Motorsport News Issue 119 - 30 January-12 February 1998

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BMW shock

(NZ$5.95incl GST)

r '30 January- 12 February 1998

INSIDE Noske gets HRT drive Mark Noske has won the drive of his life, having been chosen

by HRT as its fourth driver in the Sandown and Bathurst endures later this year - P3

Quotes of the Year FLAIR PEDAL TO THE Craig Lowndes gets to gj^ return Mobil-HRT Commodore in W5ever a$sembl0d: season of V8 racing against thej^^

'raeme Neander^ Coventry Studio)

By DAVID HASSALL THE off-season is finally over and the big boys hit the track again this weekend for what promises to be the toughest year ever.

The biggest and bestquality field ever assem bled is ready to take on the Shell Australian Touring Car Champion ship, starting at Sandown this weekend.

And the big weekend gets a kick-start'With the

fourth annual Australian those not running on con MotorSport Awards on trol tyres.

Much interest will sur Friday night, where the round the return of Craig sport’s top achievers will howndes to HRT and be honoured.

A bumper field will how he will fare against assemble at Sandown, new teammate Mark including 19 we might Skaife, not to mention describe as ‘Pro’ cars - the likes of Ingall,

Perkins, Bowe, Johnson, Longhurst Seton, Richards, Faulkner and a raft of young guns trying to upset the status quo.

For all the inside info, see our big sea son preview starting on Page 18.

Oh, the things they said. Here they all are, warts and all, in our light-hearted farewell to 1997-P16

Besnard wins in US Young Aussie ace David Besnard has returned to American racing in brilliant fashion, winning the opening the opening round of the US Formula 20000 Championship - P5 03

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Five new FI cars launched The new Grand Prix cars have been coming thick andfast in recent weeks, including the stunning Frost AP91 (left)See insidefor more photos and details.

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HRT splits winning pair to sign Noske HRT has announced its fourth driver for the end-of-year long distance races - and in doing so split the Lowndes/Murphy part

Noske will also be a leading contender in the Formula Holden Gold Star series driving Arthur Abrahams’ Reynard.

nership.

For Murphy, the news is another disappointment.

FormeriYoung Lion Marke Noske has been confirmed as the remaining HRT driver for the year and he will partner Greg Murphy.

1998 full-time drivers Mark Skaife and Craig Lowndes will share what must be considered the lead car.

HRT Team Manager Jeff Grech wanted the team’s dri vers finalised before the start of the season to avoid the specula tion that nonnally accompanies the decision: “It can be a bit of a distrac tion,” said Grech.

“And with so many new young drivers joining the V8 Supercar ranks this season, we wanted to ensure we had con tracted the best possible dri vers, to give ourselves every

It was generally assumed that in re-signing for the long races, he would continue his histori cally successful partnership with Lowndes.

When contacted this week, all Miu*phy would offer was a terse “no comment”.

Mark Noske opportunity in the Primus 1000.”

It is understood that part of the the for logic Lowndes/Skaife pairing is team officials’ desire to deflate any contest between the two for the dominant role in the sprint races which make up the Shell ATCC and other events.

For Noske, the opportunity follows a Young Lions berth last year, a good Sandown 500 and, of cotirse, a Bathurst DNS following Jason Bargwanna’s warm-up crash.

As our season preview (see page 18) notes, neither has occupied a “number two” role in touring car racing for some time...

Apart from his HRT duties.

- CHRIS LAMBDEN

France bids to regain Grand Prix THE French National Assembly in Paris last week passed a new bill to overcome the problems related to the television cover age of the French GP. The new bill states that the rights of a sporting event can be sold to a broadcaster but other broadcasters must be allowed to film at the venue, although only the exclusive broadcaster is allowed to film the event itself The new law should be accept able to both the French government and to the FI authorities.

“The door is now open for the French Grand Prix to be put back on the FI calendar,” said France’s Minister of Youth and Sport MarieGeorge Buffet.

If everything goes to plan the French GP will now regain its June 28 slot, which could mean that there will be 17 races in the 1998 season.

This will largely depend on whether the Portuguese GP is replaced and whether the problems over the Belgian GP can be resolved.

- JOE SAWARD

Moonlight robbery ,000 stolen from under eedway promoter’s nose

By GEOFF ROUNDS

WARRNAMBOOL’s Premier Speedway has been rocked by the rob bery of around $100,000 during last weekend’s running of the 26th Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic race.

It is the biggest cash theft in south-west Victoria’s history.

The money was stolen from a locked, unsupervised secretary’s room at about lam on Sunday.

Police and club officials declined to confirm or deny the amount, but an undis closed source said the amount would have been in excess of $100,000.

The secretary was in the middle of counting out $84,000 in prizemoney and other costs to be paid to the drivers when she left the office for 10 minutes to carry out another duty.

She locked up on her way out and on her return dis covered the gatetakings were missing.

Premier Speedway Club president Graeme Hose, who was still tiying to come to terms with the loss, said .there was more cash than normal on the premises because of Saturday’s washout.

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He said the amount of money stolen was “substan tial” but an exact figure would not be known until an audit was completed.

Racing director Jamie Nicolson said: “The club is going into its 40th year of operation and this is proba bly the worst thing that has happened in that time. The biggest devastation.”

Police investigators and club members were at a loss as to how the money was smuggled out of the office.

‘You wouldn’t! carry it in your hand no matter how bundled up'it was,” Hose said.

“We don’t know how they got it out. It would have been much too obvious if I

you had very large fistfuls of money.

“I don’t know whether we were'cased out or observed over a period of time.”

Hose said insurance would only cover part of the stolen amount, but it would be years before the club could recover from the theft.

He said the club would

have to dip into reserves, putting in jeopardy the future of planned improve ments such as new toilets, canteen and corporate boxes.

“The Premier Speedway will still forge ahead,” Hose declared.

“The thing that went through my mind was all that work that had been done for 36-odd hours by about 120 volunteers of our club. It amounted to nothmg.

“I am just so disappoint ed for those people.”

For the committee mem bers, who were exhausted from a marathon day of rac ing, the robbery was a bit ter end.

‘You get a good race over and then get a kick in the guts,” Nicolson said.

In the wake of the theft.

Premier Speedway is already planning to step up security for future events.

“We thought we were rea sonably safe; we are not stupid,” Hose said.

CIB Warrnambool Detective Senior Sergeant Brian Curley said a crime prevention officer would make recommendations on security upgi'ades.

He said the tens of thou sands of dollars stolen was in large notes.

■ Wayne Gardner has entered his remaining Coke Commodore for the Grand Prix meeting. The car will, the latest rumour sug gests, be prepared by veteran Sydney race engineer Harry Galloway.

■ Sprintcar ace Melinda Dumesny is following husband Max’s lead and heading for the Thunderdome - at least for a test. Melinda was due to drive Bruce Williams’ AUSCAR Commodore yesterday (Wednesday)at Calder Park and sources suggest she wall be a def inite starter at the next meeting there on Febmary 14.

■ Calder Park was due to be a very busy place as most of the leading Queensland-based teams got in some last-minute testing before Sandown. Usually teams are restricted to their nominated circuits but, since the new sur face at Lakeside broke up recently, TEGA allowed this oneoff session.

■ Rodney Forbes had his first laps in Glenn Seton’s Falcon at Phillip Island on Tuesday.

Seton’s new teammate, whose race debut will be at the Australian GP meeting, settled in well, running in the lm36s bracket.

■ As part of TEGA’s cost-cutting measures, its Technical Committee has set diff ratios for this season. Competitors will be restricted to 3.25:1, 3.5:1 and 3.7:1.

■ Keith Flint was at Phillip Island’s IRTA test last week.

The lead singer of The Prodigy, who counts a Honda Fiteblade 900 and Ducati 916 among his toys, was the guest of World Champion Mick Doohan. After resuming the band’s Australian tour the singer intends to race at club level back in England.

■ Damien Digby has signed property development company Pacific Merchant as sponsor of his Formula Holden campaign.

He races his Reynard for the first time this weekend at Sandown.

■ Not only is CAMPS support ing Ryan McLeod and Christian Jones this season, but the insur ance company’s Chief Executive Rob Porter is taking to the tracks. Porter has bought the exToll Express Porsche 911RSR and will drive in Porsche Cup this season. The car is heading south to Sandown this week but Porter won’t drive it until Symmons Plains nexd week.

■ Procar Australia, which runs GT Production racing, is mortng fi'om the Gold Coast to a new office in Brisbane. From March 1, Bill West and the crew can be contacted at Suite 2,42 Moitow St, Taringa.

Phone(07)3371 7400 and fax (07)3371 9933.

■ Michael Schumacher is not only having trouble with his new car (see next page), but also the new regulations. “The car isn’t bad,” he said last week,“but the tyi'es slide around like a rally car.

■ Jacques Villeneuve is main taining his verbal assault on Schumacher in the wake of their controversial season-ending crash. The World Champion told a Gennan magazine:“In stress situations he (Schumacher) stops thinking and is only capa ble of reacting. He shows his unfiltered personality.”

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30January 199S

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Besnard's great US victory

By PHIL BRANAGAN

restarts would be watched

DAVID Besnard re launched his Formula Ford 2000 career with a hang at Walt Disney World last Saturday with a fairytale win from the hack of the grid.

Besnard’s Primus Racing Van Diemen RF98 dominat ed the practice sessions hut he could not get full throttle in qualifying, sentencing him to last starting spot in the 31-car field.

But duiing the 50-lap race at the 1-mile oval it was a different story.

“At the start of the race I passed about 15 cars in the first two laps,” Besnard said from Florida after the race.

“It was a silly problem which caused us to start at the back.

“Getting past cars wasn’t the problem; getting past cars with all the yellow flags was the problem.”

Despite the stop/go nature of the race, Besnard picked off the cars one by one, got into second place and started to close on leader Robby McGehee.

But with 10 laps to go the race was yellow-flagged again when poleman Thiago BazeiTa had'a huge crash.

While he was being cut from his Tatuus, the field trailed around for seven laps.

When the green finally flew, McGehee jumped early but Besnard took up the chase.

“We were told at the dri vers’ briefing that out

closely and several drivers were black-flagged during the race.

“The crews went nuts on pitlane but the officials didn’t do an3rthing.”

After trying to draft hy with two laps to go, Besnard pulled alongside going into the final lap and led McGehee to the white flag.

The St Louis driver attacked all around the last lap but Besnard held him off to win by 0.028s.

Taking third was New York driver Andy Lally, dri ving the new Bowman in its first race, while former cycling legend Greg LeMond had his best race to date, running comfortably in the top 10 before a black flag sent him back to 22nd.

Also in the race were the two racing sons of former great and sometime/boxing star AJ Foyt.

After starting 13th Larry Foyt was 18th, while Jerry started 21st but retired after tangling with Derek Eastty on lap three.

The future of Bezerra is in serious doubt.

Despite gaining his senses after the accident, he lost consciousness and was air lifted to Orlando’s Regional Medical Centre.

On Sunday night the 20year-old was still listed in a critical condition.

With the lead in the series safely in his keeping, Besnard is coming home from his Florida base before the next race at Phoenix on March 22.

DAVID BESNARD... From last to first In the opening round.

New Ferrari struggling

THE Ferrari team has had nothing but trouble with the new F300 since serious testing of the car began at Fiorano on January 12.

The first couple of days of testing revealed that there were serious problems with the gearbox electronics which resulted in the car continually selecting neu tral.

The test was called off and, as Michael Schumacher had

to fly to South Africa for a another disaster, with promotional event, the Schumacher completing just Italians called in former test eight timed laps because of driver Nicola Larini to con gearbox and throttle elec tinue the work, having decid tronic problems.

Schumacher then had to ed that newly appointed test driver Luca Badoer did not fly off to another promotional this time in have enough experience with event the system.

Hamburg - and he returned Larini tested through the to Jerez on Sunday, hoping weekend and the car wasj to get some decent laps in then sent off to Spain where 1 with the new car. it was due to begin testing on This week’s testing will, Thursday. however, be disrupted as But the Spanish test was Schumacher is due to be at

the annual Marlboro skiing event at Madonna di Campigho.

While it has been a frus trating time for Schumacher, Eddie Irvine has been doing many hundreds of miles of tyre testing for Goodyear with an old F310C. Schumacher says he is not worried by the problems as he feels that the car is fimdamentally quick and all that is now needed is rehability.

- JOE SAWAED

Morris impresses OSes in Indy Lights test backer By'pHIL BRANAGAN

PAUL Morris has passed his first test in Indy Lights with flying colours and is set for a full 1998 series.

And the 30-year-old Queenslander could be on the grid for the Gold Coast Indy Car Grand Prix in October with the PacWest team.

Morris took part in a twoday test at Homestead in Florida, completing 100 laps on the 1.5-mile oval before taking to the combined oval/road course for 90 laps on Saturday.

“It was quite a daunting experience, but I was basical ly only having a look at the place,” he said.

“I was just getting a feel for what the car was doing.”

Despite having problems fitting into his PacWest Racing Lola, the current Australian Super Touring Champion impressed the team with his speed and feedback.

“We certainly have to make some modifications to the cockpit before I’m more comfortable.

“My head was sitting too high and my helmet was being lifted off my head at speed.”

But just as Morris was get ting settled into the task of driving the Buick-powered car, his confidence was knocked back a little when an American driver hit the wall heavily in turn three.

“That knocked the wind out of me a bit,” he admitted.

“My confidence was start ing to build until then, but I thought, ‘Hang on a bit.

READY FOR THE US ... Paul Morris could be back for the Gold Coast Indycar GP after his Lights season. that’s me for the day’.”

Team engineer John Anderson was impressed with Morris’s first drive on an oval.

“The timing of the test meant that we were not as well prepared as we would liked to have been,” said the expatriate Australian.

“Now that we are back at the shop we will be fabricat ing and machining parts to make modifications needed to the cockpit.

“We need to get his body down in the car.

“Paul is thinking about his gearchanges too much because of where the gearshift is; we have to change that so it becomes second natm'e.”

Morris is now back in Indianapolis, searching for an apartment, while his mentor Frank Gardner, who oversaw the Homestead test, was flying back to Australia as we went to press.

A BATTERED Neil Crompton is currently assessing whether his motor sport future is in the US or back here in Australia.

A double-whammy knock sees an injured Crompton back in Sydney when he had hoped to be tying up a Sports Car deal in the States.

A Mountain bike accident in Sydney, while out training on a nearby trail, has left Wayne Gardner’s former teammate with a broken elbow and no chance of dri ving any car for at least six to eight weeks.

“It was one of those silly things,” a rueful Crompton reported.

“The bike hit a stone and over we went. I think I land ed on my head, shoulder and elbow all at once, and the elbow copped it...”

To make matters worse, his Labatts sponsorship deal has also evaporated: “The President of the Company got the sack,” Crompton reported, “and, as you know, that often changes things ...”

Apart from recuperating from his unfortunate prang, Crompton will spend the next weeks deciding whether to pursue a US future, or go aU out in a bid to “get some thing going at the pointy end of the V8 field - which is really where I’d like to be” for late this year or 1999.

In the meantime, Neil will be among the 500-plus guests at this Friday’s MotorSport Awards Dinner, at which he has a nomina tion for International Achiever ofthe Year.

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BMW chases Indy 500 glory

;THE four point propeller, the world-recognised sym bol of the Bavarian Motor Works, is heading for the Brickyard.

BMW has surprised the motor racing world by unveil ing a new Indy Racing League engine.

The new 4-litre V8 (pic tured right) was shown at the Detroit Motor Show last week and will take to the oval tracks in the American series in 1999.

In the championship, which allows only ‘stock block’-based engines, the new Dimmer will take on current engines from General Motors (OldsmobileAurora) and Nissan’s Infiniti.

Unlike the two existing engines which will race in IRL this season, which were wholly developed in the United States, the BMW unit is being built at BMW’s Motorsport headquarters in GeiTnany.

The BMW IRL engine, which will run on methanol, joins BMW’s new Formula 1 Williams-bound 3-litre VIO and its 6-litre V12 GT engine, which is currently used by McLaren in the FI GTR GT car.

The engine is the brain child of BMW’s Motorsport chief Paul Rosche and is based on the 4-litre V8 avail able in the road-going 5-series and 7-series cars.

The engine features geardriven quad cams and, at 165kg, is some 69kg lighter than the road unit.

Early testing reveals that the engine is close to the 600 horsepower produced by the Olds and Infinitis.

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New team to run three cars BMW’s presence in this season’s Super Touring events took a jump this week when Stef Zelenak secured three cars from the former BMW Motorsport team.

Zelenak, who has worked in the past with both Peter Brock and Dick Johnson, has taken delivery of the exBathurst-winning Brabham car, as well as two updated 1995 cars.

The Queensland-based engineer, whose efforts recently have been concen trated on preparing cars for the Asian series,,is looking to put all three cars on the track for as many races as he can this season, including the Bathurst 1000.

He has also bought a large stockpile ofspares for the cars, though he has spht the bulk of the 1996 parts with BMW

returnee Cameron McLean.

At this stage Zelenak has no firm deals with drivers.

“I would like to have Geoff Brabham drive his old car; who wouldn’t?” he said.

“We’re also pursuing a deal to put Christian Jones in the car for a few races and, hopefully, Bathurst.”

Zelenak indicated that a seat would also be available for a driver with a budget to compete in the series.

“Our aim is to run our pro gram as a business but, at the same time, we’re not under any pressure to deliver results, so it is a good oppor tunity for a driver.”

He has secured the ser vices of an experienced European electronics engi neer to look after the cars, as well as taking on long-time BMW man Arch McMurray.

- PHIL BRANAGAN

FH at Winton

but will It drop Super Touring?

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By PHIL BRANAGAN

BMW may have built its last Super Touring car.

On the heels of the announcement of BMW Australia’s withdrawal from the Australian Super Touring scene comes word from Europe that the 1997 320i racecar may be the last of the line.

The company wiU now concentrate its efforts on its new partnership with Williams Grand Prix Engineering, as well as its new IRL engine.

The FI team is developing a new GT racer for the Munich manufacturer, while BMW Motorsport is proceeding with its 3-litre VIO Formula One engine, which will hit the tracks in 2000.

Schnitzer Motorsport will run two 1997 320is in the German series this sea son but they will be in the Independents’ class, rather than up against the factory teams.

Schnitzer has not even registered the cars to be eligible for the manufactxu’ers’ title.

TWO weeks after cancelling the Symmons Plains round, the Formula Holden Association has secured a replacement championship round at Winton.

The Gold Star hopefuls will have two races at the rural Victorian track on May 3.

“It is a circuit which is well known to most, if not all or our competitors,” said FHA president Malcolm Ramsay.

“Winton’s circuit extension helped to create close Formula Holden racing last season and we beheve that this will defi nitely be the case on May 3 as well with this being such an open season.”

Last-minute testing seems to indicate that Scott Dixon and Markus Friesacher will start Sandown’s series opener as co favourites.

The Kiwi recently equalled Jason Bargwanna’s fastest test ing lap at Phillip Island while the Austrian’s Red Bull Reynard equalled Dixon’s best at Oran Park last week.

The revised schedule is now: February 1 Sandown, March 6/7 Albert Park (non-championship), April 19 PhiUip Island, May 3 Winton, May 24 Mallala, June 21 Calder and August 2 Oran Park.

FF Champ Webber Volvo happy with S40 jets in to sit out the season VOLVO Dealer Racing Australia has had a successful first test of its new S40 Super Touring car in the UK. Team manager George Shepheard oversaw the test at Silverstone last week and declared the car as “like moving from a Formula Vee to a Formula Ford”.

“We’re going to be moving up a lot of places with the S40,” he said.

“The Volvo 850 we’d been running for the past three years had reached the end of its development, but the new car will put us at

the pointy end in the championship series.”

The car was driven at the test by TWR’s touring car test driver and former top BTCC privateer, Ian Flux.

In temperatures as low as three degrees. Flux completed around 40 laps ofthe track in the cai’, the last built of Volvo’s five 1997 chassis.

Following the test, the car returned to TWR’s Leafield headquarters to be stripped before being airfreighted to Australia at the end of the week.

-PHILBRANAUIAN

Malaysian return?

THE Malaysian-backed Team Petronas could be heading back to Australia to race this season.

David Wong’s Singaporebased team is reported to have bought two ex-Triple 8 Engineering Vauxhall Vectras and may run them in the BOC Gases Championship this year.

The cars will replace the two Ford Mondeos which the

team ran in the Calder and Phillip Island rounds of the 1997 Championship.

While details of who will drive them remain sketchy, it appears that Mike Briggs will feature heavily in con siderations.

The former South African touring car champion, who drove the Petronas Mondeo at Calder, is known to be highly regarded by Wong

and has long-time links with VauxhalFOpel.

He drove for the British works team in 1996 when James Thompson was injured in an accident and missed two racfes.

Briggs is still without a ride for this season and a seat in the Australian series would almost certainly suit

him well.

- PHIL BRANAGAN

AUSTRALIA’S latest international star, Mark Webber, has flown in for this Friday’s MotorSport Awards Dinner.

The 21 year-old completed two days of testing last week with the Mercedes team, at Jarama, before heading home for Australian motor sport’s big night.

Webber has received two nominations this year, for International Achiever of the Year and the top awards, MotorSportsman of the Year.

Over 500 guests will pack Melbourne’s Sofitel Ballroom on Friday night for the 1997 Australian MotorSport Atvards Dinner.

Readers can catch up with the big news of the 'night — the announcement of the MotorSportsman of the Year — on Channel Ten’s Sports Tonight programme, which will carry the announcement live, later in the evening.

GARTH Tander wiU be sit ting out the 1998 motor racing season.

The cun-ent Formula Ford Champion has missed a cou ple of deals and will now con centrate his efforts on putting a 1999 program together.

‘We got close to a couple of drives,” the 20-year-old said this week.

“We were about five min utes away from a 2-litre deal and got very close to doing something in Formula Holden, but nothing came through.”

Tander will spend much of the season as race engineer for fellow Perth driver Tim Leahy, who will compete in all the FF events this year in a Van Diemen RF98.

He has tested Leahy’s car

at Wanneroo Park, describing it as being “a big improve ment on last year’s car - it was much quicker”.

“It’s hard testing the car and knowing you won’t be racing this year, and that’s before the season starts,” Tander said.

“Once it gets going at Sandown I know it will be that much harder.”

With no choice but to sit out this season, Tander is try ing to put together a deal to race in the UK next year.

“Fd like to race in Formula Thi'ee.

“That’s where the action is and there seem to be good opportunities there for Australian drivers at the moment.

-PHIL BRANAGAN

S

SOJamfy M n There continues to be

progress with talks between the Formula 1 teams, the FIA and Bemie Ecclestone over a new Concorde Agreement, "fhe major problem at the moment, however, appears to be whether or not the'European Union will allow FI to continue to operate as it has been doing in recent years. n Japanese rising star Juichi Wakasaki was at the launch ofthe new Jordan last week as part of his role in the team’s young driver promotion scheme. This is running in association with Mugen in an effort to help young Japanese drivers become accustomed to the way that motor racing Works in Europe. n McLaren has conclud ed a major new sponsor ship deal with the world’s third-largest soft drink company, Cadbury Schweppes PLC. McLaren has also scored sponsor ship from Finnish vodka company Finlandia, which is hoping to increase its sales in the rapidly^ expanding markets of Eastern Europe. n BMW has confirmed that it is to have a threecar Junior Team in Formula 3000. The opera tion is to be run by the French ORECA team, which is overseen by Hugues de Chaunac, a close friend of Alain Frost.

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Now he wants race wins

By JOE SAWARD ALAIN Prost launched his 1998 package last week at Barcelona and said that the team’s intention was World win the to Championship as quickly as possible”.

Prost launched his new Prost-Peugeot APOl in Spain to avoid France’s restrictive

anti-tobacco laws and to enable drivers Olivier Panis and Jarno Trulli to begin testing without delay.

We are beginning a new era,” said Prost “and there is no/comparison between what Peugeot achieved with the two Anglo-Saxon teams and what they are doing with us.

The situation is completely different.”

‘STEWART RACING’ Formula 1 Simulator

After four seasons in Grand Prix racing Peugeot is still looking for its first victory but team personnel do not think it is far away.

Jean-Pierre Boud/s latest Peugeot A16 engine is much more easy to use than the previous unit and boasts almost 800 horsepower.

The APOl chassis - the first produced by Prost - has been designed by Loic Bigois and his team at MagnyCours with a brand new gearbox from British design er George Ryton.

The team is certainly not short of money, with an impressive package of sponsors including Gauloises, Canal Plus, Bic and Alcatel.

Sony’s PlayStation compa ny has increased its involve ment while the 1997 Prost sponsors have been joined by French oil company Total which traditionally supports all Peugeot motor sport

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TECHNICAL TEAM... Alain Prost(centre) with the men responsible for the AP01, Bernard Dudot and Loic Bigois.

(Photos by LA T Digital) activities - and by the German photographic com pany Agfa.

Prost is going to have an expensive year with the con struction of his new factory at Guyancourt, near Versailles, now nearing completion.

The team is due to start moving into the facility in February, although MagnyCours will remain open until the new Prost wdndtunnel is action at ready for Guyancourt.

Prost took the opportunity of the launch to point out

FIRST TEST... Olivier Panis puts the car through its paces at Hyper Stimulator built the official Stewart Racing Simulator for HSBC, one of Stewart Racing's major sponsors. This simuator was used at the official Australian Grand Prix launch in Melbourne.

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that he believes Damon Hill made a big mistake in not signing for Prost and that he is not sure if Damon has the right motivation to win again.

In recent days, incidental ly, the drivers of the Prost Junior Team - which will run in Formula 3000 - have been confinned.

They will be Frenchman Stephane Sarrazin and Italian Marcelo Battistuzzi.

The team will be run by Delestre’s Dominique Apamatox operation.

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Portugal out; China in?

THE Portuguese Grand Prix has been cancelled and will be replaced in the 1998 FIA Formula 1 Woi’ld Championship.

The race, which had been scheduled for October 11, was axed by the FIA after being informed that upgrading work at the Estonl circuit could not be completed in time.

The FIA is expected to name a replacement race within a few weeks and all the indica tions are that this will take place at Zhuhai

in China.

The Chinese may be held on October 18 two weeks before the Japanese GP at Suzuka - so there would be no need to send everything back to Europe.

If, as now seems likely, the Belgian GP is dropped from the calendar it is possible that South Africa will come into the list but there will have to be some major changes to the end of season dates if this is to be achieved.

-JOE SAWARD

Damon aims for Jordan's first win

By JOE SAWARD EDDIE Jordan hopes that 1998 will finally give his Silverstone-based team its first victory in Formula 1 racing, but Jordan was cautious when he launched the new JordanMugen Honda 198 during a superb event at London’s Royal Albert

Hall.

“Last year I decided not to try to predict race perfor mances and I am sticking to that policy,” Jordan said.

“I dare not make any com ments about victories. Let’s just see what happens.”

The car features a new longitudinal gearbox with six speeds instead of seven and this is mated to Mugen Honda’s latest MF301HC

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VIO engine, which is lower, lighter and higher-revving than its predecessor.

Immediately after the launch the car was flown to Barcelona, where Damon Hill had his first chance to try the car late the following day.

“This was one of the best first tests with a new car I have had,” Hill reported.

“The car has run faultless ly and I am very impressed that the team has d'one such a great job to |iut it all together without a glitch.”

The car had been run briefly before the launch in London, Ralf Schumacher doing a 30-lap shakedown run at Silverstone.

The team’s financial pack age was much as expected.

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with increased support from Mastercard International and some new backing from Pearl financial giant Assurance.

The team is expected to name another big sponsor before the start of the season in March and this is likely to be the Spanish fuel company Repsol, although we hear that there are two other companies which want the space on the car.

The team confirmed that its test and reserve driver this season will be Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa.

The team finished testing at Barcelona on Saturday blit is due to be back in Spain for the big test at the Circuit de Catalunya in the first week of February.

STING OF THE HORNET...

The new Jordan features a hornet on the nose in place of last year’s snake, but the new sting in the tail comes from Mugen Honda.

The car was tested last week

by Damon Hill(top).

(Photos by LAT Digital)

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Honda back in to BAT?

By JOE SAWARD HONDA is being linked with the British American Racing teai^« 1999 FI pro gram, which is yet to announce its engine deal.

Last week Honda president Nobuhiko Kawamoto said that the Japanese firm will decide this year whether it is going to return to Grand Prix racing in an official capacity in 1999.

Honda has significantly upped its involvement in the Mugen VIO program this year with Honda research & devel opment engineers heavily involved in the design of the new Mugen Honda VIO, which the Jordan team will be running.

Honda is probably using Mugen to get this new engine competitive and reliable so that the company can enter FI in 1999 with an engine which is capable of winning races straight away.

Jordan is naturally keen to be Honda’s chosen team but we believe that BAR will get the deal.

There are already strong Reynard-Honda-BAT connec tions in CART racing, notably with Team Kool Green.

BAR is planning to have a test car up and running mid year, which is likely to be a Tyn’ell fitted with whichever engine is chosen.

New-liok Sauber

PETER Sauber unveiled his new FI car in Vienna last week with the gentle accompaniment of a Viennese waltz in the magniBcent setting of the Schonbrunn Palace.

The Sauber Petronas C17 is the latest design of Leo Ress’s team of engineers at Hinwil in Switzerland.

This is powered by an updated version of the Petronas engine, which has been produced by Ferrari engineers at Maranello with input from the Sauber Petronas engine department under Osamu Goto.

The car will he driven by Jean Alesi and Johnny Herbert with Jorg Muller named as the reserve and test driver.

The Sauber sponsorship package remains largely unchanged this year with continued support from Petronas and from Austrian energy drink company Red Bull.

The colour scheme is some what different thanks to the involvement of Fabrizio Giugiaro of Italdesign, who was asked to come up with a more striking paintjob. ●' There have been rmpours circulating in recent months that former FI driver Gerhard Berger is to have some role at Sauber and Gerhard was an unexpected visitor at the launch, although he was not there in any official capacity.

The C17 is expected to be

Belgian deadline

FRESH DESIGN...

The latest Sauber F1 car (above with Johnny Flerbert) features a colour scheme from Italdesign.

THE battles over the Belgian GP continue, with the FIA giving the organisers until February 15 to sort out the problems which have arisen from a Belgian government decision to ban tobacco advertising.

The FIA and FI boss Bernie Ecclestone say that the race will be scrapped immediately unless the Belgians back down.

-JOE SAWARD

FRIENDLY ADVICE...

Jeah Alesi chats with former teammate Gerhard Berger, who is rumoured to be involved with the team. shaken down this week at the Ferrari test track at Fiorano and will then appear in Barcelona in the first week of February.

-JOE SAWARD

Tyrrell leaves second seat open

New Indy GP chief

TERRY Jackman is the new Chairman of the Board of IndyCar Australia, replacing BUI Sheppard.

Brisbane-born Jackman is the head of Pacific Cinemas, the largest privately-owned cinema exhibition group in Australia, as well as having interests in Coomera movie studios, Movie World on the Gold Coast, Prime Television and Sea World.

IndyCar’s Chief Executive Tony Cochrane said “it is a tremendous advantage to have a Chairman with Mr Jackman’s business experience, coupled with local knowledge of how the Gold Coast operates.”

The IndyCamival is scheduled for October 15-18.

Ten gears up for big season

THE LAST NINJA ... Toranosuke Takagi with the final FI car built by Ken Tyrrell. Note the unusually sculpted top section.

V.,

THE Tyrrell team unveiled its last Formula 1 car at the Bluebird Cafe in London last week but the team, which will close at the end of the 1998 season, was unable to name a driver to partner Japanese new boy Toranosuke Takagi.

The 026 chassis, which is the work of Mike Gascoyne and his design engineers at Ockham, is a fairly conventional car.

However, It does feature an Interesting aerodynamic

treatment at the front end of the top of the monocoque, where a small “valley'’ has been created by bodywork rising up to cover the sus pension mounting points.

The major difference with the 025 is the new Ford VIO engine, which replaces the V8 used last season.

This is an upgraded ver sion of the troublesome chain-driven Zetec-R used last year by Stewart Grand Prix.

The car featured spon sorship from PIAA and YKK with new money-having been found from the Brother electronics compa ny and from the computer service firm Morse.

Takagi also brings sup port from Mild Seven.

The identity of the other Tyrrell driver remains a mystery; with several dri vers offering good money for the seat, but the team management apparently not decided as to whether or

not to go for the dollar s or to try to find a more com petitive driver.

Jos Verstappen remains a possibility but it seems more likely that BAT nominee Jean-Christophe Bouillon will get the nod If money is not an issue.

If the seat goes to the highest bidder it will be either Norberto Fontana, Tarso Marques or Ricardo Rosset who will drive the car.

- JOE SAWA RD

APART from the Shell Australian Touring Car Championship hitting the track at Sandown, this weekend also sees the launch of Network lO’s motorsport coverage for 1998.

From this weekend until November’s Primus 1000 Classic, the network will show over 300 hours of motor racing.

Apart from the Shell ATCC series Ten will again feature Super Touring, the CART World Series, the World Motorcycle Championship the Superbike World Championship and the World Rally Championship.

Ten’s will again use the talents of Bill Woods, Leigh Diffey, Mark Oastler and Barry Sheene for its Shell telecasts.

The weekend of March 1415 will be a big one for the network, with the first round of the FedEx CART series from Miami, the Superbike from Championship Indonesia and the return of RPM, Ten’s motorsport mag azine program hosted by Bill Woods.

WHILE Ten’s telecasts kick off this Sunday after noon racing-starved TV view ers can get a head start on the season tomorrow (Friday) night.

Ten’s Sports Tonight will cross live to the Australian Motorsport Awards in Melboui'ne where Woods will present the top awards of the evening.

Viewing times will vary around the country; check your local guides for broad cast times.

Jilt

W^mlSSo

ALFA Romeo’s new 156 has daz zled the opposition in testing in Italy.

