lap two Murray Carter and Carlos Rolfo tangled,forc ing Carter out while Rolfo limped on. liie order settled down but by one third race distance Bowe and Fitzgerald were already rounding up the tail enders The battle for Class B was between Kousparis who was in ninth spot and holding out Pavicevic who after starting off the rear had cut through from the back ofthe field to be tenth . The Subara pair had a good gap on the Volvo 850 T5 of Ian McAllister, while the BMW of Beric L3mton was in command in class D of the GTP Lights category leading Phil Kirkham’s Mazda 626. As the race wound down to the chequered flag on lap 20 Bowe had a three second gap on Fitzgerald and went on to win by 3.2 secs with Beninca maintaining third and Smith fourth. Another two Porsches fol lowed with Aitken and Dunn in fifth and sixth , McKay bringing the Maserati home in seventh and Almond eighth. Chris Kousparis maintained the margin on Pavicevic to take class B, Beric Lynton capturing the GTP lights class D honours, Sexton Class C and Nigel Stones Class E in his Suzuki Swift.

Race 2(20 laps) Bowe didn’t get as good a start this time around and Fitzgerald was alongside the Ferrari up the hill and got the better line heading over Bitupave and into the loop on lap one. Smith also got a great start on row two and jumped into third place ahead of Beninca. Bowe trailed Fitzgerald for

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♦ On-track servicing - 2-litre rounds Cameron McConville wins 1996 Australian GTP Series Championship on Pirelli tyres

the rest oflap one and into lap two the Ferrari driver taldng the inside running down into Stop/Go comer. Bowe stayed on the inside on the exit, squeezing Fitzgerald out as they headed up to Pit straight taking the lead from the Porsche. With five laps to go the Ferrari was baulked in the heavy traffic as Bowe was lap ping slower cars and this allowed Fitzgerald to close right up on him. Bowe’s tyi'es didn’t appear to be standing up as well as Fitzgerald’s and the fight was on for the final quarter. On the final lap Fitzgerald attacked down the inside at Stop/Go, knowing this was his last chance. The Porsche col lected the Ferrari somewhere near- the front of the right rear wheel, the FeiTari spun and Bowe was forced to follow the Porsche across the line. A calm but obviously annoyed Bowe was pointed in his criticism of Fitzgerald when the cars returned to the pits. “It wasn’t very nice, was it?,” said Bowe. “It looked awfully deliber ate from where I was sitting and I honestly thought he had more moral fibre than that,” he added. Team boss Ross Palmer instantly declared that they would protest and team man ager Neil Lowe was dis patched to speak with Fitzgerald. The Porsche pilot said the incident wasn’t intentional but was far from contrite. “I stuck my nose down the inside and I was on the ABS,I was totally committed and I hied not to hit him but he just kept coming across on me,” Fitzgerald said. “I almost hit him half a dozen times before that. He just kept shutting the door, there was nothing I could do,” he added. The stewards’ decision gave Bowe full points in both races allowing him to move to 86 pts, second and 23 behind the Porsche driver in the title chase. Beninca is only one point further back and hold ing third place. -JON THOMSON

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Hondas storm Suzuka

Eight and counting 1

WORLD Champion Michael Doohan’s night mares at Nurburgring ended with a stylish victo ry in Sunday’s German SOOcc Grand Prix, his sixth consecutive success of the season. Doohan pulled clear of team mate Tadayuki Okada of Japan in the 12th lap and went on to victory on a cir cuit that has often brought him bad luck in'the past. “This has never been a favourite place of mine and that makes winning here even nicer,” said the veteran from Brisbane after winning his eighth race out of nine this season. Okada had to settle for second place ahead of fellow Japanese Takuma Aoki, also on a Honda, who won a tight battle with elder brother Nobuatsu for his second podium finish after Imola two weeks ago. Doohan's win allowed him to extend even more his already almost invincible lead at the top of the world championship standings. He now has 220 points, 107 more than Nobuatsu Aoki, who came fourth. With six races remaining, Doohan, winner of the last three wmdd championships, looks ideally placed to become only the third rider to take four 500cc titles in

succession after all-time greats Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini. Doohan was anxious to erase painful memories of his previous showings. Last year he miscounted the laps and failed to make a last-ditch attempt to regain the lead from Italian Luca Cadalora because he thought there was another lap to go. The Australian, who crashed while in the lead the year before, has often said he dislikes this .track set in spectacular scenery high up in the Eiffel hills because of its unpredictable weather. That particular factor played in his favour on Sunday. It was pouring in the morning for the 125cc race but dry and sunny when he started from pole position., “I lost time after the first corner by going across the dirt, then I had another slide,” said Doohan, who was a modest sixth after the first lap. He fought back to the front, passing rider after rider before catching up Okada almost halfway into the race. , “It might have looked like ail easy win but it wasn’t,” he iaid. “It was hard catching up Tady(Okada)and passing him was not easy either.” There was disappointment for last year’s winner

Criville back this month?

SPANIARD Alex Criville, who sustained severe hand injuries in a crash last IS month, expected to return to racnext ing month, one of his sponsors said at the German Grand Prix. Criville, who needed several skin gi’afts after his accident during qualify ing for the Dutch Grand Prix in Assen, should be back in action either for the British CRIVILLE... and friends celebrate his Grand Prix at Spanish GP win. (Photo by Mike Cooper/Allsport) Donington on August 17 or the race on ings on 102 points, behind August 31 in Brno, in the Australian team mate Michael Doohan on 195, Czech Republic, the sponsor said. before Sunday’s German Criville, who left hospital Grand Prix at Nurburgring.' The Spaniard will need shortly after the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola two corrective surgery on a dam weeks ago, was second in the aged tendon after the season, world championship stand- his sponsor added.

HONDA won the battle at the 1997 Suzuka 8 Hour but Suzuki - or, more to the point, Australia’s Peter Goddard - won the war. The Sydney rider finished fifth in the -Japanese endure but, with wins in the 24 Hour races at Le Mans and Spa, has taken out the World Endui-ance title. The race, run in wet condi tions, was won by local heroes Shin-Ichi Itoh and Torhu Ukawa, leading home a Honda RC45 1-2 finish. They finished two minutes clear of the glamour pairing of John Kocinski and Alex Barros. Top Aussie finished was The Corser. Troy

NOW THIS IS RACING... Biaggi, Jacque, Harada and Waldmann went at it in the 250 GP. Harada won on the final lap. MASTER at WORK... Doohan was in untouchable form, as usual. He now has eight wins from nine GPs. Cadalora, who fell early in the second lap, and for Spaniard Carlos Checa, who was in contention for a top three finish wfien he crashed with 11 laps remaining. IN the 250cc race, Tetsuya Japanese Harada, who was fourth on his Aprilia before the last corner, used the short finish straight to jump into the lead and score sea¬ his first victory of the son. Frenchman Olivier Jacque and local favourite Ralf Waldmann of Germany, both on Hondas, came second and third respectively a few cen timetres behind. World champion Max Biaggi of Italy, who led for most of the last lap on his Honda, had to be content with fourth place. He remains first in the championship standings on

GARRY McCoy crashed out of the sodden 125 race while chasing a top-ten finish on his Aprilia. The turn-four tumble ended a bumpy weekend for the Australian who also fell twice on Friday. Those first two crashes cost 149 points but second-placed McCoy valuable practice Waldmann is only two points time, leaving him 13th on behind. i the grid.

Wollongong ace shared a Yamaha with Scott Russell of the USA and, after quali fying 17th finished fourth, a lap behind the dominant Honda V-fours. "The spray was a constant problem because of the bikes in front. It was almost impossible to see," Corser said after his stint. At the end of the race Russell was charging but ran out of time to catch the Hondas. And dominant they were. The Takeda/Kato factory bike took pole in qualifying but, with the race starting in very wet conditions (which became merely ‘wet’ after an hour) all pre-race form was tmaied aroimd. The Kocinski and Itoh Hondas led the field for most Valentino Rossi continued of the race, with Goddard his runaway charge to the (who was suffering from the 125 world title with his flu) holding third for much of fourth-successive victory on the race. his factory Aprilia. Rossi But the Suzuki’s high fuel took over the lead when consumption meant an extra Kazuto Sakata’s bike broke, fuel stop and, with the condi the Italian fending off tions contributing to reliabil Yoshiaki Katoh (Yamaha) ity and close racing, the cur for the win. Local Manfred rent Australian Supei’bike ‘Tex’ Geissler (Aprilia) took Champion fell to fifth. third. -DARRYL FLACK ftjiTt'! f.i

by PHIL BRANAGAN ’SUZil®: has settled on its SOOcc ^GP line-up for 1998 and Aussie Troy Corser will not be one of the riders. Anthony Gobert (piotured) wM remaM with the team and vdll be joined by Japanese Superbike hot shot NoriyuM H^a. The 23-year‘old has dominated this season’s All-Japan series on his faGtory Yamuha> with four

wins and two seconds-in the six rounds held so far. Yl%i:e the move comes as a st^ prise to mainy, it maikes sense, given that SuzuM are likely to lose long-ti>me hacikers Lnciky Strike during the ^@^-season and next season’s effort wiiW be a factory effort,in factory colours - unless a new sponsor can be found in the off-seasO££ ^ Indeed, until two weeks ago one of the options for the factojry was

to close doj^ its pintmg GP tearff altqggtherto co3S on a woiiks-i^teicac team!’ This, it was.vbelieVed, w^ develop Suzufci’s new ^Atwin into^ a world-class WSC contender. That remains an option!for the team. Australian rider Daryl Beattie will not continue with the GP team and is believed to be considering the WSC program, where he would probably rid:e alongside Briton James Witham.

Gerhai Report by JOE SAWARD

WINNING COMEBACK... After missing the last three races, Gerhard Berger bounced back with a win.

ockenheim was another one of those days to forget! I made an unbelievable start. The clutch was superb and I didn't get any wheelspin. It was the best start I've made in my career in F1, absolutely perfect. To go from 10th to 5th on a track with a short pit straight, it would have to be beautiful ... As I came out of the first corner I felt a little wiggle on the rear. I thought that someone had touched me, but that it would be no problem. The next thing, down it went- I'd cut the rear tyre. I haven't seen it on TV yet and I didn't even know it was HeinzHarald, to be honest. From what I gather he was behind me. It was a bit foolish to try to hang on in there, because I'm not going to know he's there. There's no point in making a fuss. What can I do abqut that? It's totally out of your control.

ISN’T it lovely. There are still fairytales in FI. Gerhard Berger has had a terrible time in recent months. He has been out of action with sinus problems; his father was killed in an aeroplane accident and his future FI career was looking shaky and then he arrived at Hockenheim, took pole, set the fastest lap of the race and won a truly memorable vic tory. 4nd everyone went home and lived happily ever after - except for the Williams team management, which went home spitting razorblades because its two drivers had thrown

Asfar as the Championship is concerned I think Jacques knows he^sfighting a losing battle ee o

In qualifying Michael was quicker than me only on the brakes, to be honest; everywhere else The infield section is great. To get speed down the long straights we were similar. In the last secyou've got very little wing on and^, ,tion of the track I was actually it's all about balancing the car on quicker than him. It was strange because there a knife edge. It's very tricky to were five different cars in the top drive because there's so little grip. The chicanes are also tricky five; it looked like it was pretty much a question of people getting because you're coming down from such a high speed. You've got to it right. Villenquve was off his keep the entry speed up and they teammate, Coulthard was off, Ralf Schumacher was off, I was off. are very difficult comers.

couldn't complain too much was about being 10th on the grid. It Berger ing and it'squickest his sort in of qualify circuit. He's the last of the late brakers. could have been much worse; I knew I was going to struggle, He's been away for three races because I didn't test at Monza last and he's cleared his head and week. Everyone else tested there he's fresh. And to be honest he should have been on pole here for three days, but I didn't. It's a very similar type of track - last year. He did a very good race stratfast straights and heavy braking for chicanes - so everyone else egy, you have to say. He drove a was already geared up for it. On very good race, his pit stops went Friday it was wet, so I had even'well and he had no traffic. It was less time to get myself dialled in a very risky strategy to do. After and get used to heavy braking all his been through, it's good to see. with low downforce.

Jordan deserve a lot more points than they've got this year. It just shows you how important qualifying is. Fisichella was at the front and Ralf was further back and that's the way they ran in the race, basically. Michael did a very good job. He lost the gurney flap very early in the race and he was driving around with the rear end very loose. People say he's lucky, but to be honest he was very unlucky - and still finished second. He's unreal.

As far as the championship is concerned, I think Jacques knows that he didn't win Silverstone; Michael had him beaten, at a circuit which was going to be our worst circuft all year. Jacques knows he's fighting a losing battle... The competition is very tough at the moment. Benetton's relia¬ bility is good and McLaren seem to be coming on strong. Put it like this; their new designer Adrian Newey isn't sit ting at home doing nothing! M i k a Hakkinen's stock had dropped massively, but I think he's come back up. They're talking about changing one of their drivers, but 1 think they'd struggle to get a better pairing, Michael except ed. I think the two of them are doing a good job for McLaren. By the time you read this, I might know a bit more about what's happen ing next year. Ferrari's option on me runs out on July 31. 1 real ly haven't got a clue what they're planning on LATE BRAKING... E^die missed the vital Monza test and had trouble getting used to the high speeds and slow chicanes doing ... n at Hockenheim. Then a brilliant start was ruine4 when he was hit by Frentzen.

The atmosphere at Hockenheim is very special. The good thing is they're mad keen for Michael, so they leave me alone! It's a place with good memories for me because I won the F3000 race supporting the GP back in 1990. It doesn't seem like seven years ago - more like three! That day I made a good start and I was right behind Damon Hill when he lost it on the second lap going into Turn One...

away another busload of World Championship points. After quali^ng well down the grid by their standards, Heini;-Harald Frentzen and Jacques Villeneuve both threw away their races and came away from the weekend with nothing. By contrast, Michael Schumacher again made the most of what he had to come home second and extend both his and Ferrari’s unlikely World Championship points leads. Giancarlo Fisichella was the unex pected star ofthe weekend, qualifying on the front row and battling for the victoiy all the way down to the final laps when a punctured fyre ended his day. Mika Hakkinen made it onto the podium with third place, but this was a disappointment for everyone on Mercedes’ home turf and on a circuit which should have been ideal for the powerful German engines.

Qualifying Now you might think that in the week leading up to the German Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher would be the most talked-about sport ing figure in Germany. We have grown used to such things in recent years as Schumi Mania has swept through the German working classes, transforming Michael from being a racing driver into a symbol of German national pride. A couple of years ago we started seeing SAumacher flags with a light ning S - a memory which many Europeans do not wish to recall -and there were worries this year that if there were two Schumacher Brothers we might start to see Ae^s witli the double lightning S... Whatever the case, with three Germans in top cars and MercedesBenz finally beginning to look a lot more serious challenger in FI, one might have expected a fever of enthu siasm from the crowds. It was not the case at all. They were there in their tens of thousands as usual, but much of the attention has moved across to young Jan Ullrich, who has spent the last few weeks winning the Tour de France. Friday at Hockenheim was wet and horrible, which is not how to see the track at its best, but on Saturday things improved. For Gerhard Berger, the whole event was something special. It was his big comeback after six weeks out of action with sinus problems and following the death ofhis father. The weekend began with Gerhard telling the media that he will not be staying on with Benetton next year-, following the announcement that Giancarlo Fisichella will be a Benetton driver, but he still wants to race. “The more I think about it, the more I love to race,” he said. “At the Monza test it took me about 15 laps to get used to the car before I was on the pace again -butI love it.” On Saturday he showed that love of the sport in the best possible way, blasting his Benetton-Eenault to the team’s first pole position since the days of Michael Schumacher. For the Austrian it was a very emo tional moment but one which he was going to enjoy to the maximiun. “My life is always like this. It goes up and down. I am here to win and I am very happy for myself because this brings back the confidence, but also for the team. It needs this to get

GERMAN GP

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the morale up because they have had _ a difficult time.” But how had he achieved the step forward? “I know the way around the cir cuit,” Glerhard explained, “but at the end of the day you need the car to do it and we got the set-up right. “The time was more or less what the car was capable of doing. In fact I overdrove it a bit on both the last two fast laps. On the last lap I nearly lost it twice and then spun it in the Sachs Kurve.” It made no difference because on this occasion he had only himself to beat, having set the fastest time in the first 15 minutes ofthe session and then having knocked himself off pole with 15 minutes to go. The last efforts were not important. Jean Alesi did a very competentjob to qualify sixth, despite a last-minute spin, but was a Httle'frustrated that he was not able to match Gerhard’s pace.

HITCH-HIKER... Giancarlo Fisichella was a sensation, qualifying on the front row and racing with the leaders until a puncture brought his race to an end. After racing hard with Schumacher(above) he ended up getting a ride back to the pits on the ' Ferrari (right). (Photos by John Dunbar-Zooom)

byjust two-hundredths ofa second. At the recent testing it was clear that Jordan had an aerodynamic package which suits the really fast tracks and this was true throughout Friday and Saturday morning with Ralf Schumacher fastest. But Saturday afternoon - the important one-was a different story. “My last run was very good,” he said, “but I missed the first corner and lost four-tenths. If that had not happened I would have done better.” had to make do with seventh on the grid, 0.6s slower than the pole man. For some - probably namic -reason Hockenheim has aerody been a/ Fisichella was, of course, delighted. Benetton track in the last couple of years. The cars have not been great In fact he seemed almost delirious as at one point he was bold enough to but the long blasts of Hockenheim seem to act in its favour, the Renault say that he and Ralf had become engine not being handicapped by the “friends now” and were working deficiencies ofthe chassis. together happily. The major reason Last year the Benetton boys were he was happy, the cynics said, was fighting at the front with Williams; because he had blown Ralf away on this year Frank and his team were the German’s home sod. Mika Hakkinen qualified third for not on the pace in qualifying. It was Jordan’s Giancarlo McLaren-Mercedes, thanks to very Fisichella who got closest to Berger, strong engines fi-om Mercedes-Benz. l David Coulthard was eighth, the recording his best-ever grid position and being edged out of pole position Scotsman saying that his poor show-

ing was because he had lost set-up time in the morning as the result of an engine failure and that this led him to push too hard in the final min utes ofqualifying and spin out. Mika was a tenth off Berger’s pole time and reckoned he had lost out at the Ostkjorve on his last flying lap. “I went in too fast,” he explained. “Actually I went straight through it and then I found Gerhard sideways across the track so all in all it was very interesting.” It is a very long time - probably five years-since we had to look as far back as fifth on the grid to find the first Williams-Renault on the grid and the team looked to be struggling. Frentzen was the faster of the two drivers on this occasion, lapping half a second faster than championship challenger ViUeneuve. Heinz-Harald was mystified and fifth while Jacques was depressed and ninth. “It was really difficult to get a good lap,” said the FVench-Canadian. “I did not have the straightline speed. Despite having the same downforce level as Heinz I was quite a bit slower down the straight.”

Initially it looked like an engine problem and on Friday night the team stuck a new Renault VIO in the back of Jacques’ FW19. But Saturday morning proved to be a similar stoiy. “Jacques suffered a top speed deficit of 3kmh,” explained ^nault’s Bernard Dudot. In the end it was decided that ViUeneuve would use Frentzen’s spare car - his third engine in two days- and the problem remained the same. “We do not believe the problem is with the engine,” added Dudot. Michael Schumacher was none too impressed with his fourth on the grid, although in the finest of recent tradi tions he said it was exactly what he had expected to happen. He was happy to see ViUeneuve in trouble. Eddie Irvine was over a second behind his team leader on this occa sion and ended up down in 10th posi tion on the grid. “My car would not ride over the kerbs as weU as the others and you have to do that to get a good quahfying lap,” explained Eddie. With top five teamsitfilling the top the 10 grid positions was left to Jamo Trulh to be the best of the rest, although it was quite a battle for 11th place between the Italian, Rubens BarricheUo and Damon HUlaU three being Bridgestone runners. TruUi found a good set-up but was

not able to gain as much in the detailed changes as he had hoped. The tyres were also obviously quite a factor as Bridgestone has not been producing astounding qualifiers of late, although the tyres have run well in the races. Shinji Nakano was six places behind Trulli - more or less where one would expect to see him - and was 0.9s slower. Stewart arrived in Hockenheim hoping that the dreadful series of Ford engine failures at Silverstone was behind them, but it was the gear boxes which caused troubles on Friday. On Saturday things were better and BarricheUo reckoned that if he had not encountered a spinning Tarso Marques on his fastest lap he might have been able to grab ninth on the

grid.

Jan Magnussen was 15th and had struggled with the settings of his cai-. This resulted in him being sent out too late in the qualifying session to get across the line in time to start his finalflying lap. Arrows had HiU in 13th with Pedro Diniz 16th, the pair separated by 0.7s on this occasion, and Damon said this was more or less what he had been hoping to achieve. ‘T was able to get the most out of the car,” he reported. “I expected we would have difficulty getting into the top 15, given the level of horsepower

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STILL A STRUGGLE... Damon Hill in the difficult Yamaha-powered Arrows. r

(Photo by Zooom Photographies)

PATRIOTIC... Michael Schumacher’s fan were out in force as usual.

FORMULA.,1

1 August 1997

Who’s that cute chick with the old bald bloke?

Among the VIPs at Hockenheim last weekend was Emerson Fittipaldi, who was demonstrating a pre-war Mercedes W125 Ft car. Also spotted in the paddock was rock star Phil Collins (with his latest wife, pictured above). Michael Jackson - on tour in Frankfurt - did not turn up as had been expected.

ON THE PODIUM ... Mika Hakkinen finished third but was not particu larly satisfied, having expected more for Mercedes on home soil with its powerful engines. It was also another disappointing weekend for the (Photos by LAT Digital andZooom Photographies) Tyrrell team (below).

we have at the moment, so I am not at all disappointed with that.” Diniz had a less easy time. He was down on power in the morning ses sion and it was decided to change engines before qualifying. The new engine then stopped so Pedro had to jump into the spare which - much to his surprise - proved to be a good deal quicker than his own car... Probably the biggest ment in qualifying wasdisappoint the perfor mance of the Sauber-Petronas, which had been expected to come on strong on the faster tracks. On Fiiday it looked as though this was going to happen with Johnny Herbert third fastest on Friday and Norberto Fontana fifth, but on Saturday everything went wrong. Both drivers had trouble getting, their power onto the road coming out of the chicanes, so Johnny ended ,up 14th with Fontana 18th, 0.9s slower. The final four places on the grid belonged - as expected - to the Tyn-ells and the Minardis. Mika Salo and Jos Verstappen were 19th and 20th ■with no real prob lems to report - except the obvious one that they did not have enough horsepower. The Minardis were a similar story and the only point of note was that Marques outqualified Ukyo Katayama.

