Motorsport News Issue 117 - 2-15 January 1998 by V8 Sleuth

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Issue 117

$4.20 (NZSS.SSincIGST)

2-15 January 1998

NEW-

EXCLUSIVE by DAVID HASSALL MARK Webber bas finally signed a long-term deal with Mercedes-Benz which conld take him into Formula 1 within two yearSo

THE BEAST AWAITS: Mark Webber will be racing the Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR in Europe after signing a muiti^year contract with the car maker.

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The 21-year-old Australian will contest the full FIA GT Championship with the factory AMG team in 1998. Mercedes will announce its final schedule, pairings and sponsors soon, but Webber has been allowed to confirm his signing of a “multi-year con¬ tract”. This is the best manufac¬ turer to be with and the best contract to have as a young* driver,” he said this week. Mercedes know that I won’t be happy to drive sports cars for the rest of my life. And there is just one category above this - Formula 1. Now I just have to give it 100 percent over the next 12 months and see where it goes from there. Eernd Schneider is very fast, so if I can stay with him I should be able to move up. I just can’t wait to get back over there and get into it. Webber was able to reveal that Mercedes - and also former rugby union star David Campese - rescued his 1997

Formula 3 program in August when he was desperately short of funds. No decision has yet been made by Mercedes about doing Le Mans, but our European reporters suggest that it is likely. The GT Championship con sists of 10 roimds with nine in Europe and one in Japan.

Continued Page 3

BUMPER ISSUE! 1998 race calendar ★★★

John Bowe interview ★★★

Scotty Cannon feature

Now it’s time to win the World title, says team boss

Russell Ingall kart feature

Full story Page 5

9 771320 974012

★★★

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AJ and Longhurst to team? and Bridgestone as he would join Longhurst in using ALAN Jones may be close to Yokohama’s Level One tyres. joining forces with Tony Bridgestone Motorsport con Longhurst for a two-car Falcon firmed this week that they had assault on the V8 Supercar settled their line-up for 1998 races this season. and Jones was not on the list. The two Ford drivers are like “It would be impossible to ly to run side-by-side, with allow our tyres to go into a nonLonghurst running his car for Bridgestone team,” said the regular sponsors Castrol and company’s motorsport manager Hog’s Breath Cafe, and Jones Graham Brown. running for Komatsu. But the partnership is not Neither Longhurst nor Jones . likely to happen before the would confirm the rumours this Lakeside round of the Shell week, AJ saying only that he senes. was “exploring many options”. Longhurst’s team has been ((It’s closer with some than it building a new car during the is with others, but it’s not for off-season and he says that it 99 me to start making comments was still “six weeks away or so or making announcements. and that his team would not “My sponsors Komatsu have to be satisfied with any deal rush the job. That would mean that Jones and, until that happens, we’ll would take over the car in keep working.” which Longhurst starts the sea For his part, Longhurst con son at Lakeside. firmed that they had discussed “Even if the deal doesn’t come the deal. By PHIL BRANAGAN

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OTHER OPTIONS;

Man Jones is working hard to get onto the grid in 1998.,

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“I’ve spoken to everyone; Alan, through I will run a second car Castrol, Ford and Yokohama. there for Charlie O’Brien,” Nothing’s been signed and we. Longhurst confirmed. Shoidd the deal come about it have to work out the finer' ' would be the second time the points,” said Longhurst. If the deal goes ahead it two have been teammates as would me'a-n the end of a six- they were together with BMW year association between Jones in 1989-’91.

Webber Rodney Forbes looks signs for Mercedes to V8 Supercar deal Continued from Page 1 Yellow Pages Australia, the com pany which has guided Webber’s career with such great loyalty, will continue with him as a personal sponsor. “I’m just so lucky to have such fantastic people around like the people at Yellow Pages, my family, my management people, Norbert Haug at Mercedes and the people at AMG,” Webber said. He returns to Europe in two weeks, first for an 11-day fitness program in Austria, then testing at Barcelona and 10 days of cycling in Majorca. He will continue to live in England, but Mercedes has provid ed an apartment in Germany for his use. Mercedes is understood to also have Nick Heidfeld (who is running the McLaren F3000 this year) and Riccardo Zonta (who is testing with McLaren)under contract. Both have been given FI testing opportunities and Webber hopes to get the same. It is possible he will be tried by McLaren at the end of this year. Webber is unaware of any plans Mercedes may have had for slotting him into a Formula 3000 program, but said he would not necessarilly have been consulted. The 1998 GT Championship schedule is: March 22 . France April 5 Estoril (Portugul) April 19 Germany Silverstone(UK) May 5 June 28 Nurburgring(Genn) July 19 Spa(Belgium) August 23 Suzuka (Japan) September 6 Donington(UK) September 20 A-1 Ring (Austria) October 4 Mugello (Italy)

A FURTHER addition to the young talent line-up in this year’s V8 Supercar field could well come in the form of Rodney Forbes. Having looked at the options for 1998, including a full Formula Ford Championship season, Forbes looks likely to make the step directly into V8s. , One of the options being assessed involves an exGardner Commodore prepared by ex-Gardner engineer Wally Storey, who is now working with the Lansvale team. While most of Australia has been in Christmas mode, Forbes’ father,foimer racer and team owner Bob Forbes, has been busily working on possible packages and sponsorship. As an indicator of Forbes’ seriousness, an entry is being lodged for the SATCC opener at Sandown and the AGP meeting. Forbes Jnr impressed mightily in 1997, his debut Foi-mula Ford season. The 27-year-old took out the NSW Championship with ease, surprised the Australian Championship reg ulars at the few rounds contested and put in perhaps the drive of the year to win the second Primus 1000

supporting race at Bathurst from grid 26 - all in a 1992 Van Diemen. A delighted Bob Forbes, whose most recent race team venture was with the GlO-backed Nissan GT-R, is amazed at his almost accidental return to an involve ment in competitive motor sport: “It’s funny. All that time when we had the Commodores and the GT-R, I was bringing in drivers and all the time I had one at home in the lounge ...” The GT-R was in fact brought out of mothballs a cou ple of weeks back, Forbes Jnr giving the once dominant tourer a mn in the Invitation Sports Car category at Eastern Creek’s recent AMSCAR round. On outdated rubber, the car was still good for times in the 1:37s and Forbes Jnr apparently had a ball. As late as Monday, Bob Forbes confirmed that he was still working on getting things together for an early-season debut: “As it stands, there’s nothing there yet. “If we can get it together properly we’ll be there, but if not we may have to miss a few early races.” - CHRIS LAMBDEN

Cannonball widow awarded $300,000 THE widow of a race marshal killed during Allan Moffat’s “Cannonball Run” held in the Northern Ten-itoi’y in 1994 was awarded $300,000 last week. Susan Pritchard of Darwin, whose 31-year-old husband Keith was one of four people killed vhen a Ferrari spun out of control at a checkpoint south of Alice Springs, was awarded the damages against the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS), which sanc tioned the race. Both the driver and navigator in

the Japanese-entered Ferrari F40 were killed and the other victim was standing near Pritchard. CAMS marketing manager John Benson said the event, which was modified immediately after the accident, has not been banned. “Those sort of events will be espe cially closely scrutinised,” Benson said.

A $800,000 claim for damages filed by'Mrs Pritchard against Cannonball Run organiser Racecage will be heard on March 30.

Allan Moffat

n While Jason Bargwanna has been confirmed as the second dri ver in the Gany Rogers V8 Supercar line-up for 1998,the source ofthe team’s additional car hasn’t. While Wayne Gardner still has his two Commodores on the market, we hear the team has been in discussion with HRT... n Ten’s GP push? Network Ten commentator Leigh Diffey heads to London next week to interview Williams pair Jacques Villeneuve and Heinz-Harald Frentzen for Ten. n The World Series Sprintcar Series heats up this week, with five rounds in a little over a week. Local hero David Anderson won last Saturday’s sixth round ofthe series at Wagga from points leader Skip Jackson and Brooke Tatnell. Jackson ended the week end with 4370 points from Tatnell(3595), Brett Lacey(2565) and Garry Rush (2400), who did not run the Wagga round. n Gianni Morbidelli is to con test next year’s British Touring Car- Championship. The 29-yearold Italian will join Rickard Rydell in TWR’s Volvo squad. The announcement leaves only one vacant works seat in the 1998 Championship, the second Ford berth alongside formerchampion Will Hoy. Brazilian Flavio Figuereido is considered favourite for the seat but Craig Baird (and possibly another ‘Southern Hemisphere’ driver) are also in contention. n There’s unlikely to be con trol tyres in the ’98 BTCC. ’ Independents have campaigned for the changd, claiming that equal tyres will bring them clos er to the works teams, but man ufacturers are less keen. There will be tyre war-mers, however. They will be used in the second race to ensm-e cars don’t have accidents on cold tyres after the mid-race pit stop. n Stateside Super Touring may not be dead. A consortium of team owners has formed the American Touring Car Championship and plans to run an eight-race series for Super Tourers and the growing-in-popularity Group N-plus cars. It will be based on the West Coast, thus removing the heavy travel com mitment thought to have been a prime factor in the demise ofthe TOCA-organised NASTC. n One ofthe most famous com petition cars residing in Australia is for sale -the Toyota Celica used by Carlos Sainz to win the 1990 World Rally Championship. Owner Ray Lintott can be con tacted on (02)9744 0691. n British Tom-ing Car Championship stalwart Patrick Watts could start this year’s series in a privately-entered Renault Lagmia. The 41-yearold Bathm-st visitor is yet to win a BTCC race, despite six seasons of Lying with Mazda and Peugeot factory teams. n The 1998 Le Mans is shap ing up to be one ofthe strongest ever. Factory teams ai-e expected from BMW,Chrysler, Lister. Lotus, Marcos, Nissan, Panoz, Porsche and possibly MercedesBenz - and now Toyota has con firmed that it will join the party wnth three pui-pose-built GT-1 racecars. The first test prototype of the all-new car is being built at Ove Andersson's Toyota Team Europe factory in Gei-many, which designs, builds and oper ates Toyota's Corolla World Rally Cars.

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A year of turmoil

nd so another year comes to a close, leaving us ail looking forward with great optimism to a new season and ali the possibilities that entails. Looking back on 1997, I doubt that it will be remembered as a classic year on either the local or international scenes. There was certainly plenty of great action on the track in Australia, biut the over-riding issue which dominated thte year was having two Bathurst races. A year ago in this column I was crotical of CAMS and its lack of action in preventing!the Bathurst split and, while the governing body was not directly responsible for the split, it should have taken a greater role in trying to resolve it before too much damage was done. In not doing so, it allowed the cofiinmercial factions who have been given coimtrol of the sport to make their own arrangements which were inevitably not in the best inter ests of the sport as a whole. The result was two Bathurst races, a sit uation which divided the sport, alienated

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fans and caused confusion among the mililosns of people who follow the sport casually and tune into Bathurst only once a year. Now it is probably too late and the only scSlution may be for one of the groups to fall by the wayside, which would be a tragedy and would cost the sport even more. One still hopes that the two races can

continue^ in their own right and each be viable, though you would have to think that this would require a greater gap between them than even the six weeks we will have in 1998. But at least that^is better than two weeks, which was always ludicrous - and should not have been permitted by CAMS. CAMS at an administrative level appears to be in reasonable shape, but politically it is quite unstable. One of the main items on the agenda for 1998 must be to resolve the Presidency because at present Peter Bready only has half of the Board on his side. It was only through a questionable point of order that Bready survived a challenge late in the year and this must be clarified as soon as possible.

A New Year wish

s we move forward into the new sea son, we can look forward to having a strong youth push in touring car racing. Thpse young drivers have been ham mering at the door in recent years and now they have been given the chance to prove

that they deserve the places. But there is one issue which afflicts the sport and again CAMS has the opportunity to set things right. In modern motor racing, passing is hard enough because of short braking distances, the rdle of aerodynamics and the equality of equipment. But passing has been made almost impossible in Australia through what is politely called defensive driving - known around the rest of the world as blocking. If the CAMS stewards and race directors continue to allow drivers to drive around on the inside line, driving considerably slower than if they took proper lines, then we are in for a long and boring season. Again. This is not racing. This is nothing more than blocking and it should be banished immediately. If you tried the same thing anywhere else in the world you would be warned once and then black-flagged if you continued. If someone is good enough to dive down the inside, you should be good enough to get them back. That has been the rule of racing for 100 years and it should still be. n

1Benetton tries new car I I I I I l

SENETTON has won the race to be th* first Grand Prix team to run its 1998 car, thoagh fits troubled debut was csoaduicted in secret.. The prototype- Benetton B198 — w.hicli is powered by a Mecachrome lilO engine ran for the first time at if Silverstome im the hands of Giancarrlo-Fisicihefla. Paul Morris , The test was; severely restricited because of snow storms at the Nortihamptonshire track but. tihe team hoped to get (down to some serious testing in the new year. The B198 is due to be offi cially Launched on January 15. Benetton has tested numer.-Gus counpoinents in a PAUL Morris may be 1997 chassis, but leapfrogged on the verge of joining (Photos by LAT) FIRST RUN... Jordan ran the Mugen-Honda engine for the first time with Pedro de la Rosa at the wheel. the opposition by. not produc PacWest Racing for the ther and installa Poor wea ing a naiTow-brack version of opment work had to be intefesting,” said Alesi after continued its evaluation 1998 Indy Lights the B197. work with Juan-Pablo aborted. tion problems confined new embarrassingly spinning on Championship. test driver Pedro de la Rosa “Our entire effort was Olivier Panis and Jarno Montoya and Max Wilson. puddles at the first corner in The current Super focused on bmldio/g a sepa The new FW20 is expected to limited running in the his very first run at the Trulli concen^ated on brake Touring Champion tested rate car as close as possible to be unveiled at the end of 197NH chassis. wheel of the Sauber. and gearbox development PacWest’s Buick-powered to the L‘998 regulations,” said De la Rosa was given the work. “The first target is the January while the team’s Lola at Firebii’d Raceway technical diiTechor Nick Also in Barcelona were podium and then we’ll work new Winfield colour scheme responsibility of the first test will be introduced in the Wirth. before Christmas, with a with Jordan’s new engine McLaren (doing Bridgestone from there.” because 1998 drivers Damon New Year. “Time will tell whether we view to completing the At Paul Ricard, Williams development), Sauber (run Hill (still contracted to series this season. Jordan has given up test were right or mot.”' ning Jean Alesi for the first and Tyrrell were in action, Frost should hawe its new ing its Mugen-Honda-pow- Arrows)and Ralf Schumacher The 30-year-old from time), Arrows, Minardi with Jacques Villeneuve hav ered interim car at (national service in Germany) car up nnd maaning early in (which ran damper tests ing a fairly large off in high the Gold Coast completed were not available. Silverstone and is not now with Luca Badoer and Tom winds and low temperatures. around 80 laps of the January hut testiiiig before The new Jordan-Mugen Christmas in Barcelona was Kristensen) and Stewart. expected to be in action The World Champion took Arizona track in two days half a day off, complaining of again until the New Year Honda 198 will be unveiled “I am starting again from and, by all reports, badly -rdisrupted by rain, when Damon Hill is due to on January 19. which meant that,tyre devel- zero, that is what is most a sore neck, and Williams impressed the team with - JOE SAWARD have his first runs for the his speed and technical team. and agencies feedback.

Morris close to US deal

“I would say that the deal is 50-50 at the moment,” said Morris on Monday. “Fm satisfied that I did

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enough to satisfy the team.” PacWest ran a single car in last year’s champi onship, getting particu larly good oval results with driver Robbie Unser. They already have a sponsorship package in place for this season but are yet to decide whether or not to run one driver or two. Morris was introduced to the team through long time mentor Frank Gardner. -PHILBRANAGAN

GOING FOR A SPIN... Jean Alesi(below with teammate Johnny Herbert) took the Sauber out for the first time (left) and promptly lost it at the first corner...

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FERRARI must win the FI world title in 1998, according to the architect of its retui-n to form, Jean Todt. This came as the team’s 1998 challenger hit the track for the first time in plain carbonfibre - the first test in living memory that a new Ferrari has not been painted the famous / Italian racing red. The Prancing Horse’s Sporting Director said that nothing less than victory would do after a season with its fortunes in the ascendant. “Fen-ari is not content to merely do better; it must challenge for the world title,” tbe Frenchman said. “We have seen a growth period, with five grand prix victories. From now on, it is necessary for us to win. “Obviously, it was a psychological blow to lose last year’s title with only

25 minutes of the season to go. “Our first objective was to do bet ter than the previous season, but at the same time we wanted to win the world championship.” Todt’s confidence in next season is rooted in Ferrari’s design team of Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne, the men who brought Michael Schumacher two world titles at Benetton. “This season’s car was certainly better on some circuits than others; we hope next year’s will be quicker everywhere,’/ said Todt. The new bar ran on December 23, with Schumacher completing only two laps at a freezing Fiorano test track before it ground to a halt, Initially the team reported a wheel bearing had failed, but Schumacher later reported that the engine man-

agement system detected that some wirfes had made contact with each other and the system stopped the engine before any damage was done. The car will be officially launched on January 7. “We would have^liked to have made a few more laps,” said Todt, “but the important thing was that the engine ran.” In the meantime, Nicola Larini has continued the team’s test pro gramme, running a ’97 F310B on grooved Goodyears at Fiorano, although bad weather has slowed progress. Any further running of the car will be done by Luca Badoer, who has been confirmed as the team’s new test driver. Todt, who said that he was keen to remain at Ferrari for several years,

LOTUS’S new Elise Sport is expected to add spice to the 1998 Australian GT-P Championship. Five of the 100 ‘Sport’ ver sions being produced are heading to Australia and, pending homologation, at least three are expected to be raced, Warwick Rooklyn and Adam Kaplan have already indicated that they will move to the GT-P ranks to race the cars while Anthony Robson is expected to move into an Elise fi'om his Toyota MR2. Melbourne-based Lotus importer Monarch Motors may also ran a car - perhaps for a V8 Supercar driver. The ‘Sport’ version of the 700kg Elise is expected to be a threat to the heavier Porsche, Ferrari and Dodge Viper outright contenders. The Sport’s 2-litre engine will have 190hp, compared to the Elise’s regular 120hp. - PHIL BRANAGAN

believes McLaren will be Ferrari’s strongest rival next year, followed by Williams. MEANWHILE, Feraari president Luca di Montezemolo last week refused to rale out the possibility of following McLaren’s lead in switch MICHELIN has admitted ing to Bridgestone tyres. that it is considering an The Woking team’s escape from an apparently binding contract could involvement in Formula 1 open the door for other Goodyear but that no decision has teams to do the same. yet been taken. “Theoretically, we could change “Nothing is yet decided,” tyre manufacturers next year (1998) said a Michelin spokesman. but I will do everything to avoid “We are still thinldng about that,” said di Montezemolo. it, because it is not an easy “We’ve worked well with Goodyear- decision. . “We will make our decision for a long time and we hope to con vince them to reverse their decision at a given moment and when to leave FI. our decision is taken we will “But, on the other hand, we could announce it - whether it is decide to suddenly make a switch.” positive or negative.”

MSchelin undecided on Formula 1

Esteban Bridgestone Tnero considers signs for filnardi withdrawing ARGENTINE teenager Esteban Tuero will race for the Minardi FI team in 1998, it was confirmed last Tuesday. "It's what I've always dreamt of - I've worked really hard to achieve this," the 19 year-old for mer Argentine kart rac ing champion told a press conference. Tuero, who raced in Japan and in Formula 3000 last season, Minardi impressed owner Giancarlo Minardi during a series of test's in Italy in September and in Spain last month. "Tuero has proved his driving talent as a test driver for us over the past two years and he has made a lot of progress," Minardi said.

BRIDGESTONE may be pulling out of Australian motor racing in 1999. Graham Brown, Bridge stone’s Motorsport Manager, has warned that the ongoing indecision regarding tjres for the V8 Supercar category is threatening the Japanese giant’s long-term commit ment to the class. “We have several options for 1999, including doing nothing at all,” he said this week.

“That would be looking at the gloomier side of it. “Bridgestone Japan ideally would like to have a decision for the ’99 season by Febraai-y and plan around that. In that regard we are not gi-eatly different to Dunlop or Yokohama. Production planning is a huge job and it requires a great degree of forward planning.” Brown said that a control I

tyre was not the only option for the class, “I’ve been putting up options for tyi-e rules for some time and, ideally, I would like to see something based on the Foi-mula One model. “You can’t let of couple of emotional arguments i-ule the day. With the decrease in budgets for many of the teams-including some of the bigger outfits - I fail to see the sense in driving the tyre companies out of the class.” But, despite the potential pull-out - and Bridgestone’s 1999 commitment to' FI, when they will be -the sole supplier to GP racing Brown said that the company is still keen to stay involved. Formula One is obviously the company’s m.ain priority at this time. If it’s put into place soon we can deal with it.” - PHIL BRANAGAN

IMPRESSIVE... Montoya’s test pace has been rewarded with a Williams contract. (Photos:lat)

Montoya to Williams

COLOMBIAN hot-shot Juan Pablo Montoya has won the job of test driver for the World Champion Williams team in 1998. The 22 year-old (right) was mighty impressive when he clearly outpaced rivals for the job - Max Wilson, Soheil Ayari hnd Nicolas Minassian - in Barcelona testing last month. Montoya was Craig Lowndes’ teammate in the RSM Marko F3000 team in 1997 and greatly impressed the Australian.

s Shake-up at Mercedes-Benx?

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IT HAS not been a good month for Mercedes-Benz with the announcement

THE provisional FI entry list has been issued and the numbers which the teams will be using this year. The list raised a few points of interest. It confirmed that Arrows will continue to use Yamaha engines in 1998 but left the team’s sponsor blank, raising doubts over Danka (see sepa rate story). The name of the Benetton engine remains a mystery while the team name to be used by Williams is still to be decided. Although the names of the Tyrrell drivers were left blank, Toranosuke Takagi wiU be one of the drivers. The drivers nominated can be changed up until March 5 next year. The numbers issued ai’e: 1, Jacques Villeneuve; 2, HeinzHarald Frentzen; 3, Michael Schumacher; 4, Eddie Irvine; 5, Giancarlo Fisichella; 6, Alexander Wurz; 7, David Coulthard; 8, Mil^a Hakkinen; 9, Damon Hill; 10, Ralf Schimiacher; 11, Olivier Fanis; 12, Jarno Trulli; 14, Jean' Alesi; 15, Johnny Herbert; 16, Pedro Diniz; 17, Mika Salo; 18, Rubens Barrichello and 19, Jan Magnussen. Tyrrell will have numbers 20 and 21 and Minardi 22 and 23. - JOE SAWARD

scored only three wins - all this year - and two of them were fortunate victories. Mercedes-Benz has two

that the firm is stopping production of its second years: to run on its five-year new model because of McLaren contract but it is worries over safety. widely felt that the 1998 sea The boss of Daimler-Benz, son will be the team’s last real chance. Jurgen Schrempp, is report There is, however, much edly furious at the delay in the launch of the Smart car, optimism at McLaren with coming just a matter of the andval of Adrian Newey weeks after similar problems and Bridgestone tyres. with the new A Class. The switch to Bridgestone Investors are also wonied is a big risk for the team about the collapse of the but one which may well pay Asian car markets as a result off. of the recent economic trou This year the Bridgestone bles in the Fai’ East. tyres were more competitive The announcement of the than the Goodyear rubber at delay in the Smart car pro several races, although the gramme resulted in a 6 per Bridgestone teams failed to cent drop in the Daimler- make the most of the advan tage. Benz share price and there were rumours in Germany If McLaren can produce a that Schrempp may dismiss reliable car in 1998 it could Mercedes-Benz chief execu win four or five races thanks tive Jurgen Habbert, one of to the tyres - even if the car the biggest supporters of the is no big improvement. Mercedes FI program. If the car is considerably better than the MP4-12, as Schrempp is famous with in Daimler for cancelling the team hopes, then there will be more victories. weak projects and he is If things go wrong known to be less than happy with the lack of success with Bridgestone can take the blame for the failure. the FI engines. Whether this will be Mercedes has not achieved the results it has hoped for in FI after five years with Sauber and McLaren, having

Who’s who in 1998

enough to convince Schrempp remains to be seen ... - JOE SAWARD

WINGED WONDER... Porsche’s new GT2 ready to race with new high rear wing.

New Porsche wings in

PORSCHE has produced a new version of its popular customer GT2 racer to suit new regulations for next year's GT Championship and Le Mans. The new GT2 is 50kg lighter, produces more power, has better aerodynamics and now runs without anti-lock brakes. Most obvious change is the new rear wing, which sits considerably higher than before and therefore generates more downforce to improve balance. A new front spoiler incorporates better air flow to the oil radiators, which are now smaller and lighter. The 345kW (485 horsepower) twinturbo engine features a new double igni tion system which has not only improved power output, but also fuel consumption.

while engine response has been improved with a new pressure-boosting control device which maintains maximum pres sure more precisely. The FIA's decision to ban ABS has led to the adoption of a braking system similar to that of the GT1. The road version of the GT2 will be lim ited to only 25 in number and there are no plans for any to come to Australia. In road trim, the car produces 450bhp, but this can easily be increased with changes to the turbos and electronics. There has been some talk of former Australian GT champion Rusty French importing a racing GT1 to Australia for Porsche Cup racing if it is made eligible. / - DAVID HASSALL

European Union turns on E«lestone By JOE SAWARD

THE European Union is making life difficult for Grand Prix racing at the moment and there are signs that this could lead to another showdown between the authorities in Brussels and Grand Prix racing bosses. A compromise was reached over the banning of tobacco advertising in the European Union after Formula 1 threatened to scale down the number of races in Europe. But an investigation into Bemie Ecclestone’s Formula

1 Holdings by the EU Competition Commissioner Karel Van Miert could lead to more trouble. Van Miert has been asked to rule on whether Ecclestone’s deal with the FIA to exploit all the com mercial rights associated with Grand Prix racing is anti-competitive. This question has to be resolved before Ecclestone can float Formula 1 Holdings on the stock exchange. On Saturday he was quot ed in the Belgian newspaper Belang van Linaburg saying that “Mr Ecclestone

has had FI to himself now for 15 years. We have to set things right. A number of rulings are in the pipeline.” These comments do not make much sense as Ecclestone has only been running FI as a private business for the last couple of years. Prior to that he was working as a representative of the FI teams. The Belang van Limburg reported that Ecclestone was given the rights to exploit FI commercial matters 15 years ago. This is completely inaccu rate as Ecclestone’s 15-year deal with the FIA was only

signed at the end of 1995. To prepare for the flota tion, however, Ecclestone wants the deal extended for another 10 years - to the end of the year 2020. The FIA is willing to grant m him such a deal

exchange for a sizeable amount of money and shares in the floated company. In a recent interview, FIA President Max Mosley said that the FIA wants “sub stantial benefits”. “The ideal situation would be to have shares but also to have a lump sum of cash at the beginning of the deal so that the FIA is all right

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very much a European sport,” Mosley says, “but the EU has only 12 percent of the TV audience now and, to some extent, the future lies outside the EU.”

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not, of course, have to abide by European Union laws if they choose to operate out side the EU. If Van Miert’s decisions are too radical we would expect to see the FIA threat en to withdraw from the EU completely. There is no shortage of places around the world which want to host Grands Prix. “At the moment FI is still

whatever happens to Formula 1,” Mosley said. There is no question, how ever, that the FIA wants FOH to be floated. “It will be better if the commercial side of the busi ness is run by a public com pany rather than an individ ual,” said Mosley, “simply because FI is so big and there are such big companies now involved.” Van Miert could insist that any deal between the FIA and Ecclestone be modified or even cancelled - which could have a detrimental effect on the flotation. Ecclestone and the FIA do

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has Romeo ALFA revealed its new 156 Super Touring car as it continues its develop¬ ment program. The car ran at Mugello in Italy last month, running a development aerodynamic package before the definitive ’98 design is finalised. The car features a very central driving position to ' aid favourable weight distri bution, similar to the North American Championship winning Dodge Stratus. The speedy development of the car has been helped by a large carry-over of technical components from the 155, which was quick enough at the final round of the German STW series in October to split the works BMWs and head all the 4WD Audis in qualifying. Nicola Larini, who will drive for the factory in

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n The planned Kyalami test in February could still happen. We understand that the teams do not have to reach unanimous agree ment as to whether to go to South Afiica and some of them are keen to get some decent weather because of the need to do dry weather testing with the new grooved tyres. n The Agnelli Family has named 21-yeai’-old John Elkann as replacement on the Fiat boai’d for Giovanni Alberto Agnelli, who died two weeks ago from stom ach cancer. Elkann is the eldest son of Gianni

Agnelli’s daughter Margherita. It is thought that he will now be

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Germany, has been doing most of the testing. The racer is based on the road-going 156 which has been named 1997 European Car of the Year.

SMOOTH OPERATOR ... The new Alfa 156 Super Tourer is put through its paces (above and below) by Nicola Larina at Mugello in Italy. (Photos byLATDigital)

F1 threat weakens as Far East crumbles THE FIA’s threat to pull Formula 1 out of Europe and relocate in other countries - notably in Asia - may not be as easy to achieve as Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone suggested to British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The Asian countries are in all kinds of economic trouble and may simply be unable to afford Grand Piix racing. Indonesia and Malaysia have been very badly hit by falling currency values while South Korea has had to bor-

row $20 billion to rescue the country. Several of the country’s biggest companies have gone bankrupt and others - such as Samsung) Hyundai and Daewoo - are scaling back investment dramatically as a result oflosses incurred. While there are proposed new races popping up in Cuba, Morocco and in the Middle^ast, the threat of a large-scale move to the Far East is becoming increasing ly far-fetched... -JOESAWARD

groomed to take over the chairmanship of Fiat-the parent company of Ferrari. n The Sauber team says that the dramatic collapse in the Malaysian cun-ency (which has lost 35 percent of its value against the US dollar since July) will not affect its projects with Malaysian petrochemical company Petronas. In recent weeks Petronas has confirmed all its 1998 plans and budgets, the oil compa ny benefiting from doing most of its dealings in dol lars rather than in ringgit. n A report by students at Birmingham and Southampton Universities in the UK has revealed that

Fonnula I’s threat to relo cate outside Europe was not serious. The researchers said that the complex relationships which exist in “Motor Racing Valley” cannot be recreated elsewhere in the time available. n The copyright prob lems between FI and Sony over the Formula 1 97 com puter game have been resolved and the game will be going on sale shortly. The settlement is rumoured to have gained the teams around $75m. The official launch of the game was scheduled for mid-October but was cancelled when the dispute broke out. n Researchers at Ring’s College Hospital in London have revealed in the British Medical Journal that young characters in British TV soap operas are more at risk than Grand Prix dri vers, as the script includes endless numbers of mur ders, suicides, car crashes and mystery viruses. n Italian driver Luca Badoer has replaced Nicola

Larini as FeiTari’s test dri

ver for 1998. The 26 yearold Badoer has competed in 29 Grand Prix races, dri ving for Dallara (in a FeiTaii-engined Lola)in 1993, Minardi in 1995 and Forti in 1996. -JOESAWARH

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Photo by Diana Burnetn

Why did off? Show go Review by JON THOMSON

WHEN the phone rang at .the Italian heach resort of "Riccione Anthony Gobert didn’t like the tone of World Suzuki 500cc Championship team man ager Gary Taylor. Taylor told him that the drug test which Gobert had undergone at the British Grand Prix had been positive and that the team had no alternative but to cancel his $1 million-a-year contract. Gobert’s reaction was apparently fierce and the 22year-old grabbed his 16-yearold brother Aaron and headed for the road. A few hours later the pair were in hospital both with broken legs, the result of a motor scooter crash. During the next few hours Aaron came close to losing his leg while Anthony’s injuries weren’t as bad, giving him time to contemplate a tumul tuous year of a life which has been spent permanently in the fast lane. One of the people to whom Gobert had aspired is Wayne Gardner. The 1987 world 500cc champion was one of the first to comment on the

sacking of Gobert, blaming his massive salary. “A million dollars a year is a hell of a lot of money which ever way you look at it and I am not sure he knew how to balance all that was required of him with his desire to be a

But two days before the race he walked up pit lane and into the Muzzy garage, donned a pair of plain leathers and rode the Kawasaki, slamming the door in the face of Honda with out telling them. Australian Honda’s

party animal and non-con formist,” he said. At age 16 Gobert was taken to America to ride Supercross against the world’s best; at 18 he was Australian Supercross Masters Champion; four years later he was riding for one of three factory teams in the ultimate class of motorcy cle racing, the 500cc World Championship. While Suzuki would love to win races and signed the mer curial Gobert for that very reason the out of control wild boy image didn’t meet the mould it had hoped he would fit into. After joining the Honda Australia Superbike team, Gobert wiped the floor with the opposition and won the ’95 Australian title, prompt ing Honda to fly in a top RC45 Superbike from Japan for Gobert to ride in the final round of the World champi onship at Phillip/Island.

Superbike team manager Mick Smith reckoned that Gobert’s departure from the Australian scene was a relief “You couldn’t win without him and his antics made it "pretty hard to justify having him on board,” he said. “It was a load off everyone’s shoulders when he went over¬ seas. With Muzzy he had hot and cold results, culminating in his Phillip Island win at the end of 1996. With his hair dyed green to match his bike he added new spice to the champagne spray on the victory dais by strip ping his leathers off and throwing them to the crowd. This left the motorcycle world speechless. The Muzzy team was almost glad Gobert was moving on. After that win Gobert fulfilled his prophecy of making it to 500s by the time he was 21 by signing with Suzuki.

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n While the Formula One Holdings float is enter ing its second year' with no actual shares being issued yet CART has announced a public share issue. Registration papers have already been filed with the USA’s Securities and Exchange Commission and shares are expected to be available in the next few months. n Team Rahal has con ducted its first test with its new Indy Lights team. Former TransAm driver Mike Borkowski shook down his new Lola at Savannah, Georgia last week. Rahal has recniited engineer Andy Borme and mechanic Rand Lampard from the three-time Indy Lights-vraming Tasman Motorsports Group.

BRIGHT FUTURE?... Anthony Gobert in his Muzzy days. But even then, the non-con formist in him overpowered any pragmatism he may have had. Suzuki executives came to Sydney to sign him, but Gobert was still partying after his Phillip Island win and kept them waiting. They tyaited for the young tear away to turn up. Suzuki team manager Taylor could see trouble brew ing and called in veteran racer Stu Avanf to ‘mind’ him. But even he couldn’t keep him in line. Gobert missed training sessions and then broke his collarbone in a motocross fall. According to Australian journalist Colin Young, who travels with the 500 circus, Gobert’s first year in GPs that he showed needed more than his huge talent and skill. “When you get to this level you have to work at it even when you have the sort of tal ent Gobert has,” Young said. “You have to work hard at setting bikes up, working with your engineers and working hard at physical fit ness, these things are bloody hard to ride quickly. “Look at anyone who has won the World Champion ship in the last 10 years and they’ve all worked hard at itfrom Wayne Rainey, to Eddie Lawson, Mick Doohan, Kevin Schwantz and Wayne Gardner. But Gobert thought he knew better.” The combination of a weak collarbone, a lack of physical training, a desire to party hard and a Suzuki GP bike which disappointing meant Gobert struggled. “His lack of set-up ability really caught him out when he got to work in the big ball park with these guys. But his arrogance meant that he made out they didn’t know what they were talking about,” said a source close to the Suzuki team. “He’d go out an do test ses sions and come back and tell Wilf(Needham, long-time Suzuki race engineer) the thing needed new tyres when that was the last thing it needed. They raised the ride height on the bike one day and Anthony didn’t even know,” the som-ce added.

It was apparently pointed out to him that triple Champion Mick Doohan might not be a bad example to follow. To this he apparent ly said that Doohan was too boring and he would do it his way. Gobert had been drug test ed on several occasions dur¬ ing the years, including at a pre-season test, as well as the test at the British GP by the Suzuki team itself and also at the Czech GP a fortnight later by the governing body of the sport the FIM. The result of this test was apparently negative and has been grasped by the Gobert family as the basis for legal action they will take against the Suzuki team. However many beheve that the results of drug tests are the least of Gobert’s prob lems. “It is the attitude problem, the image problem and a lack of commitment to work hard to exploit his raw talent that means he won’t get a gig with Honda or Yamaha in the near future,” says Yoimg. “I still reckon that if Anthony can sort himself out, get himself back on track and prove himself that he is young enough to get back into 500cc racing, but if he doesn’t it will a devastating waste of a gi-eat riding talent.” In the short term there is possible legal action against Suzuki and the American Motorcycle Association(AMA) Superbike Champion-ship after Gobert signed with the Vance&Hines Ducati team. What this new opportunity means is that Gobert has an opening to re-establish his credentials with a team in a top ranked Superbike Championship for 1998. One of his main opponents will be Mat Mladin, himself a former young darling of the GP circus. The fellow Aussie, who will race a facto ry Suzuki, is now settled down, married, totally pro fessional and the complete road racer. The two are fast, deter mined and do not particularly care for each other. Even from this distance the 1998 AMA Superbike series should bear watching.

n Robby Gordon has dri ven an Arciero-Wells Reynard-Toyota but will not race for the team this season. Gordon was hired to drive the car for a televi sion commercial because regular drivers Max Papis and Hiro Matsushita were busy. A team spokesman said that their current dri ver line-up is set. Hobby’s options appear to be nmningout... n Construction of a quar ter-mile extension at Belle Isle, Detroit, was recently completed to allow greater speeds and more passing opportunities. The work began in August and has resulted in a long, wide straight between Turns 2 and 3.'Turn 3 is now a 90degree right-hander at the end of the straight, followed by a pair of wide turns in 1^-ns 4 and 5.

n As expected Tasman chiefSteve Home has confiimed that Brazilian Tony Kanaan will pilot one ofthe team’s entries in the 1998 FedEx Series. Kanaan,22 and the current Indy Lights champion, has been signed to a five-year con tract. n Michael Andretti is to open a chain ofrestau rants. Andretti and LA Dodgers baseball star- Mike Piazza will open their first ‘Andretti and Piazza Spoils Cafe’in Orlando Florida, adjacent to Walt Disney World. Menu items include breakfast pizzas and sand wiches, hot dogs, hamburg ers,‘create your own’piz zas, salads, soups, daily pasta specials and chicken wings. No word on whether the wings will be made from cai’bon fibre... n CART’S'TV schedule will increase this season. On top ofthe qualifying and race broadcasts, seen here on Network 10 and Optus’s Sports ESPN, CART wifi produce 28 ‘Inside CART half-houi', magazine-style shows for the 1998 season that will air on the US Fox Sports Network. The first show of 1998 is expected to ah'in mid-March. CART is broad cast in 188 countries m 19 different languages. Each race is seen by 60 mfilion riewei-s and 1998’s TV audience is expected to sur pass 1 billion.