And the good news is that the sexiest Super Tourer in the busi ness good be seen in Britain - and ma3!be at Bathurst - this year.

After the first two days of a Michelin tyre test at Vallelunga in Italy Fabri^io Giovanardi’s 156 was second quickest, though well behind the flying Peugeot 406 of Frenchman Laurent Aiello.

With only wet testing left on the third day of the test, the other encouraging news was the turn of speed of Will Hoy’s Ford Mondeo.

The former BTCC champ pipped cuiTent title-holder Alain Menu for third quickest time, ahead of Rickard Rydell’s Volvo S40 and Gabriele Tarquini, who will race for Honda in the German STW series.

Alfa’s speed is good news for the Nordauto team (which will run Giovanardi and Nicola Larini) in the Italian series, and Euroteam, which is expected to support long time Alfa favourite Stefano Modena in Germany.

But Nordauto is also keen to run selected races in a ‘foreign’ series and, with Germany locked up, that leaves them looking to Britain.

The fact that the cars have been fast ‘out of the box’ also means that Bathurst becomes a more likely destination, especially with the 156 going on sale here in the Spring at under $40,000.

-PHIL BRANAGAN

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Commodore VT watch continues THE prototype VT Commo dore V8 race cars are progi’essing.

Perkins Engineering is close fo finishing the “tubbing” of its production-based first shell and will shortly start fitting out the roll cage.

As our pictures show, the main sheetmetal restructuring affects the front and rear suspension areas.

Most notable at the rear are the wheel arch tubs (right), mountings for the upper and lower control arms and the raised tail-shaft tunnel.

At the front the main rails in the standard car are significantly wider apart than on the VS it replaces. This has required com-

plete re-engineering of the rails, back to the narrower width, to allow the racing front strut assembly to fit, along with the front wheel tubs and the strut mountings.

Work continues apace on both the Perkins prototype and a similar HRT model, both aiming to have a car ontrack in the latter part of the Shell series.

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“We’ve stripped the car right down before rebuilding it, and it’s solid and strong.”

Conway will drive the car at Sandown, Calder, Winton, Oran Park, while McLeod drives at Symmons Plains, Phillip Island, Lakeside, Hidden Valley and Wanneroo.

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Doohan tops PI test

World of Sport

Molar Haiing Calendar Shell Aust. Touring Cor Championship'”

Rd 1 Feb 1 ... .Sandown Feb 8 . . ..Symmons Plains Rd 2 Rd3 Mar 29 .. .Lakeside 10 round series held around Australia

Slick 50 Formula Ford’” Feb 1 ... .Sandown Mar 29 .. .Lakeside

Rd 1 Rd 2

Eight round series held around Australia

Ausf. Formula Holden Championship’”

Rd 1 Feb 1 ... .Sandown Apr 19 .. .Phillip Island . ..Rd 2 Five race series held around Australia

Fedix Cbamp Series'”

Mar 15 ...Homestead . .. .Rd 1 Mar 28 .. .Motegi, Japan ..Rd 2

11 race series held around the United States

Emdy Racing League

Mar 22 .. .Phoenix

Rd 2

19 race series held around the United States, Australia. Brazil and Japan

FIA GT Championship

Rd 1

Mar 22 .. .France

ED

10 race series held around the world.

Formula 1 World C'ship

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Mar 8 . . . .Melbourne Mar 29 . . .Brazil ...

Rd 1 ,Rd2

16 race series held around the world

ACDeko CUP NASCAR* Sfrathfield National Cup

MICK Doohan is unhappy with his 1998 Honda 500, despite top ping the times at last week’s offi cial IRTA test at Phillip Island.

After missing the first two days of the four day test Doohan emerged 0.715s quicker than the surprise packet of the test, Japan’s Nobuatsu

Aoki.

Aoki, who switched to Suzuki this year after finishing third in the 1997 championship on a Honda, was sec ond fastest at the test with a lap of lm34.109s on Thursday, equalling Doohan’s Island lap record.

“The bike isn’t as powerful as last year with the unleaded fuel (intro duced this year),” said Doohan after the testing.

“On the straight were still hitting about 290km/h, but the bike isn’t as powerful under acceleration - that’s where were losing out.”

Doohan, who won last year’s title using Honda’s 180 degree ‘Screamer’ engine, tried both variants of the ‘98 NSR500 but is yet to choose between it and the ‘Big Dong’ unit.

“Hopefully we can find some more power before the season starts. Were testing different engines and we don’t know what well run wdth (this season).

Doohan’s Spanish arch-rival Alex Criville was third fastest overall, fol lowed by MoviStar Honda-Pons team-mates Caflos Checa and World

STILL NO 1... Doohan ended his test 0.7s dear of the pack. Suzukisurprised with their pace; this (L)is Fujiwara. (Photos tyrony aiynn)

IRTA TEST-PHILUPISLAND Best tinies(over 4 days)- 500s 1 Michael Doohan 2 Nobuatsu Aoki 3 Alex Criville 4 Carlos Checa 5 John Kocinski

6 Tadayuki Okada Repsoi Honda, 1:34.670 7 Katsuaki Fujiwara Suzuki RG'/ 1:35.398 FCC Honda V2 4:36:280 8 Matt Wait Shell Honda V2 1:36.340 9 Juan Borja Shell Honda V2 1:36.541 10 Garry McCoy

Best times(over 4 days)-250s 1 Olivier Jacque Ch’field Honda 1:37.158 2 Stefano Perugini Castrol Honda 1:37.259 3 Tohru Ukawa Benetton Honda 1:37.288 1:37.853 4 Sebastian Porto Aprilia 1:38.744 5 Haruchika Aoki FCC Honda

6 race series held in Australia n

^ Winstoo Cup NASCAR

33 race series held around the United States

Top Fuel.Series ..CP Australian Top Fuel Series Round 4

Feb 7

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USA Jet Cars . ..CID USA Jet Cars ....CP Top Fuel Series ..WB

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Australian Top Fuel Series Round 5

Feb 28

FOR the first time there will be a three bike Australian team in the World 500cc Chaippionship this year.

The Shell Advance team will run two Honda NSRSOOVs for Garry McCoy and Juan Borja on the Grand Prix trail, as well as a third machine for local Svild-card’ riders.

The team was announced in

1 I

Nitro Funny Cars .AIR

USA V Australia featuring Glenn Mikres, Peter Russo, n Garry McGrath

Feb 7 Feb 21 Feb 21

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Nitro Funny Cars .AIR USA V Australia featuring Glenn Mikres, Peter Russo, Garry McGrath

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Track legend: AIR-Adelaide Int. R'way, CIDCanberra Int. D'way, CP-Calder Park. ECEastern Creek, PAL-Palmyra R’way, RIRRavenswood Int: R'way. RP-Raceway Park, Heathcote, Victoria, TID-Townsville, WBWillowbank R'way

NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series

Feb 1 ... .Pomona .

Feb 22 .. .Phoenix .

Mar 8 ... .Gainsville Mar 22 .. .Houston .

LOOKING UP... McCoy (above) was delighted at the Melbourne launch but happier once he got on the Phillip Island track (below). Clyde Wolfenden (Photos by Tony'Glynn) (right) is team manager)

Rd 1 Rd2 ,Rd3 ,Rd4

22 race series held around the United States

V-

U rally series held around the world

,;

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

Series or events telecast on Network Ten are marked with an asterix.

Check your local guides for screening details.

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World Roily Chompionhip

Jan 18 . . .Monte Carlo . . . .Rd 1 Feb 6 . . . .Sweden Rd2 ,Rd3 Feb 27 . . .Kenya . ,Rd4 Mar 23 . . .Portugal

McCoy. “This is my first time on a 500 and every day I’ve gone quicker.

I wanted to stay on the thing and I did that -1 did a lot of laps which is the most important thing for me right now.

In the 250 class Olivier Jacque pipped Honda team-mates Stefano Perugini and Tohra Ukawa for best time though championship favoruite, Valentino Rossi, was not present, the Aprilia team represented only by Sebastian Porto, Honda’s Repsoi trio and MoviStar’s Checa and Kocinski were due to continue testing at Eastern Creek this week.

Foggy’s new Shell launches 500 team Ducatiteam

Feb 14 .. .Thunderdome -. .Rd 5 Mar 14 . . .Thunderdome ..Rd 6

yT Feb 15 ...Daytona 500 . ..Rd 1 Feb 22 . . .Nth Carolina . .. .Rd 2 Mar 1 . . . .Las Vegas Rd 3 Rd4 Mar 8 . . . .Atlanta ..

Rd5 Mar 22 . . .Darlington ,Rd6 Mar 29 . . .Bristol . . .

Repsoi Honda 1:33.394 1:34.109 Suzuki RGV Repsoi Honda 1:34.211 MoviStar Honda 1:34.408 MoviStar Honda 1:34:554

Superbike Champion John Kocinski.

Criville, Checa, and Kocinski all set their best times in the final Friday session but Aoki’s team mate, Katsuaki Fujiwara, crashed in the final, session, but was not injured.

The other Australian at the test, 500cc newcomer Garry McCoy, fin ished 10th with a fastest lap of 1min 36.541s on a Shell Advance Racing Honda V-Twin in the final session. The 25-year-old Marlboro rid* from NSW improved his best time by 4.872-secs over the four days.

I’m pretty pleased,” smiled

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Melbourne last week before heading to UNTIL recently Carl Fogarty Phillip Island’s IRTA was without a team for 1998 test, where both riders World Sup'erbike Championship. came to grips with The former World Champion had their new moimts. re-signed his contract with Ducati The team, which last September but, after putting wiU be run by experiTroy Corser and Piei-fi-ancesco Chili enced former Honda in the AD-VF Ducati Team (the Australia team manag- . ‘internal’ Ducati squad) there were er Clyde Wolfenden, is no seats left for ‘Foggy. the results of 18 The solution: build a new team, months work by team with the co-operation of Gio.Ca. owner Jeff Hardwick.

Moto, Italian Ducati’s special parts Hardwick, who has factory. long experience with The signs are good. Joining the the Shell company, British veteran will be team man said that the team will ager Davide Tardozzi, retmuiing to be based in the Superbike racing after a bad year English city of Chester with Promoter’s Yamaha 500 team and that it will be n in 500 and, like the ‘lead’ Corser/ staffed by predomi ChUi outfit, Fogarty will race with nantly Australian ‘factor/ Michelin tyres. staff.

“Our goal is to retmui to win the The team also World Superbike title, because the announced at the success on track are decisive for omlaunch that Craig commercial success,” said Ducati Connell will race the boss Massimo Bordi. wild-card bike at “To have the best top riders as Island’s Phillip Fogarty, Corser and Chili is really Australian Grand expensive for us, but we invest also Prix. for to increase our racing internal McCoy and Borja structure: now Ducati have more spent much of the I’ace engineers and more techni . four-day test getting cians that they work for to prepare used to the chai-acter- . all factory -bikes for our factoiy' rid istics of the new bike, ers. We want wins, this is aU.” the former 125 star What -will wins cost? Ducati -wiU getting within 0.2s of spend 15 billipn lire (A$14m) on its the Spaniai’d, who has 1998 racing program in Superbilces two years 500 experi and Supersports this season, and ence with the Swiss that’s just on its European progi-am.

Elf team.

Fogai-t/s delighted with the deal.

They finished right “I’m very happy to stay with Ducati Performance. I will have a on the pace of fellow V-twin debutant Matt full support from Ducati and from the team, all that I need to -win.

Wait, despite being “Next season I will have a several hampered by a lack of suitable gearbox challengers, but this is not a prob ratios. lem for me: I’m 33 years old, but I “'The 500 is a lot dif never raced so hard in my long career as I do now. ferent to the 125s I’ve raced before, but I’m “I’m ready for a big battle. I’m confident to defend really good my having a ball,” said Number One”.

McCoy. - PAOLO GOZZI

3DJamiy1998

Benetton jumps to Bridgestone

By JOE SAWARD

ON THE TRACK... The Benetton team has been keen to get plenty of miles for its two new race drivers and to gain experience with the Bridgestone tyres before Albert Park. This is Giancario Fisichella in the car at Barcelona last week.

THE new Benetton B198, which has been designed by a team of engineers led by Nick Wirth, under the technical directorship of Pat Symonds, has already been tested in Spain with dri vers Giancario Fisichella and Alexander Wurz driving.

The team said it will'have a test driver later in the year but at the moment all the track time is needed to give Fisichella and Wurz as much running as possible before the start of the season.

The Benetton sponsorship package is slightly different from last year.

More space has been given to the team's title sponsor Mild Seven and the intention is clearly to convince Japan Tobacco which owns the Mild Seven brand - to sign a new contract for the futurb.

The current deal finishes at the end of this year and the Japanese are known to have been disppointed with the results achieved since the departure of Michael Schumacher.

Team manager David Richards and his marketing team - led by David Warren are aiming to give Mild Seven a better deal than was the case in the old Benetton regime headed by Flavio Briatore.

The Mecachrome engine, which remains unbadged, will continue to be developed, but will have to compete with newer, small er and lower rival engines.

“This engine is conceived around the old wide-track regs and it’s difficult to say at this stage what effect that’s going to have,” said designer Nick Wirth.

While there is plenty of optimism at Benetton and a stable staff under Operations Director Joan Villadelprat, the team is having trouble with its dramatic new windtunnel.

The project, which was announced in April 1996, was due to be finished nearly a

WHO ARE YOU CALLING BIG NOSE?... The nose of the new B198 (above) is wide and flat compared to many of the new releases. Note the unusual aerodynamic tweak with the small bargeboards (below).

BENETTON has joined McLaren in switching from Goodyear to Bridge stone tyres.

"Tyres are the critical ele ment to success and it is a very important decision for us," said Benetton team chief David Richards. \ "Bridgestone have been competitive in everything they have been involved in and they have gone on to win.

"We hope to give them their first win this season."

Benetton had been under contract to Goodyear until the end of 1999 but, as the American tyremaker has said that it will not be supplying tyres for the 1999 sea-, son, the contract is no longer

1

as a way of offloading some of its teams onto Bridgestone, without having to break any contracts, It is perhaps significant that during a recent trip to Slovenia, Goodyear's chair man Sam Gibara is believed

to have had secret talks with both Williams and Ferrari.

Certainly the Bridgestone management does not believe that Goodyear will be pulling out.

At the launch of the new Benetton B198, Bridgestone's FI boss Hiroshi Yasukawa, said he expects to be compet ing against Goodyear in 1999.

Yasukawa said that there will not be any further teams in the Bridgestone camp this year, ending speculation about Jordan, valid.

Bridgestone is now supplyUnder the circumstances, ing McLaren, Benetton, Richards said that he saw no Frost, Arrows, Stewart and point in continuing with Minardi, leaving Goodyear with Williams, Ferrari, Goodyear in 1998.

It is curious, therefore, Jordan, Sauber and Tyirell.

According to Yasukawa, that there has been no sign of movement to Bridgestone the Bridgestone deal with from Williams and Fen-ari - Benetton was not discussed seriously until the beginning Goodyear's top teams.

The implication appears to of January and negotiations be that Goodyear has no were concluded the night intention of pulling out at all before Benetton launched the but used the announcement B198.

3

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year ago but problems have led to consider able delays.

Calibration of the tunnel will not now begin until May, which will mean that the’ tunnel will not be in use until the summer at the earliest, 15 or 16 months behind schedule.

- JOE SAWARD

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30January 1998

Health Minister siams the ‘ratbags’ of Paris

n Michael Schumacher has confirmed that he intends to stay with Ferr&ri until the end of 1999, although the con tract is believed to include clauses which will enable Michael to leave Fiorano if certain performance tar gets are not met this year. n David Richards says that the full impact of his efforts as the new chief executive of Benetton Formula will not be felt for three years. "I am real ly looking three years down the line," Richards said, "before I imagine seeing a team moulded in the way I think it needs to be to achieve consistent success.” n At the Stewart launch. Ford's European motorsport chief Martin Whitaker indicated that in the course of 1997 the Ford Zetec-R VIO engine gained more than 100 horsepower, which he sug gested is probably the largest percentage gain on an FI engine ever in a single Grand Prix season. n As expected, Brazilian Ricardo Zonta will be McLaren's chief test driver this year. The Formula 3000 Champion will combine his work with McLaren with a seat in the Mercedes factory GT racing team.

Alessandro Benetton has undei-lined his fami ly's continued commit ment to Formula 1 racing by putting a young family member - Rocco Benetton -into the team organisa tion. Rocco is now learn ing the ropes in the mar keting department. n Reports that the European Union is plan ning to ban alcohol spon sorship of sporting events throughout Europe have been denied by the European Commission in Brussels. There had been reports that France is proposing a Europe-wide ban on alcohol sponsor ship. France already has a ban on all alcohol sponsor ships.

FEDERAL Minister

Wooldridge is clearly not a man given to sub tle expression of his

PEELING BACK THE COVERS... Two of the Stewart design team reveal their new 1998 challenger.

(Photos by LAT Digital)

Ford to push Stewart

By JOE SAWARD

STEWART Grand Prix launched its new SF2 chassis at Ford's Research and Engineering Centre at Dunton, Essex, with high hopes for the season ahead - the team's second in Grand Prix racing.

But team chairman Jackie Stewart warned that 1998 may be a more difficult year than 1997.

The team scored a fortunate second place at Monaco last year but otherwise the season was spoiled by a lack of horsepower and poor relia bility, although the Stewart chassis was obviously quite good.

"In my opinion, 1998 will be, in many ways, more diffi cult than our first year," said Stewart.

"People may expect too much of us in 1998. I expect a conservative year, a year of consolidation."

There was good news from Detroit, however, with Ford's

LOOKING FOR RELIABILITY... Cosworth’s Brian Dickie and Nick Hayes with Ford’s new VIO Grand Prix engine. new director of Special Vehicle Operations, Dan Davis, indieating that Ford will have an even closer involvement with the team than previously probably at the expense of Ford involvement in others forms of racing.

"Jac Nasser appointed me

to make Ford win again in all the major series," said David, "(but) a major turnaround like that will not happen overnight, We expect to withdraw from series which do not meet our strategic goals."

The new SF2 featured

Schuey linked to Indy team

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Mic.hael Schuma cher's manager Willy Weber is reported to be planning to link up with Emerson Fittipaldi to establish a CART team in the United States. Stories in Germany say that the new operation run two will Reynard-Mercedes chassis and suggest ed that both Michael and Ralf Schumacher might be possible dri vers in the future.

opinions.

Having announced that he is against the use of a kangaroo by Rothmans International as its logo for the Winfield cigarette brand - which is backing Williams this year Wooldridge has now attacked the FIA, who he says have not stood up to the tobacco industry.

"The people who are the real ratbags in aU of this IS the FIA," said Wooldridge in Canberra.

'They have been gutless and weak.

increased Ford badging and the new Cosworth-built Ford "Most other sporting VIO engine has been designed with a great deal ofinput from bodies have toughened Ford engineers in Detroit. up, they haven't and, The team confirmed that it quite frankly, it's pathethas ambitious plans for this ic. season with the intention of But Wooldridge's com growing from 110 staff to plaints - and the criticism around 170 at the end of the of others - seem to have year with the establishment had little effect on of a test team and expansion Victorian Premier Jeff into the team's new factory Kennett, who said that if within a few months.

The team did not the Australian govern ment lifted the Grand announce any more new Prix's current exemption sponsors, but Jackie Stewart revealed that the Hong Kong from the tobacco adver and Shanghai Bank tising laws, Australia Corporation - Ford's banker cotild lose the race.

'There is sufficient evi - would be increasing its involvement. dence to suggest that if a The new SF2 is the work country is to stop allow of Alan Jenkins and his ing cigarette companies design team - 13 members of to sponsor motor racing which, each clad in a Racing then the race is with Stewart kilt, unveiled the drawn fi-om that country," car, accompanied by the Kennett said. incongruous noise of a 'You have to weigh up Scottish samba band, featur the other benefits." ing bagpipes and samba -JOE SAWARD drums ...

New Minardi tests in Italy

THE new Minardi-Ford M198 ran for the first time last week at Ferrari’s Mugello test track near Florence in Italy, with Argentina’s new rising star Esteban Tuero at the wheel.

The car, which ran in a grey livery but without any spon sors, is the latest design from Gabriele Tredozi’s team at Faenza with considerable input from aerodynamicists under Jean-Claude Migeot at Fondmetal Technologies in Casumaro, which Minardi’s new boss Gabriele Rumi owns. ,, The team is unlikely to reveal

its full package of sponsorship until the end of February and this will largely depend on who gets the second seat in the team, alongside Tuero.

Last week the team announced that it had been forced to release Tarso Marques from his longteim Minardi confract, the impli cation being that a driver with either more experience or more money has been found.

The names currently being linked with the team include Tom Verstappen, Jos Kristensen, Shinji Nakano and Laurent Redon.

-JOE SAWARD

30Jamry199S

Keeping the best for Lars LARS Johansson, who raced Formula Ford in Australia in the early 1990s, will be in action here again in 1998, this time in Formula Holden.

Johansson will drive a Reynard, thought to be the car driven by 1995 F3000 champion Vincenzo Sospiri.

The car is being converted to Formula Holden specs by Sydney engineer Harry Galloway.

Currently working in the computer industry in Sweden, Johansson will be commuting to Australia to race the car, which will be race-engineered by ex-WGR man Paris Acott.

-BARRY LAKE

konman Andrews sets sights n on Bathurst

Rea wants to return MALCOLM Rea, the Queensland Toyota spe cialist who briefly ran a Toyota Corolla Sprinter iT' Super Touring a couple o\ seasons back, has two brand new Corolla Conquest four-door sedan body shells sitting in his workshop.

Rea is building one as a Super Tourer for the 1998 series and plans to make the other into a Class E GT Production car.

Rea said he might-drive both cars himself, but is also considering putting a young driver (preferably one with a sponsor)into the GTP car.

- BARRY LAKE

13

READY TO RACE... Tony Longhurst with his friend and possible partner, Guy Andrews.

Bernie Ecclestone to reveal all in book BOOK publishing circles in London are buzzing that Formula 1 boss Bemie Ecclestone has coneluded a deal with a major British publisher to write a book about his life.

The book is being researched and ghost-written this year by British jour nalist Terry Lovell, who has no con-

nection with Formula 1, and it is expected to be published to coincide with the 1999 British Grand Prix.

The book is likely to tell some inter esting inside stories about the modern Grand Prix world while also revealing a little more about Ecclestone’s fasci nating past as a second-hand car deal er and property trader.

TONY Longhurst has offered Ironman Guy Andrews a drive at Bathurst.

Longhurst pledged that if his friend won his third Uncle Toby Super Series title at f^ortsea last weekend he could have the second seat in his second Ford Falcon in November.

And Andrews came through!

The Queenslander over came the opposition and the Arctic Victorian ‘summer’ weather to finish second behind Kane Heussner in the final, gaining enough points to clinch the title.

And he appears to be tak ing Longhurst’s offer very seriously.

Andrews is now searching for a $50,000 sponsor to back his entry in seven of the eight rounds of the Commodore Cup this season.

This would also include signage on the Castrol Falcon which Andrews would race at Bathurst.

Longhurst believes it is an excellent sponsorship package.

The super-fit Longhurst and Andrews train together in Queensland and Tony has given the ironman some ontrack tuition.

Andrews, 27, quietly made his Commodore debut at Sandown last September.

In a leased car, he quali fied 12th after less than 15

qualifying laps and, in the wet on Sunday, impressed observers by finishing sev enth and 10th in the two races, He’s got plenty of driving talent and proved that at Sandown, which was far from an easy race for him,” Longhurst says.

Guy is a natural and I think athletes are often good at motorsport.

"I’ve trained a lot (of them) at our driving school, but I’ve never found an athlete with Guy’s natural ability.”

Andrews is determined to make a career of racing.

“After Sandown I’m more determined than ever to have a big go at motor racing,” Andrews said, When I competed at Sandown I realised the close correlation between motor racing and ironman.

‘Tm so used to pushing it to the limit, but not going over the edge.

“Sandown was about controlled aggression.

“That’s exactly what I do when I race Ironman.”

His long-term aims are to become a race driver, once he decides to hang up the trunks, Qnce I finish in the Ironman then I’ll move into motor racing full-time.

My dream would be to team up with Tony at Bathurst every year and run my own car in the Shell Series.

Schuey puts on the blinkers

MICHAEL Schumacher hit the headlines in Europe when he said that he did not believe his reputation had been adversely affected by the accident with Jacques Villeneuve at Jerez at the end of last season.

In a staggering piece of selfdelusion, Schumacher said that he did not believe that his repu-

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tation has "gone down".

"I believe most people do not reduce the season to one race," he said. "Most see the whole season.

"I am well aware the season ended badly for me but I have to look to the future.

"I have said I made a mistake and I can't correct that wrong.

"The press should see that what is behind it is not some-

thing very serious."

It should be noted that German-language racing maga zines are all reporting serious drops in the sales figures after the European GP and, while some of this is certainly due to the fact that the season was fin ished, there has also been a drop off in his popularity in Germany.

-JOESAWARD

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Nigel just can’t slow down Former World Champion Nigel Mansell has lost his driving licence for six months, having been found guilty of a fourth speeding offence. Mansell, a part-time policeman, said that he had crept over the speed limit in his Bentley Continental with out noticing. He was trav elling about 40kmh over the speed limit.

■ Australian Sam Michaels, who has been in charge of research and development at Jordan in recent years, will engineer Ralf Schumacher’s car in the world championship this year.

■ Frederic Saint Geours, the chairman of Peugeot Sport, has been named Managing-Dkector of the entire Peugeot car company. Saint-Geours was one the leading play ers in Peugeot’s push into GP racing in 1994. ei Plans for the Formula 1 teams to test in South Africa have been axed as Williams turned out to be the only team interested in fl3dng all its equipment to Johannesburg.

-JOESAWARD

Weight changes for GTP

By BARRY LAKE

PROCAR is moving towards lowering the cost of taking part in each of the lower classes in GT Production in the future.

Class structures for the GTP category will have upper limits on the cost of cars listed for each class, as well as the usual engine capacity and other limits.

The full impact of these changes will not come into force until the long-distance races at the end of the year.

A one-hour race at Sandown will now join the Bathurst 3-hour GTP race to make it an enduro double.

For the 1998 GT Production Car Championship, condessions will be made to protect the investments of a few exist ing competitors who already had committed to cars in hne with the old class structure.

These will be allowed to continue in their former classes for the 1998 series by invitation of the promoters.

The highest new-car retail value of cars in each class will now be, approximately: $26,000 for Class E, $37,000 for Class D, $47,000 for Class C, and $89,000 for Class B. The upper limit for Class A cars is ,$300,000 and this is the only class for which cars not generally sold in Australia will be eligible.

A sixth class has been pro posed for small sports cars up to 2500cc and up to

CHARGING INTO A NEW YEAR... Weight will be used to keep the racing this close. $53,000, which will be implemented for the endurance races if sufficient interest is shown in the category.

The Toyota MR2, the new Mazda MX-5, MGF 1.8i WC, Honda CR-X and Honda Prelude would be eligible for this ne^:W small sports car class.

Procar intends to implement weighting of the fastest cars outright and in each class this year to close up the fi elds for a better TV package.

The weight adjustments are designed to make a number of different makes and models more competitive in each class.

Class E. could see the Suzuki Swift GTi challenged by cars like, Suzuki Baleno, Honda Civic, Daihatsu Applause, Mitsubishi'Lancer,

Holden Barina, Toyota Corolla, Ford Laser, Mazda 323, Daihatsu Charade and Proton M21 Coupe.

Class D candidates include: Mazda 626 V6, Hyundai Coupe, Honda Civic VTi-R, Nissan Pulsar SSS, Chrysler Neon, Nissan Bluebird, Mazda Astina V6, Seat Ibiza GTi, Holden Astra GSi, Subaru Liberty, and the new Honda Accord VTi 2.3 VTEC Sedan, Class C best picks include: the latest Ford Falcon XR8 and XR6, Holden Commodore VT SS V8, Volkswagen Golf VR6, Peugeot 306 GTi-6, Mitsubishi Magna Sports V6, and Toyota Camry CSi V6.

Class B will see the formerly dominant Subaru WRX 4WD Turbo brought back to cars such as the new Volvo S40 T4 Turho, Volvo

850 T5R Turbo, Nissan 200SX Turbo, Ford Falcon GT, HSV Commodore VT GTS 220i, HSV Commodore VT Club Sport V8, BMW Z3 2.8 and even the Volvo V70R AWD Turbo Wagon.

In the outright category, the pacesetting Porsche 911 RSCS, Ferrari 355 Challenge and Dodge Viper, along with the newly-introduced Lotus Elise 190 Sport (subject to proof of 75 having been built and sold) all will be weighted.

This will bring them back to cars like the latest version of the Maserati Ghibli Cup the new Twin-turbo, Chevrolet Corvette V8, upgraded Honda NSX SZero, BMW M3-R Coupe, Lotus Esprit V8 Twin-turbo and Toyota Supra RZ Twinturbo.

THE economic disasters which have affected the Far East will not disrupt plans to hold a Malaysian Grand Prix in 1999 - at least not if the Malaysians can help it.

While other major develop ment programs have been delayed or cancelled in recent months because of the eco nomic turmoil, the plans to build a Grand Prix circuit next to the new Kuala International Lumpur

Airport have not been affect-

ed.

According to Malaysian sources, this is because the airport is now nearing com pletion and work is advanc ing on the $75m race track.

The Malaysians hope that the circuit will be able to host its first race at the end of next year.

The authorities hope that the event will help to restore some of the confidence in Malaysia which has been lost in the recent slump.

Malaysia, it should be remembered, is also invest ing heavily in the Sauber Petronas VIO engine project, which has not been affected by the economic turmoil because the company does most of its dealings in US dollars rather than the local currency.

THREE ABREAST... Stephan Gregoire ran out of fuel but still finished third. Trying to take him around the outside are Robbie Buhl and Stan Wattles.

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Champ’s IRL opener REIGNING Indy Racing League champion Tony Stewart won the season opening Indy 200 last Saturday as rival con tenders dropped out throughout a crashmarred race at Disney World in Florida.

After qualifying was rained out, the American started from the pole for the second year in a row and rolled to his second career IRL triumph.

American Jeff Ward was second and France’s Stephan Gregoire took third after run ning out of fuel on the fin^l lap to fall out of the runnerup spot.

Stewaift watched as mishaps befell Roberto Guerrero, Buddy Lazier and Mark Dismore - the only other rac ers who grabbed the lead over 200 laps at the mile oval.

Stewart passed Dismore for the lead five laps from the finish and Dismore ran out of fuel moments later, ending the threat.

“It was tough to beat Mark Dismore because he taught me so much about racing and I used to drive go-karts for him when I was a kid,” Stewart said.

Lazier led for a period but crashed with 43 laps to go, the tenth and final incident of the race.

Caution flags dominated, beginning at the very start when Robbie Groff crashed.

Guerrero surged ahead of Stewart on a restart after a crash at the beginning of the race, hut his lead lasted only seven laps.

On lap 15, Chile’s Eliseo Salazar sprm exiting the first turn and Guerrero was

slammed into the outer wall

by Marco Greco as both tried to avoid the incident, which also damaged the car of Indy 500 champion Arie Luyendyk.

Former Formula One racer Eddie Cheever and fellow American Stan Wattles were among those forced out by car damage.

US racer Billy Boat made his car live up to his name, losing control on a restart on the front straightaway and skidding across pools of water on the infield grass.

Brazil’s Raul Boesel, a CART veteran in his first IRL race, nearly hit Sweden’s Kenny Brack from behind on pit row and then crashed into Robbie Buhl’s car trying to avoid him.

The next IRL event is in Mai’ch at Phoenix.

.

SOJanuaiy 1998

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ast July - late on the night of the German Grand Prix a colleague and I found our selves sitting at midnight munching on lukevi/arm hamburg ers in a McDonalds in the suburbs of the industrial city of Ludwigshafen.

“Well,” said my mate, “don't ever let anyone tell you that this Formula 1 is not a glamourous life!’

We laughed a lot.

Ludwigshafen is not at all like Monte Carlo. A railway junction, it has little to commend it except a series of nasty chemical works. It was completely flattened in World War Two by Allied bombers and the rebuilding was done “in mod ern style”, which means that there is a lot of concrete and not much architectural talent.

Ready, Steady, Launch Wmiwnm t

was reminded of the visit after Stewart Grand Prix’s launch of its 1998 FI challenger at a Ford research and development estab lishment at Dunton. I am sure this is a very worthy and impressive establishment - we were not allowed to look at the interesting bits - but it has the great disad vantage of being located in one of the less scenic parts of the British Isles - Essex - and to get there one has to traverse some very country. u.'iglamorous Somewhere along the route we stumbled upon a sign saying: “Welcome to Nastyville - Twinned with Ludwigshafen”.

Stewart’s intention in dragging the F1 press corps out to Dunton was to ram home the connection between Ford’s high technology capabilities and its involvement in Grand Prix racing. It was a fairly pointless exercise. There is no point in trying to prove how mindblowing the technology available is , unless you are winning races. If you are not winning people merely ask: “If they have all this hardware how come they are not winning?”

Not a word about Stewart appeared in the major British J newspapers the following day. , People (unless they wear dirty j anoraks and twitch occasionally) I are not interested in technology | unless it can make tea for them, do the washing up or make them feel somehow superior to the rest of 'of unlikely ingredients.

Stewart would have done well the world. on this occasion as its launch his is a lesson that most of the featured several unlikely ingredi other Formula 1 teams learned ents including a Japanese engi many years ago. The press will not neer wearing a kilt, a Scottish Samba band and several dust write about some amazing and rev olutionary titanium gadget because bins.

McLaren is a team which the public would rather hear about David Coulthard’s latest girlfriend always likes to-do things bigger or where Jacques Villeneuve gets and better than everyone else. I his blue rinses done. heard the other day that The power of the personality is McLaren’s plans to launch the much greater than the lure of the MP4/13 were still being finalised machine, it is a sign of the times in because the idea of renting an Grand Prix racing that Coulthard aircraft carrier had failed to get has taken to appearing on talk off the ground.