Race - 45 laps

Jacques Villeneuve was fastest in the warm-up - and that had the paddock talking - and then with about 40 minutes to go we had a small rain storm, which left the road a little damp in places. Once the clouds had moved on, however, there did not seem to be an awful lot ■wrong with the weather and so everyone fined up on the grid much as one would expect. When the five red fights went out, the first three all made good starts, Berger getting away perfectly. Fisichella, however, found himself under a little pressure going into the first comer from Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen. Further back we a bit of a mess with a slow-starting Frentzen and a fast-starting Irvine arriving at the first comer side-by-side. It was proba bly not the moment for HH to try to force the issue but he did and as a result the two clashed wheels, Fi’entzen’s right front hitting Eddie’s left rear. Behind them, Jacques Villeneuve had to swerve to avoid the incident and in the kerfuffle Coulthard was hit by Fi-entzen. At the first chicane he went off, bouncing over some kerbs. David, Heinz-Harald and Eddie aD

trundled aroimd to the pits. Coulthard rejoined but retired almost immediately with a driveshaft problem. The damage to the Ferrari was such that the rear bodywork caught fire because of the heat generated with the wheel rubbing on the ground, while Frentzen’s front sus pension was so bent that his race was i^un. They were aU suitably disappointed. “I made my best staid ever in an FI race; from 10th on the grid I was try ing for fifth place,” said Irvine. “I am unhappy.” “I had no place to go,” said Frentzen. “The only place I could have gone to avoid an accident was over the grass. I could not go on the dirt at that stage to leave Eddie alone on the track - so we collided.” ‘My sense of relief at avoiding any trouble was short-lived,” said a resigned David. All this with meant little topulfing the boys up front, Gerhard away fi-om the rest at his own pace. Fisichella and Michael Schumacher spent the first few laps together and behind them Hakkinen played with Alesi and behind them Villeneuve had his mirrors full of Trulli and Barrichello. Berger was on a two-stop strategy and had to build a gap as fast as pos sible. He did it in style -with a string of fastest laps which meant that he was 8.5s ahead after 10 laps. The gap grew to 12.3s before the Austrian peeled off into” the pits for his first stop on lap 17.r This enabled Fisichella to take the

lead. He had been shadowed early by Schumacher but gradually began to puU away. “At the beginning he was holding me up slightly,” explained Michael later. H was following him and using my tyres a bit harder and that gave me a problem so about eight laps before I did my tyre stop he started to get away.” Michael pitted on lap 22 and Fisico came in on lap 24, allowing Berger back into the lead again - his advan tage now having grown to aix)und 16s. It continued to grow but with one stop still to make Gerhard needed eveiy tenth he could get. With a pit stop taking just less than half a minute he needed that land of advantage. On lap 28 he had 19s advantage over Fisichella with six laps to make up the necessary 10s more. It was decidedly touch-and-go because his laps times were only about a second a lap quicker than the Jordan. The strategy looked like it was going to fail. It was good fortune for the Benetton strategists that at this moment Jan Magnussen’s Ford engine went boom - as they have tended to do in recent months - and suddenly Gerhard found himself dri ving through a bank of oil fog. It gave the team an excuse for the strategic failure. “I had been calculating lap by lap to make sure I would have enough time and then it was so foggy that I had to slo>v right down,” said Gerhard, reck oning it had cost him four or five sec onds. “I thought I had lost the race. I was {

very disappointed because I knew this was too much to keep me ahead of Fisichella.” The timesheets actually showed that Gerhard’s loss to Fisichella on that lap was only slightly less that two seconds. It was a lot, but the strategy would probably not have worked anyway. nm at the loss of time, fl-hard now pushed really hard but he was only tlu-ee or four tenths a lap faster than Fisichella. The Austrian stopped on lap 34 and it was a very quick stop but as he came out of the pits there was Fisichella ahead of him. “I was quite surprised that I only missed him by half a second,” said Gerhai'd. “I knew it was going to be hard to pass him and I was preparing myself It would have been very difficult because he had good speed on the straight. I knew I had to give him pressm-e sti-aight away but if he had not made a mistake it would have been difficult to overtake him.” Beiger does not look a gift horse in the mouth and, when Fisichella went wide, he was through in a flash. H think I get some special powers sometimes,” said Gerhard mysteri ously later on. “I know what it was but it’s a personal thing.” Once ahead Gerhard had the whole thing under control again, it was put beyond question on lap 39 when Fisichella had a puncture. The game over. Gerhard stroked the was car home to win a glo rious victory.

You can call it grabbing victory from the jaws ofdefeat but it does not matter what it was. Gerhard won dSespite a wrong strategy and it was axi immensely popular and deserved nesiilt. “This was my best ever victory,” ■Gerhard added. “It is a special w'eeklemd for me. Yery special.” Jean Alesi’s two-stop strategy' was (even less successful than Berger’s. Tlhe Frenchman ran fiftli on the first ilap and ended up in sixth place, hav:ing dropped behind both TruLli and EaJf Schumacher. Fisichella really deserved better ■than he got but there was no getting ■away fi'om the fact that he had only Wimself to blame for the mistake whidh put Gerhard ahead. The punc ture was down to bad luck. “It was marginal w'hether he ccuid have won the race,” said Eddie JoFxian later, “but to be up there ■fighiting for victon' gave me and the team a tremendous feeling. This is -witlaout doubt our best perfoimance ever.” Tlhe puncture wus not just a delay because a radiator problem as a result of the damage meant that Siaucarlo was sidelined on lap 41. Kalf Schumacher gave Jordan some small consolation with fifth place^ but it was not a great effort. His lowly grid position and a bad start meaffitthat there was not a great deal he-comld do. Tisidhella’s demise meant Michael Schumacher was able to collect six points for second position - and he was very pleased with his haul of points, particularly' as in the mid-race he ilosfe fifth gear and had a real problema shdfiing fi-om fourth to sixth. He also had to do a last-minute pit stop for more fuel; “We were about fi-se laps of fuel short,” he explained, “I don’t know what it was but I had to come im again.” Wife Fisichella gone he was able to do this; ■without losing his second posi tion. “■®0F the championship,” smiled Michael. Things go well.” All these excitements that Mika Hakkinen endedmeant up in thii’d place - his first podium finish since Metbourne. But it was not really a very 'inapressive result and Mika kmew'iit.. JaumO' TtuIH had been a lot quicker in the race but, having been held up early -.on by Villeneuve. was not in a position to grab third position during the pit stop sequence and once stuck behiond Hakkinen could not find a way past him in the closing laps. “I had good speed on the long straights; and he could not overtake me,”' saidl Mika. ‘1 was flat out at the end of the race but my straightline speed; was good.” Tnalli drove a very fine race for a youngster. He profited from the first lap iiacideiits to move from 11th on

GERMAN GiP

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BLAST OFF... Bergerjumps Fisichella and the rest in front of the huge Hockenheim stands. the gild to seventh at the end of the first lap. He then pressured Villeneuve for the whole first half of the race. After Jacques got out of his way on lap 21, Jarno was able to put the hammer down and make up some lost time but when he came into the pits he was only 20s ahead of Hakkinen, which meant that he rejoined behind and that was that. Jamo was so keen to make a good pit stop that he came rushing in a lit tle too quick and went onto the grass beside the pitlane. It probably cost him two seconds and it meant that when he rejoined he was behind Villeneuve again. He put the pressure on again and this time Villeneuve cracked. On lap 34 Jacques made a mistake in the first comer. “I ran wide and Trulli got close to me,” said Jacques. “Then he got me on the outside and pushed me too close to the grass. I was about to run out of road so had to lift and got behind him. Then'he was following me in his mirrors: left, right, left, right and when we got into the brak ing area I was too much on the inside and locked the wheels.” It would perhaps have been sim pler to say;“I sci’ewed up again”. / Later Jacques went to see Tralli and told him that they were not dri ving in Formula 3 cars. Trulli agi-eed and explained that he did not see any thing wrong with what he had done. It was not a dramatic conversation, but Trulli was not in the mood to kneel before Villeneuve and beg for giveness. In the end there was a half hearted handshake and they went theii- sepai-ate ways. One not help but Jacques’s notice as thiscould was going on that

(Photo byZooom)

never-absent manager -the unctuous Johnny ha& looked quite good early on - clearly planning a one-stop strat Craig Pollock - was sliding between the TV cameras gathered under the egy - but straggling a bttle with the Prost awning, deflecting them from fuel-heavy Sauber. Fontana finished ninth but had a his blond boy. What is becoming of FI? I have totally uninspired race. Jos Verstappen brought home his always thought that driver managers are supposed to be people who supply lyrrell a long way behind - in 10th guidance and sensible advice to their running out of fuel on his slowing charges. People who help them do down lap. Salo had a better afternoon but their job properly. The World Championship is slip clutch problems made the car impos ping away from Villeneuve this year sible to drive and he retired on lap 33. The two Stewarts retired vrith Ford and it should not be doing so. The Williams is a winning car - and the engines going bang once again and for faces ofthe team management after the Ford men who had given journal the race told that story. They are not ists a hard time for rubbishing the happy. engines thefe would be more platefuls Perhaps Pollock would be advised of humble pie to suck on. to spend more of his time.getting his driver’s head together and less worry ys, managed be alwa a bttle as more colourful than to most ing about setting up new racing Minardi, of their rivals: Marques retired with a teams and greasing camera lenses. Jacques may never again get as broken transmission on the startline good a chance at the World but Katayama tightened his headban(Land went for it, holding a sobd Championship as this. The rest of the field provided bttle last place. interest. Nakano drove around in the When Ukyo finally managed to midfield and finished seventh thairks catch up with Verstappen he made a to others retiring. bit of a mess of the passing manoeu Damon Hill was eighth, the high vre and the two touched. This meant that his car began to point in his two-stop race being over bounce and he could not read his pittaking Johrmy Herbert on lap eight. About the only thing that Damon board and the radio appears to have could say was that the Yamaha been somehow disconnected so he engine lasted the race - which in could not hear the cabs of his frantic itself is something of a triumph for engineers-and so he ran out offuel. the hand grenade builders of Down in the Renault garage they Hamamatsu. were happy to salute professionalism Pedro Diniz might have finished as ofa different level. well had he mot made an absolute The vastly experienced engineer Jean-Francois Robin summed it all mess of trying to copy Damon’s over taking manoeuvre of Herbert and up perfectly: running straight into poor old “Today Gerhard proved to be a Johnny. super champion. He drove a faultless race. The strategy which coiild have “He said he had just made a mis take,” complained Johnny later, “but been tricky was perfect - thanks to the diiveris expertise.” n by then it was a bit too late.”

1995 Factory Team Cars with 1996 updates l Completely rebuilt l S42 New Generation engines l S42 Spare engine if required l Sequential gearbox l PI System ●BBS 18" or 19" Wheels »Spares package available. These cars are available for immediate sale and will be tested for new purchaser if required. Please contact: Lyall Williamson BMW Motorsport Australia Ph: 0755 461 366 Mobile: 015 183 030 Fax: 0755 461 850

)

German Grand Prix World Championship, round 10 Hockenheim, 27th July, 1997-45 laps 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Gerhard Berger, Benetton-Renault B197,1h20m59,046s Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F310B, 1h21m16,573s Mika Hakkinen, McLaren-Mercedes MP4/12, 1h21m23,816s Jarno Trulli, Prost-Mugen Honda JS45,1h21m26,211s Rail Schumacher, Jordan-Peugeot 197, 1h21m29,041s Jean Alesi, Benetton-Renault B197,1h21m33,763s Shinji Nakano, Prost-Mugen Honda JS45, 1h22m18,768s Damon Hill, Arrows-Yamaha A18, 44 laps Norberto Fontana, Sauber-Petronas Cl6, 44 taps Jos Verstappen, Tyrrell-Ford 025, 44 laps Giancarlo Fisichella, Jordan-Peugeot 197, 40 laps* DNF

Fastest Lap: Gerhard Berger, Lap 9, 1m45,747s Lap Leaders: 1-17 Berger; 18-24 Fisichella; 25-45 Berger Retirements: Lap 0 Lap 1 Lap 1 Lap 1 Lap 8 Lap 8 Lap 23 Lap 27 Lap 33 Lap 40

Tarso Marques, Minardl-Hart Ml 97, transmission Eddie Irvine, Ferrari F310B, accident Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Wiiliams-Renault FW19 accident David Couithard, McLaren-Mercedes MP4/12, no drive Pedro Diniz, Arrows-Yamaha A18, accident Johnny Herbert, Sauber-Petronas Cl6, accident Ukyo Katayama, Minardi-Hart Ml97, out of fuel Jan Magnussen, Stewart-Ford SF-1, engine Mika Salo, Tyrrell-Ford 025, clutch Giancarlo Fisichella, Jordan-Peugeot 197, oil cooler

World Championship Positions: 1 M Schumacher 53; 2 Villeneuve 43; 3 Alesi 22; 4 Berger 20; 5 Frentzen 19;6 Irvine 18; 7 Panis 15;8 Couithard and Hakkinen 14; 10 R Schumacher 9; 11 Fisichella 8; 12 Herbert 7; 13 Barrichello 6; 14 Wurz 4; 15 Trulli 3; 16 Salo 2; 17 Larini, Nakano and Hill 1 Constructors' Championship: 1 Ferrari 71; 2 Wiiliams-Renault 62; 3 McLaren-Mercedes 28;4 Prost Mugen-Honda 19;5 Jordan-Peugeot 17; 6 Sauber-Petronas 8; 7 Stewart-Ford 6;8 Tyrrell-Ford 2; 9 Arrows-Yamaha 1

A fast minute

with

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Christian Jones

Christian Jones Name: Born: 27 September 1978 Home state: Queensland Car: Spectrum 06

After a rocky start to 1997 Christian Jones has improved dramatically throughout the Australian Formula Ford Championship with three top 3 finishes at Lakeside and Mallala. Christian is the son of 1980 World Champion Alan Jones

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Ambition in motorsport: To go as far as I can

Ambitions tor 1998: Win the 1998 Ford Motorsport/Siick 50 Australian Formula Ford Championship Most memorable moment in Formula Ford: The first time I raced at Bathurst Most admired Australian driver: Alan Jones

Dislikes: speed cameras, show-offs, lack of laps in Formula Ford races

Most admired international driver: Michael Schumacher

Three words that you would use to describe yourself: stubborn, determined, competitive

Most admired competitor: John Blanchard

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Jarreft dominates Pocono,but Gordon retakes series lead L .*/

Dale Jarrett took his third win of the season after a dominat ing round 18 performance in the Pennsylvania 500 at the two-mile flat Pocono triangular track on July 20. Jarrett’s last win came at Darlington on March 23 - he also dominated the July 13 event at New Hampshire, but a new type of spark plug ultimately caused his demise. In a race that featured four cau tions, Jarrett headed 107 of Pocono’s 200 laps, taking the lead for the final time with 20 to go and leading Jeff Gordon to the che quered flag by 2.99 seconds. By finishing second, Gordon re took the points lead from team mate Terry Labonte, who suffered with a race-long ill-handling car, finishing 35th and also relinquish ing second place in the points standings to Mark Martin, who fin ished fifth. Both Jarrett and Gordon took on four tyres during the final green flag pit stops, most other front run ners taking right side only - but, as Jarrett’s crew chief Todd Parrott commented later, “I knew with 35 laps to go we needed four.” Jarrett started fourth - behind pole-sitter Joe Nemechek, Eynie Irvan and Wally Dallenbach - and his major competition came from Jeff Gordon, who headed 53 tours. Gordon took the lead for the first time on lap 12, but his DuPont Monte Carlo was too tight off turn three and slower on longer runs.

Irvan was the cause of the fourth and final caution on lap 137, which put stop to a fuel strategy race, Irvan slamming the wall rearwards to finish 40th and Dallenbach suffering engine woes. Previous round victor Jeff Burton started 20th and finished a strong third in a back-up car, fol lowed by Roush Ford team-mates Ted Musgrave and Martin. Rookie Mike Skinner in the Childress Chevrolet finished a career-best sixth after a great bat tle with Jimmy Spencer. Skinner’s team-mate. Dale Earnhardt, suffered damage in the third wreck-induced caution, as did seven other cars. Bobby Labonte tapped the rear of Terry’s car and spun him out in the tunnel turn, Earnhardt hitting Terry and many nthers sliding across the grass to avoid the car nage - Earnhardt spent some time up front and, after repairs to the front-end sheet metal, he rallied to finish 12th. Pole-sitter Nemechek was not so lucky when he rode over the rear of Kenny Wallace, the pair sustaining heavy damage - Nemechek, or ‘Front Row Joe’ as he’s been recent ly dubbed, was the eighth different pole sitter in eight events at the track. Musgrave, one of the 13 drivers who changed the lead 22 times, looked poised for his first win but, after his final two tyre pit stop, the Thunderbird lost it’s han dle and he fought a loose condition the remainder of the race.

Musgrave was also penalised for speeding on pit road. Interestingly, the majority of | the lead changes came under pit sequences, as there was little pass ing in the race. Rusty Wallace took a provisional to start the event and changed to a Larry Wallace engine for the race. “I thought we we’re gonna get a top five out of this thing, but it didn’t happen; we lost an engine,” said Wallace, after coming from 39th to seventh - he recorded his seventh DNF of the year with just 0 25 laps remaining. Robby Gordon broke an oil pump belt on the warm-up lap and was the first car to retire, even before the first caution on lap one for a spinning Darrell Waltrip - the race GRINNER... Winner Jarrett savours the moment. (Martin D Clark pic) then stayed green for 117 laps. WARP SPEED... Mike Skinner(below) overcame Spencer fora careerThe domination of multi-car best sixth that outdid his team-mate, Dale Earnhardt. (Squire/Allsport) teams is continuing to show, as the first six cars at Pocono'were from stables of at least two cars - the same can be said for the top six in -the points standings, making this one of the most hotly contested series since 1992. Final positions: 1 Jarrett (Ford), 2 J Gordon (Chevy), 3 J Burton (Ford), 4 Musgrave (Ford), 5 Martin (Ford),6 Skinner(Chevy),7 Spencer (Ford), 8 Petty (Pontiac), 9 Mayfield (Ford), 10 Elliott(Ford). Points standings: 1 J Gord on 2669, 2 Martin 2605, 3 T Labonte 2555, 4 Jarrett 2517, 5 J Burton 2468, 6 Earnhardt 2415, 7 B r

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Labonte 2241, 8 Rudd 2129, | 9 Mayfield 2100,10 Musgrave 2095. I

OH, WELL ... Terry Labonte (below) was spun by Bobby L and drilled by Earnhardt.(Jamie Squire/Allsport)

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WINSTON CUP RESULTS Pennsylvania 500 = Pocono, PA July 20, S997

Dale Jarrett,#88 Quality Care Ford Thundebird

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Jeff Gordon,#24 DuPont Automotive Chevrolet Jeff Burton,#99 Exide Batteries Ford Thundebird Ted Musgrave,#16 Family Channel/Primestar Ford Mark Martin,#6 Valvoline Ford Thundebird Mike Skinner,#31 Lowe’s Chevrolet Monte Carlo

7. Jimmy Spencer,#23 Camel Cigarettes Ford T’bird 8. Kyle Petty,#44 Hot Wheels Pontiac Grand Prix 9. -Jeremy Mayfield,#37 Kmart/RC Cola Ford T’bird \p. Bill Elliott, #94 McDonald’s Thundebird

Current Points After Round 18

.2669 .2605

11. Bobby Labonte,#18 Interstate Batteries Pontiac 12. Dale Earnhardt,#3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet

I. Jeff Gordon, Chev 2. Mark Martin, Ford

13. Johnny Benson,#30 Pennzoil Pontiac Grand Prix 14. Ken Schrader,#33 Skoal Chevrolet Monte Carlo 15. Ward Burton,#22 MBNA America Pontiac

3. Terry Labonte, Chev ....2SSS 2517 4. Dale Jarrett, Ford

16. Derrike Cope,#36 Skittles Pontiac Grand Prix 17. Geoff Bodine,#7 QVC Ford Thunderbird

2468 5. Jeff Burton, Ford . 6. Dale Earnhardt, Chev ...241S

7. Bobby Labonte, Pontiac ..2241 2129 18. Ricky Craven,#25 Budweiser Chevrolet Monte Carlo 8. Ricky Rudd, Ford 19. Dick Trickle,#90 Heilig-Meyers Ford Thundebird 9. Jeremy Mayfield, Ford ...2100 ,2095 lO.Ted Musgrave, Ford 20. Sterling Marlin,#4 Kodak Chevrolet Monte Carlo

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Successful US Dumesny/Thomas Nissen outing on track despite for Adam Pay Palm Royale woes ,

Queensland-based high-profile NASCAR competitor Ian Thomas has experienced a financial setback after his Palm Royale Hotel resort in Cairns was recently placed in receiver managership. ' The development is now being run by chartered accounts KPMG on behalf of the resort’s financiers. “The hotel is trading with a prof it,” Thomas stated. ; “However, I expect that the prop erty will be sold shortly, along with several of my other investment properties - that way, I will be able to continue my business operations with no debts.” Thomas’ vast North Queensland property development and national sunglass store businesses are not affected by the Palm Royale Hotel proceedings. Meanwhile, back at Thomas’ Tropic Coast Racing workshop, the Monte Carlos to be raced by NASCAR champion Max Dumesny and Thomas, who finished third in the last series, are nearing the final stages of their preparation for the

Talented former NASCAR Rookie of the Year Adam Pay has returned to Australia after a five month fact-finding tour of the American Stock Car circuit. While in the States, Pay drove for well-known car owner John Nissen, qualifying seventh and leading 12 of the 25 race laps to finish on the podium in a creditable third spot. Pay will make a brief return to the States this month for further discussions concerning drives offered while overseas and to acquire some running gear for his Pontiac Grand Prix. As far as his intentions for the forthcoming Australian super speedway season are concerned, Pay stated that “since arriving back

BUS/NESS AS USUAL for Ian Thomas this season.(Thunder-Pics) 1997/98 ACDelco Australian NASCAR Championship. According to tearii-owner Thomas, Dumesny’s car will be ready to test as Motorsport News hits the news stands, while his own machine should be in race condition within several weeks. “By mid-August, our crew-chief

Peter Sportelli hopes to have both Max and I out testing the cars on the Goodyear Thunderdome,” com mented Thomas. < “The whole package that we have assembled during the winter break should see both Max and I running at for outright series honours this season.”

in Dubbo, New South Wales, I have concentrated on assembling a crew to update both the bodywork and powerplant of my race car and, sub ject to obtaining a sponsor, I would certainly be looking fomard to run ning this coming season. “The impending return of drivers of the calibre of Terry Byers, Robin Best and Gene Cook and the obvi ous efforts of Bill Jane in obtaining a TV package have certainly stimu lated my enthusiasm, but my immediate requirement is for a per son or company able to assist me in obtaining a sponsor package. “Should that happen, I have every intention of contesting this year’s Tenth Anniversary Series.” - GRAHAM DARKE

New Marketing Manager appointment for Calder Park Raceway Last week, Calder Park Raceway appointed Jim fitting as its new Marketing Manager-fitting will be part of the management team overseeing the venue’s NASCAR, drag racing and road rac ing activities, fitting recently completed a three-year Sports Science degree in Perth, spending a period of time servicing the sponsorship, marketing and promotional activities of several high-profile West Australian sporting identities.