By PHIL BRANAGAN PLAYER’S involvement in the FedEx Champion

9 d

ship (formerly CART) series will end after this season. The combination of

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bat’s acquisition of the Tyrrell Formula One team and the Canadian

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government’s new anti tobacco legislation means that the company will pull out at the end of the season - or maybe sooner. The Indianapolis Star reported last week that Player’s/Forsythe owner Gerry Forsythe has been notified of the move. According to Players, it was initiated by the Canadian government’s new restrictions on tobacco advertising. Ironically BAT’s entry into Formula One, while potentially stranding the next generation of Canadian drivers, is like ly to reunite them with Jacques Villeneuve, who won the 1995 CART title and Indianapolis 500 in Player’s colotu-s. According to the Star, the familiar dark blue, light blue and white of Players is not a lock for the team’s paint, as other brands such as Lucky Strike, Hollywood and 555 are being considered. Forsythe is believed to be seeking new sponsor ship for 1999 and beyond for their drivers, current ly Greg Moore and Patrick Carpentier, both of whom also had ties to Players prior to their arrival in CART.

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NO MORE PLAY... Player’s pull-out will leave Greg Moore looking for a sponsor for 1999.

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but tould IPS return for Surfers?

ONE of the side effects of Canada’s draconian anti-tobacco legislation could be a temporary return to major motor racing of the famous black and gold of John Player Special. The law, which means that Forsythe Racing will not be able to display its current Player’s signage anywhere in the world, comes into effect on October 1, before the final three races of the FedEx Championship. Greg Moore remarked on Toronto,radio last week that tjie Player’s cars would,'finish the final two (actually three) races of the year without Player’s logos on them. Those races are at,the new Houston oval, the Gold Coast IndyCarnival on

Surney team goes for rmicle iarron DAN Gm-ney has named his sec ond driver for the 1998 FedEx Championship season. Alex Barron, the 1997 Toyota Atlantic ‘Rookie of the Year’ and series champion, has signed with the All-American Racers Team to replace the retired Juan Manuel Fangio II. The 27-year-old Californian will drive with P.J. Jones on a two-car team of Toyota-powered Reynards with Goodyear tyres. “We wanted to grow a young American driver if we had the opportunity and Alex certainly fits that bill,” Gurney said in making the announcement.“I was hoping to find a ... driver who would be able to grow with our team as we contin ue our development efforts,” Barron is Lynx Racing’s second consecutive Atlantic champion and the second Lynx driver to move up to Championship (formerly CART) cars. Patrick Carpentier won the Atlantic title with Lynx Racing in 1996, and won the CART Rookie of the Year in 1997. The other Atlantic champion to make the step up to the big cars straight away was Jacques Villeneuve. Gurney indicated that he plans to add a major sponsor to join Castrol and replace Jockey, which will not return to the team this season. -PHIL MORRIS

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CAR WORLD SERIES OFFICIAL ^ YEARBOOK 1997-98 Formerly known as the INDY CAR YEARBOOK, this continues to be;'.] the yearbook for the Indy car ^ racing enthusiast. JUST ARRIVED FOR XMAS! 1874557624 $59.95 SPECIAL TIMES... Ronnie Peterson’s JF^-Lotus at Hockenheim in 1978. October 18 and the final round at California on November 1. The law bans not only cigarette signage in Canada but forbids broadcasting of any brand of cigarette which is sold in Canada,including Player’s.

But the JPS brand is not sold there and, for the final three events, Forsythe could conceivably run the cars in those colours. While there is also the opportunity to run with other, ‘non-Canadian’ branding like 555 or Lucky

Strike, those colours are ’ likely to be nin by the new BAR FI team in 1999 and ‘jumping the gun’ seems unlikely. Get your old 1972 Lotus jackets out of mothballs now... -PHIL BRANAGAN

Volvo confirms single S40 VOLVO has confirmed that it will run an S40 in the BOC Gases Super Touring Champ ionship this year. Jim Richards will debut the car at the support races at the AGP at Albert Park in March before taking on the BOC Gases Super Touring Championship which starts in April. But rumours of a sec ond car - for Steven Richai'ds - were quashed. The team has announced that the funds necessary to run two cars have not been secured and that Richards Sr only will com " i i-.'. pete. ERicssaq Volvo Australia team manager George Sheph erd and engineer Donald Kington will travel to the UK later this month to familiarise themselves with the car, the fifth and last of the racing S40s built by Tom Walkinshaw HOW SWEDE... Jim Richards will have a Volvo S40 for the ’98 Super Touring Racing for last season’s series. An FWD car has never won the BOC Gases Championship.(PhotobyoianaBumett) British Touring Car It is believed that the present for the event there has been no word Championship. invitation for the two took back a positive of whether a second S40 ’ Shepherd and Kington , Australians to come to report, which has result- will be entered for the will work closely with England came as a result ed in a greater level of race. TWR’s British engineers of the team’s perfor- co-operation from the Another of TWR’s 1997 and either of their drivers mance at the Bathurst British team. S40s will compete in the (Rickard Rydell or Gianni IQOO. After the team’s The team will also Swedish series, for ’97 Morbidelli) before flying 850s finished fourth and compete in the Bathurst Champion and Bathurst back to Australia. fifth-the TWR engineers 1000 in October, though visitor ‘Flash’ Nielsen.

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Track legend: AIR-Adelaide Int. R’way. CIDCanberra Int. D’way, CP-Calder Park, ECEastern Creek. PAL-Palmyrk R'way, RIRRavenswood Int. R'way, RP-Raceway Park, Heathcote, Victoria, TID-Townsville, WBWiliowbank R’way Some events have a delayed telecasts on the TEN Network. Check your local guides.

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Sunday, Jan 11, 1998-1.00pm Sunday, Jan 18, 1998-3.00pm

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.

Williams finally cleared as Senna trial closes By JOE SAWARD

charged with “culpable homicide” under Article 589 ofthe Italian penal code. The trial began in February but it was not until October that Williams finally appeared in court and, following legal advice, Head and Newey refused to answer questions. After the evidence was

THREE and a half years after Ayrton Senna’s fatal accident at Imola, Frank Williams, Patrick Head and Adrian Newey have finally been cleared of manslaughter charges. Similar charges against three race officials were also rejected by Judge given, Passarini said that Williams was not to blame Antonio Costanzo in Imola. but insisted that Head and The verdicts come as a Newey were guilty. The major blow to Italian state Maurizio judge disagreed. prosecutor “It is the right verdict,” Passarini, who was said Williams lawyer Peter appointed to investigate the Goodman. crash the day after it hapr “The trial was correctly pened. done and Williams will be He appointed a technical very pleased that it is over committee to analyse the crash headed by Professor and that it’s gone success Enrico Lorenzini, head of fully for him.” Luigi Stortoni, an Italian the engineering department lawyer representing Newey, at Bologna University. He had used a group of added that “the prosecution TRIBUTE... Frank Williams at the unveiling of an Ayrton Senna memorial statue at experts including former FI case has been swept away”. Imola last April. Now he can return without the risk of being arrested. (Photo by icn) Passarini has the right to designer Mauro Forghieri appeal the decision but is and driver Emanuele Pirro. Lorenzini’s report, which thought unlikely to do so. However, he has said was finished in December 1995, concluded that the that he intends to pursue A WiLLIAMS team spokeswoman said only appropriate outcome of the trial and now look forward to the 1998 sea most likely cause of the members of the Bernie they hoped the Ayrton Senna ^rial out FOCA Ecclestone’s accident was a steering fail come in Italy was the end of the mat- son with confidence and enthusiasm." MEANWHILE, Ferrari team chief Jean ure, caused by a faulty Television who, he claims, ter. conunitted peijury in giving weld. "Our legal advisers inform us that the Todt aiso weicomed the outcome. Passarini continued his evidence. "This has been a judgement of con prosecution has an automatic right of He also suggested that he appeal. Clearly we would hope that this science which has to be both accepted own investigations and it was was not until December last investigating matter will not be pursued further," she and respected,” said the Frenchman. Ecclestone’s role in the added. "In a motor race you know that there year that Williams and the affair. other five defendants were We firmly believe that this was the are dangers and risks invoived."

‘The only appropriate outcome^

Tom in trouble as Danka spins out A YEAR ago Tom Walkinshaw Danka imveiled Business Systems as the new title spon sor of the Arrows Formula 1 team. :-c, The deal was for at I least two years. Since then, however, Danka - which is one of the world’s largest office machinery firms - has run into serious Tom Walkinshaw financial difficulties as a result of its $1 billion FI, particularly as the team has now lost acquisition of the office imaging businesses of Damon Hill. Even before the Eastman Kodak. The share collapse there company’s shares fell an alarming twas uncertainty as to whether Danka would 57 percent in one day before Christmas , continue as the title when the company sponsor of An-ows. indicated that its sales On the official FIA were dovm dramaticalFormula 1 World lyChampionship entry list'the name of the Shares are now Arrows title sponsor trading at around one was left open. quarter of their price in May 1996. Although this does not sound like a very The company has also announced anoth healthy situation, with er 1000 job losses to only Parmalat con add to a similar figure firmed as a sponsor, it announced earlier this may provide the Arrows team with the year. In the circum opportunity to sign a stances, it is hard to big new deal - possibly see how the manage involving a new tobacco ment of Danka can company. -JOE SAWARD justify continuing in

Rita raises laughs and $2m with slow ride COMEDIAN Rita Rudner climbed cautiously into the cockpit of the lifelike Indy race car, her high heels pok ing into the air as she tried to position herself in the cramped confines. Placing her purse next to her (“to use as an airbag”) she squawked and squirmed as the top of the cockpit was lowered around her head. “Don’t go!” she screamed as real race driver Jim Guthrie tried to move away from the vehicle. As the announcer intoned “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines,” Rudner closed her eyes and clasped her hands over her face. Not the best way to drive, Guthrie warned. Rudner stole the show - but lost the race - as celebrities

joined professional drivers in opening the new $25 million Speedworld attraction at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas. The winning drivers divided almost $2 million for their favourite charities. The money was provided by The Bennett Foundation, named after Sahara chairman William Bennett, and the final figure for charity was expected to increase, with Bennett also

matching any donations by dri vers. Celebrities on hand for the event included Rudner, singer Paul Anka and actor John Schneider. The 22 drivers included

Guthrie, Johnny Rutherford, Johnny Unser, John Paul Jr, Roger Ward and Billy Boat. “It was fantastic,” Rutherford enthused after exiting one of the high-tech Indy-style cars. The 24 Speedworld cars race against each other on one of two courses - a rephca of the track at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway or a Grand Prix course along the Las Vegas

Strip.

The three-quarter-size cars sit in front of screens that give the drivers the feel of being in the real thing, down to being jolted when they crash into walls or collide with other vehicles. “This is about the closest you can come to a real race without going out and doing it,” said 1985 Indianapolis 500 winner and Speedworld host Danny Sullivan. Himdreds of fans jammed the race area to watch the drivers and cheer their favourites. While many of the drivers honed their skills for the real thing, Rudner found the five

minutes behind the wheel unnerving. “I didn’t start driving until I was 30,” Rudner said before the race, as if to stifle any expecta tions.‘T was raised in New York. You just had to know how to say Taxi’.” Rudner joked with Guthrie as she poked along at a fraction of the 380kmh being run by some of the other drivers in the simu lator environment. ‘You’re like an old lady on the freeway,” Guthrie yelled as she bounced from wall to wall on the three-dimensional screen. “I’m not in any hurry,” '■ Rudner responded. “1116/11 wait for me.” “When is it going to end?” she asked at another point as other cars swished by her on the screen. “Never, at this pace,” Guthrie responded. Anka called the new Speedworld project “incredible” and said it would appeal to fans of one of the world’s most popu lar sports. He wasn’t so charitable about Rudner. “I think she should stick to her night job,” Anka said, laugh ing. “I think she should stick to liding in limousines. And I’ll pay for it if I’m in the same city!”

■if

■r

and you could join us at Australian motor sport's Academy Awards night. The stars of Australian racing will be at at Melbourne's Hotel Sofitel for the 1997 Australian MotorSport Awards on January 30 and your vote for the 1997 MotorSport Personality of the Vear could be your ticket to join them.

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Another F1 boss jailed

n Tyrrell is aiming to launch its prototype 026 on January 21. The car is the work of a team of engineers led by Mike Gascoyne. The recent takeover of the team by British American Racing will mean that this will be the last FI Tyrrell.

Van JEAN-PIERRE Rossem, the former boss of the Moneytron Onyx Formula 1 team, has been jailed for five years for

n We understand that Tyn-ell’s Harvey Postlethwaite has been offered the job as technical director of Minardi. Harvey, who had a 10 per cent shareholding in Tyrrell - worth around $4.5m -is reported to have fumed down the opportu nity and may simply retire from FI at the end of 1998. n FI engineers are cur rently in the process of trying to sort out exactly which electronic systems will be allowed in 1998. The FIA has decided to clamp down on some of the innovations seen this year but there is some confusion over which sys tems will be allowed and which will be outlawed. n The FIA will not be electing a new Deputy President(Sport) to replace the late Cesar Torres until the FIA General Assembly next meets in October. The post will remain vacant until then. Leading candi dates for the post are believed to be Lars Osterlind ofSweden and India’s Nazir Hoosein. n Michael Schumacher began the long process of trying to re-establish his battered public image by taking a break from his holiday in Nomay to visit children injured by land mines in Sarajevo on behalf of UNESCO. He also announced a donation of $130,000 to help UNESCO in Bosnia. n Schumacher also vis ited MaraneUo for the Ferrari Christmas party, at which he was presented with a red Fiat 500 by the rest of the Ferrari team. Schumacher took his pre sent for a couple oflaps around Fiorano and, hap pily, avoided ramming into any other'cars ...

fraud.

A LIFT FOR JACKIE... Stewart Grand Prix has two new sponsors to replace the money lost with the withdrawal of the Malaysian Tourist Board. (Photo by Aiisport/APL)

Stewart's new sponsors

JACKIE Stewart has concluded a large sponsorship deal with the telecommuni cations company MCI. As we suggested in February, the deal was being discussed over a year ago but the failed alliance between MCI and British Telecom followed by the $37 billion takeover of MCI by WorldCom in November delayed the deal. The MCI contract is believed to be for three years. The team also announced a sponsorship deal with the Lear Corporation, which sup plies automotive interiors to many of the world’s car companies. As with many of Stewart’s sponsors, the influence of Ford is clear in the Lear deal, although the company dressed up its involve ment in FI as being “a logical extension of the research ,hnd development in search of safety in the auto industry”. Stewart has a third sponsorship deal signed but is waiting to announce that when the new Stewart-Ford SF2 is launched in a fortnight. /

The eccentric Belgian ran into trouble with investors when; his Moneytron financial empire collapsed. He was originally con demned by a Belgian court in 1995 but avoided going to prison by pursuing a variety of different appeal processes. His final appeal has now been rejected and, in addition to the prison term. Van Rossem will have to pay dam ages of nearly $45m to his for mer customers. Van Rossem used some of the money from the Moneytron scheme to fund the Onyx team in 1989. In mid-season he bought the

While announcing that MCI and Lear are “the new face of FI” sponsoring, Stewart per formed a smart U-tum with regard to tobacco sponsorship in FI. In recent months Jackie has made a big song and dance about his team’s ability to survive without tobacco money, but at the announcement of MCI and Lear he said; “I am willing to listen and go with tobac co companies. I am not anti-them, but I RICHARD Tomlinson, who worked as a buyer had this opportunity to become a non with Stewart Grand Prix tobacco sponsored team and I have gone this season, has been with it. jailed for 12 months “I have been approached by tobacco compa nies recently, but it was difficult because under Britain’s Official there isn’t much spare space on the car and Secrets Act. Tomlinson joined they wanted to take it all over and be domi- n Stewart after a career with nant as title sponsors.” Stewart’s public comments about cigarette the Secret Intelligence money will, no doubt, help Jackie to overcome Service. He was sacked in political problems which he has faced in FI 1995 and decided to write a book about his adven because of his insistence on being outspoken about tobacco. tures, including details of -JOESAWARD MI6’s training techniques

Onyx team but so upset the team management that they abandoned him at the end of that year. In March 1990 he sold the

operation to another eccentric, Swiss Peter Monteverdi, but it was closed down in August that year because of unpaid

bills.

Van Rossem joins an unhealthy list of former FI team bosses who have been despatched to penal establish ments, notably Ligier’s Cyril de Rouvre, Brabham’s Joachim Luhti and Ted Ball, Didier Calmels of Larrousse and Leyton House’s Akira Akagi. Another Larrousse director, Klaus Walz, avoided imprison ment by being gunned down by police after a nine-hour siege in a German hotel in November 1992. -JOESAWARD

... and ‘spy’ follows

and some of its operations. Tomlinson pleaded guilty to the charges. However, he argued that his disclosures were not aimed at endangering national security but at drawing attention to his grievances resulting from his dismissal. The entire bizarre story of Tomlinson has been something of an embar rassment to Stewart Grdnd Prix.

Mosley and the French bite and scratch

THE French Minister of Youth and Sport has upset the FIA by telling her country’s National Assembly that she was still trying to win a place on the 1998 Formula 1 cal endar for the French Grand Prix. “I end up asking myself whether the international federation does not want to remove Formula 1 from the whole of Europe to go to coun-

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Mosley and Buffet spoke on the telephone and issued conciliatory press statements saying that the Minister intended to pre sent a new law to the National Assembly in January and Mosley said he would do everything possible to secure the agreement of the teams if Buffet was successful in her quest. - JOE SAWARD

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pointed out that the prob lems with the French GP have nothing to do with “some imaginary plan to remove FI from Europe” but date back to 1992. Mosley said that the FIA had had to endure “endless promises and years of fruit less negotiation” over the rights of TV companies to film at the French GP. Mosley added that “the reason for this inability on

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FORMULA 1

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The mystery ofSanta Claus and(a little) motor racing

hey tell me that when kids write let ters to Santa Claus, asking for ponies, fire engines, dolls, train sets and racing cars, these ehvelopes are for warded to a vast ^'marketing organisa tion which files the names and address es and sends out toy catalogues the following year. I don’t know if I believe it, but I did start to wonder how one can buy the rights to Father Christmas. Who owns Santa Claus? some After Christmas holiday contemplation I con cluded that, posses sion being ninetenths of the law. Father Christmas must belong to whichever man, woman or child first laid claim to the pro motional rights to his name. In reality it must be very similar to the question of who owns the promotion al rights to Formula 1 racing. The Federat ion Internationale de I’Automobile decid ed that it owned the rights and, as noone has really dis agreed, that was accepted as the status quo. Why should they belong to anyone else? The FIA has sub-contracted .those rights to Bernie Ecclestone. I wondered for a moment if Bernie was the person with the foresight to have bought up the rights to Santa Claus as well ... but then I sat down and started to research the subject of who might claim Santa as their own. My initial instinct was that the Catholic Church would have the best claim. It was that Organisa tion which' made him what he is today. If a rather jolly Bishop from a place called Myra - which is somewhere in what is now called Turkey - had not been made a saint no-one would be interested in leaving wine and cookies by the chimney in case plain old Nicholas was going to drop in. If you think about it, Turkey would probably try to claim him as well. Not only was Saint Nick a bishop in that country but they might argue that Santa Claus and turkey belong together.

ut there are others with good claims. St Nicholas was pretty much unknown until a bunch of Italians stole his bones and transported them to Bari. This became St Nick’s final resting place and, as the town became popular with Crusaders on their way to beat up Muslims in the Holy Land, his fame spread, visitors going home with stories of his great acts of kindness. He

could Ecclestone be Vice-President (Promotional Affairs) of the FIA and also the man running Formula One Holdings which is designated to,-exploit the FIA’s erning body to go with Van Miert. If there were shorter contracts promotional rights? Van Miert argues the entire tendering process that Formula One would be repeated every five Holdings is not the years - which would mean that company the FIA could increase its income only which could do the more often than through a 25job it does and that year deal. others should be The big question is whether or given the chance. not Mosley would have the nerve The people who to stab his old pal so squarely own and promote between the shoulder blades. He Santa Claus could could certainly justify himself to everyone except Bernie - and it easily run a busi ness like Grand Prix would be a splendid political victo racing. So could the ry for him, an inveterate player of likes of Rupert power games. One wonders whether this Murdoch or Kerry Christmas Mr E - who is smart Packer. Bernie may have when it comes to such manoeu done all the hard vres - did not write a quick letter work on F1 and to Santa Claus, asking that Van now wants to float Miert be run over by a reindeer, or the business and that Santa’s present be Mosley’s take his loot, leav loyalty... ing F1 to be run by 0 get back to Santa, I have a nice stable corpo often wondered what it is ration, run by pro fessionals. that rich and powerful men Now you can call ask in their letters to Father j me Machiavellian, Christmas. but it strikes me My first thought - and you that, thanks to Van know I can be a nasty bit of work Miert - who could on occasion - was that most of take the blame - them would probably be quite there is now an happy if Santa could deliver argument for F1 to them a friend they could trust, turn on its maker but I thought about it for a while and stab him firmly and came to the conclusion that, in the back. In world in fact, since the demise of Cartoon by Allan Schofield history many a dic- Flavio Briatore most of the Ft team bosses are actually family in the country where the name tator has fallen this way. One could very easily argue men. Some have more than one was first used., One can only wonder what that Van Miert’s demands are family... I guess that a few of the FI Karel Van Miert, the European such that the FIA simply has to Commissioner for Competition, terminate Ecclestone’s role as FIA bosses of today would ask Santa would make of this arrangement. Vice-President (Promotional for a little peace and quiet; some Which brings me, of course, to Affairs) and then have a bidding would ask for a sackful of money. One or two would include the motor racing - the reason you contest for FI’s promotional rights - which Van Miert seems to want suggestion that if Santa could bought this magazine... - and a rival company ou may never have heard of could outbid Formula Mr Van Miert, but I expect in One Holdings for the the months ahead his name deal. Ecclestone would will pop up again and again as be left with no FIA Grand Prix racing fights once power base and nothing more to extricate itself from to float. European Union legislation. In order to do business in the uch a move would be EU, apparently, one has to con certainly ^5 to form to business laws as Mr Van ungrateful oo Miert sees them. Ecclestone, although If he can make a case that you there are people in the are running an anti-competitive sport who would argue that Bernie deliver a couple of million dollars, operation he can force you to has taken enough already and there would be 20 percent in it for change what you are doing. He does not need any money from him. The really bright F1 bosses has achieved such things with the flotation of FOH. companies like Boeing and British As things stand, the Ecclestone would, however, have been ask Airways, so Formula 1 Holdings Family has enough money put ing for something else this year. While the business of F1 is in a will not terrify him greatly. away to live comfortably for at How should Formula 1 react? least the next three thousand state of flux, thanks to Mr Van If things run true to form, years (if there are no wastrels in Miert and others, the SPORT itself Ecclestone and the FIA will join the future generations). If Bernie is lacking in one detail. There is forces and threaten to pull Ft out is successful in floating FOH, the only one bright star - and he of Europe completely - as hap family will be able to live comfort (Michael Schumacher) is flawed in the eyes of the public. pened over the recent tobacco ably for the next 30,000 years. ban issue. There are other possi What Grand Prix racing needs The point of these sums is that ble courses of action. the whole business is now just a more than anything is a bright Van Miert thinks that Bernie’s big power game and there are new star for everyone to follow ... ... which, if I remember correct grip on the sfiort is rather too tight dangers for Bernie. If Van Miert for his taste. Why did the FIA not allies with Mosley, Bernie could ly, is another Christmas tradition. Now, I wonder who owns the wan have competitive bidding when it find himself in a weak spot. came to selling the promotional You have to say that it makes dering star? There must be a per rights to Grand Prix racing? How an awful lot of sense for the gov- centage in that somewhere. n

became the Patron Saint of both Russia and Greece - who would, of course, like to claim him as their own. If it had not been for the Dutch, however, the cult of St Nicholas would have been forgotten after the Reformation, when religious mumbo-jumbo was hacked back by the modernists of the day. The Dutch - who call him Sinterklaas - kept St Nicholas’s tradition alive and when Dutch settlers went to New Amsterdam now known as New York - they took the legend with them. In a land where the doughnut is spelled D-O-N-U-T, it was logical that Sinterklaas should become Santa Claus. But if you think these would be the only claimants, think twice. There is a town in Indiana called,Santa Claus and it came by the name because the town’s original name “Sante Fe” was being used elsewhere in Indiana. Still, the association with Santa has done the town no harm at all and they say that the post office there remails over a million letters every year bearing the Santa Claus postmark. It also contains a theme park called Santa Claus Land but we won’t go into that for fear of get ting depressed ... The conclusion I reached is that* Santa Claus probably belongs to the US Postal Service because It is this organisation which held Santa’s only real assets - the letters from children

(

wondered if Bernie was the person with the foresight to have bought the rights to Santa Claus as well.

FORMULA 1

2January 1998

Formula 1 What does a Grand Prix driver do when he retires? What is he trained for? What can keep him fulfilled? RAYMOND SAKSIS investigates: FTJ^here is a well-known saying I Hhat “Life Begins At Forty”. I However, for today’s Grand Prix drivers, a more appro priate saying might be,“A SECOND Life Begins At Forty,” for that is about the age that most think about hanging up their helmet and retir ing - at least from the young man’s sport of GP racing. Like most other world class sports. Formula 1 racing can be a cmel one, but not simply because of the danger a driver must face every time he takes to the track. After probably a decade or more in the limelight as a top-line driver, or even a World Champion, Grand Piix teams will not hesitate to push one of their drivers aside if they think a younger man can do a better job. Some drivers hang on to their careers as long as they can until finally there are no doors left open for them. Others choose to step down more gracefully while at the top of their careers rather than hold on too long and then find they are no longer wanted. Either way, every driver is faced with the inevitable task of finding another way of spending the rest of their life. This is a decision which is not an easy one if you consider the glamour and the excitement that has been an every-day part of their lives up to that point, and the fact that most of them do not have any other trade other than driving cars extremely fast.

^or the past'decade or so, many of the FI drivers quitting the sport have done so with enough zeroes at the end of their bank balance not to have to worry about feeding themselves for the rest of their lives. It is a position that most of us would relish, but it’s not usually his financial situation that gives a dri ver the most anguish at the end of his Formula 1 cai-eer. It is learning to cope with NOT having to msh fi’om one countiy to another for testing, racing sched ules, sponsor commitments or press appointments that doesn’t leave many spare days in the year to him self. “The year I won my first World Championship I was on the road for over 300 days out of the year,” says two-time champion Michael Schumacher, “The most precious thing to any racing driver is a few days off at home - especially now I have a fam ily,” he adds. But the day he retires, he will

suddenly have as many days off as he wants. Like other World Champions before him,it is a situation that will certainly be a welcome one for a few months, but after that boredom sets in. Because of a racing driver’s nat ural competitive spirit, most are soon looking for fresh challenges, usually away from the cockpit of a racing car.

ne of the best known success stories is, of course, triple world champion Niki Lauda. Bitten by the flying bug during his racing career when he was fly ing himself between races with Ws own Lear Uet, Niki took his passion for flying one step further when he quit I'acing and started up his own au-line, Lauda Air. In his usual hands-on style, Niki became quali fied to fly all the planes that his air line operated including a Jumbo jet - and would often gave his pas sengers an extra thrill to know that they were being flown to their holi day destination by none other than the triple world cham pion himself. In just a few years, Lauda Air has grown into a highly successful air line into which both Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines have bought an interest, underlining their confi dence in Niki as a businessman as much as a pilot and racing driver. Despite running his own airline, Niki was also able to keep in con tact with FI by way of a promotion contract for Ferrari and adviser to his former team manager and now Ferrari boss, Luca di Montezemolo.

FULLY ARMED: 1980 world champion Jody Scheckter(above) turned his back on racing completely and developed a multi-million dollar firearms training simulator(below left), but is now back in England helping his sons advance their own racing careers. Below right he is with Toby and his Formula Vauxhall Junior.

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tell

R of his time, but his almost leg endary cruel luck robbed him of sev eral chances to win a Grand Prix dm-ing his career. After 96 GP staifs and 14 frus trating years, still only 33 yeai’s old, he finally decided to turn his back on motor racing knd return to his native New Zealand and farming. Now you can find a contented Chris most days of the week driving a tractor instead of a Grand Prix car as he tends his family farm near Bulls. Ironically, his best deal in motor sport has come after his retirement, with a contract to help promote and develop Toyota cars in New Zealand.

Lauda was one of the first racing drivers to reach “superstar” status with a super salary, but even though he earned more out of motor racing than any of his predecessors, he had to “un-retire” himself for another couple of seasons to help ^en-ari’s last World Champion, his struggling airline to survive in South African-born Jody its early days - winning his third Scheckter, was only 31 when title with McLaren in the process! he decided to quit the sport at the For pre-Lauda drivers, the strug- end of 1980 after taking the World gle has been even more difficult, but Championship in T979 ahead of his teammate Gilles Villeneuve. the rewards have been just as satis fying if not always so great finan ' “I had a terrible year in 1980 cially. because the car wasn’t any good and New Zealand driver Chris Amon I wasn’t getting the same thiill out was one of the most talented drivers of motor racing as I had before I

was World Champion,” Jody recalls. “I had achieved what I wanted and suddenly realised that the chal lenge and excitement had gone out of it for me. I needed something new in my hfe.” Scheckter quit his high-profile lifestyle to live an “unknown” exis tence in the USA, where he had aspirations of becoming a tennis professional. When he realised that was not going to work out, he too was faced with the biggest challenge yet; what to do with the rest of his life. “I was reading a magazine and saw an advertisement for a fireamis training simulator. It involved fir ing real bullets and I thought there must be a more practical way of doing the same thing with “Laser” bullets, which could be linked to a computer for scoring etc,” recalls Jody. He invested nearly all the money he had earned in motor racing, plus more money from a couple of out side investors he had known from Monaco, to set about turning his idea into reahty. Twelve years later, his company

Firearms Training Systems - FATS - had gone from a couple of guys working on his kitchen table to a multi-million dollar operation based in Atlanta with over 250 employees. Last year, the company went pub lic and Jody “retired” for a second time - a lot richer than the first time - and has moved back to London with his second wife Clair and their two yoimg boys. “For the moment I am taking a few months holiday and helping my other two older boys, Toby and Thomas, staiT their racing careers,” says Jody. “After that, who knows? I will be looking for something else to do, maybe running a racing team for them if they do well.”

ome 13 years later than Jody, quadruple world champion Alain Frost was faced \rith the same dilemma when he quit FI in 1993. He got involved in his son’s kart ing career, went to Grand Prix races as a TV commentator and even returned to the cockpit as a test din¬

2Janu8ry1998

Berger exits the fast lane with no regrets

erhard Berger may appear to have sadness in his eyes when talking of leaving F1, but he insists he has no regrets at quitting the fast lane. What the Austrian first described as a temporary break from Grand Prix racing at a news conference in October has now become a permanent retirement. "I took the right decision," said the 38-year-oid. "I am not scared anymore of suddenly being old and not having expe rienced anything. I am young, I have experienced amazing things and will experience a lot more." However, during the screen ing of a documentary about his

NEW CAREERS: While Niki Lauda headed for the skies with his own airline (above and left), fellow former world champion Nigel Mansell (right) headed for the fairways. At first he had dreams of being a golf professional, but had to be satisfied with buying and running his own course.

ver and adviser for the McLaren Mercedes team. Despite that, he still felt an out sider in a sport that had seemed to revolve around him for so many years as he became the driver with the most Grand Prix victories in the histoi'y of the sport. He wanted the same sort of total involvement and thrill that he had found as a driver, which he has finally found by taking over the ownership of the Ligier team, now Prost Formula One, at the start of the 1997 season. “It’s more nerve-wracking as a team owner standing on the pit wall than it ever was as a driver,” says Prost, the Frenchman now relishing his new role, which he also describes as “a lot harder work as well.”

Marvell’s former teammate and triple world champion Nelson Piquet had no problems changing his lifestyle when he retired, although the decision was partly made for him after he suffered a

ome drivers have not found it easy to make the break from Formula 1. Nigel Mansell announced his retirement after finally winning his first World Championship in 1992 with Williams because of a dispute over his 1993 contract, but then went to race in the USA where he also won the CART championship in 1993. After another season, he then quit that series to make another return to FI with Williams for a few races at the end of the 1994 season.

major accident while practicing for the Indianapolis 500 in 1993, the year after he retired from Benetton. He has since recovered and made another one-off appearance at Indianapolis and has also driven successfully is several sports car and saloon car races for BMW. “Just for fun,” says Nelson,, who now lives full-time in his native Brazil and devotes most of his time to a business into which he has sunk most of his FI earnings. “It’s a satellite tracking system for trucks or boats, which is con-

He got an offer to drive for Marlboro-McLaren in 1995, but that only lasted a couple of races before' he quit the team, deciding to con centrate on the development of a newly acquired golf and country club in Southern England. There was even talk of yet another come-back with Jordan-Peugeot in 1997, but after a brief test and long financial discussions he even tually announced that he had decid ed to devote his time to his golf club and to playing golf, a sport in which he also ekcels.

Continued on page 46 stantly linked, with a central base that can also send messages via satellite to the vehicle,” says Piquet, “In a country the size of Brazil, it means you can operate more effi ciently and, of course, know exactly where your truck is should it be stolen.” The business is now starting to show a healthy profit. He is also involved in kart racing with his son and the I’unning of both his home Brasilia race track and, more recently, the Rio track as well.

outh of the Brazilian border, Carlos Reutemann has one of the most unusual post-race careers, After returning to his native Argentina to take up his second love of farming on his Santa Fe ranch, he has also taken up politics and is now the governor of the Santa Fe region. He is even tipped by many to become President in the j^ears ahead! And for those other ex-Grand Prix drivers that don’t have such high

aspirations for their future, there is always the television. Not sitting at home and watching it, but commenting for their nation al stations, a job which has become a stepping stone for many while they find their feet in “civilian” life. Keke Rosberg, the 1982 world champion, was a regular visitor to the circuits after he retired as a dri ver and did the commentary for German TV. He then started his own Opel touring car team (for which he also drove for a time) and also took up driver management as his new pro fession. Like our own 1980 world champi on Alan Jones, who keeps in touch with GP racing speaking from the studio for Channel 9,former Ferrari stars Rene Arnoux and Patrick Tambay are both regular TV talk ers, as is former McLaren driver John Watson. Jonathan Palmer, Jacques Laffite, Martin Brundle, Jochen Mass, Marc Surer and Ivan Capelli all have steady TV jobs to keep them involved in the sport as well as their other interests. n

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FROM PLAYBOY TO PLAYGROUND: Ge/hard Berger intends spending more time with his children, including the eldest Christina (above) from a previous relationship.

2January W98

Gazing into 1998 It’s that time of year again. Motorsport News fearlessly looks into the coming year and predicts who will win, who will lose and to whom the lawsuits should be sent. PHIL BRANAGAN was the main suspect l l l

west. l

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CONTENT... AVESCO’s Tony Cochrane can merchan dise anything, even toothpaste. ADRIAN!!!...No, ifs Bernie. Sylvester Stallone and Bernie Ecclestone shake on the deal that will see one make mil lions from a movie and the other make even more. NO COLLUSION?... Coulthard (left) congratulates Hakkinen on winning the Drivers’ title... in January. (Photos by Dirk Klynsmith, Clive Mason/Allsport and Diana Burnett)

January The youth policy in touring car racing is to be felt not just on the tracks but at the gate. Instead of allowing kids in for free if accompanied by an adult, AVESCO will allow ‘seniors’(over 50s) in free if accompanied by a kiddie. No word on whether the offer extends to drivers. Sylvester Stallone announces that he will write and direct his new Formula One movie. Casting is expected quickly as shooting commences soon. Following his knighthood in the New Year’s honours list. Sir Bernie Ecclestone announces that the float of Formula One Holdings- now called ‘GPs and Stuff’ to attract the young share buyer - will go ahead immediately. Bernie pockets a cool £3blllion. McLaren and Williams tell the FIA that they will not fix the 1998 World Drivers Championship. “No way,” confirms Frank Williams, “but I would like to congratulate Mika on the Drivers’ title.”

Rumours suggest that a solution may be found to the ‘two Bathurst’ scenario. Following on from the BTCC example, there will be a com pulsory pitstop mid-race and the 2-litre Super Touring engines will be replaced by 5-litre V8s for the final 500km. Lola Cars receives an award from ‘Popular Boating’ magazine, which names the Lola T97/00 CART car ‘Boat anchor of the year”.

February The youth factor trans lates onto the track when Jason Bright(25) dominates Sandown’s Shell series opener. Jason Bargwanna (25) takes second from Russell Ingall (claiming to be 29 and looking sheepish). Stallone starts work on his new film. In the opening scene FIA President Max Mosley (Arnold Schwarzenegger)shoots it out with Ecclestone (Danny DeVito, without the Penguin suit), dispatching him with the immortal line, “Hasta la vista, Bernie!”

The Bathurst solution hits a snag; TV unions refuse to allow their members manning the cameras on the track to change from Channel 7 Tshirts to Channel 10 T-shirts half way through the race. AVESCO nominates ^-solution - using ABC cameramen - but TOCA counters with an offer to import BBC staff. An impasse exists. Michael Schumacher crashes into Jacques Villeneuve in testing but the FIA takes no actron. “I meant to do it, but it was not pre meditated,” he said, so the stewards all nod wisely, rub their chins- and head for the bar. AVESCO goes into the merchandising business. Their first item is the ‘Baby faced Assassin’ doll, which comes complete with nomex Ford Credit nappies and a Skippy doll (to be played with twice a year only).