Having used The Spice Girls shows and recently broke new ground in FI by taking part in to launch the 1997 car, McLaren something called “Ready Steady and its fun-loving partners Cook” a cookery show in which two Mercedes-Benz and West were half-famous chefs race to create a struggling to come up with any thing bigger, until some maniac in mouth-watering meal from a ridicu a marketing department some lous assortment of ingredients cho sen for them by someone with where suggested renting an air craft carrier -^Russian ones are a sadistic tendencies.

The exciting thing about the very good deal at the moment.

The new car was to have been show - and I have to say I am an avid viewer - is that the whole launched on one of the large ele thing has to be finished within 20 vators used to bring the jet fight minutes. Their only assistance ers up to the flight deck. This was comes from a helper - hence apparently rejected as being too Coulthard’s role - who gets all the impractical - not to mention cold, lousy jobs like peeling carrots and wet and unpleasant at this time of then has to pretend to like the year.

Such a launch would - proba resulting meal.

Perhaps the BBC could start a bly - impress the cynical old new series called “Ready Steady Formula 1 press corps. The members of this club are now Launch” in which half-famous FI [narketing types have to come up somewhat immune to dancing with car launch ideas using a list girls, laser beams, dry ice and all

T

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THERE’S A BENETTON IN THERE, HONEST... Benetton Formula launched its 1998 Grand Prix (Photo by LAT Digital) challenger amid-shock, surprise - a shower ofpyrotechnics in London last week. the usual pyrotechnics.

The current trend appears to be to find a startling venue. This was kicked off last year with McLaren’s use of London’s Alexandra Palace and is being followed up this year

by Sauber’s launch at the Habsburg summer palace Schloss Schonbrunn - ip Vienna and Jordan’s use of the Royal Albert Hall in London.

The as toexpect where all thismind will boggles end. I fully to receive an invitation shortly to see the launch of a_new FI car on the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower in Paris -the intention being to get everyone guessing as to how the car was actually put there.

I half expect McLaren to go one better than everyone else and have the new car inside the load ing bay of the Space Shuttle.

It struck me at the Stewart launch - when I spotted a clergy man looking somewhat out of place -.that no-one has yet done anything religious. Then 1 rememberecf Ferrari having The Pope visit Maranello to bless the racing cars.

It did not do much good. Enzo Ferrari died a few weeks later.

I concluded that the best idea would be to have a launch in St Paul’s Cathedral in London with a press corps sitting in the congrega tion. A thunderous roar of the organ would be followed by the arrival of the new car at high speed, skidding to a stop under the dome, on top of the memorial to Sir Winston Churchill. I am sure that the cathe dral would appreciate the fee.

I expect the deal would go to McLaren as it has just announced a new sponsorship with the drinks company Schweppes, which is part of the Cadburys chocolate empire, which recently beamed a laser image of its Wispa chocolate bar onto the dome of St Paul’s as part of an advertising campaign.

I also wondered if anyone in FI would come up with the idea of renting Parliament in London, but concluded that this might lead to unpleasant comments about Bernie Ecclestone having already

done that as part of his campaign to tobacco stop advertising being banned.

I can imagine Jackie Stewart doing do a deal with the Queen to launch his next car at Buckingham Palace, with JYS standing on the balcony with Her Royal Highness, waving to the assembled press corps below.

B

Iknow whatI would do.

I would drop a 1004on block ofconcrete = with the new car attached to the top ofit- onto the old one, which would be completely demolished.

ut what is the point of all this?

Coverage. People want to get their cars into the newspapers.

That keeps the sponsors happy because they have been promised vast exposure by the silvertongued lounge lizards of the FI marketing departments.

Some teams are lucky. If you are Ferrari you do not need to do anything. You are a news story simply because you are Ferrari.

Williams does not have the same brand image as the folks at Maranello and so does not bother with big launches. This year saw a deft piece of footwork with the team unveiling its new Winfield colour scheme on the same day as the Ferrari unveiling in Italy. This gave newspaper editors two pic tures on the same day and so both teams ended up with more cover age. if I was a contestant on “Ready Steady Launch” I know what I would do. I would rent an old ware house and put one of my 1997 cars on a small stage under a dust sheet in front of the assembled media. I would'then unveil the car in the usual manner with members of the drawing office in kilts, nuns on roller blades or something similarly silly.

Then, after a few moments, dur ing which everyone would whisper that the car looked exactly the same as the old one, I would drop a 100-ton block of concrete - with the new car attached to the top of it

- onto the old car, which would be completely demolished. It would be a very graphic indication that things were moving on.

I would then serve the media with pizza and flat champagne and tell them all that there had been an unfortunate accident in rehearsal.

They would be sent home with mouse pads with the word SQUISH! written on them and flat caps to wear at the races.

If nothing else the launch would serve to improve the general level of dress in the paddock, some thing which would keep Bernie Ecclestone happy as he feels that the F1 press people dress like scarecrows. was sitting through another launch the other day when it struck me that there must be a market for this sort of thing and began considering whether or not it would be financial ly viable to set up a company spe cialising in organising FI car launches. All you have to do is come up with enough silly ideas and then organise them, saving the FI teams time and energy.

This would mean that for two months of the year you would be very busy but for the rest of the year you could do absolutely noth ing and, thanks to your good con nections, could visit FI races and not have to work.

Such is the money spent on the launches that you would quickly end up as a millionaire.

I think I will call the company “Ready Steady Launch”...

16

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30 January 1998

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"I've been boning up for this race ever since I got here."

- Murray Walker

Jacques Villeneuve

Jacques V

Schuey "I like Jacques as a person."

- Michael Schumacher on Jacques Villeneuve in March "He started to turn in on me. But he didn't do it well enough because he went off and I didn't.'

- Villeneuve on Schumacher's infamous move at Jerez "I do not feel I made a mistake.'

- Schumacher after hitting Vilieneuve in the final race at Jerez "I am human like everyone else and I made a mistake."

- Schumacher two days later "He admitted he did it deliberate ly but Instinctively."

- FIA president Max Mosley on Schumacher "Michael did something so bla tant that it really tarnished his great reputation."

- Damon Hill "I knew Michael was capable of doing that. It was a little bit expected."

- Villeneuve "Michael told me after the race he didn't see me ... then he saw me and just wouldn't accept it and he tried to take me off."

- Villeneuve again

"I have had enough... we are notfriends and we never will be. ft - Villeneuve on Schumacher in December

"I usually don't get that excited before a race Murray..."

- Alan Jones

"The racing has been a little bit tame here in previous years ..."

- Ingall on racecraft

"Profit isn't a dirty word. We're not rip ping off Bathurst or anybody."

-(former) AVESCO chairman Ron Meatchem

"Another one of Larry's two dol lar radios ..."

- Ingall on why he lost pit communication at Surfers

"Alan Gow should concentrate on the British touring cars and not worry about what's going to happen in Australia."

- Ron Meatchem "I don't understand why people treat the driver like a big star and it's impossible to touch him. If I f*** up I tell you I f*** up. If the driver f***s up I tell the driver he f***ed up."

- Benetton boss and diplomat Flavio Briatore "I know I'm going to have to learn new things this year - like looking in my mirrorsi" - Damon Hill on moving to Arrows "On the slowing down lap I felt so emotional that I cried."

- David Couithard after winning the AGP "In the long term we'll end up with just one Bathurst race."

-Tony Cochrane "He 1s brave, correct and very inter esting with girls."

- Jean Alesi on Gerhard Berger "People want to see cars driven on the edge ... it puts the onus back on drivers to show what they can do with an unwieldy beast."

- Damon Hill on treaded tyres "Why would I want to be recognised when I'm buying condoms or itchy foot cream?"

- David Coulthard on fame

"I've never met a happy loser."

- Ingall on John Bowe

castm

"My old lucky underpants still travel with me, even though I don't wear them anymore."

- David Coulthard

"I do not want a bunch of prima don nas on the grid but, rather, real men in real machines."

- AGP boss Ron Walker respond ing to criticism from Michael Schumacher

"You should never listen to what they (the weather forecasters) say."

- Jacques Villeneuve at Monaco

"He is talking a load of rubbish. It's probably the safest track In the world.

If he personally doesn't like it, he should go home."

- Bernie Ecclestone on Michael Schumacher at Albert Park "He brake-tested me at the top of the hill... he's the f***ing idiot and you can quote me."

- Greg Murphy on Larry Perkins at Wanneroo

"Oh, shut up. The old dragon is back; I thought the old girl had been ban ished to the US." - A grinning Eddie Jordan to and about John Watson at a press con ference "Depends if it is a sex movie..."

- Gerhard Berger on appearing in Sylvester Stallone's planned FI movie

The teams have stopped squeezing my balls and are now at each other's. ft - Bernie Ecclestone on the delicate art of negotiation

"Second-placed leader Paul Morris...'

- the legendary Murray Walker "When I was going around I saw a picture on the big screen of a Williams and naturally assumed that it was me before realising it wasn'tl" - Damon Hill at Albert Park "Can I interrupt here? Is it possible to reduce the air conditioning?"

- Tough guy Schumacher at an Alberf Park press conference

"I'm sleeping in my race car tonight.

No-one's going to steal this from me!"

- John Cleland at Bathurst

"I'm not very well. I spent a little bit too much time on the big white tele phone." ' - A sick Jacques Villeneuve In Argentina

"What should I do, brake simply because I'm Michael's brother? I'm not the third Ferrari driver."

- Ralf Schumacher after crashing Michaei out of the race in Germany

"Now, for me the friendship is fin ished."

- Glancarlo Fisichella after being crashed out of a race by team mate Ralf Schumacher

1

"It is really simple: if the sky is grey and the ground is wet, it is raining."

- Ken Tyrrell at Monaco

ft

"I don't know what he was smoking ..."

- Wayne Gardner on Russell Ingall at Symmons Plains

"I've never finished a six-hour race but I have gone six hours in a 24-hour race!"

- Patrick Watts at Bathurst

"He doesn't deserve to win the championship."

- Greg Murphy on Ingali

"I'd be surprised if, at the end of the day, there are two races (at Bathurst)."

-Tim Schenken in January

"The new rules are total crap.'

- Jacques Villeneuve

"Rolling a car was just another box in life that I hadn't ticked off. Now I have."

- Peter Brock after his practice roll at Bathurst

"This sport has provided me with a broad set of shoulders."

- Mark Larkham bites his lip after getting a serve

H."l don't expect them to like me -

"There's no way I'm retiring just yet.'

- Dick Johnson

"When they name it 'Dick's Dipper', I'll bolt."

- Dick Johnson

Michael Schumacher

The Russell Ingall factor...

"We have about 100 cars in stock so we could make our own Grand Prix.

At least a McLaren would wini" - Ron Dennis "Today I am just the side salad to the main dish."

- Ukyo Katayama at a press con ference with Schumacher and Villeneuve

It

He’s the dirtiest driver I've seen in 25 years.

ft

- John Bowe on Ingall I'm here to race and if they don't like that ..."

- Russell'The Enforcer’ "John Bowe is playing silly bug gers, which doesn't amuse me too much. That's the coward's way out."

- Ingall on mind games "You f***ing beauty" - Ingall on live TV after win ning Bathurst "As a racing driver you take risks every time you go out. If you cant accept that then you shouldnt be out there."

- Jacques Villeneuve "If I was Frank Williams I would be looking around for someone to replaoe (Frentzen)."

- Alan Jones "He is a fantastic driver with a lot of talent. I remain convinced that he can make the most of his ability."

- Frank Williams on Frentzen "Every time I'd turn to the right, the traok would turn upside down."

- Paul Tracy on his mid-season health problems "Lakeside is a joke. It embarrasses me as a Queenslander."

- Alan Jones "If the straight went to Melbourne I'd be fine, but that first corner upsets things a bit."

-South African Mike Briggs on his wayward Mondeo at Calder "I don't know where Larry thinks he sets the standard of behaviour."

- Mark Skaife "I have to get him back on the boil.

His lack of performance has been making the car look far worse than it really is."

-Tom Walkinshaw delivers a mes sage via the media to Damon Hill at the British GP "Tom told me he was misquoted and I am too percent behind the team."

- Hill's response "That was just stupid behaviour. He's just an idiot."

- Larry Perkins on Greg Murphy

"The teams can go to hell ... Some of them think they have me by the balls but their hands aren't big enough."

- Bernie Ecclestone

"Motor racing needs to heal a few wounds. We don't want divisiveness. I don't want to see one side try and crush another."

- Peter Brock on motor racing politics

"I'm disappointed at how politically correct F1 has become. When someone has an accident, everyone acts as if they are sad - but they don't really care."

- Jacques Villeneuve

"It wasn't very nice, was it? It looked awfully deliberate from where I was sitting," - John Bowe after being hit by Peter Fitzgerald at Amaroo in the GTPs

3SJm3iyW98

4^mV7!

Compiled by David Hassall, Phil Branagan, Aaron Noonan and Dan Knutson

"He just kept shutting the door; there was nothing I could do."

- Fitzgerald's response "At least I'll now get free headlights. I seem to get through a few of them."

- John Faulkner on the benefits of Holden sponsorship "I guess 1 lost a little faith in myself."

- Craig Lowndes on his difficult F3000 season "This is the most exciting sport in the world."

- Movie star Sylvester Stallone

"I took the right decision. I am not scared any more of suddenly being old.'

- Gerhard Berger on retirement "I have been learning how to do it and I have already invented a new form of surfing. It's called 'sub-aqua style,' and I have swallowed most of the Pacific in the process."

- Damon Hill on his surfing lessons in Australia "I organised a picture (of him) to put on the steering wheel ..."

- M.Schumacher on how he would keep rival Hill in sight after his switch from Williams to Arrows

see our expressions or hear what we are saying. You do have time to cairn down before you get back to the pits."

- Hill on the unreliable Arrows "The car felt great. We relaxed a little bit. we thought we had an amazing car and there was no point in really working on it..."

- Jacques Villeneuve on the Williams team's early season '' i approach

/7

The wit and wisdom of Eddie Irvine "I had not switched off the radio and the team could hear me screaming every time I braked. It must have sounded like some kind of orgasm."

- Irvine on driving his Ferrari with an extremely ill-fitting seatbelt in Brazil

"Jacques is at the factory insufficient "It was chaotic! I was hitting people up the rear. I was being hit from the ly frequently to know everything that rear and even from the side. The Ferrari must be a very strong car has been going on there. So his because it survived all that. God knows how many contacts I was getting remarks are not particularly accurate.

"There were some competitors who in the first five or six laps."

There is some truth - only a very wanted to play mind games and cre - Irvine on the opening laps at Monaco small element of truth or accuracy "It is tiring! I must say I had an unbe ate some aggro, but I don't get involved in that sort of stuff." lievable pressure tpday when the cars in what he is saying."

- Frank Williams on "As far as the championship is concerned, I think Jacques knows he's - Glenn Seton Villeneuve's com fighting a losing battle."

Irvine's July assessment ... ments that the team "There's still plenty to "With Coke and ®,,okohama learn and I want to learn had stopped devel "Villeneuve is making a bit of a fool of himself. I reported him for stupid it before 1 move into opment on the 1997 Donut King, we car driving." cars."

- Irvine on the World Champion l - World karting cham may not be the "I seem to have been pion James Courtney "When it suits me I'm Irish and when it suits me I’m British." best team, but by given some special - Irvine on politics powers today, but I "It was not a message, the end ofthe year think I know where that it was an order." comes from."-.

"If Jean (Alesi) wants to see a madman all he has to do is look in the mir - Emerson Fittipaldi we should be the ror."

Gerhard Berger or, the advice from ff Irvine on the enigmatic Frenchman God to retire after winning in fattest!

Germany,soon after - Wayne Gardner "The treaded tyres seems stupid." the death of his "I don't know what it is father - Irvine on the new grooved tyres for 1998 that helps the McLarens off the line, but I sure wish we had the went out of the garage ... especially It "The main thing is that I am alive. It when they went off the track and into same thing!"

People think Pm a lunatic, but that's - Heinz-Harald Frenlzen was a silly move by Half..." the gravel!"

- Alain Frost on what it was like to - Johnny Herbert after getting OK with me.ft be a new team owner on the first knocked off by R. Schumacher at "I expect this to be the last Bathurst - Irvine on himself Monza day of practice. race I do without a control tyre."

- Larry Perkins "I remember in '94 driving for Sauber, "I see a lot of sun and a lot of beach."

"This car is a lot better than the Alfa "We're going to take the '97 splitters - Berger when asked what he saw I had eaten a fish that was not up to "I'm 32 now and people are starting to -that was a shitbox." and wings, jump up and down on in his future date, t couldn't move at all. I.was rate me as an 'old bloke'..." them and then torch them."

- Derek Warwick sings the prais - Glenn Seton going on the trolley at the airport. es of his Vectra - John Cleland takes revenge on They pushed me to the plane. I spent "I spent three days playing poker with his Vauxhall my brother." the whole night in the toilet and the "If I had an epitaph, it would be 'He Warwick: "It's nice that John and I whole morning. They just put nie into - M. Schumacher on how he pre had a red hot go’." are talking now because I can see 'There are four or five places around - Peter Brock after his last race pared for the Japanese GP the car. I drove a couple of laps and the relationship disappearing." the circuit where you could go waterit was my best performance-so far!"

Cleland:"What are you talking ski-ing."

- Heinz-Harald Frentzen "In terms of cost for performance, I "I wasn't really trying hard ..." about? I don't like you now."

Rickard Rydell at the abandoned am the best. Compared with Damon - Jason Bargwanna after crashing - Vauxhall teammates Derek Croft qualifying season at Bathurst Hill, I am really cheap!"

"I think it is ridiculous to (have to) Warwick and John Cleland at the - Ukyo Katayama drive like that in what is supposed to "I've never met such a bunch of pre-season media day be the pinnacle of motor racing. It is "I took my hands off the wheel, unprofessional peasants. These "People often ask if it is the driver or going to take a lot away from the dri clasped them together and waited for "When we (Warwick and I) put the organisers should be shot." the car or the team - but it is never it to roll." ver. Instead of being the ultimate - John Cleland at Oulton Park in helmets on and slam the doors, you - Tomas Mezera on his Bathurst one thing, it is the combination of sport that it is, it's going to become can't meet two more serious dri the UK them all. It's like an orchestra: it's no more of a show and a circus." crash vers. I know that's hard to believe - Villeneuve on the 1998 FI cars "Having paid 27 million pounds in per - John Cleland sonal income tax, it was reasonable "If it (FI) becomes boring to drive, ‘T wasjust thinking to pay a million or two extra as a con then the pinnacle of racing will proba "What goes around comes around. tribution towards a free and indepen bly be in (CART)Indy cars." how clever I was He'll get his."

- Villeneuve again dent government for my country."

- Anthony Gobert after a run-in - Bernie Ecclestone on his when I lost it again, with Mick Doohan in qualifying in "He kept telling me that the white (refunded) donation to the Labour France lines were dangerous!", Party then I was thinking - Rubens Barrichello on the "He's got charm and charisma, and advice Jackie Stewart gave him how stupid I was!”

"I was just thinking how clever I was he's still bloody quick!" about driving in the rain at when I just lost it again, then I was - Derek Warwick on Bathurst - John Bowe after taking the lead Monaco thinking how stupid I was!" teammate Peter Brock and then spinning the Ferrari at - John Bowe after taking the lead Amaroo "I want to offer some special thanks and then spinning the Ferrari at "They're looking at the driveshaft to Damon Hill. He blocked me so Amaroo area of the Honda Accord." much on my second and third runs -Seven's David Tapp, investigat that f got very angry and I had to do good if the violinist is good but the "The mentality of the Europeans is "I feel like a proper driver - the car's ing the rear of a front-drive car at the time on my fourth and last cellist is a load of crap ...

The driver completely different. I guess we are a full of gravel and I'm making lame Bathurst run." lends the mood to the team, and is excuses." little more gentlemen racers over - Rubens Barrichello on qualifying often seen either as a good or a bad here."

-BBC presenter Steve Rider after third in Canada influence."

- Craig Lowndes trying a Volvo S40 and finishing in - Damon Hill on what it takes to 'Tve come here the gravel on his first lap "Just for the fun of it. I can do it, so win "Skaifey is such a committed prick, why not? You better do stuff like that he's going to be hard to beat." today to announce to "And with the rain absolutely bucket - Fred Gibson on his former driver when you are young." ing down now he'll probably go for "I just told him to stop playing the - Villeneuve on why he bleached you all that it is time full wets rather than intermediates, or idiot. It was the fourth time this week tt "There is just one category above this his hair end that he had blocked me." maybe even flippers and a snorkel."

- Formula 1." for me to retire.

- Charlie Cox describing Derek - Villeneuve on Irvine getting in "It is sometimes fortunate that we - Mark Webber on joining the - Peter Brock, May 29 Warwick's Thruxton pit stop on TV his way during practice at Jerez Mercedes GT squad wear crash helmets and you cannot

30January 1998

PREVIEW

SHELL ATCC

Let the l^mes begin

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mi i 7:

FORD CRED... Seton will defend his title with the utmost

The pre-season testing is over and the action is about to begin in the determination in his Ford Credit Falcon.

1 IT’S LIKE THIS... Larry Perkins(below with Promoters’boss most competitive Shell Australian Touring Car Champion ever. ' Mike Raymond) will back up Russell IngalTs bid for the team’s first SATCC title win.(Photos by pm wmams andOaMLamoni) PHIL BRANAGAN looks at the contenders, 1 FTl for the 1998 SATCC crown.

TO anyone with a keen interest in V8 Supercar racing there has been very little off-season dur ing the summer of 1997/98.

It seems that hardly a week has passed without news that teams have start ed, finished or expanded and, as a result, we face the most competitive and eagerlyanticipated Shell Australian Touring Car Championship ever.

No less that 18 Level 1 cars look like facing the starter this season, an impressive increase over last year. Despite the loss of three of the more popular drivers in the series - Peter Brock, Greg Murphy and Wayne Gardner - the influx of new talent and machinery makes this year potentially the most interesting in a decade, or more.

There will also he a Privateer category with a control tyre component eventually - which promises to carry on the success TEGA experienced at the Primus 1000 Classic last November.

And at the front of the field there could be a dozen

cars capable of winning any particular race.

Defending Champion Glenn Seton will be trying hard to have two of‘those years’ in a row. The Ford Credit team leader is a driver who seems to get into a winning rhythm and, try as the opposition might, he seems hard to dislodge from that habit.

Seton has few weaknesses but has, on occasion, made uncharacteristic driving errors, like at Wanneroo and Lakeside last season. His car promises to be as quick and long ago Glenn mastered the art of going fast without killing his tyres.

New kid on the Seton team’s block is Rodney Forbes. After only one season in Formula Ford the 30-yearold admits he has a lot of learning to do in V8s but he has shown speed and maturi ty in his racing so far. Top 12 qualifying and top eight fin ishing results would be a good effort from Forbes.

Starting the season as favourites in the eyes of many is the Mobil-Holden Racing Team. Peter Brock

and Greg Murphy may be Anything less than a title gone but, in Mark Skaife and will hurt the Tasmanian.

Craig Lowndes, the team But, having said thatythe have found more than capa- changes that back him up ble replacements. are positive ones. While for Technically the team mer team manager Les remains as intact, and Laidlaw is gone to Romano’s Dean Orr is a terrific strong, as it was last season.

The only concerns are the replacement, team’s string of drivetrain ‘Curl’ was behind many of breakages last year and the Larry Perkins’ successes and possibility of Skaife and is one of the best in the busiLowndes racing each other ness, while Murray Bunn’s hard for top dog status in technical nous will take its the team. time to be felt but will have Both drivers and HRT will an effect, play this down during the MuchMepends on the abilseason - but look at their ity of DJR’s revised Shell touring car careers and tell cars to match the me when either Skaife and Commodores’ use of Lowndes were last a number Dunlop’s softer tyre. Because two driver. of the testing restrictions it It could make great view is impossible to test the cars ing... side-by-side at the same No such problem at Shell track so, at best, comparHelix Racing. Some time isons mean little until the back Dick Johnson bowed to actual races, the fact that he would supLast year Dunlop’s softer port John Bowe in his quest tyre appeared to favour for titles and not the other Perkins’ Commodores and he way around. There will be and Russell Ingall will be times this season when hoping for similar results Johnson will not enjoy his this season. Perkins has left racing but, as ever, he will .little doubt in the pre-season find good moments to com- that he will, maybe for the pensate for it. first time, be putting a big Bowe will be different.- effort into the Shell series.

And much of that effort will go behind Ingall. Like Lowndes, ‘Rusty’ was mar ried in the off-season and goes into his third full sea son convinced that this is his year and, given the reliability of his car, he looks entirely capable of scoring highly at evei-y round, With the huge number of Level 1 competition he will need to improve his qualifying prowess, although his quick starts should hold him Tony

leads the Yokohama assault on the series. To be frank the tyre company and Longhurst have shared a similar lack of success over recent years but the signs are that this season could be different.

At Bathurst - which, admittedly, is not a great indicator of tyre speed Longhurst was going like a blur on Yoke’s newest rubber and their ’98 tyres seem even better in testing.

Tony will have a new and Continued on page 20

COULD THIS BE THE BATTLE?... HRT’s new drivers are both used to winning touring car titles. The fight between Lowndes(seen here in Skaife's car) and Skaife could see the best racing of 1998. (Photos by Coventry Studios and Dirk Klynsmith)

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,

2(1

SOJmsfy 1998

PREVIEW

SHELL ATCC

^l^(pO®j70U:&ffO

1998 V8 Supercar Entries Level 1

1 Glenn Seton 2 Steve Ellery 4 Jason Bright 7 Darren Hossack 8 Russell Ingall 9 Alan Jones 10 Mark Larkham 11 Larry Perkins 15 Craig Lowndes 17 Dick Johnson 18 John Bowe 24 PSuI Romano 25 Tony Longhurst 27 Terry Finnigan 28 Rodney Forbes 31 Darren Pate 34 Steven Richards 35 Jason Bargwanna 38 Mark Poole 46 John Faulkner 50 Mark Skaife (AGP)Wayne Gardner Continued from page 18 improved car for Lakeside, at which time Alan Jones will hop into the second machine.

While that will put AJ out of contention for the title, it would be foolish to omit him from calculations for any race.

There will be three other Yoko cars to watch. Darren Hossack is joined by Darren Pate at Gibson Motorsport to expand Wynns Racing into a two car team and ‘D1 and D2’ look like making a good combination.

Both still have a lot to learn but Gibson is the man responsible for tutoring Skaife and Seton, so they are in good hands.

So is Steven Ellery. He takes over the Holden Young Lions car this sea son, with backing from Konica. It must have been a tough pill to MHRT man agement to send the progi-an: out-of-hoiise to Gibson this season, but it is a good deal for the young Queenslander.

Ellery has shown signs of speed in the past and seems to need regular testing miles and confidence to earn consistency. This looks like his best opportunity to do both of those things.

If there is such a thing as fortune in motorsport it appears to have turned for the better for Mark Larkham and Jason Bright.

Last year was a tough one for both of them; Larkham was struggling to keep his car intact while Bright was scraping for dollars to finish his Formula Holden campaign.

Both were ultimately suc cessful; Larko was third at Bathurst and Bright won the Gold Star.

With the former Formula Ford titleists backed up by Ross and Jimmy Stone and running on Bridgestones their car speed should not be a problem. But if their bad luck returns...

The last of the multi-car Level 1 teams will contain one of the most eagerly anticipated battles of the year. Steven Richards will be joined at Garry Rogers ^.Motorsport by Jason Bargwanna, who performed so well at Sandown and Bathurst in the HRTYL car last season, and the results on the track will be well worth viewing.

The Valvoline team has

Privateers

f

HOUOEM

an ex-HRT Commodore to join its existing ex-Gibson one, and Bargwanna will certainly find the challenge no pushover.

While the public and media has been falling over itself to jump on the Touth is Good’ bandwagon Richo II has been quietly getting on with the job, finishing strongly in both endurance races last year. In particular his opening stint at Sandown’s Tickford 500 was

one of tire most overlooked gems of 1997.

The battle will be fascinat ing on several fronts. Both have a lot of confidence in their abilities, though Richards is less extroverted.

Both are about the same age, but qualifying could tell the story. Bargwanna is a terrific qualifier whereas Richards has not been. No; more accurately, he hasn’t concentrated on it up until now.

BACK TO BUSINESS...

After a lean few years Gibson Motorsport storms back to action with the Holden Young Lions entry for Steve Ellery and a two car assault for Wynn's Racing’s Darren Hossack and the fitnessdedicated Darren Pate.

Lansvale Commodore VS 3 Trevor Ashby/Steve Reed Simoco Commodore VS 12 Bruce Williams Saabwreck Commodore VS 14 Mike Imrie 16 Kerryn Brewer/Melinda Price Castrol Cougars Commodore VS Palmer Commodore VS 20 lan Palmer Walden Commodore VP 21 Brian Walden Colourscan Falcon EL 22 Danny Osborne 23 Ray Hislop Hislop Falcon EF M3 Commodore VS 26 John Cotter/Peter Doulman 28 Kevin Waldock CBS Mining Falcon EF Pro-Duct Commodore VS 33 Bob Pearson Gear Box Commodore VS 36 Neil Schembri Xerox Commodore VP 37 Scotty Taylor Smerdon Commodore VS 39 Chris Smerdon 40 Michael Hart / Peter Lawrence Hart Commodore VR Simon’s Earthworks 41 Garry Willmington Commodore VS K&J Radiator Falcon EL 43 Paul Weel Fairfax Commodore VS 44 Mai Rose Rod Smith Commodore VS 48 D'Arcy Russell Ericsson/Trust Bank 49 Greg Crick/Dean Crosswell Commodore VS ' Morcom Falcon EF 52 Barry Morcom Everlast Commodore VR 58 Bill O’Brien Union Steel Commodore VS 62 Wayne Russell 70 John Briggs Supercheap Autos Falcon EL Price Attack Commodore VS 74 Kevin Heffernan 75 Anthony Tratt Toll Express Falcon EF Mork Commodore VP 77 Richard Mork 79 Mike Conway/Ryan McLeod DAMPS Falcon EL Wiseman Commodore VS 80 Michael Donaher Pulver Commodore VP 88 Don Pulver Ryman Falcon EL TBA Wayne Park JFR Commodore VS TBA Rod Nash NB * -denotes a car which is using Level 1 tyres, but is a Levei 2franchisee, and has chosen not to compete in the Privateer category.

The Australian fight forDrivers’ the 1998 Championship for Formula Holdens will definitely be one worth keeping an eye on.

In recent times several young drivers have used the category as a stepping stone to the high-pro file V8 Supercar category and two such drivers who have done so include the top two placegetters in 1997, Jason Bright and Jason Bargwanna.

This year both the Jasons, along with Darren Pate, have switched from the open-wheeler to sedan ranks, leaving the fight for the Formula Holden crown wide open amongst even younger talent.

Kiwi driver Scott Dixon, 17, moves into the SH Racing Team after a great rookie season in the category in 1997. The combina tion is expected to be one of those vying for the title, but Formula Holden newcomer Todd Kelly may have something to say about that.

Kelly, the youngest member of the Holden Young Lions squad, will combine his HYL commit ments with a full assault on the ADC this year. Driving a Reynard 92D, with support coming from team chief Kevin Murphy (Greg’s I

P.-.

'■r r

Ford Credit Falcon EL Konica HYL Commodore VS Pirtek Falcon EL Wynn’s Commodore VS * Castrol Commodore VS Komatsu Falcon EL Mitre 10 Falcon EL Castrol Commodore VS Mobil HRT Commodore VS Shell Helix Falcon EL Shell Helix Falcon EL Romano Commodore VS * Castrol Falcon EL Sony Commodore VS * GSR Falcon EL Wynn's Commodore VS * Valvoline Commodore VS Valvoline Commodore VS Rosenberg Commodore VS * Betta / F&P Commodore VS Mobil HRT Commodore VS Coke Commodore VS

1

MAKING THE STEP... Adelaide’s Roger Oakeshot will be looking to join the front-runners in the Australian Drivers’ Championship this season. He shook down his ex-Mark Noske Lola at Calder last week. (Photo by oirk Kiynsmuh) the mustard. dad) Kelly will be looking to add some more silverware to his'colLast year’s champion team was Birrana Racing, who return lection ba9k home in Mildura.

A driver to have switched not this year with a new lead driver only chassis, but also teams is following the loss of Jason Mark Noske. Noske impressed in Bright. Brenton Ramsay, the son of Birrana manager Malcolm, will his Lola last year, but in 1998 will be aboard the ex-Pate drive a Reynard 94D after finish Reynard 95D, run by the NRC ing eighth in last year’s champi team of Arthur Abrahams. The onship in a 1991 model.

Of the three overseas com car is the newest in Formula petitors this year, Austrian Holden, complete with FI type Markus Friesacher looks to be raised nose and paintwork, and the main challenger. He contest Noske won at Mallala last year ed four rounds of the so he has proved that he can cut

International Formula 3000 title last year, and has an extensive amount of experience in Formula 3, Formula Ford back in Europe.

He will be the first European dri ver to compete in the category in its 10 year history. Other over seas drivers include American John DeVries who, like Friesacher, will drive for Graham Watson, and Swede Lars Johansson in a Reynard.

Johansson (who you may remember drove one of Paul Pickett’s Lantra Super Tourers in 1996) has a late model car at his disposal, and paired with team chief Harry Galloway, may just surprise some of his Aussie rivals, especially considering his experience in British Formula 3000.

The Silver Star class has been revamped for the new year, allowing more competitors a chance at the title. It allows car bon-fibre cars to compete for the title, and the eligibility of drivers is determined by their age and experience.