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MILEAGE MARATHON... Earnhardt has logged around 7000 racing miles sofar this season.(Martin D Clark pic) river Rich Bickle and team the only non-qualifier in New owner Darrell Waltrip will field Hampshire, his 11th DNQ this a car In the Brickyard ●400 at the year. Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 2, their sponsor seeing the Ford’s new Winston Cup car will be Taurus released to the pub return of KFC and a marketing deal called 'Team Twister,” a new lic for the first time at Indianapolis X. KFC product. Motor Speedway during the first Expect Bickle to run with KFC weekend of August - Penske By Martin D Clar sponsorship in 1998 in a second South and Roush Racing both Waltrip car. have cars currently under con replacing Robby Gordon, whose struction. eoff Bodine announced that departure in November is looking two financial partners have imminent. Bodine, is currently second in the who NASCAR Busch joined Geoff Bodine Racing Michael Waltrip and the Wood Todd Brothers have exercised a third Grand National Series, looks set there’s no word yet on their identi to return to the Winston Cup ranks ty, as that will be released at year option of their contract exten Indianapolis. sion, keeping Michael from silly next season. Bodine, who did not qualify at season rumours. Bodine stated recently that he Rumoured around the Pocono has signed a three-year deal with Daytona, would not hfeive made the trip to New Hampshire had the garage area is that Roush Racing a Pontiac team that is new to the financial help not been forthcom- could be buying the Rypien series - apparently the team mg. Motorsports Pontiac team of Chad owner is already involved in Little. another form of US motorsport. Bodine’s last full-time Winston Roush, who has always fielded Triad who on Billy July Fords, would retain the new GM Cup ride was with Butch Mock 15 Motorsports, released driver Standridge, announced the same team’s marque identity if the talk Motorsports, where he was sur day that Bobby Hillin has signed proves to have substance. prisingly released in late 1995. on to drive the Hanes Ford for five events. A ed US doctor federal-appoint contra Hillin was only .056 of a second from mak dicted a sworn report by ing the Pocono race in Rick Hendrick’s physi qualifying and the team cian that a delay is needed in the NASCAR will try to qualify for team owner’s Honda Indianapolis on August 2. bribery trial, set for August 11. Hendrick is undergo Other at Pocono non-qualifiers included ing treatment for leukaemia that was dis Steve Park, driving for Dale and Teresa covered in December Eainhardt. last year. Park, competing in NOT SO LUCKY... Bobby Hamilton. (Martin D Clark pic) ith his recent victo his rookie year in the Busch Grand National Series, is ry at California Junior thedriver former currently fifth in points. WinstonJohnson, Cup veteran and Speedway, Jeff Gordon has now The Burger King team tested team owner, has filed a law suit in won 16 races that have netted him recently at Pocono, proving how Wilkes County North Carolina, at least $100,000, a NASCAR tough Winston: Cup racing really against Brett Bodine, his former record. is; “If this was easy, there would driver, who (along with his wife) be 80 cars here qualifying, “said purchased the team from Johnson fourth talksMotor about Park. The b ack and North Carolina in 1995. Greg Sacks, driving for the first The money in dispute totals Speedway, Rockingham, have time for LJ Racing, who recently $51,000, but it is not known what gone to the next plateau after a lost their Spam sponsorship, was the amount relates to. meeting between a special com mittee of shareholders. the third non-qualifier. The shareholders recommend The teams owned by theCarter, Wood ed that the track be sold to Brothers and Travis Jeff whacked Burtonthe and wall Dave at Pocono Marcis have hired a shock absorber and Speedway Motorsports, who during Friday practice, both revert chassis specialist to work with offered $32 per share against ing to back-up machines. them and drivers Michael Waltrip 70% owner Penske Motorsports’ offer of $19.61 per share. The pole sitter when the series and Jimmy Spencer. visited the track in June was Vince Valleraino is the man in A board of directors meeting Bobby Hamilton in the Petty question - he had been the will now be held to discuss the Pontiac, but this time he qualified Winston Cup technician with final plan, though a date has not 28th, after breaking a rocker arm Penske Shock Absorbers, based yet been set. in first round qualifying. in Reading Pennsylvania. ich Bickle will drive a Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet in this year’s ale Earnhardt, although still Silly involving winless in 44 races, has com Brickyard 400. the season position rumours to be vacated by Ernie Irvan now centre around pleted more laps than any driver Bickle, who was named last Kenny Erwin, Kenny Wallace, this year, totalling 6933.31 miles - year as Waltrip’s protege, will he has now been running at the drive the #26 and a sponsor Johnny Benson and Ward Burton. announcement is due on July 15. Sterling Marlin is rumoured to end of 30 consecutive races. be moving to Team Sabco at sea Bickle is currently leading the son’s end, joining his old crew illy Standridge in the Triad points standings in the NASCAR Motorsports Hanes Ford was Truck Series for Waltrip. chief, Tony Glover and possibly

nrii

Ellis fine in Dome test

Former US Supercross and Motocross star Jim Ellis com pleted a successful test in Charles Roker’s Holden Commodore NASCAR on the Calder Park Thunderdome last week. Ellis spent last season as a crew member on Roker’s team learning the art of NASCAR racing Down Under and is now climbing into the driver’s seat in preparation for the 1997/98 six-round series.

It is possible that Ellis will not be racing the Commodore, however, as the team may acquire, a late-model Chevrolet-bodied machine in the intervening months. “Ellis p^erformed perfectly during the test,”' explained Roker “and his performance gradually increased every time he went out onto the tri oval. I’m certain that his dirt track racing will hold him in good stead and we should be strong contenders for the Rookie of the Year award.”

FOUR-WHEEL CHALLENGER... Jim Ellis. (Thunder-Pics/Agfa pic)

1 AugustB/ Report

Cory Mac,Bazemore and Yates join Mile High Club

by DAVE OSTASZEWSKI Whit Cory McClenathan Bazemore and Jim Yates scored impressive victories in the thin air of Denver, Colorado, at the 19th Annual NHRA Mopar Parts Mile High Nationals on July 20, as the tour made its annual visit to the mountain side track to begin a three race in three weeks Western States swing. the and McClenathan McDonald’s team debuted a brandnew Murf McKinney chassis that was consistent during qualifying, as well as on race day. After an opening pass of 4.810, McClenathan ripped off runs of 4.788 and 4.731 at 306.01 to grab the top spot. During eliminations, a 4.774, 4.738 and a 4.808 earned him a final round match with a surprising Tony Schumacher and the local Peek Brothers “LaBac” entry, where a 4.864 gave McClenathan his first win of the season and his first since Dallas oflast year. Bazemore drove his “Winston” Ford Mustang flopper to his second win of the year, becoming low qual ifier at 5.136 seconds with a mph of 301.10 and defeating Chuck Etchell’s Kendall GT-1 Dodge Avenger in a tyre-smoking, back pedalling final round battle. Yates was the winner in Pro Stock, his McDonald’s Pontiac scor ing a final round victory over Kurt Johnson’s AC Delco Pontiac - Yates qualified low at 7.403 and used a final round 7.430/184.35 to stop Johnson, who broke a transmission. Top Fuel McClenathan was the story in qualifying, ripping off a 4.731/306.01 for the number one spot, while Joe Amato, who has enjoyed good luck at Bandimere in the past, was second at 4.770/300.20. Eddie Hill, last year’s event win ner, grabbed third at 4.800/301.70 and Englishtown winner Cristen Powell nailed down fourth at 4.806/288.09. Points leader Gary Scelzi, also debuting a new car, struggled dur ing qualifying and could only muster up a 4.874/279.76, good for the ninth position. Eliminations opened up with Scelzi matching his qualifying per formance at 4.878/295.08 to easily knock off the Miller Lite car of Larry Dixon, which was up in smoke at the crack of the throttle. Scott Kalitta, who looked good in qualifying, laid down a good 4.860/296.93 to take out Shelly Anderson’s trailing 5.025/274.64. Jim Head, who had qualified sixth at 4.844/295.76, appeared to be on his way to a first round win while carrying the wheels to the 300 foot mark; but, when the wheels came down, the chassis unloaded and the subsequent loss of traction allowed Tony Schumacher to advance with a 5.098/288.73. Mike Dunn used a nice 4.810/288.36 to win over the blow er-popping 5.159/219.19 of Bruce Saiver. McClenathan began his march to the final with a 4.774/297.52 con quest of Spike Gorr. In the upset of the round, Amato continued his win or lose early streak intact when a clutch mal function caused the tyres to light up right at the start, giving an easy win to Doug Herbert at 5.351/199.37. Bob Vandergriff then put down his best pass of a problem-filled

TOO GOOD..!Top qualifier McClenathan (above) debuted his new chassis and nailed Tony Schumacher in the Top Fuel final. (Nick Nicholas pic) event for the Jerzees team at 4.899/275.90 to cover the engine damaging 5.026/281.42 of Hfill. The round closed with Powell and Kenny Bernstein and, in a repeat of their first round match at Englishtown, Powell left on the “Bud King” and her 4.948/268.81 defeated Bernstein’s quicker, faster and later 4.934/288.92.

The second round opened with a great side by side race, as Schumacher left on Vandergriff by .015 and held on to take the win, 4.845/296.44 to 4.877/266.90 Vandergriffs engine then let go in a fiery explosion at the 1000 foot mark. Herbert’s good luck continued in the next pair when his 5.009/284.62

was enough to handle Scott Kalitta, who flat outpowered the track. McClenathan then ended Scelzi’s semi-final appearance streak of 11 events, his 4.738/310.23 (new track speed record) trailering Scelzi, who lost traction at 100 feet. Dunn, crew chief Ken Veney and the Gwynn team put down another nice pass at 4.826/297.32 to defeat

THAT MAKES TWO... Mustang Funny of Whit Bazemore (below) downed Chuck Etchells. (Nick Nicholas pic) J

the 5.111/242.32 of Powell, while Herbert’s day and good luck came to an end in the semis, his tyre smoking 5.146/272.14 no match for the 4.975/286.89 of Schumacher. The other pair saw both cars leave right together - but, at the 330 foot mark, Dunn’s tyres began to lose traction and all he could do was watch McClenathan’s car van ish, taking the win at 4.808/293.06. In the final round, McClenathan went 4.864/294.59 to win the event over the close 4.971/287.53 of Schumacher. “Mike Green and Jim Brissette set the car up great,” stated McClenathan. “We debuted a new car last year in Columbus and won there; now we come to Denver with a new car and the win is awesome. “If they were cheaper, Joe Gihbs would be buying six or seven more for the rest of the year.” Funny Car The three Ford Mustangs in NHRA competition accounted for three of the top four spots in quali fying. Bazemore led the pack at 5.136/301.10, while Tony Pedregon put his Castrol car into the second spot at 5.186/280.98. Gary Densham put the NEC Dodge Avenger into third with a 5.213/292.20 and John Force, start ing to fight and claw his way back, was fourth at 5.221/275.31.

1Augusn997

1^®0®^SU)®I79 The win is Bazemore’s second in defeated the lone remaining Dodge It took better than the 5.276 of Tom Hoover, Oswald leading all the of Johnson, 7.431/185.22 to Mark Oswald to crack the top half way to 1000 feet, where he began to the last four events and the second 7.477/183.71. and Del Worsham’s 6.024/180.54 spin the tyres, giving Hoover the of his career. He now moves into second place In the last pair of the round, anchored the field. win, 5.347/277.00 to 5.412/238.60. Round two saw Etchells elimi Dean Skuza became the second in the point standings, only 152 Yates’ 7.415/184.23 defeated the other Gumout Pontiac of Mike nate the other half of the Funny points behind Force in what could Funny Car driver of the weekend to be the closest title chase in recent Thomas, which trailed at Car Pedregons, Etchells’ good hit the 300 mph mark, when a 7.514/182.22. 5.212/300.50 from the Mateo Tools 5.281/297.52 all it took to put Tony memory. The semi opened with the classic Dodge stopped Kenji Okazaki’s and his tyre-hazing 5.504/278.89 on Pro Stock Yates/WJ battle. the trailer. 5.605/213.01. Bazemore then set low e.t. of At the green, Yates was off and Pro Stock racing in the high alti Mitch McDowell pulled off what eliminations at 5.168/296.54 to win tudes is really different, as you can running, while Johnson was way many would consider an upset, when his absoulutely beautiful over the Pioneer Dodge of Hoover, almost feel the cars suffocating as late, cutting a .998 light. Yates ran a 7.422/183.97 to take they progress down the track. Dodge Avenger stopped Densham, which lost traction at 330 feet. Yates led the field at the win, while Johnson ran Skuza then put down a who began to lose traction at 300 7.403/184.61, with Steve Schmidt 7.430/185.45, passing the finish feet - Densham pedalled, but 5.229/296.44 to stop the traction line .533 seconds later. close behind at 7.416/183.93. McDowell was long gone, getting less, upset-minded McDowell. Kurt Johnson nailed down third Following the race, Johnson com Force cut a great .404 light, made dangerously close to the wall as he at 7.426/184.91 and Bruce Allen mented, “I never saw his staging too suffered a loss of traction. a move toward the centreline, ped Bazemore advanced into round alled it and knocked off the tyre wound up fourth at 7.430/183.89. light come on. I didn’t have the two with a 5.304/269.46 over smoking Copenhagen Camaro of Warren Johnson’s 7.435, Larry engine RPMs up, because I didn’t Worsham, who broke a driveshaft Capps with a 5.377/291.35 to Morgan’s 7.436, Mike Edward’s see his light come on. I thought he 7.788/109.58. at 300 feet. n 7.445 and George Marnell’s 7.446 had red lighted. “I don’t know whether I lost it in The semis opened with the cars rounded out the top half of the Tony Pedregon won a strange the glare of the sunlight, but I of Skuza and Etchells doing long field, which was anchored by Ron race with A1 Hofmann, who looked never saw it.” Krisher’s 7.480. the healthiest since his accident in smokey burnouts. The other match saw the closest March. Three Dodges made the shbw, At the green, Skuza took a good with Scott Geoffrion 12th at 7.465, race of the day, when Kurt Johnson Hofmann went up in smoke lead, but began to lose traction, giv win to Etchells, Allen Johnson 13th at 7.469 and left on Schmidt, .450 to .481 and instantly and shut off, while ing the Darrell Alderman 15th with a held off the low e.t. of eliminations 5.438/281.86 to 5.943/190.23. Pedregon lost a blower belt - both 7.405/184.88 charge from Schmidt cars coasted to the finish line, Etchells did a great driving job 7.476. After the first round, the number to win by only .001 seconds - Kurt Pedregon winning 7.278/123.79 to on the top-end, as the car once 9.053/92.67. again got very loose and started 4, 6, 7 and 8 qualified cars of Allen, posted a 7.435/184.42 on the run. Force then cranked out a skating around. In the final, Yates got a small Morgan, Edwards and Marnell jump at the start and extended the In the other pairing, Bazemore were heading for the exit gates. 5.214/293.73 for a victory over Tim Round two opened with Kurt lead when Kurt Johnson broke the Wilkerson, who hazed the t3cres at kept Force out of the final by taking a 5.201/292.87 to 7.694/115.13 vic 300 feet to a 5.684/217.28. Johnson and Tom Martino leaving transmission going into third gear, Randy Anderson qualified fifth at tory - Force began to lose traction together, but the Johnson power a problem that the AC Delco team 5.227 and, like the past two events, at 330 feet and Bazemore was long proved to be the difference, Kurt has experienced at a few previous events this season. posting a 7.443/184.31 to was ousted in round one, Anderson l gone. Yates posted a final round In the final, both cars left fairly 7.516/182.51 victory. redlighting and shutting off, giving 7.430/184.35 to take his fourth win Schmidt, who had a brand-new close together with a slight advan Ron Capps the win at 5.317/267.69. car here, looked strong as his of the season. tage to Bazemore over Etchells. In a tyre-smoking, pedalling bat “We came up here and tested a Both drivers had to pedal at 7.412/184.65 in the Dynagear tle, Etchells went 6.570/152.98 and almost hit the wall to take a win Pontiac defeated the 7.497/183.41 week ago and we have a pretty about 200 feet and it became a tyre light over the 7.129/146.77 of Cruz smoking battle to the finish line, from the Gumout Pontiac of Terry good combination from last year,” stated Yates. Bazemore winning by only a car Adams. Pedregon. Warren Johnson and the to 5.460/271.82 The round closed with a close length, “We’ve been working real hard to Goodwrench Sevice Plus Pontiac develop a winning combination on race between Mark Oswald and 5.498/276.15.

the McDonald’s Pontiac. Kurt and Warren are a handful anytime you race them.” The win keeps Yates in the point lead by 64 points over Warren Johnson. Pro Stock Motorcycle Matt Hines continued dominat ing the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, taking his fourth win in the eight events completed. The final round matched up number one qualifier Dave Schultz(7.831) and number two Matt Hines(7.885). Schultz redlighted away low e.t. of the meet at 7.823 by a mere .005 seconds, giv ing Hines the win at 7.9494158.22. Federal Mogul Alcohol Dragster Mark Taliaferro scored a win in the Alcohol Dragster class, stopping the low e.t.(5.818) and top speed(240.64) car of Jay Payne along the way. Taliaferro ran 5.924/235.66 in the final round to defeat the 6.352/217.86 of Bill McCornack, which lost a couple of cylinders and was spewing raw fuel all of the way to the finish line. Federal Mogul Alcohol Funny Car Cy Chesterman is the most domi nant Alcohol Funny Car in the country at the moment. He qualified number two behind the low e.t. (5.919) car of Tony Bartone at 5.946 and set top mph at 238.98 in taking his third National event win in the last three events he has attended. In the final round, he used a 5.948 to cover the 6.054/237.90 of Vern Moats. Along with the three National event wins, Chesterman has won the first three of four Division 5 events that have been contested.

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1AugustW97

Calder Park’s Nitro Funnies new calendar

for Canberra Nitro Funny Cars will feature at the Canberra International Dragway on New Year’s Day, the Thursday, January 1, event coinciding with the annual Street Maehine Summernats held in the national capital. In a politically significant move, the CID management has given the spectacular supercharged bracket a feature slot at what is the largest event on the Canberra calendar and negotiations have been held with a number of leading con tenders. Confirmed starters are the 1996/97 Funny Car Championship winning “Autopro” team of Peter and Helen Russo, along with the

“Oz Nitro” entry of Keith Agius and Dave Hoffman, the Gary McGrath “Powerball” team and Sydney’s Bob and Matt Sheperd in their brandnew mount - the Atholwood Brothers, with Ron behind the wheel, have yet to be confirmed. The eighth-mile Canberra facility is regarded as one of the flattest and smoothest surfaces in the country. Canberra International Dragway has also released its 1997/98 event calendar and the dates are as fol lows: l September 27-28 Junior Dragster Nationals l November 8 Supercharged Shootout

November 30 Street Meet l December 6 NSW Wild Bunch Titles l January 1 Nitro Funny Car Spectacular l February 7 USAvsAUS Jet Dragster Challenge l February 28 All Bike Thunder Drags l March 8 Street Meet ® April 5 Street Meet For information regarding any events at Canberra International Dragway, phone Geoff Develin on 0418 628090. l

The confirmed calendar for the 1997/97 season of drag racing at Calder Park Raceway has been released and the dates are as follows: l Jtilyll Street Meet » August 1 Street Meet » September 5 Street Meet l October 3 Street Meet l October 11 Fan Appreciation Day/Open Day l October 25 Nitro Funny Cars National Open l November 7 Street Meet ® November 15 Top Fuel Championship Rd 2 National Open l December 13 1997 Victorian Championships Top Bike Championship Rd 3 Top Doorslammer C’ship Rd 4 l December 19 Street Meet

® January 10 Nitro Funny Cars Pro Stock Championships Rd 3 Pro Stock Bike C’ships Rd 3 National Open 0 January 16 Street Meet ® January 31 Top Fuel Championship Rd 5 National Open ® February 6 Street Meet ® Februai-y 21 USA Jet Cai-s Top Alcohol C’ship Rd 3 National Open ® March 6 Street Meet ® March 20-22 1998 NATIONALS 32nd Australian Drag Racing Championships e Aprils Street Meet ® April 4 Performance Street Car Shootout ® May 1 Street Meet ® June 5 Street Meet

NSW Wild Bunch pointscore series

DREAMWORLD SUPPORTS DRAG RACING ... Dreamworld theme park, home of the fastest, tallest ride in the world, has announced a major sponsorship of Operation D.RA.G., a Queensland Police initiative designed to reduce illegal street racing on the Gold Coast. The sponsorship was announced at the home of Operation D.R.A.G. — located at the Old Surfers Paradise International Raceway at Cairara - with the official unveiling of the Dreamworld Calais, “COP THIS,” the lat est addition to the police drag car fleet. Pictured above are Inspector Alex Erwin (President of Operation D.R.A.G.), Dreamworld’s Tony Longhurst (Touring Car champion) and Peter Downing (Dreamworld’s Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary). The partnership follows the successful joint Easter road safety campaign - “There’s only two places to speed this Easter ... on Dreamworld’s Tower of Terror and at Operation D.R.A.G.” - conducted earlier this year with the Queensland Police Service. Dreamworld achieved a world first with the opening in January of the Tower of Terror, a $16 million hightech ride which provides thrillseekers with the ultimate ride experience, reaching speeds up to 160 km/h in less than seven seconds. Dreamworld’s sponsorship of Operation D.R.A.G. exceeds $16,000 per annum and the owner of the best pre sented drag car at each Operation D.R.A.G. meet - held on the third Sunday of the month at the Old Surfers Paradise International Raceway - will be recognised monthly with a personal Tower of Terror experience.