March Mika Salo wins Australian ■Grand Prix at Albert Park. The new regulations, which demand narrower cars, mean

that the Williams and Ferraris are not as dominant as last season.“We knew it was a good idea to sign him,” says team owner Tom Walkinshaw. “A Finn in an Arrows was always going to work.” Schumacher and Villeneuve collide again - on the first lap. “He was in the way,” cofnplains the German. “But what I did was in no way pre-meditated.” He is let off with a severe warning. Steven Ellery (22) domi* nates the AGP V8 Supercar supports. There is a sudden rush for young drivers by ‘older’ teams. James Courtney has to get an unlist ed mobile phone number. BMW decide to attend the first round of the BOC Gases Super Touring Championship. “Habit,” explains a team spokesman. More casting news from Stallone’s movie. “I wanted someone to, er, urn, match the characters of the drivers,” he grunts before confirming Jim Carrey (‘Liar Liar’) will play Michael Schumacher

■

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and Jacques Villeneuve will be portrayed by Tom Cruise in a wig. Yokohama’s new V8 con trol tyre is late. “We wanted to have them for Lakeside,” says a spokesman,“But the crash of the Aussie dollar hasn’t helped things. We’ll have them as soon as we can.”

April AVESCO’s latest mer chandising coup is the Russell Ingall action figure. ‘The Enforcer” doll sells out within 24 hours. It comes complete with green, black, red and white warpaint, and disposable enemies. Stallone shoots movie at Albert Park after the Australian Grand Prix. In a complex gun-laden scene Villeneuve and Judith Griggs (Sandra Bullock from ‘Speed’) hold off angry ‘GPs and Stuff’ shareholders wifh two AK47S while Frank Williams (Jack Nicholson) fires Heinz-Harald Frentzen. To add realism to the scene H-HF plays himself and Jack uses real ammo...

The youth policy in V8 racing continues to bear fruit when HRT's backup driver Todd Kelly (18) wins at Phillip Island. Team man agers are seen desperately attending kart meetings with video cameras and note pads. The Privateers’ class is won by Trevor Ashby, the only driver to make his con trol Bob Jane All Rounders last the distance. Yokohama’s new tyre is expected soon. The opening BTCC round at Bonington Park descends into farce because of the compulsory mid-race pitstop. Despite their Bathurst experi ence, all the British teams are so slow the crowd leaves before the cars get back on the track. Schumacher punts Villeneuve off on the way to the track in Argentina. “It was not pre-meditated,” the German says later. “I wasn't even going to take the free way until I saw Jacques.” The FIA threatens him with ‘draconian’ retribution if he offends again.

^. n

WOT, NOAUSSIES7... The Grand Prix teams intro duce their 1999 test drivers: (left to right) Ferrari’s intense Italian F3 Champ Marco Webbini, Austrian aristocrat Marcus Von Webburg (Benetton), TWRArrows’ Dutch karting sen sation Jean-Marc van der Veber and the latest in a long line of Flying Finns, McLaren’s Markuu Webbenin. (Digital trickery by Phil Branagan)

ALMANAC

2Jmi^ 1998

MAN OF HIS WORD ... After pledging success to Ford's F1 bosses Jackie Stewart cleans up at Monaco. NO GOOFING OFF... The BTCC’s innovative pit stops will take time to catch on but the potential’s there... (Photos by Diana Burnett and Geraldo McDuck)

Shell round, sending teams back to the drawing boards. Several team managers are arrested for staking out school yards looking for new drivers.

1 V

The victory streak by the young drivers is having an effect, with HRT and Shell Helix Racing announcing new genetic engineering programs to provide drivers for the next decade.

Following his Queens Birthday award Lord Ecclestone announces that he has bought a controlling interest in the British Government and is planning to float the country.

July May Mark Webber reported to be testing Williams F1 car. Webber denies the story. A Stewart-Ford V10 sud denly gets reliable. The bub bly is broken into in all of Ford’s boardrooms around the globe. Four hours later, Jackie Stewart receives a call from Ford boss Martin Whittaker.‘‘Could you just get it to finish a Grand Prix when there’s other cars in the race - and not at a FOCA test?” he asks. Stewart makes per formance guarantees for the first time; “We’ll clean up at Monaco,” he says. The Indy 500 is over for another year, with victory going to our own Neil Crompton. “It was jolly nice to be invited to drive by the IRL,” says the delighted Cromley. “I was stunned when they said my old Formula Holden Ralt was eligible.” Stallone's moviecontinues, with Tom Walkinshaw (Billy Connolly) and Jackie Stewart(Sean Connery) fight-

ing over the love interest, ITV pitlane reporter Louise Goodman (Pamela Anderson in nomex). At Mallala Privateers are forced to cannibalise tyre bar riers to get tyres. The everresourceful Mai Rose gets the best rubber and takes out the category. Yokohama promis es tyres for the next race.

June ^ Schumacher does it again, this time polaxing Villeneuve as he gets out of a Montreal elevator. “I just saw him and / went berserk,” he admits. “But it was not pre-meditated.” The FIA acts swiftly and calls Schumacher to Paris to explain his actions- in November. At Eastern Creek Yokohama’s Privateer tyres arrive - half-way through the race, forcing a mid-distance pitstop. The Lansvale Commodore wins the class after Trevor Ashby and Steve Reed take the opportunity to swap drivers. John Cotter and Peter Doulman fol low. Unknown fif teen-year-old karter Jamie Smith wins the Calder

Mark Webber reported to be testing a Ferrari F1 car. Webber denies the story. Stallorie’s movies hits a new plateau. Damon Hill (‘Mr Bean’s Rowan Atkinson) runs over his entire pit crew (The Spice Girls) after a bun gled pitstop costs him the ' British GP.‘They were inept,” Hill fumes.‘They wouldn’t give me the tyres that I want, that I really, really want.” The genetic engineering programs in V8 Supercar ranks hits a snag when CAMS calls for limits in med ical staff. Larry Perkins ups the ante when he calls for control DNA.

August

September The final scene of Stallone’s movie is shot in Italy. Stallone plays Joe Saward, an international GP reporter and secret agent, who takes on Monza’s secu rity forces with only a biro, a handgun and a fully-armed, remote-controlled F16. He defeats the Italian baddies and releases the hostages, the FIA’s Stewards (The Wiggles). But, in a bizarre twist, he lines therr^ up and shoots them himself. The f/fos; cheers... The Sandown 500 is, again, interrupted by weath er. It provides a rare win for the ‘older’ brigade when the race runs well into dark ness, forcing-many of the main contenders to abandon the race to go home with Mum. Dick Johnson and John Bowe score the win. Mark Webber reported to be testing a Stewart F1 car. Webber denies the story.

October

BMW Australia releases The Bathurst 1000 is run new 3-series, including a lim ited edition 320i ‘Bathurst’ and won. The BMW of Craig model. It has no door lock on. Baird/Mike Briggs is leading the driver’s side, and an in the final hour until, during a alarm clock which goes off pitstop, Baird refuses to get every three and a half hours. out and a siege develops. Sylvester Stallone flies in to Lord Ecclestone success negotiate the film rights. fully floats ‘Bernie’s Britain’, earning £4.1 trillion. He now The other locally-prepared plans to privatise the United BMW of Steve Soper/Brett Nations, but stops short of a Riley wins, the Kiwi aided by commitment to boost the an on-board alarm clock. English cricket team. “Shit, Driving with Yvan Muller, I’m only human,” he says. Brad Jones is second again. Mark Webber reported to be testing a Jordan FI car. Webber denies the story.

ON HEAT... The ban on tyre warmers could lead to some innovation... but the pit crew lock-out (below) would have worked out better if they had taken their hoses home.

°tictoby RaceiAccem

The Bathurst Event Management team announces that, in line with last year’s promise, they WILL name a corner on the track ‘Dick’s Dipper’. But he enters the race anyway... The entry list for the Primus 1000 is announced and there are a lot of similar names; Jim Richards/Steven Richards, Dick Johnson/Steven Johnson, Alan Jones/Christian Jones, Brad Jones/PJ Jones, Jason Bargwanna/Scott Bargwanna, Paul Morris/Bob Morris, Jeff Gordon/Robby Gordon, Darren Hossack/Darren Pate and Cameron McLean/Cameron McConviile, who have entered the race by mistake. One of the Castrol Cougars joins forces with

ON THE REBOUND?... Ferrari’s new driver Dennis Rodman gets his first steering wheel from a suitably scared mechanic. Michael Schumacher.“We Kevin Heffernan for the Melinda Price Attack, fired him deliberately, but it wasn’t pre-meditated,” says Frentzen and Lehto join a spokesman.“We want forces as ‘HH and JJ, the fly someone more in keeping ing consanants’. with our image.” They announce NBA star Dennis November Rodman will drive in 1999. Mick Doohan wraps up fifth 500CC title. Doohan Sony releases new video game on Piaystation won by only 7 points from ‘Where’s Webber?’ The Alex Criville, with John Kocinski third. “The new FIM game, which places Aussie driver Mark Webber in any regulation imposed upon me one of up to eight different was tough,” admitted FI cars, proves to be a great Doohan, pointing to the Pee hit. Wee 50 Honda which he was forced to ride during the season. December Perkins wins the Primus! 12-year-old Jack Perkins takes his first win, sharing the Castrol Kiddies Commodore with the Fat Kid from ‘Hey Dad’. “It was easy, Mr Sheene,” he says after the race. “The only hard part was getting dad to fire that Ingall guy”. Frank Williams confirms that Villeneuve is leaving the team and that Juan Fangio II and Juan Pablo Montoya are in line for the drive. “It’s a tough choice,” he admits. ‘Two into Juan won’t go.” Due to constant embar rassment, Ferrari fires

AVESCO releases a series of cost-cutting mea sures in V8 racing. All super fluous pit equipment will be banned, including tyre warmers and crew mem bers. In 1999 drivers will have to work on the cars themselves. BAR announces its 1999 driving line-up. Villeneuve will be joined in the team by former CART driver Gil de Ferran. During their first test they are both involved in a shunt with Damon Hill, leav ing journalists clamouring for who will be the first to write the headline, “Jacques and Gil go into Hill.”

-Aided and abetted by AARON NOONAN

18 Briefly Historic

It seems that the Historic scene is having some influence in other forms of motor sport not normally associated with the movement. The new promoter of Raceway Park, Heathcote, Steve Bettes included a “Nostalgia Class” at a recent drag race meet ing which was designed to bring back a number of the hotrods from yes teryear. The Historic speedway category is also gaining momen tum, and just goes to show that nostalgia is pfaying a big part in our lives. In fact, Bettes is planning an entire meeting for these blasts from the past on February 28 and he expects up to 140 entries for the Nostalgia Drags at Raceway Park, Heathcote. n Although it would be nice to keep politics to a minimum in Historic motor sport it seems that it isn’t all plain sailing at pre sent, especially in the Victorian Historic Touring Car Association. The main bone of contention relates to eligibility matters, and it is here that the VHTCA and CAMS have been unable to reach common ground. The latest upheaval has seen the entire committee of the VHTCA resign, and now it will be up to the replacement committee headed by Ballarat’s Justin Brown to steer a course that will bi'ing peace and harmony to the situation. Ken Zinner has taken over the position of secre tary, and attempts are being made to forge closer links with the Victorian Historic Racing Register. Let’s hope for the sake of the sport that the situation can be resolved amicably and in the best interests of Historic motor sport after all, the tin-tops are tremendous drawcards wherever they appear, and owners have invested huge sums of money in order to make them such crowd favourites. ■ Meanwhile, the Historic Car Commission has made some changes to its membership by invit ing selected clubs to propose candidates from which CAMS will select members to serve on the Commission. In Victoria nominations will be accepted from the VHRR, the Vintage Sports Car Club, the Austin 7 Club and the VHTCA. CAMS is expected to make the appoint ments to the HCC in early 1988.

n Congratulations to Bill Hemmings who won the ‘Best Drive of the Weekend’ award at the 1997 Tattersall’s Historic Sandown meeting in his rapid XK150 Jaguar. His efforts in the big car were outstanding - as the editor of the VHRR Newsletter put it, “Anybody who can wheel two-and-a half ton of scrap metal around Sandown in lm31.34s needs to be tested for steroids”.

n This year’s finish in the VHRR outright points score for Club Champion was a close affair. Finally it was Keith Simpson(Eagle Imp) who won with 53 points ahead of two drivers, Harry Forde (MG TC)and Rohan Hodges(Lotus Elan) who scored 52 points each. Formula Ford driver Phillip Randle was next with 46 points in his Hawke DL15. Congratulations to these competitors, and to all class winners in the 1997 VHRR Championship. n A great way to work off the excesses of the festive season is to enter your car for the VHRR Calder Practice Day to be held on Sunday, February 15. The event is open to all financial members of the VHRR and youf current membership card must be presented at scrutineeilng. A CAMS basic licence is the minimum require ment and no entries will be accepted on the

day.

This year, all cars will run strictly within their category, and if two drivers wish to drive the same car, it must be on a shared laps or session basis. Scrutineering in the NASCAR scrutineering bay is compulsory, and a mandatory driver’s briefing will be held there at 10.00am. on the day. The practice sessions will be of 15 minutes duration, with the first round of activity to take place on the short circuit. Thereafter, the practice day will run on the long course at the organiser’s discretion. At the conclusion of the day, the \T1RR will provide drinks and refreshments in the VIP lounge. All drivers, crew and friends are welcome to attend. For further informa tion and entry forms contact Brian Simpson on (03) 9744 7309. The closing date for entries in February 1, 1998. ■ A Happy New Year to all Historic * race fans and may your old cars go even faster in 1998. - BRIAN REED

Famous Torana L34 for sale WITH so much euphoria still about over the retire ment of Peter Brock, it is timely that one of his for mer race cars has come up for sale - and it’s a very well credentiaUed car indeed. The logbook, (yes, there is one!) shows the car listed as a Holden Torana SLR5000/ L34 and it still carries its original body registration plate of ALH 005586M. The Marlboro Holden Dealer Team L34 debuted at Adelaide International Raceway on August 24, 1974 in a shakedown race before the two major long distance races at Sandown and Bathurst. Sandown was a bit of a disaster for both HDT cars - Brock going out with oil pump failirre and Bond retiring with a broken trailing arm after, the pair had started on front row of the grid. The L34s were clearly quicker than the bigger-bodied Fords, and at Bathm-st Brock built up a huge 6-lap advantage - the biggest outright lead ever at Mt. Panorama, before he went out with a broken piston on lap 118. Bond was also in the horTors, having been black flagged for dropping oil - 1974 was a black year for the Holden Dealer Team in the two big ones. In 1975, Brock became a pri vateer and scored one of his most memorable victories at

OFF THE AIR... Colin Bond hard at work in ALH005586M at Adelaide International in 1975. form, winning the final two third behind Bob Morris and rounds at Adelaide and England’s John Fitzpatrick. Lakeside to score 60 points, The L34’s final race was at well clear of Murray Carter’s Sandown on April 17,1977. Falcon on 44 points. He also Now the ex-Brock/Bond scored a third outright at MHDT L34 is on the market and would be a great piece of Bathurst, sharing the car with South Australian John Walker. Australian motor racing history to add to a collection. It needs In 1976 Brock was back in favour with the MHDT and to be put back to its original liv ery of red, white and black, and ALH 005586M was back for more of the action. At Bathurst comes with logbook and service Brock shared one car with his book, brother Phil, while Bond and Serious enquiries about this car can be made by phoning John Harvey were in the sec ond team car. The Bond/Harvey (03) 9874 8517 during business combination finished second, hours. -BRIAN REED and the Brock brothers were

Bathurst driving the Norm Gown/Bruce Hindhaugh pre pared L34 with co-driver Brian Sampson. Meanwhile, Colin Bond had taken over the Brock L34(ALH 005586M) from the previous year and proceeded to win the 1975 Australian Touring Car Championship. The season started at Tasmania’s Symmons Plains where Bbnd won, and the logbook shows the L34 had a busy season contest ing seven rounds of the ATCC, Sandown and Bathurst plus a couple of other meetings. Bond finished the season in great

Olds & Bolds relives great LCCA days By BRIAN REED THE Olds & Bolds gathering, consisting of the remnants of the Light Car Club of Australia, is going from strength to strength, if this year’s record attendance at the “Out-of Control Rally Point” was any indication. Ninety three members and guests turned up at the Elsternwick Hotel for a tradi tional Christmas dinner - the best attendance ever since the function was instigated several years ago. According to one of the organisers, Ai-nold Terdich, a promising sign is that the younger generation is taking an interest in the club and its history. For instance, there was Wayne Hunter, and he brought along two friends from the oil rigs off Sale to join in the cele brations. It was also good to see inter state representation which included Geoff Russell from Queensland, who renewed acquaintances with Frank Coad. Both contested the 1960 Armstrong “500” at Phillip Island, with the Coad/Roxburgh Vauxhall Cresta beating home Russell’s Peugeot after 500 tough miles. Coad was keen to show his rival a front-on photo of the race winning Vauxhall Cresta he has recreated, jokingly adding that Russell could prob ably only remember what it looked like from behind! Also from interstate was Historic enthusiast and wellknown race commentator John Cummins from Sydney. “Cummo” circulated some-

information he has gathered on the Chamberlains (famous for their tractors as well as their highly innovative race cars). This was of particular inter est to Bill Lockington, as it was his uncle who brought out from England the 1904 Napier engine which was rebuilt by Bob Chamberlain for early land speed record attempts in Australia. Bill Lockington was himself a keen racer, having piloted suc cessfully a polished aluminium bodied MG NE Magnette in days gone by. But the oldest character attending was former dirt-track racer and choir boy Charlie Letch, who will turn 90 in January. Charlie was a top competitor for many years aboard his JAP dirt-track bike and was a great supporter of the LCCA at Rob Roy in the years immediately following World War 2. Two former Australian Gold Star champions and LCCA stal warts added to the gathering. They were Bill Patterson (who won the title in 1961 driving his Cooper Climax) and Bib Stillwell, who scored four times in a row from 1962 to ’65. It was interesting sitting next to Bib listening to him trade stories with George Humble about their respective Ford GT40s, and to their reminis cences about “the good old days”. Congratulations to the organ isers so capably led by Arnold Terdich, Chaides' Weir and Fritz Suendermann - maybe the “Olds and Bolds” willtop the 100-mark next year!

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AN extensive display of cars, motorcycles, boats and aircraft will take centre stage at the RAAF Base, Point Cook on the Australia Day weekend (January 25-28) with the running of the inaugural extravaganza known as “Wings, Wheels & Water”. One of the main events will feature a match race between a WW2 Mustang aircraft and a ’67 Shelby Mustang 427. Another interesting display will be a ‘Healey Marine’ (Austin Healey) speedboat that ten dered Donald Campbell’s ill-fated water speed record attempt in 1967 when his “Bluebird” disinte grated while travelling at more than 480km/h. -BRIAN REED

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JOHN BOWE

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John Bowe is going into his second decade with Dick Johnson Racing, facing new challenges and new - and younger - competition. He told PHIL BRANAGAN about life after a decade at the sharp end of touring car racing.

MOTORSPORT NEWS: You’re going into your second decade with Dick Johnson Racing. That’s a pretty rare thing these days, isn’t it? JOHN BOWE: I guess it is, yes. But this is a special relationship, with Dick, with Shell, with Dunlop and special with Ford. 1 consider myself to be very fortunate to have had the privilege of form ing these relationships. It just started off as a bloke hiring another dri ver but we’ve formed a very solid and, at times, a successful partnership. MN: And it’s not like you haven’t had the odd offer along the way to move elsewhere. ●JB: At times I have had, for sure. The tempta tion was never quite strong enough. When you have a good relationship

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with various people - and companies - I think that demands a certain level of loyalty. You should look after the people that look after you. At times I’ve been flat tered by other approach es but I’ve never actually been tempted enough to take them. MN: Does that make you an of something these anachroriism days? JB: I am the exception rather than the rule. I place a lot of emphasis on personal relationships with people. We have a Dick, good relation Wayne Cattach, Lee Geyer, who looks after my car and the guys, in the team. With Jeff Moorhead and Russell Stuckey and Mark Stewart at Dunlop, Greg Harbutt at Ford and Ross Brodie and Bob

Lindemann and, before them, Tom Smith at Shell. They’ve all been good, strong relationships. We are in the business pf helping each other an6 that’s why it’s lasted. Not everyone is like that; we are. MN: The relationship have aiso evolved, When you joined Dick in 1988 he was the domi nant partner on-track but now, it seems, you are. JB: I wouldn’t say that, necessarily. But when I joined in ’88 there were two cars capable of win ning the races - Dick’s, and mine. Now there’s up to 20 people in the race who can finish on the> podium. Such is the evolution of Australian touring car racing. It is now the most competitive and toughest form of motor racing in

the world, next to NASCAR. American Things have.changed and we’ve had to change with it. Look at Jeff Gordon. He won the NASCAR series but he came 17th in the final race of the season, I can see that happen ing in Australian V8 rac ing, with it being so close in terms of equipment. You could be on the front row one week and on row 10 the next week. Everyone here is going to have to get used to it including the sponsors. Not always is your car going to be up the front. Sometimes it will be in

the middle of the pack. But that’s a good thing for the sport. The V8 category is now fulfiling the promise that everyone always said it

DJR has been in the top half-dozen cars for most of that 10 years. JB; And I hope it con tinues like that! But now everything in the package

when I joined in W there were two cars capable of winning the races - Dick% and mine. Mow there^s up to 20 people in the raceff who can finish on the podium

had when it started in ’93. MN: Having said that.

has to be right. The car, the tyres, the engine, the team and the sponsorship package - and the driver, of course. If one thing isn’t right you’re not going to win the race. That’s a good thing for the spectators and televi sion audience but it’s a tough thing for the dri vers. But that’s where it should be. It’s a tough game. MN: You’re coming out of a season where you were competitive but didn’t have much ulti mate success. JB: We got second in the championship to Glenn Seton who, I think, deserved to win the championship. That was a useful effort. Continued on page 20 FAMILIAR SIGHT... Car 18 in full flight at Oran Park in July. Bowe took the runnehs-up spot in the SATCC, despite Bridgestone’s dominance over Dunlop in the sprint races. (Photo by Marshall Cass)

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INTERVIEW

2Mnu3!^ 1998-

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Continued from page 19 But I am disappointed with the season. We weren’t as competitive as we would have like to have been. I like to win every race I’m in! But that can’t happen. We finished on a dis appointing note at Sandown and Bathurst but that’s something we have to cope with. We’ll have our day again, I’m sure. We have good peo ple and people make the difference. MN: There have been some changes. (Former Team Manager) Les Laidlaw has left to go to Romano’s. What effect do you think that will have?

4A/D IN HIS TIME OFF... Bowe has brought his uncompro mising style to GT-Production racing. In the past two sea son the Poz Cola Ferrari has become one of the cars to (Photos by Bob Potts and John Morris/Mpix) beat in the championship. THE FIRM... Bowe and Johnson have been a formidable partnership for the last decade and are friends as well as team-mates. This year may well see them assault the endurance races in different cars for the first time. (Photos by Marshall Cass and Ed Krause)

very clever fellow. His influence is starting to be seen now and, over a period of time it will be peen more so. We can’t afford to stand still in such a com petitive environment. At Dick Johnson Racing we’re always look ing to improve and some times that will mean that we go down the wrong track like every team does. But we have to do that to stay competitive.

frmr f® my meet In towing tars I e

f® say^ It wm mmh easier working JB: It remains to be seen. He hasn’t been replaced yet and there is always a settling-in period that comes along with new people. Maybe it will have an effect. But the team is full of good people and I would expect them to assist Les’s replacement in every way. Without that happening ypu struggle. MN: Is the team manag er’s role changing? When you joined DJR you had Neal Lowe who was very influential and then when went through the Stone era. The Stone brothers left the team but the cars they built have still been competitive. JB: Individually all of those people were very relevant: they all had their own role. I think that the role is changing, especially since Neal’s day. Now we have a technical director in Murray Bunn, who is a

MN: Tyres are obviously the biggest variable in such a competitive environment. How frustrating can that be for a driver? JB: I depends on how your particular brand is doing at the time. Over the years it comes and goes and evens out a bit. Prior to my career in was touring cars involved in some cate gories that had a control tyre and, I have to say, it was much easier work ing on a level playing field. But whether or not the V8 category can afford to have a control tyre is up to people other than myself. That decision will be taken by others, not me. I’ve have a very long and close involvement with Dunlop, since my first Formula Vee race when I was 17! I have a very strong bond with them.

MN: When you say ‘afford’: afford it philosophically or financially? JB; Financially. There are three tyre companies spending a considerable amount of money on their touring car programs. I don’t know if the category can afford to lose that contribution and go to a control tyre. ^ But that’s a decision I won’t have any say in. It’s not for me to make a comment on it. But it is the major vari able in the category, tyre

performance, it vanes.

MN: Maybe if could be affordable due to the financial watershed over the last couple of years. Perkins’ team is obvi ously running on a smaller budget than many; Garry Rogers is going to two cars and even ‘Level 2’ drivers like John Faulkner are moving through and making an impression at the pointy end... JB: But I’ve never personally thought of John Faulkner beinp a Level 2 competitor. I’m not a ,party to his budget but he ’had an HRT car on Bridgestone tyres. To me that’s a Level 1 car and John is a good driver and a smart operator. But the costs are rela tively controlled. If it wasn’t we would not be getting all these new competitors in the class. There are more com petitors coming in all the time. We will have 16 to 18 Level One cars, for want of a better term, and Privateers who a re capa ble of running with the Level One teams, That is a very healthy position to be in for a cat egory. There are tight controls on engines transmissions, rear axles, brakes and so on.

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JOHN BOWE

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MN: One of the side effects of the concentra tion of cars at the pointy end of the fieid has been, inevitably, a degree of contact between cars. Fred Gibson is on the record as wanting to see more discipline via stop/go penalties. How do you see it at the moment? JB; In most cases I \ think it’s okay. There are the odd exceptions but you. get that in any sport. I think the chief stew ard has to make a stand early in the season. None of the teams can afford to have massive panel bills and things, but I don’t think things are too bad.

MN: Do you support summary justice stop/go penalties? JB: I don’t know. That’s something I’d like to think about a little before the season starts. It can be fraught with dangers. A good chief steward and clerk of course is a better way to go. Maybe we need a driver on the panel , like in England. Jeff Allam is doing a good job and he assists with the decisions. There’s room for discus sion there.

You would expect it to be fast. But it’s also got a class for everybody, anything from a Dodge Viper or Ferrari to a Suzuki Swift. Everyone has a category to race in, against other competitors. The concept is great and I’d like to see a few more manufacturers flesh it out. for two, Mazda and Toyota should be involved in it. There is a lot of scope there for growth. You can thank Ross Palmer for the growth of it, he has backed it and bankrolled it but now it is up and running and it’s self-sufficient which is a credit to Ross and to Bill West and everybody involved.

We have a testing ban so that the team with the biggest budget can’t go on the track every day. The category is amazingly healthy. And it will be even better this year.

MN: Does it go in cycles? There was a time in the Sierra era when your car and Tony BMW Longhurst’s seemed to be tied together... JB: That’s just things that happen. They’re cir cumstantial - it’s a moving target. Last year there was some funny business at times that was a little out of hand but I don’t know... The chief steward has the final say; he hands out the penalties. It is hard, tough racing and no-one likes to see any one biffed off. That’s the key.

2Jam!}/1998

THE GOOD WITH THE BAD... Bowe’s Phillip Island accident in 1996 was one of the low points of his career. Though he didn’t let on at the time he was badly hurt by the shunt and it took months for him to recover. MN: There’s a large the country and the cream said; that it’s not easy and ly pretty hard nuts, so this it has never been easy. It year there’s just going to influx of young drivers rises to the top. this season. That’s why these guys wasn’t easy 10 years ago, be some more hard nuts out there. JB: I think it’s terrific. are there. I don’t think that or 20 years ago, or 30. That’s the game; I don’t It will not be easy in the the'y have anything to There’s always been the give any favours and I odd new driver but I think learn, really. If they had future. The strong survive. The two drivers I’ve just don’t expect any. this is great. I support things to learn they would mentioned have managed young guys getting a not be in there. But that doesn’t mean to get there without a lot of MN: You’ve also had a chance - I was young that people like myself and family money and that is couple of seasons in the once myself! GT-Ps. Is that particular I’ve always had an ly satisfying? interest in developing JB: I’ve enjoyed it young drivers. I’ve always immensely. It’s a terrific gone put of my way to category; it’s the most encourage and help them. competitive category in the country, the V8s are. But MN: Most visibly you’ve it’s a great support catego had p mentor role with Cameron McConville and ry and it’s exceptionally Steve Johnson. With well organised. The people involved in that experience in mind it are good; it’s not quite what are the pitfalls as World War Three as in these young guy,s are V8s. It’s enjoyable moto'r facing? JB: The performances Dick and Larry Perkins good. It’s a great credit to racing. of Cameron and Steven and the more experienced them, MN: At the pointy end speak for themselves. blokes are going to lie They’re very, very good down and let them walk all MN: Is it also re-motivat- the cars are getting young drivers and I think over us. You don’t have to ing for people like your- EXTREMELY fast, like the other guys coming in be under 30 years old to self to face new opposi- your Ferrari. JB: The Ferrari is be a good racing driver. tion? this year are the same. always good in qualifying. The opportunities you’re JB: I never have ANY They have talent and that’s obviously why they seeing people like Jason trouble getting motivated. It’s quite heavy and pretty Bright and Jason My motivation is extremely hard on its tyres but they are getting the opportuni ties. It is without doubt the Bargwanna and people strong, it always has been, are getting quite quick. They are quite sophisti most professional and like that getting are reflect- When the motivation stops cated cars in Class A. competitive category in ing what I have always I will stop racing. The guys that we have Peter Fitzgerald’s Porsche raced against are general- is basically a racing car.

"It's not easy and it has never been easy, ft wasn't easy 10 years ago, or 20 years ago, or 30. It will not be easy in the future. The strong survive

MN: But that takes you away from home for twice as many weekends. JB: Whether I drive in the series next year or not is a debatable point because Ross has told Neal Lowe who runs the team that it has to be self funding. Neal is trying to find the money to run it and that's not easy to do in motorsport. If I don’t I’ve had a ter rific experience. But, I’m a racing driver. I did 24 race meeting last year but I managed. I enjoyed it.But it’s my life. My whole life has revolved around racing, ever since I was a kid. MN: You’re in an inter esting position; you’re not a team owner and you’ve driven for some very good teams. Do you have any long-term plans about what you’ll do when you stop dri ving? JB: No. I have no inten tion of stopping. I’ll know when to stop. MN: What will you do? Will you stop taking an interest? JB: It’s theoretical, the time has not yet come. What I would like to do is stay involved in the sport. As I said my whole life has revolved around the sport and I would like to stay involved with it, whether it is running a team, or administrative, or within a motor company.

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STOP SQUEEZING PETER... Peter Brock may have retired frbm driving but he and Bowe share a level popularity with their fans and fellow drivers. (Photo by David Lamont)

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11 2Jmaiy1998

THUNDERDOIVIE

Report by BRETT SWANSON

Jim Richards and his Canadian crew chief and car owner, Dick Midgley, must have been count ing their blessings after Richards survived a rmique sit uation to grab the lead in the Herald-Sun 250 with just three laps remaining in the 137 lap race on the Thunderdome on December 27. Second-placed Dean Wanless had ran a faultless race to lead all but seven of the first 134 laps, before falling to former champion Richards after a couple of lurid four wheel slides through turns 3-4 on the last couple oflaps. For the third straight meeting, Terry Wyhoon brought his Aussiebuilt Ford Thunderbird home in third place. Former champion Max Dumesny was the last driver on the lead lap in his Monte Carlo. There were a few changes to the format for this Christmas meeting, with Friday being set aside for pri vate practice and with the one long race on Saturday, instead of two sprint races. Wyhoon’s troubles began before the meeting had officially started, when he backed the BP Car care Thunderbird into the wall on Friday afternoon while bedding in some brakes. Wyhoon drove the car back to the pits and was disappointed with the damage. ‘T didn’t think that it hit the wall quite as hard as that. I was only doing a few slow laps to bed in the tyres and the car just took off on the entry into turn 1,” he explained. “Luckily, it looks to be only panel damage at this stage.” Thanks to the help of Brett and Wayne Smith, the car was repaired and back ready for action when things officially started. Practice When Saturday morning’s prac tice session was over, it was no sur prise to the see the time sheets headed by Kim Jane, Wanless and Richards. Jane had set the quickest time of 27.9374 seconds in the Bob Jane TMarts/Repco John Sidney-prepped Monte Carlo on the fourth of his 26 laps. Wanless’ time in the Metalcorp Recyclers Thunderbird of 27.9709 was set on his seventh rotation. Wanless then broke an axle and the locker in the diff. Richards was the only other dri-

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BREAKTHROUGH... Car owner Dick Midgley (left) and Jim Richards have now taken the ACDelco Cup Car Series lead. (Thunder-Pics photos)

Christmas cheer for new leader Richards I V

ver under 28 seconds in the Pyroil/No Fear/Bob Jane T-Marts Pontiac Grand Prix. Lap record-holder Dumesny was a shade over 28 seconds in his Valvoline Monte Carlo from Terry Byers’ Monte Carlo. Touring car star Greg Murphy, driving the Kevin Schwantz Clarion/Southern Motors Monte Carlo in his debut super speedway outing, also experienced a broken axle. Qualifying -“All the fast cars were loose,” stated Richards after qualifying and his had been one of the more

noticeable, with a slide through turh 4 on his fastest lap. Kim Jane was another to experi ence the same thing, but Neville Lance experienced much worse when he spun in turn 2 and lightly kissed the wall on the second of his flying laps. Wanless, who usually has a big slide when on the gas, didn’t and came out on top, with Wyhoon sec ond and Lance’s Thunderbird next, making it a trifecta for the Ford Blue Oval. Richards was next, ahead of Dumesny and Kim Jane, with Bob Middleton putting in a superb lap to ^rab seventh in the WTiiteline

Transport Monte Carlo. Ken James’ IC CoffeeAVet Paint Monte Carlo was next, ahead of Paul Stocker (Consolidated Waste Oldsmobile Cutlass) and Gene Cook’s Austoil/City Ford/Protec Thunderbird. Murphy was back in 13th place, but was only just over a second off the pace after over 100 laps of prac tice. Race(137 laps) From the drop of the green, the pack settled quickly into their run ning order, with Lanee taking up position behind Wanless. Wyhoon was third, ahead of

SO CLOSE... Dean Wanless brained the troops with his outright pace, but his tyres finaiiy cried enough and runner-up was as good as it got.

Richards, Dumesny, Kim Jane, Stocker, Cook, Middleton and Rod Jane(AUSCAR Alloy Wheels/Exide Batteries Monte Carlo). Cook was the only one moving up, despite having to run his spare motor and was progressing nicely. On lap 6, Wyhoon made the move under Lance as they went into turn 1 and Richards repeated the dose into turn 3. Three laps later, Richards pulled Wyhoon’s move on himself to take second position. On the next lap, Middleton’s ran stalled when he spun coming out of turn 2. Murphy snuck past, then got onto the radio excitedly to the crew: “Did you see that. He just missed me.” Mm-phy was having a ball in the car, relating it aU back to the Tom Cruise movie. Days of Thunder. Not so lucky was James, who just clipped Middleton as he tried to sneak past on the bottom of the track. With the yellow flags flying, Lance, James, Kim Jane, Middleton and Andrew Calvert (Sign Pro Lumina) pitted and, with Wanless held up behind the pace car, Lance actually crossed the finish line in the lead. The order at this juncture was Wanless, Richards, Wyhoon, Dumesny, Cook, Rod Jane, Ian Thomas (Valvoline Monte Carlo), Stocker, Murphy and Byers (Yella Terra). Racing resumed four laps later with no real changes to the order, except for Stocker, who was shuf fled back a few spots. On lap 21, Dumesny moved up to third after demoting Wyhoon, but

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at this stage the cars were fairly spread out. Lance caused the next caution period when he spun in turn 2 and nosed down into the wall. Wyhoon, James and Coon all pit ted, with Wyhoon changing all four tyres. “The first set of tyres had ten laps on them when we started and they were s...house. I told Tom [Smith] on the radio that at the first available chance we were com ing in to change them, I didn’t care how many places we lost doing it,” Wyhoon explained. Murphy and Dumesny also came in to receive some service. Dumesny had done a Lance and led a lap while in the pits. Wanless was still out front from Richards and now Cook when rac ing resumed and he started to open a gap. On lap 42, John Maultsaid (Consolidated Waste Thunderbird) spun across the front straight grass, but continued. Kim Jane was on the charge and was soon up to third, but making no impression on the leaders - was he pacing himself, waiting for another caution? Cook’s great run came to a smoky end after 51 laps when the diff oil pump failed and the oil overheated

Since therace opening ACDelco series meeting on Cup the Thunderdome at Calder Park Raceway, I have raced at another two super speedway meets, plus run at Parramatta in the Sprintcar and the World Series Sprintcar rounds in West Australia. Ian Vale and Peter Jacobsen, the Australian Speedway Production Car Champion, took one of my new Valvoline J&J cars to Parramatta, where we ran relatively good with an untested package. We won our first heat, finished second in the next, won the trophy dash and started from position fourteen in the feature. I managed to get to the lead, but Skip Jackson got by me while we were lapping traffic. I almost got past him on the last lap - you could have thrown a blanket over Skip, myself and Brooke Tatnell as the three of us flashed across the finish line in a really tight finish, 'e next headed out to the Goodyear Thunderdome to do testing and development work on my Valvoline/No Fear/Killer Loop Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the upcoming season-opener. Some minor aerodynamic changes to the front of the car enabled me to lap the tri-oval half a second quicker. Later thatcar afternoon, after return ing the and equipment to the race shop, the boys headed off to Kalgoorlie for the first round of this seasons World Series Sprintcars Championship on the Wednesday night. We had not a bad night of rac ing, except for a magneto problem. In the first heat, we did a magneto cap on our new MSD Pro Magneto - they seem to have an inherent problem with the cap on them. Luckily, during the heat Ron Krikke turned his car over during a crash and the officials displayed the red light. We were able to fix the car up and got back into the heat, finish ing in the top three, which was pleasing after the earlier problems I started out of fifth in the fea ture; the car was running very quick, but 1 couldnt improve on my third placing, as it is not a very good passing track. Andrew Scheuerle won his first WSS race from Phil March.

and blew out of the breather. Jimmy Ellis (GB Galvanising Phil Munday Panels Lumina) was having a good run also, until an oil leak ended his run. It was Ellis’ misfortune, though, that had a major impact on the race. “I was following Ellis and thought, is that oil coming out and then, whoosh, the car was spin ning,” related Richards, who spun coming out of turn 2. “That’s the first spin I’ve ever had here,” he continued, “especially at that speed.” The spin was so fierce that it blew the front tyres and Richards was forced to crawl around for a couple of laps and two pit stops to change the tyres - and all without dropping a lap!! Following Richards through the turn was points leader Kim Jane, who also spun. Jane wasn’t as lucky, though and hit the wall, dropping four laps and ending his incredible nm of success at the Thunderdome. It was at this time that almost the whole field decided to make their stops for fresh tyres and fuel. Dumesny was now leading from Murphy, Wanless, Wyhoon, Thomas, Rod Jane and Richards. When racing resumed, Wanless

ur next stop was at Claremont for the WSS round. I had never won a feature race at the venue and was really determined to take out their final WSS event, as they are supposed to be closing the track later irjthe year. I set second quickest time early in the piece, did reasonably well in the heats - as you have to start at the rear after recording a quick lap time - and I passed enough cars to be high pointscorer on the night. What you get for accomplishing that is to draw the inversion for the feature, either two, four or six grid position. My luck was such that I drew sixth, putting Skip Jackson on the front row - from there on, no-one saw which way he went. I went ten laps into the race and the right rear tyre started to go down, which finished us off as I was forced to park the car in the infield.