Other drivers in with a show of a top ten finish include Reynardmounted Sam Astuti, Les Crampton, Owen Osborne, and Chas Jacobson.

■AARON NOONAN

SHELL ATCC John Faulkner seems to be inexorably linked to Steven, perhaps because of some of the battles the two waged when they raced AUSCAR together three years ago.

While Richards has racked up the odd podium result Faulkner is still to reach those heights, but there is plenty of reasons why he can do that in 1998.

His ex-HRT car is plenty fast and Faulkner has been a regular top 10 performer for some time.

“Race wins will be more important than champi onship points,” he says bluntly.

“This year we’ve got most of the things we need for a decent go.”

The end of the ‘middle

21 War of the Worlds in Formula Fords

PREVIEW

NEW WORLD ORDER?... Mark Larkham ended 1997 on a high, with strong ground’ - known last year performances at both Sandown and Bathurst. He goes into the new season with as the Special Level One (Photo by John Morris/Mpix) a good opportunity of heading Ford’s challenge. teams - means that some ‘privateer’ drivers with tyre Terry Finnigan does like- are capable of upsets, disruptions to testing at wise with his Yokohama Especially in inclement different circuits around deals move into the ‘Big deal. weather; remember Poole the place - it’s impossible Kids’ class for the first time.

Mark Poole and Paul With the emphasis that and Finnigan’s Bathurst to tell.

You would bet on Bbwe, Romano arrive with qualifying will hold it’s a drives in 1996.

So, who will win the Ingall, Lowndes, Perkins, Bridgestone deals that will big ask to see them upset Seton and Skaife all winsee them running on what ting the pro ranks, but all title? At this stage of the ning at least one race and, amount to ’97 tyres, while three under-funded efrivers season - especially with as usual, there will he the unexpected to deal with.

Consistency and placings will have a BIG say in deciding where the title ends up.

Try telling Bargwanna, Bright, Larkham and A GOOD idea is a good idea, regardless ing that control tyres don't work and ending Richards that they are not the subject once and for all... of who thought of it. going to get a chequer this At the Primus 1000 Classic last On the track, competition looks intense. season and you will get a November the Privateer entries ran on a Greg Crick and Lansvale’s duo of Trevor compelling argument to the control tyre for the first time and the long- Ashby and Steve Reed look to be the main contrary. contenders for the honours. Both teams awaited test was a great success. Interest in Let The Show begin. the race-within-a-race was at an all-time have been able to upset some of the Big Boys on occasion and will be looking for high, with the media fixed on the usuallymore of the same. ignored qualifying battle until the final lap of the session.

Also in the Commodore camp are Ian The idea makes a return in 1998 for the Palmer, M3 Motorsport’s Peter Doulman and Shell Australian Touring Car Championship. John Cotter, Mai Rose, Kevin Heffernan and Mike Conway.

There will be a separate series for And then there are the Castrol Cougars.

Privateers, who will be asked to commit to Melinda Price and Kerryn Brewer are con running in eight of the -10 SATCC races, with their six best results to count. firmed for the first eight races of the year and But there are one or two twists. While will be looking for more male scalps. The Dunlop supplied the Bathurst and Sandown team will look a little different this year and Larry Perkins has stated he is looking for tyres last year this year Yokohama have received the nod from TEGA, but their spec results.

Newcomers to the class include former rubber will not appear until the third SATCC round at Lakeside. speedway man Rod Nash and ex-Porsche Cup runners D’arcy Russell and Anthony It appears a little odd. For the first races at Sandown and Symmons Plains it will be Tratt (ex-Seton Falcon), while Ryan McLeod will join*Mike Conway in his in a Falcon, a open slather on rubber, a matter of running former Dick Johnson Racing car. whatever tyre you can get.

There will be other serious Ford competi The reason is that Yokohama got the tyre contract, despite not being able to have the tion in the form of Danny Osborne, Ray Hislop and Paui Weel. Hislop's is another tyres available until March, because they tendered at a price $30 per tyre cheaper ex-Seton Falcon and Weel’s a former Ellery than Dunlop. The savings will be a boon to machine that has plenty of speed.

At Bathurst’s 6.2km track there was, liter teams, but the inconvenience does look sub stantial. ally, tenths separating the fight for Privateers’ honours. On the shorter tracks of the Shell There are those cynics, of course, who suggest that this is just TEGA’s way of prov- series the results should be just as close.

Privates in Control

THE 1998 Ford Motorsport/Slick 50 Formula Championship shapes up as one of the most fascinating in ages.

Usually the driver (or two) who are most likely to fight out an FF title emerge at the end of the previous season and mark themselves as men to watch.

The two drivers who fill that role best at the start of this year are Greg Ritter and Christian Jones, and the two are driving new cars for opposite camps.

While Ritter has taken the much coveted new Van Diemen/Valvoline route to try and claim the top prize Jones has opted to stay with the Melbourne-built Spectrum in his bid to put another trophy on the family mantelpiece.

Both have strong on senes claims favouritism, but they will face the usual horde of competition.

For a couple of years Craig Zemer has been at the pointy end of races and this year not only has the Queenslander opted for a Spectrum but he had got one for younger brother Scott as well.

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Adam Macrow, Kerry Wade, Owen Kelly and Jon Woelders will also appear in Spectrums (Spectra?) while former Proddie car ace Ken Douglas is making the jump to FFs to take on the young’uns.

Van Diemen will also be well supported by drivers like Aaron McNally, Michael Simpson, Christian Murchison, Chris Dell and Daniel Orr, while Formula Vee Bill front-runners Burford and Tyler Mecklem make the move up this season.

Another driver to watch is Leanne Ferrier.

Quite apart from the somewhat sexist ‘she’s a girl’ reasons Ferrier showed plenty of speed in limited FF and Porsche Cup outings in 1997'.

Dugal McDougall, ‘Iccy’ Harrington and Cameron Shearer will be busting their boilers to get their French Mygales to the line first 'while Swift’s flag will be flown by Timo Hulkko, Christian Jory and Ty Hanger.

They will be joined by two winning drivers new to Formula Ford; Steve Newing (ex-2 litre Sports Sedans) and Shane Fifield (ex-HQs).

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Victorious Jane Boys snatch AIR gold

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Sitting on pole position at the BACK ON TOP... Reigning champ Kim Jane heads the series pointscore once again. (Thunder-Pics photo) Report end of official qualifying was Terry by Last year’s AIR feature winner Despite attempts by crew mem- when the BP Car care Ford clouted Wyhoon in his BP Car care Ford Thunderbird with a 22.7017-second Kim Jane was next in the Bob Jane bers ffom^several teams, the engine the wall with a almighty thud as it GRANT NICHOLAS T-Marts/Repco Monte Carlo, ahead refused to burst into life - an elec- entered the main straight, forcing time slip, a tremendous feat consid ering the temperature,of the oval’s of his young cousin, Rodney, in his trical fault was traced after the car Kim Jane and Richards to take eva Wheels/Exide was towed back to the paddock area sive action.

While the US Winston Cup racing surface was in the 50 Auscar Alloy “The car had a tremendous Batteries Monte Carlo.

- and Thomas lined up at the rear NASCAR Championship series degrees Celsius region. amount of understeer as I came Rodney quickly adapted to the of the twelve-car grid.

“The car felt great after Friday’s has the Bodine, Lahonte and Starting next to Dumesny was through the corner,” Wyhoon said. practice sessions and both Tom flat-track style of racing, the hanWaltrip families striving for success, Australia has the Jane smith and I were happy with our dling package and experience engi- West Australian speedway star “It was like it had been reefed out , neered into both of the Jane cars by Neville Lance in the team’s second of my control. I’m okay, but the cousins, Kim and Rodney, who qualifying set-up,” stated Wyhoon.

Koil/Autopro Ford front right suspension arms, some “We didn’t participate in today’s ' the John Sidney Racing crew most King triumphantly stood side by side earlier practice session, as our team definitely assisting when the racing Thunderbird, with talented Kiwi steering components and the truck on the ACDelco Cup podium Murphy grabbing seventh in the arm are all bent.” during The Advertiser Night of went back to the motel and had a commenced.

After ten laps, the order was Kim Fifth quickest was former cham- Kevin Schwantz All Pro TeamThunder meeting at Adelaide swim in the pool for a couple of Jane, Richards, Dumesny, Rodney hours and relaxed in readiness for pion Max Dumesny in the first of owned Monte Carlo, International Raceway on the Valvoline/Killer Loop/No Fear Murphy commented that the flat- Jane, Lance, Murphy, Ellis, tonight’s racing.

January 17.

“I felt that was better than hav- Chevrolet Monte Carlos. track style of racing “took a bit of Thomas, Maultsaid, Stocker and Scorching heat conditions greeted Dumesny was experiencing small time to get used to after thundering Middleton, with Wyhoon’s crew car the fans as they made- their way ing them facing the two series’ onto the mounds surrounding the events exhausted and feeling handling problems and was hoping around the Calder Park super rying out a damage assessment in several small adjustments to the speedway with the steeply-banked pitlane. half-mile (805 metre) virtually flat sweaty.

Maultsaids run ended on lap 34 Just behind Wyhoon on the grid front and rear suspension would tiims. oval to witness the running of The “It takes a bit of learning to drive after he had been shown the black was series leader Jim Richards provide the answer before racing Classified 100, with Kiwi racer a 670' horsepower machine around flag for dropping oil - a gearbox Greg Murphy once again entering (22.8535) in an ex-Brad Jones commenced.

His team-mate, Ian Thomas, was the half-mile oval, which crosses seal problem would be fixed for the the super speedway fray in the Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo ClarionWision/No Fear Chevrolet sporting Pyroil/No Fear/Sikaflex forced to miss qualifying when his the drag racing track on the main next 50-lap round.

Dumesny’s car was getting loose Monte Carlo. straight where two rows of VHT are car would not start in pitlane. support. placed - and then the whole place in the corners and, on lap 46, UNHAPPY... Wyhoon BP Car care T-Bird is fenced after a tap from #5 Dumesny.(Thunder-Pics photos) is covered in layers of fine dust due Rodney slipped under him as they to the strong northerly winds; I went through turn 1, Dumesny take my hat off to the guys up at attempting to hold position but the series rookie was on a mission to the pointy end of the field.”

Behind Murphy was John finish in the top three.

Maultsaid’s Consolidated Waste “The car was not right for the Ford Thunderbird, Jimmy Ellis in whole race. It was loose both front the beautifully-prepared GB and rear, so I decided to make the Galvanizing/Phil Munday Panels best of what I had so that we could Chevrolet Lumina, local trucking make the right adjustments for the operator Bob Middleton in his next race on the night,” commented Whiteline Transport Oldsmobile Dumesny.

Cutlass and the second Young Jane moved onto Richards Consolidated Waste team car, the tail with only four laps to the che Oldsmobile Cutlass of Paul Stocker, quered flag and, entering turn 3 on who decided not to participate in the last lap, he made his move, div ing to the inside of Richards with the hot qualifying session. his car partially on the dirt verge.

Neither driver was going to give Race One(50 laps) The ACDelco Cup cars were ground and they lapped as one unit, shown the green flag for the first of with the crowd on its toes awaiting the 50-lappers in the evening, with the outcome.

Jane ultimately got the upper Wyhoon immediately utilising the pole line to full advantage while all hand, as Richard’s car was on the the drivers in the outside line tend outside and body contact sent the Pyroil machine into a spin. ed to drop positions.

The veteran driver managed to Richard’s machine slid on the slippery surface as it fought for keep it off the walls before execut traction, allowing Kim Jane to slip ing a 180 degree spin to claim into second place behind the bright fourth place, after Dumesny had snuck through into third spot. green and yellow Thunderbird.

“With only one lap to go, I Richards barged into third, ahead of Dumesny, Lance, Murphy thought that Rodney was covered and Rodney Jane, who had started as I stuck to the low line on the behind Richards in position four track,” a disappointed Richards (now seventh on the track,) with said later. “The next thing I know, Ellis sitting right on his tail as they he’s dived onto the grass and pushed himself under me, using our completed the opening lap.

The majority of the drivers expe- car to stop himself from spinning rienced difficulty seeing through but it was me that spun, due to his their windscreens with the setting heavy contact, S! “I enjoy racing, providing we sun and the swirling dust.

At the end of lap 5, Wyhoon’s have a fair go, but I don’t think this night took a turn for the worse is fair.

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30Jmaiy1998 “I couldn’t go deep under brakes, as the fluid in the braking system was boiling, but it will be rectified for the'next race.”

At the end of 50 laps, Kim Jane won 1 from cousirfjlodney., Dumesny ’ and Richards, with Lance, Murphy and Ellis a lap behind, then Thomas two laps in arrears. ^1, J ilS During the break to the next series race, QROWEKi all teams set about l H YD/fOf>ONtCS readjusting their sus pension and handling packages, while sev eral straightened UNCONVENTIONAL ... Greg Murphy slides through the AIR turns. (Thunder-Pics) slightly bent panels. wall on the main straight and badly the same time - it’s hurt both of our Wyhoon stated that his team rearranging the car’s right rear cor- championship points tallies.” lacked the appropriate parts to ner.

Dumesny wouldn’t be drawn into fully repair his car, “so they Richards selected first gear and commenting on the incident, saying straightened and adjusted the bent moved away, picking his way back only that Wyhoon was holding a units as best they could under the circumstances. whole bunch of cars up and he into seventh position, while Murphy was relegated to 11th spot wanted to improve his- finishing “We will be going out there to see position. how it steers. If it feels fairly good, by the race officials.

The final order was Kim Jane, On.lap 28, Murphy’s sojourn on we’ll hopefully run to the end to gain more championship points - the flat-track ended when he Rodney Jane, Lance, Richards, Ellis, Middleton, Thomas, Stocker, otherwise. I’ll park it in pitlane if attempted a slingshot move around Lance and Ellis as he moved Dumesny and Wyhoon, with all’s not okay.”

Murphy in the pits alongside In Murphy’s area,, he was through turns 3-4, the New explaining that the Chevrolet was Zealander ending up out on the Maultsaid, who had experienced marbles and on,a collision course difficulty while breathing in not handling well and he just hung exhaust fumes. with the wall. / in there with the hope that the cool “Tonight’s two races were most The yellows were automatically er night conditions would help and that Schwantz’s crew would be able displayed for the next eight laps as enjoyable, but at the same time the scene was cleared of debris and they were hard work on this small to dial in some handling. the remaining drivers allowed their track,” said a delighted Kim Jane.

“They appeared to be easy wins, brakes and tyres to cool. ' Race Two(50 laps) As the green was waved on lap but, in reality, the other guys held At the green, Wyhoon was away first, with Kim Jane again shuffling 39, we had an 11-lap dash to the each other up as they diced for sec Richards back into third, ahead of finish, with Kim Jane leading ond or third placings.”

Also happy with his perfor Wyhoon, Dumesny, Rodney Jane, Dumesny, Rodney Jane, a fast starting Maultsaid, Murphy, Richards, Lance, Ellis, Middleton, mances was cousin Rodney, who Stocker and Thomas.

Middleton and Ellis. said that his goals were to do well Wyhoon had a freight train on the short track and, hopefully, As they were about to complete behind him with the next five want with some determined driving, to lap 3, Wyhoon’s machine lost trac secure several strong placings tion as it entered the main straight. ing to get ahead.

Kim Jane turned left to avoid the As they crossed the start-finish having achieved his aims, maybe Thunderbird as Wyhoon fought for line to commence the final lap, next year he’ll go one place better.

Back at the team’s transporter, Dumesny tapped the rear of. control, Richards putting his nose Mm-phy said that the car was gi'eat alongside Jane’s Monte Carlo - Wyhoon’s car.

Then Dumesny did it again as to drive in the second race, his com they made contact, the nose on ing together with Jimmy [Richards] they entered turn 1, both cars turn Richard’s car copping a hefty clout.

Richards dropped two places to ing around and allowing Rodney was a result of inexperience in this Dumesny and Rodney Jane as he Jane and Lance to sneak past on form of racing and, when he hit the regi'ouped and now found himself the inside - Richards was caught wall, he knew he shouldn’t have being hounded by Murphy’s speedy out by the two spinners and finally been out wide when he entered the main straight - “if it had come off, got around to finish fourth. charger.

“For more than forty laps. Max it would have been a fantastic Several laps later, Rodney Jane moved wide in a turn while lapping [Dumesny] sat behind me. I had move; but it didn’t.”

Efim Jane has taken the series backmarkers, allowing Richards him covered for the whole time, then he shunts me in the back on lead from Richards with 1183 and Murphy to scream past. the last lap,” said an annoyed points to 1165, while Terry Wyhoon Then, on lap 17, Murphy got a lit remains in third with 1084, ahead tle over-exuberant as they were Wyhoon.

“The guy was going to get his of Rodney Jane (1071), Neville moving through traffic and he ran into the rear of Richard’s Chevy - best result for the season and then Lance (1062) and Ian Thomas the Pyroil car spun, clouting the he throws it away and punts me at (1020).

n RICHARDS CHEVROLET SHIPPED TO THE USA The ex-Brad Jones Racing road race Chevrolet Monte Carlo that Jim Richards raced at AIR has been shipped back to the USA for Canadian team owner Dick Midgley to field in the Winston West NASCAR Series.

“The car is being sent to the US in the same condition as it finished the two races last weekend,” commented Richards.

“If a budget can be sourced, I plan to take in six of their events. possibly starting the whole thing

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in mid-April.

“I will not be competing in the Chevrolet in any of the Winston West events - I’ll stick to racing a Pontiac Grand Prix for the foreseeable future.’ n JIMMY ELLIS TALKS TO US NASCAR.TUTOR ACDelco Cup rookie Jimmy Ellis is talking to a Stateside NASCAR tutor on a regular basis regarding his Thunderdome and AIR appearances.

Ellis, a former US Motocross and Supercross champion, was introduced to his tutor by Kevin Schwantz during his recent Aussie campaign.

“Kevin gave me advice about racing the Stock Cars and then suggested that I should make some calls to the US to seek addi tional racing information,” said EUis. “Already my lap times have improved dramatically and I feel a lot more comfortable in our G&B Galvanizing Chevrolet Lumina without giving too much away, the knowledge that I have gained in a short period of time has been tremendous.” n WYHOON HITS THE RADIO WAVES BP Car care Ford Thunderbird racer Terry Wyhoon featured on Radio 5AA Breakfast Show on the Thursday prior to the AIR meet when he took South Australian AFL star Steve Rowe for five laps of the halfmile oval.

During the show, Rowe complet ed four live crosses back to the Adelaide studio as he assisted in the promotion of the race meeting - after his on-track exploits, he stated that the ACDelco Cup dri vers must have had no brains to travel at such high speeds so close to the unforgiving concrete walls.

GTP Series PR Manager Paul

Ryan rode shotgun with Wyhoon for a number of laps following the 5AA activities, n ABELNICA PURCHASES JFR ACDELCO CUP CARS Eddie Aheinica is destined to move into super speedway’s premier category next season after sealing a deal to purchase the three remaining ACDelco Cup machines in John Faulkner’s race shop, “I’ll be taking possession of John’s road race Chevi’olet Monte Carlo, which will be upgraded to super speedway specifications, plus I will also be taking delivery of his two Oldsmobile Cutlass Supremes,” said an enthusiastic Abelnica.

“I’m planning to get one of the Oldsmobiles ready to do some test ing after the current season.

“Fve been considering moving into the ACDelco Cup class for a while - then, when Wayne Manhken told me about John’s cars, I contacted him and shook hands on the deal straight away.”

It is believed that former Ken James crew member Paul Bastow intends to purchase JFR’s super speedway Chevrolet Monte Carlo. n TWO AIR PROTESTS Pyroil Pontiac team owner Dick Midgley lodged a protest covering Rodney Jane’s final lap passing move on Jim Richards that resulted in the veteran driver spinning back to fourth place. .

It is believed that the hearing will be conducted later this week, when Jane returns from a short vacation.

The second protest covers an incident following the second of the Konica Sportsman races that saw the Falcon of series leader Leanne Ross punted into the wall at turn one after she had crossed the finish fine in fifth spot - race officials are viewing television footage pertaining to the incident and an announcement is expected in the near future. n WALKER SIGNS WITH KYNETON TYRE & BATTERY SERVICE Steve Walker’s formidable HQ is undergoing a change of sponsorship before the next round of the Holden Quality Parts series.

Kyneton Tyre & Battery Service has signed with young Walker as Growers Choice markings are being removed from the car.

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Brewer breaks his duck Points lead tie by McDonald and Vl^llie Report by GRANT NCHOLAS

The Bob Jennings 80 saw both series leader Jason Wyllie and his strongest challenger, Darren McDonald, take home equal Strathfield National Cars Championship points from the AIR meeting on January 17.

The 80-lap feature was broken into two 40-lappers, with McDonald - now ranning extra corporate sup port from north-west Victorian dealer Christian Holden - winning the first restarted event from Wyllie’s Trust Bank/Computerland Hobart Commodore and the similar machine of Melbourne’s Cheapest Cars owner Eddie Abelnica.

A first lap incident in turn 1 saw the red flags waved, after Richard Howes Ferntree Gully Bolts Ford Falcon was towed away with the front left suspension dangling in the breeze.

Marshall Brewer was also forced out of the race on lap 9, when the engine in his CIGWeld/Pennzoil Falcon started to overheat due to the I'an punching a hole in the radi ator as a result of the earlier first corner melee.

The second 40-lap segment of the National Cars feature resulted in Brewer scoring his first victory of the series from McDonald, Wyllie, Nathan Pretty, defending champion Matthew White and Darryl Speers in the I&V Truck & Trailer Repairs Commodore.

During Thursday’s practice ses sions, Abelnica was the class act, despite clouting the wall with the left-front on Thursday moi-ning.

Abelnica said that the car got a little loose and hit the wall, break ing some suspension pieces as well as damaging the front panels slightly - an overnight supply of parts allowed his crew to complete ly finish the repairs for Friday’s practice sessions.

Abelnica dominated both sessions and was considered favourite for Saturday’s qualif3dng, as McDonald, Wyllie, Brewer and Nathan Pretty chiselled away at race set-ups.

Saturday dawned hot and windy, the weather bureau forecasting 40

RELIEVED... Marshall J. Brewer made it back onto the winner's podium after an uncharacteristically bleak season to date.(Thunder-Pics photo) degree Celsius temperatures, plus strong northerly winds before a cool change late in the day.

McDonald went out onto the halfmile track and blitzed the opposi tion to put his Commodore on pole position for both Strathfield series races.

McDonald broke his previous lap record of 25.1214 secs with an extremely smooth 25.1088 to head Wyllie, Abelnica and Brewer in the leading Ford.

Then came White, Pretty, Howe, former Sportsman titleholder Wayne Smith in his Supercharge Batteries Commodore, Speers and ex-HQ hero Tim D’Ombrain in a rebuilt Commodore, who closed out the top ten positions on the grid.

Race One (40 laps) “I really enjoy this track, espe cially after winning last year’s round, as well as setting a new lap record,” said McDonald.

“The car felt good on old tyres during practice and then to grab pole and establish another lap record was fantastic.

“In the first race, I went into the first corner a little fast, braked and then got tapped at the rear by Eddie [Abelnica], but I managed to keep ahead imtll I spotted the red

flag.

“I gained the advantage again on the restart, keeping clear of Abelnica, Wyllie, Brewer, White and Pretty.

“Then, on lap 2, Wyllie passed

Abelnica and started to hound me.”

Wyllie kept the pressure on McDonald, keeping his lines straight and smooth as he waited for the western Victorian driver to run wide on one of the comers.

And, on lap 18, the young Tasmanian surged to the front for the balance of 40-lapper.

“I knew he would run high on one of the corners if was able to apply enough pressure,” commented a happy Wyllie.

“I knew I had to be patient, as the hot and dusty conditions made the track slippery and worked the tyres harder - this result certainly helps my title chances.”

Prior to the restart, the pitlane looked like a battlefield, as crew

members bashed, levered and taped their trusty steeds prior to being sent off for more close quarters con tact - both of the DeWalt Industrial Tools/Goodyear Commodores field ed by Nathan and Nicole Pretty had their back left doors stoved in as a result of the incident.

While the two young guns were fighting for the race lead. Brewer was forced out of the event with an overheating engine.

“It appeared that Darren [McDonald] brake-tested us all, resulting in the majority of the field damaging their cars, which is not on when you consider the costs related to running at an interstate event,” explained an annoyed Brewer.

NIGHT MOVES ...A resurgent #02 Brewer and arch-rival #44 McDonald enjoyed a race win apiece at the bruising Adelaide International Raceway half-mile flat track. (Thunder-Pics)

30January 199S “When I got .back to the paddock, I considered pack ing up the „whole deal and heading bac£ home. I sup pose sanity prevailed and the crew somehow changed the engine before the next race.”

The final order was Wyllie, McDonald, White, Pretty, Abelnica (with the rear bumper removed and both guards punched in), Speers, D’Ombrain, Smith, Nicole Pretty, Amin Chahda and Jason Morrell.

Between events, wheel alignments, panel repairs and suspension adjustments were all the call, with'the majority of the leading teams altering their settings as the track and ambient conditions began to cool down slightly.

Race'Two (40 laps) With the sun almost set, the National Cars field streamed under the green flag heading into turn 1 for another 40 tours, with McDonald once again ahead of Wyllie, Brewer, Abelnica, Nathan Pretty, White, Smith, the repaired Ford of Howe and then D’Ombrain.

For the next 24 laps, the status quo remained at the pointy end of the pack, until Wyllie pounced, once again, on lap 25 to take the lead.

McDonald stated that he knew Wyllie would make a move before too long to go

ahead and that he considered it would be easier to follow than to remain in front.

But he didn’t know that Wyllie had been spotted crossing the trackside white line on three occasions by the race officials - Wyllie was black-flagged for a stop-go penalty, which he earned out on lap 27.

On the next lap. Brewer sailed past McDonald to take over the role as race leader.

Several laps later. Smith clouted the wall at such a rate that it dislodged his rear bumper and'two trips down pitlane ruined his chances of a top six placing - his first visit was to have the offend ing bumper removed, then he was recalled by race control as he had exceeded the pitlane speed limit.

A yellow period was then called as trackside officials removed some of Smith’s debris and waited for the field to grid up in their cor rect order.

“Our CIGWeld/Penhzoil car was handling beautifully as I lapped tbe back-markers and kept ahead of the rest,” commented Brewer later.

“My only concern was low engine oil pressure, which wavered between 30 and 40 pounds.”

The charge to the chequer saw Abelnica and Nathan Pretty have a good scrap

Abelnica losing out with a long spin into the infield, the rest of the pack streaming past while Brewer took the victor’s spoils on lap 42 due to the extra caution laps.

Brewer won from McDonald, Wyllie, Pretty, White, Speers, Howe, D’Omhpain and Ahelnica.

Brewer thanked his crew and sponsors for their great effort and support, while Wyllie and McDonald consid ered themselves lucky to jointly take home the premi um round points (340) from Nathan Pretty and White (320).

Back in the paddock, the majority of the teams sur veyed the damage on the cars as they grabbed some cool drinks and made plans for the next round of the series at the Thunderdome in four weeks time - in some instances, the race vehicles will have to be fully stripped and sent to the body shops for repanelling and complete repainting.

Jason Wyllie now holds a 36 point advantage in the Strathfield Nationals Cars Championship title chase over Darren McDonald, who holds ^feecond spot with a 1146 tally, ahead of Eddie Abelnica (1094), Nathan Pretty (1074), Matthew White (1050) and Marshall J. Brewer(1040).

DRAMA ... Race One, turn 1, incident had repercussions.(Thunder-Pics sequence)

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NOT SO PRETTY... Both #2 Nathan and#3 Nicole sported battle damage.(Thunder-Pics) JOINT LEADER... Jason Wyllie (below)is now tied on series points with Darren McDonald.

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Close series lead by Ross I

The comradeship displayed by the Konica Sportsman competi tors was outstanding after series leader Con Vereker col lected the outside wall between turns 1-2 in the Vereker Bros Smash Repairs Falcon after grabbing jpole position for rounds four and five of the championship at Adelaide on January 17.

The resulting clout destroyed the left chassis rail, front body panels, radiator, suspension tower and componentry, creased the transmis sion tunnel and broke sundry other items.

By the time that the tilt-tray returned to the Sportsman paddock with the forlorn machine, other competitors and their crews were offering assistance and parts - at great speed, panels and a host of components were dismantled from Leanne Ross’ Chris Milton Engine Developments/Miller Genuine Draft Falcon.

“My crew chief [brother Mark] hadn’t told me that I was on pole position,” stated Vereker. “I went into the corner a little too hot, got out on the rubbish and clouted the wall at a fair rate of knots.

“We used the tilt-tray as a level floor and pulled the frorit-end and other panels reasonably straight.

After fitting all the borrowed pan-

On lap 13, Savas and Robinson appeared to make contact as they exited turn 1, the remainder of the 17car field immediately t taking evasive action and some using the grass infield in an attempt to miss fellow competitors.

After the track was cleared of debris and several of the drivers were directed by race control officials to return to their starting order, the event was once again greenflagged.

The race was length ened to 27 laps and the dash to the flag saw Vereker just pip Robinson, Gilliland, Sutherland, Ross and Stuart Morrison.

The 1997/98Konica NEW SERIES LEADER... Leanne Ross holds a narrow two'point lead In the Sportsman championship. (Thunder-Pics) Australian Sportsman els and components, we used a tape champion Graeme Gilliland leading Savas, Gilliland and local racer Championship pointscore has a new leader after five rounds and is Leanne Ross. measure to align the front-end - the Commodore brigade, The start of the fifth round saw as follows: Leanne Ross 781, Savas made the most of his front regardless of how hard it was, I was Graeme Gilliland 779, Graham row position and led for the first 22 Vereker clinging to the inside line determined to compete.”

The first three positions on the laps of the 25-lap journey, Robinson in hiS ill-handling machine, with Crawford 766, Chris Robinson 746, managing to squeeze past with Savas, Robinson, Gilliland, Tony Ron Savas 743, Tony Howlett 712 grid were taken by the XF Ford Howlett and Mark Sutherland fill- and Con Vereker 700.

Falcons of Vereker, Ron Savas and Gilliland right on his tail.

-GRANT NICHOLAS The final order was Robinson, ing the top six positions.

Chris Robinson' with defending

Butch Jones Racing’s Mark Wicks dominated practice, qualifying and rounds seven and eight of the Holden Quality Parts Cup for HQ Holdens on the half-mile oval on January 17 at Adelaide International Raceway.

Friday’s two practice sessions saw Dallas Crane in The CV Joint at the top of the time sheets however, the next day he was rele gated to third spot in the morning session by Wicks and former titleholder John Spencer in the Fuchs Oil/Echlin car.

When the half hour qualifying session was finished in 42 degree heat, Wicks had established a new lap record for the category with a sterling 27.5755-second .time card, just under the previous record of 27.5882 held by local hero John Harding in his Rose & Crown Hotel machine.

The leading six on the grid fea tured Wicks, Harding, Spencer, Robert Wright in the second of the Fuchs Oil/Echlin cars, Scott Walker in the Walkers Transport Kyneton entry and the Dennis Panels racer of Paul Bongiorno.

Wicks lead the seventh round from the green flag to the chequer, with Harding not able to cut in

Wicks blows ’em away

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behind him as they tore through turn 1, allowing Spencer, to surge by with Walker, Wright and several other looking for a clear run to the front.

After considerable squabbling for second place, Walker managed to hold off Harding, Spencer and Wright as the 20-lap event conclud- . ed.

The next 25-lapper was virtually a repeat of the earlier round, with Wicks leading all laps as Walker, Harding and Wright had a dog fight for the remaining two places on the podium.

Wicks comfortably clinched victo ry, ahead of Walker, Harding, Wright, Bongiorno and John Agosta in the AMR/ACL/Repco HQ. John Harding leads the Holden Quality Parts Cup Championship for HQ Holdens with 1297 points from Scott Walker (1288), John Agosta (1233), John Spencer (1182), Mark Wicks (1147) and Steve Walker on 1113.

- GRANT NICHOLAS

CONTACT...HO Holdens of David Keleher and Adrian Lauder(rear) moved the AIR concrete.(Thunder-Pics)

Bartsch duo dominates Legends points

Alfred Bartsch and his son, Adrian, led the Bob Jane TMarts Legends Championship as they headed into South Australia on January 17 where the family championship order was reversed, young Bartsch now heading to the next round with a nine point advantage.

John Faulkner jetted into Adelaide on Saturday morning and promptly jumped to the head of the practice sheet and, several hours later, he snared pole position in his JFR Chevrolet Coupe with a 26.1241-second lap.

Also showing a great turn of speed was the Freighter Ford Coupe of class veteran Peter White, the South Australian heading Adrian Bartsch in his Repco-supported Chevrolet Sedan.

Filling the top six positions were South Australian former Formula 500 dirt track racer Peter Williamson, then Alfred Bartsch and multiple champ Rodney Jane.

Clutch problems prevented young Sunbury driver Bradley Radclyffe’s Calder Computer Management Chevrolet Coupe from coming under starters orders.

The first series round over 10 laps saw Faulkner streak to the lead, consistently hounded by White,'as Adrian Bartsch in his Melbourne Undercover Parking Chevrolet Sedan attempted to hold off the advances of Jane, who over took him three laps from the end.

The final order wa's Faulkner, White, Jane, then the Bartsch son and father combination from Williamson.

Under lights for the second series event, the Legends attracted a tremendous amount of interest from the spectators on the mounds.

Faulkner bursting into the lead before White slipped under him on lap 2 and Jane closing on the pair of them as they completed the lap.

White cleared away as Jane surged passed Faulkner and the pair of them became involved in an extremely close dice for second placmg.

As they entered the last lap, body panels rubbed and Faulkner ended stopped near the middle of the rac ing line (with an electrical short), while Jane’s 5/8th scale racer ended up smashed against the concrete wall.