The recently formed NSW Wild Bunch Association will be con ducting a pointscore series for its members during the 1997/98 racing season at events held at the Canberra International Dragway and Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway. The series will add a new dimen sion of competition to the extremely popular supercharged Wild Bunch category. Competitors will accumulate points from each round of the series to ultimately determine the season winners and placegetters. “The announcement of this series

will further enhance the level of excitement as competitors battle it out in Canberra and Sydney throughout the season,” said Wild Bunch Association spokesman Geoff Develin. “Regulars such as Benny Gatt, Alf Sorbello, Simon Farrell, Tom Jackson, Joe Schembrie, A1 Burgers, Lindsay Churchill, Andrew Keain and myself wiU find some stiff competition from a con tingent of relative newcomers, such as DaiTyl Walford, Fred Cavassini and Brett Gillespie.” A series sponsor should be announced in the very near- future.

BACKDRAFT... Darryl Walford’s blown Customllne. (Western Auto pic)

1997 NHRA WINSTON DRAG RACING SERIES - POINTS AFTER RD. 13, SONOMA. CAo

PENNZOIL vr

THERE

ARE

LIMITS

1997 Top Fuel Championship Gary Sceizi, Tearn Winston 1 165 Joe Amato, Keystone Autoparts 996 .876 Cory McClenathan, McDonald's Scott Kalitta, American Int. Airways ..834 Kenny Bernstein, Budweiser King ....741 Mike Dunn, Mopar Performance ....687 Bob Vandergriff, Jerzees Activewear .610 Bruce Sarver, CarQuest/World's Best .585 .535 9. Shelly Anderson, Parts America 10. Tony Schumacher, LaBac/Peek Bros ..553

I. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

1997 Funny Car Championship .984 I. John Force, Castrol Racing 2. Whit Bazemore, Team Winston .... .831 .821 3. Chuck Etchells, Kendall/Mopar 4. Cruz Pedregon, McDonald's/Coke ...733 5. Tony Pedregon, Castrol Racing 733 708 6. Randy Anderson, Parts America .620 7. Ron Capps, Copenhagen/Snake .687 8. Kenji Okazaki, Mooneyes 9. Dean Skuza, Mateo Tools/Mopar ....604 ,533 10. Gary Densham, NEC/Pagenet

1997 Pro Stock Championship 1 179 Jim Yates, McDonald's Warren Johnson, Goodwrench ....1072 .932 Kurt Johnson, ACDelco .740 Bruce Allen, Slick 50 .. Steve Schmidt, Schmidt Automotive ..655 .590 Tom Martino, MaMa Rosa Pizza 528 7. George Marnell, Marnell/Black , .519 8. Troy Coughlin, Jeg's Mail Order .498 9. Mark Pawuk, Summit 10. Scott Geoffrion, Mopar Peformance . .496

I. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

lAuguslM

Sonoma win by Cory Mac makes it two in a row

AUfomuniT

Yates scores again and Capps makes the podium us Top Fuel driver Cory McClenathan claimed his second straight win after downing Scott Kalitta at the 10th Annual Autolite Nationals, held at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, California, this past weekend. McClenathan is on a two race and eight round win streak since debuting a new McKinney car in Denver. The McDonald’s driver saved his best for last, as he set low e.t and top speed in the final round victory over Scott Kalitta. Ron Capps was also in foi-m, putting Don “The Snake”

Prudhomme’s Copenhagen Chevrolet Camaro Funny Car into the winners circle for the second time this sea son, after besting his final round opponent, John Force Team Castrol driver Tony Pedregon. In the Pro Stock ranks, Jim Yates and his Pontiac extended his point lead by taking the win over the Chevrolet of sui-prising final round opponent Dester Cambron. The Top Fuel semi-final round got underway with, Kalitta pulling away from Spike Gorr at 100 feet, post ing a 4.886/294.21 to defeat

Gorr’s 9.644/52.57 - the lat ter used up another motor, oiling the track in the process. McClenathan went into the final at 4.862/299.90 when Joe Amato’s car began dropping cylinders, slowing to a 4.925/291.93. In the final round, Kalitta took a small lead; but, by 100 feet, McClenathan had dri ven around him, marching on to his best pass of the weekend and taking a 4.717/310.77 to 4.829/302.41 win. The Funny Car semis opened with Tony Pedregon leaving on his opponent one

Rocca Bros link with AIR drags

Rocca Bros, the leading Adelaide auto parts and accessories chain, has confirmed its commit ment to the Adelaide International Dragway’s Off Street Legal Drag Racing events for the next twelve minths. Rocca Bros has been moni toring the development of drag racing in Adelaide for some time and has attended several events over the past year to observe the excite ment and entertainment value of the sport first hand. Commenting upon its AIR involvement, Rocca Bros Marketing Director Dominic Attwood said that “Rocca Bros is thrilled to be able to

take up this offer from Adelaide International Raceway and is looking for ward to being part of this exciting sport in coming years.” Rocca Bros now has four high-profile outlets within the metropolitan area of Adelaide and we believe the participation in this pro gramme will further enhance the public awareness of our stores.

“We are looking forward to working with Vic Wood and the Adelaide International Raceway management team.” Rocca Bros will support the AIR events with on-site displays and promotions

throughout next summer in addition, the company will adopt a high-profile presence at AIR competition drag rac ing events through further planned activity yet to be announced. “Adelaide International Raceway is proud to welcome Rocca Bros to its family of support sponsors and we look forward to a mutually suc cessful association with them,” said AIR marketing consultant Vic Wood. 1 “We taFgetted Rocca Bros because we believe that the profile of our Off Street Legal Drag Racing events suited their customer demographic and they obviously agreed with oui- theory.”

delaide schedule

Adelaide International Raceway has released its 1997/98 calendar and the schedule is as follows: l July 20 Street Meet l August 17 Street Meet l September 14 Street Meet l September 21 Fan Appreciation Day Open Day l October 11 Top Doorslammer Match Racing

National Open October 25 Street Meet November 7-8 1997 Festival State Championships Pro Stock Round 2 Pro Stock Bike Round 2 National Open November 15 Street Meet December 6 Top Doorslammer Championship Round 3 National Open ,

December 13 Street Meet January 3 Top Fuel Championship

Round 3

National Open January 31 Street Meet February 7 Nitro Funny Cars National Open February 21 Street Meet February 28 Nitro Funny Cars USAvsAUS Jet Cars

>1/

COPING WELL... Ron Capps boots his Camaro Funny into victory lane (Nick Nicholas) more time, this time taking a holeshot win over Chuck Etchells, 5.171/291.73 to a quicker 5.145/299.00. The other pair saw Capps take a win over Kenji Okazaki, to advance into his second Funny Car final, getting lane choice in the process at 5.158/290.32. In the final, Capps left on the quick-leaving Pedregon, who started to lose traction at 200 feet, blazing the tyres and almost crossing the cen terline. Capps was long gone, though, on his way to his sec ond career Funny Car win.

his second in three events, at 5.205/280.72. Roland Leong has this team turned around and the Copenhagen team will be one to contend with for the remainder of the season. The win moves Capps up to eighth in the Winston point standings. Dester Cambron opened the Pro Stock semi-final round with a holeshot win over Bruce Allen and the Reher-Morrison Pontiac, 7.107/193.79 to 7.093/195.39. Warren Johnson got the jump on the tree and proba bly had the race in hand, but

broke at half-track, slowing to a 8.413 and allowing Yates to advance with a subpar 7.080/194.38. Cambron left on Yates in the final and held off the McDonald’s Pontiac until the 1100 foot mark, where Yates powered past, 7.020/195.52 to 7.103/194.38. The Sonoma victory is win number five for Yates and his second straight, as he tries to make it a three-race sweep of the NHRA Western swing when it comes to a close next weekend in Seattle, Washington. - DAVE OSTASZEWSKI

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1 August 199/

Sprintcar deal Sensational result by for Brad Blake After months of specula tion, Bunbury Super Sedan pilot Brad Blake has signed a deal with Bunbiuy City and Regional Raceway promoter Des Ferris to campaign one of his Jenkins-constructed Sprintcars for the 1997/98 season. “You couldn’t believe how ecstatic I am,” were the first words Blake blurted into the phone when he confirmed his new ride. “It’s a dream come true and, after all the talk, it’s great to finally sit down and sign the deal. “We looked at a number of deals, including purchasing a number of cars ourselves but Dad and myself are ecstatic about hooking up with Des.” Ferris currently has four chassis in his stable, one of which is in the process of being readied for Ronnie Day to campaign in this season’s Speedweek series - he already has one 360 motor and a Gaerte Open motor he purchased three years ago from Randy Hannagan, while another Open motor could also be on the schedule.

Blake will be running in both Sprintcar divisions this coming season. “We intend to start off in the 360 division, with a num ber of Open shows as well,” Blake said. “This will include the World Series events in Western Australia, the USA vs WA Sprintcar Speedweek and the Australian Title at Bunbury in February.” Having recently moved from his father’s wrecking business to take up an offer to become a car salesman, Blake’s new boss, Russell Hall, has come up with the funds to help kickstart the new venture and the Sprintcar will now be carry ing Bunbury Mitsubishi on the wing. “To have Russell and the Mitsubishi crew come on board for the next year is a big bonus,” said an enthused Blake. “I can’t wait to hit the

Brazier as Kinser takes King's Royal

Report by DENNIS NEWLYN

tigious Knoxville Nationals at the Marion Cormty circuit in Iowa.

The, performance by Brazier on July 18 and 19 at Australian Champion Eldora has moved him into 20th position in the current Garry Brazier distin guished himself against World of Outlaws point the cream of American standings. Brazier served notice of Sprintcar talent when he what was to come on the finished seventh in the prestigious King’s Royal, night of the King’s Royal when he was second-fastest won by Steve Kinser, at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway in time trials from the 75 cars that ran against the on July 18-19. clock. Brazier, driving his own Brazier toured the halfSchnee sprintcar, was also mile in 13.502 seconds, mar dominant in the results dur track and get in as mariy ing the pre-vious night’s ran- ginally slower than fastest man Mark Kinser, who laps as possible before the ning of the Inaugural Eldora October summer season Clash, with a sixth place fin stopped the clocks at 13.406 seconds. starts.” ish in the 30-lap main event. Brazier followed up his His performances in the Weather permitting, Blake was scheduled to test drive two main -.events on the time trial workout with a strong third placing in the the #59 Jenkins as we went daunting high-banked second heat, behind winner Eldora half-mile were sup to press. - BRAD STEELE ported with equally strong Johnny Herrera and Dale Blaney. drives in the heats and quali MELBOURNE SHOWGROUNDS UPDATE ... The soft Brazier was well posifying time trials to cap what ly, softly approach taken by Sandown International was easily his best race cam H.tioned in the early stages of Raceway promoter Jon Davison in his attempts to paign to date on the tough the rich 40-lap King’s Royal resurrect the Melbourne Showgrounds as a speed final. World of Outlaws trail. way venue continues to'make progress, with the Brazier has turned around After starting from an application for the amendment to the permit upfront position, Kinser was the disappointment earlier in required to bring back speedway racing currently the year when the heavily the dominant driver in the siting before the Minister responsible. publicised campaign with the final - however, attention At the same time, Davison has been given the task concentrated on the battle Gary Stanton Mopar team of negotiating with and arranging for various speed midway back in the pack fell apart. way classes to provide some “demonstrations” dur After departing the team. invol-ving Brazier and several ing the running of the Royal Melboiume Show. cars. Brazier built up his own Currently, we are looking at having Super Gambler car and headed to Herrera, Terry McCarl, Sedans, Speedcars, Solos and Sidecars and, if at aU Pennsylvania and regular Brazier, Dave Blaney and feasible, given the safety aspects of the current fenc competition at the famous Keith Kauffman ran in close ing, the Sprintcars to do some laps on various nights Williams Grove track. formation as the laps ran of the Show,” Davison said. out. Meanwhile, he ordered a “As for the permanent return of real speedway rac new Schnee chassis in order A crash involving Stevie ing to the Showgrounds, the amendment application to be right on the pace as the Smith and Greg Hodnett in is currently before the Minister and I’ve been talking the opening lap resulted in a American sprintcar season with Sprintcar racer Mark Gilbert, who does similar red light and the break in moved into top gear. things in Adelaide at the Wayville showgrounds, His showing in this most racing allowed the Kinser about some of the potential problems and pitfaUs of recent two-day race carnival crew to make some adjust running speedway at a showgrounds venue,” ments to the Quaker State at Eldora augui-s well for the Davison concluded. car. upcoming big races The Big - BRETT SWANSON They installed a lower One and, of course, the presgear, which meant Kinser was imstoppable. At one point in the race, Steve Kinser enjoyed a half nalBonai straightaway lead over arch rival Sammy Swindell. Defending King’s Royal Champion Johnny Herrera also was a big mover in the 40-lap final. He started out of the ninth row and passed 12 cai-s in the first ten laps. Herrera ultimately fought his way up to a very cred itable fifth place finish. At one stage of the race, Sammy Swindell closed the gap on Kinser. After an absence of four years, National Speedway Illustrated returns to the Swindell found himself locked in an exciting battle speedway publishing scene with its familiar format of news, gossip, topical with Jac Haudenschild, who articles, features and personality profiles. executed the most daring The new August 1997 issue features the same editorial content which made NSI move of the race on Swindell. one of the most widely read speedway publications between 1980 and 1993. He went high, moved The return issue features a full run-down on the American World,of Outlaws trail, between a lapped car and a feature story on speedcar ace of the sixties Len Brock, a coverage of the Indy Sammy in turn four and ulti mately blasted past both to 500, plus lots rrfore. claim second spot, a position Haudenschild held to the finAll correspondence can be faxed to 02 9796 1765 or mall to

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Swindell ultimately settled for third placing, followed by Andy Hillenburg, Herrera, McCarl, Brazier, Dave Blaney and Keith Kauffman, while Tim Allison rounded out the top ten. The first night’s running of the Inaugural Eldora Clash was plagued by rain and a late -finish in the early morn ing hours. But, through it all, Dave Blaney was the man of the moment. In order to win, Blaney staved off a strong challenge from Sammy Swindell and Mark Kinser. At one point in the race, the three drivers ran in close formation - Swindell led early till Mark Kinser took over the front running, before Blaney ultimately made his -winning ran. “The guys did a good job on the car,” Blaney said after his hard-fought win. “They had it good the last time we came here and the conditions weren’t too much different. “When w’e got in lapped' traffic, I could run around the top pretty good. It seems like Mark and Sammy were a little too tight to run up there,” he explained. Andy Hillenburg finished in fourth spot, ahead of Haudenschild, Brazier, Jeff Swindell and Herrera. The battle for the 1997 World of Outlaws driving title remain very close, fol lowing the Eldora showdown. With Swindell’s thirdplace finish in the King’s Royal, he maintained his slender 15 point advantage over Steve Kinser and Dave Blaney who, at this wilting, are tied on points for second. Then, just one point behind in fourth placing is Haudenschild. This year’s battle for the World of Outlaws driving title is the most exciting in years, with only 16 points separating the first four placegetters! Brazier’s strong showing in the 19 King’s Royal fixture followed an impressive hitout the previous night. The Inaugural Eldora Clash, ultimately won by Dave Blaney, was the main attraction and Brazier again finished in the top ten main event placings with a sixth in the 30-lap “A” Feature. He set the scene earlier in the night when he was sec ond-fastest in time trials behind the King, Steve Kinser. Brazier lapped the circuit in 13.360 seconds to miss out on the top spot by literally a fraction of a second, after Steve Kinser set a time of 13.164 seconds.

A strong fourth placing in the second heat was followed with a sixth place finish in the Vivarian Dash, setting up a position six starting spot in the main event. Brazier was well posi tioned in the 30-lapper and, at one point of the race, chal lenged for an even higher fin ishing position. However, at the finish, Brazier came home sixth in what was a great perfor mance and set the scene for the following night’s rich King’s Royal event. For his efforts. Brazier pocketed $3000 (US) for his seventh placing in the King’s Royal, while his sixth placing the previous night earned him an additional $2000 (US). Meanwhile, the race carni val at Eldora saw King’s Royal winner Steve Kinser experience the very best and worst - from sprintcar racing. Kinser was a dejected man after he crashed his #11 Quaker State Maxim during the i-unning of the Inaugural Eldora Clash on the first night of competition. But, 24 hours later, Kinser tmmed it all around when he walked off with the winner’s King’s Royal pav cheque of $50,000(US). Kinser led from flag to flag to again assert his authority over the opposition and com pletely erase the disappoint ment of the previous night. When asked to describe his up and down weekend dur ing the celebrations in Victory Lane, a jubilant Kinser said: “That’s just the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” In winning the King’s Royal, Kinser used a car originally built for a mile track and put Goodyear’s hardest tyre compound on the right rear. “Any time you win a bigrace like this, it’s a big boost,” Kinser said. “I need to thank Scott [Gerken] and Todd [Seitz]. They worked all night get ting this car together. They didn’t get any sleep. “We, ran this car once before. We originally put it together to run the mile at Springfield, Illinois. “We were beating the low frame rails on the ground, which was upsetting me quite a bit, but we made it here and that’s all that mat ters,” Steve added. The top ten was rounded out by Andy Hillenburg (6344 points), Greg Hodnett (6230), Sterie Smith (6205), Danny Lasoski (6149), Johnny Herrera (6048) and Jeff Swindell(5876).

iAu0M

US tourists for Xmas Nine Americans will invade 10, Round 11 being concluded on NSW in just over as many days the previous Wednesday at Wynn’s in a hectic race schedule Newcastle Speedway, The final round of the ’97/98 between two leading circuits. “Fast” Freddie Rahmer and Todd World Series event will also be held Shaffer will jet in from at Parramatta, breaking the ritual Pennsylvania for a series of dates, of Archerfield concluding the series, the USA Super Sedan Team led by NAMARS lady Speedcar driver John Soares contests three shows Sarah McCune will fly into in a short space of time, Ohio lady Australia for a three-race commitSpeedcar racer Sarah McCune ment starting in Western Australia takes on the Sydney contingent and on December 27, then move to promoter David Lander is also keen Parramatta on December 29 and to talk with California father/son Newcastle on January 4. imports Brent and Bud Kaeding. The 19-year-old Ohio college girl It’s all part of a “Wicked Two is running third in the NAMARS Weeks in Horsepower Heaven” pro- competition and will make her motion, where race fans will have debut down under, the choice of 12 races in 16 days Red-blooded Aussie male race between Parramatta City Raceway , fans and drivers alike will get a and Wynn’s Newcastle Speedway kick out of Sarah’s petite appearover the traditional Christmas ance - long blonde hair, striking break. blue eyes and a soft American From December 26 until January accent are not traits normally asso10, major attractions have been ciated with Speedcar racing, Schedule scheduled for Super Sedans, December 26 Parramatta Speedcars and Sprintcars. Of these 12 dates, only three will Sprintcars force fans to make the choice with Rahmer and Shaffer(USA) between venues and attractions. December 26 Newcastle During the busy two weeks, Coca-Cola Classic Super Sedans brand-new concepts will be December 28 Newcastle unleashed and new attractions USA vs Australia Sprintcar taken to both venues. Test Match The USA vs Australia Super December 29 Parramatta' Sedan Test will be contested on two Super Sedans and Speedcars occasions at the Wynn’s Newcastle with Sarah McCune(USA) Speedway - the immensely popular January 1 Parramatta contest will be staged on Thursday, Sprintcars January 1 and Saturday, January with Rahmer and Shaffer(USA) 10. January 1 Newcastle The concept, making its return to USA vs Australian PCR after many y^rs absence, is Super Sedan Test scheduled for Tuesday, January 6. January 3 Parramatta A new team’s racing concept for Sprintcars Castrol Classic Sprintcars will be introduced at with Rahmer and Shaffer Newcastle on December 28, with January 4 Newcastle four headlining Aussies match rac-/ Speedcars ing Rahmer, Shaffer and two of with Sarah McCune(USA) their countrymen (David Lander January 6 Parramatta hopes to confirm Archerfield star USA vs Australia Super Sedan attractions Brent and Bud Kaeding Test Match as USA team-mates) ala the Super January 7 Newcastle Sedan series with a twist. World Series Spiintcars Round 11 Pan'amatta will go from not mn- January 10 Parramatta ning one World Series Sprintcars World Series Sprintcars Round 12 event in eight years, to running two January 10 Newcastle rounds in one season. USA vs Australia PCR will host Round 12 of the Super Sedan Test -WADEAUNGER World Series on Saturday, January

TOP OF THE BILL ... Ryan Sullivan was handsomely rewarded during his Swedish outing. (Mike Patrick pic)

Sullivan victory in Inter-Continenfal Australian riders filled all three rostrum places in the Inter Continental Speedway Final staged at Vastervik in Sweden on July 26, South Australia’s Ryan Sullivan scoring 13 points from a possible 15 to win the title. Queensland’s Jason Crump defeated Sydneysider Craig Boyce in a ran-off to place second. Sullivan and Crump’s results ensured automatic qualification

into next year’s World Grand Prix series, while Boyce must now qualify for next year’s GP Series via the (Irand Prix Challenge, scheduled to be staged in Austria on October 5. The Swedish meeting heralded a dramatic change in fortune for Crump, who only gained entry to the 16-rider field after England’s Dean Barker withdrew with a broken left ai-m. Both Sullivan and Crump have been contracted to ride in the lucra-

tive Series 500 International Masters, commencing in Australia on December 29. Inter-Continental Final Results Australia 1 Ryan Sullivan Australia 2 Jason Crump Australia 3 Craig Boyce England 4 Kelvin Tatum Sweden 5 Stefan Danno 6 Joe Screen England America 7 SamEnnolenko - TREVOR LONG

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40 The Club hasGympie releasedSaloon its raceCar dates for the 1997/98 season at Mothar Mountain Speedway. The season kicks off on September 6 with a practice night, followed by the opening race meeting a week later. Super Sedans and Modified Productions will again feature at every show, with the United States Super Sedan Team sched uled for a return appearance on December 13, after attracting a massive crowd during its last visit. The full calendar is as follows; September 13, October 11, November 8, December 13, January 17, February 14, March 14, April 4, May 9, May 30 and June 13.

knowledge or understanding of such technical issues.