We werethe pretty disappointed about result, but you can’t let it phase you - being Sprintcar racers, you go on to the next venue, which was Bunbury and make another attempt at win ning the feature. We had a bad night there, due to not being able to get any drive whatsoever out of the track; the racing surface was like talcum powder and I just pottered around in sixth with the aim of gaining some series points, as well as keeping It out of trouble. Tony Landrigan, co sponsor for who our is a West Australian exploits, paid for my crew chie,f Ian Vale, to fly back to our Melbourne base to continue preparing the Monte Carlo. Tony .and Geoff Owen hopped into the Sprintcar transporter and headed

quickly retook the lead and Wyhoon soon brushed the wall while chas ing Murphy. “I was chasing Murphy and thought he’s loose. He had a moment and I went high and brushed the wall,” said Wyhoon. Like Richards, Murphy had his first spin on lap 88, across the front straight grass. Under this caution, Murphy pit ted, but was sent out again because the pits were still closed. When racing resumed, there were only six cars still on the lead lap, showing that a lot of teams perform better in the sprint envi ronment. Wanless was still leading from Wyhoon, Richards, Rod Jane and Dumesny, who had pitted. Thomas was the only other car still on the lead lap. Richards grafted hard and hauled in Wyhoon, passing him on lap 111. He then set about reeling in tlje runaway leader and lap after lap he closed the gap slightly. Murphy retired on lap 120 with a misfire and, by lap 126, Richards was on Wanless’ tail, thanks to some good luck with lapped traffic. These two had left Wyhoon and Dumesny far behind, but had set up an exciting finish. off across the Nullarbor. They had a trip that no-one wants to experi ence. They got to Norseman where the clutch hydraulic slaVe cylinder failed and the starter motor failed at the next stop. So they had no clutch or starter motor, prevent ing them from bump starting the engine. They managed to get to a major stop* in the middle of the desert, but the peo ple there were out of fuel - they were advised that there would be a nine hour wait for a tanker to arrive to replenish their supplies. Tony and Geoff did some cal culations and they figured they would make it to the next stop after repairs had been made to the clutch - unfortunately, there wasnt enough fuel in the tanks and they became stranded on the side of the road in stinking hot weather. Geoff hitched a ride into town for fuel, which was a five hour round trip and from there on they proceeded on to Melbourne, arriv ing exhausted. eanwhile, the rest of us were loading up the ACDelco car on our way to Calder Park for the December 6 races. During Friday’s practice, the car felt quite good, but unfortunately Saturday’s practice session was rained out and we missed testing several race set-up changes. We changed the engine after practice when it was noticed that there was bearing metal in the oil filter - caused by a thrust bearing failure due to insufficient clearance in the gearbox. During the two qualifying laps in the afternoon, the car felt reason ably decent, as I was getting into the 27-second bracket comfortably for the first time this year - howev er, it didn’t feel completely right, but we got there to be fifth on the grid. Dean Wanless decided to have a dummy spit like we did a couple of years ago and load up the equipment and not race alongside pole winner Kim Jane, which was kind of a pity, so 1 was now start ing from fourth spot. In the first 40-lapper, the car wasn’t handling properly and I was

On lap 133, Richards’ car w'as loose through turns 3-4, but on the next lap Wanless’ was even worse and Richards got the better run off the turn, carrying his momentum into turn 1 and the lead and victory. Wanless had no option but to set tle for second, as Wyhoon was third again. Dumesny was almost 22 seconds behind Richards, but still on the same lap. Rod Jane and Thomas were next a lap down, with Maultsaid a fur ther two adrift. Coon snared a top ten result four laps off the pace, one lap ahead of Kim Jane, who was one up on debu tante Marshall Brewer in the Peimzoil Monte Carlo. Post-race, W^anless jokingly said: “I thought it was a 125 lap race. I screwed everydhing I could out of the car, but Jim just kept on com ing. “We weren’t out there to prove a point; last meeting’s issue was off the track, this was on it. “We proved that for 115-120 laps our car was the quickest car out there and could pass anywhere. “Our race plan was to go out early and get a gap and then cruise home, but in the end I was tank slapping all over the place.” Richards was naturally pleased struggling a bit in fifth, when around half-race distance the engine started to lose power. I pulled into the pits to get it checked and, with only a few laps to go, returned to the race to finisti in twelfth place. A broken spark plug lead was the culprit that prevented the JSR engine from producing the required power. The boys made some changes to the suspension settings for the 60-lap final, but I didnt get a chance to see if they worked prop erly. I made a banzai move around the outside on the first lap, hoping to go around Terry Wyhoon, as he held me up on the first start. But the car hit the little bump up high which unsettled it and I tried to gather it up, which was a pretty busy moment. I came down across the field and wasted Bob Middleton's car, which was an embarrassing moment - the rear of my car was virtually destroyed, the doctors checked me out at the track hospi tal and then I watched the balance of the race from the pits. My Valvoline team-mate, Ian Thomas, started from the rear of the grid after spinning his car dur ing qualifying and he also had to change an engine in his Monte Carlo - he managed to score a fifth and fourteenth In the two races, so it was really a night that the Valvolitiie team would like to forget as far as strong results go.

he next weekend we went to the Avalon Raceway near Geelong, which is still a dust-bowl, for the next leg of the WSS races. We qualified around fifth spot and finished each of the heats in virtually the same spot as I started, due to the track conditions. The magneto played up again in the first heat, which cost us sev eral positions. 1 finished the feature in sev enth, as it was near impossible to move forward - I think that there were only a couple of passing moves during the race. ’he rear of the ACDelco car was completely stripped and a new clip was fitted, Russell Caddy fab ricating and installing the new tin^ ware. Terry and Kate Byers joined us on Christmas Day at the race shop.

2Jamf^1998

with his car: “When I spun, I never thought, this is the end of the race. “I thought if I could run Dean down, or get some cautions, I may be able to catch him. But, if it wasn’t for some breaks with the lapped cars, I don’t think I would have got there. “Our ear is as good as any out there, if it’s driven right. You just have to keep it straight and look after the tyres.” Murphy, though, had obviously been enjoying himself and let loose in the press conference with lines from Days of Thunder. “The crew came on the radio and said [in an American accent] We’ve got some special sticker tyres on for you. Yeah, bulls..t,” he clowned. “The car was good on new tyres, then it got loose and slowed down. “I really enjoyed it. It was great. I learned so much in the race, which I knew I would. “I’d like to finish the season if I can, but it all depends on my plans for next season. I might become a Jimmy [Richards] and race any thing.” With Richards’ win and Kim Jane’s bad luck, Richards now leads the series chase on 845 points from Jane 833 and Wyhoon 820, as the crews head to Adelaide for the exciting half-mile action track. as Terry was working on his car’s head gasket problem - Kate kindly bought us a roast chicken and a bottle of Ice Mountain wine, so we had some hot tucker and a glass of wine each for Christmas dinner. The car felt pretty good during Saturday’s practice session and I made a few changes to it suspension-wise to make it a little bit iooser. It was still too tight in qualifying and I managed to be fifth again and I was happy with that, as we are up there with the fast cars. In the 137-lap Herald Sun 250, what can I say - Dean Wanless’ Ford Thunderbird was a bullet, as he took off and left everyone else for dead, That’s not normally the strategy you employ on the Dome, as the tyres get used up quickly - maybe he and Les Small have found a paqkage that allows them to run hard and fast right through the race. Our car was doing 30 good laps on new tyres, then going away in the handling, so we decided to pit out of order to the rest as I thought we might catch them out. We thought that we had Dean snookered, as we had taken tyres and fuel later than us and they would be very close to running out of fuel around the 135-137 lap mark. Jimmy Richards managed to wear him down to win and I was fourth from Dean and Terry, with Thommo sixth behind Rod Jane. I believe that Dean’s car ran out of fuel as it was driven back to the team garages, so our calculations weren't far off - if there had been another two laps, perhaps the results would have been different. All the fast cars were real loose during the second half of the race. I have never experienced so much looseness in a car - 1 was coming through the corners and grabbing correction lock as you normally would on the dirt. Sometimes it was right lock coming off the corner, then left lock as you’re travelling down the straights - I was thinking this is not good, but I had to press on, like the rest.

We’re now off Mount to Adelaide, Warmambool, Gambier and Nyora for the next lot of Sprintcar shows, as well as changing the Monte Carlo for a 100-lapper ACDecIco series round on the halfmile oval at Adelaide International Raceway on Januray 17.

2J3mry1998

Report by BRETT SWANSON

The Strathfield National Cars finished their 110 lap race with just five cars still on the lead lap on December 27 at the Thunderdome, the cool Darren McDonald in the Powermac products VR Commodore bouncing hack from last meet ing’s crash fest to take a lucky win over Eddie Abelnica’s Melbournes Cheapest Cars VR Commodore and series leader Jason Wyllie in his Trust Bank Computerland VR Commodore. McDonald’s car had a vibration in it from the start and he brushed the wall during the race, doing the whole race on the same left rear

THUNDERDOIVIE

Damaged Darren holds out tyreless Eddie

Pressure on points leader Wyllie

tyre when they couldn’t remove the wheel during an early pit stop. A lucky win - you bet. But some smooth driving also had a lot to do with it. Practice Defending champion Matthew White (Freighter Trailers VS Commodore)led the times after the morning’s session with a sub-record time of 30.5364 - the lap record belongs to McDonald at 30.6053 seconds. Wyllie was second quickest, ahead of Nathan Pretty’s DeWalt Goodyear VR Commodore, then McDonald, Abelnica and the EF Falcon pairing of Dick Howe (Ferntree Gully Bolts) and Leigh Watkins. Shane Houlahan (Tierney G L JSS. Midland Contractors Commodore) was next ahead of Marshall TYRE SA VER ...A brush with the wall meant that winner McDonald couldn't change his left rear, which managed to survive the race. (Thunder-Pics) Brewer’s Fastrack Racing EF Falcon “We went back out to not drop a and then, on lap 24, Wyllie moved VS Commodore), Nicole Pretty Howe and White were starting to and Wayne Smith’s Supercharge Batteries VR Commodore. lap and then came back in to have (DeWalt^Goodyear VP Commodore), spread out, but McDonald, Pretty, up to second. Jason Morrell (EB Falcon) and On lap 25, Houlahan had a right another go, but stiU couldn’t get it off. Abelnica and Wyllie were in close Edward Woods (Head Stud “I had a look at the tyre at the front t3ue blow, which sent his once company. Qualifying Howe had a clash with White as pristine racer up into the outside end and the sidewall was pretty There were no dramas during Development Co VR Commodore) well worn, but I don’t know wall,forcing a caution. they exited turn 2 and slowed down qualifying, although there were completed the 15 car grid. Abelnica was the first into the whether that was from scraping the the back straight, dropping places some surprises when Howe led the wall. There wouldn’t have been to McDonald, Pretty, Wyllie, pits at this early stage. Race (110 laps) times (30.8921 seconds), until “Our stop was for fuel,” he anything left on the tread, either.” Watkins led away from the start, Abelnica, Houlahan and Brewer Watkins grabbed pole late in the while he felt the car out. When racing resumed, White was session with a time of 30.8023. explained. “We were going to have looking to repeat his maiden victory White now closed on Watkins to stop by lap 85 anyway, so we leading from Wyllie, Watkins, White (30.9188), Abelnica from the last meeting, with the (31.0578), Houlahan (31.0822), pack pretty much in qualifying and on lap 13 Pretty came under thought we’d take any yellow. I Pretty, Brewer, Smith, Speers, wish McDonald hadn’t followed us Kennedy, Abelnica, McDonald, McDonald (31.0842), Wyllie(31.1161), order, with the exception pf McDonald as they exited turn 2. Howe and Nicole Pretty, all on the Wyllie also passed McDonald, in, though.” Nathan Pretty (31.1415), Brewer McDonald and Nathan Pretty. who was now back to fifth. lead lap. It was this early stop by Abelnica (31.2451) and Smith (31.3338) round With three laps down, McDonald Unfortunately for the leaders, and McDonald that would give A couple of laps later, Houlahan passed Abelnica on the low side of ed out the top ten. who were hoping for another cau passed Abelnica and, a few more them the results later in the race. Jason Kennedy (Port Link turn one and then Nathan Pretty McDonald followed Abelnica into tion which never came, they would did the same into turn 3. after that. White took the lead with Warehousing VN Commodore),Danyl the pits a lap later, looking to be forced to pit under racing condi The first three cars of Watkins, a low pass through turns 3-4. Speere (I&V Truck & 'Trailer Repairs By this stage, Wyllie had also change the tyres to alleviate a tions and would suffer the penalty. WINNiNG SMILE... Wyllie, McDonald and Abelnica. (Elise Goudypic) vibration. The field began to spread out as passed Pretty and was closing in on both McDonald and Abelnica startWatkins. “When we came in, we changed With White out front. Brewer the left front tyre, but couldn’t get ed to move slowly back through the the left rear off,” McDonald said. pack. and Howe were having a great dice PRESSURE... McDonald’s #44 Powermac Commodore under attack from #4 Abelnica and #2 Nathan Pretty

2Jamiy1998 Fortunately, Wyllie was never far away from White amd was making a race of it and eventually took the lead on lap 59 with an inside pass through turn 1. White stayed close to Wyllie as Watkins ran a lonley third place. Pretty was further back in fom-th ,with McDonald passing Abelnica as this pair closed on Pretty, who was the first of the front i-unnei's to bite the bullet and pit under gi'een oil'lap 63, just after McDonald had passed him - Pretty’s stop cost him a lap. Howe dropped from the lead lap when he pitted again on lap 71, foilwed by Smith on lap 74. Watkins’ stop came on lap 76, moving McDonald and Abelnica up to third and foui'th and dropping him a lap. Brewer in fifth was the last car on the lead lap. On lap 82, White came in and almost saved his lap coming out just behind Watkins, who was just behind Wyllie, but a lap down also. Brewer called in on lap 86, leav ing thz'ee cai’s on the lead lap. On lap 88, Watkins passed Wyllie to put himself back on the lead lap. White tried to do the same, actu ally passing Wyllie, but Wyllie repassed him before the lap ended. When Wyllie pitted on lap 93, WTiite was now back on the same lap as McDonald and Abelnica, who were not that far behind him. Wyllie exited the pits ahead of McDonald; but, by the time he had built up speed, McDonald was long gone. McDonald then carfeully ran to the line, with Abelnica doing like wise in second, but not close enough to challenge. “I got in a gi’oove for the race and ran conservatively,” Abelnica said.

MEB<0 Tyre Pyrometers Standard @r Infrared

“I had no tyres left towards the end, so it was push and risk coming off, or consolidate.” With his fresher tyi-es, Wyllie put on a charge which took him past White and Watkins and onto the podium, as Watkins faded and fell to White also, but at least complet ed tlie full race distance. Pretty finshed sixth, one lap down, as did Brewer in seventh. Smith was next, two laps down, but equal to Howe and Speers, who completed the top ten. “I was surprised to be leading at the end,” said McDonald post-race. “Om- plan was to stop later, but after we scraped the wall the car was a bit taily, especially out of turn 4 and the sun was a problem in turn 2-1 thought my days of racing into the sun were over in the Sportsman days. “I also thought our tyres would give out.” “Om' plan was to come in if there was a yellow around lap 40, or else to run thi'ough till later - but there was no yellow later,” said Wyllie, the sez-ies leader. “The last twenty laps on the first set of tyres, there was a vibration from the canvas showing through and I was concerned for a blowout. “I was hoping someone else would blow a t3rre and bring out the yellows, but not us. We’re happy, we’re still leading the champi onship, but these guys [McDonald and Abelnica] have closed up a bit.” The top trio are now all looking forward to the next round at Adelaide International raceway, a track which they all enjoy, but at which they have vaiying degi'ees of luck. Championship points: Wyllie 840, McDonald 801, Abelrdca 796.

POLEMAN... The Flying Ford Falcon of Leigh Watkins has been mighty fast aii this season.(Thunder-Pics) CONSERVATiVE... Eddie Abelnica (below)settled for runner-up spot, as his tyres cried enough.(Thunder-Pics)

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AUSTRALIAN SUPER TOURING CHAMPIONSHIP Calder Park Aprs Oran Park Apr 26 Phillip Island May 17 Eastern Creek Jun 7 Lakeside Jun 28 Mallala Jul 19 Winton Aug 9 Amaroo Aug 30 NON CHAMPIONSHIP SUPER TOURER RACES Aust. Grand Prix Mar 4 amp Bathurst 1000 Oct 4 AUSTRALIAN TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP Sandown Febi Symmons Feb 8 Lakeside Mar 29

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t' I

Apr 19 May 3 May 24 May 31 Jun 21 Jul 19 Aug 2

Phillip Island Winton Mallala Wanneroo Calder Park Darwin Oran Park

July 12 July 19 July 26 Aug 9 Aug 16 Sept 6 Sept 13 Oct 4 Oct 18 Nov 1

Cleveland Toronto Michigan Mid-Ohio Elkhart Lake Vancouver Laguna Seca Houston Gold Coast Fontana

BRITISH TOURING GAR CHAMPIONSHIP Apr 13 Donnington Park Silverstone Apr 26 Thruxton May 4 Brands Hatch May 17 Oulton Park May 25 June 14 Donnington Park June 28 Croft Snetterton July 27 Thruxton Aug 2 Knockhill Aug 16 Brands Hatch Aug 31 Oulton Park Sept 13 Silverstone Sept 20

NON-CHAMPIONSHIP V8 SUPERGAR RACES Aust. Grand Prix Mar 4 Tickford 500 Sep 13 Oct 18 Indy Car Grand Prix Primus 1000 Classic Nov 15

Non-championship event Oct 18 Donnington Park*

AUSTRALIAN FORMULA FORD CHAMPIONSHIP Sandown Febi Lakeside Mar 29 Phillip Island Apr 19 Winton Mays Mallala May 24 Wanneroo May 31 Calder Park Jun 21 Oran Park Aug 2

Apr 12 Apr 26 May 10 May 24 June 7 July 12 July 26 Aug 2 Aug 16 Aug 30

FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Australia Mar 8 Brazil Mar 29 Argentina San Marino Spain Monaco Canada Great Britain Austria Germany Hungary Belgium

Aug 23 Sept 7 Sept 20 Oct 4 Oct 11 Oct 25 Nov 1 Nov 15

Brainer Indianapolis Reading Topeka Memphis Dallas Houston Pomona

*Non-point scoring event AUSTRALIAN DRAG RAGING SERIES Ravenswood Mar 7 Calder Park Mar 22 Willowbank Apr 4 Adelaide Apr 11 Eastern Creek Apr 25 Townsville May 2 Willowbank June 7 AUSTRALIAN SUPER SPEEOWAY SERIES Adelaide Jan 17 Calder Park Feb 12 Calder Park Mar 14 WINSTON CUP NASCAR SERIES Feb 15 Daytona Nth Carolina Feb 22 Marl Las Vegas Atlanta Mar 8 Mar 22 Darlington Bristol Mar 29 Houston Apr 5 Martinsville Apr 19 Apr 26 May 3 May 16 May 24 May 31 June 6 June 14 June 21 June 28

Talladega Fontana Charlotte* Charlotte Dover Downs Richmond Michigan Pocono Sears Point

AUSTRALIAN FORMULA HOLDEN CHAMPIONSHIP Sandown Feb1 Feb 8 Symmons Phillip Island Apr 19 Mallala May 24 Jun 21 Calder Park Oran Park Aug Z AUSTRALIAN GT PRODUCTION SERIES Calder Park Apr 5 Oran Park Apr 26 May 17 Phillip island Eastern Creek Jun 7 Lakeside Jun 28 Mallala Jul19 Winton Aug 9 Amaroo Aug 30 SOOGG WORLD MOTORCYCLE CHAMPIONSHIP Indonesia Mac 29 Japan Apr 5 Indonesia Apr 19 Spain May 3 Italy May 17 France May 31 June 14 Portugal June 27 Netherlands Great Britain July 5 July 19 Germany Aug 23 Chez Republic Sept 6 Italy Sept 20 Spain Oct 4 Australia Oct 18 Rio Oct 25 Argentina FEDEX CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Mar 15 Homestead Mar 28 Motegi Japan Apr 5 Long Beach Nazareth Apr 26 Rio de Janerio May 10 Madison May 23 Milwaukee May 31 June 7 Detroit June 21 Portland

Sept 13 Sept 27 Oct 11 Nov 1

Italy Luxembourg Portugal Japan

INDY RACING LEAGUE SERIES Orlando Jan 24 Mar 22 Phoenix May 25 Indy 500 June 6 Fort Worth June 28 Loudon Dover July 19 Charlotte July 25 Fountain Aug 16 Atlanta Aug 29 Fort Worth Sept 20 Oct 10 Las Vegas FIA GT CHAMPIONSHIP France* M?r22 Estoril Apr 5 Apr 19 Germany* Silverstone May 5 June 28 Nurburgring July 19 Spa-Francorchamps Suzuka Aug 23 Sept 6 Donnington Park Sept 20 A-1 Ring Oct 4 Mugello NHRA DRAG RACING SERIES Febi Pomona Feb 22 Phoenix Mar 8 Gainsville Mar 22 Houston Apr 5 Rockingham* Atlanta Apr 19 Richmond Apr 26 Dallas May 3 May 17 Englishtown May 31 Chicago June 14 Columbus June 28 Madison Denver July 19 Sonoma July 26 Seattle Aug 2

July 4 July 12 July 26 Aug 1 Aug 9 Aug 16 Aug 22 Aug 30 Sept 6 Sept 12 Sept 20 Sept 27 Oct 4 Oct 11 Oct 25 Nov 1 Nov 8 Nov 15 Nov 21

Daytona New Hampshire Pocono Indianapolis Watkins Glen Michigan Bristol New Hampshire Darlington Richmond Dover Downs Martinsville Charlotte Talladega Phoenix Nth Carolina Atlanta Suzuka, Japan* Motegi, Japan*

AUSTRALIAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP Feb 22 Coffs Harbour Perth Apr 5 SE Queensland May 24 Hobart July 5 Melbourne Aug 30 Nov 8 Rally Australia Dec 6 Canberra WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP Jan 18 Monte Carlo Feb 6 Sweden Feb 27 Kenya Mar 23 Portugal Apr 20 Catalunya Corsica May 4 May 21 Argentina June 7 Acropolis New Zealand July 26 Finland Aug 21 Indonesia Sept 18 Oct 12 San Remo Nov 6 Australia Nov 21 RAC

2Japu3ry1998

Ttf UNDERDOIVIE SUPPORTS.

Another win for Vereker Sportsman Con Vereker continued Ms win ning streak with a victory at the Thunderdome on December 27 in the Konica Sportsmans and maintained his series lead. A couple of cars were still not repaired from the last meeting, notably those of Andrew Gillespie and Sam Milton, but Graeme O’Brien obtained a rolling shell and got his car going for this race. Con Vereker (Falcon), Graeme Gilliland (Commodore) and Chris Robinson (Falcon) were very close in practice, with only hundredths of a second between them. Qualifying was much the same, the top three from practice being A win apiece for Scott Walkpr and John Agosta at the Thunderdome on December 27 saw the pair close up on the Holden Quality Parts HQ Holdens series leader, John Harding. The HQs came out for practice which was fairly uneventful until near the end of the session, when David Page had a lose between turns 3-4 and Leigh Yarnall slid into him, demolishing the front pas senger side of his car. Page’s car suffered some side panel damage but drove away. Most crews would have packed up, but Yarnell’s crew accepted a big challenge and decided to fix the car. A new front was bought in and the task commenced, with full cred it going to the guys to get the carback in time for the second race with a complete new front. Qualifying was split into two groups, with Scott Walker setting the pace (36.2767) from John Agosta and John Harding. A check around the pits uncov ered a few problems, with Reece Arandale’s crew chasing a loss of speed, while Paul Gi-ieve took the top off a piston and very quickly changed motors, Glen McDonald replaced a manifold gasket and Paul Butler replaced a blown head gasket. Race one saw Scott Walker get a good start and lead the pack away never to be headed, but the fifteen or so cars behind him were locked in battle, with Agosta going wide

half a second ahead of Graham Crawford and Leanne Ross. Vereker’s time of 32.982s is get ting closer to Darren McDonald’s record of 32.6828s, which has stood for some time and, with only one second separating sixth to four teenth, it appeared as this would be where the action was going to be. The field of 17 cars rolled up for the start, Vereker demonstrating his starting prowess again and tak ing a handy lead from Gilliland and Crawford. Ross, back in fifth, picked off one car per lap in a good display of hard racing, but could not catch the front

pair.

RIDE-IN MOWER... Fourth in the pointscore, Ron Saves checks out the Thunderdome infield. (Thunder-Pics) O’Brien’s new car and Ron Savas’ car both seemed loose in the turns. The race up front settled, with Vereker, Gilliland and Robinson all having a space between them. But, back in the mid-field, the racing was very close, Darryl Howden, Mark Sutherland, Neville Blight, Gerry Raleigh, Ron Thorne and Brett Campbell having a gi-eat scrap for supremacy, until Thorne was forced into the pits with a

smoky car - which became terminal a couple of laps- later, his car stopping at turn 3, bringing out the yellow flags. Savas had a harmless spin between turns 3-4. On the restart. Blight got very high up the bank, but came to no harm. After the second yellow peri od, Ross took second place away from Gilliland, which she held onto for several laps - but, with only a couple of laps to go, Gilliland

repassed to take second behind Vereker, who was untroubled all race and Ross was overjoyed to fin ish on the podium in third. Championship points: Con Vereker 525, Graham Crawford 470, Leanne Ross 466, Ron Savas 455, Graeme Gilliland 449, Gerry Raleigh 425, Tony Howlett 419, Neville Blight 415, Graeme O’Brien 404, Mark Sutherland 402. - GRAEME BURNS

Walker and Agosta success bad news for leader Harding

QUIET MOMENT... #54 Philip Marturano and #84 Leigh Casey contemplate life in the fast lane.(Thunder-Pics) and Harding looking very loose at times. The minor places didn’t settle into a pattern before the first yel low came out, when Page had a spin. Back to green and the front bunch were three-wide at one

stage, Mark Wicks settling into sec ond and Harding dropping back through the field. Andrew Koolen came into the pits smoking and Adam Gillart copped a whack in the rear. With two laps to go, Richard Ireland slipped into third and

Agosta into fourth, while Paul Bongiorno got very out of shape on the last corner and dropped from fifth to sixteenth. The second race didn’t finish the first lap before Philip Marturano and Leigh Casey were out with damaged cars.

The restart saw another couple out, David McSaveney sliding on the grass with frontal damage and the yellow out again. Rod Blanche came in very slowly and the green was up again. Ireland then spun out of third place and was hit at turn 3, bringing on the yellows again. Green again and the front bunch showed no fear, going through turns four-abreast. Wicks made a blunder and dropped twenty one places and had to seesaw his way back through the field to eighth, while Bob Hepburn also got a touch on the restart and a tyre rubbed, but he continued on. Walker led most of the race until Robert Wright slipped by with two laps to go, then Agosta took the front spot off him and, on the last lap, McDonald edged past Harding for third. Championship points: John Harding 967, Scott Walker 948, John Agosta 937, John Spencer 880, Steve Walker 829, Glen McDonald 798, Mark Wicks 797, Trevor Hale 793, Paul Bongiorno 778, Dallas Crane 743.

-GRAEME BURNS

Bartsch duo struggle for series lead

John Faulkner has really set tled into the Legends and on December 27 it all came togeth er for him, with a practice time well under the lap record set by another Kart driver, Matthew Coleman,last meeting. Terry Wyhoon also procured a drive in this class and, with limited practice, was mid-field. Qualifying saw Faulkner quick est, but he could not match his practice time, although he did set a new lap record of 30.3214 seconds, .05 under the old mark.

Coleman was next from Rodney Jane, with the top six inside a sec ond of each other. Race one of a scheduled three races got off to a flying start, with Faulkner judging it well and get ting the jump on Coleman and Jane. The field soon split in two, with the top six pulling away from the rest.

Clive Henderson and Pet^ Williamson were having a great dice, until they came together and were left sitting facing each other

at turn 2, bringing out the yellow and a restart. Faulkner again got a good start and led the field home, with Coleman second, ahead of Jane. Race two saw a first comer acci dent when Jane made a lunge down the inside of a fast-starting Faulkner and Coleman, only to have the front wheel rearranged and forcing him to park the car for the night. A complete restart occurred, which Bradley Radclyffe jumped and got a stop-go penalty.

Faulkner was sliding his car beautifully onto the back straight with plenty of opposite lock and it proved very quick, as he lowered his newly-set record to 30.2393s. Coleman couldn’t close the gap and, when Adrian Bartsch locked a brake, he slipped from third to fifth, allowing Alf Bartsch into third and Peter White into fourth. Race three and Faulkner did the business again, with Coleman slot ting into second. Alf Bartsch took a couple of laps to work his way around White to

take third off him and Adrian Bartsch dropped White back one more spot with a passing move two laps from the finish. Championship points: Adrian Bartsch 1267, Alf Bartsch 1258, Geoff Durack 1152, Clive Henderson 1140, Peter White 1061, Matthew Coleman 1035, John Faulkner 1010, Rod Jane 973, Paul Freestone 817, Bradley Radclyffe 675, Jody Freestone 465, Barry Merritt 418, Peter Williamson 410, Murray Carter 292, Terry Wyhoon - GRAEME BURNS 284.

2J3miarf1998

lE}®0®l7S[p®D^0

Hilklimb champion Elstrek samples super speedway Hillclimb Australian Champion Paula Elstrek sampled the world of super speedway when she recently tested Fastrack Racing’s ACDelco Cup and Strathfield National Cars at the Calder Park Thimderdome. Filming for Foxtel’s “Through the Gears” motorsports show, Paula complet ed 15 laps in Marshall Brewer’s VS AUSCAR, before climbing into the Pennzoil Chevy Monte Carlo. Under the watchful eye of Terry Wyhoon, Paula built up speed over 20 laps, enjoy ing the speed and power of the ACDelco Cup Car. “Coming onto the main straight, you can feel the power,” Paula said. But, when you come into the corners and feel you should be braking, the car is set up so well it drifts down and just pulls you through. It’s a great feeling.” It’s ten years since the first super speedway AUS CAR race was run and won

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COMFORTABLE... High horsepower V8s are business as usual for Paula Elstrek, who loved the Pennzoil Monte Carlo’s handling on the Dome banking. at the Thunderdome by a woman, Terri Sawyer. A few days later, Paula also tested the Simoco Radio Communications Commodore V8 Supercar that took the pri-

vateer honours in the 1997 Tickford 500 at Sandown in the hands of Strathfield National Car punters Bruce Williams and rookie Paul Cover.

IMPRESSED ... Paula thoroughly enjoyed her super speedway experiences. (Tony Glynn)

Autopro and Wyllie

The Trust Bank/ComputerLand Hobart VS Commodore of Jason Wyllie has just secured a new sponsorship deal with Autopro. Wyllie, the current leader in the Strathfield National Cars Series, has started the season in top form, taking a win in his first outing for the year. As the cars lined up four Round Three at the Thunderdome, Wyllie had consoli dated his lead over Darren McDonald by scoring two seconds and a fourth in the following rounds. Wyllie, thrilled with the announcement of the new sponsor, stated that “Autopro’s decision to join us in our bid for the Championship will be a great asset for our team - the additional funding will certainly help us towards our goals.” Autopro joined the team last weekend for the Christmas Thunderdome meeting. - SUE HOBSON

Paula,put in 20 troublefree lapfe under Williams’ watchful eye on Calder Park’s national circuit in the injected Holden V8-powered vehicle, Williams considering

that she had driven “immaculately.” Paula was impressed by the touring car’s torque and handling - “you could throw it into a comer and it would

hang on, although that would cook the tyres; the best technique is to be as smooth as possible,” Paula said. Paula is busy working on a touring car drive for 1998.

2January 1998

Cannon tops Raceway Park OnSat Studebaker’s 6.47 aces Report by GREG WARD

Five-time HffiA Pro Modified world champion Scotty Cannon and Australia’s own world record-setting Victor Bray were on hand as Raceway Park made a welcome return to racing action. Cannon and Bray were just two of a strong field of six of the best Top Doorslammers in the nation which headlined the Boxing Day action at the central Victorian strip. While many of the blown doorslammers may have struggled to hook up all their power to the tricky track surface, the action was fast and furious. In the end, it was Cannon who was able to prove himself as the supreme master of the difficult con ditions by putting down four con secutive mid-six second passes that laid the opposition to waste. The OnSat Studebaker faced off against Bray in the final and, despite the Castrol ’57 stepping up to join him in the mid-six second zone, Cannon turned up the wick, even further to produce the low elapsed time of the day with a stout 6.47 to take the win. With former Calder Park motorsports manager Steve Bettes and his wife, Jenny, taking over the running of the track and returning it to the ANDRA fold after several

TRACTION MAESTRO... Scotty Cannon’s superb Murray Anderson-built OnSat Studebajrer is the goods on any surface. (Thunder-Pics photos) Despite short-shifting into third after rattling and smoking the t5rres in the low gears, he produced a 7.29/201 that was almost threeq uarters of a second ahead of Critchley’s tyre-smoking 8.01/204 from the Castrol Customhne. Bray had smoked the tyres in his first effort and did the same against Kapiris in the first round, using up a lot of the track and getting close to the centre line in an on-off 7.30/216.34 effort, while the Pennzoil Statesman struggled even more for grip.

would be coming back for the final. With Searle’s 7.29 being the sec ond quickest after Cannon’s efforts, the doors were well and truly open for a spot in the decider. Both Gatt and Critchley turned the tyres big time off the line and lost their chances, while Kapiris got away better but then got out of shape at half-track and had to get out ofit for a 8.62/131. The final pairing of the round saw Cannon take on Bpay and the Castrol driver made the local fans happy when he cranked out a

“We’ve backed the car down a bit from when we ran it at Calder,” stated Cannon afterwards, explain ing his success at negotiating the conditions. / “We left the clutch as it was”, but took some power out of it by adding a bit more fuel and taking out some of the timing.” Cannon, who runs on a large number of tracks which are quite similar to Raceway Park during his marathon racing year, described it as his bread and butter-type of track.

years absence, racer support of the event was terrific. Despite the relatively short notice for the event, very good fields were assembled in each of the brackets contested and the atmos phere in the pits was one of celebra tion as one of the few single-pur pose quarter mile tracks in the land returned to action. The meeting wasn’t without it’s problems, as could be expected for the first-up race, but the Bettes’ have promised to deliver a facility that could soon rival WiUowbank. Racers at this meeting saw evidence of this with new concrete retaining walls running the full length of the track in both lanes and a Compulink timing system had already been installed. Steve Wilson is in charge of the track preparation and is confident that the racing surface will soon be providing the sort of traction needed to ran the big numbers. Apart from two of the biggest names in the Top Doorslammer world in Cannon and Bray, the field contained such names as the ’97 Nationals winner, Peter Kapiris and the once-world’s fastest allFord racer of Ben and Joe Gatt. With Troy Critchley and Andrew Searle backing up the Gatts with their mid-six second Ford Customlines, it was a field that was worthy of any championship round. Running a Chicago Shootoutstyle format, everyone, with the notable exception of Cannon, had big problems hooking up to the track in their first seeding run. While the South Carolinian produced a stout 6.54/211 to lead the field, his nearest competition was Top Doorslammer rookie Searle with his crimson Customhne.

n n 9 n I n I M H H I H |P [ ON TARGET... Victor Bray’s Castrol ’57 Chevy is running Doorslammer ball-park numbers once more. Gatt laboured off the line and shut it down early, watching Cannon improve to a 6.49/213 and reinforcing his position as favourite to take out the race, Searle was to face Critchley, but the Acme Fibreglass Ford’s KB threw a couple of rods on the burnout, leaving the Castrol Cusso to solo with a tyre-smoking 8.06/190. It was important for ail teams just to get down the track on the final ‘qualifier,’ as all were capable of running well into the sixes and only the two quickest on the night

6.95/211 against the visitor’s 6.58/208, ensuring yet another final round round match-up between the two chief protagonists of the tour. Bray had been battling against a clutch problem which had plagued him at Calder and it was hamper ing him quite a deal here in terms of getting hooked up to the track. He showed that the Castrol team’s hard work had paid off when he got away from the line first by over a tenth and then produced a solid 6.61/215 to lose out to the low ET of the night, a 6.47/212 taking the win by a bare .03 seconds.