Bartsch senior and junior snuck by to claim the remaining rostrum placings, as Williamson and team mate BaiTy MeiTitt, in the second of the Butterfly House cars, fin ished fourth and fifth.

The points tally for the Bob Jane T-Marts Legends Championship sees Adrian Bartsch at the top with 1592, ahead of Alfred Bartsch (1583), series rookie Geoff Durack (1440), Clive Henderson (1420), Peter White (1406) and V8 Supercar star John Faulkner on 1331.

- GRANT NICHOLAS

30Jamf^199S

29

Another pot ofgold for the Rainbow Warriors?

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verview of Winston Cup's heroes and villains by Martin D Clark ¥

Jeff Gordon and his superbly effective Ray Evernham-led Hendrick Motorsports team had been widely tipped to win the 1997 Winston Cup Series before the chequered flag dropped on the season in Daytona back on February 16 last season - but the fact they were triumphant by just 14 points was somewhat unexpect ed.

Gordon became the first driver to win $4 million in a single season, his total purse a whopping $4,201,227.

The ‘Rainbow Warriors,’ as the DuPont crew are known, finished outside the top 20 in seven events - excepting this, they were consis tent and that, as team mate Terry Labonte proved the previous year, is a factor in winning the champi onship.

In the 22 years the current points system has been in effect, the championship has been in jeopardy at the final race on 14 occasions and on only two of those occasions has the leader not claimed the title.

But, in 1997, with Dale Jarrett ■and Mark-Martin breathing down his neck, Gordon’s second title looked in trouble, especially with his wreck at Phoenix in the penulti mate face and his pre-race pit road antics in Atlanta.

Gordon’s victories for the season totalled 10, with 23 posted top ten results, an accomplishment in itself.

‘The Kid,’ if you can call him that anymore, was victorious in the Daytona 500 - after cutting a tyi’e, he fell back in the pack, but rallied to become the youngest-ever winner at age 25.

His Hendrick team mates, Labonte and Ricky Craven, fol lowed him across the stripe, mak ing it a Chevy 1-2-3.

Gordon also captured the only two non-points All Star races, The Winston at Charlotte in May and the Busch Clash at Daytona in Febi’uary.

Rookie champion Mike Skinner was the surprise pole winner for the 500, finishing 12th, while his Richard Childress team mate, Dale Earnhardt, found himself planted on his top for the second time in less than a year at a super speed way.

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BIG BUCKS... NASCAR Champion Jeff Gordon is rewriting the record books dollarwise. (Martin D Clark pic) Amazingly, ‘The Intimidator’ exited his black Monte Carlo to examine the damage, drove to pit road for repairs and completed the remaining laps, albeit at a snail’s pace.

The wreck appeared to have started when Gordon affected the air around Earnhardt in a pack of cars ranning in the draft at close to 200 mph - the scary part was observing Ernie Irvan’s bonnet hurtling into the crowd and slightly injuring two spectators.

Gordon followed up the next week with a win at Rockingham in a race where Dale Jarrett had led 323 of 397 laps; but Gordon was there when it mattered most, tak ing the lead with 43 laps to run.

Jeff won back to back again in April, the first win of ‘fools’ month coming at the Bristol half-mile high banks, the second a week after at the Martinsville flat track of simi lar size.

The Bristol affair was a dandy, with Rusty Wallace dominant.

although Gordon, too, looked strong and he proved it going into turn 3 on the final lap.

He bumped Wallace wide and nipped underneath, catching Wallace and Evemham by sm-prise.

Martinsville was a Gordon bene fit: “I never dreamed we’d be that good,” remarked Gordon, after recovering from a spin with the lapped Jimmy Spencer.

The following Martinsville race in September he finished fourth, while Jarrett straggled at the “Ville’

to post 16th and 12th, although Dale did post 942 points to Gordon’s 923 in the series’ six short track events.

That second Martinsville event was controversial and cost Wallace a shot at his second win of the year.

“I can’t believe it; the leader always starts the race,” said Wallace.

Rusty was warned by NASCAR for jumping the gun on the restarts and the third time was penalised, taking away cei’tain victory and leaving Jeff Burton to take the win.

“I’ve never seen that call before,” said Burton, “but we’ll take ’em anyway we can get ’em.” , After conquering the Daytona 500, Gordon went on to capture a shortened Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte in May that finished after one the following morning.

With the Coke^win came a chance of capturing the Winston Million, a bonus of a million big ones, payable to a driver who wins three of four of the circuit’s most prestigious races in one season.

The inaugural California Speedway event was next on Gordon’s check list, Jeff capturing his second event of June after win ning the Pocono race at the begin ning of the month.

Coming second in the first road course event at Sears Point in May, Gordon went one better at Watkins Glen in August and he rounded off his ten wins at New Hampshire Speedway in September.

After capturing the traditional Darlington Southern 500 race and the Winston Million, Gordon became the first driver since Bill EUiott in 1985 to win the loot, but it was not without a fight with Jeff Burton in the waning laps.

Burton later admitted: “I’ll be honest, I tried to knock the shit out of him. I tried to put him in the wall and I just missed him.”

If Winston could come up with that kind of purse for evei-y race, the number of fans in the grand stands could be doubled - no doubt when the million dollar purse is offered fi\«e times in ’98, the tickets will be sold in double time.

Had Jarrett not gone through a slide in April and May with disas ter at Talladega, Charlotte and Dover, he could well have been on Continued on next page

1997/98 GOODYEAR AUSTRALIAN SUPER SPEEDWAY SERIES - POINTS AFTER ROUND 4 OF 6

V

1997/98 ACDelco Cup I. Kim Jane, Bob Jane T-Marts/Repco . . I 183 2. Jim Richards, Pyroil/No Fear/Wattyl .1 165 1084 3. Terry Wyhoon, BP Car Care 4. Rodney Jane, Auscar Alloy Wheels .1071 5. Neville Lance, King Koil/Autopro . . .1062 6. Ian Thomas,●■Valvoline/Killer Loop . .1020 7. Jimmy Ellis, GB Galvanizing/Mundays .943 8. Paul Stocker, Consolidated Waste . . .920 9. Max Dumesny, Valvoline, Killer Loop .895 10. Bob Middleton, Whiteline Trans/Cat .808

1997/98 Strathfield National Cup I. Jason Wyllie, Trust Bank/Compuerland .1 180 1 146 2. Darren McDonald, Powermac 3. Eddie Abelnica, Melb’s Cheap Cars .1094 4. Nathan Pretty, DeWalt/Goodyear . . 1074 5. Matthew White, Freighter/Holden . .1050 6. Marshall Brewer, Fastrack/Cigweld . 1040 7. Darryl Speers, l&V Truck & Trailers 1002 8. Nicole Pretty, DeWalt/Goodyear . . . .921 9. Richard Howe, Ferntree Gully Bolts .895 10. Jason Morrell, Jason Morrell Racing . .880

1997/98 Konica Sportsman Series I. Leanne Ross, Chris Milton Engines . . .781 2. Graeme Gilliland, G&G Engineering . .779 3. Graham Crawford, Crawford Racing .766 4. Chris Robinson, Goodyear Belting . . .746 .743 5. Ron Savas, Balnarring Panels . . . .712 6. Tony Howlett, Howlett M'sport .700 7. Con Vereker, Vereker Smash . .

8. Mark Sutherland, McLean Race Eng. . .696 9. Gerry Raleigh, ICI Autocolour, Kerrys . .658 .653 10. Graeme O’Brien, Dennis Panels

A

30Jmfy1998 Another pot of gold for the Rainbow Warriors Continued from previous page the head table at New York’s glitzy Waldorf Astoria.

He won five times following the season’s mid-point, finishing a career high second in points.

He lost 60 points to Gordon at Watkins Glen in August, when NASCAR black flagged him for smoking - but, upon entering pit road, no smoke or oil leaks were found on the car.

This year, with Yates in-house chassis being built over the winter, look for DJ to be stronger than ever as he and crew chief Todd Parrott build upon their friendship and working relationship even more.

Ford won the most races and the manufacturers title and also won the race for bickering over aerody namics for their now defunct 'T-

Bird.

Jarrett won the most'races for the blue oval brigade - seven - and his first career short track events, one in the Bristol night race in August and a second two weeks later under the lights at Richmond.

Other Ford winners included Rusty Wallace (1), Jeff Burton (3), Martin (4), Ricky Rudd (2), Ernie Ii-van (1) and John Andretti(1).

Burton was the most improved driver in 1997, his emotional first win at the new Texas track welldeserved, even though many front runners were wiped out in the destruction derby.

Burton’s Buddy Parrott lead Roush entry proved the first win was no fluke.

With two more trips to victory lane at both New Hampshire and Martinsville, they finished a fine fourth in points.

Bui'ton’s team mate Martin had a reasonable year and ended a long dry spell - he posted 24 top ten res'Jts, but his five results outside the top 20 didn’t help his champi onship charge.

With new colours for 1998, Martin’s Valvoline entry already has the vote for the ugliest car, after fielding one of the most strik ing during the past two years.

Ricky Rudd continues to be a model for owner drivers, with two wins in 1997 - in such.a role he also extended his winning streak to 15 years with at least one victory, tying Earnhardt’s streak that ended this year.

Ricky counts the Brickyard win as the biggest of his career - cer tainly it was in terms of money, the victory bagging him $571,000.

However, his 17th in points at year’s end was the first time he’d ended up outside the top ten since 1988; with ten races to go he was holding the tenth spot, but backslid from there.

Both Wallace and Irvan had lacklustre seasons, both only win ning a race each.

GOLDEN CHARIOT... Hendrick Motorsports'dominant Jeff Gordon DuPont Monte Carlo. (Martin D Clark pic) Wallace - suffering many engine problems put down to experimental components and driver abuse placed outside the top 20 on 13 occasions, just rallying inside the top ten in points and ending up ninth.

Hamilton won Rockingham in October, and, after a bet with car owner Richard Petty, he pocketed an extra $100,000 before his exit from the STP team.

Labonte ended up seventh in points, the first of the one-car oper-

Gordon even commented mid season: “I’d love to see Dale win; to be honest, I wouldn’t mind finishing second (to Dale if it would end his [winless] streak.”

The question is: How much longer will it be before The

THE INTIMIDATOR... Will 1998 see the end of Dale Earnhardt's appalling winless streak?(Martin D Clark) Andretti took his maiden NASCAR victory in July at Daytona, but only shone on the restrictor plate tracks, posting fourth and third at two of the other three ‘plate’ events, with no other top ten results during the season.

The two Bobbys, Labonte and Hamilton, led the Pontiac Chief charge with one' win apiece, Labonte (for the second year running( saving the best until last with a win in Atlanta.

Team owner Joe Gibbs remarked recently: “We need to be successful on the flat tracks before we can be a championship contender.”

ations, while Hamilton slipped to 16th, after posting within the top ten earher in the season.

Defending champion Terry Labonte almost went the whole sea son without a win One of the biggest stories of the year centred around Earnhardt- his unexplained blackout at Darlington caught him by surprise and, with no reoccurrence and some respectable results late in the season, the issue can be forgotten for now.

One thing that can’t be over looked, though, is his lack of wins he’s now zero for 59, his longest winless streak ever.

Intimidator chalks up win number 71?

Along with Earnhardt, Sterling Marlin and Geoff Bodine were the other drivers who won races in 1996, but failed to do so in ’97, Marlin suffering a horrible season, but Earnhardt and Bodine coming close to victory lane, especially later in the season.

Along with Earnhardt’s blackout, Rick Hendrick’s federal Honda Motor Company fraud charges and iU health were the other major off track talking points.

Hendrick will not be seen around the raceways for at least a year as he serves house arrest, his brother John taking, over the reins as Motorsports Manager.

Kyle Petty ended the season on a high note, posting five top ten fin ishes in the final seven events, while Pontiac partner Johnny Benson finished a career-high ninth in points, missing out on tenth by one point to Ken Schrader.

Kenny, in his first season with the new Andy Petree-owned Skoal team, was much improved over his final years with Hendrick and we can look for strong results this year as the team continues to invest in new equipment.

Of the new tracks, Roger Penske’s California Speedway was far more impressive than Bruton Smith’s Texas wreck fest, the latter

“X?.

caused by the tightness of the squared-offfront stretch.

Texas has hopefully taught NASCAR they should not take a race to a track that is not fully com pleted.

Thankfully, that will not be the case when the series visits another west coast venue, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, on March 1.

Full marks must go to Smith for the newly revamped Atlanta, though, as it was breathtakingly fast and is now the second fastest speedway on the tour, but without the carnage many had anticipated.

Multi-car teams are fast becom ing the fashion of Winston Cup rac ing, with six of the top ten drivers belonging to two-plus car outfits.

This year, two more of those teams (Penske and Elliott) will become two-car operations and in 1999 the remaining two (Petree and Joe Gibbs) will be in some form of multi-car operation.

We can expect the same foothold by the giants in 1998, with Roush fielding five teams in what could be Winston’s final year, the'governing body marking it’s 50th anniversary with some explosive marketing to capture an even broader fan base worldwide.

Jeff Burton and Ken Schrader will bag more than one win apiece in 1998, with Burton becoming the sport’s new glory boy and title con tender - his souvenir sales have already seen large increases. ’ Johnny Benson Jr, in the new #26 Cheerios-sponsored Roush Taurus and Derrike Cope, who took over Benson’s old #30 Bahari ride (now with Gumout backing), will also head the surprise winners.

Expect Bobby Hamilton in the Kodak Morgan McClure Chevy and John Andretti, who has entered the ‘Royal Family,’ to take ‘The King’s’ #43 to victory lane - both were fast at Daytona testing.

Sterhng Marlin is reunited with his old crew chief, Tony Glover, the pair having now joined Team Sabco. Glover, the Sabco team man ager, will oversee all three Sabco operations, but will be in Marlin’s pit on race day.

Marlin’s crew chief Buddy ‘Red Dog’ Barnes, also new at Sabco, will be sent to the roof to spot for Sterling - Barnes, a veteran crew member, last spotted for Jeremy Mayfield at what was KranefussHaas Racing.

Speaking of Kranefuss, their newly renamed Penske-Kranefuss Racing operation and driver Jeremy Mayfield could be worth watching for in 1998, the team sharing information with Penske South and Rusty Wallace.

Like the Grand Prix, which has taken two full seasons to develop, the Taurus will suffer at the restrictor plate tracks of Daytona and Talladega, but expect NASCAR to alter the aero rules, making ‘The Bull’ more competitive across the board.

Picks for this year’s title include Gordon (I really stuck my neck out there!). Rusty Wallace, Terry Labonte (especially as he is reunit ed with crew chief Andy Graves), Jarrett, Martin, Jeff Burton, Schrader and, don’t write him off just yet, Earnhardt.

Only one of those listed above is a single car operation - Ken Schrader’s Andy Petree-owned team - but look at it this way: Where has Earnhardt figured in the title race since Petree left Richard Childress in late 1995?

In only his second j'ear as a car owner and first year with Schrader on board, the team finished tenth in the final rundown, which was quite an achievement.

NO BULL ... Jimmy Spencer’s new low-key Ford Taurus ride for 1998 may well be up against it at restrictor plate tracks. (Martin D Clark pic)

30JmarfW98

3^

Report by PETER WHITTEN Carlos Sainz and co-dri ver Luis Moya won the Montt^ Carlo Rally, giving the new Toyota Corolla World Rally Car its first World Championship vic tory.

The Spaniards won by 40 seconds from former team mate Juha Kankkunen, with Colin McRae third, a further 20 seconds behind.

“When I returned to Toyota it was because I felt it was possible to achieve results like this. But to be honest, I did not expect we would win so soon,” Sainz said.

“We have only just started to work with this car - there is a lot we can do to make it even better. Our aim is to go for the Championship and we have to be quick on every rally through the season.”

Sainz’s win - his third here - takes his tally of WRC wins to 21, equal with Kankkunen’s record-break ing total.

It brings enormous satis faction to his Toyota Castrol team, this being the first event since their official return to the sport following their exclusion in Spain in 1995.

“I think this victory is the result of the driver, the icenote crew and the weather information. We have to be realistic; it’s not the perfor mance of the car. But I’m very happy - it’s a dream result for the team,” said Ove Andersson, President of Tcyota Motorsport.

The rally produced the usual mixture of weather and road conditions which put a premium on tyre choice and it was a wrong choice which set up the victory for Sainz.

World Champion Tommi Makinen seemed to have taken control of the rally when he pulled out a lead of over a minute on the final stage of the first leg.

But that all changed on the very first stage of the sec ond day.

While the Toyotas and Fords went into the 22km Bayons stage on narrow snow tyres, Makinen and Burns, in the second Mitsubishi, picked a wider pattern.

WELCOME RETURN... Legendary Carlos Sainz marked his return to the ToyotaJTTE fold with an historic Monte Carlo win in the Corolla WRC.

Full Monte by Sainz

Makinen went off the road on a fifth gear corner before half-distance and rolled out of the rally and Burns lost time, while Sainz went into a lead he never lost.

Kankkunen benefited too, jumping to second.

Burns was left to carry the Mitsubishi flag, a consider able responsibility on his maiden attempt at this spe cialist event. Driving with maturity beyond his 27 years - his birthday was two days before the start - he held third going into the last leg of five stages.

Here again the weather took a hand. The stages were largely dry, with a few damp or icy patches.

This favoured the Subarus on their Pirelli tyres - the other three top teams run Michelin.

While Sainz kept things tidy to secure a momentous win, Kankkunen could not

relax with McRae and Liatti after him.

They got ahead of Burns on stage 15 and McRae was just 20 seconds behind Kankkunen by the finish.

Positions two to five were separated by just 42 seconds, testimony to the intensity of the competition and the equality of the equipment.

Second-placed Kankkunen said: “Of course I’m pleased, but with a little more snow we could have won.

“Yesterday, we were quick est but today, on the dry tar mac, Subaru were fantastic.

We still have work to do on the car for those conditions.”

For a Monte Carlo “virgin,” as Burns described himself on the second leg, to finish in the top six was a consider able achievement.

Andrew Cowan, the Ralliart Director said: “Burns finished 22 seconds behind McRae and 10 sec¬

onds behind last year’s win ner, Liatti, who’s no slouch in this part of the world.

“We’re absolutely delight ed with Richard’s result and heartened by the perfor mance of the car, which has shown well against the 1998 contenders.”

Bruno Thiry scored the single championship point ■for sixth place, a result with which he should be pleased on his first outing in the M Sport-prepared Escort WRC. Didier Auriol in the second Toyota had a big accident on the first day, but came back to finish 14th, putting some much-needed mileage on the car and regularly putting in top six times.

The 2 Litre category was won by the swift Peugeot 306s, Gilles Panizzi leading fellow Frenchman Francois

Delecour home in ninth and tenth places.

The Group N category was won by Manfred Stohl in a

Mitsubishi.

the leads Toyota Manufacturers Championship with 10 points - Ford and Subaru are on 7, with Mitsubishi on 2 points.

Sainz leads the Drivers title, with Kankkunen on 6 and McRae 4.

The FIA Teams Cup only attracted one entry for the Uruguayan team, but Gustavo Trelles went out of the event of the first day.

Results 1.

C. Sainz/L. Moya Toyota Corolla 4h28m00.5s 2.

J. Kankkunen/ J. Repo Ford Escort 4:28:41.3

NEW RIDE... World Champion Tommi Makinen’s Mitsubishi Carisma rolled out of contention.

VIC: Stuckey Tyre Service Ph: (03) 9386 5331 Fax: (03) 9383 2514 SA: The Mag Wheel Centre Ph: (08) 8269 4100 Fax: (08) 8269 7805 NSW: Stuckey Tyre Service

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C. McRae/N. Grist Subaru Impreza 4:29:01.5 P. Liatti/F. Pons Subaru Impreza 4:29:13.5 R. Burns/R. Reid Mitsubishi Carisma 4:29:23.2 B. Thiry/S. Prevot Ford Escort 4:30:20.9 U. NitteF T. Thomer Mitsubishi Carisma 4:34:21.3 A. Kremer/K. Wicha Subaru Impreza 4:37:40.1 G.PanizzF H. Panizzzi Peugeot 306 4:39:24.0 F. Delecour/ D. Grataloup Peug 306t 4:40:02.2

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SOJamiyWSS

Bates star rises Triple Australian rally champion Neal Bates has had a hectic few weeks as his tekm prepares for the 1998 Australian Rally Championship Super Series season-opener in Coffs Harbour on February 23.

Bates will be the star of a television commercial which has seen sequnces shot both here in Australia and in Europe, where Bates has been for the past ten days.

The Canberra-based Toyota driver was kept busy by the film crew here in Australia before jumping aboard a plane bound for France, where the European sequences were completed and he was able to watch the final two days of the Monte Carlo Rally, joining in the celebrations for Carlos Sainz’s victory in the Corolla, the first WRC victory for the new Toyota.

Ironically, Bates was the first in the world to give the Corolla WRC a win in any rally,, when he drove to vic tory in the Rally of Canberra in November.

Bates will be battling to be back in Australia in time for the Motorsport Awards in Melbourne tomorrow night

(Friday), where he is nomi nated for Rally Driver of the Year.

Immediately after his return, he will throw himself into preparations for the sea son ahead, as he bids to claim a fifth title after con ceding the championship to Kiwi Possum Bourne for the past t\^{o years.

But,' as reported in Motorsport News, Bates hopes that the new Corolla will put him back on an equal footing with the New Zealander and his Subaru and, after recent fine tuning and development work, he believes the car will have an edge.

The trip to France is also expected to have uncovered niore improvements to the Corolla, as reflected in Sainz’s dominant win in the opening round of the World Championship last week.

As a result. Bates may have a considerable amount of hand luggage with him' when he jets back into Australia.

The rally star’s column in Motorsport News will return next issue, with an expected preview of the Coffs Harbour Rally.

-JON THOMSON

Middleton title support

Australian Reigning Formula Two rally cham pion Brett Middleton has snared a new sponsor for the 1998 Australian Rally Championship and has announced a change of co-driver for the new season.

With just three weeks to the opening of the new sea son, Middleton has unveiled a new livery for his upgraded Formula Two Honda, with Strathfield Car Radios join ing major sponsor Sanyo in a year in which the Sydney driver is set to face tougher opposition in his bid to

- j

Being beaten by an age ing Datsun for the ARC P4 title has fired South Australian Falcon driver Steve Winwood up for the 1998 title with the engine in his rally machine expanding by a litre and two cyinders in an effort to regain the title.

Winwood will step out of

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the Ford Motorsport-backed Falcon XR6 into a Falcon XR8 for the 1998 champi onship and is hoping the extra power and the poten tial for further development will mean the bent eight can keep ahead of the opposition.

“■We reached the limit of development with the straight six and felt that the ■V8 offered better opportuni ties for power to match the opposition,” said Winwood.

“The "Vd also offers a great deal more opportunity for

increasing power in the future, with a wider range of performance bits available while staying inside the reg ulations,” he added.

Winwood believes that the Y8 will provide at least 20% more power with only a small increase in overall vehicle weight and, rather than build an all-new car, he has refurbished his existing XR6 and will drop in the new rally V8 engine in the next couple of weeks in time for Coffs Harbour.

Ironically, it marks a return to 'V8 power for the South Australian, who ran a five litre Falcon back in 1992, before downsizing to the six cylinder.

The former Adelaide elec trician, who now spends vir tually all his time building and running rally cars, will continue to receive backing from Ford Motorsport and Tickford, as well as tyre manufacturer Yokohama, Hella, Champion and ROH. -JON THOMSON

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NEW FORD Ford’s all-new Puma is destined for the Formula 2 ranks. Initially homologated only in 1700cc guise, there will ultimately be a munber of variants, including the 1400cc, 150 horsepower Puma Junior R^y Car using the 16-valve Zetec-SE for the proposed Formula 3 category. Next comes the Puma Rally Kit with a 200-plus horsepower 1600cc Zetec-SE, which will eventually run in 2-litre form. Then there’s the full-bore, 300 horsepower Puma Prototype, with Escort WRC running gear and turbocharged Cosworth powerplant.

ERIKSSON & HYUNDAI

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components combined with our own knowledge, which we reckon will give us the power to match the opposi tion,” said Middleton.

“We know this year is going to be tough and we haven’t been idle during the off-season.”

The F2 championship is shaping up to be the most competitive sector of the Australian rally series this year, with factory-supported teams from Toyota, Hyundai and Daihatsu, as well as strong privateer entries from Honda and Nissan.

- JON THOMSON

V8 upgrade for Winwood I

VI

Middleton has drafted for defend his F2 title.

The likelihood that F2 run mer Kiwi Andrew Benefield, ner-up Dean Herridge will who has co-driven in the have access to a Hyundai Kit NSW Championship along Car for at least part of the side Darren Williams, as season, as well as upgraded * well as having a strong fami factory Daihatsus for Rick ly association with the famed Bates and Ross McKenzie, Masport Escort team which will mean Middleton will his father ran in New have his work cut out for him Zealand for many years.

Meanwhile, Middleton has this year.

The announcement of imported new engine compo added sponsorship follows nentry to upgrade the power the news that co-driver Linda output of the Honda, which Long has defected from the ran last year in near stan Honda team to partner dard trim.

“We have hunted the world Silverstone Challenge hope for the best bits and its a ful Jo Cadman.

As a replacement for Long, cocktail oflocal and imported

Australia’s Wayne have Bell and lain Stewart become the first ever Australian crew to officially compete in the World Rally Championship with the announcement that the duo will contest ten rounds of the World Championship in 1998, initially driving their Australian developed Hyundai Coupe two-litre kit car.

Bell will drive all ten events to be competed by a new-look Hyundai Rallysport in 1998 and a second car will most likely be driven by Kenneth Eriksson in many of the events, with additional guest appearances by Stig Blomqvist.

The Australian Hyundai Coupes, prepared by Bell’s local Hyundai Rallysport team in 1997, are to be relo cated to the UK to be pre pared and run by English preparation firm MSD, at the request of European Hyundai distributors, who

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By Peter Whitt' Editor - Australian Rallysporl are supporting the new-look rally program.

The economic climate in Asia has brought locally backed rally development to a standstill, but HRS in Australia will continue in the development of customer specification products and vehicles and will quite possi bly run one car in the Australian Super Series with a young driver at the wheel.

Bell and Stewart will come ‘home’ to compete in the local rounds of the WRC in Indonesia, New Zealand and Australia, with the majority of their new season to be spent in Europe.

They are the first team from Australia to ever gain

such an extensive con tract to compete in the WRC and the local 2litre kit car Hyundai Coupes are the first local cars to go to the WRC as the initial spearhead of the chal lenge.

The current HRS prepared Hyundai Coupes are to be trans ferred to the UK base where they will be used until such time as MSD prepares lefthand drive vehicles.

The Aussie Coupes will then be returned ^o Australia for selected rounds of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship.

Of course, this later move will depend on an improving economic situa tion throughout Asia.

Considering the present economic condition in Asian countries, the move is a coup for Bell, who has remained loyal to Hyundai since his introduction of the marque to Australian rally ing in 1990.

CURif ■1998 IN MEMORIAM ... Ford’s Monte Carlo Escort WRC contingent farewelled the alltime British rally legend Roger Clark - the first Briton to win a world champi onship rally - in appropriate fashion at the 1998 season-opening event.

Although European dis tributors asked for local dri vers, HMC Korea specifical ly asked for Bell to drive in the team; a mark of respect for the 45 year-old driver who introduced Hyundai to rallying and who, in 1994, captured the Asia Pacific F2 title for the marque.

Bell and Stewart are already planning their first rally.

Their first event is Portugal. .

TOP LADIES COMBINE Sydney’s leading ladyhas of rallying, Jo Cadman^ been joined by renowned co-driver Linda Long to con test the 1998 Silverstone Challenge in this year’s ARC Super Series.

A deal has been set between the two girls to form an all-female team.

The team will be compet ing in a Toyota Corolla Seca RV through an arrangement with the Brian Hilton Group - competing in the same car that saw Cadman stun the

rally fraternity by winning the Silverstone honours at the Rally of Melbourne last August.

Melbourne was also the event where Linda Long claimed the Formula 2 title with driver Brett Middleton.

“This will be a very hotly contested class,” Jo said.

“I am thrilled to have such a high calibre co-driver as Linda becoming part of the team and I feel we will be a very powerful team together.

“I’m looking forward to a fun-filled and exciting year of rallying.”

Cadman has already been dubbed as the driver to watch in 1998 after what can only be described as a superb year for the young driver last year.

It seems that her 1998 campaign has now been strengthened with the part nership with Long and there is no doubt that this power ful team will be hard to beat in the Silverstone Challenge one-make series.

PEUGEOT FOR 1999 Peugeot’s for aRally full attack on return the World Championship return appears to be on track and the manu facturer must now choose which car it will build to World Rally Car specifications.

It is believed that Peugeot favours the soon to be released 206, but under World Rally Car regulations the car is too short.

Peugeot has not contest ed the full World Rally Championship since Group B was banned at the end of the 1986 season.

Since then, the factory has been involved mainly in national championships, but re-emerged last year when their Formula 2 306 Kit Car led both the Corisan and Spanish rounds of the World Championship.

Peugeot’s invoivement in the full championship would be a major boost, with SEAT'S 1999 plans already bringing the number of man ufacturers involved for next year to five.

3SJmafyi398 Tattersall’s THE Historic Demonst rations at the 1998 Qantas Australian Grand Prix meeting in March will feature a magnificent collection of sports c^s from the 1950s and ’60s the likes of which have not been seen for over 40 years.

In fact, the last time Australian race fans saw a field like this was possibly as far back as 1956, and that meeting was the Australian Tourist Trophy which was also run at Albert Pai'k.

Peter Briggs fi-om Perth will be debuting his DType Jaguar which origi nally raced for around 20 years in the USA, and Warren Daly (perhaps bet ter known for his involve ment with the Daly-Wdson Big Band) will have his first outing in his recently acquii-ed ex-Ian Cummins D-Type.

Another famous car taking part will be Grant Gibson’s Lotus 15 which has a special but unpleas ant memory of Albert Park. Nearing the conclu sion of the 1956 Australian Tourist Ti'ophy at the ‘old’ Albert Park circuit its then owner and driver Derek Jolly was overcome by fumes from a cracked exhaust and lost control, crashing heavily.

The car was extremely badly damaged, as was Derek, who immediately anpounced his retirement from racing. This famous car has a great race histo ry, having been driven in the Le Mans 24-hour race by world champion Graham Hill.

Another car that will be gi-eat to both see and hear again is Bob Jane’s McLaren M6A which will be coming out of retire ment for the first time since 1972. The McLaren uses a rare Australian built 5-litre Repco V8 engine and won the Australian Sports Car Championship in both 1971 and ’72. It will make its first appearance in 25 years in the hands of its original pilot, John Harvey.

The Tattersall’s Historic Demonstrations will cer tainly be a highlight of this year’s AGP carnival at Albert Park from March 58, and as weU as seeing the cars in action, a visit to the giant Historic marquee is a ‘must’ to experience these classic sports car close up.

-BRIAN REED Coming events: Jan 31 - Feb 1 HSRCA Amaroo Park Historic Meeting Feb 3 VHRR Dinner and generai meeting, Whitehorse inn.

Hawthorn Feb,15 Caider Practice Day (Brian Simpson (03)9744 7309) Feb 21-22 Baskerville 40th Anniversary Meeting, Tasmania Feb 22 Victorian Hlllclimb C'ship,(R1) Mt Leura, Camperdown Feb 27- Mar 4 1998 Dutton Grand Prix Rally Feb 28.- Mar 1 VHRR Historic Phillip Island Meeting Mar 4 Swanston Walk Grand Prix Parade(Ron Townley 9783 3562) Mar 7 VHRR Grand Prix Dinner Mar 5 -8 1998 Qantas AGP Albert Park.

Get out of Harm's way

WE regularly hear of Australian drivers doing well overseas these days, which is great news, but less frequently do we hear of Australian cars performing with distinction on the international circuits.

Porsdhe’s chief designer Harm Lagaay is helping set the record straight.

The man responsible for the design of, amongst other Porsches, the incredi bly successful Boxster, races Historic cars as a hobby and some years ago acquired the big Elfin sports car code named the ME5.

Built originally by Elfin Sports Cars for Sydney driver Neil Allen to contest the 1970 Australian Sports Car Championship (a title claimed by another Elfin that year - the 350 of Peter Woodward) the brutish'ME5. passed through several local owners before leaving our shores for the Porsche workshops in Zuffenhausen.

Naturally, locals were sad to see the big, one-off sportie leave Australia, but in retrospect it could not have gone to a better owner. The meticulous Lagaay has totally rebuilt the South Australian Elfin ME5 and now races it in major Historic sports cars events throughout Europe and the USA. ‘ Back in October 1997, Lagaay con tested the CanAm Reunion meeting at Daytona, an event which attracted the biggest and best of a series that was very much an American phenomenon of / the ’70s based on the simple premise “If you _ .. » want it to go faster, add horsepower.

Although not a tiddler by any means (the Elfin ME5 is powered by a 5-litre ME AND MY ME5... Harm Lagaay and chum pose with the Elfin ME5-Chevroiet Chevrolet V8 that produces a healthy in front of the infamous Daytona banking and, of course, a Porsche.

590bhp), it was somewhat dwarfed by Targa Tasmania, Harm Lagaay has some of the 7-litre monsters, but proved faultlessly throughout.

“What a place!” said Lagaay. “I will indicated he may be at this year’s event that brute force isn’t everything - even be racing in Europe and the States with a new 911. in American racing.

With former world rally champion again this year.(The) car is fine - even Lagaay won his class and fin ished third outright at the CanAm the overheating problem is now cured... Walter Rohl hoping to bring our anoth Who said the Elfin ME5 would not be er gem from the Porsche Museum to Reunion in a performance that had contest the 1998 Targa they could be heads turning - quickly! The Elfin competitive overseas?” he quipped.