By Ch ris Metcalf dominate the programming once again in the coming summer, with big shows planned for all three categories. The Joh n Soares-led United States Super Sedan team will return to Archerfield for one show, after an unsuccessful attempt to run at the Ekka last season. The Australian Open will again be the season highlight, to be run over two nights on January 16 and 17 under the control of the World Series organisation, in conjunction with round 13 of the nationwide series. Another highlight will be round seven of the inaugural East Coast Speedcar series on February 21. The remainder of the calendar has yet to be finalised, but Compact Speedcars, Limited Sprintcars, Modified Productions, Formula 500s, Litre Sprintcars, Stock Rods and Microsprints will again be making reguiar appearances throughout the season.

Anew takenpromotional over the team reins has at Brisbane’s historic Exhibition Speedway for the upcoming sea son and has some big plans for its inaugural season of competition in 1997/98. Replacing Vic Butler and Robert Stevenson as promoters of the Ekka circuit are brothers Mark, Ross and Lloyd Robertson. The trio has a vast motorsport background and is confident that big crowds can be lured back to the venue with a return to the tra ditional mix of Solo, Sidecar and Speedcar competition. The newcomers have 20 meet ympie Modified Production ings planned for their debut sea pedaller Troy Brittle has son at the helm and are confident of attracting around 5000 peopie updated his equipment for the to each show, although it is yet be coming season with the acquisiconfirmed whether the first and tion of a Commodore from North final rounds of the International Queenslander Shane Mitchell. Speedway Masters will still be Brittle, who has achieved some staged at the Ekka. impressive results abpard his There is a possibility that Butler trusty Torana, took his new mount for a shakedown run at Mothar and Stevenson may take the series to another venue, perhaps Mountain’s final show of the seaArcherfield Speedway or the son and set some decent lap Yandina circuit on the Sunshine times. Coast. n other tin top news, former The Robertsons have already South Australian Modified laid a new granite surface, which Production ace Bronte Perkins will hopefully eliminate the ongo has relocated to Cairns and has ing dust problems that have stepped up to the Super Sedan plagued the joint in recent years, although there are no plans to, ranks, Perkins, with just a couple of widen the track at this stage. , r Litre Sprintcars and possibly meetings under his belt, journeyed Modified Productions will also be to Darwin for the Australian programmed from time to time, in Championship and was acquitting an effort to provide some variety himself well until a broken diff without the need for gimmicks or brought his title aspirations to a the creation of yet another racing premature ^nd. division. Despite the obvious date clashO uper Sedan pilot Wayne es with the Archerfield track on O Randall and car-owner Ian Boettcher have been suspended Brisbane’s southern outskirts, the group is expecting that affordable from competition for 12 months. The penalty was imposed after admission prices and good, tradi an inspection of the newly tional entertainment will lure pun ters back to Brisbane’s traditional installed engine in the team’s Mazda RX7 uncovered some home of speedway. minor breaches of the ASCF techhe 1997/98 Archerfield season nical regulations, The actual rules that have supwill get underway on August 16, with a practice night for all posedly been, broken by the high divisions. profile team are subject to interThe first race meeting will take pretation and an appeal against place the following weekend, with the very severe penalty is expectpromoter Bill Goode yet to ed. In fact, the suspension of announce which sections will Randall is very hard to fathom, as appear on opening night he simply drives the car and Sprintcars, Super Sedans and wouldn’t necessarily have any Modified Rods are expected to

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ackay’s Lindsay Hawkings rewrote the record books when he ciinched his third consec utive Queensland Super Sedan Championship at Cairns Motor Speedway last month. Hawkings became the first dri ver to win three on the trot when he greeted the chequer in the championship final. In an excellent result for North Queensland competitors, the Rockhampton pair of Michael Doblo and Larry Nelson filled the minor placings. Brisbane’s Ian Marshall was the only other car to finish on the lead lap in fourth position.

{■

A competitors squad of Queensland proved tooSidecar strong for their New South Wales rivals in a return match at Mike Hatcher Park on Queensland’s-TSold Coast iate iast month. After iosing the opening encounter at the Gosford Showground, the Sunshine Stars put on a polished display in front of a very healthy crowd to secure a 30 -18 victory. Led superbly by the Vic Martin/Bob Hill combination and with strong support from Reed Levy and Smart Firth, the locals led from the outset with victory in five of the eight pointscoring heats^ Gavin Edwards and Darren Care scored solidly for the visitors, but lacked support from their team-mates. Tony Rose again outclassed his rivals to take out the A Grade Solo events, ahead of veteran Alan Rivett, Paul. Stewart, Scott Smith and an out of form Brent Collyer. The B Grade Solo events were dominated by Coffs Harbourbased Rob Hooper, while second generation youngster John White proved too strong in the C Grade events.

J 1

Bishop and Hume tops

The second Annual combined Victorian Speedcar Drivers Association and Victorian Compact Speedcar Club Presentation night was held at Coolaroo recently. Big winners on the night in their respective club championships were Ray Bishop and Craig Hume, both of whom, incidentally, drive or have driven for Rob Southouse. The Compact Club kicked off pro ceedings with the presentation of the Pearce Chassis Medallions to drivers, followed by the Fleetwood Roofing Best Presented Cai', which went to Craig —^ Hume by a solitary

Peter Robotham (249), Bob Boast (218) and Kavathas (172). The prestigious Alan Curren Memorial Club Person of the Year went to the club’s hardworking sec retary, Diane Cormack. Motorsport News was once again the sponsor of the Speedcar Rookies trophies, which saw Haydn Bishop win the Rookie of the Year award and the Rookie Championship. Troy Jordan was the runner-up in the Sam Papas car, while Rodney Hudson-Davies was third in another Southouse car. Tony Oates was the recipient of the Merc-Bits Encouragement Award and Rick Saunders was a deserving winner of the Power Most Racing I'' Improved Driver award. Peter Ghent pre sented the Ghent Automotive Best Presented Car & Crew award to Graham Summers. Old foes Ray Bishop and John Mills won the CRAIG HUME, Compact #1 Performance

For the second straight season, Simon Amato’s team was the wor thy winner of the Gordon Cardwell Coach Travel Best Presented Crew award. Andrew Baker took off the Ron Hume Body Works Encouragement Award and Warren McMinn went home with the Benson Racing Karts Most Improved Driver trophy. Gordon Cardwell won the club’s Indian File Handicap honom's. Network Rent-A-Car (Ascot Vale) sponsored the Rookie of the Year trophy, which went to Dean Kavathas. In the club Championship, as mentioned, it was Craig Hume who took the major honours with 538 points. Gordon Cardwell was second on 392 points, taking the A. G. & G. M. Allen Automotive trophy. His son Brian won the Melfab Engineering trophy for third place with 336 points. Next came David Robotham (307), Tiger Martin (302), Dwayne 'Tournier (277), McMinn (258),

Ignition Most Heat Race Wins award and the Frank & Dot Allwell Most Feature Wins awards, respec tively. Revolution Racegear were the recipients of the club’s Appreciation Award, before Mark Zelner award ed the Revolution Racegear Club Championship trophies to Ray Bishop (1st), Craig Power (2nd) and Mills (3rd). Rob Southouse was recognised for all his work with the Club Member of the Year award. The final presentation of the night was the presentation of Life Memberships to Ray Bishop, John Mills and Leroy Beasley, three men equally deserving of such high honoui-s. -BRETT SWANSON

1997 WORLD OF OUTLAWS/SKOAL OUTLAW SEREES POINT STANDINGS TO jULY 28, 1997

I. Sammy Swindell 2. Steve Kinser 3. Dave Blaney 4. Jac Haudenschild 5. Andy Hillenburg 6. Greg Hodnett 7. Stevie Smith 8. Danny Lasoski 9. Johnny Herrera 10. Jeff Swindell

6,742 6,733 6,721 6,688 6,484 6,372 6,339 6,285 6,150 6,002

SOUTHOUSE RACING ... Big night out for Ray Bishop (VSDA Club Champion, left), Melbourne-based car owner Rob Southouse and Haydn Bishop (VSDA Rookie of the Year). (Brett Swanson pics)

avin Casey clinched the 1996/97 Queensland Formula 500 Championship with an all the way win at Moranbah Speedway last month. Casey, who hails from Cairns, finished ahead of Mackay’s Gavin Jaenke and Townsville’s Alan Iverson in the 20 lap finale. Defending champ Mark Krause had to qualify via the repechage, after a clash during qualifying with pre-race favourite Lawrence Quagliata. Casey and Jaenke finished as equal top qualifiers with two wins and a second placing from their heat races. Ayr’s Peter Brett put in a mighty effort to charge from 16th on the grid to finish in fifth spot behind Steve Barter. Other notable performances came from Lyle Gilmore and NSW’s Anthony Frew, who scraped into the final as reserves when an opening lap incident eliminated two other competi^rs. Both drivers made steady progress through the field to finish seventh and ninth respectively.

-JL

I 1. Joe Gaerte 12. Donny Schatz 13. Paul McMahan 14. Mark Kinser 15. Dion Hindi 16. Lance Blevins 17. Joey Saldana 18. Marlon Jones 19. Garry Brazier 20. Randy Hannagan

5,989 5,834 5,662 5,492 4,659 3,303 2,561 1,974 1,820 1,733

KNOXVILLE RACEWAY- jULY 23 A-FEATURE (25 LAPS) 1. Mark Kinser II 1. Donny Schatz 2. Steve Kinser 12. Jeff Swindell 13. Skip Jackson 3. Sammy Swindell 14. Doug Wolfgang 4. Greg Hodnett IS. Joey Saldana 5. Andy Hillenburg 16. Scott Whitworth 6. Dave Blaney 17. Paul McMahan 7. Danny Lasoski 18. Brent Antill 8. Stevie Smith 19. Jaymie Moyle 9. Garry Brazier 20. Larry Pinegar 10. Joe Gaerte

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Ripper Shark Bay The Shark Bay Speedway in WA held its annual Far Western Championships in mid-Judy, the 10th anniversary meeting attracting record fields. An unbelievahle 54 events were run, with brackets including Super Sedans, Modified A and B Sedans, Street Sedans, two divisions of Junior Sedans, 360 and Limited Sprintcars, along with the custom ary Ladies and Mechanics races to round out the proceedings. Lynn and John Purser were the major organisers of the weekend, the town a hive of activity leading up to the Saturday race meeeting. “This weekend is without a doubt the biggest thing that happens in the town during the year,” the .Pursers stated “and, once again, the town got right behind us with plenty of support.” After the Friday night drawing of the heats at the Heritage Bay Resort, the first feature winner was Clinton Johns from Carnarvon in the Junior Street Stocks - Johns

Modified B heats were dominated dominated this division, taking out every heat, as well. by David Lowe, who scored a maxi Tristan Flanagan (Meckatharra) mum of40 points to take pole in the final - unfortunately, though, that’s and Nigel Pepper (Shark Bay) fol lowed Johns home in the feature. where his good run ended, as Junior Sedans had four different mechanical problems sidelined the heat winners, but it was #11 Sigma. In the end, Quairading’s John Quairading’s Emma Wishart earn Galvin took the win, closely fol ing pole with top points on the day - but, come the final, she had to lowed by Greg Robinson and Mick settle for second, behind Dwayne Standley. Beaver from Geraldton, with Geoff It was anybody’s race in the Drew third. Modified A Sedans, with locals Richard Baker and John Purser The Street Sedans had the great putting the pressure on the likes of est battles over the weekend, espe cially in the final between Ian Phil Rose (Bunbury), Mark Beaver (Geraldton), Mick Ricetti Lester and John Standring. Standring, the Shark Bay fish (Carnarvon) and another local, Paul Mettam. specialist, took out top points and led every lap of the feature, except Top points scorer Baker proved to the one that counted. be the one to watch early on in the With a boiling motor at melting feature, only to throw the race point. Standring only gave up the away with a spin at near mid-race lead as the field exited the final distance - Ricetti held out Mettam turn, giving Lester the narrowest of for the win, with Rose and Purser wins as the “perpetual bridesmaid,” rounding out the top four. Once again, Steve Warden had Bunbury’s Alan Mortimer claimed third. his mighty Pontiac set up perfectly

ON THE PACE... 360 Sprintcar star, Keith Giles. (Brad Steele pic) for the Shark Bay circuit, dominat ing the Super Sedans with four heat wins and a win in the final. Quairading’s Brett Morgan fin ished second to Warden, with Rob Irwin third. Geraldton’s Lionel Curtin was the one to beat in the Limited Sprintears, taking out top points plus the feature. The only driver to put any pres sure on him for top points was the man who finished second in the fea ture, Wayne Chrisp - following Chrisp home were Gary Pow from Margaret River and Geraldton’s

he Polish Round of the Grand Prix World Championship series at the end of August had been rumoured to be in doubt, due to heavy flooding in Wroclaw damaging properly and communi cations in the Western Polish city. A recent League meeting at the Slaski Stadium was called off, but this was because of the many problems bedevilling the city and its inhabitants. Polish team manager Bartomeij Czekanski said this week, “It would not have been fair to stage a speedway meeting when the people had so many problems to deal with; but the Grand Prix will go ahead, there is no damage to the stadium.”

raced in September and, from the Aussie’s point of the view, the series is far from over. Aussie team boss Neil Street said afterwards, “it was a fine meeting and I thought we rode very well. ‘There is no doubt we are very competitive and I think the next two meetings will see some great speedway... we are good enough to pull this defeat back and then, who knows, the last one could be a cracker.”

Former team er JohnAmerican Scott has diedmanag after a short illness. Scott, a native Englishman from Bristol, spent 18 years in charge of team affairs for the Americans, organising everything for the European-based Americans from his British home. Scott had been due to receive a merit award - the Jules Horky Meritorious service award - from the AMA, who govern speedway in USA, for his services to the sport. In his time, he helped organise international speedway for 37 American riders and was dearly loved by them all. Craig the made 20 year-old from Watson, Sydney, has a sud den and unexpected return to the sport from a broken leg that threat ened to keep him out for the rest of the British season. Watson raced for his club at home to Newport less than six weeks after breaking his leg and then competed at Glasgow in Scotland’s first televised meeting of the season.

odd Wiltshire has declined an invitation to ride in the remain ing two Test matches between England and Australia, which will be raced at Swindon and Eastbourne in September Aussie team boss Neil Street said,'Todd has a lot of work to do to make up for the five years he has been missing. “He feels that when he comes back he wants to do the job prop erly; he would not want to come i

Rob Stevens in his debut meeting. 360 Sprintcars were dominated by former Speedcar driver and LJM crew chief Keith Giles, who won three of the heats and the final by nearly half a lap. Roy Carter made the long haul from Margaret River worthwhile with a fine second, Lance Harper (Karratha) grabbing third over Paul Stubber. Shark Bay’s Dolly Charles suc cessfully gi-abbed the Ladies crowm, while (Jeoff Bennett of Geraldton won the Mechanics. - BRAD STEELE

NO CONTEST... Mark Lorain and Jason Lyons at Belle Vue 1st Test, which was won by England.(Mike Patrick pic)

ByTony Millarct-yK' here and do half a job. He has not ridden on any small tracks for five years and he is riding big tracks in Europe at the moment.” The Aussies lost the first Test 52-44, but Street believes they can come back and win the other two. “We missed Steve Johnston because of his continental longtrack commitments and he is really flying this year - he’ll be back for the remaining meetings and that should help,” Street said. ^ Steve was Johnston fourth in fromthe Kalgoorlie World Longtrack/Grasstrack Championship after the first meet ing of this year’s series on gravel at Aduard in Holland. The Aussie finished behind England’s Glenn Cunningham,

Tommy Dunker of Germany and the Czech rider, Zdenek Schneiderwind, in the “A” final to big 16 points from the meetings. Johnston had a second place and three third places from his qualifying rides, but that was enough to earn him sixth place among the qualifiers and a vital slot in the final. The second meeting of the series is on grass at Cloppenburg, near Bremen in northern Germany. ustralia lost the first Test .Match of a three match series against England when going down by 52 points to 44 at the Belle Vue circuit in Manchester. England led the meeting throughout and, to be fair, never looked back after Jason Crump and Jason Lyons were relegated to the last two places in the open ing heat against England’s Martin Dugard and Joe Screen. Australia’s most successful rider was skipper Craig Boyce, who notched three heat victories from his five rides. But Grand Prix rider Leigh

Adams had a disappointing night with just three points from four outings. On the other hand, England’s Grand Prix men - Chris Louis (13) and Mark Loram (9) - scored 22 between themi Track conditions were unusual in that the first seven races were all won from gate three, with Mark Lemon, Jason Crump and Craig Boyce each taking the chequered flag for the Aussies. From that point on, in the remaining nine races, gate three never got a look ini There was certainly entertain ment for the fans and, when Jason Crump clashed with Martin Dugard in heat 15, the fireworks started to fly. Dugard was excluded after ref eree Colin Reeve deemed the England firebrand responsible for a pits bend crash that saw both riders hit the fence. They rose unscathed, but more than dirty looks were exchanged on their return to the pits! The match gave the British public a taste of things to come in the remaining two Tests to be

teve Johnston, ironically the European Grasstrack Champion, finished eighth in the biggest grasstrack meetings of the season in France. At Le Reole, a crowd of 5000 watched some really competitive racing, with the Czech Republic rider Zdenek Scheiderwind the overal l winner, ahead of the French pair of Christophe Dubenand and Philippe Berg. British riders Simon Cross, Paul Hurry and Neville Tatum filled the next three places, with another Frenchman, Philippe Oetyn, also finishing ahead of Johnston. The 25 year-old Western Australian was warming up for the six-meeting World Championship series, which kicks off in Holland. ix Australian riders currently lie in the top 20 of the British League averages. Grand Prix rider Leigh Adams from Mildura is in second place, just behind World Champion Billy Hamill, with an average of 10.11. Fellow Victorian Jason Crump is sixth, Ryan Sullivan from Adelaide is 13th, Sydney’s Craig Boyce lies 17th, Mildura’s Jason Lyons 18th and Western Australian Johnston 20th.

Virtually the whole League programme wasPolish wiped out when the German Grand Prix was put off for 24 hours due to heavy rain. Many of the riders were due to race as ‘overseas’ stars in Poland on the Sunday; but, with the Grand Prix rescheduled for that after noon, it was decided to call off many meetings. Even former GP rider Tommy Knudsen didn’t make it to race for his home track Wroclaw; he was commentating for TV.

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Bates awaits WRC Corolla 4

TEAM Toyota Europe unveiled its new Corolla World Rally Car in Belgium last week - and Aussie champion Neal Bates will play a signifi cant role in the car’s future. Bates joined 1994 world champion Didier Auriol and other TTE representatives at the launch of the car. Auriol will test the Corolla at the Rally Finland on

August 29, where the Toyota Team Europe posted its first world championship win 22 years ago. After that, the car will come to Australia for Rally Australia - and Bates will probably keep it to run here and in the South East Asian events. “In my mind, this car has more potential than our old car. There is no question about that,” said TTE’s presi dent, Ove Andersson.

“We have looked at our previous car and tried to improve on it. We have aimed to build a simple, straightforward car, easy to service, easy for people to maintain. “This is a development year and I see the last few events of this season as part of that development,” added Andersson. The Corolla is shorter than the Celica and it has a nar-

rower track and much short er overhangs at front and rear - shorter than most of its main rivals. “The car is easy to drive. It’s very agile and the gear box has certainly improved performance. It’s got so much potential,” Auriol said. In the meantime, Bates is in New Zealand doing a recce for the*.WRC event there, which will be the last WRC event for works Celicas.

y the time you read this, Coral and I will be in the final stages of preparation for the 1997 Rally of New Zealand. We've been over here since last weekend doing our reconnaissance and pace notes for my first-ever overseas rally. I flew in to Auckland directly from Belgium, where I had attended the unveiling of Toyota’s new WRC weapon, the Corolla. The car was given its World debut at a castle on the outskirts of Brussels, where Ove Andersson first formed TTE almost 25 years ago using Corollas. TTE has spent the last 18 months building and developing this car and I know it will be a winner with TTE’s winning record, this is beyond doubt. I will have the privilege to drive the car in this year’s Rally Australia as part of TTE’s line-up, along with Didier Auriol, who has returned to the Toyota fold. This will be the first time an Australian will have a real opportunity to win Rally Australia against world class opposition and I am going to grasp the opportu nity with both hands. The forfan the newspecification Corolla looks tastic. It is much shorter than the Celica, with hardly any overhang, which will put it on an equal footing with the current crop of WRC cars. The car’s platform is based directly on Toyota’s

new-model roadgoing three-door Corolla - which we have not seen here in Australia yet of which more than 25,000 per year needed to be built to allow the car to be homologated. One thing which will be hard to get used to will be the six-speed sequential gearbox, with gear changes made from a steering col umn-mounted joystick. The first opportunity I have to drive the new Corolla will be in a threeday test in WA a couple of weeks prior to Rally Australia. Belgian driver Freddie Loix has covered many thousands of kilometres in testing and he told me at the launch that the car is absolutely terrific. t the moment, however, imy focus is totally on the Rally of New Zealand. Our recce has gone very well, with the new threeday format making this a much more compact event than it was in the past. I have never competed over here; however, I have been to spectate, but it is nothing like actually com peting. The roads are much more demanding than I first thought. They are hard-packed and very well built, but there are many corners that can catch you out Our Celica has been given a thorough overhaul by our team and we are confident of being competi tive amongst the top Kiwis.

■**:'

McRae signs for new career

► VIC: Stuckey Tyre Service Ph: (03) 9386 5331 Fax: (03) 9383 2514 SA: The Mag Wheel Centre Ph: (08) 8269 4100 Fax: (08) 8269 7805 NSW: Stuckey Tyre Service Ph: (02) 9676 8655 Fax: (02) 9676 5300 QLD: Road & Race Spare Parts Ph: (07) 3279 1533 Fax: (07) 3376 5804 WA: Kostera's Tyre Service Ph: (09) 293 3500 Fax: (09) 293 1355

TAS: Bob's Speed Shop

Pl-i- CnR'l A97R 9R9R Fa ● CnTV f,97R 9R97

WINNER- NSW & VICTORIAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIPS - DUNLOP SP84-R

In a quiet family ceremo ny a fortnight ago at Lanark in Scotland, 1995 World Rally Champion Colin McRae married his teenage sweetheart, Alison Hamilton. The bride arrived at the service in a helicopter flown by McRae’s 555 Subaru World Rally Team principal, David Richards.