“I get to race on many tracks which are a lot like this one and you get to know what works on them and what doesn’t,” he said. “Many guys are afraid to back it right down on a track such as this one, but if you do ifU stick and also go hard enough to win,” he proffered. Another reason for Cannon’s win came as a result of his judicious use of the hand-operated brake off the line, pulling on the brake till at least the 60-ft mark to reduce the tyre spin on the launches. When coupled with the solenoid which he uses on the throttle to

control the launch revs. Cannon had a set-up which was able to pro duce 1.06 sixty foot times when oth ers were struggling to get under 1.2s for the same distance. In other racing. Super Comp was the next attraction, as Rod Rainford took his rampaging new Motivator Racing Engines C/Dragster from pole position (an 0.15-imder 8.23) to a final round win over Paul Turner in another C/D. Turner had qualified second with a 8.33, but had little chance in the final when the Bendigo engine builder produced an 8.27/161 to an 8.47/156 to take the win. In Comp Bike, it was the two South Australians in the guise of Les Donnon and Jason Lee who met in the final. Donnon had overcome early prob lems to qualify at the top of the field with a 7.97 in B/CB guise, while Lee nabbed second with a 8.13 in P/M trim. When they raced for the money, it was Lee who emerged with the win with a 7.87, after Donnon pulled a tight .394 light while launching to a 7.76/165 for a disap pointing loss. Super Gas fell to the top qualifi- ^ er, Rob Azzopardi, who won in easy fashion after opponent Col Griffin’s Celica lurched in the lights and drew a deep-stage foul. Scott Fitzpatrick fouled in a reran of the Super Modified final to give Anthony Selva the win with a fine 8.92, while Super Sedan went to Walter Crawford when Tony Tedesco’s Camira turned the tyres hard off the line in the final. Daniel Huxtable took out Damien Martini in a very tight Modified Bike final, Huxtable’s spot-on 9.80 knocking off a slightly slower-react ing 0.01-over 10.31. Steve and Jenny Bettes enjoyed the final of Junior Dragster, as daughter Kelly brought home the bacon in the family’s first race as track promoters with a very good win over the experienced David Hall. Raceway Park’s next event will be on January 17, when the nitro Funny Cars return with their flame-spitting action, headlined by Peter Russo’s Working Class Hero Dodge Daytona and the Powerball Oldsmobile of Garry McGrath.

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Selling ice to the Eskimos By GERALD McDORMAM

There is only one way you can describe Murray Anderson’s achievement in building a car for the five-time World Pro Modified Champion, American Scotty Cannon and that is with the say ing,“it’s like selling ice to the Eskimos! Cannon, a professional racer from the US who contests around 50-60 IHRA national events and match races each year is, quite simply, the best of the best in the doorslammer drag racing world. He aims for nothing less than being num ber one and is quite prepared to put his money where his mouth is in his search for fuither glory and fame. Enter Victor Bray, a tomato farming drag racer from the other side of the Pacific Ocean who,in June 1996, claimed Cannon’s titles as being the quickest and fastest doorslammer driver on the planet. Bray’s efforts in Australia had caught the eye of Cannon and the two began communi cating, both personally and in the media, about their efforts and conquests, creating a bond between the two. Their talk over the last couple of years led to the opportunity for the American to have a paid working holiday in Australia and for two seasons Cannon and Bray trie'd to put the tour together, although a major snag contin EXPORT TOMATOES ... After having his Studebaker buiit in Austraiia for his summer tour, Soctty Cannon is taking his ultra-effective ued to inten-upt their plans. Murray Anderson-built doorslammer back to the US for his 1998 IHRA Pro Modified World Championship campaign.(Thunder-Pics) The problem was that Cannon earns his living from his racing and, with a car taking around six weeks to ship to and from the US, he couldn’t afford to be without his business and the Australian promoters couldn’t afford to pay him for lost revenue while he .was without his car. For the 1997/98 Austrahan season, though, the two were determined that a tour of Australia would happen, as both Cannon and Bray wanted to meet head-on. With the time problems in mind and with Bray’s performances across the ocean i The now Queensland-based .Victorian has mers and had impressed Cannon with the International Raceway, Cannon belted out an impressing Cannon, the world champion decided to make the bold decision and have a built Bray’s last two record-setting machines, reports of how straight and true-running his amazing 6.35-second run with a terminal along with a host of other storming doorslam- vehicles were. l speed of 226.13 miles per hour - a speed seccar built by Anderson. Thankfiilly, after the conclusion of negotia- ond only to Bray’s world’s fastest 226.81 mph, tions and a brief of what he wanted for his recorded in December ’96 at Adelaide Australian tour - including a targeted finish International Raceway - Cannon confirming date of November 8 - Anderson began the after his first run in the car that it was defifirst day’s work on Cannon’s Australian nitely going back to the US with him and mmmt on August 30. wouldn’t be sold here in Australia. As they say, “ the rest is history” and, an “It’s a great honour to build a car for amazing 90 days later, on his first true full Scotty. I mean he and Victor are the two best pass in the car at Perth’s Ravenswood doorslammer racers in the world and I not

Motorsport News takes a look at the car five-time Worid Champion Scotty Cannon is taking back home to the USA

STRUT YA’ STUFF... Cannon’s car features unique short front struts, constructed locally by Murray Anderson. The use of the shorter strut has allowed Anderson to do away with the intrusive upper chassis strut bar, which normally extends from the firewall to the chas sis front (below), allowing greater access to the engine for between rounds sen/icing. For his Australian tour. Cannon is leasing a 514 cubic inch TFX engine, complete with Brad Anderson “fat heads"from friend and rival Victor Bray. The Littlefield 16-71 retro-fit hi-helix ' blower, fuel system and clutch all belong to Cannon.(Thunder-Pics)

2January 1998

/^®p®l7SJJ^[pO only have them as customers, but I can count them amongst my friends,” Anderson said. “I couldn’t have built the car without the support of my family, though, as my wife Terese, my son Harley and daughter Nadine all contributed to getting the job done.” The fact that the car ran so fast so quickly can be attributed to a number of factors firstly, the fact that Cannon is an absolute professional who attacks ever ran the same way and the second, that Anderson had built Cannon a car that was on the pace right from the start. The OnSat ’53 Studehaker Champion has been built around a RACEtech 650 steel tube chassis -the tube being supplied to Anderson by British International Trading - incorpo rating one of the revolutionary “swing-arm” ladder bai’-type rear-ends developed success fully by Anderson and Bray. The swing arm rear-end has been used by Bray to great success, with Anderson also building cars with similar rear-ends for other Australian racers and another American doorslammer legend, Jim Oddy. “We supplied Oddy with a full rear-end and his car has worked fantastically well,” Anderson told Motorsport News. So well, in fact, that Oddy’s Fred Hahn-dri ven mount is currently the world’s quickest doorslammer at 6.24 seconds, another selhng point of Anderson’s which helped Cannon make the decision to have his car built in Australia. “The power these cars make nowadays has surpassed the efficiency of the four hnk rear end,” Anderson says quite confidently. “I’m not saying the foui'-link still doesn’t work well, as I’ve built a number of Top Doorslammers that are running with fourlinks and they have all ran fast and can prob ably even go faster, but these swing-arm rear-ends simply work better - they are the way to go for the future.” Anderson’s belief in the rear-end set-up also allows him to believe that the concept would work well with the bigger-engined American Pro Stock vehicles - both the 500 cubic inch 1,100 horsepower NHRA and the 800-plus cubic inch mountain-motored IHRA varieties - as well as, naturally, with the nitrous-injected Pro Mod vehicles. “The great thing about this rear-end is that when I’ve built a car with this type of rearend on the jig, we’ve been able to go out to a race track and just ran them. “There is no need to change the settings fi-om track to track - you just don’t have to play with it and that’s got to be an advan tage.” Anderson also believes that the swing-arm rear end offers further advantages by extend ing the life of vital components, a financial advantage that all teams would be happy with. “Because of the configuration, the swingarm gives longer gear and rear-end life, along with less chassis breakage - it’s an all round bonus.” Although Anderson will openly talk about its benefits and how the rear-end works, he now won’t divulge the differences between the different versions he has built, stating that “Cannon’s is the latest development of the system and, while it has opened up other areas which I now think need looking at, it certainly is the best.” The front-end of the OnSat Studehaker is a little different from other doorslammers, with Cannon requiring a shorter strut, thus elimi nating the need for strut bars to travel from the firewall through to the front of the car, giving greater access to the engine. Anderson, who had already built a car for Bert Willemsen (now in the hands of Albury’s Cameron Brooks) with a similar set-up, built the full front strut set-up, with his workman ship impressing Cannon who, as most Amei’icans do with the componentry they require, had purchased all his previous struts as “off the shelf’ items. The wheelbase of the OnSat Studehaker, unlike most other doorslammers around the world which have some lengthening, has been shortened, bringing Cannon’s mount in at 115 inches - the maximum allowable under IHRA’s Pro Modified rales - compared wth the standard Studebaker’s 120.5 inches. “The great thing about the Studehaker is its wheelbase and, even though we’ve had to shorten it for it to fit into the IHRA rales, it is still longer than most cars and that can only be of benefit,” Anderson said.

Chassis and suspensionwise, the car has impressed Cannon on his tour Down Under, Cannon commenting on a number of occa sions that the car is the straightest-running doorslammer he’s ever driven. “It hasn’t mattered what track I’Ve been to, we’ve only had to worry about our tune-up and clutch and we haven’t had to touch the car,” Cannon said. “The fact that we’ve run so quick and fast at each track without looking at the car is testament to Murray’s design and work.” Cannon added. Naturally enough, inside the cockpit the OnSat Studehaker is fitted with the manda tory funny car-style roll cage around the dri ver, along with the full array of safety equip ment, the best equipment money can buy. The body on the OnSat car is extremely close to standard, with the modifications kept to a bare minimum. The mould for the all-fibreglass body was built by Anderson and his long-time friend George Clasby for Clasby’s own Studehaker doorslammer, which debuted two seasons ago. While Cannon’s car looks identical to ATTACK OF THE KILLER RED MATER .s, The OnSat Studehaker looks menacing from Clasby’s former mount, there have since been a number of other minor changes which all angles, especially head-on. Three inches have been removed from the front of-the ear, while two inches have been taken out at the windscreen. Despite the alterationsr^to vkiderson thought necessary. the body,the Studehaker still remainsin proportion and looks true to its originat design. n “George’s Studehaker had a four-inch roof chop, which Scotty’s car does as well, although I always thought the front-end of the original car didn’t look quite right, so I. refusing to disclose the type of engine - toughest racing tour in the world, is testa cut three inches out of the nose.” whether it will be a nitrous or blown power- ment to the talent that is on offer in The narrowing of the nose meant that plant - but the change in engine, Anderson Australia, which is equal to or, if not, better Anderson, to proportion the car correctly, also assures, won’t effect the chassis ability to get than what’s available in the US. I suppose it can be looked at this way ... if needed to take some width out of the wind- from one end of the race track to the other, screen, which he did, taking out two inches. Whatever happens, the fact that an the OnSat Studehaker was thought of as ice, “There’s no doubt that this car looks a little Austrahan chassis builder has'built a car for Cannon as the Eskimo and the US racing better in its proportioning than the first a racer of the calibre of Cannon and the fact scene as the unsinkable establishment, then Murray Anderson may have just sold Cannon Studehaker did,” Anderson said. that the car is being transported back to the “I think it’s important that, while still try- US - the home of drag racing -for use on the the iceberg which sank the Titanic! ing to get the best aerodynamic shape for a car - and that’s a safety issue, as much as a performance issue - that the car maintains a certain look about itself “I mean, we’ve seen some’Aiars that have been chopped and changed and they look spot on, while we’ve seen others that have had nothing done to them at all and they look ter rible - so it’s a balance issue and I think with Scotty’s Studehaker it has worked well.” In regards to the aerodynamic situation, while the IHRA’s Pro Modified class has become a haven for 1^63 model Corvettes, Anderson believes the Studehaker is the way to go. “Scotty thought of building the car as a Corvette, but I have assured him that, despite the benefits of the ’Vette, the Studehaker is a more balanced car and this car has already proved that to him.” The body, as previously mentioned, is fibreglass and not carbon-fibre, as some believe, making it a curious choice. “We went with fibreglass, like we did with George’s car, as we didn’t believe the carbon fibre offered us any advantages in the weight and strength and, especially, when the cost factor was considered,” Anderson explained. “I know the carbon fibre body wouldn’t make the car go faster,and the strength deal isn’t really a problem so, in the end, it was a major-cost saving.” The Studehaker body was finished by Alan Fleming in OnSat red, while “little Mick” was able to drag himself away from tattooing peo ple’s arms for enough time to perform some of his magic with an airbrush on the lights, grille and bumper bars. Obviously, a good looking and well-built car __ needs to also have the right engine combi nation to run fast and Cannon has been able to team with Bray to produce a combo which IS, as the 226 mph top-end indicates, as good as anything else in the world. Bray has leased Cannon a 514 cubic inch aluminium TFX short block for the tour, along with a set of Brad Anderson “fat head” billet cylinder heads. Despite Cannon only having experience with Chev engines in the US, with the help of Bray and with the use of his own blown engine fuel system, clutch and 16-71 Littlefield retro-fit hi-helix supercharger. Cannon has quickly been able to get on top of the different engine, stating that “the engine doesn’t know if it’s a hemi or wedge ... how well it runs is^11 in the fuel system and the clutch.” What the vehicle will run back in the US is, at this stage, anyone’s guess, as Cannon is

THE OFFICE ... Inside Cannon’s OnSat Studehaker it’s aii for work and certainiy not for play. A full funny car-style roll cage protects the driver, along with an on-board fire system. The solid twin-main rail chassis, the basis for the success behind the swing-arm rear-end, is quite clearly evident in the photo. (Thunder-Pics)

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Cannon splits with US chassis builder Scotty Cannon is believed to have split with his long-time US chassis builder, Rick Jones, fol lowing his decision to take home his Murray Andersonbuilt OnSat ’53 Studebaker and, as a result, the American ace has ordered another new car from the now Brisbane-based Victorian. Cannon’s Studebaker will be leaving Australia following the final event of his tour at Willowbank Raceway this weekend. It is believed Cannon and Jones split after Jones warned Cannon not to bring the Studebaker into the US, despite the plan always being that Jones would duplicate

the car’s chassis design and swingarm rear-end for Cannon’s new cars once the Australian designed and built car was on US soil. The deal with Jones and Cannon was believed to have involved Jones supplying Cannon with a “shop” car each season, to which Cannon sup plied all of the supplementary hardware. The “shop” car was then run by Cannon for the season, after which it was sold by Jones and replaced with a new car. Cannon is understood to have told Jones to take aU his equipment off the new ’63 Corvette that Jones had built for the 1998 racing season and to sell the car to someone else.

Anderson wouldn’t be drawn on whether or not Cannon had ordered a new car from him, while the American was heard to comment to interested spectators, when asked how his Australian-built car com pared with the ones he had back home, that “this is my only car now... I don’t have any left in the US and it’s the best there is.” If Cannon has ordered a new car from Anderson, it would give the now “world-renowned” chassis builder two firm orders for American Pro Mod vehicles, with Anderson currently having another order from another racer who he is remaining tight-lipped about. - GERALD McDORNAN

Ridgeway plans return

Following his heartbreaking okay,” Ridgeway told Motorsport accident at Calder Park News this week. Raceway last month, Melbourne “Obviously, the body and the top Pro Stock racer Peter Ridgeway half of the car are totalled, along has declared he will rebuild his with all the hang-off bits and a Olds Cutlass and return to the large portion of the front - but I track. believe the car is salvageable and I Ridgeway’s brand-new Don Ness- have to rebuild it. built car, which was on its first full “We’ve sent photos off to Don run down the race track, split an oil Ness to give him a look at what filter, dumping oil underneath the damage was done and, if he wants tyres and spinning the car around. to come and inspect the car, we’ll It then dug in and began a series fly him out to see what he thinks.” of violent barrel rolls, coming to a Speaking about what led to his accident, Ridgeway said the car’s stop over the concrete safety retain data recorder led him directly to ing wall and in Calder Park’s stag the source. ing lanes. “Thankfiilly, the recorder worked At first it was thought the car was a total write-off but, after and when we downloaded the infor mation from the ran it showed that inspecting the car once it arrived just before I shifted into fourth back home, Ridgeway believes the car is rebuildable. there was an immediate drop in oil pressure,” he explained. “There’s a huge amoimt of dam “We went to the car,looked at the age but, thankfully, after the fire filter which we’d replaced after our wall, the main chassis rails and half-track pass the evening before rear suspension look as though it’s

and there it was - a huge split. It couldn’t have split at a worse time, but that’s racing I suppose ... we’ll just have to rebuild the horse and get back on it.” Ridgeway also expressed his sin cere thanks to the safety and med ical crews at Calder Park for their

attention^t the event and also to Ella Cable and the spectators in attendance at the event - Cable took up a collection among the crowd, which raised a generous amount of money. “The support from everyone after the accident was tremendous and I, along with my wife, Judith and our famjly, would like to say thank you to everyone that’s helped out, or called offering support,” he said. “It is really great to know that there are so many people out there who want to help and it is only in times like this that you can appre ciate it like you should.” - GERALD McDORNAN

Pennzoil supports Kirby

Dedication to his craft appears to have paid off for Bendigo Top Fuel racer Robin Kirby, with multi-national oil giant Pennzoil announcing that it will back Kirby in his current Australian Top Fuel Series cam paign. Kirby’s car will debut in Pennzoil’s corporate colours this weekend at Adelaide International Raceway, where the three-time Top Fuel series runner-up has a match race booking with Darren DiFilippo. Talking with Motorsport News this week, Kirby said the signing

with Pennzoil was a dream come true and he was looking forward to a long association with the company. “Pennzoil is a great company whose quality products I must say I have used for a number of years and the association with them allows me to attack the series with even more vigour,” he said. Already Kirby’s car has under gone a number of changes, with the Pennzoil mount having a three ele ment carbon fibre wing fitted, along with new cylinder heads. “The extra budget into the team gives us the opportunity to update

our equipment and try and run faster, which the class is demand ing hnd be even more competitive. “Also, Pennzoil’s support will allow us to be even more consistent which, at the end of the day, is what will enable you to go more rounds than anything else - and that’s the ultimate goal, going rounds, gaining points and giving Pennzoil more exposure to both the race track crowds and on television.” Kirby’s long-time sponsor, Keating’s Transport, will remain with the team as major associate sponsor. - GERALD McDORNAN

In the hands of Clasby, the cav ran a best of 6.51/215 two seasons ago, still ranking the car in the top 25 quickest doorslanimers in the world. Pironti teamed with Clasby in late ’95 to ran the car in a limited _ schedule, running deep into the six second zone before the two ended their partnership.

By Gerald McDor^

n A strong rumour gaining momentum at the moment is that former Top Alcohol Funny Car racer Vic Baker is almost ready to make his debut in the fuel ranks, but in Funny Car and not Top Fuel as expected. Baker, who has a Top Fuel chas sis in his workshop, never sold his Corvette Funny Car when he announced his intentions to stepup, always stating that he wanted to run the fuel coupe class and would when given the opportuni ty. It is believed the beautiful Steve Plueger-built Corvette has since undergone a number of changes to enable it to run as a fuel car, including having a larger fuel tank and wing fitted and having the engine location altered. Although he wouldn’t confirm the rumour when contacted. Baker did tell Motorsport News that his immediate plans would be announced soon. n While talking about Funny Cars, reigning Australian Top Fuel Champion Glenn Mikres is set to make his debut in the fuel coupe class Down Under, at Calder Park Raceway on January 10. Mikres, who is a former NHRA Funny Car speed record holder, will be driving the US Forces Olds Cutlass flopper, the second car out of the stable of Melbourne racer Garry McGrath. Mikres has been signed to con test four events in the Funny Car, the first scheduled for Calder, then January 17 at Raceway Park, Heathcote and then the two February events at Adelaide International Raceway. McGrath and four-time Australian Funny Car Champion Peter Russo, driving his Autopro Dodge Daytona, will be contesting the Australia v USA series, while Nationals-winner Ron Atholwood, Allan Dobson and Lloyd Jones will be running at selected events. n While Scotty Cannon has been storming around Australia in his new Studebaker, the former George Clasby car which stai’ted the “Batmobile” trend has found a new home in Perth. Robin Judd has taken delivery of the car from Melbourne racer Raf Pironti, with the Murray Anderson-built car being delivered to the west as a rolling chassis. Judd is believed to be now talking to a number of people in an effort to sort out his engine options, before making his debut in the class.

n The IHRA has announced that it will kick off its 1998 Snap-on Tools Drag Racing Series with the Wintemationals at DeSoto Memorial Dragway on March 29, the event increas ing IHRA’s national event cal endar to nine races. The track, which is well-known for its annual Snowbird Nationals event held each December, has operated under NHRA sanctioning for the past 10 season, last holding an IHRA event there in 1988. n Chrysler Motorsport chief Lou Patane announced at the recent Performance Racing Industry show in Columbus, Ohio, that he had pulled off one of the biggest coups of the off-season with the signing of Todd Patterson and the Nickens Brothers to run the factory-backed Dodge Pro Stock Trucks in 1998. Both Patterson and the Nickens are amongst the USA’s foremost small-block engine builders, Chryself immediately gaining their expertise with the signing, along with eliminating them from the competition, It is believed Patterson will soon be taking delivery of the Pro Stock truck driven by three-time NHRA Pro Stock Champion Darrell Alderman, while Scott Geoffrion’s truck will be heading to the Nickens camp, n The Pro Stock Truck class has been a great boon for US chassis builders, with Jerry Bickel con firming at the PRI show that he has numerous Pro Trucks on order,as does Jerry Haas. Bickle confirmed that he had another five Dodge Pro Stock trucks on order, including new chassis for the factory-backed Nickens and Patterson teams. along with a number of Chevy SlOs for standout Comp racers Vinnie Barone and John Lukovich - both of whom have immense experience in the small-block classes. Jerry Haas has a bunch of orders for the trucks, including new Chevs for John Lingenfelter, Steve Schmidt (it is expected his employee, Dave Spitzer, will do the driving), Don Pradhomme and former Pro Stock racer Gary Chemeri. Todd Bevis, who has built a number of national event-winning Comp cars and made progress last season into the ranks of being a “name” chassis builder with a coupie of solid-running Pro Stock cars, is also busy building trucks, including one for Colorado Comp standout Bill Henderson.

1997/98 ANDRA CHAMPIONSHIP DRAG RACING SERIES - POINTS TO JAN 1, 1998.

97/98 ANDRA Top Doorslammer Series .370 Victor Bray, Castrol Racing ... .350 Scotty Cannon, Racetech/SCW 3. Troy Critchley, Castrol Racing 290 240 4. Andrew Searle, Searle Racing 120 5. Lucky Belleri, Lucky’s Toy .. 100 6. Shane Eicoate, Thunder Road Peter Kapiris, Kapiris Bros/Pennzoil ..100 80 8. Lui Raschella, Raschella Racing .80 David Koop, Koop DeVille .. 70 Colin Will, Tectaloy Coolants

97/98 ANDRA Top Bike Series I. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

97/98 ANDRA Pro Stock Series

,295

Jeff Smith,Jeffs Cycle Salvage Ian Ashelford, Ashelford Racing 185 Brett Stevens,Jack Daniel’s/Hi-Tec .170 Mark Gedye, Xcessive Force Racing ..160 120 Peter Allen, Pennzoil Racing 100 Gavin Spann, Serco/Wiseco Steve Kitchen, Mr, Turbo Racing ....100 .60 8. Peter Tom, Peter Tom Racing Garry Thomas, Thomas Motorsport ..60 Murray Johnson, Xcessive Force Racing ..60

I. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Rob Tucker, Performance W’sale

210

Joe Polito, Dynomax Perf. Exhausts ..150 140 Tony Wedlock, Hi-Tec Oils John O’Kearney,John Williams Auto ..100 Robert Quattrochi, Valvoline 80 Bruno Cugnetto, VPW Mail Order .. .80 7. Craig Hastead, Cragar Performance ...60 Gerry Parente, Parente Racing 60 40 9. Mike Reilly, Reilly & Gay Andrew Kostecki, Mobil I Racing 40

SPEEDWAY

Valvoline Grand Prix won by Rush

Ten-time Australian champion Garry Rush won the Valvoline Australian Sprintcar Grand Prix in front of a near-capacity crowd at Parramatta City Raceway on Boxing Day. The 53 year-old living legend from Kelly\'ille came from position 12 in the 30 lap main event to talce the win last Friday by a narrow margin from three-time and reign ing national champion Garry Brazier. An uncharacteristic mistake by Rush in the Castrol #2 Maxim saw him spin onto the infield with 18 laps to go - at that same moment, 21 year-old Greystanes driver Adrian Maher flipped his #80 Coldys Bullbars Jenkins hard in turns 1-2. The talented young racer destroyed his state of the art machine, just two days before he was to make his debut in the Aussie line-up for the USA versus Austraha Test Match - Maher and his crew faced a race against time to build up their old car for the followdng Sunday night’s action. When the i;ace was restarted. Rush resumed with the lead and would not be headed, the veteran showing his mastery in lapped traffic to hold off his younger adversaries.

Granville 24 year-old Brazier came within a whisker of making his first three races back in Australia all victories, running a close second to Rush in the Valvoline Grand Piix. Brazier started back in position 16 in the Mopar Performance #1 Schnee, but took his time to move through the traffic and eventually hassle Rush at the restart with 18 laps to go. Brazier had won his only other two Australian appearances at Wynns Newcastle Spedway and Parramatta City Raceway and looked poised to make it thi-ee con secutive victories until Rush showed his class in traffic and held the second-generation national champ at bay. Running third was Hurstville star Skip Jackson in the #7 Skilled Engineering Jackson-built machine. The defending 1996/97 World Series Sprintcars Champion and 19997 Knoxville USA Track Champion showed typically consis tent form and remarkable traffic skills to move from the back of the field. Skip won a heat race and compet ed in the dash, then ran third in the main event in a solid build-up to the next WSS round at Wagga.

Fourth across the line was Central Coast former .Modified racer Mick Turnef in the #56 EWT Wreckers machine. Turner has been a rejuvenated driver of late and has virtually guaranteed himself to be a top five driver in almost all instances. The USA duo grew to a trio, Pennsylvania’s Freddie Rahmer and Todd Shaffer being joined by Iowa’s Terry McCarl in the Sid Moore #99 CR&D machine. Rahmer had a disappointing night, running out of tear-offs in his first heat and missing the allimportant transfer to the A Main with 47 cars in the pits, it was diffi cult to make your way through the

field.

Rahmer was running second in the B Main when he tagged leader Lynton Jeffrey and they both spun, only to be collected by the hapless money mai'ket trader, JJ Mineef this forced all three out, with no chance to qualify for the main event. Shaffer fared the best of the USA stars, finishing fifth in the main in his first appearance at the tough PCR venue. Winner of the Modified feature race was Barry Bundy, for the sec ond week in a row. -WADEAUNGER

Krikke & Speedweek

Bunbury Bullet Ron Krikke rates himself a strong chance of taking out the 1998 USA v WA Speedweek crown in Western Australia. The six-time champion has even been bold enough to say that, if he finishes on each of the four nights, he will be on the podium at the end of the series. “Then all we have to do is beat the other two placegetters,” Krikke said. But to do that the two-time Australian champion knows the team has to extract plenty of relia bility out of the hairy Maiolo Racing Maxim. The car was on the pace early in the season, only to be plagued by a myriad of problems, including fuel and electiical gi-emlins. “We know the car’s fast and that we’ve got half a chance,” Krikke said. Speedweek is one of the biggest events on the Sprintcar Association of Western Ausfralian calendar and

also for the promoting tracks, Claremont and Bunbury. Rounds one and three are at Claremont on January 2 and 9, with rounds two and four at Bunbury on January 3 and 10. Americans Kenny Jacobs (last year’s winner), Ronnie Day and Randy Hannagan are rated as hot chances, according to Krikke, who first won back in 1985. His next four wins were from 1991 to 1994 and his last was in 1996. On a local level, the WA driver immediately looked to Kendrick Racing’s Mark Wells, who is the current State champion and a joint winner with Gayin Migro in 1995. “I also believe Ryan Farrell’s a chance; he’s been doing good all year,” Krikke said. “I’ve watched him a bit and reckon he’ll do alright.” Apart from his own chances, he gave nephew Shane Krikke reason ably good odds.

Speedweek has been going since Americans took the first two titles l back in 1982 and 1983. Jac Haudenschlld and Jack Hewitt’s respective wins have set the Speedweek tempo and since then many Americans have been keen to race Down Under in one of the busiest times on the West Coast Sprintcar racing calendar. Speedweek feature wins; Ron Krikke 10, Mark Wells 4, Gary Rush 3, Kenny Jacobs (USA) 3, Jack Hewitt (USA) 2, Stephen Anigo 2 and Gavin Migro 2. One win each went to Johnny Herrera (USA), Bill Sutherland, Tim Green (USA), Alf Barbagallo, Lee Foster, Robbie Stanley (USA), Tony Matra, Jimmy Martin (USA), Bill Bailey (USA), Fran Hogue (USA), Allan McCarthy, Pino Priolo, Eddy Gobby, Gary Wright (USA), John Krikke, Shane Murphy, Ronnie Day (USA), Randy Hannagan (USA) and Shane - DARREN O’DEA Krikke.

Wet, wild Wang winners

Despite a massive downpour, Wangarata City Raceway’s December 13 meeting saw Matt Duncan take out the OM Sports Sedans Victorian Title. Sixteen vehicles nominated for the event and the attrition rate was high in the heats, the concrete wall taking its toll and leaving a deplet ed eight-car field to contest the final. But these were some of fastest competitors on the night, Duncan and Joe Breitkopf starting on the front row, with VIC #1 Craig

Harrison and Geoff Bowers on row two - then came an in-form Rowan Davies, Butch Hope, out of retire ment Brian Delarue and rookie Craig Cottier. With the track all grip, the pace was a cracker from the start, the grid top four all having a go at the lead. At the chequer, though, Albury-based Duncan led home Breitkopf and Harrison. ^ Juniors went to Aaron Meakins, Aaron Richardson and equal thirdplaced Keith Skate and Thomas Bowers.

Standard Saloons went to Allan Richardson, ahead of Geoff Bowers and Brett Jory. Only six starters fronted in Modified Production, the Griffith Ford of Scott Nichols heading the V6 Commodore of Butch Hope and third-placed Bob Bailey - Street Stock went to Peter Robl. The Speedcar final was a nailbiter, Paul Farrell taking the honours ahead of the NSW car of David Lambert (who put the cat among the pigeons all night) and the third man on the podium, Ray Bishop.

2January W8

hree-time and reigning Australian Sprintcar Champion Garry Brazier has taken littie time to settie back into competition in Austraiia, having w/on the first two shows since returning from the USA. The Granville 24 year-old blitzed ail comers in the third round of the Goodyear Sprintcar premier ship at Parramatta City Raceway in early December, then followed that up with a powerhouse dispiay at Wynns Newcastie Speedway for the third round of the Gough and Giimour Series. At PCR, though, the demise of early race leader Mick Turner played into his hands, at a time when there may have been some doubt if he could run the front man down. Turner had started towards the front in the 25 lap final and was looking like he wouldn’t be caught, even showing considerable ability in the tricky lapped traffic. With thirteen laps to go, the #56 EWT Wreckers car suffered a flat left rear tyre and, after strug gling to maintain control for sever al laps, Turner finally put the machine on the infield. From this point, it was a class display from Brazier, who had started from position 16 and was storming through the field to catch the leaders. At Newcastle, Brazier started out of position 6 in the 25 lap Teterin Engines main event and rapidly worked his way past JJ Mineef, Adrian Maher and then leader Bob Jackson. Jackson was doing a 'great job in the #12 Sydney'Express Couriers entry,- but Brazier was too clever in the slick conditions and mastered a precision outside pass in turn 4. Jackson held on to second place, while Brazier cleared out to a comfortable margin at the che quers. Adrian Maher finished third.

uigoa chicken farmer Peter Attard is showing rapid improvement in the brand-new #53 Freddie Rahmer J&J and is set to find even more form, if his information gathering expedition with the touring Americans proves successful. The likeable 33 year-old is housing the American stars, Fred Rahmer and Todd Shaffer and their cars, at his Mulgoa home stead and’is putting his own rac ing aside to give the boys a hand and learn as much as he can before they go home. Attard says he’s already learn ing so much just from helping the team assemble the new cars, which is quite a change from the completely non-technical approach he’s adopted in the past. "If it doesn’t have feathers, I don’t know too much about it,” joked Attard.

997 Knoxville Raceway cham pion Skip Jackson and brother Paul hosted their annual Christmas Party at the Wentworthville Hotel in Auburn. Over 50 friends and supporters showed up to for a casual, outdoorsy function, with the #7 Skilled Engineering Jackson chassis on display. Noted racing dignitaries attending were Garry Rush, Sid Moore, John Walsh, Brian Linigen, Sid Moore, JJ Mineef and John Barrett, to name a few. Sponsors and crew were thanked and a brief snapshot was given of what has been a truly memorable 12 months for the hard working J&J Autosports Team.

John ues Pyne’s at Wynns winningNewcastle run contin

By Wade Aungj Speedway and he’s even extend ed that influence to the Parramatta venue as well. The #9 Teterin Camaro is unstoppable at present and it doesn’t seem to matter where he starts in the feature field. Some puzzling stewarding deci sions at PCR, in particular, left the 1996 Aussie champ with a peculiar feeling of being routed on numer ous occasions, but after enduring some questionable restarts and a fair bit of body contact, win number eight was on the books for the confident Kurri Kurri racer. There have been only two legitimate challenges to Pyne’s victories in recent weeks, those coming from John Brown in the #6 Jones’ Cams machine and Ron Pyne in the #7 Auto One Camaro. IS

Litre Car equivalent star Andrewin Wright Pyne’s his own division, the hard-charging young ster's Suzuki-powered #78 Kodak Express machine absolutely zooming at any circuit he fronts for - and Wright may soon be dri ving one of the most potent Speedcars in the country, the Dark Family #2 Esslinger. Sydney Speedcar driver Darren Jenkins will almost certainly miss the remainder of the season and may even call it quits on a racing career, after a harmlesslooking incident has developed serious consequences. During a feature at Parramatta, the right side crash bar bent up through the arm shield and smashed his arm, badly injuring his elbow. Jenkins was later taken to hospi tal and be treated for injuries that have worsened to the point that a bone graft was taken from his hip and doctors are unsure of the extent of mobility he’ll retain in the joint. It’s been a costly accident for Jenkins, the propietor of his own Auto Electrician business, as he’s been fiat on his back and unable to contribute to a busy Christmas period. The consideration that he may not race again has apparently devastated the talented young racer.

Perth Watson Speedcar Jr continues driver to mafe Tam an amazing, yet slow, recovery from injuries received in his horri fying rollover during the WA Championship on November 21. Watson is now in the Shenton Park rehabilitation centre and is slowly getting back his faculties, despite massive pressure to his brain and very serious head injuries. Friends and family say that, while he is still not able to talk or swallow without the assistance of a tube in his trachea, his spirits are good and he’s starting to get bored in the hospital. Concern was expressed from hundreds of people throughout the country, with numerous dri vers from the East Coast of Australia - and even in the USA sending their wishes through the team race fan web site. Watson’s future as a racecar driver is unknown, as it will be some time before doctors know the full extent of the damage to his brain. Get well. Tommy.

2Janu3iyW98

t’s been some time since my last column, but nothing really signifi cant has been happening - up until now,that is. Just recently, though, a deal came together for me to race the Bob Woods Fontana, the car I raced last season in New Zealand in the Tri-Nations series. Bob and I left on December 23 to join Warrene Ekins and Brett Morris in the Aussie team. The American team will consist of Sleepy Tripp, Jimmy Sills and Tony Elliott, while Graham Standring will captain the Kiwi team, which has yet to be announced. Morris will have his Harris chassis, complete with its contro versial open driveline and Ekins’ car will also have an open driveline. We’ll be racing on the 26th, 27th and 30th of December and on the 3rd and 10th of January, which means I will miss the open ing round of the Speedcar Super Series at Avalon. Bob’s car was spread out all over NSW when we got the call to do NZ, so it’s been a bit of a mad thrash to get it all ready. But the car has been rebuilt and was sent over to NZ. When I getrun backwith to Australia, my first my new Smith/Bourke/Infinity team will be at Gilgandra on January,17, which is round two of the Super Series. The team that I will be driving for is the new team of Gerard Bourke and Steve Smith out of Newcastle. Gerard builds the frames, which are called Infinity Chassis.and Steve has built the Fontana engine. They’ve got a thirty foot trailer

and two cars for me to use, one which may have an American in it at some stage. The team is supported by Steve Smith Race Engines, Midnight Spares and Infinity Chassis. Bob Woods will also be helping out, getting his hands dirty when he can. Interestingly, Gerard has his own car, which he will run as a separate deal - I drove Gerard’s car at Newcastle recently and must say that I was impressed with the Infinity chassis.

hit a rut and the nerf bar got pushed into the cockpit. Darren was scheduled to be operated on just prior to Christmas, where they’ll take some bone from his hip. He should be out of racing for about six weeks - it’s ironic when you look at some of the big crashes he had last season and walked away from. wins under his belt already. It seems he’s having the sort of season I had last year, now that he’s

proved in America, running top ten in all three races against some of the best in the States.