With the Porsche factory showing real threats to the locals. was clocked at 200mph (320km/h) -BRIAN REED on the banking at Daytona and ran more than a passing interest in our

i

maroo Festival beckons

By BRIAN REED

THE next major Historic meeting on the increasingly busy calendar will be the 23rd annual event at Amaroo Park, NSW, arid more than 240 entries have been received.

The 2-day, 33-event program from January 31 to Febmaiy 1 has attracted cars from Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, while the host State has provided the majority of the entries.

The most heavily subscribed fields are for production-based sports cars arrd toming cars of the ’50s,’60s and ’70s. - not sm’prising as there are more sur vivors amongst their ranks than some of the rarer arrd older classes.

Notable interstaters include Don Tlrallon fi-om Brisbane in his 1961 Chev Corvette, and his David and Goliath battle in the S(a)class against the Fordpowered Turner of Les Schwebel should be a high light. Also in the S(a) category is Sandown’s Driver of the Meeting Bill Hemming in his awesome Jaguar XE!150 - a title he earned at thfe 1997 Tattersall’s Historic Meeting.

A similar battle is likely in the S(b) ranks when

THE ENDLESS MARCH... In almost any open wheeler event at Amaroo Park Richard (Photo by Peter Schell) Carter looks hard to heat. This is his pristine March 73B. Historic 75B and Jeremy Kenyon’s Melbourne’s Paul frevethan, Tattersall’s driving his MG B,takes on the Demonstrations in March. RTl. Other key open-wheeler He’ll also run his healthy entries include Sydney’s Paul Marcos of Roger Ealand.

From South Australia comes sorrirding Falcon V8 at Amaroo Hamilton (Elfin 600 twin John Payne with his now and will be up against long cam), and Peter Addison supercharged J2/TB Special, standing rival Bob Pear-son in (Brabham BT23FVA).

And the For-mula Fords wdl and well known female driver his highly developed Escort be out in force with Victorians Helene Bittner. Helene will RS1600.

The open-wheeler categories Bob Mon’ow (Elfin 620), Tony drive her familiar open-wheeler known as the Rebelle - a have also been well patron Harper (Elw3m 002) and Bill ised, and amongst the quickies Roberts (Elfin 600) ready to Group 0 car built by her hus band with Ford power and Richard Carter wfil again be throw out the challenge to hardest to beat driving his Alan Smart’s flying Bowin. based on a Lynx.

The 11-event Saturday pr-oBob Tweedie has a busy well-sorted March 73B. However, he is likely to get gram starts at 1 o’clock schedule ahead, for after rac ing his Lotus 23 at Amaroo at some keen competition from (admission $10), and for $15 the end of January, he’ll fi’ont Michael Henderson’s Lola you can enjoy 22 races on up at Albert Park for the T560, Howar-d Bhght’s Mai-ch Srmday,Febr-uary 1.

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Back to Baskerville Plans are proceeding for the ‘Back to Baskerville’ Historic gathering on February 22 in Tasmania - a meeting to celebrate 40 years of motor sport at the famous circuit.

The organisers claim the 40th anniversary as some thing of a record in Australia, for although Phillip Island may have started earlier, it did experi ence a break in operation before reopening.

Baskerville on the other hand has enjoyed 40 years of ongoing motor sport, and would like to invite everyone back to help celebrate the milestone.

Not only cars and drivers will be made welcome, but anyone who acted as an ofBcial or helped with the organ isation of the meetings from 1958 onwards will be given the VIP treatment.

Naturally, anyone who attended as a spectator dur ing this- ei-a would find it a wonderful weekend down memory lane.

The Baskerville gathering will be run in conjunction with an open race meeting , and for fiirther details of the Historic component contact Lyn Archer in Hobart on (03) 6234 2822(w), 6224 0557(h), (0418) 122 151 (mob.) or the Hobart Sporting Car Club on (03) 6394 7603 (phone), 6234 3700 (fax.)

-BRIAN REED

Don Fraser

THE sudden death of Don Fraser came as a shock to all in the Historic racing frater nity as the popular South Australian only retired from his engi neering business two years ago.

Don was a well known and respected mechanic and driver and in recent years competed extensive ly in his dark blue Amilcar (or “Animalcar” as he sometimes called it due to its somewhat tem peramental disposition).

He was a founder and a driving force of Historic racing in Adelaide, an expert on camshafts and an enthusiast supporter of the Adelaide Beefsteak and Bui’gundy Club.

Over the years, Don Fraser was involved with some very interesting race cars and liked to reminisce about his Cooper BRM and the early Tasman series, or about the legal problems that beset his restoration of a Cooper Climax T52.

An interesting car he built was the Cicada F5000 which son Stephen drove in the 1972 AGP at Calder. Don had also piloted speedboats at over lOOmph, so it was life in the fast lane most of the time for the popular South Austi-alian.

His passing has robbed motor sport of one of its driving forces, and to his family we extend sincere condolences.

- BRIAN REED

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Report by KEN FERGUSON Graeme Cowin celebrated the Australia Day week end In fine style on January24 when he pilot ed his Shell Rocketship to the only for;r second pass and a win in the Autobarn Top Fuel bracket at Willowbank Raceway’s second round of the Castrol New Year Series last Saturday night - an event which also attract ed the largest-ever entry list for a one day meeting, with 230 competitors turning out to do battle in the sweltering heat.

Cowin struggled for form during qualifying, recording a best of only 9.14/85, leaving him in just fifth spot.

Glenn Mikres drove Santo Rapisarda’s new, ex-Scott Kalitta car to the top of the heap with a 5.04/280, fol lowed by Robin Kirby (5.33), Terry Sainty (5.56), Darren DiFilippo (7.92), Cowin and Roy Smith on a 13.45.

The Smith-Atholwood car’s first qualifier could have been mistaken for a half track burnout, with Smith blazing the tyres from about ten feet off the line!

Despite a torched head gasket. Smith made repairs in time for the first round of eliminations.

The first race of round one was a battle of tbe oil compa nies, with Cowin’s Shell car facing Kirby’s Pennzoil machine.

Cowin showed a complete reversal ofform from qualify ing to end Kirby’s night of racing - a 5.10 at only 228 was good enough to beat Kirby’s 5.36/272.

Mikres’ 5.04/278 took out Smith on another tyre-blaz ing run, while DiFilippo drove the True Flow Exhausts car to a win over Sainty’s Eagle Ignition Leads car.

Mikres earned the bye in the semi-finals and recorded his third straight 5.04/276.

Cowin then recorded a 4.98/247 to win over DiFilippo although, like

BACK IN TOWN... Graeme Cowin's Shell Rocketship returned to its four second form while downing the Top Fuel field at Willowbank.(Marshall Cass) Mikres, he too suffered main bearing damage, both teams needing to change engines prior to the final round. , In the final round. Cowin marched to an easy 5,12/257 win when Mikres lost the blower belt at half track and slowed to a 6.56/134.

Top Alcohol was shaping up to be another ding-dong battle between tbe two quickest in the class, David (Jlenwright and current champ Gary Phillips.

Phillips recorded a 5.92/234 in his Lucas Oils dragster in qualifying, while Glenwright went quicker with a 5.88/228, but a burnt piston and banged blower were the result, team owner Bob Brackham withdrawing the Romac car from competi tion.

Wayne Newby stepped up into second spot with a 6.00/229, followed by Steve Harker (6.02), “Pommie” Steve Read (6.02), “Aussie” Steve Reed (6.03), Stan Tindal (6.19), Scott Ferguson (6.50) and Mark Brew (7.09).

Brew was in the unfamil-

iar role of sporting a big block Rodeck in the BOC Gases car for this meeting, on loan from Bob Brackham while his own small block was awaiting parts.

The first round of elimina tions resulted in a win for Harker in his beautiful Thermo-King Spectr,a Harkef Transport Avenger over Tindal, Harker in the fives again with a 5.98/241.

Ferguson, in his first appearance at Willowbank with the Tonkins Car Audio dragster, gave the crowd something to remember him by with a burnout which fin ished at the finish line!

Not disturbed by Ferguson, though, Newby dealt hirn out in the first round, while “Aussie” Reed took out his “Pommie” name sake and Phillips soloed to a 5.96/233 win when Brew couldn’t fire due to magneto problems.

Both Phillips and Harker marched to the final with wins over Reed and Newby, respectively.

In the final round, Phillips

recorded a great 5.91/233, which would have been hard to beat, although Harked had already handed the win over on a silver platter when he bulbed the start.

Top Comp saw Tom Coonan, driving his CF Performance LTD, take a well-deserved win over Dean McClennan in the Castrol

Funny Car, Coonan record ing a perfect 8.10 on an 8.10 dial-in.

Kym Petterwood drove his Lifestyle Pro Stock Pontiac to the closest win of the night over Jon Sting’s A/D in the Super Comp final.

Both drivers went .06 under their indexes, but with Petterwood gaining the

advantage on the start by five thousanths of a second.

Other winners included Gavin Spann in Comp Bike, Juan Kudnig in Super Sedan, Ian Fitzgerald in Modified, George Wegener in Super Street, Wendy Parsons in Mod Bike and Michael Adams in Junior Dragster.

BACK IN BLACK... Glenn Mikres'new car ran consistent 5.0s, but couldn't win.(Cass)

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I’ll be back”-Shepherd

Veteran drag racer Bob Shepherd has vowed that he will be back behind the wheel of a nitro Funny Car next season, following his recent crash at Calder Park.

Shepherd, who was mak ing his final licencing pass in his Ford Thunderbird fuel coupe at the time of the acci dent, told Motorsport NeWs that the ‘Gambler’ team plans to rebuild and they will be ready for the 1998/99 sea son.

“That’s racing - it’s a chal lenge that, sometimes it all goes good for you, while at other times things go wrong,” Shepherd said about the accident.

“But, we will be back.

These cars are just the most exciting and challenge race cars on the earth and I’m looking forward to getting back in one as soon as I can.

“We’re checking the chas sis and we’ll see if that can be front-halved, or needs replacing and, once we know that, we’ll set about doing what needs to be done.

“Fve got a new body here, so we’re right in that depart ment and the engine wasn’t hurt, bar some bits and pieces, so it’s just a case of getting the chassis sorted out and then we’ll be back on the track.”

Shepherd has no doubt that the cause of the accident was a split fuel line which dropped nitro under the right hand tyi-e, sending the car wildly up in smoke and out of shape, with the car veering off the track and into the concrete safety wall.

“Thankfully, I don’t remember anything of the accident, although I know that it lit up pretty good when the fuel tank split after

I hit the wall,” he said.

While the car and the cos metics can be replaced and fixed, the only thing that can’t be replaced, which dis appoints Shepherd immense ly, is the genuine John Force Castrol GTX driving suit that he wore for protection the suit was cut off Shepherd by the medical crews on site, in an attempt to avoid pulling it over his burnt feet and hands. ' “My son Matthew asked them if it was possible to pull the suit off, but they said it wasn’t possible, so they cut it right up the centre!”

Shepherd said.

“I sure would have liked for the suit to be in one piece, but that’s the safety crews’ job and they did it well and I’m thankful for them for what they did and their great attention.”

- GERALD McDORNAN

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Stateside updates as the new season dawns JK RACING CARRIES ON Despite the death of team owner John Eight recently, the JK Racing Pro Stock team will contest the entire 1998 NHRA Winston Drag Racing season, following the assump tion of the ownership of the team by Eight’s wife, Mary Lou. “We feel this is the way we can carry on John’s legacy,” Mary Lou , said. “John wanted me to continue and in my heart I want to do it for me. I love the people out there and I would truly miss it. If I didn’t continue I’d feel like I was losing another part of me.”

Eight, 54, passed away in his away on January 2 in his home town of Las Vegas, following a long battle with cancer.

Eight made a name for himself not only in motorsports, with four victories as a Pro Stock team owner in only two seasons on the tough and competitive NHRA tour, but also in the business world, where he owned and operated the largest commercial glass company in Nevada, Sien-a Glass and Mirror and a successful charter and leas ing aviation business, Vegas Jet. Mike Edwards will continue to drive the team’s cars, a current Pontiac Firebird and an Olds Cutlass, with which he has cap tured three NHRA National event victories, along with the coWinston Rookie of the Year honours.

“This has been some of the most trying moments in my life and I just want to see John’s legacy live on,” Edwards said.

Along with his wife, Mary Lou, Eight is survived by his three chil dren: son, Jonner and daughters, Robyn and Christie.

MARTINO’S THRILL MACHINE Pro Stock racer Tom Martino has announced a unique, twoyear sponsorship with Six Flags Theme Parks, which will see his Pontiac Trans Am,

/W MEMORIAM... Mary Lou Kight and Mike Edwards(above) will carry on in John Kight’s memory.(Burgan) below, dubbed Irhe “Six Flags Thrill Machine.’'

Six Flags owns 12 theme parks across the United States, including what many Australians who have visited the US are familiar with^ Magic Mountain in Los Angeles, California.

“We’re taking Six Flags’ owner ship of thrill to the marketplace with this program,” said Steve Savino, VP Corporate Marketing for Six Flags Theme Parks.

“The tie-in was a natural fit both NHRA and Six Flags provide exciting and thrilling entertain ment. The Six Flags Thrill Machine will promote the Six Flags experience by illustrating the thrill common to both racing and the rides at our parks.”

The Six Flags sponsorship of Martino will be part of a compre hensive marketing program beyond the track.

The “Thrill of Racing” program will include appearances by Martino and the Six Flags Thrill Machine at the company’s theme parks and competitions.

Martino, whose quick reactions earned him the ’97 Performer of the Year award, claimed victories

at the Slick 50 Nationals and Pontiac Excitement Nationals and was runner-up at the Winston Finals.

His Pontiac will again be tuned

by Tom Eling and Paul Moreschi.

“Myself, my family and my crew are delighted to be working with Six Flags,” said Martino. ‘"This is a great sponsor to have associated with drag racing and we’re looking to take the ‘Six'Flags Thrill Machine’ to all of the events on the NHRA Winston tour and let all the fans know what these great theme parks are all about - like drag racing, they are a great thrill and fantastic family entertain ment.”

WJ TO GO IT ALONE IN ’98, ANDERSON TO DRIVE Long-time Warren Johnson crew chief, Greg Anderson, has left the “Professor’s” GM Goodwrench team and has been named as crew chief and driver for Troy Humphrey’s Pro Stock team.

Mike Bell, who drove for Humphreys for most of ’97, has also been retained to create a twocar team for Humphreys.

“Obviously, I’m very excited about the chance to drive,” said Anderson about the move.

“I had a very long and productive relationship with Warren and we parted as friends. When you work with someone for eleven years, you don’t want to burn any bridges.

‘We obviously have a good team

ANDO’S RIDE... Former WJ crew chief Greg Anderson joins Troy Humphrey’s Pro team.(Burgan pic)

V l

Gatornationals in Gainsville on March 8, while Wallace’s car will run in Las Vegas on March 1.

Force’s Elvis car will lain a sec ond race in the Pennzoil Nationals on October 1 in Memphis.

Both cars feature a larger than life image of Elvis on the hood, with a gold guitar adorning the car side panels.

Musical notes sweep above the words, Hunka Hunka Burnin’ the impressive hood image used is that of Elvis clad in black leather from his 1968 TV special and kicks off a yearlong celebration of the 30th anniversary of that famous show.

The unveiling of the Elvis paint schemes, which were designed by Action, were part of the day’s events recognizing what would have been Presley’s 63rd birthday.

“I have been an Elvis fan since I was a kid,” said Force.

“I have a picture of him taped to the dashboard of my old hound dog every time I go down the track. To have Elvis on my car is a real honor and will make the 1998 sea son very special.”

Force is not new to the Elvis theme, with the Funny Car legend releasing a book of his on-track exploits, titled “I saw Elvis at a thousand feet,” two years ago.

Naturally, the unveiling of the special Elvis paint schemes for Force and Wallace means that Action will be producing limited edition models of the cars.

already with the showings that Mike made last year and I think I can bring a few things to the table.”

Bell will drive the same Jerry Haas-built Pontiac that he piloted last season, while Humphreys has purchased the Jerry Bickel-built Pontiac that Jim Yates drove all of 1995 and in the beginning of 1996 for Anderson.

The team will run a pair of engines purchased from Richard Maskin, who will also perform maintenance chores on the powerplant.

“We’ll be getting our own dyno up to speed within the next couple “WHAT,ME WORRY?” SAYS of rims and eventually hope to be ALFRED E NEWMAN able to maintain the engines on our Former Alcohol Hydro drag own,” said Anderson.

Said Bell, a former instractor at boat racer and nephew of drag Roy Hill’s Drag Racing School who racing pioneers Art and Jack helped Anderson earn his Pro Chrisman, Jerry Toliver on Stock license, “there’s going to be January 15 announced a licens more work to do with a second car, ing arrangement with MAD Magazine that will enable him but all in all it will be a plus.

“Greg’s experience will bring a to contest the ’98 NHRA lot to our progi-am and I’ll be doing Winston Drag Racing Series in anything I can do to help him with a nitro Funny Car. The announcement was made at his driving.”

Meanwhile, Johnson has the Warner Brothers Studio in announced that he will resume the Burbank, California, during the crew chief duties on his GM annual NHRA Media tour, which Goodwrench Pontiac. takes in some of the race shops of “We ran for years without ever the leading professional teams knowing what a crew chief was,” prior to the commencement of the Johnson said last week. upcoming season.

The deal, the first of its kind, not “This was a great opportunity for Greg and I told him to take it only gives Team Toliver the rights because, even if it doesn’t work out, to drive the MAD car, but also it’s better that he failed trying includes a joint licensing agree than wondering if he w'ould ever ment for other MAD/Team Toliver have been succesful.” products.

“The combination of MAD’s While wishing his long-time friend the best, Johnson also said in-everent spirit and NHRA’s rac he was excited about the upcoming ing excitement can only lead to one season. thing - a win for everj'one,” said Joel Ehrlich, senior vice president HUNKA,HUNKA BURNIN’ of advertising and promotion for DC comics and Warner Bros con FORCE The image of superstar Elvis sumer products.

Included among those present at Presley rocked the motorsports world recently as Action the unveiling was the entire cast of Racing Collectables and Elvis the popular Drew Carey Show, Presley Enterprises unveiled with Carey himself sitting in the two new Elvis-themed race MAD Pontiac and giving the car cars dui-ing a press conference the thumbs up.

Veteran tuner Donnie Couch will held at Elvis Presley’s Memphis restaurant. tune Toliver’s first entry into the Making the presentation in front nitro Funny Car ranks. of hundreds of Elvis and motor “This is one company we are all sports fans were seven-time World going to be able to have some fun Champion John Force and with and we’d better be able to laugh a little at ourselves because NASCAR’s Rusty Wallace.

Force’s special edition Elvis car MAD spares no one,” Toliver said will make its debut at the at the announcement.

3DJam[y1998

With the season-opening NHRA Winternatonals on February 1, racers swarmed the facility at Phoenix, Arizona, to get in some pre-season testing.

The two-day weekend event saw the majority of runs aborted due to shake or tyre smoke, the teams opt ing to hang around and run Monday making their best runs.

Fifteen Top Fuel teams were on hand and defending NHRA series champion Cary Scelzi produced the best number of the event at 4.633/312.86 on the Monday, show ing the Winston team is ready to defend its title.

Kenny Bernstein fought tyre smoke on every pass before laying down a stout 4.641/320.20 in the Bud King.

Eddie Hill, whose car is sporting a shaip new paint scheme, stopped the timers at 4.682/301.74, follow ing four tyre-smokers and an engine-hurting 4.81.

Doug Kalitta earned his Top Fuel licence driving the Ed McCullochtuned American-International Airways dragster to a best of 4.693/315.71.

Joe Amato rolled out of the trail er and blasted to a 4.740/297.61 in a session that saw only three cars get to the other end without tyre smoke.

The rest of Amato’s runs resulted in traction problems, each run los ing traction sooner into the run.

Cristen Powell put down a 4.746/296.89 best in her new Reebok dragster.

Cory McClenathan was on hand, but had to watch substitute driver Kenny Bernstein wheel his McDonald’s dragster during the test runs.

McClenathan had a benign, base ball-sized tumor removed from under his left shoulder blade earlier in the year and is still recovering Bernstein offered his driving tal ents to the team and produced a best of 4.689/315.71 for Cory Mac’s team.

Randy Parks, who moved up from the alcohol ranks for 1998, has purchased a used chassis and engine combination from Alan Johnson and put down a nice and easy 4.771/300.86.

Shelly Anderson looked consis tent with three decent passes in her Parts America dragster for a best of 4.928/291.32.

Also on hand were Bob Vandergriff, who had a best of 4.989/214.31, Robert Rheel, who made two runs carding a. best of 5.115/281.66, Aussie David Crubnic, driving the Montana Express to a 5.153/196.19 best and Doug Herbert, his Snap On Tools

dragster going a 5.205/194.16.

Spike Gorr was also at Phoenix, although he had the new Chet Herbert engine between the frame rails. The design features a cam galley that is even with the valves.

Tyre smoke plagued the team on two passes, while a planned shut off gave them a 6.909 best.

The Funny Car field saw ten cars take to the track, Ron Capps with the Don Prudhomme/Roland Leongtuned Copenhagen Camaro making only two passes, a tyre-smoker and a 4.986/293.92.

Cruz Pedregon brought out the bright green, red and black Interstate Batteries Firebird and looked good on about every run, the last two being a 5.001/280.19 and a 5.005/277.49.

Winston Champ/John Force had a string of 5.0s, w/ith a 5.005/306.74 being the best. Castrol teammate Tony Pedregon had a 5.122/305.29 best to his credit, while Randy

lUi

By Gerald MeDor

Anderson fought tyre smoke on Saturday and Sunday, but finally carded a 5.225/292.71 on Monday.

Frank Pedregon earned his Fuel licence in “Big” Jim Dunn’s Dodge Avenger with a 5.2617283.79 best.

Jerry Toliver had the wild-look ing “MAD” magazine Firebird out for licencing rans, finally getting a 5.300/243.33 best.

Whit Bazemore attended the funeral of Winston’s T.Wayne Robertson, so had Dale Pulde shake the new Winston car down.

The Bazemore/Pulde combination yielded a best of 5.701/198.17. Del Worsham had his new Firebird in Phoenix, making two tyi’e-smoking passes, as did Cary Densham.

There were few Pro Stockers on hand, V. Caines driving his Pontiac through the timers at 7.071/195.51, while Jeg Coughlin had a best of 7.072/195.45 and brother Troy an 8.055/112.85.

- DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

CRUZER... Cruz Pedregon’s striking ’98 Pontiac Funny Car ride

r-

1-800 WIH-OLA .’ivi

mmOLM r.

Yates storms to test 6.869 In pre-season testing at Houston Raceway Park, Jim Yates unofficially became the quickest Pro Stock driver in NHRA history.

Yates, testing his new Peak Antifreeze/SplitFire Spark Plug, JeiTy Bickel-buil't Firebird, posted a 6.902/199 on the car’s first full pass.

Yates the drove the car to the

The juiy is out on how the set up is working, although Force and Pedregon’s crew chiefs - Austin Coil, Bernie Federley and John Medlen - won’t take long to work out whether it’s worth continuing with.

fi

Tyre-smoking desert testing

n Following Tom Martino’s announcement of a sponsor ship arrangement between himself and Six Flags theme parks comes the news that ‘first in the fours’ Funny Car racer Chuck Etchells has signed MaMa Rosa’s Pizzas, Martino’s former sponsors.

Etchells picked up the deal fol lowing Martino’s decision to go with Six Flags, although MaMa Rosa’s Pizzas will be associate sponsors on Etchells’ new Camaro, supporting main sponsors Kendall, i Superwinch and Chevrolet. n It has been reported in the US that the famous Nickens family - who were recently announced as, along with Todd Patterson, one of the two nevi^ Mopar-backed Pro Stock Truck professional teams have also taken delivery of the two Dodge Avengers run by Scott Geoffrion and Darrell Alderman last season.

It seems that, while one of the cars will be used for display pur poses, the Nickens family 'will use the other to join Geoffrion and Alderman in the sedan Pro Stock ranks as a Mopar-backed team. n Tony Pedregon debuted a weird new blower/injector set up, below, at the recent Pheonix, Arizona, test sessions a fortnight ago on his Castrol Ford Mustang.

It is believed the team is again experimenting with hi-helix blow er cases which have a small trian gular opening near the front underside of the case, instead of the standard, full-length openings that standard rotor blowers have.

Due to this factor, the team has ‘centred’ the opening over the inlet manifold to gain better air distrib ution between the cylinders, with the majority of the blower hanging way over the back of the engine.

A smaller injector hat, which directs air more sharply into the blower rotors, perhaps giving it a more even flow through the blow er, has also been made to suit the set-up.

quickest run ever by a NHRA Pro Stock at 6.869/198.70, followed by a 6.883.

“The air corrected to 50 feet, so the conditions were great, but the track wasn’t all there,” Yate’s wife, Toni, said. “The track was almost too cold-for a run like thdt, because the car was moving around a lot.

We knew it had some more in it.”

- DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

n NHRA Vice PresidentCompetition Steve Gibbs announced that, effective immediately, drivers in the NHRA Winston Professional ranks will be limited to a sin gle Pro category, but may drive one Federal-Mogul car at any national event.

Federal-Mogul racers can com pete in a maximum of two Federal-Mogul categories, as in prior years, with the exception of Super Street.

The new rule will put a stop to any plans that Jim Head may have had about competing in both classes. n Independent Funny Car racer A1 Hofmann has announced he will again be attacking the NHRA tour unsponsored and he is looking forward to the coming season.

Hofmann, who has some minor backing from Pontiac and Classic Chevy, expects his race-winning Firebird to run with the best in the class, after showing huge potential last year.

“When Jimbo [Ermolovich Hofmann’s crew chief] unleashed this car last year, it was a beast,” Hofmann said « “We know we have the potential and the power and the crew hung around, despite not getting paid huge amounts, because they’re dedicated, so we know we’ll be able to run with the pack.

“We’re looking forward to this year.” n T. Wayne Robertson, one of the most influential people in American motor sports through his position as presi dent of R.J. Reynolds Sports Marketing , was killed in a boating accident off the coast of Louisiana early Wednesday, Januai-y 14.

Robertson was one of seven members of a duck-hunting group, aboard a 28ft aluminum crew boat which collided with a 110ft supply vessel.

Robertson was responsible for the marketing programs that included the NASCAR Winston Cup series, as well as the NHRA Winston Drag Racing series, creat ing the “Winston,’ NASCAR’s All Star race, the Winston Cup Preview and NHRA Winston Invitational special events.

The weather conditions were rainy and foggy, with poor visibili ty and may have been a factor in the accident.

The US Coast Cuard reported that the hunters’ boat capsized fol lowing the collision, then sank in 12 feet of water.

Five people died in the incident.

Robertson is survived by his wife, Dana and two children, Toby and Kim. - David Ostaszewski

1997/98 ANDRA CHAMPIONSHIP DRAG RACING SERIES - POINTS TO JAH 26, 1998,

PENNMIL ■ar

I. 2.

3.

4.

6.

7.

8.

9.

97/98 ANDRA Top Fuel Series Graeme Cowin, Shell/Rocket Indust. .295 .255 Glenn Mikres, Santo’s Cranes Darren DiFilippo, True Flow Exhausts .160 Terry Sainty, Eagle Ignition Leads ....120 120 Roy Smith, Atholwood & Smith Robin Kirby, Pennzoil/Keatings 100 .80 Romeo Capitanio, Top Fuel Inc Rachelle Splatt, Valvoline/Dragway ... .60 Andrew Cowin, Shell/Rocket Indust. . .40

97/98 ANDRA Top Alcohol Series .205 I. Gary Phillips, Lucas Oils 2. Steve Harker, Spectra/Thermo-King .150 3. Scott Ferguson, Tonkin’s Car Audio .140 Wayne Newby, Newby Blowers .,..140 5. David Hawke, Dave Hawke Racing ... .90 .80 6. Stan Tindal, Hi-Tec Oils Steve Read, Pommie Steve Racing 80 .80 Mark Brew, BOC Gasses ..

9. Steve Reed, Reed Transport .60 ,60 Matthew Featon, See-Doo .

3/

97/98 ANDRA Top Doorslammer Series .475 I. Victor Bray, Castrol Racing ... .435 2. Scotty Cannon, Racetech/SCW 3. Troy Critchley, Castrol Racing 330 .310 4. Andrew Searle, Searle Racing 160 5. Lucky Belleri, Lucky’s Toy ...

6. Peter Kapiris, Kapiris Bros/Pennzoil ..140 100 7. Shane Elcoate, Thunder Road , .80 8. Lui Raschella, Raschella Racing .80 David Koop, Koop DeVille ...

70 10. Colin Will, Tectaloy Coolants

3S 30Jmafyl998

DRAG RACING

V

Dominant display by McGrath

Mikres up in smoke in AUS v USA Funnies Report by GREG WARD

The nitro-burning Funny Cars returned to Raceway Park in the Australia v USA Challenge, a Chicago Shootout-style for mat in which the current Australian Top Fuel champion and former US FC shoe, Glenn Mikres, took on the national Funny Car champ Peter Russo and Garry McGrath on January 17 at Heathcote.

Heat wave conditions, with the temperature soaring into the forties and staying there for much of the day, made it extremely difficult for the FC teams to get their enormous power down onto the sunbaked rac ing surface at Heathcote.

Garry McGrath, running his Powerball/Pennzoil Oldsmobile, managed to dominate the race in the same sort of fashion in which Scotty Cannon ran over the Top Doorslammer field here on Boxing Day. McGrath, after running a 5.75/265 the previous week for low elapsed time at Calder, was disap pointed when the clutch came out of his car in the final at that meet against a blower belt-tossing Ron Atholwood.

He was determined to get a win here at Raceway Park to follow up his victory on the Canberra eighthmile and he looked very good right off the trailer.

Still working on getting the car to run better over the first half of the track, McGrath’s Cutlass showed not one hint of tyre smoke as it ran straight and true to a fine 5.80/255 on the very first Funny Car pass of the night.

The excitement didn’t end there for McGrath, though, as the para chutes failed to deploy and the Oldsmobile went off the end of the track, suffering some minor dam age to the front of the body as it ran well off the end of the track and into the dirt.

Peter and Helen Russo just haven’t had the luck go their way for some time with the Autopro Exide Dodge and that luck contin ued here before the car even got near the racing surface.

A violent and freakish willy-willy that carved it’s way through the pits plucked the Daytona body off it’s stand and hurled it into the air before it crashed down to earth.

It unfortunately collected several spectators upon landing, knocking out one person who had to be taken * to hospital.

The body itself was heavily dam aged and, while it got them through the night, Peter feels that it will now have to be replaced in the very near future.

The pairing between Russo and Mikres may not have produced any quick times, but it did have the type of action the unpredictable fuel coupes have been famous for since their inception.

The Dodge Daytona of the Russos got out slightly on the ‘US Forces’ Cutlass, but both struck traction problems.

In a wild on and off the throttle duel, Russo had to toss in the towel

0.

NEW DEAL ... Reigning Top Fuel Champion Glenn Mikres is stiH coming to terms with his local US Forces Olds Funny Car ride.(Greg Ward pic) after he took out the reflectors on the centreline.

Mikres, who went up in smoke straight off the line, got back into it, but then had to lift again as Russo ventured briefly into his lane.

As Russo gathered it together again, Mikres nailed it once more, but collected the reflectors which had been deflected into his path.

He stayed with it, though and hazed the tyres through the lights for a spectacular 7.96/161 that led a coasting 9.55.

smoke before having a second stab of the throttle.

He then hazed the tyres through the traps, stopping the clocks with a 7.52/231.

Russo had the bye and he was slow off the line, but avoided tyre smoke before tyre shake saw him get out of shape.

He lifted and got the Dodge calmed down before stabbing the throttle again, stopping the clocks with a 8.06.

Mikres had backed the motor down even further for the final and

ate smoke again, as a a 1.70 60-ft time would attest.

As was the case with the other two passes, he lifted then got back into it, smoking the tyres through the middle of the track heavily before shutting olf to a 8.07/162.

McGrath, in the meantime, was smoke-free, but nearly crossed the centreline near half-track as he couldn’t see exactly where he was on the track.

At the last minute, he pulled the Powerball/Pennzoil entry away from the line and marched towards

FREAK WINDS... Russo lost his Autopro/Exide Daytona body in the pits after a willy-willy hit. (Greg Ward pic) McGrath discovered a minor problem with the clutch just before he was scheduled to tow out for the second round and was disappointed about not being able to front for his pairing with Mikres.

The American once again had too much clutch and power for the track, going up in immediate tyre

had taken a bit more clutch out of the car, hoping to get at least one representative pass down before going to Adelaide with it.

For McGrath, it was his third final round in as many meetings and he was to make it a winning one as, despite Mikres’ changes, the US Forces Olds went up in immedi-

the finish, clocking a slowing 5.89/233 when he pulled the chutes a bit too early.

“We were trying to get some con sistency with the car here today and wq.were willing to do anything to achieve that, even risk wasting a clutch by slipping it so much,” com mented a satisfied McGrath after-

wards. “I would like to thank the Bettes family for what they are try ing to do here at this track. They are quality people and I’ll come back here and race any day.

“I’m just so glad to see this facili ty to come back into action - we need single-purpose facilities like Raceway Park and we all need to get behind this track and support it.”

The cast iron small block rails dominated Super Comp, with three C/Dragsters taking the top three positions in the field and then all making it to the semi-finals.

Paul Turner’s Performance Distributor’s rail was the unfortu nate one to miss out on the final, where Rod Rainford racked up yet another won this season at the helm of his MRE rail by downing Wayne Cartledge.

Rainford ran slower with his .412 reaction, allowing a 8.25/162.07 to get past a 8.20/162.86 to seal an exciting victory.

In other racing on the night, Phil Shearer steered his way past a quicker Anthony Selva in Super Modified, as a 8.95/156 managed to take out a quicker 8.91/140.