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Gardner opts for Husky With his car racing career in semi-hiatus, Wayne Gardner has found a cheap way of his keeping his eye in. After buzzing around in a Yamaha 100-powered Clubman kart for the last eight years, the Wollongong Wiz has acquired an all-new Husky-powered 125cc sprint kart featuring a six-speed gearbox and manual clutch. The ‘Outlaw’ Kart is the of brainchild Husky boss Hans Australia

Appelgren, who is keen to see the class become the bud get Superkart of the future. “A fully-winged Superkart costs over $20,000,” said Appelgren. “But we can sup ply the Outlaw with its gear box and front brakes (not included in sprint karts) for about $10,500. “I’m very confident about the prospects of the Outlaw class and the response so far has been very promising.” The long haul to Mildura for round four of the Country Circuit Series proved rewarding for Remo Luciano, who took the Clubman Heavy hon ours. A large Clubman Heavy field fronted the starter with some close racing resulting but, when the front four all exited at the first corner of the final heat, Luciano took the win, ahead of David Aldersley and Jarrod Uchtman. Clubman Super Heavy saw local Domenic Capogreco hold out Mick Krieg and Mark Newman. Junior National Light saw a few incidents, but when the dust settled it was Geelong’s Luke Harper ahead of Ricky Occhipinti and third-placed Ben Phillips. Tony D’Alberto then drove away from the rest for a com-

The Husqvarna CR125 engine is stock, save for a reconfigured expansion chamber, while the kit includes a right-hand shift for the constant mesh gear box and a left-hand lever to operate the clutch. “I only use it [the clutch] for taking off and I’m shifting about 12 times a lap [at Oran Park’s kart track]” Gardner said.

Capable of over 140kinh, the Outlaw’s sprint chassis is shorter than a Superkart’s, which makes it incredibly nimble and the most fun you’ll have sitting down with your clothes on. For more information, call Husky Imports on: (047) 35 4610, or fax:(047)35 7655. -DARRYL FLACK

“The big thing for any kart competitor is reliability and the Husky has proven bullet proof so far. “From a driving point of view, the gearbox makes it more complicated, but really challenging. “It’s the perfect way to keep up my skill level and it’s great fun. “It’s also a cost-effective way to get into motor racing and I believe this type of kart has got a place in Australia. “For sure. I’d like to race one when it’s homologated.”

-- /

WAYNE’S WORLD OF OUTLAWS ... Motorcycle World Champion Wayne Gardner explores the limits in the Outlaw, which features a six-speed manual shift(below left) and a potent Husqvarna CR125 powerplant(below right) for maximum thrills. (Darryl Flack pics)

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Mildura success for Luciano fortable win from the duelling Ben Taylor and Mark Cole. After a mishap in the roll around and a return to grid. Senior National Heavy got a start and Clayton Sandow took the points from local Aaron Berry, while Glen Chadwick hung on for third. A good field of Clubman Light took to the track, Steve Owen showing Brad Farnsworth and Shane McIGernan the way home. The Junior Clubman field whs a bit toey and was sent back to the grid twice before getting a staart. The first heat saw some muscling through the field, hut things settled^ down and

Cobden’s Leigh VanDenBerg took the win from Brendan Keillor and Occhipinti. The little tackers in the Midgets had some good, clean, close racing and, when Benjamin McCashney got a little wide and,.spun off in the final, the way., was left open for Justin Cole'to take the top spot from Bradley Wicks and Josh Douglass. Clubman Over 40s saw David Evans win from Rod Westbrook and David Albert. Senior National Light, which drew another large field, saw local Scott Ferguson take three heat vic tories to win the day from Marcel Fabris and Berry. ■YanDen Berg had his sec¬

ond class win for Bona Racing of Cobden when he took the top place in Junior National Heavy from Ballarat’s Aaron McCracken and an unlucky Harper, who was taken out in heat two. Last class up for the day was Clubman Medium, with Jason Pearson winning from Elton Treloar and third-placed Travis Farnsworth. The final round of the Victorian series will be at Bendigo on September 7. GRAEME BURNS

PODIUM FINISH... Brad Farnsworth, third in Clubman Light

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lor morg informition

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44 1 August 199/ Briefly Historic As we predicted in MN #104, touring car legend Norm Beechey did have a big spend-up during his recent overseas trip. His main purpose was to attend Goodwood’s ‘Festival of Speed’(he has a passion for the big Chaparral sports cars), but he also found time to buy himself a very latest Chev. Corvette and a rare 1973 Iso Rivolta Lele (this model was named after Rivolta’s wife, Le Le). Only 400 of these cars were built, and Norm pur chased his from the sound production manager of the British TV series ‘Heartbeat’. Norm hasn’t lost his used car salesman touch when he described it as “low mileage, in excellent condition with pale blue paintwork and dark blue interior.” Powering the Iso is a 351cu.in. V8 engine, so watch out, Chris Stevens! Not to be left out, wife Margaret has just taken possession of a new ESeries Mercedes-Benz with some “you beaut” bits. Noito, the master of understatement said “They add to the stable a bit!’

HISTORIC

Mallala found - in Queensland

Richard QUEENSLAND’S Harris is surely one of the greatest (and most successful) fossickers when it comes to unearthing interesting cars. He has recently contacted me regarding the ex-Scuderia Veloce Elfin Mallala that has lan guished in a shed for the past 23 years and was originally driven by Canberra’s Greg Cusack (remember that classic photo graph of Cusack standing the car on its nose at Warwick Farm in 1963?) In April this year, the rearengined sports racer was removed from its current location, coinci dentally by members of the origi nal Team Warwick group who raced it back in the mid-sixties. The car is 100% complete (although obviously in need of lots of TLC), and considering the number of hands it has passed through, the chassis and running gear are very close to the original 1963 configuration. (The body work has been somewhat

THE LOST GEM... The Elfin Mallala prepares to see the light of day for the first time in 23 years. Devitt (two of the original Team rewarding experience, and now Warwick members), the recovery begins the task of restoring it to of the car on behalf of current its 1963 specifications. n - BRIAN REED owner Peter Goodwin was a

butchered over the years to accommodate the wider wheels and tyres). For Bevan Batham and John

Centaur-Waggott surfaces

by BRIAN REED RICHARD Harris has also sent information about another Austr alian creation which proved to be very suc cessful in its day - the Centaur Waggott developed by a group of Queensland motor n For Ferrari owners sport enthusiasts to who would like to reduce contest the Australian their restoration bills, the Sports Car Champion Australian Ferrari ship in 1962. Register will be conduct Tim Harlock of ing a Technical Night at Centaur Developments Dawson Panels, 36 was joined by Wal Karong Rd., West Anderson, Dave Evans Heidelberg on Thursday, ; and Merv Richardson in August 7 commencing at the project euid John 7pm. French (who became the Topics to be covered 1962 Australian Sports diu-ing the evening Car champion)drove. include various aspects of Following the champi car repmring and restora onship, the Waggott tion, including spray motor was removed and painting using two-pack the rolling chassis was and aciylic paints, and sold to Denis Geary, rust proofing. (who, incidentally, pur chased the Scuderia Bookings can be made Veloce Elfin Mallala irom by phoning GU Matthews on(03)9429 9555(w)or David McKay back in the 9579 5284(h). sixties). Geary fitted a Holden grey motor to the n One of the features of Centaur with a high per the upcoming All Historic formance Repco head for Meeting at Eastern Creek extra performance. will be a Gala Testimonial The Centaur Waggott Dinner for the Geoghegan. was also kept “in house” This event will follow on from the Lakeside Historic meeting, where the ‘Brothers Quick’ Leo and Ian(Pete)drove some of the cars from their rac ing past and were joined on the track by Pete’s son Michael(see last issue). The event will be held at the ParkRoyal Hotel in Parramatta(30 Phillip Street) on Wednesday September 10, starting at around 7:00pm. Passes to the dinner start at $48.50 per person to $1400 per table of 10 people. Booking enquiries should be directed to TOMOTOR,PO Box 118 Arncliffe NSW 2205. - BRIAN REED

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TIMES CHANGE... The Centaur, seen racing here with Repco Holden power. as Geary then sold it to Bevan Batham - one of the Team Warwick mem bers. Batham has cam paigned the Queenslandbuilt sports car since 1964, and throughout this 33-year time span has had a burning desire to replace the Repco motor with an original Waggott twin cam. Earlier this year, Batham took delivery of a

complete Waggott motor that had been used to power a speedboat, and work began two months ago to install the engine into the Centaur. Every care has been taken to ensure longevity of the 1962 components, and new engine mounts have been fabricated as well as new exhaust manifolds. After its recent rebuild and with minimal test ing, the Centam' Waggott

was entered for the July two-day Historic meeting at Lakeside and exceeded all expectations by com pleting all events it entered, including the 10lap Queensland Tourist Trophy for sports cars. Harris is currently hav ing discussions with 'Tim Harlock of Centaur Developments with a view to documenting the 13 Centam’cars built dm’ing the 1960s and ’70s.

ON the August 23/24 the small township of Leybum on the Darhng Downs, 72 kilome tres south - west of Toowoomba, will host the second “Around the houses” Historic Sprints. The brainchild of Queensland Historic stal warts, Bill Westerman and Bruce Richards, the Sprints are a build up for 1999 which will cele brate the 50th anniversary of the 1949 Australian Grand Prix. In 1949 on the outskirts of Leybum, more than 30,000 spectators witnessed Queensland’s first Grand Prix raced on an airfield used by Liberators during World War II. The AGP was raced over 35 laps on a triangu lar course totalling 242km. John Crouch, who officiated as Clerk of the Course at the recent Guyra Histories, won the GP in a Delahaye. 'This was the first AGP grid to be decided on practice tiials and had a massed start - it was usual at that time for i-aces to be handicaps. The cars spread out on the broad starting straight to avoid stining up the gi'avel, but to no avail as it became blue metal shrapnel. Twelve of the field of twenty-eight retired after the first ten laps. After fifty odd years, it seems not much has changed. The winning car has recently been discovered in England and every effort will be made to have the car and it’s driver at the 1999 celebra tions. Last year saw the inaugural running of the Splints, which was for cars only, on the streets of Leybum. The locals fully support the event and this year, historic motorcycles have also been invited. The Warwick Shire Council has already com menced resurfacing the streets and as a few front-yard fences were a little worst off last year, more hay bales and tyre barriers are planned. Also between turns two and three, in front of the School, a new chicane will be built. To accommodate an expected crowd of 10,000 five gi-andstands will be created. For competi tors, home-hosting and camping facilities are available. As you can always count on a Queenslander, Darryl Bray (a keen competitor) from the Bank of Queensland has agreed to continue their sponsorship again this year. There are already some notable entrants such as Kevin Heffernan in his Gp A V8 and Ivan Tighe in his Chevron F5000, with over 200 entrants expected. It is also believed that one of Queensland’s favourite sons, Dick Johnson and his Tru-Blu Falcon have been invited. Organisers are hoping that Dick will make a special appearance at what has the makings of a great weekend. -MARSHALL CASS

HISTORIC

1 August mi

Life begins at(GT)40 In 1967 BRIAN REED attended the

famous Le Mans 24-hour sports car race and saw Ford’s GT40 score a brilliant victory driven by Americans Dan Gurney andA.J. Foyt(he still has a program signed by the winning drivers). Thirty years on he had the rare opportunity to test drive a replica of the famous GT40 at Winton. AND, AS FOYT CHARGES THROUGH THE MOTORSPORT NEWS ESSES... our man Reed at Winton. (Photos by NeiiHammond) Irish engineer WHEN I Logan, first met Robert he was looking somewhat Tost’ during this year’s Dutton Grand Prix Rally. He is relatively new to Australia, and certainly new to. motor sport - and I was keen to learn about the car he was driving in the event - a replica he had built of the famous GT4G Ford that domi nated long distance Sports car racing during the 1960s. The GT40 story is fascinat ing. After Henry Ford tried unsuccessfully to buy out Ferrari in the early ‘’60s in order to contest endurance sports car racing. Ford decid ed to go it alone. One hundred and thirty million dollars later - enter the Ford GT40 (the “40” referred to the fact that the car was only 40 inch es[100cm] tall). Tire rest is now history, for as well as winning Le Mans

four times during the 1960s, inside. Three-point harnesses are fitted for both driver and the mighty GT40s also scored passenger. many other major long dis Instruments are extensive, tance sports car success and being exact copies of the origi championships. Robert Logan’s love of the nal Smiths (including a 200mph speedo), and switch GT40 goes back to his child hood days when he owned one es are the flick on/off variety as a slot car. Unable to afford for lights, wipers and washers one of the 97 authentic GT40s - there’s even one for the air that were built, (not many conditioner, remembering can!) he decided to build one that it is a road car. for himself Indicators are operated by The result is a faithful copy a stalk on the right side ofthe of the Mk.lB which won at Le small, chunky leather covered Mans, Sebring and Daytona steering wheel. Logan has in 1966. He has ctosen the even managed to source colour scheme of the 1994 copies of the original rear Gulf Racing team - dark blue lights through the GT40 with silver band and orange Replica Owners Club in stripes - for his first car, and England. it is certainly eye-catching. At Winton Motor Raceway After filling up atwith unleaded petrol the it was my turn to put drive it. For convenience of entry, service station (and attracting the doors open wide into the .an audience of interested roof, and the steering wheel is onlookers), it was time to fire easily removed in order for the 302cu.in. Ford V8 engine the driver to slide down supplied by Ford Advanced Vehicles in Detroit, using the key start on the left side of the steering column; , It’s a healthy noise indeed as the 200hp engine with its impressive Motec injection system bursts into life, and I select first gear using the short stubby gearshift on the right hand side ofthe car. The first impressions out on the track were the marvel lous noise and the torque of the 900kg car. Its sheer grunt and excellent power-to-weight were to prove important for gear selection was a problem, not only for me but for Jim Richards, the only other per son apart from the owner and myself to have driven the car. It is fitted witli a 5-speed racing Renault gearbox, but future cars will have a G50 Porsche box and a gate will be installed to overcome the problem and expense of selecting the wrong gear. In spite of using only third' and fourth gears and being gentle on revs(which are lim ited to 6000rpm) and brakes because only standard brake fluid was being used, some respectable times around the lm40s were recorded. Clearly, second gear was needed at Penrite and Castrol corners, the left-hander onto REAR END... If you see this ahead of you don’t try it on. Creator Logan, at top with an understandably smiling Reed, has come up with maybe the best of the GT40 Replicas.

FORTY at 30... The interior(top) is authentic-looking, belying the car’s 1960’s heritage. The heart of the matter is Ford's ubiquitous 302ci V8. The queue to buy one starts here... the new part of the circuit and the two right-handers before the new pit area. Prior the test I with discussed tyreto pressures Jim Richards. Although he hadn’t driven the GT40 rephca on a track, he suggested starting with 381bs in the back and 28 in the front- a little higher if it was wet. Fortunately we had a perfect day for the test. The tyres fitted are Goodrich 2-65 50x15 radials on the rear and 2-15,60x15 up front, and in spite of‘fiddling’ with pressures, it was impos sible to get rid of tyre squeal. There was a predictable ten dency for the tan to take over when entering corners with the power off, an oversteer situation that changed to understeer in the tighter sec tions ofthe track. With the small steering wheel set very low this was awkward, to say the least, but fortunately Robert Logan was on hand to see (and heai-) his car on the track for the first

time, and was able to raise the height of the wheel in order to make turning easier. Only problem now was that it was difficult to see some of the instruments, including the oil pressure gauge, and this was off-putting as the cai’ had an oil surge tendency! We finally settled for 341bs.(F) - 381bs.(R) in the tyres, a compromise that improved the handling, but didn’t eradicate the tyre squeal. Future cars will be fit ted with Pirelli tyres, so more testing will be required. Everyone, the constructor,including Robert Logan left Winton happy in the knowledge that the GT40 replica had come through its first track test admirably. Considering that Logan has done several thousand kilome tres on the open road and in the Dutton Grand Prix Rally, the car he completed in 1994 is standing up well - and quahty control is high on his priorities as he is about to go

into limited production. His cars will fully comply with Australian Design Standards and can be road registered in all states and territories. He has even engaged a QC and barrister to draw up a legally binding document to deter copyists and to help maintain the highest possible quality stan dards for his “Roaring Forties” company. Logan is hoping to produce two or three cars a year (dehvery time is approximately six months), and is proud of the fact that his GT40 rephcas will be almost totally 100 percent Austrahan. What’s more, he plans to keep the price under $100,000 which should make them very much sought after considering that three more zeros on the end of the price quoted above wouldn’t buy a real one - even if one became available. His new factory is Unit 2, 32 Collins Rd., Dromana, 3936(phone(03)5981 4044).

■)

mm I August W9I

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organisation of the Holden effort was hap hazard and left a bit to be desired and that he publicly wanted to wipe his hands of the whole thing. He want ed it known that it

Peter was faster than Mon-is dm--

was nothing to do with him.” With this sort of criticism flying around the place, the atmos phere around team headquarters in North Melbourne was dis

affair, but it was really no contest. Morris had a stronger engine and Peter had also gone too soft in his tyi'e selection. In his newspaper column after the race, Peter had this to say: “Every year we come here we go too soft with tyres, but we always make the same mistake. After about five

nothing wrong with our car and Peter was beaten fair and square. Any suggestion that we had prob lems with our tyres or that our

Telephone (03) 9499 7433 Fax (03) 9497 4789

ing qualifying seven times out of the eight races, but the MHDT’s tyi-e-related problem kept him from winning races he should have. Three hard-fought wins by Peter, and a few mistakes by Moiris, saw the title go down to the final race at Adelaide again. The race turned out to be a close

similar light, saying, “I followed Brock for eight laps until his tyi'es appeared to go off.” Sheppard, however, told the press a different story: “The best man on the day won the champi onship, that’s all there was to it. As far as I’m concerned there was

ONE

HARROP ENGINEERING AUSTRALIA PTY LTD 349 Darebin Road Thombury VIC 3071

Continued from Page 18

tyres going off.” Bob Morris saw the situation in a

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^SPECIAL ^l-PERFORA4ANCE

The Peter Brock Story

laps I made certain signs to ‘Shep’ and he just put his hands up and said, ‘Ohhh, stuuuff... Every now and again I’d have a go at Bob and close the gap, but it was impossible to keep up. A couple of times he started to lock wheels and get a bit out of shape and I’d say, ‘Keep it up, keep it up’; but I had to ease off from time to time because of my

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tinctly cool. But, as Peter says, the only way to answer criti cism like that is with performance - and that’s exactly what he

did.

engine was down on power is pure rubbish. Bob Morris has been try ing to win this championship for seven years. He was fit and alert all weekend and went out and won the race. We just have to cop it sweet.” Privately, Sheppard was even more pointed in his criticism of Peter. He questioned his fitness (“He’s living on a diet of tea and hamburgers”) and said he was thinking more about the forthcom ing Round Australia 'Trial than his circuit racing commitments. These suggestions insulted Peter and Bevo, who happens to be a dietician. He knew they weren’t true, that he had wrung all he could out of the Torana that day,

Morris’s forana produced more

Not only did Peter lead a crush

horsepower than was legally possi ble. Peter will not be drawn into

ing MHDT 1-2-3 in the Repco Trial, he also won another Hang Ten 400 at Sandown (with Harvey second) and then won Bathurst in the most

such discussion, but did say: “When one Torana passes another Torana down the main straight at Adelaide with sheer power, there’s not very much you can do about it. Yet, two months later at Bathurst, that same Torana wasn’t passing me down the straights. Those are the facts”. With that, we are expected to draw om’ own conclusions. Sheppard was opposed to Peter’s involvement with the Round Australia Trial and Peter was left in no doubt about his position: “One of Johii Sheppard’s more memo rable comments in relation to the

and expected his boss to back him up rather than tmm against him. It would be fair to say that every one connected with the MHDT at

Repco Trial was informing me I was foolish entering and that I should listen to people in the know that I shouldn’t do it and make a

that time suspected the engine in

fool of myself. He also said the

one-sided display ever seen on the Mountain.

the same Brighton street as Edsel Ford, by coincidence, said in the announcement: “GMH has achieved a position in Australian touiing car racing where it has tended to domi nate the sport. Other manufactur ers have pulled out and we now fi nd ourselves competing against private entrants driving GMH vehi cles... The lessons to be learned from motor racing can be extremely ’ beneficial to ordinary road users but at the moment our engineering priorities must lean towards other areas of involvement.” At the same time, Ford decided against a return to racing and Allan Moffat revealed his new alignment with Mazda. Sheppard expressed disappoint ment with the Holden decision but was optimistic about continuing into 1980 and really threw a cat among the pigeons when he said he was considering i-unning Falcons or some other make alongside the pro totype Commodore which had already been built. General Motors short-circuited that idea by placing Peter on a per sonal contract for promotions and

He took pole position by two sec onds, led the first lap by 3.4 sec onds, was never headed throughout the entire race (even during the pit stops), set a new lap record on the very last lap, cut five minutes off the race record time and beat the

product endorsements. It was GM’s way of maintaining their valuable link with Peter, but it certainly angered Sheppard In a moment of frustration early in January, Sheppai'd said he want

second-placed car by some six laps! It was Peter’s way of making

ed to get out of racing and that he’d sell the team. Peter was quick with

Sheppo eat his words. After this incredible winning streak, though, the axe fell on the MHD'T. GMH Managing Director, Chuck Chapman, announced that his company was pulling right out of motor sport. It was a bombshell. Chapman, who was then living in

an offer and Sheppard agreed so long as a bank cheque was pro duced by the end of the week. It was quickly arranged and the Marlboro Holden Dealer Team, such as it was, suddenly had a new owner. Holden and Sheppard out; Brock in. ■

iAu0mi

Sedans

Old Gemini series car, ready to race, motor never been raced. Neat and tidy car. Must sell. $4,000. Ph: 07 3263 3607 or 0412 144 381. lo? Datsun 1600, 5 speed, 1800 motor, white, no rust, extractors, wide wheels, new sports exhaust system. Stereo, long reg, RWC. Clean, straight body. $2,800. Ph: 03 5334 6364(AH). 10?