NEW RIDE... Robbie Farr tries out the new Speedcar ofInfinity Chassis-builder Gerard Bourke. {David Lamont pic)

arah McCune was scheduled for her first run on Boxing night. I’m a bit disappointed that I won’t be here to run against her. Adam Clarke has been the form guy so far this season, with six

Young South Wales driver New Andrew Wright has Litre captured plenty of attention this season, following a succession of d impressive wins. k The former 1994/95 Rookie of the Year with the North West Litre Club has absolutely set the scene on fire so far this term and has been almost unbeatable in his By Den nis New potent #78 Kodak Express SuzukiWright soon found the fastest powered machine. His potential appears unlimited way around Toowoomba’s Charlton Speedway and came and, provided his progress contin ues, he could emerge as one of away with a victory over current National Champion Michael Gee. the sport’s genuine superstars fur ther down the track. From that one outstanding perThat aspect is something formance (in addition to his incredAndrew Wright does not even ibie form on southern tracks) at want to think about, as he prefers Toowoomba, Wright already looms as one of the red-hot favourites for to take one race at a time. the title. However, this obviously talent On the night on Saturda>y, ed youngster already has captured plenty of attention and his winning December 20, at the Wynn’s Newcastle Speedway, it was the performances have attracted con siderable interest from the New same story again, as Wright hand ed out a drubbing to the opposiSouth Wales Speedcar division. His rate of progress is such that tion. He had been the form driver all the word already is out that he is line for a Speedcar drive. night - in the lead-up races he The offer already has come was simply devastating, though he from one of the most respected - handed out some kind of psychoand longest-serving - Speedcar logical blow to the opposition when interviewed on the main straight teams on the Sydney scene. Young Andrew has jumped at after his initial win. “We’re made a few changes to the chance to try his hand in the bigger cars and, at this writing, his the engine and the car is not quite maiden Speedcar run appears not running at its best tonight,” Wright said - if slightly below par, the car too far away. Meanwhile, the main event was still the quickest thing on four wins continue to roll from the tyres wheels in the Litre pits after the earlier preliminary events. of the Wright machine. He confines most of activities to Wright quickly blazed a fire-trail the Wynn’s Newcastle Speedway through the field in the main event. Former Modified and Sprintcar and Sydney’s Parramatta City star from the sixties and seventies Raceway. However, a recent interesting Jeff Pickering was probably the cameo visit to Toowoomba, venue second-fastest to Wright all night. for this season’s Australian Litre He had opened a good lead on the field by the time Wright moved Championship, provided a tremen into second and cleared llimself of dous confidence-booster in prepa ration for the upcoming National the traffic - Wright then set off Title. after Pickering and, within only

got the car well sorted, Craig Brady has had a terrible run of luck with engines and spin ning cars and so on. Once he gets his bad luck behind him, he’ll be quick - as he

Rod Bowen and St'even Graham have also been quick. / of bad luck, Darren

Jenkins broke his elbow last Speaking weekend at Parramatta when he

The Morris has caused someSpeedcar trouble lately, with the ASCC [Australian Speedcar Control Council] threat ening to black ban the NSW club. I’ve said all the way along that the ASCC should have banned the car for safety reasons for 12 months while it was trialled else where, ie USAC. I think the ASCC are cutting off their nose to spite their face if they black ban the NSW club. We are the strongest Speedcar club in the country at the moment, in terms of numbers, quality, and close racing. If they ban us from racing out side of Parramatta and Newcastle, it wont bother me. I’d rather run 20 races and miss the Australian Title than run the Aussie Title and not do any other races. And, if they allow the open dri veline car to run in the Australian Title, then you might as well miss it anyway, because it will be that quick. On the Sprintcar cur rently talking front. with aI’mNSW team about running a car in the Australian Title at Bunbury and I also believe a Victorian car owner is interested in getting me down for the Grand Annual Classic. In the meantime, I hope you’ve all had a Merry Christmas and have a Happy new Year.

several laps, had picked up very happy ending, as Santa made be conducted on the originally scheduled date, Saturday night, Pickering, whose car is decked out it a night to remember for the chil in the same colour scheme and dren in attendance. January 31, 1998. The Brisbane Exhibition The folk of Hexam, not far from race number he used in the Super Tomago - where the Newcastle Ground, which has successfully Modified days. Wright quickly moved to the Speedway is situated - ultimately hosted the final round of the front and was never headed from .came to the rescue, after Santa Masters Series for the past three landed in a paddock just outside years, is now under a new promo that point in the race. their town. tion - Speedway International It was a mind-blowing perfor which was originally contracted to People must have found it diffi mance as Wright cleared away cult to believe what they saw, as host the final round of the Series from his opposition. Santa, still wearing his parachute under agreement with World Pickering ultimately took sec Speedway Series Pty Limited. equipment, walked along an adja ond, while Kane Bailey was third. Speedway International P/L has It’s interesting to note that, cent road on the way to the promoted several speedway despite his tender age, Wright Newcastle Speedway. Santa managed to hitch a ride events in 1997 at the Brisbane already has faced a major decision as to the direction of his sporting into the speedway, courtesy of Exhibition with mixed success. career. Allegedly, financial constraints some friendly folk who found the Wright has given up a very world’s most famous gentleman on forced the promoters to withdraw from the Series. promising Rugby League football the roadside. David Tapp, Managing Director After a somewhat less exciting career to concentrate on speed means of entry than originally of the International Speedway way. planned, Santa then wowed the Masters, says the situation is high He played in the Group 21 rep y' resentative schoolboy team, while fans with an amazing win in the ly disappointing. “This is the first time in three he also was included in the Super Sedan stars dash. years this has ever happened,” Standing on the main straight Newcastle Knights and State Tapp said. away, Santa told the kids he want Knockout Cup-winning teams. “My company has now staged Word from the football dressing ed to race a Super Sedan - Peter room is that the highly regarded Garrett loaned him his car and thirty three events and we’ve never struck this before. Newcastle Knights Rugby League Santa slayed ’em. “I’m certainly not happy about The night had a happy ending Football Club was keen to sign the talented youngster to a contract to for everyone, as Newton’s theory the outcome, but I had no choice other than to relocate the event to secure his future in senior football. did not become a reality. Archerfield. But the speedway track took "I can assure you, my organisa eanwhile, the sixth round of greater preference over the foot the Beechwood Homes Top tion will never enter into a busi ball field for Andrew Wright, as his racing career now moves into top Gun Series was conducted and ness arrangement with Speedway John Pyne’s incredible winning International Pty Ltd again. gear and is full-speed ahead. “The Archerfield owners have sequence continued after Pyne spent a small fortune upgrading recorded his ninth victory of the ut he old saying of “what can facilities and the venue is now a go wrong, will go wrong” season in the Teterin Engines world class speedway. almost proved correct for the Camaro. In fact, the corporate facilities Santa Claus promotion at the are now better than the Brisbane n a dramatic move, the presti Wynn’s Newcastle Speedway on gious Grand Final of the Series Exhibition Ground.” Saturday night, December 20. For the first time, the Grand For one horrifying moment it 500 International Speedway Final will feature six riders per race Motorcycle Masters has been appeared the magic of Christmas would be blown away, just like our switched from the Brisbane - a great spectacle - a grid line-up parachuting Santa, who missed Exhibition Ground to the which has not been possible in the past. his target thanks to an unexpected Archerfield Speedway. The Archerfield venue is com The jewel in the crown of wind gust soon after he bailed out fortably wide enough to accommo Australian speedway’s most cele of the plane. date this format. brated international event will still Fortunately, the story had a

H^(o)0®[PSfp®[?{} Report by BRETT SWANSON

The 1997 Australian debut of the “Pennsylvania Posse” of Fred Rahmer and I'odd Shaffer met with mixed results when Sydneysider Peter Murphy held off an aggressive Rahmer to win the 14th annual Presidents Cup at Avalon International on Geelong, Raceway, December 20. For Murphy and Rahmer, it was an O’Brien Aluminium 1-2, both Murphy’s Maxim and Rahmer’s J&J sporting support from Ron O’Brien. The race, which went non-stop until the white flag lap, was a beau ty, with plenty of hard, fast and side by side racing from the two dri vers, who led home young Darren Walsh in the Kato/Reed Signs Tiner of defending SRA champion Mptthew Reed. Fourth across the line in a bruis ing sprint from the last turn was Phil Johnson in the Tyrepower Tognotti, narrowly ahead of David Anderson’s Wagga Mobile Cranes Maxim. The field was split into heats and, fortunately, both American cars were in different heats, as they were damn near identical, with both cars running #1 (an error by the signwi'iters). Heat one saw Camperdown’s Jeff Judd (Autopro/BP Gambler) take a comfortable win, after Murphy appeared to relent slightly in his efforts to get the number one posi tion - Rahmer worked his way to third, after a torrid battle with Anderson. The second heat saw Shaffer in the thick of it right from the start, when he inadvertently fenced Rob Rankin. Rankin was setting up for an out side pass into turn 3 when Shaffer moved up - Rankin rode a wheel and rolled along the fence, bending the chassis in the process. Shaffer, though, was to suffer the same fate at the other end of the track when the yellows flew for an incident between Dave Argus (Burmix Concrete Maxim) and Daryn Maggs(Frawley Signs J&J). As the flags flew, Shaffer failed to see them (there was so much tape on the car to block the sun) and rode Johnson’s wheel and flipped into the wall. “We were lucky, as it could have been worse, but we only needed to replace a top wing, it’s mounts and some radius rods,” Shaffer said. When all was said and done, Stephen Bell (Motorquip Schnee) took the win from Tim McCubbin (ICI Autocolour Stealth) and Johnson, as Ray Scott (Scotts Mt Gambler JSR)broke a driveline. Adrian Parr (Ace Gates/Peco Star Wheels OTR) had his heat 3 win taken off him for a jumped start and cutting the infield, handing it to Steve Knight’s Flocon Engineering

SREEDWAY

2Janua[^1998

Murphy outguns Rahmer in dose Presidents Cup Walsh and co started to spread out, with Walsh the elder starting to tire and drop a few places. Over the closing laps, Rahmer’s high line helped him close the gap through 1-2, but lost him ground through 3-4 and there were some anxious moments for Murphy fans, rmtil he started the last lap with a small lead. But then, as Shaffer tried to pass Mark Walsh, he ran over his frontend and punctured the oil tank, which started a small oil fire. No-one was injured, but it set up a two lap dash to the flag. Rahmer tried his utmost at the restart, but couldn’t quite close the gap, Murphy taking a very popular victory over Rahmer, Darren Walsh, the wheel-banging duo of Johnson and Anderson, Judd, McCubbin and Shaffer. Bell was the unlucky one on the restart, when his left rear tyre deflated and he was hit by Johnson, amongst others and retired. “I needed to win this badly, as we’ve struggled since getting back from America,” a happy Murphy stated in Victory Lane. “Freddy’s a hell of a man to race against and I could hear him along side me on the outside after the PERFECT TIMING ... Peter Murphy desperately wanted to beat the tourists and win at Avalon. (Brett Swanson) restart. He hadn’t come around me With ten laps down, the order yet, so I stuck to the pole line, but Murphy had top points and drew Gambler - Mark Walsh, driving those last two laps took a long time was still Murphy and Rahmer from younger brother Darren’s first, pulling out pole position. Judd to run.” then grabbed position five, before Bell, Darren Walsh, Johnson, Judd Chemblast JSR, was third. Rahmer was not displeased with McCubbin, Mark Walsh and At the start of heat 4, Rahmer Bell took two, Walsh snared three his Avalon debut: “We came up a and Rahmer had four. Anderson, who had rectified an ear moved up and bumped Gerard Johnson was left to start out of lier problem and was slowly moving little bit short tonight. Peter did a Boult’s Computer Bits Foster into good job... I just screwed up. I’m the wall and subsequently was position six, ahead of McCubbin, up. just glad to be here and hope to Five more laps down and the only Knight, Barlee, Parr, Mark Walsh, demote4 from the heat win. Van Bremen, Anderson, Shaffer, change saw Walsh the younger come back and am glad the car is Murphy was given the win, with Milburn and Rankin. still straight.” pass Bell for third. Judd,{licking up third. Murphy then went Heat 5 went to a repaired FAST FREDDIE... Rahmer was relegated to runner-up status. (Brett Swanson pic) Shaffer, now sporting #2 on the straight to the lead, with Rahmer soon wing - Rankin ran third just ahead moving into second of Johnson. j The final heat wetit to Darren from Bell, Darren Walsh from Allan Barlee (Flocon Walsh, Johnson Judd, Engineering Gambler) and Mike McCubbin and co. At one-fifth race Van Bremen (Penrite Foster). The 12-lap B Main fell to Wayne distance, Murphy led Milburn’s Leishmann Panels JSR, from Rahmer -.then, complete with his new ex-Steve on lap 7, the whole complexion of the race Knight engine. Milburn cut about twelve seconds could have changed as off the previous record, which was the lead pair entered turns 1-2 with lapped held by Brett Lacey. Rankin finished second, ahead of traffic. “At one time, Boult, Maggs, Rod Matthews (Ballarat Pallett Co JSR), Garry Freddie stuck his nose under me as I was lap Chippindall (Hussey Performance ping a car and I had no OTR), Scott, Tony Simone (Aladn Wreckers Gambler), Bob Forbes choice but to either hit the lapped car, or let (Dyers Plumbing OTR)and Argus. Prior to the 25-lap Cup race, the Freddie go,” Murphy top six pointscorers drew numbers explained. “I went for the gap and made it.” for their starting positions.

WILD RIDE... Todd Shaffer managed to reduce some of the aesthetic appeal of his handsome O’Brien Aluminium Sprintcar after riding Phil Johnson’s wheel in heat 2.(Swanson pics)

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The engine will again be tuned name just a few of the duo’s suc Australian Speedway Sidecar timeswinner winner Smith/French and by Phil Tainton in Melbourne. cesses. champions Glen Hough and 1994 Halsey/Glenie. Wilson/Miles and Mark passenger Robert Strong from Bright in Victoria have returned Edwards/Will Jones topped the female passenger Tina 'The South Australian Sidecar from a very successful whirlwind scorechart with 26 points, made Leading Karan from Bunbury in Western I Championship has a new date tour of the United Kingdom and up of three wins and a second. Australia has hung up her and venue. The title will now be are gearing up for their defence of Smith/French scored points, leathers. held at Renmark speedway on the Australian title at Perth’s made up of three wins and a third, Tina created history at Broken Saturday, January 24, 1998. Claremont speedway next March. while Hough/Armstrong scored Hill, when she and rider Mark Drew Renmark hosted the 1992 title, Hough/Armstrong, who run under points (a win, a second and three won the 1994 Australian which was won by Rick Munro and the Robert Griffiths racing team r T.r banner, received, a civic reception at Bright upon return from England for their successful trip and the 1997 Australian season, which saw them win their first national crown and the Grand Slam. The reigning Australian cham pions competed in three of the major grass track meetings of the year and recorded two brilliant vic tories, after a first meeting hiccup at the Grand Slam meeting at Bbode Minnis in Kent, which saw them crash out of contention in the semi-final. They were the fifth highest point scorer after the heats, with 20 points (made up of two wins, a second and a sixth)from their four qualifying heats). Top pointscorer Gary Jackson/Mick Stace won the final, ahead of Rob WilsonATony Miles and John Hiscock/Graham Ashby. The boys from Down Under had their work cut out over the next few days to repair the bike, which had been severely dam aged in the crash. The next meeting in the United Kingdom, they blew the doors off the opposition to win the presti gious Ace of Aces grass track meeting at Stockbridge in Hants, ahead of Steve Smith/Dave French FAST TRIKE... Vic Marrin/Bob Hill(above) broke the 3-lap record three times and took 1.22 seconds offRussell Mitchell’s 4-lap record at the Brisbane Exhibition Speedway during the Ivan Monger series event last month.(Barry Marshall photo) and reigning British Masters Spee'dway Sidecar championship the third round of last year’s three Champion John Halsey/Jason with a five-ride, 15 point maximum round series was won by Jim Glenie - defending titlehoiders score. Tina became the first female Irwin. Wilson/Miles were fourth. competitor to win an Australian Hough/Armstrong had been ’ormer SA #2 and 1995 individual championship. having trouble all day with the starts, but made an absolute blind Australian finalist, Roger Evans Tina and Mark had^great succ er of a start in the final and cleared ess in the ninties by winning two from Mannum has sold his GSXR WA titles (1993 and 1995) and she Suzuki-powered BSR outfit to out to take all easy win. Four times Ace of Aces winner could well have won the 1994 title, Steve Fisher from Geraldton in but due to injury she had to pull Western Australia. Smith/French went through the heats undefeated to record a 24 F.isher is making a comeback to out - so Chris Page swung for point maximum score, which thirds). The win in the heats was Drew and they won that, so Drew racing after a year’s lay-off. Evans has not turned his back included beating Hough/Armstrong the fastest time of the day of won three WA titles in a row. Tina and Mark also won two on speedway since he retired, as 1.30.33. in the opening heat. Bike owner and major sponsor Australian Pairs titles (1993 and he is the clerk of course at Murray Hough/Armstrong (three wins and a third) and Wilson/Miles (two Robert Griffiths and mechanic 1995), an Australian Long Track Bridge. Paul Andrews returned earlier than Championship at Port Pirie, the wins and two seconds) both fin Glen and Rob to work on their new Champion of Champions meeting ished with 20 points apiece. rider Paul MarkerSA hasSidecar again joined Hough/Armstrong cleaned up in bike, which is again another at the now-closed North Arm Experienced their final meeting in the United Treloar frame outfit, which will be Speedway, finished third in the forces with his former passenger, Kingdom by winning the fitted with a “hybrid Suzuki engine” 1995 Aussie title, were runners-up Darren Pascoe, for his comeback international Bonfire Burn-Up at and is described as a “better in the ’92.WA title and second in te racing. Marker/Pascoe won the Speedway Riders the ’94 Aussie Pairs title, just to 1991 Tonbridge in Kent, ahead of three- engine than last year’s.” an Vickery executed a iate-race pass to snatch victory in the 20 lap Modified Rod feature event at Toowoomba’s Charlton raceway on December 13. Despite starting from pole posi tion, Vickery had to bide his time behind local ace Ray Klarich for the greater portion of the race, making his successful bid for the lead with just over two laps to run. Rookie Mark Robinson, a fea ture winner in Brisbane a week earlier, finished in third position, ahead of Greg Coombes and Dennis Mazzer. There was plenty of drama back in the pack, with Stuart Herne and Rob Clifford engaging in a spirited and somewhat physi cal debate on the infield after an on-track skirmish put both drivers out of action. Coombes topped qualifying with a pair of heat wins, while Kerri Wilson and Bruce McDonald took out the others. Litre Sprintcars were also pro grammed and were highlighted by a stunning drive from New South Welshman Andrew Wright in the 20 lap finale. Starting from position 13, Wright blasted his way to the front

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in fine style to defeat Australian champ Michael Gee, who started from pole position and was expect ed to win comfortably. Former national champ Ricky Tapscott finished third, followed by Chris Shilletto and Rob Hamilton. Wright and Gee recorded heat wins, as did Darren Farmillo and Bruce Ayers. aryborough’s Chris Elliott con tinues to lead the Dairy FarmersCruise Milk Street Sedan series, with five rounds now com pleted. Despite the appearance of over 70 drivers in the series thus far, Elliott has dominated from the^eutset and looks certain to take out the inaugural challenge with just one event remaining.

Association rookie of the year award.

he South Australian Sidecar ranks have been boosted with three new riders making their debut in Adelaide during the 1997/98 season. Former passenger Darren Arbon is taking over the handle bars on the ex-Paul King, Soutarframe outfit, which has now been fitted with a GPZ Kawasaki engine - Damien Niesche is in the chair. The duo has had a great start to the season at Murray Bridge, winning two handicap events. The Matthews brothers, Mark and Darren, have purchased an ex-Mark Wood, Fleet-frame bike, which is powered by a Kawasaki engine for their debut season. The newly-formed Motley team of former passenger Darren Bonnett and his passenger George Spear have purchased the entire Rainbow Racing team set-up. This consists of Mark and Lisa Wood’s complete stable of speed way equipment, which includes two complete bikes (one being the 900CC Honda-powered Eliminator frame which the Woods rode in the 1996 Australian championship at Mildura), heaps and heaps of spares and a couple of engines, along with the trailer. Bonnett swung for Darren Powell as a member of the Motley crew last season, but they have gone their own way this summer. M

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Bridge husband and had^ a ^'hock^ng

start to the season. The duo blew the motor in their bike at the pre-season practice session at Murray Bridge and were forced to miss the opening meeting. They got the engine repaired and, in the second meeting of the season, Ange fell off and was seriously injured. Ange suffered a smashed left heel in three places, which needed a screw put in to repair it. She also broke a couple of bones in her left foot. Her leg will be in plaster for 13 weeks and she is currently getting around in a wheelchair. She spent almost two weeks in will hospital Ange be sidelined for the rest of the season. Mick rode with experienced pas senger Duane Brittain at Speedway City and crashed heavily.

row, Lesllght jumped into the lead spectacular engine fire in the when the green flag flew and opening heat. Jamie McHugh (Miami Smash, remained in control throughout. Local lad Mick Doblo(CQ Head Repairs Falcon) was circulating Centre Camaro), who set the track strongly in fourth, until he was alight earlier in the night when he forced out with a flat tyre following contact with the lapped car of Jack cut the quickest lap during time tri als, hounded Leslight from go to Childs, who was also eliminated whoa and made several genuine after crunching the fence. Despite a paltry field of just 13 challenges for the lead. When Doblo, whose one lap cars, which included brand-new dismal field of just 10 Sprintcars journeyed to time was almost half a second equipment for locals Des Korn Bundaberg’s Carina Speedway on quicker than his nearest rival, (Camaro) and Chris Ede (Corvette), the racing was reason December 13. selected pole position in the pre Paul Lindberg (Kelly Wrecking race lottery, a hometown victory ably good on a well-prepared track. Tognotti) outpaced his rivals to looked likely. Leslight made his intentions take out the feature event. Leslight’s experience proved to Nathan McDonald steered his be the difference, though and he clear from the outset, with a win over Doblo and Newcastle’s Al Fraser Shores Schnee to a second was able to fend off Doblo’s con Starling (McGuigan Brothers stant advances to finish the night place finish on his home track, Pontiac) in the first qualifier. with Lismore’s Andrew Pezzutti undefeated. John McGeorge (Shell Pontiac) Queensland champ Lindsay (Craftsman Homes Gambler) Hawkings also impressed aboard downed McHugh and Geary in the annexing third spot. his brand-new Camaro, finishing second heat, before retiring for the night with a mystery mechanical strongly to snare third position. Brisbane duo Ian Marshall ailment. in the Coastline John Leslight extended Vehicle his lead Heat 3 saw Leslight in control Transport Super Series when he (Federal Tyres Commodore) and again, finishing ahead of Marshall Paul Geary (Infinity Commodore) piloted his potent American Truck and Doblo. Spares Camaro to victory in the 30 rounded out the top five, providing Hawkings had his new Danny lap Super Sedan feature event at the latter with his best result for Smith-built mount sorted out in the Rockhampton Showground on quite a while. Marshall was lucky to make the final heat, greeting the chequer December 6. feature at all after surviving a ahead of McHugh and Geary. Starting from the outside front Kingaroy’s Craig Harm remains jn second position ahead of Lester Wilcox, Jim Cowley, Neil Keldoulis and Jeremy Hassell. Joe Meredith, Dave Tutton and Peter Baguley are next best, with young Dustin Horne moving into the top ten at the expense of Brian Francis.

SPEEDWAY Peter Warren clinched his first Super Sedan feature race win of the year when he piloted his North Coast Concrete Commodore to victory in the inaugural Cooloola Cup at Gympie’s Mothar Mountain Speedway on Saturday, December 13. Warren, who started the 20 lap , finale from pole after dominating the three rounds of qualifying, was hounded early by Wayne Randall (Ian Boettcher Motors Mazda RX7) and Ian Marshall (Fulcrum Suspension Commodore) until lapped traffic and deteriorating track conditions became a factor. The race, w'hich also doubled as round three of the Skinner Engineering Series, was halted after just 20 of the 30 scheduled laps due to thick dust that hindered visibility for competitors and spec tators alike. The opening stanza of the feature provided plenty of excitement as the leading trio battled for supremacy, running three abreast TWO WHEELS TO FOUR ever be told that there can be no transition from two wheels to four. Until recently, Solo bike rider Terry Bouchier had been throwing the leg over, so to speak and then recently strapped into the Gary Baicombe-owned Sportsman with instant success. For the past few seasons, Bouchier had been riding high in the Solo ranks and, on opening night at Premier Speedway, did upstage some of the more fancied chances in the Sportsman events. His first race back after six years out of the driver’s seat net ted Bouchier a third placing, with more success to follow in the other races on December 6. He piaced in each event and Bouchier, who recently became father to future racer Stephen, campaigned the Colac-based car in brilliant fashion to issue serious challenges to all before him. He is now considering hanging up the leathers to bang doors with the best of them at a track near you in the coming months.

TWIN FEATURE FORMAT he new format of twin features held recently at Premier Speedway seems to have been in agreeance with drivers and spec tators alike. Two 20-lap features were on offer, with the lure of $2000 to the first car over the line in each event and this, coupled with a top-line field, was certainly value for money for all concerned. Perth duo of Ron Krikke and Ryan Farrell had nothing but praise for the way the pro grammed format had been bought about and had been run. “The idea of the twin features is a good one - some fine-tuning as far as points goes could be need ed, but, overall. I’m happy with the first triailing of it and hopefully the people on the hill got good value out of it as well,” said Krikke. Team-mate Farrell was also in agreeance - and why shouldn’t he

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Super Sedan Cooloola Cup victory clinched by Warren

on more than one occasion. Randall occupied the runner-up position initially, until a clash with the slower car of Kylie Pails - who was swamped by the leaders in a four-wide blitz down the main straight - resulted in contact with the wall and allowed Warren and Marshall to skip clear. Marshall made a couple of gen uine attempts for the lead, but Warren drove faultlessly and kept his vastly more experienced rival at bay, demolishing the track record along the way. Series leader Cameron Meehan overcame a series of setbacks and a

rear of field start to snare fourth placing. The most spectacular incident occurred in heat 2, when Meehan spun and was collected by Geoff O’Keeffe. The two cars became entangled, with O’Keeffe (Torque Gas Conversions Falcon) perched atop the bonnet of Meehan’s immaculate Lewin Homes Falcon. Local favourite Don Birt(Gympie Bearings Falcon) had a lonely drive into fifth position, followed by Toowoomba’s Shayne Lau (McGrath Toyota Camaro), the sel dom seen Commodore of Key Barkle, the ever-improving Pails

(Bob Jane T-Marts Commodore) and O’Keeffe. The only other finisher was Graeme Lehmann (Lockyer Engines Commodore), who experi enced a multitude of problems after qualifying strongly in third posi tion. The six preliminaries saw two wins apiece to Warren and Randall, who lowered his own 8 lap record when he downed Marshall and Birt in the final heat. Meehan and Lau, who was quite impressive in his first outing for the season, also visited victory lane. Round three of the Autobarn

Modified Production series saw Greg Raymont score a narrow win over Gary Pagel and Queensland champ Mark Pagel in the 20 lap feature. These three drivers also dominat ed qualifying with two wins each, reducing the 8 lap record on two occasions in the process. The vastly improved Andy Geppert and veteran Peter Doyle, who clung tenaciously to second position for several laps, completed the top five, ahead of Brock Clifford, Michael Hally and Troy Brittle. - CHRIS METCALF

was during the race and, after the event, he said to me that he was trying as hard as he could but couldn’t catch me Morse added. Morse , employed as fit ter and turner w i t h Warrnambool company Owen Homes, cam paigns a ^350 Chevrolet-pow ered car and said the race was physically very demanding on him. “It was proba bly the most demanding race that I have ever been in and, boy, I was glad when it was over.” The race went non-stop and Morse’s lead-up heat races were VICTORIAN STATE CHAMPION... National Modified Rod of Tim Morse, who recently took out the fairly trouble-free South Australian Championship. The 19 year-old youngster then also proceeded to walk away with - he recorded the Victorian Championship, which was held at Nyora Raceway early this month. (GeoffGrade pic) two wins and the Super Rod title when I was blew a diff in heat 2. Morse’s immediate plans are to younger and it’s a bit of an honor to achieve something similar to campaign the car as much as pos what he did - it’s the best win of sible, his future goal being to try and win the Australian Modified my career so far,” said Morse. “He helps me a lot on the car Rod Championship at Whyalla in and he and the rest of the family January. are always supporting me, so it’s a LOGUE’S STILL GOT IT real team thing.” orwell Super Sedan driver Morse, who has had a realtiveiy short but successful career to Peter Logue’s affinity with MORSE’S STATE TITLE date, started in grid position four Premier Speedway continued arrnambool’s Tim Morse has for the 30 lap final and said that recently, when he took out the won his second state title this defending champion and polesitter Super Sedan Invitational. The Warrnambool track spe for the event, Harry Kipper, was year when he grabbed victory in cialist and current Australian, the one he had to beat for state the Victorian Modified Rods cham South Australian and Victorianglory. pionship at Nyora Raceway on “I knew I had to beat Harry, champ can never seem to do any December 6. thing wrong, piloting the famous who came off pole and I got to him Morse, 19, has said that the win big black Repco Motorpsorts pretty quick and, after five laps, I surpassed his recent victory in the Camaro to a good victory. South Australian championship, was leading and started to lap traf Logue will now be the man to mainly because his father won a fic straight away. beat in the Super Sedan Tri-City “I wasn’t quite sure where Harry state title in the Super Rod class

Spectacular, which rolls around the east coast during the Christmas period. If form is anything to go by, Logue looks fairly assurred of tak ing the trifecta.

be, after scooping the pool overall on the night.

By Geoff Rounds

during January, 1989. My father (John Morse) won

1997/98 SRA SPRINTCAR SERIES

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ON THE AIRWAVES Speedway turn up your radio on punters, Wednesday nights, when the newest motorsport show in Victoria blasts out over the air waves. “Diggin in the dirt” can be heard on Warrnambool-based radio sta tion 882-3YB on the dial and the boys in question, Stuart McCarthy and Gavin White, are the presen ters of the show. They currently come on the air at 7pm and have an unusual for mat, where raw racing horsepower has to be intertwined between the local dog races live from Wannon Park In Warrnambool. The show, which provides south-west coast information, has to be heard to be believed and the men in question are co-ordinated by local sports DJ Scotty Stewart. The show is just another part of the good promotion that speedway is getting generally throughout the area and can only help benefit the sport.

he debacle at Avalon during round three of the SRA Series was no good for anyone Declaring Phil Johnson the win ner was strange enough, even though he did have a broken muf fler and was allegedly breaking the noise limit imposed at the track but he did lift his accelerator foot” as he passed the noise meter. Johnson won, when Mike Van Bremen was ruled out of the race with exactly the same problem and, although Johnson did offer the win to Van Bremen via the race stewards at the 25 lap con clusion, the gesture fell on deaf ears. A disgruntled number of fans, drivers and stewards were obvi ously left wondering who was real ly In the wrong.

2Jamiy1998

Cracker night at Cascade for Neville Harper

STREETWISE... Neil Street advises Australian Champion Craig Boyce (right) in Austria.(Mike Patrick pjc) after riding on loan at Belle Vue. Ermolenko, now part of Dave Two took in part in the firstAustralians indoor meeting England Tapp’s Series 500 troupe in to be staged on a shale surface at Australia, confirmed at the the well-appointed Brighton . y, Brighton indoor meeting that he is Centre. returning to the Monmore Green Aussie Champion Craig Boyce track to race again for and Adelaide’s Shane Parker Wolverhampton. were in the International Select World Under 21 Champion, the By Tony M ilIan squad that lost 62-51 to a British 19 year-old Dane Jesper Jensen, squad named ‘Brighton Tigers’ and then, in the evening individual Taylor, that will open the door for who joined Wolves halfway meeting, Boyce reached the final his return to the sport after last through last season, is another certain starter in the team, along with 10 quaiifying points, but fell season’s serious back injury. But tough negotiations on the side Swede Mikael Karlsson. and was excluded, while Parker gained 8 qualifying points from his track rental will have to take place for Diamonds to be viable again. five rides. has Vue called for American riders Belle Promoter John Perrin England’s Paul Hurry, a to be treated like Australians in grasstrack expert, won the meet track also looked doomed hasthat revived hopes terms of their contracts fo-race in ing ahead of Americans Brent Another Werner and the World Champion that it may, after all, race again in the British League. Currently, the AMA (American 1998. Greg Hancock. The finances of Hull Kingston Federation) insists that British Rovers Rugby Club, owners of the clut^ pay for return trips to Craig both Boyce confirmed and that Shane their Parker only Craven Park Stadium, had looked America for the Yanks to race in dire and could have meant the specified meetings, all of which interest in Aussie domestic speed stadium closing and so making are in California and involve an air way this season will be to com trip of some 6,000 miles. Hull Vikings homeless. pete in the Australian Final. “We don’t have this probiem But that has now been sta Parker will return shortly after with the Australians, so why bilised and it has been confirmed Christmas to take part in a qualifi er in Adelaide, but will return to that the Rugby League club will shouid we have to pay for the Americans to go home,” Perrin England in February to resume his run throughout the summer sea said. career with Kings Lynn in the son, which runs concurrently with “American promoters cannot speedway. British Elite League in March. With the stadium now certain to provide a full-time living for these Boyce is again set to captain Poole and will also be racing in stay open, it makes sense for riders and we can, so why should the World Championship Grand speedway, which drew some of they benefit? ‘The riders have a choice and, Prix series, along with Leigh the biggest crowds in the Premier if they want to ride in England, Adams, Ryan Sullivan and Jason League last season, to run again. they should be able to sign a con Crump ’op Americans, former World tract to do so.” Of course, the difference is that Champions Sam Ermolenko the Australian season and the and Billy Hamill look set-fto line up The experimental Honda 650cc petrol engine was at Brighton and a demonstration race saw for Wolverhampton when the English season are complemen tary - the American season runs World Champion Greg Hancock British season starts in March. parallel with that in England and Hamill is surplus to require among those trying out the new ments at Belle Vue and Ermolenko the Americans want to see their motor. own riders in action. Hancock was easily the most is still a Wolverhampton asset, impressive rider aboard the SAM ERMOLENKO (right) setfor Wolverhampton in 1998.(Mike Patrick) Honda - most felt it will have a positive future, but has some way to go yet before it can become a regular feature for the sport. Originally, there were moves to use it in the British Premier League, effectively Division Two next summer in England, but it now looks as if that idea will be shelved for at least 12 months.

ope is now emerging that Newcastle will, after all, be racing again at Brough Park in 1988. Promoters George English and Dave Rowland are set to reopen talks with stadium owners Team Greyhounds after Christmas and, although the Newcastle Diamonds have formally withdrawn from the Premier League, an application may be made to rejoin during January. For Aussie veteran Glyn

appeared that Jarrod had the race A night of attrition caused plen ty of excitement during the in the bag, until the engine let go coming out of turn 4 nd he rolled to Super Sedan Cracker a fort night ago at the Cascade Apple an expensive halt with several Isle raceway near Latrohe in holes in the bottom-end of the Tasmania, perennial favourite engine. Neville Harper and Purton took Neville Harper di'iving a strong tactical race to take a close win the flag, ahead of Russell for a fine from Kevin Purton and Grant third. The other main event on the Russell. Purton had a good run through cards was for the Tas Sedans, with their annual King of Latrohe event the night to start from pole posi tion, with Jarrod Hai-per alongside bringing out a large field in this him on the front row for the final. popular division. Garry Quin started from pole Purton led for the first cOuple of laps, but Jarrod realised that position, but lost out as the back Purton was losing some time going end of his car got loose and several through a rough section down low other drivers went past. Back in the pack, as several of on the track in the pit turn area, the midfield competitors entered taking advantage of this and pass turn 3, five cars were involved in a ing Pmdon to take thfe lead. Behind these two competitors, bad incident as Bill Knight and Kemble- Aylett and Neville Harper Brendon Clandge both rolled their were battling for positions. cars, causing the race to be stopped. Aylett passed Neville Harper and ; At the restart, Quinn was deterset out after Purton. Several laps ’ mined not to make the same mislater, he rounded up Purton’s car take twice and he led the field foiwith the same move that Jarrod the first lap. Harper had used. But eventual winner Des Unfortunately, Aylett’s strong Gallagher stormed past him to open run ended with a mechanical prob- up a lead, having solved the electrilem, which forced him to park the cal problem that has plagued him car on the infield. throughout the early part of the By three-quarter distance, the season. Doug Thurstons and Neville race had settled down to Jarrod leading his father, Neville Harper, Smith had moved into second and vrith Purton behind him and Grant third, respectively and the three Russell still in touch, but unable to cars fought it out to the line, finishmake up ground as he fought some ir.i, in that order with less than half a car length between than. handling problems. -ALLAN ROARK With three laps remaining, it

Tolmer Challenge Mod Prod series win by McCarthy The Tolmer Challenge at South Australia’s Bordertown Speedway on December 6 was the first round of the Skybeam Series for Modified Production Sedans and Mildura’s Peter McCarthy was the victor ofthe 20lap feature. The biggest challenge McCarthy faced was whether or not he would even make the meeting, after prob lems with his unique fuel injected Commodore. All week prior to the engine’s debut, McCarthy and engine wiz Ron Solomon experienced problems to the point of total frustration, wherein McCarthy contemplated throwing in the towel - fortunately, with the encouragement of family and crew, he refrained from towel tossing and the rest is now history. Darren Cockerill dominated the heats, taking two wins, but could do nothing about McCarthy in the fea ture, having to settle for second place ahead of Terry Brown, Shane Best and Leeton’s Andrew Hamson. The night started with Mildura’s Col Beasley and Martin Hawson taking a heat win apiece, as did Brown and Peter Dowling - as man¬

tioned, Cockerill won two heats. For the feature, Dowling, in the ex-Neil Watson VL, sat on pole from Col Beasley, Cockerill, and McCai-thy. Dowling led into tmii 1, closely fol lowed by McCarthy and Cockerill, with Beasley already dropping back before eventually retiring. Brown, Hawson and Shane Best were running nose to tail behind Cockerill Andrew Harrison, Greg Gartner, Paul Sheen, Mark Carlin, Moldy Calderwod and Russel Holt were next. After sixteen laps, the lead pair came up to lap Holt and here the lead changed, as Dowling hesitated as he went under Holt - McCarthy chose the outside line and swept to the lead. Dowling caused a stoppage on the next lap, thanks to a broken steering rack, which allowed the field to close up behind McCarthy. McCarthy opened a three-car gap by the drop of the chequered flag and Hawson was lucky to finish, having broken a front strut as he crossed the line, with the wheel sit ting at an unusual angle. - BRETT SWANSON

2Jm3fyl998 BATES BRILLIAWT eal Bates missed out on making the final of the Race of Champions by just 2/10ths of a second, finish ing fourth in the ‘fastest three qualify’ semi-finals. On the way to the semi finals, Bates had to drive a Toyota Rav4 to qualify for the semis, beating Freddy Loix, Piero Liatti and Kenneth Eriksson in the process. In the semi-finals, the Australian got the chance to drive a Ford Escort WRCar and a Celica GT-Four, but only just failed to reach the final showdown, finishing just behind Armin Schwarz, Jarmo Kytolehto and Gustavo Trelles. “It was a pity, because we only got a lap in each car, but I had a ball,” Bates enthused. ‘The fact that I’d spent the whole year in a left-hand drive car made a lot of difference. I was very happy with how I per formed.” For 1998, Bates again plans to contest the Australian Rally Championship, along with the Rally of New Zealand and the possibility of a European round of the World. Championship.