Super Gas went the way of Nick Anstee when he wheeled his big block Ford Cortina past the tough Celica of Colin Griffin, a 10.03 dri ving around a better-reacting 10.05.

Super Sedan went the way of Nick Ademi’s Ford when he dealt out Jamie Knight’s HG Holden in the final with a better reaction and Modified Bike went to Bo Vejby over Daniel Huxtable.

Steve Athens’ very quick Capri took out Pro Street over the popu lar HR panel van of Craig Brewer with an 8.75/155 over a 9.95/135, while Kelly Bettes just failed to make it three wins in a row when she lost the final of Junior Dragster to Kelly Gould.

National open drag racing returns to Raceway Park on February 28 with the running of the Wild Bunch Challenge, featur ing the exciting blown tin-tops from around the country pitted against each other in more quarter mile action.

SOJmaif 1998

1^®O®I70[P®^^O V

Report by BRETT SWANSON

.

As with last year, the weather conspired to ruin the 26th run ning of the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic on the Australia Day weekend at Premier Warrnamhool’s Speedway, but with a long day and lots of tolerance from a fanatical crowd, the full twoday programme was run in one long session which started on Sunday and ended at 1.30 am Monday morning,January 26.

When all was said and done, Skip Jackson was the new Grand Annual Champion, having taken the lead on lap 21 of the 35-lap race from defending champ Trevor Green.

Green held on for a close second from Phil March, with local hero Max Dumesny crossing the line for fourth.

49 contestants arrived for battle on Saturday, but as the first bunch of cars were hot lapping, the heav ens opened up.

At 7:45 that evening, the decision was made to pull the pin and come back tomorrow for an 11:00am start.

The crowd fronted up early on Sunday morning, some of them there at 7:00am to get the best seats. As it happened, the cars didn’t hit the track until 1:00pm.

The decision had been made to I’un both full progi-ammes, so time trials comenced with the Master Blaster, Garry Rush - on his last -vdsit to Premier Speedway - clock ing fastest time of 11.15 seconds and becoming the innaugural win ner of the Allan Pollard Memorial Award.

Brooke Tatnell, running off at the other end of the session, ran an 11.17.

Chas Calandro was a surprise third from Green, Jackson, Kerry Madsen, Randy Hannagan, Peter Smith, Brent Antill and Peter Mm'phy.

Pino Priolo became the first roll over victim in heat 1, after clipping Blair Jones.

On the last lap, Brett Lacey’s car dropped its driveline on the race track. Rush then rode over a slowed Lacey and rolled also - an angry Rush queried why Lacey was still on the track.

Darren Jensen won heat 2 and Adrian Parr won heat 3 as Colin Bulmer hit the wall and flipped across the finish line.

Danny Smith won the fourth heat and compatriot Hannagn won the fifth.

Alan Haynes became the next roll-over victim in heat 6, which was won by Danny Smith.

David Murcott rolled out of heat 7 and his mate Parr also rolled later, after contact with Priolo.

Murphy became entangled and flipped also - an irate Parr had to be restrained from having words, or actions, with Priolo. , Lacey again dropped his driveline on the race track in heat 8, which was won by Matthew Reed.

After a quick track grade, the cars came out for the B-Main over 15 laps, but Darren Jensen, off pole, went no further than the opening lap after damaging a rocker.

Peter Smith went within 0.03 seconds of the record time for 15 laps on his way to the win over David Anderson, Reed, Andrew Scheuerle, Peter Attard, Phil Johnson, John Shore and co.

The Saturday Feature of 25 laps saw Hannagan on pole from Tatnell, Jackson, Green, Madsen, Calandro, Rush, Danny Smith,

39

Grand Annual Classic win for Skip Jackson Runner-up Green holds out March and Dumesny i

BIG WINNER... Skip Jackson, newly-crowned M/SS Champion and Classic winner. (Brett Swanson pic) Terry McCarl, March, Antill, Nathan MacDonald, Dumesny, Mick Turner, Peter Smith and Anderson.

McCarl was very aggressive with his passing moves and helped Rush to spin on lap 3.

Tatnell was leading nicely and looking very comfortable with Hannagan in second, until the rear axle broke and launched him into a bone-jarring, car-crunching roll.

The final car to suffer damage was that of Anderson, who was hit

by Calandro and hit the wall, destroying the chassis.

Tatnell cruised to the win from Jackson, McCarl, Danny Smith, Green, Calandro, Dumesny, March, MacDonald, Peter Smith and Turner.

The Australian American Challenge then went ahead after some considerable time and,incred ibly, Hannagan rolled out the gates at the last niinute.

Jackson won the race from Danny Smith, Tatnell, Dumesny, McCarl, Antill, Hannagan, Murphy and Green.

9.25pm and the Sunday night part of the show commenced.

Tatnell continued his winning form by taking out the first heat of this portion.

Dumesny took the lead on the last lap to win heat 10 and McCarl survived to win heat 11, while heat 12 fell to Scott Milling.

The lights went out at the start of heat 13 and this was also the time that the hefty gate and can teen takings were stolen from the p^y-out office!!!

Police were called and the CIB was also investigating the theft.

When the lights came back on, an extraordinary incident occurred when Blair Jones and Priolo tan gled and went up to the wall.

Johnson had nowhere to go and got caught up in the mess, with his car actually driving over the top wing of Priolo’s car before coming down the other side - Antill went on to win the heat.

Adrian Maher took out heat 14 and, in heat 15, Steve Knight had steering problems, which saw him hit the wall and roll.

Rob Rankin was leading the heat, which restarted when it shouldn’t have in light rain - McCarl took the win.

After a rain delay, the final heat went to Green, who was now second top pointscorer behind Tatnell.

In the second B-Main, Scheuerle was on pole from Attard, Reed, Turner and the rest, but in turn 1 Johnson rolled.

On the next start, Attard made a great first turn, but Reed’s was even better, coming out of it in sec ond place.

Scheuerle led the majortiy of the race, until Reed made another great move to take the lead and make the Classic grid. Attard and Milling would be reserves.

Classic Feature (35 laps) As top pointscorer, Tatnell elect ed to start out of position two, which put Green on pole.

McCarl, Jackson, Calandro, Hannagan, Madsen, Dumesny, Danny Smith, March, MacDonald, Antill, Rush, Peter Smith, Reed and Scheuerle completed the field.

At the start. Green and Tatnell banged wheels and by turn 2 Tatnell’s left rear tyre was flat the crew was allowed to change the tyr.e, but Tatnell was now at the rear.

Green took off in the lead from Jackson and McCarTs high line through the first turns saw him di'op six spots.

Dumesny was moving up and was soon third and Ta.tnell, too, was charging.

Danny Smith hit the wall on lap seven bringing things to a temporaiy slow-down.

Green led away again, but Jackson soon closed in, as did Dumesny, mailing it a three-car dice; The action really heated up in lapped traffic and, after some pass ing and repassing, Jackson hit the lead on lap 2L He immediatly started to pull away, as Green was now contend ing with Dumesny, who lost third place on lap 25 to March.

Hannagan retired then and, two laps later, Tatnell also retired with a broken bolt in the bird cage after climbing to sixth.

Madsen was up to fifth, but suf fered over the last couple of laps, as Jackson went on to record his first Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic Win to complete a clean sweep of the big money races.

Green ran home second from March, Dumesny, McCarl and Rush.

In Victory Lane, March simply said: “It’s good to beat Max on his home track and congratulations to Skip and Trevor.”

Green was initially distraught at a missed opportunity.

“We didn’t come here to run sec ond. You don’t get many chances to start from pole in the Classic,” he stated on the podium.

“This gi.iy [Skip] is a class act and deserved to win, but you guys [the crowd] are full on.”

Jackson was ecstatic with his win, but dissappointed that wife Lori and their young child couldn’t be there to watch, due to the weath er and the time.

“She’s a hell of a deal, this race,” Skip said. “All these people here [the crowd] deserve medals.

“I’m glad as hell; this is great. I have a great crew and great spon sors and want to thank them all.

Trev [Green] could win it on a Monday last year, so I could win it on a Monday this year.”

So a huge crowd of absolute die hard, dedicated Sprintcar fans could finaRy go home some eigh teen and a half hours, happy that they had seen the complete running of the 26th Grand Annual Sprintcai’ Classic and the last run here by the greatest Sprintcar racer this coun try has ever seen, Garry Rush.

Earlier in the night, there was hardly a dry eye in the house as Rushy was honoured for his achievements and dedication to the sport over the past 34 years.

40

Brazier Sprint€ar Open blitz Skip Jackson claims WSS title again

were the last ofthe 12-second group.

Australian champion Garry South Australia’s Chas Colandro Brazier was in dynamic form at Archerfield Speedway on (Castrol Maxim)and local lad Dean McComb, in his second outing as January 17, steering his Mopar Performance Schnee to victory the replacement for TeiTy Bracken in the 1997 Australian Sprintcar in the Titan Garages Maxim, were best of the rest.

Open.

The opening round of heats pro The two-night event, Australia’s duced wins for John Kelly richest Sprintcar race, also doubled as round 14 of the World Series , (Partfinder Tognotti), Indiana’s Danny Smith (Carline/Diecrest Championship and attracted a J&J) and Tatnell, who was lan small but high quality field of hope fuls, none of whom were capable of guishing at the bottom of the points matching Brazier for pace in the table following an engine failure in hot laps, 40-lap finale.

Hodges dented his chances when Starting from the outside front he tipped over in heat 2, following row alongside sentimental favourite Gary Rush (Castrol Maxim), contact with Kaeding.

Smith and Tatnell were victori Brazier went straight to the front ous again in round two, as was at the drop of the green and remained in control with a mini Bundaberg’s Nathan McDonald mum offuss.

(Fraser Shores Schned).

The 25-lap feature, which didn’t Reigning champion Skip Jackson carry points for the main event, wrapped up the WSS championship was taken out by Jackson, ahead of when he steered his Gibson Freight Rush, Darren Jensen (Serco Jackson into second position ahead of arch rival Brooke Tatnell (Shell Maxim), Brazier and Kaeding. / Hodges was running superbly in Helix Schnee), Rush and California’s Brent Kaeding (Pennte second position until he rode over the wall in turn 1 and crashed out.

Maxim).

Murphy survived a monumental prang in turn 4, when he complete Friday Night ly cleared the concrete wall, collect Jackson got proceedings under way when he clocked fast time of ed the catch wire and ricocheted back onto the track.

12.78A in time trials.

Trevor Green A stunned silence pervaded the Kaeding, complex until Murphy crawled from (Freightmaster J&J) and Andrew Scheurele (Lucas Oils Maxim) were beneath the tangled mess, as fuel next best, followed by young gushed onto the circuit from the Darrell Hodges (Hoosier Maxim) ruptured fuel tank.

Poor spoi’tsmanship and a lack of and Sydneysider Peter Murphy (O’Brien/Pearson Maxim). regard for the fans by Kelly saw Brazier, Rush and America’s him withdraw from the event, only after selecting position 18 in the Terry McCarl (CR&D Twister), in his first appearance at this circuit. random draw for grid positions.

By Mark Neale n A small field of six Sidecars were on the program as sup ports for Round 4 of the International Speedway Masters at Mount Gambler’s Borderline Speedway on January 9.

Former state champ Paul Clarke, with Mick Headland in the chair, won both their three lap events.

The Murray Bridge pair won the opening heat of the night, ahead of experienced campaigners Peter Wyles/Rob Hardy, teenage young guns Jason Hardy/Sam Harrison and Ron Rohde/Jamie Roach.

Craig McIntosh/Shaun McGrath won the second race, ahead of Rohde/Roach, Hardy/Hairison and Ajay Webb/Mick Nixon, after missing the start.

Clarke/Headland made it two victories from as many starts by winning the third race, ahead of Wyles/Hardy and Rohde/Roach Webb/Nixon failed to finish, while McIntosh/McGrath were excluded for touching the tapes at the start.

Wyles/Hardy, who were beaten by

Clarke in both their earlier heats, then bhtzed the field to comfortably win the final from Clarke/Headland, McIntosh/McGrath and third-placed Rohde/Roach.

Teenagers Jason Hardy/Sam Harrison (gate) rounded out the night by winning the handicap event ahead of Ro'hde/Roach (10m), Webb/Nixon (40m), Clarke/Headland (50m), Wyles/Hardy (40m) and Macintosh/McGrath (50m).

The meeting was again wit nessed by a very large crowd, as it was last season. n Congratulations to former Wimbledon and Eastbourne National league solo rider Nathan Simpson and his wife Leanne on the birth of twins on January 10 - a-boy named Oliver Jacque and a girl named Taylah Lee. Both moth er and babies are doing quite well. n Veteran South Australian Sidecar rider Rainer ‘Ron’ Rohde is ciurently in his 34th season of speedway racing. .Ron began his involvement as a mechanic, then a passenger, then turned to riding for the 1974/75 season. He has ridden around 16 outfits and currently rides a Honda Fireblade-powered bike.

His passengers have included Andy Stirratt, Paul Marker, Barry Dive, David Fitzpatrick, his sister Angela and David Hughes.

although a subsequent medical check self under pressure from Kaeding, Saturday Night Green, Tatnell(up from eighth) and After an all-day repair job to would I’eveal a broken collarbone.

The B-Main featured a stronger Jackson. mend his mangled chassis, Murphy aiTived at the track to discover that field than any feature race line-up After 10 laps, Brazier was 100 metres clear of Rush, as Tatnell WSS officialdom had stripped him seen in these parts this season.

Jensen blitzed the field, taking and Jackson demoted Kaeding in a of all points earned the previous over 20 seconds off the 15-lap simultaneous pass. evening.

McCarl and Lambert exited at The final round of qualifying saw record in the process.

Tatnell collect his third win, with The remaining transfer berths the same time, heading to the Anthony Lambert (Club Crocodile were taken by Smith, Andrew infield on lap 23.

As Brazier continued to hold Maxim) and McCarl also visiting Pezzutti ((^raftsman Homes Gambler), Brett Lacey and sway out front, most action centred victory lane. around a good midfield dice Cameron Gessner surpassed McDonald.

Murphy’s efforts of the night before The Trophy Dash, seemingly between Kelly, McComb. Jensen when he survived a horrifying flip comprised of six drivers selected at and McDonald.

Jackson took third fi'om Tatnell along the main straight. random, rather than any legitimate with 11 laps to run and then took Leading the field in heat 8, qualifying order, saw Rush lead all Gessner was being challenged by the way after Kaeding inverted the over the nmner-up berth on lap 31.

McCarl when the front of his first four.

Rush’s hopes of a fairytale ending Maxim started to lift. Rather than Brazieh moved through from the disappeared completely on lap 33, ease up to let the front wheels drop, back to secure second spot ahead of when Tatnell moved into third.

Brazier cruised to the line to win the 17 year-old kept his foot plant Kaeding, Green, Jackson and Scheurele. ed as the car continued to rise. comfortably ahead of Jackson, Tatnell and Rush, with Kaeding Suddenly, the car flipped back Following the traditional four wide salute, the feature event got next in line. Green, Scheurele and wards and began a series of somer saults across the infield. underway without incident as McDonald were next, followed by Jensen. Kelly, McComb, Pezzutti After landing in a crumpled Brazier outpaced Rush into turn 1. ‘ The first interruption came as and Smith. heap, the accelerator jammed open WSS points: Jackson 9720, and the car set off across the l early as lap 4, when Lacey tore the infield, finally coming to a halt front-end off his Spies Hecker Tatnell 7710, Green 5205, Maxim following contact with the Dumesny 4855, Lacey 4645, against the presentation dais.

Scheurele 3705, Smith 3595, Rush Miraculously, the youngster turn 3 concrete, Brazier cleared away at the 3560, Anderson 3380, March 2690. emerged quickly, waved to the huge - CHRIS METCALF crowd and walked back to the'pits, resumption, while Rush foimd him-

Dunne snares Fraser IVIemorial

The Dean Fraser Memorial held at Garrick Speedway in Tasmania on January 10 was a hard-fought race and a fitting tribute to a man who loved good,close racing.

Throughout the heats, Barry Youl and Craig Williams looked to be setting the pace in their Cortinas, with the Commodores of Wayne McLachlan and Rodney Kerr and the Falcons of Robbie Williams and Derek Dunne also looking strong.

As always, the Modified racing has been extremely close through-

out the season in the lead-up to the Australian Title, which is sched uled to be held at this track later in the month.

And, with the prestigious Dean Fraser Memorial Perpetual Trophy up for grabs, the intensity of com petition increased markedly.

Youl qualified on pole with McLachlan on the outside of the front row.

Youl struck mechanical problems on the start and Craig Williams came through from the second row to take the lead ahead of McLachlan, with Dunne moving

from a fifth place starting spot up into third.

McLachlan then encountered problems that slowed his car and he dropped back through the field.

Dunne drove hard and was shown the protest flag for his pass ing move on McLachlan as he even tually challenged Williams for the lead, before passing the current state champ with only five laps to run.

Dunne took a convincing win ahead of Craig and Robbie Williams.

-ALLAN ROARK

Crushing win for Lesiight The John Lesiight juggernaut continued unabated at Archerfield Speedway on January 10 when the veteran wheel-twister piloted his Camaro Super Sedan to the eas iest of wins in round ten of the Coastline Vehicle Transport Super Series, smashing the 30lap track record along the way.

After starting from position three, Lesiight quickly disposed of Ross Brims (Brims Bulk:Haulage Camaro)and slotted in behind Paul O’Neill (Lismore Nissan Camaro), who cut the quickest lap in time tri als and subsequently selected pole position during the pre-race lotteiy.

Lesiight assumed the lead on lap 10 when O’Neill, the only other dri ver to win a Super Series feature event this season, braked hard to avoid AI Starling’s spinning Pontiac in turn 2.

O’Neill’s race ended five laps later when the outside front sus pension collapsed, leaving Lesiight about 100 metres clear of Brims.

From this point, the only real interest centred around the battle for the minor positions, with Ian Marshall (Sunset Autos Commodore) moving forward from position seven to challenge Brims.

On a perfect racing surface, Lesiight cruised to the line in a seemingly effortless performance. finishing over half a lap clear of Brims, who edged out Marshall.

Rod Gough (American Truck Spares Pontiac) was the final car on the lead lap in fourth position, followed by Wayne Randall (Ian Boettcher Motors Mazda RX7), Chris Bussey (Yokohama Pontiac) and young Kelvin Hamilton - Blair Granger, Graeme Lehmann, Paul Geary and Craig McGeorge completed the field.

The four qualifying heats saw Lesiight (2), Brims and John McGeorge (AS Concrete Pumping Pontiac) collect wins.

AMCA Nationals fronted with a good number of cars for their Archerfield debut, only to put on a

disgraceful display with a plethora of spins and crashes in all three events.

Jim Knight won both heats. before Lismore’s Paul Smith took out the 16 lap feature, ahead of Geoff Fane, Craig Wright, Ricky Sendall and Phil Herne, The Limited Sprintcar feature saw an upset win to Les Rodgie over Brian Abbott, Richard Atkinson, Shane Conradi and Keith O’Shea, Formula 500s were out in force, with heat wins recorded by Gary Edwards, Ken Murray and Dave Fanning. Ray Mayfield charged from the rear to win the feature, ahead of Derek Wode, Gordon Papps, MuiTay and John Willmott.

Brian Schrader dominated the Microsprint events and finished undefeated.

Similarly, Darren Vine was unstoppable in Compact Speedcar competition, collecting three wins with ridiculous ease. __ -CHRIS METCALF

SOJamsfyM

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41

Super Series win by Bowen at Avalon

FORMULA 500 TUCKER TIME CHAMPIONSHIP ... Reigning national Formula 500 Champion Phillip Woodberry has taken out Round 4 of the Tucker Time Championship Series, which was held at Htunilton’s Western Speedway on January 10.

Starting from pole in the feature, Woodben-y took the victory £^ad of current series leader Ken Willsher and David Swayn, mhrth going to NSW champion Tony Pryor the intense battle between Woodberry and WiUsher was a highglight of the event.

Don Bowey won Round 3 on the previous night at Mt Gambier’s Borderline Speedway, Bowey making it back to back wins after taking out Round 2 the week before at Murray Bridge.

Second at Mt Gambier was Woodberry, ahead of Darryl Willsher and his father, Ken Willsher.

Pointscore after 4 of 6 rounds: Ken Willsher 217,. Darryl Wulsher 195, Woodberry 167,Pryor 159,Swayn 159. n Defending SRA series Champion Matthew Reed put on a polished and aggressive drive to take out round four of the SRA Series when he won the Avalon Gold Cup on Boxing Day from last round winner Phil Johnson, with pole sitter Rob Richardson struggling with a sluggish car for third.

A big crowd was on hand, bigger than the previous meeting which featured touring Americans Fred Rahmer and Todd Shaffer, to watch 23 local combatants fight out the Spies Hecker/Max Dumesny Motorsport/Lubri Maxx/FloCon Engineering-support ed series.

Daryn Maggs had come out on top points wise after the heats and received the Pro-Shock from Max Dumesny Motorsport.

He then drew the number six flag which put Richardson on pole from Johnson, Wayne Milburn, Reed, Stephen Bell and Maggs Gerard Boult, McCubbin, Darren

Walsh, Matthews, Adrian Parr and the B-main quintet com pleted the line-up.

The race had only progressed to turn 2 of the opening lap when Maggs spun on the lose stuff up high and was hit hy Jeff Judd, Parr and Ray Scott, with Parr rolling - of these drivers, Scott was the only car to restart.

Johnson outgunned Richardson off the line again and led away for the first five laps until he drifted a bit high and Reed took the oppor tunity to move underneath.

With better drive off turn 2, Reed hit the lead down the back straight and maintained it till the end, the lapped traffic being the only factor in the equation.

Johnson closed up with the aid of lapped traffic, but in clean air Reed was quicker. The lead pair ran to the flag in close company, with Richardson maintaining third.

Bell continued to impress with a heady fourth place, ahead of Tim

Max Dumesny Motorsport

111 McCubbin, Walsh and Boult, who was penalised for a broken muffler.

Milburn took Boult’s position, ahead of Rod Matthews, Garry Chippindall, Bob Forbes, Mike Van Bremen (struggling with a mystery misfire) and Scott. n Greg Mattschoss is the new Sprintcar Racing Association 360ci Champion after winning the 30-lap feature race held at Swan Hills Sonic Speedway on December 27.

Defending champ Mt Gambier’s Gerard Boult was top pointscorer and started from pole, but looped the car while leading comfortably after ll'of the scheduled 30 laps.

Boult was sent to the rear from where he grafted his way back to mid-field, before spinning once again on the final turn.

CTllvI.

Plii

n "V

MAGIC MIDGET... Super Series Round 1 winner Rod Bowen.(Lamont) The highlight of the night was Bowen’s tussle with Newcastle star Adam Clarke in the pole shuffle, which Bowen eventually won after two laps of hard, close and uncom promising racing.

Second place in the feature race was taken by Sydney’s Troy Jenkins in the #6 Dominator Engines Fontana, the place being registered by a narrow margin after a nail-biting battle with Graham in the #14 Valvoline Gaerte.

NZ youngster Mark Cooper had his best result to date in Australia, finishing a fine fourth in the #89 Cut Above Academy Brayton-pow ered Stealth.

The first Victorian home was Sprintcar and Speedcar pilot Ian Lewis, who guided the beautiful #13 Canaday-powered machine home to a strong fifth after inter rupting a titanic battle between Cooper and Clarke in the #76 Out of Control Surfshop Ellis.

Heat Wins: (1) R. Bowen,(2) P. Farrell, (3) M. Cooper, (4) S. Graham,(5)A. Clarke,(6)T. Jenkins B-Main placings: 1 A.Baines, 2 R. Bishop, 3 G. Summers A-Main placings: 1 R. Bowen, 2 T. Jenkins, 3 S. Graham, 4 M. Cooper, 5 I. Lewis,6 A. Clarke, 7 C. Brady,8 G. Burke,9 D. Lambert Drivers Champfonship: 1. Rod Bowen 1000, 2. Troy Jenkins 800, 3. Steven Graham 665, 4. Mark Cooper 550, 5. Ian Lewis 440, 6.

Adam Clarke 380, 7. Craig Brady 330, 8. Gerard Biu’ke 290, 9. Dave Lambert 250, 10. Mark Brown 220 Motor Constructors Championship: 1. Brayton 1550, 2. Fontana 1120, 3.

Gaerte 1045, 4. Canaday 440, 5.

Esslinger 330, 6. Volvo 250, 7.

Duggan 220 Chassis Constructors Championship: 1. Stealth 2435, 2. Jackson 665, 3.

Stuart 440,4. Ellis 380,5. Muiphy 330, 6.Infinity 290,7. Gai-dner 250 - WADE AUNGER

Fol lowing Mildura’s Mattschoss (Murray Panels) across the line was Ballarat boy Rod Matthews in his Ballarat Pallet Co JSR. Multi-state title winner Dave Argus from Wagga was third in his Burmix Concrete Maxim.

Equal pre-race favourite Garry Chippindall finished fourth in his Hussey Performance OTR, ahead of Canberra’s Terry Cantrell in the ex-Kinser(Commodore)Gambler.

Rob Farrer, John Christie, Bob Forbes, David Smith, Doug Christian and comeback veteran John Doidge completed the finishers.

Smith, who had crashed in an earlier heat and who had toiled hard to make the feature race, was awarded the D&F Racing Products Hard Luck prize.

A disappointing field of only 17 cars fronted for the race, which saw Wayne Milburn win the open-

ing heat from pole ahead of Boult, who came from the rear.

Argus, who had spun, recovered for third.

Heat 2 went to Mattschoss from Matthews and Fairer, while Boult won heat 3 from Blair Jones and Forbes.

Matthews won heat 4 over Cantrell and Farrer and Argus won the penultimate heat from Boult and Christie.

During heat 5, Milburn spun and was hit by Jones, whose torsion bar tore the rear down tube away from the torsion bur tube on Milburn’s JSR. The final heat went to Chippindall over Mattschoss and Tony Simone.

The starting line-up for the 30lap final on the big Sonic track was Boult from Matthews, Mattschoss, Argus, Chippindall, Farrer, Cantrell, Christie, Simone, Jones, Christian, Ricky Christie, Doidge

and Smith.

- BRETT SWANSON

1997/98 SRA SPRINTCAR SERIES

agents for

POINT STANDINGS AFTER 6 OF 12 ROUNDS

i(bo$trr i ^ RACING TIRE

Sydney Speedcar driver Rod Bowen won the first round of the $100,000 Speedcar Super Series at Victoria’s Avalon Speedway in Geelong on January 10.

The Rocket punched his immacu late black and gold leaf #75 Brayton-powered Stealth to a con vincing.win in the first of 11 rounds throughout the east coast of Australia in the next eight weeks.

30 cars showed up to contest the series opener, which boasted dri vers from New Zealahd, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, NSW and local cars from Victoria.

The format took the form of time trials at the start of the night, fol lowed by two heats for each driver (six heats in total), a B-Main and a 30-lap championship feature race.

Sydney’s Steven Graham was the fastest qualifier of the field and this was reflected in his top three fea ture finish and his win in heat 4.

Australian Champion Craig Brady had a night of ups and downs, literally.

The #1 Thompson Mower Centre Murphy Esslinger went upside down in a heat race when Brady tagged the wall on thp back straight and flipped three times.

To the credit of Craig’s father Steve and their dedicated crew, the team were back out for the feature race and managed to finish sev enth.

Bowen, though, was too quick in the main event in the #75 McGrath’s Group of Companies machine, after winning the pole shuffle and qualify ing from position one.

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Round six winner-Mike Van Bremen

V 30January 1908 Bsa working on the third lap. I’m ““ happy to be leading the Series 500, but there’s a long way to go,” Adams concluded.

T e This was the first time in its Tour year history a round of the International Speedway Masters had been held at the Wagga International Raceway.

Meanwhile, Adams’ nine point advantage going into round seven at Wynn’s Newcastle Speedway The only certainty surround was whittled down by Crump, ing the outcome of this sea after Adams failed to qualify for son’s International Speedway Masters Motorcycle Series is the A-Final.

The best Adams recorded was a that the tournament will be placing in the B-Final (won by won by an Australian.

STREET STOCK CUP... Winner David Gartner leads Brian Chadwick at Speedway City. (Frank Midgley pic) Heading into the latter stages of Sullivan from Wiltshire).

Cramp, on the other hand, qual the national trail, it’s congested at ified for the A-Final and was the top of the leader board, as for placed fourth behind Screen, mer Australian champions Leigh Lemon and winner Sam Adams and Jason Cramp head the Ermolenko. line-up of Aussies holding down The points picked up by Cramp the first five positions, with thi’ee left him just three behind leader rounds remaining.

Chadwick closed the gap on David Gartner successfully last heat preliminary when his After round seven at Wynn’s Adams with three rounds remaining. defended his Speedway City caris,bonnet flew up on the opening Gartner, but couldn’t quite reel in Newcastle Speedway, Adams held Street Stock title on January 9 lap, forcing the 31 year-old to cool the blue Falcon, settling for a wor a slender three point advantage and handed out local ace Brian his heels infield. thy runner-up which was no dis over Crump, while a mere eight Chadwick his first defeat for Chadwick was the early leader in grace, given Gartner’s current points away in third spot.was the season. the A-Main, but when he half-spun form.

Mark Lemon.

South Australia ran out victori Chadwick, who had won all six his Commodore on lap 2, local Ryan Sullivan was just two Street Stock features run so far at Brian Findlay briefly held the lead ous over a Victorian team in an points behind Lemon with seven Speedway City, started the 25-lap until Gartner thundered through to interstate Sprintcar Challenge. rounds decided, while Todd championship race from pole after hit the front.

Heat wins wejit to Darryl Wiltshire continues to show claiming a hat-trick of heat wins.

Findlay was able to hold onto third Downing, Gary Chippendal and impressive form, holding down a Mark Reuter, with Reuter reigning Australian champion Gartner place, a repeat of his performance in fine fifth placing in the standings. from Penola had taken his rapid last year’s race, after he managed to supreme in the feature race over England’s Joe Screen remains Todds Auto Salvage Falcon to two keep fourth-placed Anthony Gibbs Peter Smith and Brett Squiers. the best of the overseas riders and - DAVID McNABB heat wins, but was dudded in his fi'om Renmark at bay. is currently placed in sixth spot on the points chart.

However, it has not been a com plete shutout of the imports.

Exciting Czech Tomas Topinka rode brilliantly to win round four at Mount Gambier’s Borderline JASON CRUMP (Neale pic) Speedway, while America’s 1993 The night, however, belonged to World Speedway Champion Sam Ermolenko showed some vintage American Ennolenko.

One of the most popular riders form in winning round seven at the Newcastle Speedway. to ever participate in the Masters But it’s been the devastating Series, Ermolenko turned around and relentless onslaught of the the bad luck experienced in the lenging for second at the flag.

Visiting Texan Ron Adams took caution periods, the most spectacu Sidecar The Tasmanian Aussies which has been the story earlier rounds and rode brilliantly out a strong win at Cascade lar of these when Sean Kelly’s of the tournament. to take out the A-Final and with it Apple Isle Raceway in his Dodge Avenger rolled spectacularly Championship was won by Brett It’s been the white-hot form of he established his own piece of Wyllie and Darren Keegan in an Chevrolet-powered Commodore after breaking a suspension arm Crump and the consistency of histoi-y, as he equalled the record during the annual running of and came down on top of Mick action-packed night of racing for the three-wheeled machines.

Adams which has kept them at of seven A-Final wins jointly held the Gary Devlin Memorial race Bagorski’s Chevrolet Camaro, end the top of the points.

by Adams and Simon Wigg.

Andy McLean and Mick Beattie ing their night’s racing. near Devonport on January 17.

When Crump took out round Hobart driver Darren Kane had “My Koni Shock Absorbers Jawa At the restart with only a third of led the early part of the r-ace, but five at Adelaide’s Wayville was really strong on a very qualified on pole position and the race left to travel, Kevin Putton ran wide on the second lap in pit Showgi'ound, he had won three of demanding track. I enjoy racing at jumped away to an early lead, with in his Falcon made the big move, turn as the combination of Wyllie the first five rounds, but still Newcastle and I’m glad to finally taking Kane off the line to move and Keegan went through to take Adams chasing hard. the lead. trailed Adams in the points battle. get a win in this year’s Series 500 A short distance into the 30-lap into second position.

Three points separated Adams event,” Ennolenko said. final, Adams showed the crowd his Top points qualifiers Bob CurTan Once again Adams opened up a and Cramp going into round six at “So far. I’ve had my share of bad style by driving around the outside commanding lead, while Putton and Doyle Vernon, who had domi Wagga International Raceway, luck with engine problems, but I’m of Kane between turns 1-2 and pulled away from Kane. nated the heat racing with several but Adams extended his lead to confident of a very strong finish to wins, finished a fine third, ahead of With only three laps to go, Kane started to pull out a commanding found a new lease of life and start Baden Weeks and Brett Freeman. nine points after he took out the the series. lead.

A-Final from Wiltshire and -ALLAN ROARK “This year’s field is tough and The race was marred by several ed to close on Putton and was chalTopinka as Crump finished a dis the Aussies are outstanding this tant fourth. year. It just shows how far the In winning the A-Final at sport has come in Australia as a direct result of this event.”

Wagga, Adams equalled the record held by Englishman Simon Wigg, Mildura’s Mark Lemon again with seven A-Final round victories showed his consistency, with a set over the past couple of yeai's. fine second placing in the A-Final This particular A-Final was one at Newcastle to remain in strong of the best races in the series to contention for a major placing in date, as Adams, Topinka and the Masters Series.

Wiltshire were involved in a torrid Hard luck man at Newcastle was Sweden’s Peter Karlsson. three-way battle for the lead.