Toyota Celica GT4 turbo 4WD. Rick Bates' current NSW Championship-winning oar. Totally rebuilt and immaculate. Turn key and go rallying. Ideal car for Round Australia or Targa. $36,000. Ph: Rick 018 480 339. 107

AUSCAR Sportsman #8, winner of Best Presented award, very competitive, finished 4th in rookie season. Brand new fuel cell. Complete with all spares inci engine and set-up information. Selling at half replacement cost, $16,000. Ph: 03 9404 4113(AH), 0412 257 658. 107

.-1^

»&i45Ui

mm.

QLD Gemini series car, front running car is ready to race for new driver or seasoned competitor looking for the series win. $5,500. Ph: Shayne Melton 07 5495 4095. 107

Porsche 928S. Great road and competition oar, resprayed July 1997. Race cage, seats, harnesses, origi nal leather seats. Rebuilt engine, gearbox, brakes. Targa category, class winner. $35,000ono. Ph. 03 6229 2479 or 018 129 169. 107

Sports Sedan, space frame by Redline Race Cars. Fresh mid-mount 350 Chev, top hp with your choice of carby or injection, dry sump, triple plate clutch, T10 box, 9" diff, massive brakes and calipers. Covered by VL Commodore panels, easily changed to later vehicle, ready to race. $35,000ono, will consider roller only. All assis tance given, possible finance package available, Ph: James at Walden Motorsport 015 701 103. io?

Ford Mondeo, Rouse-built rolling chassis, ex Radisich 94 World Cup winning car. All the best Ford Motorsport factory bits, Penske shocks etc. Realistic offers around $45,000. Ph: 02 9796 4328,02 9597 6393 or 018 117 070. 107

Volkswagen Scirocco 1986, superb German touring car, engine and suspension have been upgraded and enhanced by VW specialist. This is a good-handling and very quick, unique motor car. Ph: 048 894 340. 107

Mazda RX4 Club Car. Winner 1995 NSW Club Car Championship. 13BPP, Needham box, MoTeC M4 Pro and much more. Both engine and gearbox recently rebuilt by Selectmaz. $19,000. Ph; 0419 436 085. 107

AUSCAR VP, 315CC motor, 360bhp, 270km, Super T10 box, Harrop rose-jointed front end, tour spot calipers, fully ad] Bilstein suspension, Harrop type diff, VDO gauges. Total Recall tacho, Hurst shifter, braided fuel lines, pit equipment etc. Many spares, body parts, too many to mention. Help (crew) given first couple of meetings. $25,000. Ph:'9579 2986 or 015 800 342. 107

NASCAR Commodore, True Value #9, complete car with all spares and pit equipment, fresh paint and running gear, less engine. Transporter and engine available sepa rately. $25,000. Ph: 03 5966 9532 or 0419 539 320. 1C7

Group 2A Sports Car, fully restored, alloy V6, fuel injected with engine management system. Monocoque space frame chassis. Spare nose etc. Enclosed tandem trailer. $45,000neg. Ph: 07 3369 2917(AH). 107

500 287. 10?

Suzuki Mighty Boy 4WD,Toyota 1600 twin cam fuelinjected motor, 5 speed gearbox. Hurricane extractors. Ultimate suspension, SAAS sports seats, alloy roll bar, RTA approved. 12 months rego.$15,500ono. Ph:046 327 592. 107

Celica GT4 Group A. Top 10 runner last 3 years in Targa Tasmania. Never damaged, and in mint condition. Very low genuine Kms. All rally equipment included, plus original road equipment. $47,000. Ph: Warwick Freemantle,03 9728 4444(BH)or 0411 504 881.

Appendix J Group NB 1964 Lotus 'Cortina. Registered, current log book, engine 185hp. Vehicle is in excellent condition. $21.000. Ph: 02 9873 3793(BH & AH), lo?

Complete HQ outfit includes transporter, two cars (Thunderdom^ spec), two spare engines, diffs gearboxes, axles etc. Transporter has electric winch, storage bins, liv ing area. $20,000 the lot. Ph: 03 9432 8038 or 0412 550 Ford EB GT Club Car. SVO Motorsport engine, 5 speed 1:1 ratio gearbox, 9” diff. Proflex suspension, Harrop 4 piston calipers. Stack dash, chrome moly welded cage, on-board fire sustem. Brand new shell, never bent. Car constructed June 96. Ph: 0418 134 011. io?

HQ Race cars, ex D’Ombrain. One circuit, one 'Dome, ready to race. Each has spare engine, shell and rails, pan els etc. $5,000 each or $9,500 for both. Ph: Leigh

Commodore Vi turbo, 1988, 5 speed, 35,000kms, Brock kit, 16" wheels, 300hp engine. Cobra sports seats, Momo whe^l, Bilstein lowered suspension. Jan 98 rego, immaculate and quick. AVL-30T plates. $16,000. Ph: 046 596 470 or 0412 364 217. loo

556. ,07

RX3 Coupe, rolling chassis, YZ cage, 13B, race exhaust, needs work but genuine '75 model, almost complete. $1,450ono. Ph: 0412 323 941 (Sydney)."',o?

FIDO, 86 model, p/steering, auto, air con, CD player, lowered, fully worked 351 engine, roller rockers, roller cam. Reg, RWC. PDA. Ph: 03 5996 2263 or 0419 388 192. 107

LC Torana Sports Sedan, 6 cyl turbo Holden motor. M21 g/box, full f/glass front. 16in wheels, some spares, tandem trailer. $5,000 (car only $3,500). Ph: Bruce Q42 341 207(BH),044 488 150(AH). 107

:l i ASX Torana, Bathurst superoar, immaculate, 76,000km. AUSCAR Sportsman #35 Falcon XF, Well present ed and very competitive car in race ready condition. / Fresh 330+hp motor, very original throughout, only vari able engine enhancement and wide wheels. Quality Excellent opportunity to enter Australia's most economical investment only. $22,500ono. Ph: 071 597 130. 107 and competitive motor sport class. Car is available com plete or as rolling chassis. $16,900. Call Jamey Hollier. Ph: Commodore VH HOT improved. VC body kit. 4.2 It 4 03 5367 1087(BH) or 015 502 517(mobile) or 03 5367 speed. Long range tank, Irmscher rims etc. New tyres and 6545(AH). 107 Bilsteins. No rego. $7,500. Ph: 049 389 524. io?

Appendix d 64 Cooper S, 48 DCOE Weber, gas flow head, Hepolite pistons. 648 cam, s/c drop gears, SC/C/R gearbox, log book. Marine blue colour. $5,750ono. Ph: 08 8522 5541. io? Lotus Escort Mk 1 twin cam, suit restoration, good body, no rust, good interior, good engine and gearbox. Rare oar. $7,500. Ph:02 9817 5560 or 018 276 323. lo?

Nissan GTR, 1991 Aust. delivery, original Nissan specs, full service history, no competition use. Metallic dark red/grey interior, Zenon alarm, immobiliser. $59,990. Ph: 03 9793 5588 bh or 03 9775 7515 ah. .oe Mazda RX3 - 808 Coupe club car. 13B Bridgeport, 51mm Webber, 1st NSW Super Sprints 1996, 2nd NSW Hillclimb 1996. Very quick car, must sell. $3,900. Ph: 018 493 102. 106

continued over page

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Uugusl 199/ Briver available for serious race team - Sprintcar,

Commodore VB/C rolling body. Complete suspension, diff and steering. Suit Mod Prod. Good clean body, $400. Ph; 03 9715 1189. 106

Speedcar or Super Sedan No remuneration required. Will race anywhere, but team pays travel and accomm. Happy to help service car and engine if required. Confact Bruce White. Ph: 018 774 464. tor

I Steve Ellery’s 1997 Konica EL Falcon V8 Supercar, this is a current specification Level One car and has been maintained to the highest levels possible. The car comes with a Barry Seton Racing prepared V8 engine, a Pi System 2+2 Data Logger and a host of other features. This is the car that came 3rd outright at the Bathurst 1000 in 1996 and is available for immediate delivery and can be prepared for Sandown and Bathurst if required. Call Bruce Ellery, Ph;0418 549 595

NASCAR, Pontiac. Complete with spares $22,000. Pit gear $4,000. Road course set-up including Jerico $4,000. Scales $2,500. Or $28,000 the lot. Urgent sale - new car coming. Ph: 03 9800 3111.

Toyota Supra 1988 Turbo, genuine 1991 Bathurst 12 Hour winner, still set up for racing and is road registered. CAMS log book, very quick car wilh plenty of extras. Must sell urgently. $19,990ono. Ph: 0414 797 969. 105 Mustang Mach-1 tB69, Absolutely immaculate, fully restored inside and out, 351 manual, Magnum 500 Mustang wheels, mature enthusiast changing direction. $29,000neg. Serious buyers only. Ph; 03 5968 3059 or 0418 356 357. los

ti Mi’.

WA llMKliX

:Simo€0

Ford Gaiaxie 1964, fully restored 351c, modified Koni shocks, alloy fuel tank etc. Make your Group N team com plete with this ideal tow car. $16,500ono. Call Garnet Luckins. Ph: 03 9592 019B or 0419 366 615. .05

2 HQ Race Cars - One new Gene Cook motor, one used Richard Farnam race motor. Plus two spare motors, 4 Cobra seats and 4 harnesses. Race one and have one spare. $9,500 the lot, negotiable. Will consider split. Ph: 03 9793 5588 or 0418 361 399. i«

Race Winning VR Commodore AUSCAR, Auscraft BWM 001, placed 2nd & 3rd in.AUSCAR champs, comes complete with low mileage engine, 380hp with dyno sheets, Sachs leighl weight clutch, oil cooler. Super T-10 gearbox with heim jointed Hurst super shifter, rebuilt tailshaft, Harrop front and rear end, Detroit locker. The best car available. Too many items to list. Car race ready $50,000. Call Bruce Williams. Ph: 03 5335 8788 or 0418 349 555. loe

9897 1617. 105

Brock Commodore 1983, VH SL/E. Australian Dealer Pack, build no 851, 1 or 12 built with Qroup 3 engine, automatic trans, 90 litre tank, original car inci log books, Uniroyal spare, white in colour. $17,000. Call Norm. Ph: 07 3281 1372(AH)or 0417 729 493(mobile}. .os j

HQ Racer, too many spares tj list, ready to race, assis tance given to new owner. $8,000. Call Carl Trofa. Ph: 0411 889 g75 or 02 9674 493. 105 NASCAR Commodore, True Value No 9, complete car with all spares and pit equipment, fresh paint and running gear. Selling less engine $25,000. Engine and transporter available also. Ph: 03 5966 9532 or 0419 539 320. 105 Sports Sedan, Torana LJ XU-1, adj boost turbo, Harrop brakes, adj bias, 16" Simmons, big HP motor, completely mechanically refurbished at a cost of $15,000. Will trade for road car. Call Dave. Ph: 03 9687 4653 or 015 312 918. 105 VR Commodore Shell, converted from Perkins built VP Group A to VR Group A specifications. Excellent condition. Ph: 0362 641 320 or 0412 120 720. 105

LJ Torana Sports Sedan, fresh motor and gearbox, four spot front brakes, foam-filled fuel tank, Detroit locker, adjustable rear suspension, full set of wets on rims. 57.28 at Amaroo. $5,900 ono, Ph: 0417 251 601 or 03 28 5144. Alfa Romeo GTO Turbo, black, immaculate condition, more than $10,000 spent on motor. Comes with rear wing, and sunroof. Id'eal for motorsport. RWC, stunning perfor mance. finance can be arranged $9,500ono. Ph: 03 5348 7592. .55

TD Cortina Sports Sedan, space frame, complete less mota, fully adjustable suspension, can fit V8 or 6cyl, full body moulds, comes wilh spares, freshly painted. $21,000. Ph; 046 596 470 or 018 113 716. H£

Mazda MX5 turbo, stage 2, fully adjgst. suspension, upgraded brakes, hardtop, full instrunjentation, headrest speakers. Reg 5/98. Sprinted 1.53m/- Island, 2nd Tour D'Adelaide, 19th outright Targa Tasmania, 4lh Three Peaks. Fantastic condition. Ph: 0412 337 227. loe

Gemini TE 1982, 5spd, fully rebuilt and balanced 1600, only 300km since rebuild. 31,200. Ph: 019 420 751. ms

ffra

I Holden 202 red, complete, travelled 20,000kms, with / papers, includes new radiator, transmission, Genie extrac tors, tailshaft and diff. $900 Ph: 03 9359 4932. loe.

Super,Sedan chassis, roll cage, fitted with EF Falcon body, alloy interior with chequer floor, AFFCO leaf springs with sliders and nylon bushes, top and lower A arms and struts and engine mounts. Radiator fitted to left side, body white, light blue roll cage. Ail new. $5,500. Must sell this week. Ph: 045 725 949. .07

Super Sedan chassis. Commodore body. $1,000. Quick change diff $1,000. Ph: 03 5996 2263 or 0419 388 192. 107

Gambler 1993 mod Sprintcar, hibar 30" standard arm, complete ground up. Rebuild features Winter long spline rear end, Sanders top steer front end, Duralite wheels, all-new bolt-.ons, 4 wings. Complete with Felsch fully fresh Rodeck engine. Would suit new car buyer. $32,000 will separate. Can supply spares kit. Ph: John 02 9543 8806 or 018 041 571. 107

Sierra 4X4 Cosworth Sapphire, four door, Recaros, adjustable turbo, 300+bhp, 4 inch stainless exhaust, RS500 motor, immaculate cond. Consider trade, cheaper car. $32,000. Ph: 0755 373 183 Or 0411 749 308. loe

A Modified Production TE Cortina, fully worked 250 xflow methanol engine, 4 speed, fully adjustable suspen sion, 15" wheels, very competitive car, ready to race. $8,550. Ph: 03 5996 2263 or 0419 388 192. 107 Pelica GT4 Group A, build no /8, one owner (50th B/Day gift), 65,000km, meticulousley maintained, fully pre pared for Targa 98, Gold in 97, comfortable daily trans port, air cond, alarm or super fast road race car. Cheapest way to lop 10 Targa finish. $46,000. Ph: 07 3265 5455(BH) or 07 3851 0172(AH). 105

Commodore VC V8 Raiiy Car, worked 308, tricked Turbo 4CD, Ford 9" LSD, disc brake rear end. Marsh racing seats, 12 point steel cage, 20 road and rally tyres, log book, reg, RWC.$10,000. Ph; 039434 5849. 105

Sprintcar, 1992 Toggnotti hi-bar less engine. KSE steer ing, Winters diff, splined wheels, new paint. $10,000. Ph: 06 297 2818,06'297 4445 or 018 630 408. m Super Sedan chassis and body kit, Q99, comes with front suspension and steering, includes 3 front wheels and tyres. Pontiac Firebird body kit, all tin work and radiator. $1,500, Ph: 07 3800 6101 (BH), 07 3200 0652(AH). 106 Fontana Engine, latest CNC angle plug head, pumps, oil tank, plumbing, fresh ready to race. Many spares too numerous to mention. $POA, Call John Brett. Ph: 042 674 356(AH) or 0414 674 356(mobile) or Glenn Cox 046 262 329(AH). 105

Modified Production TE Cortina, 250 XFlow methanol engine, 4 speed, fully adjustable suspension, 15” wheels, very competitive car, ready to race. $POA. Ph: 03 5996 2263 or 0419 388 192. 105 Super Sedan Commodore, quick change diff, coil overs, ready to race, will sell complete or a roller. $POA. Ph: 03 5996 2263 or 0419 388 192, los

Q.peii Wheelers Formula Ford, Van Diemen 1996, rolling chassis, almost new. Used only one meeting. Your chance to buy new at considerable saving. $29,900. Ph: 00 11 6425 325 516 or 00 11 643 366 6175(NZ).

A Mod Production VP Commodore, registered with

Formula Holden Ralt RT21, silver star series leader. Top hp Rob Benson engine, extensive spares package, all set up, data included. Ready to race. $40,000. Ph: Dean Irwin 03 9479 1041 (BH). .07 Bacchus Clubman, first raced 1965, BMC B series engine, road registered. $14,000. Ph: 08 9240 2558, 08 9447 2410. ,07

Formula Ford, Kaymack 1989 rolling chassis, two sets wheels, other spares, as new condition. $6,000. Ph: 0412 126 524 or 08 9380 4559,

Formula Vee Renmax, ready to race, excellent hp Kleinig engine, superb cond, meticulously maintained, regular top 10 car throughout 1996. $7,000. Ph: Chris Cummins 02 9709 4655(BH), 02 9876 3446(AH). 107 Formula Ford, Van Diemen RF93, new s'steel floor, 95 style side pods, Todd Kelly's Bathurst winning car '96, 2nd AGP '96, 2nd Sandown 500. Spare nose cone and bonnet. Ph: Peter 02 9630 6509.

new carby V6 engine, quicksteer, with Powerhead, fully adjustable suspension. Koni shockers, brand new car with spares. $11,500. Ph: 03 5942 7739(AH). 107 ' I

Commodore NASCAR, complete car with high comp motor, spare springs, wheels, tyres, new paint and panels. $14,000. Ph: 0755 787 870 or 07 55 949 732. locXD Falcon, XF panels, 460 C6, 4 link rear clip (not fitted) wilh shortened, braced 9" Summer Bros axles. XF rear discs. Billet alloy Dragway Draglites with Matt rubber coil, over shocks, XF dash, Fairmont velour seats. Unfinished project $6,500. Call Jason, 0419 364 361. 106 HQ Race Car, this is the very first HQ racer built. Ex Ian Beechey/Paul Bailey car. Own a very 'competitive piece of Australian motor racing history. Comes with a substantial spares package if required. $6,000. Call Ian Simpson. Ph: 0418 721 776. los

Sprintcar kit, highbar, limited use with all panels, bon net, fuel lank, baldder, arms, stops, 2 top wings and brand new high back aluminium seat. Clean unit and a bargin at $3,000. Ph: 08 8269 2928 or 08 8251 3096. lor

Speedwiry

Super Sedan QLD 96,fastest car at the Australian titles (Darwin) 97, 2 lap records. Proven track record, slick or heavy. Lap record and top points scorer at Qld titles, Cairns 97, 4 wins from 4 starts. Very forgiving car, easy to drive. $15,000 ind 4 wheel disc brake trailer wilh tyre rack. No motor or gearbox. Ph: Bruce White 018 774 464. 107 AUSCAR VS complete rolling less engine. Yellow light, fire bomb, fuel cell, churn, harness, complete instrument panel, turbo brakes, M21 gearbox. Needs engine and minor assembly. Assistance given to new owner. $15,000 ono or $18,000 with tri-axle trailer. Ph: 018 176 420 all hours. 106

Super Sedan, VN Commodore. Winters quickchange diff, wide five, Willward brakes. Engineering power steering, complete and ready to race, less motor $13,800. Ph: 0418 514 444 or 03 5176 2257. ot

Speedcar, TRC chassis kit, ex Howard car USA. $1,500ono. Ph:02 9628 2238. .07

92 Gambler, as new, excellent condition and looks great. Some spares. $7,500. Also, Chewy II motor com plete, magneto, injection, some spares $1,400ono. Chev 350 type. Millidon alloy block, 4" +30, tested, $1,800ono. sph: Ray 02 9790 1372. 107

MK1 Cortina Sports Sedan, rolling shell. Can fit any motor mid-mounted. Fibreglass bonnet, guards and boot, with moulds. Hilux diff and adjustable suspension. 13x10 and 14x10 wheels. $1,200. Ph: 043 69 5503. ,o6

;

Toyota Corolla Club Car, worked motor, roll cage, race seat, harness, sell $2,500ono with spares. Ph: 02

Nissan GTR (Godzilla) - Damaged. 4WS, 4WS, twin turbo, ABS, Nismo computer, 10-stacker CD, engine great, new Falken tyres. Super quick car with some body work. Reg 12/97. Repair only $35,000. Ph: 0412 337 227. 106

Solo Speedway bikes; ex Leigh Adams. 1 Antig wilh laydown GM engine; f PJ with laydov/n GM engine; 1 spare GM laydown freshened engine. All are race ready and have been maintained regardless of cost. Ph; 03 5023 5759 after 4pm. -.oi -r

Sprintcar - 87 Tognotti. Panels, engine plates, radia tor, crash bars, radius arms with helms, front axle, tail tank, Winters diff, torsion bars, pedals plus master cylinders, wheels, headers, plus more. $2,800 Ph; 02 9604 0991 (AH). 107

Superkart, Zip Bandit, quick YZ250, Brembo brakes, all new components, only done 10 laps at Oran Park. Must be sold. $8,000 or offers. Genuine inquiries only. Ph: Louie, 042 718 074. 107 Formula Holden, Reynard 89D, uprated to 90D. Huge spares package, rebuilt motor, excellent condition. Lease, or own it for $48,500. Ph: Mark Potter'0417 353 642 or Greg 03 9762 6232 or 0414 857 241, 105

Drag bike. Andy Wilson’s A/Street Bike. As last run. Has run 9.20 at 153mph. Will run 150mph all day. $10,Q00ono. Ph: 03 9748 9643. mi

Brake discs - 7" to 14" new/recon/used, vented/solid, drilled, undrilled, steel/carbon/aluminium. Ph: CCI018 925 767. Gearbox - Hewland DGB 5sp, new Emco CWP, 2 diffs spool/Salisbury, air jacks to suit if required. No damage, exc. cond. Ph: CCI 018 925 767.

Nissan CMA-86 turbo diesel S-speerj.,i)iii: car. New 18'x8'x7'8" body, large exlemad 7c..vrnrw. ai , minium ramps, excellent lyres, no signwntrat . iLo: ; igr comfortable, clean, reliable. Giveaway i20,ir.- i : j; , 050 435 or 0352 483 044. nn n

Pedals - brake/clutch, hanging/floor-mounl, inci bias bar. Also, master cylinders, pop valves, bias cables. Ph: CCI 018 925 767.

36ft fully enclosed gooseneck traiiler., 7ir-e>^.' electric brakes, rear ramp and side doer :acr ; HCt" .' Ph: 067 75 2120. lor

Radiators - aluminium/brass, 1, 2, 3, 4 core, new/used, various sizes large range. Priced to sell. Ph: CCI 018 925 767.