—I

BEAUMONT WINS

With just 0.09 of a second covering first and second places, Australian Jeff Beaumont and co-dri ver Rod Anders scored the narrowest of wins in the 1997 Falken-MotuI Rally of Singapore. The event was held in the tarmac car parks surrounding Singapore’s National Stadium on November 22-23. Driving his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 4, the Australian battled intensely with local driver Ringo Chong in a Subaru Impreza WRX. After the two night stages, Chong was 2.5 sec onds in front and held an identical lead at the Spnday lunch break after six stages. But Beaumont fought back, setting three fastest times in the four afternoon stages to eventually claim victory by less than one tenth of a second. The teams’ award went to the Falken Mitsubishi Team of Beaumont and Malaysians Jimmy Low (Lancer Evo 4) and Tommy Lee (Lancer Evo 2). Beaumont also clinched the 1997 Singapore Drivers’ Championship from team mate Bill Ng and veteran William Lyou. Results 1. J. Beaumont/R. Anders, 988.77 seconds; 2. R. Chong/C. Wee, 9^8.86s; 3. K. Kay Hong/J. Kaur, Subaru Impreza WRX, 1012.05s. 1997 Drivers’ Championship: 1. J. Beaumont 76 points, 2. Bill Ng 58, 3. William Lyou 52, 4. Rushdi Arshad 44.

: By Peter Whittj ;Editor-Australian RallyspoitItle'ws closely, with the brothers tying fastest Gemini on two of the six stages. CONDO 750 The have people formed of Condobolin a commit tee called Condobolin Sports Promotions to run the Condo 750 next year (for merly the Centre-trek 750). The event will use the same format as previous years, with sections for cars and motorcycles and will be held on the Anzac Day long weekend in April next year. The local community is behind the event 100% and believes it will continue to enjoy the same popularity and success.

BECKTON’S ’98 PLANS arty Beckton goes into 1998 full of confidence that the year will see suc cess on foreign shores. BROTHERS’SERIES Beckton, 25, has been driving in Australia since |]n what is a first since the IJinception of the series, 1992. With the exception of off-shore excursions to the brothers Ian and Peter Menzies, with their co-dri Rally of New Zealand, his first overseas event was the vers Melinda Hungerford Scottish International Rally and Stephen Kennedy, have in 1997. won their respective Gemini Fuelled by the close Series Championships in New South Wales and competition in the UK, Queensland. Beckton is now heading Both crews had nail-bit away from his home country to seek more opportunities. ing ends to the season, with “Rallying in Australia is each championship being decided in the final round. AUSSIES If4 MALAYSIA great.” he said. "It’s very In the Queensland competitive and challeng list 20 of 29 the dut started of an entry Championship, reliability ing, but I am aiming for the Only and consistency gave Peter World Championship and final round of the Malaysian the British Championship is Rally Championship on and Stephen the winning edge in their Handyform the obvious breeding Saturday, December 6. Among the entries were Gemini. ground.” Beckton extended his Aussies Fred Gocentas, co Two first placings and three seconds provided just stay in the UK after the driving for wild man Katsu Scottish Rally, in order to Taguchi in a Proton Wira enough points to pip arch meet the teams involved in 4WD; Tolley Challis, without rivals Stephen Shepheard the Evo 3 and Steve and Jamie MacFarlane in a the British Championship. Vanderbyl, but in an experi Unable to secure enough closely-fought season. The New South Wales sponsorship, Beckton has mental 6-speed sequential Wira 2WD; and Marty Series provided a three-way ironically moved closer to home- Malaysia-to bring his Beckton, with Eido Osawa tussle, with the Maxim British Rally Championship in a locally-built Perodua Technology machine of Ian Kancil (a small 4WD Turbo, hopes into focus. and Melinda finishing similar to a Subaru Vivio). “With the help of my co strongly in the final round in Karamjit Singh took an driver, Eido Osawa, I was Armidale last month, to take provided a drive in the Rally immediate lead, despite the victory and wrap up the Series. of Malaysia and our result drowning of the roads after Ian and Melinda domi was good enough to see us three stages. Challis dropped back, return for more rounds,” nated the Series throughout and finished the day in Beckton said. the year, but small mistakes “Asia has a wealth of sixth, while Beckton sur while leading rallies mid season proved to be costly, opportunities; the Asians vived the first day, unlike many other competitors causing them to lose their are really keen on motorwho slid off the road, or into sport, there’s a big car mar early season lead. hard objects, such as trees, ket and a booming industry. However, strong perfor mances in the final two “I hope to take advantage to end their rally! The second day saw the of that by being in the right rounds at Wagga and weather continue it’s down Armidale were sufficient to places at the right time to pour and even a late charge secure some testing and secure victory. work on career opportunities. from Taguchi would see him In what proved to be a fit “Funds permitting, I finish no higher than fifth, ting conclusion to the New would like to be back in the after starting the day last South Wales Series, Peter however, it would be enough travelled down to Armidale UK this year to give a cou to see that Taguchi/Gocentas ple of rallies a go.” to support Ian and Melinda Beckton aims to contest were Group N champions for in the final round last month. This was the first time Ian the Scottish Rally again, as 1997. Beckton would not see well as the Ulster Rail, a and Peter had competed the finish, but Challis would, tarmac round of the British against each other in many in fourth position. Rally Championship. years of rallying. But the winners cham While no Malaysian drives On this occasion, Ian pagne went to the 1997 are yet confirmed, it’s envis took victory over Peter and Malaysian Champions, stand-in co-driver Rod aged he will continue push Karamjit Singh/Allen Oh, Biggar - but, as expected, ing his tiny Perodua Kancil to who didn’t put a wheel wrong Geminis both sides of the the limit in some Malaysian on their way to victory. rounds. border competed very

Without doubt the 1998 Round Australia Rally will be one of the coun try’s most celebrated events. In the tradition of the famous Redex Trials of the 1950s, the -1979 Repco Reliability Trial and the more recent Mobil 1 Trial in 1995, the challenging five week, 18,000km event repre sents a combination of classic Australian adventure. intense travel and human conquest. Previous Round Australia Trials have been virtual non stop ‘drive until you drop’ ordeals, but the 1998 Round Australia Rally will take long distance driving events into a new era, combining the rigours of tough competi tion with the excitement of adventure, achievement and good fun. The growing pool of enthu siastic competitors is shaping up as one of the best rally registrations yet. yeteran drivers, including Peter Brock, will participate alongside seasoned 4WD competitors, as well as first timers - and all will be hell bent on proving their own personal best in a quest that will bring all kinds of people and vehicles together.

New era for'98 Round Australia Rally The event takes to the road in September, 1998, commenc ing and finishing in Adelaide and is the chance of a lifetime to be part of one of the world’s last'great experiences. Entries are now open for modern rally cars, historic

rally cars and 4WD recre ation vehicles. Details of the 1998 event are available from Round Australia Rally Pty Ltd, phone (03) 94279655, or fax (03)94291591. - PETER WHI'TTEN

nother Wori ChampionsKip for Ari Vatanen ,

Finland’s former World Rally Champion Ari Vatanen clinched victory in the four-day 2000km Marlboro UAE Desert Challenge, the final round of the World Cup for Cross Cotmtry Rallies and the Citroen gave Manufacturers’ award to add to his Drivers’ title. The legendary Finn con trolled proceedings in the

well-supported four-day thrash across the Arabian deserts between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, to beat team mate and rival Pierre Lartigue to the Drivers’ award, the latter never recovei’ing from the 10 min utes he lost in soft sand on the opening section. The event attracted 120 starts from 26 countries, including Sydney’s Bruce

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Garland in a works Holden Jackaroo. After problems on the first day. Garland recovered well to finish ninth overall and second in class. “Once we watched how the locals attacked the event, we were much better off and, aside from the first day, we could have finished much;, better,” Garland said. -PETER WHITTEN

2Januaiy1998

Taking it to the MAX Russell Ingall tests the developmental watercooled Rotax FR125 MAX engine By TONY GLYNN

Bathurst-winning V8 Supercar ace Russell Ingall has tested a new watercooled 125cc Rotax development engine in a Drew Price Engineering Arrow AX6 chassis at Melbourne’s Todd Road, Port Melbourne, complex and rated the package as an unqualified success. Complete with a clutch and an on-board electric starter, the Rotax FR125 MAX-powered DPE machine represents a new class of kart mooted to make its appearance on Australian race tracks as early as the 1999 season - and Ingall was mightily impressed. The Melbourne-based former kart racer has agreed to test the development package for his long standing compadres at DPE as fre quently as his busy tin top schedule with Larry Perkins’ all-conquering Castrol/Perkins Engineering Commodore team permits - and the good news for Ingall fans is that, n having derived so much satisfaction from the formative session, Russell now intends to compete seriously in as many meetings as possible dur ing 1998, though it is unlikely that his race mount will be his current test package. The watercooled 125cc reed valve two-stroke single pumps out 28 horsepower - virtually double the power output of the ubiquitous lOOcc Yamaha Clubman powerplant - and is happily acommodated in any of the existing chassis on the market worldwide by two clamps. Employing a counter-rotating balance shaft, the potent

TESTING TIMES... 1/5 Supercar Bathurst ace Russell Ingall puts the development Rotax FR125 MAX engine through its paces.(Thunder-Pics) Bombardier-Rotax corporation’s silky smooth and astonishingly quiet powerhouse has its roots in the World Championship-winning Aprilia Grand Prix motorcycle engines, though the rev limit is pegged at a conservative 13,800 rpm by a non-adjustable limiter to reportedly guarantee an almost unheard of life of between 40-50 hours between overhauls, which equates to a good three times the norm - and that’s a level of longevi-

ty already achieved while the engine is still in an early stage of it’s development. The extremely compact unit which sports an integrated water pump, integrated electric starter, Denso digital battery ignition, a 12 volt total loss system, an NGK BRIOEG plug, a pneumatic adjustable exhaust valve (power valve) and a conspicuous water/air radiator - employs a hard-plated light alloy cylinder with effectively

a square bore and stroke of 54mm by 54.5mm, respectively, the total swept volume equating to 124.8cc. A DeirOrto VHSB 34 slide carbu rettor is fed fuel via a Mikuni diaphragm pump, lubrication being catered for by the usual 50:1 oil in fuel system. Austrian-based BombardierRotax is currently engaged in a testing and development program for its innovative FR125 MAX engine which is currently focused

on a number of countries, including several outside Europe. Australia made the list and DPE - the largest producer of karts in this country and Australia’s Bridgestone importer - was approached by the multi-national company regarding a hands-on involvement in the refinement stage of the engine’s long-term preproduction development. George Turton, DPE’s General Manager, quickly embraced the project and, apart from a locatiii^, tag change to mount the impres sively large expansion chamber and muffler, found that the Rotax powerplant and its ancillaries did, in fact, drop straight into its fiercely competitive AX6 chassis. “We’re doing a lot of fairly public testing here and the company has certainly done a lot in Europe,” Turton explained. “Rotax wanted feedback from countries around the world that covered a broad sweep of condi tions. We certainly have a different set of conditions from Europe, as we have smaller tracks, higher tem peratures and so on, “We found that the carburettor jetting needs to be a lot different to suit this country and we had to go a bit richer with the motorcycle unit fitted - the factory has tried small er carburettors, but there was no noticeable benefit, so I believe the final choice will stay as it is.

FUEL SYSTEM ... Crankcase Mikuni diaphragm pump delivers 50:1 fuei/oil mix to 34mm Deii’Orto motorcycle slide carburettor very effectively and also eliminates fuel surge. (Thunder-Pics)

KARTING “Basically, we’re trying to put miles on the engines to see what happens and, as a result, we’ve asked for a couple of changes in the engine relating to the position of the power - the engine has a power valve exhaust, so you can change that slightly. “One good feature of this engine is the built-in rev limiter, as one of ' the problems with kart engines these days is that they are being rewed to 20,000 rpm and, at those rpm levels, they're obviously very highly stressed. “The Rotax engine has a hmit of 13,800 rpm, so that it doesn’t mat ter how many teeth you put on it, or what you do, you can’t make it exceed that limit. “The engine uses much of the existing lOOcc componentry, so it should cope very adequately with the lower limit,” Tui'ton added. “Watercooling means that the chances of seizing are much less, as water is seven times more efficient at removing heat than air, so you just don’t have the problems that exist with an air-cooled engine - as far as I can see, the likelihood of seizing is basically non-existent. “Given its 28 horsepower, the engine is going to be a bit harder on tyres, but in terms of engine life it’s another issue altogether. “Revving to 20,000 rpm, the lim ited life engines probably get about an hour out of a piston and around half a dozen hom’S before it’s com pletely due for a rebuild, whereas at more practical rpm levels we’ve already put eleven hours on the first Rotax test engine we’ve been running and it’s proven to be extremely quick everywhere. “After 20 or 30 hours, we’ll go back to the dyno and check the per formance, but at this stage I believe that we’ve certainly doubled, if not tripled, the life of such engines and the balance shaft produces a particularly smooth engine, where as a Yamaha is horrendous for vibration. “The pipe specification is set by Rotax and the noise level is signifi cantly lower than what we have at the moment - in fact, it’s years ahead of what we currently have. When we had the original proto type, it was too quiet, which made the kart look slow, but the current system now strikes the right bal ance. “’Weight of the complete FR125 MAX engine package is only 4-5kgs heavier than the usual set-up and, when you consider that you’ve got an electric start capability and a clutch, there is no down side to the Rotax system, bearing in mind

that, for the first time, a driver doesn’t need a crew to get him going - the Rotax package means complete independence when rac ing, or during private testing,” Tui'ton concluded. A kart racer since he was 12 years old and now justifiably regarded as one of Australia’s veiy best tom-ing car drivers, Ingall’s on-

“Back in my day, we ran naiTow track karts to get grip, but the chassis used to bind up going through a corner and actually drag the engine down. “Nowadays, the karts seem to run very freely through a corner and be very lively and, even though they have plenty of gilp, they don’t bog the engine down - they come

2January 1998 package is just not a problem and it’s quick and hassle-free,” Ingall stated. “When I started karting, there used to be clutches and they slipped all the time, the idea being that you kept the revs up all the way through the corner and the clutch gi’adually took up as you exited the corner.

INNOVATIVE... Ingall in his splendid Rotax-powered Arrow AX6 prior to Todd Road testing. (Thunder-Pics) track observations during a solid off the corners cleanly and get more bonding session in mid-December speed that way. confirmed the obvious worth of the “The style nowadays seems to be Rotax/AX6 combination. to use a lot of left foot braking to “Ever since I began competing at stop-, the kart in a straight line interstate meetings when I was approaching a corner and then get about 13 years old, George Turton on the power as soon as you start and “Doc” Pearson from Drew Price entering into the corner, carrying Engineering have been around with the throttle all the way through to Drew in one form or another and maintain plenty of Corner speed we’ve kept a good relationship ever that took a bit of getting used to,” since,” Ingall said. Ingall explained. “So, given that I wanted to do a ' “Compared to the Yamaha engine lot more karting this year [1997] as \ I’m used to, the mid-range power of an extra training exercise to keep the Rotax is t3^ical of a two-stroke my eye in and my reflexes up - I motorbike engine, in that it’s a litwas actually amazed to see how my tie flat initially, until all of a sudreflexes had slowed since I left den the huge power comes in and karts - when George rang me about the kart takes off. this new watercooled 125cc Rotax “The power flattens out a little at engine with an electric start and a the top, but still carries on nicely but it’s the mid-range power that’s clutch, it intrigued me and I decid most noticeable. ed to go out for a bit of a nm in it. “The benefit of the whole package “I hadn’t driven any of the cur would be best appreciated by some rent karts and they’re quite a bit one who just wants to go racing different from what I’ve been used easily - I mean, it has an electric to and, even on relatively hard com start, so you can just jump in and pound tyres, one thing that stood out was the extreme widths they go, as there’s no more push-starting run at the back axle, compared to worry about. l “For a joe-average karter, th e with what I was used to running.

ACCESSIBLE... FR125 MAX engine and watercoolingMncillaries are an imposing sight (Thunder-Pics)

“But the unit in the Rotax pack age locked up around 4,000 rphi as you left the pit and was like s!direct drive after that, never slipping this gives you the best of both worlds, as you have the clutch where you want it, say for a stand ing start and then it locks up and you have a direct drive. “At the Todd Road circuit, I was revving the motor to around 12,900-13,000 rpm, though the DPE boys tell me they’ve seen 13,200 rpm on it befoi-e.

“The mid-range power meant you could have a bit of a play with it and you could probably gear it lower to better utilise all that torque in the middle, but that’s more to do with simple experimen tation, more than anything. “The FR125 MAX motor feels pret ty flexible, which means you wouldn’t have to cany a himdred gear ratios to tiy and strike the usual workable compromise at any track in the coun try - I thinl!; you could probably only have half a dozen sprockets and do every track in "Victoria, as I don’t think it would be that cidtical on two teeth either way. “I think the motorcycle carburet tor fitted by the factory was appro priate, as there were ho surge prob lems to deal with, thanks to the built-in crankcase fuel pump sys tem, which is similar to that found on gearbox karts and works with out any problems at all,” Ingall said. “Water temperatures are very easily controlled with the radiator, as it’s easy to partially tape it up if such a move was deemed to be nec essary - the steering wheel-mount ed display had a temperature gauge, with the temperature stay ing around 55 degrees Celsius, so we weren’t likely to want to artifi cially alter the temperature at any stage during the test session, though the DPE boys would be hap pier if it was a bit hotter and around the 60 degrees mark, so they may angle the high-mounted radiator.a little to suit their tastes. “Overall, the Rotax FR125 MAX package proved to be a lot of fun,” Ingall enthused “and, if the class gets up and running for 1999, I can’t believe that it won’t quickly become one of the most popular choices for those competitors who want to be able to enjoy fast, extremely reliable, cost-effective and independent racing - it’s just a brilliant concept and I’m looking forward to some further involve ment in the ongoing project,”

'BY GEORGE... George Turton and compact Rotax.(Tony Glynn)

2J3nmrii1998

Mallala decides Aussie Title

staff topples Stockman in shock result Report by DIRK KLYNSMITH

Chris Staff sent shock waves thi'ough the estab lished 250cc field when he convincingly trounced longtime front runner Brian Stockman to take out the 250cc National Australian Championship at Mallala. The win sent the ripples venturing as far as the Formula E class, as that is where Staff is headed for 1998 and where he could very well pull off a remark able double in only his sec ond year in the class. The Queensland hot shoe took charge of the meeting after only the second session, after Stockman was just under two seconds quicker in the first. While Staffs 1.14.92 was a respectable time fqr a National, it was way off his lap record for the class he set at the SATCC meeting earli er in the yeai’. The weather played it’s part in that it was very humid and all the karts were running two seconds off the pace. As the afternoon progi-essed, however, so did his lap times and. in the final run of the day. he cracked a 1.10.69. If Staff was trying to make a psychological impact on Stockman, it worked, with Brian declaring early that he was already beaten, despite the fact that he had a narrow lead going into the meeting. “He is quick everywhere and has just so much grunt along the straight it’s not funny,” Stockman commented. While Staff was making all the noise, all but one of the incumbent National champi ons were laying down with barely a whimper.

RIGHT STAFF... Chris Staff(above), pictured at Phillip Island AGP in his Stockman MR2/Yamaha, decimated his 250cc National rivals. (Tony Glynn pic) Troy Byron in the 80cc and keep Charlie Lambous class had decided that, if he close to win the title, With Seibert out of the was going to defend his title successfully, then he would way, he had more chances of do so from the front and winning some heats and clinching the title early. while trying. Lambous, needing to win That spelt bad news for Mark Hansen and David and keep Baker behind him, Marks, the latter to fall from was not a relaxed man and come Sunday the pressure grace badly on Sunday. Gerrard Seibert made an was really going to tell. Another class with a tight early declaration in the Formula E title chase, set battle was lOOngb, with ting fastest time in the first Darren Formosa^looking at a session on Saturday with a slim chance to sneak by felrelatively slow time of low Victorian Ian Lennox. Formosa’s team boss and 1.08.33. He swapped places with l outgoing champion Les Ron Valentine in the second Prziovski was thereabouts, session, with the pair dip- but realised that it would be ping into the low 7s as they more beneficial to help Formosa in the title chance. should! After that, however, it went progressively bad for the likeable multiple champion and the end result was that he was not to even unload his kart on Sunday morning, following some terminal mechanical failures. Seibert’s demise was good news for David Baker. The New South Welshman needed only to finish well

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as he had done so at the two previous rounds of the cham pionship! All classes were similarly affected, with Formosa feel ing very confident, while Byron felt that it was in his grasp, paranoia being his major worry: “I’ve had some breakdowns at the club level lately, soTm praying today.” lOOngb Lennox, by virtue of a favourable draw for the first heat, was assured of his Australian title. Formosa drew a lowly 16th grid position and, on the opening lap while charging through the field, was forced onto the dirt avoiding a spin ning mid-fielder and left hung out to dry in last place. His drive back to ninth

Lennox started like a house on fire, while Formosa could only manage 1.30.13 in place after the required five the opening session, Dope testing might have tours was a valiant effort, but not enough and, really, been an option the next time out, as Formosa rocked the any hope he had from there time scorer with a sensation- required Lennox to run into al 1.26.78 at an average of trouble. V8 racer and Castrol 108kmh and was right on Cougar driver Kerryn *Gary Pegararo’s lap record Brewer made a good showing for the class. Lennox quietly tucked in to finish second, but there after her weekend soured behind, only 100th of a sec ond slower at 1.26.79! and, although she featured After that, the pair were in the top ten in every race, content to swap fastest laps, she was not a threat. Spurred onto greater although none got down that things, Darren was not going far again on Saturday. The 125cc title was to go home without asking declared after all the New the question and won the next two heats and the fif South Wales runners decided not to enter the decider, teen lap final in convincing fashion. Mcllveen deciding that per Lennox did what he had to haps the 26 point gap was do, finishing second on each too much to bridge. occasion, the other minor Consequently, Worrall ventured down to Adelaide, placings being shared around with Sam Zavaglia, but ran his 250cc National Prziovski, Mathew Ebel, instead. Thankfully, Sunday wasn’t John Sciarra and Andrew a repeat of Saturday’s hot Ebel. At the end of the day, and humid conditions. A heavy cloud cover and a though, the points went to Lennox on 76, Formosa 72, temperature in the mid Zavaglia 58, M Ebel 51 and ranges saw the teams rub their hands with glee, Brewer 49. Valentine declaring that his 80cc lap record could well go by Byron failed to win the the wayside. Certainly, David Baker first of the day’s four races; was set to achieve the feat. but, in the process of charg-

ing through the field, he set a new lap record and fin ished a mere six tenths off race winner Mark Hansen. Local 80cc stalwart Ian O’Hara held the fort for SA by running an excellent third and looked set to be the best of the rest behind the two title protagonists, until he fell off at Bridgestone in the 15 lap final. Byron was making it so easy up front that most peo ple were looking further back in the field at runners Malcolm Cancian, John Goodacre and Craig Dontas, all of whom made good chal lenges for the minor placings. David Marks, who went into the meeting with second place in the Championship, went slipping back to fourth, both Hansen and Cancian overtaking his score of 156 points - it was a bitter pill to swallow! The 80cc class, as a matter of record, was one of the largest seen for some time and made up for lack of num bers elsewhere. 250cc National As discussed earlier. Staff decimated his rivals. It was not even close, save for the starts of each of the races. Stockman didn’t, however, have the joy of taking second spot easily. He was hounded by Geoff Wood for the most part and the ADE of David Holdforth, although on the tight bumpy layout of Mallala the ADE was a real handful and looked more at home on a basketball court! Roger Tapper, who had a slim chance of being the Australian champ, had a miserable weekend and spent the third heat and the final touring around to get enough points to keep third a broken exhaust was the culprit. Geo Caon subbed for a sick Paul Snaith and did well to finish sixth outright, while Worrall’s efforts resulted in

seventh at the end of the day’s racing. Geoff Wood followed Staff and Stockman into third place and Holdforth bounced around for fourth. Formula E The honours on the day were shared around over the four races. Greg Slattery stepped up from the National class and took a surprised chequer in the first heat, after Lambous and Baker contrived to take each other out on the second last corner. The win set up a good day for the Zip Eagle runner, which would see him finish an eventual second outright. Valentine was out on turn 1 with a broken stub axle, while Jason Maros and Ralph Rupprecht made it a South Australian trifecta. Both Baker and Lambous got their machines restarted and finished seventh and eighth, respectively, the alter cation making Lambous’s chances look very slim indeed. Spurred on by the earlier race incident, Lambous charged to a moral victory in the second heat to win by six seconds and, in doing so, he set a new lap record of 1.06.41. Baker finished second, while also running under the old lap record with a 1.06.63. The next best was Valentine on 1.07.01, but he was down in sixth spot. Slattery took third, ahead of Maros and Raymond Ross. Baker went on to win the next two races, ensuring that he would be wearing the cov eted #1 in 1998. Second on the day went to Slattery, while third went to Jason Maros and Valentine was fourth. Valentine almost sneaked into third place in the cham pionship, but a costly spin in the second race while leading cost him valuable ground and meant that he finished two points behind Seibert.

KARTING

2Jm3iyJ998

Creek Kart KARTING Raceway a stunner! ^'STiERMKREElia Kl I N T E R N A T i O N aTsSS

The long-awaited Eastern Creek International Kart Raceway has finally been opened. Costing $3.5 million and taking nearly a year to build, the Eastern Creek site ran its first race meeting earlier this month with a strong turnout of over 150 barters. Australian and international champions Ryan Briscoe, running a 125cc kart, Michael Caruso, Nick Agland and Troy Hunt offidally opened the circuit, crashing through the specially constructed sign in a made for television display. The official launch was attended by local government members and the media, with a celebrity race including several sports stars such as rugby league’s Brad Fittler and Jack Elsegood and even some motor racing identities, including Mai Rose and Peter Doulman. With 27 different course configurations, varying in length from 300 to 1700

metres, the circuit was built for the corporate hire karts, while Sydney Kart Club wiU be switching from Oran Park to Eastern Creek for its club days and events, Other clubs will also be

KARTING

#2 RYAN BRISCOE, #1 Michael Caruso, #55 Nick Agland and #20 Troy Hunt crash through to open the circuit (Krause pic)

permitted to run meetings there, while it is expected that the Oceania champi onships will be held at Eastern Creek in November, although Managing Director Gary Holt has stated that his organisation will not be involved in promoting or organising race meetings. He has, however, stated that he has an interest in holding the 2000 World Karting Championships. -EDWARD KRAUSE AMAZING ... Eastern Creek International Kart Raceway is on a breathtaking scale and incorporates 27 differ ent circuit layouts. Situated right alongside Sydney’s major western artery, the colossal venue could not be better sited. (Krause pic)

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INDUSTRY

2Jmmiy 1998

Earl’s Performance Products has moved! Earl’s, which was formerly located on Parramatta Road, Auburn, in Sydney, as of December 15, is now located at 6872 Derby Street, Silverwater, on the comer of Stanley Street. While the address may have changed, Earl’s phone and fax numbers remain the same as before; (02) 9748 6011 - phone, (02)9748 6241 -fax. The entrance to the new premis es, which is a dark brown building, is on Derby Street, with plen ty of parking available. The new Brisbane office of HPC High Performance Coatings is now open at Lot 45 Strathwyn Street, Brendale.

just $100 per year, the exclusive membership including a Mark Webber limited edition item, with certificate of authenticity. For fm-ther details, or an appli cation form, contact the David Campese Management Group at; Suite 4, 870 Princes Hwy', Gordon, NSW 2072. The phone number is: (02) 9499 4911; fax (02) 9499 4306; Email Dcampo@msn.com Melbourne The 1998 International Motor Show is lining up to be one with something for everyone. From the exotic sports cars coming from Ferrari and Lamborghini, to new four-wheel drives and hybrid cars, the show is sure to be a success. There is added value for patrons at next year,s show, with the nor mal adult entry ticket allowing the holder to gain special dis counts to Madame Tussaud’s exhibition, meal offers at a range of Southgate restaurants, fi-ee drinks and a discount on river cruises all are included in the string of bonuses.

The Queensland franchise of _ Also in the pipeline is a plan for HPC is an independently-owned 'a special Motorsport Day at the and operated facility, offer all of show, showcasing all aspects of the services for which HPC has the sport from circuit racing, rally become renowmed. ing, drag I’acing and off-roading. HPC’s high performance coatRace teams will have merchanings are used by racing profession- dise available to the public, with a als worldwide, including drag rac- number of top drivers amd teams ing legend Eddie Hill, AUSCAR available to sign autographs. Champion Terry Wyhoon and three-time Australian Sprintcar .Those keen on model cars will Champion Gairy Brazier. be pleased to know that For infonnation on the range of Speedworld Collectables have high performance coatings HPC announced that they now have offers, including coatings for Action Die Cast Drag Racing exhaust systems, suspension, and NASCAR models availbralce and engine components, you able, can call Gary LaBudda at HPC Models in the range include Queensland on;(07) 3881 0855, or those of American icons Dale Craig at HPC Victoria on: (03) Earnhardt, Kenny Bernstein and 5662 4719, Don Prudhomme, with a strictly limited number of the fabulous With Mark Webber signing black John Force “Driver of the with Mercedes-Benz, it’s a Year” Mustangs(below) also availgreat time to make sure you able. Each car is packaged individbecome a member of the ually and can be ordered in 1/64 Official Mark Webber Fan and the larger 1/24 scale. Club. For further information, write The standard membership is to: Speedworld Collectables, PO just $25 per year and that Box 340, Springwood, NSW 2777. includes a welletter come from Mark, certificate, quarterly newsletters and a bunch of other stuffl There are 200 also Foundation Memberships available at

Gerhard Berger Continued from Page 15 14-year-career in top-class motor racing shown at the launch of his new book, Berger had to fight back the tears. “I’m very touched by it,” he said of the film, which begins with his 1985 Formula One debut in an Arrows-BMW and ends with his last race in Jerez in a BenettonRenault. The laid-back Austrian, last of the Formula 1 playboys, dashed hopes of any kiss-and-tell revelations. “All the beautiful girls in the film are not mentioned in the book.” The book, which will be translated into several languages, was intended primarily to describe the “sensuality” of Formula 1 racing and give readers an insight into his life. “Throughout my whole career people have bombarded me with questions which I

Champion go for Gold World’s most advanced spark plug

Champion have won more than 345 Grand Prix, over five times more than any of its rivals and, with the dependable, new Champion Gold, the company is more than ready to meet any chal lenge. Champion Gold is available fi-om Champion stockists nationally in vehicle specific packs of four and SIX.

GOING FOR GOLD ... The new Champion Gold, left, and one of the Champion Gold hostesses introducing the new plug to the market(below). Champion Spark Plugs have released what they claim to be the world’s most advahced spark plug - the new Champion Gold. The new Champion Gold spark plug features a V-tip copper core ground electrode, for more power, better fuel economy and reduced emission. In addition. Champion Gold plugs dissipate heat 10 times faster than conventional spark plugs. Champion say the Gold plus, n with its massive copper core centre electrode, provides 120 percent the spark area of'ordinary plugs for its perfomiance improvement. The company has begun an intensive advertising campaign to introduce the plug to the Australian market, along With product hostesses who are introduc ing the plugs to the trade with vis its to workshops around the country. Champion is a name synonymous with motoring and motor racing, with most of the world’s motor manufacturers recommending their products, including such famous names as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz and Aston Martin.

New pushrods to Crow about

Crow Cams, who have always catered to the needs of perfor mance race engine builders with a huge range of hardened chrome moly pushrods, have just released a new, one-piece forged-end race pushrod, suit able for the most highly stressed applications. Traditional pushrods have sepa rate ends that work loose in extreme conditions, while the new

either couldn’t or didn’t want to answer,” he said. “There are certain stories which can only be told afterwards.” What Berger will be doing next year still remains a mystery, “i always said i would not accept any offers until the middle of 1998 and I am sticking to that plan,” he said, adding he had received a few offers to work as a consul tant, including one from the Swiss-based Sauber team. “I need to relax for a while. I am not even interested in what is going on in Formula One at the moment. I don’t know who’s clocking the fastest time during training ses sions.” Instead, Berger will be dedicating his time to his two young daughters, Sarah and Heidi, from his recent marriage to Ana. He also has a teenage daughter, Christina, from a previous relationship. Berger said 1997 had been the most diffi cult year in his career after sinus surgery which kept him off the track at the Canadian, French and British races.

Crow race design has the ends forged from the original shaft to form a seamless end that is extremely strong and resistant to wear and breakage. The shaft is made of heavy duty .080” thou wall chrome-moly tubing that is hardened to accept guide plates and finished in distinctive black, with the pushrod length and Crow logo laser etched for easy identification.

But the biggest blow came in July when his father Johann was killed when his pri vate jet crashed in Austria. The tragedy came only a week before Berger returned to the circuit to win the German Grand Prix. “That victory was the most important in my career as it came in the most poignant moment of my life,” he said. “My father’s death affected me more than anyone can imagine. It was important for me to describe this moment in my book.” Another long chapter deals with Berger’s close friendship with the late triple world champion Ayrton Senna, who was his team mate for two years. The tragic deaths of his compatriot Roland Ratzenberger during practice for the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix in Imola and Senna during the race itself led Berger to seriously consider retirement. “His (Senna’s) death was as if the sun had fallen out of the sky,” an emotional Berger said at the time. Senna’s death proved more horrific than his own crash in 1989 during his second

The Race Forged pushrods are available in a wide range of lengths off the shelf, while unusual length pushrods can still be made to order ' with Crow’s custom make seiwice. The new Crow Race Forged pushrods are available from good speed shops, engine builders and parts stores throughout Australia and New Zealand. For more infor mation, contact Crow Cams on:(03) 9357 0469 or fax (03)9357 0001.

spell with Ferrari. Like Senna, Berger also lost control of his car in the Tamburello corner and smashed into the same concrete wall at high speed. Unlike the Brazilian, his car immediately burst into fiames. “i was lucky I only suffered burns to my hands. It could have been a lot worse,” he said. n instead of retiring in 1994, Berger revived the Grand Prix Drivers' Association together with German world champion Michael Schumacher and lobbied for further safety measures. Although Berger failed to win the world title and was never even runner-up in a championship battle, he won 10 races and was one of the sport’s most popular figures for over a decade. But the man who dedicated most of his life to motor racing admits the demanding sport had left traces of fatigue. “I am very tired and exhausted. It’s nec essary for me to live without the sport for a while,” he said. n

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Nissan 300ZX twin turbo GT Production car. Freshly rebuilt engine. Chrome moly cage. Coilover Koni suspension. Adjustable front end. Fleaps of potential, ready to race in 1998. $30,000ono. Ph:02 4977 1881 or 0413 871 514. 11B Mazda RX7 Series 1, complete car less motor and trans. Car disassenibled, good cond, 4.4 ratio locked diff with double row bearings. $2,200. Ph:0419 334 786. ns 777£‘

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Gemini Coupe, front runner in Qld series. Many fastest laps and always in top four. Ready to win 1998 series. Plenty spares. Serious offers around $5,500. Ph: Craig 07 3350 1156 or 014

VS Commodore AUSCAR, immaculate. Complete roller, less engine. Yellow light, fire bomb,fuel cell and churn, harness, complete Autometer instrument panel, turbo brakes and M21 gearbox, new gears and bearings in diff, C, R and P cage. All new panels, needs engine and minor assembly. Asking $15,000. Ph:018 176 420. m Escort Twin Cam, 1970, complete less g/box. Rust free, new duco, new valves, pistons, manifold, new front seats. Crash pad round h/lamp needs assembly. Ideal Targa Flistoric. $8,700. Ph:08 8278 5988 evenings. 118 Datsun 1600 Sports Sedan, unfinished project, full tubular frame, lift-off body, Spax shocks, A-arm front end. Set-up for 13B rotary. Ffeaps of spares. $2,500. Ph: 0419 334 786. Two 74 HQ Sedans, 1 running, registered 4 speed rranual + 1 spare part car, auto. Together $1,700. Ph: 03 9699 8461 and leave a message, ns Ford EF Club Car. Roll cage, never raced, painted inside and out, new front end and brakes. Professional cage, disc brake 9" 31 spline. New seat, gauges etc. $10,000. Ph: 0755 463526 or 018 071 925. ns Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4 Gp N. Built March 1997 for inter national competition. Full spec list can be supplied to genuinely interested persons. Offered for sale with or without comprehen sive spares package. Ph: David 08 9444 3833. -ia

Chevrolet Camaro Z28 1995, and Pontiac Formula Firebird V8. Both with 350 Chev LT1 and 4 speed auto, twin air bags, ABS, RFID complianced. $59,900 each. Ph: 03 9772 9907. ..7

Mustang Sports Sedan, 351 ci, top 10 finisher Indycar and O'Brien Series. Complete with spares or will separate. Price neg, around $29,000. Ph:047 821145(BH) 117 R«K YOOUC

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Jaguar E-Type Coupe, Marque Sports. New 325 bhp engine, Webers, extractors, triple plate clutch, AP calipers, etc. Full respray, looks great! Eastern Creek 1:40 secs. $ 36,000. Ph:024990 1699 or 024998 7345(H) AUSCAR Sportsman #50, Falcon XE, one season old, never bent, frest|9:5 motor and paint. Urgent sale moving OS. $13,500 ONO. Ph:03 9874 2566 or 019142 929. 117

ai Sports Sedan Escort, Trent Young offers for sale MK1 Escort, mid mount 4age 20 valve 210hp, 5 spd gearbox, Koni shocks, Injec management system, very fasi and reliable. Quick sale. $12,000 or with covered tandem trailer $15,000. Ph: 0266283510. nr Toyota Levin, ex-group C-touring car. Done 3 Bathursts and many touring car championships as works car. Not currently running, includes 2TG, 5 speed g'box, full roll acge, rough body, can be restored. $2000. Ph: Bryan on 02 9844 5232(BH)or 02 9979 8734(AH) 11? »-■

061 899. 118

Mini Cooper 1380cc, 1964 Club Car. Championship-win ning car, Lakeside 1997. New engine or sell engines. 1:03.47 Lakeside(Bob Paige). $13,000. Ph:Tim 075444 5444. lie Porsche 993 RSCS, Fully rebuilt for 1998 season, eligible for GT-Production and Class A Porsche Cup. Double adjustable shock absorbers, race ready, immaculate. $158,000. Ph: 02 9450 2100or0418229 900(AH) n? HQ racer Thunderdome spec, needs fuel tank, VGC body straight, motor good, some artwork done. $3000 ono. Ph: 03 9310 8926. Ask for Brian, n? Lotus Cortina, Group N or Targa car class winner. Aluminium roll cage, race seat and harness, Minilites/Hoosiers, spare gear box and parts. Immaculate showroom condition. Only $25,000. Ph:Tino 018577 583 or 03 5821 4014 (AH). 118 RS20OO 4 door, unfinished project, 99% rust-free. Roll cage, LSD, spare engines, gearboxes, suspension etc. Newly trimmed seats, minor paint and reassembly required. Ideal Club Carcar. $5,800ono. Ph: 07 3888 0081 (AH). 118

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Torana GTR Club Car Group 2E, log book, 285 bhp Lewis motor, triple Webers, fully sorted, ready to race. $9990. Ph: 08 8276 1933 or 08 8333 0883 (AH) n?

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Escort Sports Sedan, 4.11 alloy head Ford, programmable EFI, single rail 4-speed, Hilux diff, 15 x 10 Hoosiers, log book, some spares, on a reg. trailer. $5500 ph 02 4973 1605. 116

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Healey 1957 BN4 factory hardtop, 12 port head 3000, new wide chrome wires, tyres, leather, historic regularity compe tition only. Best presented car at Lakeside Histories. $42,000. Ph: 02 6662 1480 or 02 6663 3232, 117

2 X Vauxhall Cavaliers, 1995 Super Tourers, with extensive spares (incl. engine) $80,000 ea plus spares or $200,000 the lot (export prices) Ph Rob Tweedie 018162 762. 117 Cortina GT Group NB, Queensland's fastest 4 door GT, under 1600 NB Championship winning car. As new, Dunlop racing rubber, new Garry Brown engine, 2 meetings old. Immaculate condition, numerous spares. $10,500 ono. Ph: John Sorraghan 07 3269 0770. 117

HQ race car, The Boral car, one of the best presented in the class. 1996 NSW Champs - 4th, Div 1 Champ NSW RRC, lap record Oran Park. Fresh C&B engine, spares, wets. Ring Dave Cameron (015) 492 302 or (02) 4754 2666. ns Mazda RX7 Series 3, Race or rally car. Winner, 96 and 97 ACT Rally Chaps. Fastest 2WD in Australia. 10 events old, cost $30K plus. 18 point cage, white two pack ins and out. Every mod imaginable, $13,500. Ph (018) 241 641. lie

continued over page

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Torana LJ GTR XU1 (verified by Holden), red/black interior, alarm immobiliser, globe wheels, meticulously main tained, recent new carpet, front brakes, reluctant sale. $10,500 ONO. Ph: 02 4751 2618 n?

Gemini Club Car, 13B extended port, side draught DelOrto, Racing Heat manifold, new Sparco 14 x 6.5 race wheels, alu minium drop. tank. Car in excellent condition. $5,500. Ph: 0419 334 786. lie' Mitsubishi Lancer Evo II, built by Rallytech 1995, exNomura, 3rd Group N 1995 ARC, 2nd 0/r Rally of Canberra 1995. Spares kit. $35,000 as is, or $38,000 with new motor. Ph: 0418104 853 or 03 5248 5518 (AH), ns

Sports Sedan, under 2 litre Mkl Escort, 5 speed Haltech, reli able complete car with many spares. $9000. Ph: Don, 07 5462 2415. 117

Peugeot 205GTI 92, reg 7/98. Group N factory everything. CAMS log book etc. Quick laps Eastern Creek 1:59. Heaps of spares. $24,000ono. Ph: Peter Ross 02 9240 9995 or 0414 251

Commodore Cup car, new 1996, race winning, lightest built. Immaculate 100% finishing record. Tate engine, all the best components, no big crashes, 8 wheels and various spares. If you want to win this is the oar for you. $35,000. Ph Andrew Mclnnes0411 530555 117 Subaru RS turbo rally car. Full Grp N spec. Genuine lega cy RSR. Tidy car with good history. Spares package included. 555RSR. $19,950. All offers considered. Ph 08 8384 4112 bhps 8322 3536 ah or 0411 176 160 n?

CATEGORY; Cars:

□ Sedans □ Open Wheelers

General: □ Parts

□ Engines □ Trailers

□ Speedway □ Drag □ Wanted

□ Photographs □ Other

2Jawaiy W8 HQ race car, Thunderdome specs, all the best equip ment, many spares. Ph/fax (02)6253 1351. 116 HQ race car, with spares, ready to race. Very good condition, new suspension. Test drive/ride available Dec 13. Assiatnce given to new owner. $6000 Ph Mark 0417 461 421. rs HQ race car New C&B engine. Handmade extractors exhaust. Brand new suspension and bushes. Spare engine. Load of panels. Raced once since complete fershen up. $8500 ono. Ph 02 4942 6233 bh 116

A Mod Commodore, Car #1. New engine (runs methanol), new tyres and spares, never damaged. Quicksteer and pwr steer, adj suspension, r/rockers. Trailer if required. Car $8500, trailer $1950, both $9500. (03) 9305 6304,0.417 330 954. ne Mod Production Commodore, Konis, Char-lyn steer ing, 13 tyres on rims. 202 motor on methanol, roller rock ers, fabricated front end. Spare panels, one pice front, spares incl. $7800 ono.Ph (08)8284 7736 after 6pm. 115 Morris Minor, Series I! (1955). Full race car. Too many extras to mention or comes with Mazda 1300 body. $6000 Ph (02) 9630 7976 or (0416) 250 655. 15

Open Wheelers Reynard 923 F2, Golf engine, immaculate. Three races only, huge spares package, ratios, wings, wish bones, floors etc. Trailer. For information, inventory. Phone 02 4963 4254 (AH). 18 Excell Kart, blueprinted Yamaha KT100S. Includes trolley, stand, helmet, gloves, kart cover and nose cone. Heaps of spares, done very little work. Excellent condition. Must sell. $2,500. Ph: 03 5174 0196. i.s Formula Ford, Vector MG95, fully developed. 3 way adjustable shocks, low mileage, priced to sell. $25,000. Ph: Wayne Stoddart 02 4942 6177 117 Formula Ford Van Diemen RF94-95,'brand new Speedtech engine, 20 ratios, 2 sets wheels lyres, stands quicklifts, spares, excellent condition $35,000. Will consider rolling chassis. Ph: 02 9642 1077 bh or 046 267 102 ah 117

Speedway k.

Sports Sedan, Fresh 10AJ Port 48mm Weber, 5-sp, 4.4 locked diff. Full cage, new harness, 11 in discs, 4spot fronts & 2-spot rears. Ready to race $6900, offers considered.(018)082 003 or(08)8250 9286 116 Ford Sierra, 2.3L turbo. Exc cond, electric windows, mirrors, sunroof. Eurovox sound. Momo steering wheels. 15 X 7 CSA wheels. $15,900 neg. (02) 9579 6382. (015) 468 166. H6

AUSCAR VP, 360hp 315 motor, Super T10 box, Harrop rose jointed front end. 4-sp calipers, adj Biistein susp.Pi equipment, fuel churn, rattle guns and line, radios, scan ners, dent puller, steel chest. Spares include axles, susp, springs, shocks, body parts, too many to mention. Help given first meetings. $25,000. James (03) 9563 7072 or (015)800 342. .16

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H Modified Production 3 litre VK Commodore, top line competitor, class winner. Best oing, no expense spared. Race ready, too much to list. $9,000. Ph: Darren 03 5444 1400 (BH), 03 5447 2132(AH), ne

Commodore Modified Production, fresh good HP engine, CS Garble, bias pedals, winner ACT pointscore last season. All good gear. $7,500 ono. Trailer dual axle mags, electric brakes, tyre rack. $2,500 ono. Ph 0411 513

FIDO, 302 auto, AC, mag. Pink slip, $3600 ono. 02 6881 8879. 116

Corolla RV Seca, 1995. Travelled only 500km, brand new. 1.8L. auto, Pwr Stg, Air, tinted windows, black 14in Teflex wheels. Factory CD player, immobiliser and alarm. White duco, never abused, $23,000 ONO. Ph (03) 9848 8001. .16

XF Falcon Modified Production, Methanol quick steer, 9" diff, 6" Manley rods, forged pistons, fresh motor and fibreglass with spares. $9000. Ph Mick 02 6953 0193 bh or 014 041 748 ah nr

1993 Swift rolling chassis, new stainless floor, 7 sets of springs, 2 sets of wheels, spare nosebox, many other spares. Ex Mark Noske car, 2nd in SA Championship, winner at Bathurst in 1996 and AGP supports. $17,900 neg. Ph: Ben 0414 789 790 or 03 9631 3156. 17

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XF Falcon Super Street Sedan, racing season 1 year, big hp motor, 4 meetings old, spare wheels and tyres, gearboxes. Ready to race. $4,500ono. Ph: 07 786 1356(AH)07 786 1622(BH). IIS Commodore, Mod production. Fresh, good HP engine. CS carbie, bias pedals. Won ACT pointscore last season, all good gear. $7500. Trailer, dual axle, mags, electric brakes, tyre rack. $2500 ono. Ph 0411 513 096. 116

Toyota MR2 Targa, Ideal low cost tarmac rally car or club racer. Fast, reliable (100 percent finishing record) Current NSW rego and CAMS log book. Realistic neg price or will accept part or full sponsorship in trade.Peter Whittaker(07)5599 5763 or fax (07)5536 2497

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Nota Fang (Type IV). Classic Australian sports car. Everything either new or restored, rare example in near concourse condition. Current NSW registration and possi ble Historic racing eligibility. Must sell. $15,000. Ph: 0411 083 536 or(AH)02 9558 5484. lie

Drag Raciiig .‘Si mT

'i Mustang 1996 Coupe SSIA, 351 Boss, C-4 auto, 35 spline, full spool 9" diff. Runs ll.Oet, 120mph. Call for more specs, sell complete or less motor and trans. $32,000, Ph: 02 9683 6351 or 018 414 672. 118

Lola T360 F/Atlantic, V & H category with good his tory. Totally rebuilt, ready to race. Fresh Weissner BDD Cosworth and FT 200 'box. Price neg but must be sold, opportunity to own rare and extremely competitive car. Bob Sanderson (02) 9953 9469. ..6 Formula Vee NG Elfin. Proven front runner, Elliott pre pared (zero miles on new motor) too much to list. Top car. $9000. Ph 03 9598 7558 ah or 03 9521 0888 ns Kart, PRD rolling chassis with all spares and acces sories. Ready to race, third Vic and second NSW state titles. $2000 Ph 07 3888 4646 bh. 16 Van Diemen RF95, like Garth Tander's. Only raced in Old state series. Excell condition, blueprinted g'box, man/spares, assistance given as needed. Rolling chassis $32,000 or with fresh engine $37,500. Henk Woelders 0411 70 6666 or Jon Woelders (0412) 24 Superkart, Anderson-Mirage, ful l Kelgale options. Rack and pinion steering, 256 Rotax, cassette gear box. Merlin pipes, TMX carbies, many spares. $16,500. Garry Haywood (AH) 03 9795 9271,(BH) 03 9401 3822. 116

Rodney Forbes’ RF92 Van Diemen complete, 1997 Bathurst winner, 1997 NSW State Championship winner, 2 engines, trailer, 15 gear ratios, 2 sets of spare rims, plus spares and lots of data logging setup info. Meticulously maintained and race ready. POA. Ph 02 9948 6318 ah or 0412 275 767. nr Greg Ritter’s RF94 Van Diemen, new '95 body work, new stainless floor, 2 meetings since full rebuild, spares include: set of wheels, 3 sets of good tyres, bodywork, shockers, springs, sway bars, suspension parts, radiator and lots more. Complete package with engine $35,000. Less engine and spares $28,000 ONO. Ph: Graham or Greg on 03 9870 6233. 117 Kart, Monaco GP rolling chassis. Complete less engine and pipe. Race winning condition in excellent condition. $1000 ONO. Ph: 0418 120 758. 117

^ Falcon VS ^\Commodore .^..1

AC Cobra replica, RMC 4/89. 302, t/loader, Jaguar diff (3.54:1). LSD, Jag brakes, black intyerior, Smiths gauges on blue two pack Glasuit paint. Bilsteins, soft top, original mirrors, badges, fuel cap. $55,000 (07)3261 2246 AH.ne

Superkart, Peter Worrall's 125cc Australian Championship winning kart, ‘97 Stockman Chassis with full bodywork, 'B' kit '94 RSI25 engine, just rebuilt with new crank, mains, etc. $10,500. Ph: 02 9824 7350. 117

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Cortina TE Modified Production, 250 x-flow, 4-sp, methanol. Konis, fully adj suspension, 15 in wheels, plenty of spares, ready to race. POA Ph (03)59 96 2263, (0419) 388 192. ns

Datsun 1200 Coupe, Works copy rally car. Buper close 5-speed, end-to-end alloy cage, HD loom. 10 wheels. strong club car. $3500 ONO (0418)453 444. 115

Van Diemen RF87, ready-to-race, '89 bodywork, fresh engine, heaps of spares (suspension, panels, ratios) plus jigs and moulds. Excellent condition $16,000. Phone Brett Francis. Ph: 07 3807 0527 (BH) or 07 3208 8095 (AH). 17 Van Diemen RF93, completely rebuilt, three meet ings ago. Brand new rose joints, bearings, seals, wiring loom, nuts and bolts, and bodywork through out. Suspension has been recoated. Car is immacu late. $A28,000. Ph (NZ)0 3348 8818. 17

Formula Vee NG Elfin. Brand new Elliott Bond motor (zero miles), hi flow manifold, Bilsteins all round, Aeroquip lines, new panels and paint. All top equip ment, proven record (94 NSW Champion) very quick in novice's hands. Lots of spares, immac cond. $10,500ono. Ph:(0417) 582 008. 16

Commodore AUSCAR New car. Never raced. Some assistance avail able. Ph 03 9553 1384. Commodore VS AUSCAR. Immaculate. Complete roller less engine. Yellow light, fire bomb, fuel cell and churn, harness, complete Autometer instrument panel, turbo brakes & M21 gearbox, new

^ gears and bearings in diff, CR&P cage. Ail new panels. Needs engine and minor assembly. Asking $15,000. Ph 018 176 420 I Commodore VN National Car with VR front 80% race ready with full fire system (3 points), remote oil systems, 2 sets of Auscar wheels, M and speed nuts, fule churn and many more spares. $25,000 ono. Ph Justin 03 9727 1725 or 018 389 695 EF Ford Falcon AUSCAR. Finished 2nd in 1996 ch'ship. Front runner car comes complete with John Sidney built Ford Windsor. Four-bolt in total prize money & Strathfield National Cars motorsport block, dart, 2 alloy heads, Ferraro rods, JE pistons, Blake contingency prizes Super Series over 6 Rounds Holley carb. Ediebrock manifold motor produces 4/5 3HP. Just fresh 1st prize for each round $10,000 ened and has not run since. Dyno sheet available. Sachs 9" clutch, r ^ minimum weight flywheel, blueprinted super T-10 gearbox, Harrop Prize money for all starters Channel 10 National television for all rounds ten j uprights, hub front and rear brakes, stabiliser bar. Fully adjustable suspension front and rear. Biistein shocks. Car is metallic gunmetal Over 20 cars available for sale. grey, has all the latest and best parts on it and is capable of running Contact Alison Brewer on 03 9217 8831 consistent 31 sec laps. Comes with all set up infomration. Good You could be racing at Round 3- December 27 weight distribution and tyre wear. $35,000. Ph Rodney Jane 0418 [jMBHBlBBOHl] at the Goodyear Thunderdome 556 467, 03 9886 5074 ah or fax 03 9267 0880. Contingency Sponsor Program 1997/1998 Falcon XR-8 National Car. Lightweight shell. All Harrop components. Award Sponsor aippmtt® Fresh top horsepower MTR with dyno sheets. A genuine top 3 car. Rt^ofthe^e^ Strathfield National Cars Travetodgs Rem airfare and five ni&itsacxxinYWdatnn for two pe^ Spares and transporter available. $33,500. Ph Mark Seaton 018 st^ng at either the Kuala LumparPaiUroyalorPemangParhroyal valued at $5,500to the winner ofeach round at the Goodyear 572 551. Thunderdome. Falcon ex-Ted Robinson Ford. Windsor JE pistons. Sachs 9" clutch, OewChlefoflheYear SIralhtieUNaliomICars Cooper tools Ptoduawlueria $600 for StratimeldNaOonal Car winners. Tats! value for seasotr $3600. super T-10 g/box, Harrop upright, hubs and brakes, fully adjustable Best Presented Tcaa StrathfeklNatjonalCais RewiJtion Product valued at $400 to the winner. Stiattfjrld National Cars Champion Product valued at $500for6rounds Total value forseason Herd Charger suspension, Biistein shocks, set up information and spares. ^ $3000 $29,000. Ph 02 4937 3333. 3/4 Race Leailer Strathfield National Cars Travetodge One n^tsaccarmxlationindudine dinner and breakfast for two people for the winner ofeachspectfiedcalegoty. Valued at $225. Ford EF AUSCAR. Complete ready to race - $40,000 Complete in all respects less engine - $30,000. Best of all components from front to back. Ph 03 9769 9666. The supporters & competitors of the Strathfield National Ford EF AUSCAR. Set up for Thunderdome. Rebuilt motor, new pis Cars cateiiioiy offer you this space to list the sale of your tons, rings, bearings etc. Harrop floating diff. Kevlar x R8 front. Log National Car here for FREE. Fax your descrption by Friday 28 book. Ready to race. $18,000. Ph 039 335 5750. Nov to 03 9532 0134 to be placed here for FREE next issue. SVO Block and Rods. Brand new. Keen to sell. Ph Mark Seaton 018 572 551.

‘’f300,000

2Jm3rjfl998

Van Diemen, RF94-95 Update. Current WA state title holder. Penske Racing shocks, SS floor. Two sets wheels, immac cond. Roller $28,000. Ph Kerry Wade BH 08 9458 4586, AH 08 9402 1356. 16

Parts Chev 331 short motor - Ross race pistons 10 of. Manly 6" al rods, steel 4 bolt crank, Lunati 50147 roller cam, Rollmaster timing set, Romac balancer, B&M flexplate, water pump, head bolts and sump. $3,250. Ph: John Boyle 0412 169 510. na Chev 331 Venolia gas port pistons. Child & Albert 6" al rods, 6 off $450; Lunati 50147 roller cam, new Lunati valve springs to suit $680; Pro-cam solid camshaft (eg Crane CC290) with l ifters $290. Ph: John Boyle 0412 169 510. ne Tube bender, Swaidsir elec/hyd 45mm and 38mm dies $4,300. Longacre corner scales as new $2,000. Longacre bump steer gauge $250. Ph: 0418 104 853 or 03 5248 5518 (AH), ua Nissan R190 diffs, 1 x 4.6 ratio $325, 1 x 4.875

Falken tyres, race tyres, 205 x 60 x 14. Almost new. Cost $800, sell $475. Ph (0412) 537 227. ne Wheels, Techno, 18 in ex-factory Super Tourer wheels. Ex-Tarquini/Simoni/Warwick. Great Xmas

PIAA Super Rally d/lights $200. Marvel brake pads, as used by Marty Beckton $400 per four wheel set. Suits Lancer. Ph: 0418 104 853 or 03 5248 5518

accel dizzy, flywheel clutch, Yella Terra rockers, Edelbrock Torker, ex Janson L34, must go to fit Chev. $8,500. Ph Michael 02 9905 6114 na

(AH). .18 Gearbox, Holinger 6 speed, ex Mark Poole. Relifed after Bathurst, many spares available.

Leyland V8, 4.5L alloy, complete. Bored o/s, 10.5

$12,500ono. Ph: James Rosenberg 08 8524 8131. ub Nissan factory race wheels, 16x9 $1,000, 17x9 $850. Ph: 0419 334 786. ub Cosworth 4B Fuel Injection, (Ford Sierra) manifold with carbon fibre trumpets/air box. $1500. Ph: 02 9482 2470 u; Cosworth Ford Sierra Race Engine Parts, cyl. block, steel crank, rods, pistons, head, cams etc. Ph: 02 9482 2470. 117 16 valve Ford Sierra Cosworth, cylinder heads from $1500. Ph: 02 9482 2470 Simmons 3 piece centrelock wheels, 18x8 (Group A) with hubs and centrelock nuts. Suit road or race car. (Easy conversion) Set of 4 at fraction cost. $2800, Ph: 02 9482 2470. 7 BBS 17x8 Centre Lock Race Wheels, (3 piece) w/ith hubs and centrelock nuts, suit road or race car (easy conversion) set of 4 at fraction cost. $2400. Ph: 02 9482 2470. ur Detroit Locker suit LJ Torana. VGC. $1000. Ph 03 59967888 bh Cranbourne. us Mazda MX5 Hardtop, red in colour, excellent condition. $1500. Ph: 03 9744 1022. 17 Mazda/Laser Rally Gearbox, Mazdaspeed close ratio, recently rebuilt, complete with right angle drive and mounts. $1500 ono. Ph Bryan on 02 9844 5232 bh or 02 9979 8734 ah .u For Sale, AP Fourspot Callipers, one pair in excel lent condition, come with brand new pads to suit. $800. Ph: 03 9478 0121 ah 17 Tyres, (4) Falken 225x50xHR16 80%. $560. Ph: 03 9772 9907. 11/ BMW Body kit, E30 Coupe 2-door M3 lookalike. F & R bumpers, side skirts, 4 gurads. Easily fitted, suit road or race car. Offers. Greg (02) 4285 9155 or (0411) 785 915. ,16

pistons. Crane rev kit, turbo heads, roller rockers. Vertex magneto, Meth. Holley, Alum, flywheel. Full rebuild by Ian MoKee, $7000.(048) 681 668. 16 Chev 454 LS7, Std bore and crank sizes. Perf cond, hear running. Bracket racing engine, makes 540hp, runs 8.6@154. $14,500. Peter 02 9747 2200. 116

Autograph, Gregg Hansford’s autograph

Mazda T3500 turbo diesel dualcab, 10 speed, h/duty towbar, exhaust brake, bull bar, power steering, custom-built rear ute, carry 7 pas sengers. $^0,500ono. Ph: 08 8344 4349 (AH), 018 847 137 (BH). 118 Ford D Series Pantech, 8 speed, 351 motor, tyre racks, tool boxes, annexe, winch, 24 foot body, suit large sports sedan. Some spares. $22,000 ONO. 12 months rego. Ph: 047 821145. 17

Wide Delivery I' Australia

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Intake manifold, to fit twin sidedraught DHLA Dellortos to Ford 1600cc crossflow. Ph Steve (AH) 02 6766 5977. 1,5 Australian Motor Racing Yearbook, Number 20. Must be in good condition. Phone Scott on (03) 5025 7293. 115 Drivers wishing to compete in our championship winning cars for the 1998 NSW Formula Ford series. NB - we will be testing in Sydney early December. For your spot ph 07 5446 7611, 115 Kart, cheap. Must be suitable for beginner. Ph Dan Birch 07 5474 8961 or 07 5474 98127. 15

'tftv.^riiNt 11

Holden 202, fully rebuilt, blanced and blueprinted. Worked head, roller rockers, Hi energy sump. ACL pistons, straight out gears. Crow cam. POA 03 5996 2263 or 0419 388 192. ne

tUlirnin

Otifler Onyx 11:43 models. The early sports racing cars, complete your collection. Most of 1998, some of 1989 and ail of 1990. All B&M. $1,100. Ph: 049 598 555. na

Holden 202, methanol engine, just freshened. Forged pistons, roller rockers etc. Plus new 3.3 engine, forged pistons, roller cam and lifters. $5,000 for both, will sepa rate. Ph: 03 5962 4540, 0418 557 994. m

PRO-GTS, personal number plates, BW at RTA. VIC $1900. Ph 03 9386 0300. 117

Holden 202, Race motor. YT head, E/Ignition,

Trailer, Carries six Formula Fords or four F.Holdens.

Bathupsf PFograms, 1970 to current. $250 ono

steel T/gears, blue crank, ACL, Starfire. All bal anced. XV-1. Bathurs cam and lifters. Run 13.81 in wt. Cost $5400. Sell $1800 ono. Ph 08 8396 5607 115

Single axle, fresh paint, belly lockers, crane to lift 1000kg. Reg $18,000 ono. Ph Brett(08)9242 2208

plus postage. Ph 02 4822 4124 aft 7pm. 117 Spoiler VR Supercar front spoiler. Ph 02 9545 0887 115

Engines: 186 Holden motor, one complete with fresh Deck Racing head, one unbuilt, all parts in

Photographs, Historic. 70s and 80s. Brock, Johnson, Richards, Senna. Prost, tourers, F5000s. V8s, 3-L and 500s etc, B/W and colour. Majority

good order. Make an offer. Ph: 02 9820 3089. 114 Hemi 245 race motor and gearbox. All complete. Ex speedway, recently freshened, not run in since. Street stock class, very quick. Cost $2800 all-qp. Sell $1800 ono. Ph 08 8396 5607 ns Off road engine, P76 V8, ready to race, $5500 6881 8879. 116 ono. Mazda 13B pp, Rotomotion housings, 48mm IDA Weber. Tooth belt drive, baffled sump, modified dissy, fully rebuilt. New twin plate clutch, close ration Hollinger box. $5500 neg. (02) 9579 6382 or (015) 468 166. 116

■

Race car transporter, 1967 Bedford bus, 300ci motot, 5 speed synchro box, high speed diff, no rego, near roadworthy, sleeps 4, interior all new. VGC. $6,200ono. Ph: Peter 03 5275 4904. 14

unpublished. F&x 02 9960 6552 for details. 16 Sparco Double Layer Nomex Suit, small royal blue, Sparco double layer nomex gloves smal l royal blue, Sparco nomex l ined black leather boots size 8 and a half, socks, balaclava. New, never used. $650. Ph: 9761 1704 n,Great Race books, Vols 1, 3 to 8, 11 to 16 and Australia's Greatest Motor Race (1960-1980). All VGC, sell complete $500. Holden: official racing history, 30 Fabulous Years and more. Ph David 076-263 616 or e-mail crook@tpgi.com.au 15

News' RACE'#li:0#gives you the .opportunity to promote your products and services to : ' u the widest possible range of motorsport competitors and enthusiasts. ; I--Advertising in RACE S.;ililPllP costs as little as $50 per issue! ; For bookings, call fG.6fMc|' iiffPoiriiaiii on'O‘3 9S27 ■7744;

’memi Ensmeering

* Lightweight, Aerodynamic, Cooi air circulation system I

be in good cond, also any other promo material on Bathurst. Ph after 7pm Gerry 03 9792 4339. HG IL-34 engine must be genuine and known histo

required. Also signed Bathurst photo from 1993. Phone bis. 03 9827 9882 or fax 03 9827 9514. fis

The

Box 708 Rye 3941. ,w Bathurst photos, pictures or poster size. Must be of Holdens. Please ring (02) 9603 6506. uc Bathurst programs, 1969 and previous. Must

ry. Needed for restoration of high output option L34 ex-touring oar. Please call if have or know of one. Ph 08 8396 5607 1.5

L34 engine, currently in sports sedan, 48mm IDF

pistons, cam, bearinhjg, reco heads. Double row timing chain and sprockets, gaskets, bearings etc. $1000. (03) 9801 8505. 16 Chev 358, Methanol, 010 block, BRC crank, TRW

basis, Sydney area, mechanical experience not necessary. No criminal record. Male or female. Fax your details to 02 9774 1448. U8 Fabricator/mechaaic, to work on race and road cars, sub contract basis. Send resume to PO

! Nissan U-D Turbo, 180HP/6 speed, 18'x8'2"Wx7'8"H

assembled, with 5-speed, 2.5" exhaust. Suit Escort.

Pit crew required for Super Tourers, voluntary

Ford 2 Itr Cosworth, 2 x 45s, $15,000 spent, not Ready to be assembled. $10,000. Ph: Andrea 08 8285 4912 or 0412 071 442, na

Wanteii

time wasters please. Bargain at $18,500 ono. Ph: 03 5248 3044 or 015 050 435. ub

cams and gaskets. Will swap some parts for 750 methanol carby in running order. Ph: Mick 03 5472 4116. i.rMitsubishi Lancer Evo front LSD, new $1,500

Trailer, Double drop 42ft Aluminium sided and lined. Excellent cond, $35,000, Rob (045) 731 338 us

body, large storage lockers, long range tanks, rego, clean, comfortable and fast. Vehicle must be sold, but no more

Engines

P- ^- -

(03) 9827 4424,(018) 133 123. 16 Data One transmitter, used once, with mount. ns $350 ono Ph Steve 02 9524 1528 or 018 069 812. Webers, 4 X 48IDA Cobar manifold, complete with braided fuel lines and fittings. New, never used. Suit Ford Windsor $3500 neg. 02 9579 6382 or 015468 166. .15

tools. Ph LIyod (02) 4773 8241. i.e

—

Trqiiers/TffCiHspoffteffS

lights, harness, seats, g'box. A Arms, struts, bon net, front guards, lots more from $5! Ballarat (03) 5334 6364. u6 Ford V6 inlet manifold, suit triple carb set-up.

Aircraft parts, everything from chrome moly tube to rivets and rod ends and aircraft construction

F100, 82 model, ex-ambulance. Auto, dual fuel, tow hitch. Lorig reg and RWC, $9800. (03) 5996 2263 or (0419) 388 192. us

3.5, 3.7, 3.9, 4.1,4.3. Phone (03)5988 6266. no

gift for all Alfa fans! Wheel only $275, with tyre $325, with tyre signed by Derek Warwick $375 (lim 16 ited number). Phone (0418) 794 240. Datsun 1600 parts, doors, diff, taillights, head

ratio $375, 1 x 5,1 ratio $425. Ph: 0419 334 786. ua , Bargain-priced small-block Chev Cosworth pistons, valve-springs, stud-girdles, bearings, s/h

Race engine parts. Bow tie heads, complete with jessel. Ph 03 9315 4055 ns Nissan R200 Diff ratios, New and used, 3.1, 3.3,

To order any of the entire Simpson range, contact

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One of Australia's leading statisticians, Nigel Greenway, is now offering for sale his book with all the facts and figures on Australia's leadingL^jS'^^ Championships, the SHELL ATCQ Super Tourers, l| Formula Ford, Formula Holden and Production Cars\*js„^^ Now you too can get all the same information that the commentators and journalists use.

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HI-PERFORMANCE 308-3S5 C.l. STROKER CRANKSHAFT

Call Gerald M

50 2Januar/1998 Why Craig is back 0

0(0 NEW^

Dear Sm,

Editorial : Hassaii : n, Glynn ' i: Sranagan Btrumby

Advertising ■ Oc-

McDornan

Re letter “Why is Craig back” I read that article and I nearly threw up. Hasn’t anyone told him that you need MONEY as well as connections to drive overseas? On top of that, for a team that had won the championship the year before, how could they have only one race engineer and expect to win? My second point is that how much testing did Craig get? I hope next time that he will be in a better team that will appreciate his professional approach. Victor Di Pasquale viros@alphalink.com. au

Administration

M ni ;cPDBcj iO:ON<ythCaiJfietaVic3l6l tyfax!oO 7766 r-?fpence \v.r. on avers:o rypec. tvsef ieiieo me ^ta*f <●/ Motor.;:- -: New; soes ra necessarily agree with opirnons exp.'ess Dy reaaer;.

Sencles.-^ to Talk

settled into his first experience of a front-drive Super Tourer”, I would suggest that the scrutineering panel have a close look at the CPW Motorsport BMW, as all the other 320is ranning in the series have rear-wheel drive. Oh well, if it makes you feel any

Bargs, Bright and Bias Dear Sir, Before your publication gets too carried away with the Bathurst Qualifying performance of Jason Bargwanna and too disappointed with his race morning warm up

Dear Su', : 'hrr: Lambden

Further to Robert Miljko’s letter on Craig Lowndes (Issue 116), I can put his “downfall” down to three

Contacts

things:

Orroiig Creicent r.iulil: -id V!C .3161 IFOBck 1010 North Caulfield 3161) Pt'>une. 03 9S27 7744 I 03 9527 7766 L'tlA!'. msnews@corplink.com.au ConipUSefA-e

I00237,SI65

Contributors General .''vlike Kable, Ion Tno.’nson, iBrio.''! Reed. Dariyl flact FI. .Ice Saward, Adam Cooper Europe Ouehtin Spurrinir, Ian e.Jrnsey, , CAe'.n Dolphin . US. Srure Smith, Phil Morris NZ' lohn. i-W'.vkins Speedway Dennis Ne\'.t/n, David Mc.Nabb, Wade Aunger. Geoff Rounds, fv'ar't. Neale, David i^vnont. Chiis (Weicaif, Sue Hobson, iVlictiael .AteAMlI, tony Millard lUK) Rally Petei Urhilien i : Drag Racing: Geiald McDornan, ! i G’og Ward, Jon Ashe'' (USA), ' Dave Ostaszevvski (USA). Nick Nicholas. Steven White, , Ken Ferguson, Sroa .lug Super Speedway Marjn Clark (USA), iitreK Swansori ; Karts, lap. Saive.slrin. Allan Roark. ; . Graeme Bums, izdward Kiarse Photographers: lAT, Dirk Klynsmifh, Zoom Photocjrafrfiic.s, Neil Hammond, ^ Nigei A Diana Snowden, 1 ,Smd Steele, iony Glynn, Thunder-Pics, .Vl.srshall C.'ass. , Mike Har.ding. Brisbane Motorsport. : .‘^rank .’v'idgley, Joh.n Bosher iPhil Williams. Mike F'airick. (UK) WrORSPOKT NEWS A-

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Dear Sir,

’’ ’

In the Page 16 write-up for the Lakeside round of the Two Litre

) i

Super Tourers the following statement appeared, “Johnson quickly

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COMING MAN... Jason Bargwann a already has his share of fans, like young Travis who raided his money box to the tune of $5 to help fund his Formula Holden drive last season. That’s Bargs on the left, by the waybetter, your competitor’s David Williams writes that Carlos Sainz is an Italian! The weekly score therefore is; bloopers one all; authoritative jour nalism nil. With regard to Bob Smith of Nth Blackburn Vic, concerns regarding the “Aussies Kick Euro Ass” headline. I too am concerned at this ingtance of cruelty to a harmless European animal, my dictionary defining an ass as “A quadruped of the horse family : a donkey: (Fig.) a stupid person”. The word I think you are trying to use is spelled arse!. Brian G Davis Flinders Park, SA ARSET ED: Thanks, Davis. And all this time I’ve been spelling it wrongly. And apologies from the editor. You’d think he had a clue about 3-series BMWs since he drives one.

I ; ; j

Fji-«h ACCcpiAd

j71

|| ADVERTISING WORKS. IT’S THAT SIMPLEl Irt Caii Gerald McDornan on 03 9527 7744

(I xvq.'iN. vv V->■ k

ASST ED: Have you got a chip on your shoulder or what?A quick read of MN’s race reports reveals Bargwanna’s Creek spin was caused by a broken throttle spring; his MaUala race two set-up problem was prompted by a lightning rebuild after his race one acci dent; and practically everyone spun at Sandown. We stand by our assertions; Bargs was bril liant in qualifying, and his crash was very disappointing for everyone. May both Jasons kick ass/arse in 1998.

Dear Sir,

SI05 A5160 AS 170 AS 180 AS 700 AS/l-'i

Max Fleischer Tannum Sands QLD

Taking it on the chin

Ill jl'tf'

■ ;l VCd: - A; lUOt-'l .Au'ilUili--'

ASST ED: You’re a hard man, Grzic. We reported on all of Lowndes’ and Webber’s races, carried pics of the events and even had a Webber column, Neither British F3 or Euro F3000 are exactly notable for their media output - but maybe 1998 wiE be a little better.

; "U".' Ntw:

r.v'

Warren Grzic Ryde, NSW

Beemers and bottoms

I c'v: 37-4V S'uwr,': Rd Oivv/toil 31.78

..^'..--1

He had not proven himself in European open-wheeler racing, which is almost essential for any FI aspirant; Lack of coverage in the media as a whole (even this magazine didn’t cover his efforts gi'eatly); Lack of sponsorship, which gener ally results from lack of media coverage. On the other hand, Mark Webber ^he right approach, with a season in British Formula Ford and then F3, and I truly believe he whl be Australia’s next FI driver. However, he needs a lot more media coverage than he has had lately, and ‘Motorsport News’ should do more, too. Whatever Webber does in 1998 (be it sportscars, F3, or F3000), MN should include the results of every race he contests with the reports. (This should also happen with the coverage of the Australian Formula Holden and Formula Ford Championships.) Whatever you do, Mark, good luck - all Austrahan motorsport fans are behind you.

Falcon sensibly to a podium finish in the difficult conditions. Your Bathurst preview described Bargwanna as “the find of the year”. I would suggest that his Bathurst crash may have been “the lose of the year”. Hopefully HRT can carry out one of the aims of the Young Lions pro gram and mould this talented young di'iver into a more complete racing driver. But at what price?

I.//

crash, it may be a good idea to look at the past record of this fast but fragile young man. In 1997 alone Bargwanna has had more than .his share of mishaps. Let’s go back to the first Formula Holden race of 1997 at the Prix. Grand Australian Bargwanna, under pressure from Jason Bright (charging to victory from grid 16), spins and finishes a distant third. Holden Formula The Championship round at Eastern Creek sees Bargwanna with a big lead only to run off the road and hand victory to Bright. At Mallala in the deciding round of the Championship Bargwanna spins off while chasing Bright. The Sandown 500 sees Bargwanna take over the Young Lions Commodore only to spin at turn one on his first lap out, the first of several spins he has in the race while Bright drives the AJR

B : Q

First things first; Motorsport News is my favourite magazine. Regarding your Gardner/Perkins cover story, it was good to see that you retracted the story in the very next issue of the'magazine, and didn’t spread the blame on a whole bunch of‘infoiTnants’. Everyone makes mistakes and it was refreshing to see that you owned up and copped it on the chin. R. Nguyen North Blackburn Vic

Rainbow Warrior fan Dear Sir, I am just writing to say that I think your magazine/paper is great. I especially like Motorsport News as it gives great Winston Cup reports, point tallies etc. I have been following it for a while now, and support Jeff Gordon #24. The reports by Martin Clark are gi-eat. I was wondering if you have any old or unused photos, of NASCAR that I could have I greatly appreci ate them. Michael Rohrlach via E-mail ASST ED: Shucks, more compli ments. We can’t help you with photos because we get them on a publish-only basis and most of them are electronic these days.

By Barry Foley

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