Tri-axle trailer, pan, suit Sprintca, etc ramps, rego. $5,000 ono. Ph:06 297 3657 at

Spoilers - ex Gp A front VP, Vr. carbon fibre/fibregiass. Must clear. Ph: CCI 018 925 767. NOTA CLUBMAN, Group M log book, ex Jacques Sapir, Ron Davies etc. Recent front to rear rebuild. Ford engine, Holinger gearbox, BMC rear end, new Dunlop Rs, new custom trailer, huge amount of spares incI 8 diffs, engine blocks etc. Well known car with excellent competi tion history. Nothing to spend. Genuine and reluctant forced sale. $21,950 with everything. Contact Len Shaw on 03 9787 0856. 107 GoKart, Kali Daytona, 40mm axle, 30mm chassis with PCR PV100, Piston Port or Clubman. Immaculate condition with some spares, will seperate.^ $1,950. Call Peter. Ph: 077 745 980(AH)or 077 794 377(BH). TO Kart Arrow AX5, competitive chassis for clubman light/heayy, brand new engine, just run in. 30mm three bearing axle, comes with suit and spares $2,400. Call John. Ph: 03 9807 6040. los GoKart Dap Parilla, late 95 model, KTIOOs Yamaha engine, just rebuilt, new Bridgestones, hydraulic brakes, lots of spares, stand, ready to race, immac cond, must sell $1,950. Call Travis. Ph: 03 5625 2811. los

Top Fuel Dragster, also suit lop Alcohol, roiling chas sis complete with gauges, fuel lines, parachutes, etc. $15,000. Ph: 067 75 2120. 107 Crew wanted. High profile drag racing team. Long hours, no creature comforts, no benefits, definitely no pay. But lots of fun. Would suit someone already in motor indus try. Ph: 019 941 434. 106

Uprights - Cast/fabricated, front/rear, new/used, large range. Ph: CCI 018 925 767.

Parts

Holden 202 engine,fully rebuilt, balanced, fully worked head, roller rockers. $2,200. Ph: 03 5996 2263 or 0419 388 192. 107

Wiseco/Cosworth pistons, various sizes, suit 23 degree S/BC, assorted valve springs 1.625, S/BC stud gir dles, GM soft touch limiter, 0.43 Speed-Pro rings, Jerico Ford Motorsporl housing #M-7005-B, lots more, unbeatable prices. Ph: Mick 03 5472 4116. mi

896. TO

t y,ts«moco Ex Greg Murphy Formula Holden Reynard 92D, Simoco Pacific Ply Ltd offers for sale this race winning Reynard, Chassis #023. Comes as raced in 1997 Championship season. 4th AGP, 3rd Calder. Fresh engine, Penske shocks, fire bomb, fully o'hauled calipers. Complete ready to race with spares available. Priced to sell at $75,000ono. Call Bruce Williams. Ph: 03 5335 8788 or 0418 349 555. to

Drag Racing

Enaiiies

Porsche wheels, 17" cup, brand new set of four, suit able 928 etc. $2,500. Ph: 014 803 859. 107

Holden 308 engine, complete with alloy heads, roller rockers, stud kit, Romac steel balancer, good rods, forged pistons, MSD ignition, alcohol Predator carburettor. $3,000. Ph: 067 752 120 or 014 426 485. 107

Simpson RX-6 helmef, size 7 3/4..wlTite. ™th r:iistani graphics (removable decals), new im ’box Jnalmltts; clerar and tinted visors, plus Simpson arm. reslra.Tils;,(Cosi:$BZ5 sell $450. Ph: 0353 674 210 or 0419 385066 O.'

L34 308 genuine crankshaft and con rods. New 3/8 454 bolts/nuts and main and rod bearings. $450. Ph: 049 389 524. 107

Chev 366 methanol motor, 650hp, 17 degree Dart heads, call for further info. Ph: 0418 514 444 or 03 5176 2257. .07

Honda generator E2500, works well $650ono. Also, Karcher high pressure water cleaner, near new, $280ono. Ph: Steve 02 9517 1306. 107

Ford, genuine '69 Boss 302. Hilborn injection, 530hp, dyno sheets available. $13,000. Ph: 0411 182 540. TO

Off Road Gearbox, Albins Porsche G50 5 speed, gears. Super diff, slave, starter. $7,000. Ph: 048 836 906. 107

Radiator, aluminium, suit VR Commodore, new, in box, $195. Ph: 0414 756 942. ,07 Chev 454, custom forged Ross pistons. 454 -rlOO thou. Comp ratio of 10:1 on large chamber heads. Cost $1,600, consider all serious offers. Ph: 049 389 524. 107 Wanted - intake manifold, injectors, throttle body, etc from Mazda 2000cc twin cam, 16-valve PE series FWD engine, as fitted to Mazda 626. Ph: Steve 067 665 977

Hemi 265. 4 inch bore, TRW forged Chev pistons, fully balanced, ported and polished head, hot cam, plus heaps more. Very strong engine, suit speedway. $1,700. Ph: 017 * 962 336. TO Porsche race engine, 3.5 litre, 330hp, 11.5:1 Cosworth pistons, lightweight pins, Carillo rods, titanium retainers. Twin plug heads - ported, TKM manifolds. Twin head dis tributor. Racing tensioners. $15,000. Ph: 03 5988 6266. TO Carillo rods V6 Buick. 6.5” length. Holman Moody remote oil filter adaptor. Sierra engine parts. Ported flow tested Jaguar D-Type head. 351C crankshaft. Ph: 04 324 3526. TO

Trailers/Transporters

Custom Plates, held at RTA {Vfml SilLLOO, btack sackground, white lettering. Best offer; :Pli:O'a'9«704®89 or‘0t9 414 404. TO

41ft Double drop deck Pantech, fitted out to carry 4 open wheelers or 2 sedans. Living area, benches, lockers, with 6m wide annexe. POA. Ph: 03 9558 1246. 107

Bathurst Programmes 1970 tlo.- 119316, fused snrGition, I want to trade for posters . Trom; :,83tbiursj oi hfclrfcir before 1984, will not split. Ph: 0T9- 126 463ifAXH) It:

Wanf<eii: Group A Sports Car. Roller, 01 SEiorlE iHhil Ph Uahr 067 342 259. 107

VW Sunraysias, 5 stud, 2 x'13", 2 x 14” with new tyres, complete set. $295. Ph: 019 600 359. 106 Lotus Elan +2S/130 parts new and used inci. new Lotus chassis. Call for price list. Ph: 08 8263 2939. loe Bedford LWB Race/Sprint car transporter. 6VM 6.8T. Very good order. RWC. Register if required. $9,5Q0ono. Ph:065 536 185. 107 r.-'

Simmons B45 Ford wheels, 5 stud, polished, 2 x 16x7, 2 X 16x8. Ph: 03 9793 5588 or 0418 361 399. to Porsche 934 fibreglass body kit. $1,500 ono. Also, 3.8 C2RSR fibreglass body kit, brand new $3,800. 993 body shell, brand new, RHD, with GT2 fibreglass body kit $37,000. Ph: 03 5988 6266. to

Autosport magazines,30 Jam and 16 fee 1007. Pli, Ben 02 9558 1366(AH). 107 TV crew. Dedicated motQ.rspO'rl fans w/anLetf fior Melbourne-based TV show. Video saxpemenore pree-ierred, but not essential. No pay (yet) but'lo!s:of ftun. CDontadlBcetl at In Pit Lane (03)9764 4044. ikDry sump system for 6 cyirndeihJ.olcfreTireHd.iT'Olor. Ph: 0179 656 33. 107 Work in NASCAR crew- E-xp.fanera.cecil '.Spesaway medhanic looking for an oppocttiniiy.to wort vwitn ai iprofessional team, very willing to team all- .BBp.eate--cjl life-class Ph: Jason 015 536 335 or 0394313SS3. -.,v

Dunlop D98W tyres, 4 of, 205x15x50, 70% life remaining. Were $1,100 new, only $600. Ph: 0412 337 227. 106 Wheels, 15x10 composites, Simmons rims, Mawer cen tres, suit Holden or Torana. With valves and nuts. Centres powder-coated, red rims, highly polished, four-of, new. $840 ono. Ph: 03 9801 8504. ik

Autosport Magazines, hundraefs Of issraes Vndujclmg, 1991-94 complete. $150. Ph:02 94n7/46'5B. l 3

Ford D series transporter, 351 V8, annex, cliplock flooring, tyre rack, cupboards, lockable boxes, reliable, gas tank (not fitted). Melbourne. $6,500. Ph: 0418 995 581. 107

Sprintcar parts, front axle, 3-pin style, complete withj brakes, $1,200. Radiator, $200. Aluminium shocks, $95ea.i Complete Winters slider with brake, steel axle, $1,995. Plus more. Ph: 08 8269 29'28,or 08 8251 3096. W7

Mazda MX5, standard parts including exhaust, front/rear shocks, springs, front brake rotors and calipers, radiator, clutch. Ph: 0412 337 227. ™

Historic Photos, 70s and 80b. B/rDck., J.ohnsaDii Richards, Senna, Pros! etc, b/w and. cotoui T-tiajo.rily unpublished. Tourers, F5000, FI. SpDfts, .'AIsC) 2-IT:tte, Historic cars. Fax for details 02 996(516552 -.-

Big Collection of Minichamps, GJiiiartzo. Onyx. 4;<tS and 1:18 Formula One models for. sale. .Also -avaifejble 4:20 unopened kits. Ph: 02 9905 5693-or:Faw 02'9903 3K7:1 oir E-mail: messmod@mpx.com.au ns

(AH). 107

Tyres, wets and intermediates, 18", new and ysed from $200 to $300 ea. Ph: 02 9774 1711 BH. TO l» _

Number plates: GODZLA - Vic plates, airrenify hr rtf a: Vic Roads, white on black. $3,000ono. Ptr:'W1S.33/? 1227'. i-

Welder, MIG single phase, SIP, 240 volt. $780ono. Ph: Ray 02 9790 1372. 107

Various - AP carbon clutch, 5.5" twin plate. Spare plates, just rebuilt by AP in UK $2,000ono. AP four-pot calipers, brand new, never used CP3344. Lug mount. $1,300 pr. AP ventilated brake discs, 280mm diameter, 22mm thick. Brand new, never used, $500 pr. Dry brake fuel fittings, female, $350 pair. Earls oil cooler, 300 x 70mm, brand new, never used, 41006, $100, Sway bar adjusters, in car, brand new, never used, $200ono. Ph: Steve 02 9517 1306. 107 Van Diemen RF90, Available complete or as rolling chassis, huge spares package including FULL car set of wishbones, pushrods, track rods, etc. 2 nose boxes (one new), top body, one full set of wheels, var. size new rose joints etc. Many 91 and 92 updates. Car is available as a complete package or as rolling chassis. Must be sold now! Call Ian Simpson 0418 721 776 or Michael Simpson 0418 311 873. 106

Other

Rodeck 372ci Sprintcar engine, Felsch-built 650hp, fully freshened and crack tested. Crowtar crank, Carillo rods, Ross pistons. Brown heads, roller valve train, gear drive Hillborn injection, dry sump. Complete radiator to fuel pump, including pipes. Drop in and race. $20,000ono. Ph: John 02 9543 8806 or 018 041 571. 107

Getrag direct fifth gearbox, from BMW 325i. Dog leg first gear position. $2,500. Ph: 014 803 859. 107 Van Diemen RF96, This is the car that won the 1996 Australian Formula Ford Championship. Immaculate con dition, no expense spared in maintaining. Will be sold immediately as either a complete package or as a rolling chassis. All data is included. Engine is the ex Besnard n Championship winning Lamer engine, fully rebuilt, dynoed. No Miles. Everything must go nowl Call Ian Simpson. Ph: 0418 721 776 or Michael Simpson 0418 769

Wings - ex Gp A Commodore, Porsche Cup. Also alum single/dual plane, suit sports sedan, used/new. Ph: CCI 018 925 767. *

Trailer, covered-in tandem, with electrre v/rr.cth EMjlujaei wheeler or medium sedan. $5,500. Ph 03 r

Tamiya FI kits 1/20th sciale iWollf vWRT, SV-aPham BT46, other early kits oonsiderad. Pti: AwtT7fm 049 -484

71)61

472. 107

Turbo Hino GD176K transporter, completely set up for Sprint car, 7.5kVa generator, compressor, Sprint car, spare chassis. Quad. 3 top wings, 4 right rears, 4 left rears, winch etc. Excellent set-up, very good truck. $42,500ono. Ph: 07 3803 6077 or 018 153 719. 107

Pit crew required, male or tsinate, aaiy aige, to r ,2 fitre Super Tourer team. Sydney metro. Mieipr©'710045 axjpenence necessary. Ph: William 02 9774; 1171*?' '(EIH-). «r Old Sports Sedan, preler Holtefi rVge roI importaint, but must be cheap. Ph: 015 70n TQ3. a

You've just looked at ower Svil)9 rnriflllicni(iidllars worth of cars and parts;,torsalffi in Mtotoir^port News Free Classifieds..

AP four spot calipers (ex Nissan GTR racing calipers). One pair in excellent condition, also brand new brake pads to suit. $900. Ph: George 03 9478 0121 (AH). 106 Nissan R200 gear ratios, new and s/hand. $350 to $700. Ph: 03 5988 6266. 106 Brake calipers - 2, 4, 6, 8 piston, new/used, large range, spares/pads available. Priced to sell. Ph: CCI 018 925 767.

Oil coolers - Earls, Setrab, Serok, 7-60 row, used/new, large range. Ph: CCI 018 925 767. Toyota Hi-Lux Super Sedan, set up for Chev. Mark Williams rear, weld wheels. Autometer, Hurst. No motor or box. $8,000ono. Ph: 03 9731 0470 or 014 694 423. 107

Clutches - twin/triple/four plate, 7.25/5.5 sintered/carbon fibre. Spare covers, rings, plates. Used, new. Ph: CCI 018 925 767.

Dodge Dual cab transporter, V8 motor, twin gas tanks, winch, 20" good tyres, plenty of storage, good con dition. Reg and RWC. $8,000 ono. Ph:03 9729 0451. 106

Let’s face it, there’s ma lBat1t®r wray Ssea^Biyotamotor sport equipmartiltiaimirh iWaKfflKSffwtt News- it’s free and ithrtsrjts!

Tell'em you saw it in Molorsport News i. 3

50 lAu0M

COIVIIVIENT Let’s find a solution i

Editorial

; : , i i i i ;

eiditok David Nassau lecnnical Editor Tony Glynn Assistant Editor Phil Branagan Graphics Co-ordinator Viv Brumby

^ )

Advertising : ; i

I Advertising Manager ; Gerald McDornan

Administration Managing Director > Chri.s Lambden

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Contacts 89 Orrong Crescent Caulfield North VIC 3161 (1^0 Box 1010 North Caulfield 3161) ' Phone: 03 9527 7744 ! Fax 03 9527 7766 Frnail: msncws@oxonline.com.au

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Contributors General' Mike Katrle, Jon Thomson, Brian Reed, Darryl Flack FI: Joe Saward, Adam Cooper Europe: Quentin Spurring, Ian Bamsey, : Gwyn Dolphin ) US: Brcice Smith, Phil Morris NZ: John Hawkins : Speedway: Dennis Newlyn, David McNabb, Wade Aunger, Geoff Rounds, Mark Neale, David Lamont, Chris Metcalf, Sue Hobson. I Michael Attwell, Tony Millard (UK) : Rally: Peter Whitten : Drag Racing: Gerald McDornan, [Greg Ward, Jon Asher (USA), Dave Ostaszewski (USA), i Nick Nicfiolas, Steven White, Ken Ferguson, Scott Jug Super Speedway: Martin Clark (USA), Brett Swanson, Sean Hensheiwood, Karts: Ian Salvestrin. Allan Roark, IGraerne Burns, Edward Krause i Photographers: lAF, Dirk Klynsmith, i ^oom Photographies, Neil Hammond, ; Nigel & Diana Snowdon, i Sean Hensheiwood, Brad Steele, I Thunder-Pics, Marshall Cass, Mike Harding, Brisbane Motorsport, Frank Midgley, John Bosher, Phil Williams, Mike Patrick (UK)

Dear Sir, It’s time to stop the bickering and fighting over which category is best and who has the rights to tradition. We’ve all had enough of the politics and would like everyone involved to get together and come up with a solution to our Bathurst race. Everyone from CAMS, AVESCO, TEGA, TOGA, ARDC, Channel 7, Channel 10, Bathurst Council, as well as representatives of the fans, should sit down together and “nut out” a solution that may not be perfeet for everyone, but as close to perfect as possible, It is time to stop the petty “oneupmanship” and grandstanding so the winner can be Motor Racing in Australia. There are thousands of fans out there who want nothing more than to go to Bathurst, or sit in front of their television on the long weekend in October and see the best motor racing in the world - to continue a tradition that could have started thirty or so years ago, or could have begun last year. Like it or not, that tradition con tinues today in the V8 touring cars, so why not leave the long weekend in October to them? The 2-litre touring cars are still finding their feet in this country, so why not let them start a tradition of their own by maybe reawakening the traditional Easter weekend of racing at Bathurst and building that up to being one of the world’s great motor sport events? This could be the kick-off to their season, with international teams bringing tHeir cuinent models here for the Easter Bathurst 1000 and leaving some of them for locals to drive in the rest of the championship - thus leaving the October Bathurst 1000 as the traditional yearly “Grand Finale.” Maybe as a compromise for the business deals, Channel 7 could broadcast the October race and Channel 10 the Easter race, with the ARDC organising both. David Fawcett Blackheath, NSW

Amaroo was fantastic n

HOTORSPOKI NEWS 1.1 pulliilieij oy

Dear Sir, I have been an avid motor sport

to to

»<i tod not

/ been to a race meeting since an Publisher: ; unpleasant incident with a drunkC UmDden i en V8 supporter in 1993. Printed by: i However, at the urging of a Wilke Color 3749 Brawns Rd Clajicn 3168 I friend, I was a spectator at Amaroo Distributed by: j Park, which hosted the most recent NDD Ltd round of the BOG Gases Australian ; Super Touring Championship. M;.iterial publiUied by .MOTORSPO:<i NEWS is | I must applaud the organisers on copyright and mciy not Or reproduced :n (bll or in ; part without the wrifren permis<i;on of the i a job well done. There was a buzz publisher. Freelance rontributicns are wefrorne. ; in the air, the crowd was huge and and while all rare will be taken, cVusrraiasian j Moiofspurc News Pty Ltd does nor accept : very appreciative of the excellent responsibility lor damage or loss of matenaf| yjbmiiri-xi. ’

Opinions e,xpressc*d in Mororsporr Ni^vs are nor | necessarily rhc>se of Ausualasian Motorsport News j I'f^' I td Of Its sraft. ! JRer.omrnenrJed and makimum price onV j

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day of motorsport. It is very pleas- ^ cial Bathurst. I was also informed ant for an old time motor sport fan the V8 race would probably be covto be able to go to a motor race ered in a special magazine edition. I don’t know about the rest of meeting and not feel threatened by you, but I have bought Chevron’s the beer-swilling V8 yobbos. It was pleasing to see the young Bathurst books for 16 years, but no families in attendance, with fathers way am I going to shell out fifty bucks for a book full of two litre introducing sons to motorsport. The wide variety of makes was a buzz bombs! If you feel as strongly about this revelation, with the GTP racing sensational and the Audi BMW as I do, let Chevron know how you super touring battle reminiscent of feel. We still have a couple of months the old Team Neptune days, A pity Cameron McConville to maybe change their minds. While on the subject of books, I decided to punt Paul Morris off the

In race two at Amaroo Park, in typical ‘Fitzy’ style with two cor ners left in the race, he deliberately punted race leader John Bowe off the track, seemingly because he couldn’t find a way to create a clean, proper pass, just like Bowe had done to him previously in the race. It was one of the worst acts of sportsmanship I have ever seen in motor racing and it’s certainly not Peter the first time from Fitzgerald, Fitzy, wake up to yourseli. t can’t overtake someone fairly, don t deliberately punt them off the track, K McNeill Ruse, NSW _ ED: I think you’re being a Little harsh, McNeill. Fitzgerald apologised to Bowe over the PA straight after the race and was relegated back to second by the stewards afterwards.

Broek and Senna Dear Sir, “He was a great racing driver but maybe as a human being, he was even greater.” Frank Williams said this about Ayrton Senna at Imola, 1995. Perhaps we could say the same about Peter Brock. I don’t think Brocky comes any where neai’ Ayrton as far as racing talent is concerned, but they were/are great people. David Baker Davidson, NSW

Consideration, please, Nine! GREAT RACING DRIVER... Peter Brock; greater human being. track, rather than race him to the finish. I was on the cliff above Stop/Go and it was a most unsportsmanlike act. Still, I suppose it helped Brad Jones close the gap in the Championship hunt. I am now confirming my rpservations to attend the great t;ace at Bathurst on the first weekend in October. T'a'in a convert to the Super Touring formula and firmly believe that this is the future of Australian motorsport. Bob Clarke

Sydney,NSW

Tough roadino times ahead Dear Sir, Just a short letter to let your readers know of a problem they are going to face in December. I rang Chevron books last week and was told that this year’s Bathurst ‘Great Race’ yearbook would cover the two litre race only, as in their opinion this is the offi-

hope somebody out there is busy writing a decent farewell book for Brocky. The last one worth collect ing was back in 1983, at least, Greg Feltham Hobart, TAS ASST ED: Chevi’on always pubfished the Great Race annual on the Bathurst 1000 held over the October long weekend, be it for Group C, A or V8. It’s not their decision that this year’s race is for Super Tourers. As for the Brock book, Pan McMillan will be publishing one soon, perhaps next month. n And the book that was pub-

Ushed in 1983 was written by

our esteemed editor... check page 17 for the latest instal-

Foul Fitzy Deai'Sir, I would like to express my extreme disappointment with GT-P driver Peter Fitzgerald.

Dear Sir, I am just writing a little note to agree with Mario Mazzeo (Issue 105, July 18 1997) and his com ments about TV coverage of Formula 1. As a big fan of FI, it really annoys me when FI is put aside for something like Wimbledon, which is on for around five days/nights, or golf, which is usually on for 4 days/nights. Two hours of FI is put aside for something that will still be going long after the Grand Prix is fin ished. What annoys me more is that when an FI race is put aside, it is usually replayed the next night at

around biidnight or later,

The least GTV 9 could do for all the devoted FI fans out there (and I’m sure there are quite a few), is replay a race at a reasonable hour the next night, say 9.30 or ‘ 10.30 PM! Not too much to ask is it! „ . _ Chris Petti^ve Frankston, VIC

By Barry Foley

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