Hobart’s Brett Waddington has On Track Promotions, the racing forward through the pack and by lap 4 he was third and pushing Wiltshire started brilliantly and He emerged the top scorer from capped off the most successful was always going to be hotly con Auton. led nan-owly as Adams constantly the qualifying heats and looked a week of his 12-year speedway tested. the heats, charged around the outside, while strong chance in the A-Final, but a In a desperate bid to get past Throughout driving career after winning at the same time, Topinka (Czech clutch failure in the early stages of f both major Street Stock events Waddington was going to be hard to Auton for second, Herbert clipped on the Tasmanian calendar.

Republic) worked the inside of the beat, but local driver Dean Gray the back of Auton’s Falcon, causing the round-deciding final ended his racetrack him to spin. chances of victory.

He celebrated Christmas by win succumbed to head gasket prob While it’s a safe bet the Aussies This brought out the caution Wiltshire ultimately filled sec ning the Tasmanian Street Stock lems, thereby ending his chances of ond spot, while Topinka tailed out will be standing on the rostram at Title held at Garrick Speedway on denying Waddington success - the flags and Herbert was sent to the in third, but Adams was the man the completion of the Grand Final Boxing Day and followed that up by arch rivals have taken the majority rear of the gi-id for causing the stop of the moment. at Brisbane’s Archerfield winning the prestigious Ross Fyfe of the race wins this season in their page.

Memorial race at Premier No 1 class.

By half race, Waddington still led “That was tough tonight and I Speedway, juslr who it will be Local driver Mark Ward drove from Auton and Ward, with Gray can’t remember being in a more remains the poignant issue.

Speedway in the state’s south on exciting race,” Adams enthused.

If past history is used as a guide the following Saturday night. well thi’oughout the heats to qualify up to fourth, only to spin in tmn 4 “Todd took some catching and in determining the outcome of the Ross Fyfe was a Street Stock on the outside of the front row, with as his radiator boiled, ending a I’ve got no doubt he’ll win a round Masters Series, the tournament competitor who died while compet: the hard-charging duo of David strong run from the back of the of the Masters Series very soon. pack. will go right down to the flag and ing at the circuit on December 28, Auton arid Dale Riley on the second The order remained unchanged “In the end, my tyi-es proved the only the results of the very last A1991. Many of the current drivers row. difference,” Adams explained. “I Final will untangle the cluster of At the start, Waddington was in the run home to the chequered raced against him and, as a result, riders still in line for Masters title ran a harder compound tyi-e than quick to get away into the lead with flag, with Waddington ecstatic at this event is highly regarded. honours.

Todd and they really started winning this prestigious double.

With over $1000 in prizemoney Auton chasing hard.

-ALLAN ROARK Tim Herbert was moving quickly provided by Tas Wheel Away and

Y.;

By Dennis New

Gartner wins again

Devlin Memorial win

by Texan Adams

Tasmanian Street Stocks double to Waddington

' i

3DJ3fiuaiyim

1^®0®[7S[P®I70 British promoters are consider ing running a special cup com petition in which teams would race the new petrol-engined Honda machines currenty under test at several venues.

The Premier League, effective ly a British Second Division, are hoping that tfiey can arrange an inter-League competition against the Elite clubs in which all riders will race the Honda 650cc engine.

Peterborough promoter Peter Oakes believes this is the only real way to give the new engines a satis factory test in competition and he feels the use of the new machinery will drastically reduce costs for riders.

The indoor meetingnearly at Brighton, which attracted 6,000 spectators to its two shows with racing over a small 120 yard cir cuit, will be staged again next year.

Sixteen international riders took part in some highly competi tive racing on a genuine shale surface and the success has prompted promoter Jon Cook and his colleagues to open negotia tions with the Brighton Centre Management to race again next year.

Wendy Walton, promotions chief at the venue, said: "It was a marvellous occasion. We had our doubts that it would really work, but everyone was delighted that so many people came along and all seemed to have a great time.”

Stlyisthat now American looking increasingly like star Ronnie Correy will line up for Eastbourne in the British Elite League next season. released by Correy, Wolverhampton, raced several times as a replacement for Eastbourne when they were short handed in 1997 and says he would be happy to join the club on a permanent basis.

Correy gave a clue to his inten tions when racing indoors at Brighton for the current Eastbourne management, who promoted the event. is set to return to the Speedway Lincolnshire holiday resort of Skegness, with former Kings Lynn promoter Cyril Crane joining the promoting team.

Skegness dropped out of British speedway halfway through last year with serious financial problems, but Crane believes selective racing dates allied to sponsorship from Lambert Transport makes the whole thing a viable proposition once again.

Britain’s only Grand Prix Mark Loram, is set torider, join Wolverhampton in a shock move that will make him the Midlands club’s first home-bred number one for 30 years, after the club have paraded some of the world’s top men - such as World Champions Ole Olsen, Hans Nielsen and Sam Ermolenko - as their main heat leaders over the years.

Loram is still officially an asset of Exeter, who originally bought him from Kings Lynn, but he rode tor Bradford on loan last season and, with the closure of the Yorkshire club, is without a team.

If the deal can be agreed, he will join Ermolenko - who is returning to the club - and top Swedish rider Mikael Karlsson as heat leaders at Monmore Green.

An amazing turn in the two weeksabout either side of Christmas has seen several tracks that seemed doomed to close sud denly looking set to run again in 1998.

Newcastle are close to agreeing a deal with their stadium owners, Hull have been told they can definitely race again and there is even hope, after all, that the

firming their entry to the top level, had not signed one rider by the turn of the year.

All clubs have to nominate a likely six-man team by the end of

Coventry Bees have the strongest teamcould in the British Elite League this year, as they have added the 1996 World Champion Billy Hamill to their

^3

Both Poole and Kings Lynn are tracks recognised with full FIM approval, but Coventry's capacity of some 12,000 and its central placing in England helps the final choice.

The squadTest will be Russian racing a National three-match series in Britain this year, when they will ride against a squad cho sen from Britain’s Under 21 riders on Premier League tracks. It is the third time a Russian team has raced in the UK - they previously visited in 1976 and 1990, on the latter occasion winning a fivematch series in the decisive fifth meeting at Newcastle.

Swedish is hoping to haveclub bothVetlanda Brian Karger and Jepser B Jensen in its team this year.

Tomasz Gollob, the controver sial but talented Polish rider, was with the club last year, but will not be racing in Sweden, as he prefers to concentrate his efforts in his new-found slot at Ipswich in the British League.

World Champion Greg Hancock will be riding in Sweden for Rospiggarna and Australians Jason Crump, Leigh Adams and Ryan Sullivan will also be compet ing regularly. Crump will be racing for Vargarna and Sullivan'has signed for newcomers Kaparna, while Adams will ride for Indianerna.

A

merican Chris Manchester, a popular rider in the current Australian Masters Series, is set to move from Belle Vue, which has been his only home so far in the UK for the last four seasons.

With his form disappointing last year, he may have a problem renewing his work permit, but League newcomers Oxford are keen to talk with the 24 year-old Californian.

Paul Hurry, the England inter national who recently won the NEW HONDA ... World champ Greg Hancock, with the off the shelfHonda 650cc engine at Brighton.(Mike Patrick pic) Brighton indoor event, has defiJanuary and new Oxford promoter team - Hamill will race alongside nitely signed for Oxford, Steve Purchase is confident he’ll his fellow American and 1997 wo tracks in the North-East of be able to do so.

World Champion, Greg Hancock England have secured their Crump, along with fellow and Brian Andersen, the young Peterborough man Ryan Sullivan, Danish rider seen by many as a future for the coming season. have been earmarked as Oxford future World Champion.

Eric Boocock, former England team manager, will be in charge of possibilities, along with former Hull Vikings at Craven Park and World Champion Gary Havelock Swedish rider Stefan Danno who was recently the subject the Newcastle circuit at Brough and Billy Hamill, the American

By Tony M iIlar<j|^^ of a disciplinary hearing following Park will be controlled by Peter 1996 World Champion.

Hamill has been released by incidents at last year’s Grand Prix Gibson, alongside George English Shawfield circuit in Glasgow may Belle Vue, where he was on loan Challenge Round, will be allowed and David Rowland..

Jesper Olsen from Denmark, again open its doors after promot- from defunct Cradley last season, to compete in the World er Neil McFarlane had said there Havelock has no club following Championships this year after all.

Paul Bentley and youngster Stuart Bradford’s closure and the two Danno has been found not Swales have already signed for was no chance.

Glasgow businessman Ian Aussies are both available from guilty of misconduct, but has been Newcastle, warned as to his future conduct by Sands is forming a company which Peterborough. .. etails have almost been SWEMO (the Swedish Control he says will underwrite activities at finalised for the showing of iotr Swist, one of Poland’s best Board) British League Speedway regularly the stadium and it is understood he will shortly strike a deal with Ipand most consistent riders, has delaide’s’ Shane Parker has on Sky Television in England and joined Rzeszow for the coming stadium owner Billy King, agreed terms with Kings Lynn it is hoped meetings may be transWith the Isle of Wight, season and he’s been joined at his to spend a second season with the mitted, possibly with a delayed Skegness and St Austell all now new club by Tomasz Rempala.

British rider Joe Screen will Norfolk club. showing, in Australia. certain starters, Britain could have Parker is spending only a short Weekly meetings will be shown as many as thirty tracks operating also ride for the club that struggled professionally, or semi-profession- to hold their First Division place time in Australia and will remain live in UK and transmitted to Poland and Sweden. ally, in 1998. last season and he’ll be joined by only until the end of February.

But TV coverage of the Grand He hopes to earn a top five the Czech rider Toni Kasper, place in the Australian Individual Prix series is likely to be cut back Adelaide’s Ryan Sullivan The-Danish rider tipped by final so as to win through to the and Sky are not proposing to show been officially transfer listedhas by max\y^ to be the 1999 World Champion, Brian Andersen, has World Overseas Final and so earn this in England during 1998. his British club, Peterborough, Production company Nordisk, Sullivan was originally set to go l joined Leszno, where he will race a chance to progress towards the who hold the world rights, are dis out on loan, as Peterborough have in addition to his commitments in Grand Prix for 1999. turbed that their coverage in opted out of Elite League racing England, Denmark and Sweden, next season, but the Grand Prix not to mention his Grand Prix parThe Prix round will are England could be non-existent, takeBritish placeGrand at Brandon Stadium considering putting togetherbut an rider believes he Should make a ticipation.

Sydney rider Todd Wiltshire, in Coventry on Friday August 7 English Language commentary permanent home in pastures new.

Fellow Aussie and Queensland now based in Germany for his because the Bradford circuit is not over their pictures for onward transmission to Australia, South Champion Jason Crump finds him- European commitments, has available.

It is the third different venue in Africa and California. self in s similar position, but joined Czestochowa in the Polish If this is done, it may also be Britain in the four years of the Peterborough hope to retain him League, Grand Prix series, with Hackney offered to Sky - ironically, with the as their asset and let him race Incidentally, there is a possibili commentary from the team of elsewhere for a loan fee. ty Wiltshire may get a German staging the first two, Bradford rac passport. If he does so, he would ing in 1997 and now the famous yours truly and former World Coventry Stadium that has for Champion Peter Collins, who have Jason the new latestBritish name without be allowed to permit race inbecause England to be Crump linked Iswith a work of many years hosted the British provided the Sky ‘voices’ for the last two seasons.

Individual Championship.

Elite club Oxford who, despite con- European Community regulations.

T

A

KARTING

30January 1998

Phillip Island to host Superkart Championship

i n

SUPER ACTION... Bruce Jolley’s Fleet Fit Zip Eagle/Rotax at the Island. / (Tony Glynn pic) Entries opened on January 19 for the Australian Superkart Championships, which this year have reverted back to a single race meeting format.

Piilllip Island on February 21-22 will see some of the quicker Formula E karts (250cc twin cylinder) only fractions of a second away from the lap times of the SOOcc Grand Pric bikes.

The 250cc Nationals (sin gle cylinder) are nearly as quick on this popular circuit.

The 125cc karts have suffered from a lack of numbers SUPERSPROX ... Drew 'Price Engineering has just landed a new hightech Supersprox rear sprocket from the UK. Manufactured on the lat est machinery so that con centricity is exceptional that means no sprocket run-out - the Supersprox units employ a harder, higher tensUe new grade of

IT 'S

A

11

250 NATS... David Holdforth and Ross Higgins. (Burns pic) in the past, but Victoria’s fields are on the increase and should build the entry to a significant size, A good-sized field of 80cc alloy for a better service

life.

The sprockets are rum bled so that no buiTS exist, a process which results in improved chain life.

The new design incorpo rates lightening holes and is gold coloured for easy identification.

Sizes 65-91 are available now.

KART

TOP rr

KART

CLUBMAN inclctde.

n Hytfraiic Brakes n 40mm Axle

n Extended Hubs n 8ltr Fuel Tank n Braided Lines

n Q/R Bearing Clamps

MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

ELF MOTORSPORT ADELAIDE 454 Main Nth Rd Blair Athol SA 5084 Phone: 08 8262 7611

karts is always on the pro gram and the lOOcc non-gear box entrants wiU provide plen ty of wheel to wheel racing.

- GRAEME BURNS

ROOKIE PERKINS A delighted Jack Perkins tries his new Demon XP Rookie for size. Operating out of his legendary Bathiu-st-winning father Larry’s Perkins Engineering premises in Moorabbin, 11 year-old Jack may well succeed in kart racing and ultimately find himself behind the wheel of one of Larry’s racing Commodores, though we’re obviously talking about a 21st century racing sched ule. As reported in our last issue. Jack’s older sister Nichola is also looking for -TONY GLYNN ward to a serious karting future.

V

KARTING

45

SOJmuarfWS

«

A

Domaschenz on VIC Open podium The Victorian Open Championships were held at the Hamilton circuit in Victoria’s western district over the Australia Day weekend.

Some 270 competitors from most states were in atten dance, the weather ranging from hot to wet and windy, with most races run in dry, windy conditions.

The January 24-26 meet ing was incident-packed and there were some impressive driving perfonnances.

The Clubman Light entry read like a Who’s Who of the class in Australia, with less than one second separating the top 37 drivers in qualifying and only the top 30 to start.

With placings provisional at the time of writing, Mark

Domaschenz was the winner from Mark Winterbottom.

David Clark was the only driver to get below the 30second mark with a time of 29.981 seconds in the Formula 100 Light class, although Wesley May was in front for the final.

Full report in the next issue of Motorsport News.

- GRAEME BUENS

RUNNER-UP... #1 Mark Winterbottom (above)followed winner Domaschenz home.(Bums)

Kartersin Swiss Hutless Speedway drama Victorian team

L I I I

A nasty incident at Brisbane’s Exhibition Speedway involving Mark Wheeler and David Jolley.

Wheeler sits in shock as ambulance attendants and officials work furi ously to extricate Jolley from his twisted, upturned vehicle.

Fortunately, neither driver sustained serious injuries, though Jolley was transported to Royal Brisbane Hospital.

- BARRY MARSHALL

for 1998 A Swiss Hutless team has been formed in Victoria and it looks to have a strong Une-up.

Samantha Morgan, who put in some great drives last year, will be driving for the new operation in the Junior National Heavy class.

Andre Morgan, who also had a good 1997, is running his Swiss Hutless in Junior National Light.

Geoff Bertram, who enjoyed a successful season with the AllKart equipe, has moved across to the Swiss Hutless team to compete in Clubman Heavy.

And, after recovering from a long stay in hospital which sidelined him for most of the last year, Garry Morrow is ready to feature in the Clubman Super Heavies.

- GRAEME BURNS

KilCilCilCi

KARTING

international THE WORLDS MOST EXCITING, BEST VALUE KARTING MAGAZINE SyeSCRIBE NOW 11 monthly issues sent by AIR MAIL COSTS JUST £60.

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46

‘f

30January 1998

n After moving the earth with his 6,000 horsepower Shell Rocketship, drag racing leg end Graeme Cowin is getting ready to move his business, Rocket Industries, to higger, brand-new premises.

Within the next two months, or so, Rocket Industries will move from their current base of Mortlake, a suburb of Sydney, to spacious new premises at Eastern Creek.

“Rocket Industries is rapidly expanding and our new ware house/office complex will be able to better fulfill our requirements in keeping our clients supplied with the quality products which we stock,” Cowin said.

Cowin’s championship-win ning, four second Top Fuel opera tion will also be moving to the showcase facility.

Look for a feature on the “power house” in an upcoming issue of Motorsport News. n Royal Purple, a brand of synthetic motor oil which is claimed to be the most advanced motor oil ever developed, is now available in Australia.

RPM Distributed by Marketing, Royal Purple Synthetic Motor Oil is the only motor oil with Synerlec, a revolu tionary breakthrough in synthet ic lubricant technology.

Royal Purple claims that Synerlec puts a super lubricat ing, tough film onto all critical engine parts, so engines ran with significantly less friction. The result is improved fuel consump tion, more horsepower, lower emissions and a longer lasting engine.

Royal Purple Synthetic Motor Oil is used and recommended by some of the United States’ best racers, including NASCAR cham pion Brett Bodine and NHRA drag racing champion Christen Powell. For more information on the range of Royal Purple, con tact RPM Marketing directly on (03)9401 3934.

H Jaz Products have released a new three gallon Pro Stock fuel cell which is designed to be mounted in the rear of Pro Stock-type chassis.

The unique configuration of the cell allows it to fit into the tightest of locations.

The sump features one AN-10 fast flow fitting for unrestricted fuel flow.

The top of this cell also fea tures an AN-8 fitting with an anti-aeration line attached for a return and an AN-8 fitting for a vent.

The three gallon Pro Stock fuel cell comes fully certified to SFI spec 28-1. For more information on the Jaz range of products, con tact their Australian distribu tors, Eagle Motorsports on (08) 8347 2480.

TECHNICAL/INDUSTRY

BG fuel pump how-to

The workings ofan electric BGfuelpump explained BG electric fuel pumps are of the sliding-vane rotary type and, in common with most pump designs, operate on the principal that fuel enters via a low-pressure port and is pumped into and through the system via a high-pressure port.

As the rotor, which occupies an off-centre position in its housing, rotates at speeds of between 3000 to 3200 rpm, the sliding vanes are thrown outwards un^er centrifugal force. , In doing so, they form cavities that convey the fuel from the inlet to the outlet port.

The transmission of the fuel is primarily generated by an area of/ low pressure that forms at the' pump inlet.

This depression occurs as the cavity, located between the two vanes, sweeps across the inlet port; as its volume increases a low-pres sure void is created that is quickly filled by fuel.

The rotor which operates between the upper and lower wear plates, is slipped onto the end of the electric-motor spindle and the drive is taken through a flat key. The sliding vanes are set into the slots in the rotor by hand and these make light, constant contact on a housing made from Delrin.

The electric motor, which has its commutator treated with epoxy resin to protect the windings against vibration, is mounted on two sealed bearings.

The entire upper electrical hous ing is separate from the lower fueltransmitting pump body by a seal which is situated on the motor spindle.

By in large, the chief re'quirement of any racing fuel pump is to overcome the G-forces during launching off the line.

In order to prevent carburettor starvation, the pump has to push a long column of fuel forward to the fuel pressure regulator and defeat the strong gravitational pressures that are attempting to force it rear wards.

This is accomplished- by develop ing a pump capable of providing a high inlet pressure at the fuel pres sure regulator which allows it to respond to the changing fuel demands of the engine.

The BG 400 and 280, are two of the most powerful and successful electric pumps in racing today and, indeed, will deliver much more fuel than most race motors are cap-able of consuming.

Therefore a bleed valve is intro duced into the system to return excess fuel to the cell. . Referred to as a bypass, in the case of the BG-280 it’s an internal device, but on the 400 model, it’s adjustable and mounted externally.

The poppet valve in the bypass ing arrangement is usually pre-set to open and relieve excess fuel at around 18-p.s.i.

However, the range of adjust ment on the 400 model varies from

Course setfor

47th edition

The 1997-98 Autocourse annual Featuring a foreword by the 1997 is now on the shelves and must World Champion, Jacques Villeneuve, the splendid 280-page, rank as the authoritative publi hard cover, case-bound tome is a cation documenting main “must have” publication perfectly stream motor racing worlwide. tailored to meet the needs of those Now in its 47th year of publish ing and justifiably billed as “the followers of the sport with an abid world’s leading Grand Prix annual,” ing sense of history - and also for it’s hardly surprising that the bulk those who-are more attuned to gloss of the text in this lavish production ing through the best photographic is dedicated to the world of collection documenting motor sport Formula 1. that’s avaOable each yeai'.

For your copy of the 1997-98 Full race reports, comprehensive team by team reviews, profiles of Autocourse annual, contact the the top ten drivers and the Technical Book Shop at 295 renowned Grand Prix statistic com Swanston Street, Melbourne 3000, pilations cover all bases in depth, or call on: 03 9663 3951, or fax on: with a stunning visual back-up of f 03 9663 2094. absolutely superb photography from the race industry’s numero uno shutterbugs.

One particularly noteworthy The World’s Leading Grand Prix AnnualJ Autocourse featm-e is the emphasis on detail, the team profiles encom passing a full colour profile artwork of each race vehicle, a spec sheet and, in the race reports, a listing of the actual chassis numbers used at each event - all in all, a trainspotter’s delight!

Aside from the mind-numbing FI coverage, the annual also covers Formula 3000, Formula 3, GT,rac ing, Touring Cars and American racing, the latter embracing the premier open wheel categories and NASCAR tin tops.

AUlOCDUliSE

NICE FUEL JUG ... err, fuel cell- Jaz’s new three gallon Pro Stock fuel cell.

Cut-a-way picture of the BG-400 fuel pump showing it’s electrical upper body, many of the hard-coated internals of the lower body and the com ponents that comprise the externally adjustable bypass.

16 to 25-p.s.i. and pressure changes can be made by simply either rotat ing the upper portion of the bypass valve upwards or downwards.

Although high-volume race pumps are ideal for supplying the demands of the fastest race cars, none of them are designed for extended use. They operate con stantly at maximum output and the fuel must either be delivered to the motor or returned to the tank.

In order to reduce unnecessary movements of fuel during periods of low demand, BG created the StepDown-Box. This new device not only cuts down needless fuel movements but also decreases wear rates and heat

within the pump and also the fuel itself.

The power Step-Down Box per mits the voltage to the fuel pump to be reduced at idle or light throttle relieving the pump and the electric motor of unnecessary loadings.

During periods of acceleration, full voltage can be restored and the pump returned to peak output.

Power can be either manually switched or wired to a wide-open throttle switch.

For more information on the fab ulous range of BG Systems prod ucts, call their authorised distribu tors at VPW Mail Order directly on (03)9401 2811 or 1 800 675 016.

Revolution Racegear has stepped up its support of Australia’s leading motor sport stars for the 1998 season.

Bathurst winners Larry Perkins and Russell Ingall, Australian Champions Glenn Seton, Dick Johnson, John Bowe and former World Champion Alan Jones are among a number of motor racing’s big n®nes who wiM use Revolution Racegear products in 1998.

This year Revolution will continue its long association with Holden legend Peter Brock, who remains a member of the team, along with new V8 star John Faulkner.

In support of young up-and-comers. Revolution has also extended its support to the “young blood” of V8 Supercar racing, including tal ented youngsters Jason Bright, Steven Richards and Jason Bargwanna.

To continue their support homegrown talent. Revolution will also consolidate its involvement in the international arena in ‘98 to include Marcos Ambrose and Stephen White.

Australia’s fastest woman Rachelle Splatt and fellow drag racing ‘king’ Victor Bray are on the Revolution team too, as is speedway legend Garry Rush and sprintcar aces Ron &ikke and Brett Lacey.

All wfil benefit from the safety and comfort of Revolution’s own Australian ‘RPM’ brand driving suits,boots and gloves.

In addition, teams will also have i access to an array of associated ; accessories, including carbon fibre ; racing seats, harness belts, steering wheels and fire extinguisher systems.

Got supported drivers all per form a research and development role for us,” Revolution Racegear’s Managing Director Dale Rodgers ej^lains.

“The drivers provide us with detailed feedback on the fit, eomfort and practicality of our ‘RPM’ racewear and on the performance of the other Revolution accessories we provide.

“From that, we develop, manu facture and import products that are better suited to the require meats of our customers at all levels of the industry.

“Revolution is a long-time sup porter of motor sport at its top level in Australia, but for ‘98 we n have broadened our association ; with the country’s best leading dri-; vers and forged ties with the new n “young guns” of the future to better reflect the diverse interests of; our customers right across the i country, “Revolution’s program is unique in AustrMian motor sport because there is no other single retailer whose product is used extensively by so many of the sport’s leading competitors,” he said.

Revolution Racegear has 18 stores across Australia and New Zealand.

30JamryW98

4/

i

HQ race car, Thunderdome 36 second car ready to race $4,800. Also HQ T’dome engines, ready to race $1,500; HQ cage $280; HQ suspension, 2 sets $600; HQ 3.36 Salisbury diff $250. Ph; 03 9432 3370,

Sedans ‘1

M

Datsun 260Z, rebuilt motor (500k), 280 gearbox, full track sus pense,free flow exhaust, triple SU's, extractors. Ideal for club car or Targa. Full rego. $7000 ONO.Ph;036229 3858 IM

Toyota Crown, bash car. Top four finish in seven events, including first. Rally ready, roll cage, harnesses, rally meter, blueprinted engine. $4500 Ph;041 4842662 anytime, izj Datsun 1200 Coupe, A great ARN junior challenge car. No expense spared. New engine, full roll cage, recaro seats, 21 wheels and tyres, spare rolling shell and many panels. Much much more. Sell for $7500. Ph- Mark Beard 066 541 209(BH) or 0417 441 645(AH) 120

li—

Sports Sedan Lancer, 13B fuel-injected, intercooled turbo.

Fresh engine. Suspension set up by Centreline Suspension.

Competitive car ready to race. $10,500. Ph; Mark 039844 2309. ..9

r -1 'A V

Historic Group M Renmax 23B. Australian version of Lotus 23B, 1598CC t/c Ford, 5 speed Hewland gearbox. Selling because I am too old to drive as quick as car will go! Price down to $45,000. Ph; Laurie Knight02 6925 3257. 119 Enzed Trans-Am Camaro, as raced by Steven Johnson.

American-built, best of equipment, available complete with spares or roller. Possible trade. Ph; Bruce Jenner 00 11 6425 763370. 1.9

urar^m BMW 323i, 1997 Century Batteries Australian GT Production Class D Championship winning car. New engine this year, new gearbox, spares include wheels, tyres, springs. Very reliable-fin ished every race this year. Ready to race and win. Ph: Beric on 0414328023.

Escort Lotus Twin Cam, 1970 genuine vehicle, matching numbers, minilites, A001's,.alby rolloage, huntmaster seats. Stored over 10 years in running condition but requires waterpump over haul.$6500. Ph:0395809199 or 0411 855704. .20 Celica Sports Sedan, 1GG 6cyl 24 valve. Race-shift Supra G/Box, 4 spot and vented disc front. Twin spot and solid rear Injec EM3 ECU,Twin pumps and surge tank, race seat and har ness. Rego as 6cyl Engineers report. $6950. Ph:03 9338 4133.

Ford Laser TX3 GT-P Class E. 1997 Class E Championship/Bathurst 3 Hour-winning car. Complete with brand new spare engine, full gearbox rebuild pre-Amaroo, full dry break system, heaps brake spares, 26 new/used slicks/wets. Everything you need to win Bathurst and the championsfiip in 1998. $17,000, Ph: Trevor Haines 0412057295. .19

129

Nissan GTiR, 2 litre turbo 4WD. Set-up for GT-Production.

Huge potential, perfect club car or hot road car. Rare light weight (no air etc) complianced and registered. Ph: 0418 995 581. .20

HZ Camp Quality bash car, rebuilt 202,4 speed, LSD,cage, trip computer, rally suspension, fully equipped car, July rego. Have some fun! $5500.Ph:0249421424 a 015 257 984. ,20

I }>>♦

N <t

‘64 Lotus Cortina, fully rebuilt motor, Needham g/box, Detroit locker, all alloy panels and best frame, car in race ready condition, a proven front runner, comes with spare engine, 8 minilites, various diff ratios etc. $30,000 ONO. Will trade. Ph: 03 95434280or0418336181 ,20

i

88 Wolf HS50O Sierra Turbo, ex B&H Alan Jones, rebuilt engine, 5 spd Gelrag, 9" Harrop, ind rear suspension, tri rate springs, rebuilt turbo, as raced at Bathurst 1991-92, good sports sedan or collectors car, spare engine, wheels and lots of acces sories. $30,000 ONO will trade. Ph; 0418 336 181 or 03 9543 4280 .20

1970 Ford Escort V6,4 speed, slightly modified, adjustable suspension, black in colour, GT dash, lots of spares. Full engi neer Cert & Reg. $10,000. Call Robert on 03 9748 4402 or 0412 369 691 ,2B

HQ Holden race car. C&B Performance engine. Heaps of spares. Ready to race. Very urgent sale required. All offers considered. Ph: 02 4943 2782 or 0416 005 174. ,19 HQ 2 door Sports Sedan Chev, roiler, rebuilt, new parts. Sachs coilovers, fourspot f&r, quickchange rear with LSD, 1976, original log book. Has history. $20,000ono. Ph: 07 3208 8095(AH),07 3807 0527(BH). 119 AUSCAR VP, 360hp 315 motor. Super T10 box, Harrop rose jointed front end. 4-sp calipers, adj Bilstein 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. $15,000. James (03) 9563 7072 or (015)800 342. .,9 Urgent sale - ex Bathurst Walkinshaw shell, comes with all wiring, dashboard and roll cage. Has all fibreglass.

Includes log book. Rare model, must sell. Best offer above $6,000. Ph:035996 5609. ,.9

6906. ,19

VL Sportsman. Fully rebuilt motor. Ctjmes with spare pads, trolley jack, radio system, 4 spare wheels. $10,000ono. Ph: 02 6585 1397(AH). .,9

i

M BMW M3R. 242kW, one of 15 built for GTP Racing. BMW aircon, stereo, rear seat and standard M3 clutch (race clutch included). 26,000km. $130,000. Ph: 0417 732 723 or 07 3289 4419(AH). ..9

I.

NASCAR, Ex John Sidney Oldsmobile Cutlass, best available, and will sell as a roller or complete car. front steer, includes wheels, fuel churns and all spares. Also 95 Pontiac long body less calipers and NASCAR service vehicle (Popemobile) Holden to suit a NASCAR team. $55,000 the lot. Will seperate.

Ph:0418 336 181 or 039543 4280 ,20 AUSCAR Sportsman VL Commodore #15,95/96 cham pionship win, 96/97 2nd. All spares and spare body shell. $17,500. Ph:018 507 064. ,20 Targa Car - RX7 twin tuibo, current model. Dismantled Jap import. $9,800. Ph:03 94168741 or 0418 554 829. ,.9

Escort Mk II 2 Litre Sports Sedan.8 pt alloy cage, fresh high HP engine, Koni suspension, brake bias, LSD with ratios, harness and race seat. Spare wheels/tyres, enough spares to build another car. Log book, good racing history. $10,000. Ph; 0357625177(BH)or035762 3710(AH). ..9 Holden HJ Chev 350. Modified 4W discs, lowered, turbo 400, Neale's wheels, Recaros, Momo,GTS dash.\A/hite, as new, still running in. $15,000ono, Ph:029440 8909. .19 Mazda RX3 Club Car, professionally maintained, brand new 13B race Bridgeport, Koni/Bilstein, Group A brakes, compre hensive spares package including engine, gearboxes, diff, axles, wheels etc. Good history. $12,000. Ph: 015 050 435 or 03 52483044. ..9 Off Road Buggy - USA import, all the gear, V6,3-soeed auto, needs finishing. Was $15,000, sell for $10,000. Ph: 02 4883

Sports Sedan KE70 Corolla. 13 BPP,55mm DCOE, brass button clutch, 5 speed, Volvo 4 spot front, 16" wheels. Spare tyres, panels, parts and reg trailer. $12,000. Ph; 02 4261 5262

m

(AH). ,19

Fiat 1Z8SL Coupe, 1973, white, 1.51 Lancia motor, 5-speed box, extractors, 2in exhaust. $3,500. Ph:07 32605836. ,19 Honda Civic 4 door Chev Sports Sedan. Professionally built, tubular chassis, independent f&r, competed hill-climbs a circuits, good history. $45,000ono. Ph: 07 3208 8095 (AH), 07 38070527(BH). ,,9

Nissan 3O0ZX twin turbo GT Production car. Freshly rebuilt engine. Chrome moly cage. Coilover Koni suspension.

Adjustable front end. Heaps of potential, ready to race in 1998. $30,000ono. Ph:024977 1881 or 0413871 514. m

continued over page

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NAME: ADDRESS:

CATEGORY; Cars: □ Speedway □ Drag □ Sedans □ Open Wheelers □ Photographs □ Other General: □ Parts □ Engines □ Trailers □ Wanted

SOJsm/y 1998 Van Diemen BF95, Fastlane maintained, sister car to Tander’s winning RF95. Compiete with engine, little use. Ready for '98 season. $35,000, Ph: Dennis (Perth) 08 9284 9209 or 0417 935 912 120

AUSCAR Sportsman #50. Falcon XF, one season old, never bent. Fresh 9.5 engine. Excellent condition, urgent sale (moving OS). $12,500ono. Ph:019 142929 or 03 9874 2561. 119

a

f ' n

Formula Holden, Reynard. Fluge spares package, good FIP, available for AGP. Lease or own for $45,000.

Mark (03) 9764 4866 or (0417) 85 3642 or Greg (03) 9762 6232 or (0414) 85 7241. ,19

—™

II

(

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 014 061 899. i.B RS2000 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 Caroar. $5,800ono. Ph:07 3888 0081 (AH). ..a-

Lotus Cortina,Group N or Targa car class winrner. Aluminium roll cage, race seat and harness, Minilites/Hoosiers, spare gear box and parts. Immaculate showroom condition. Only $25,000.

Ph: Tino 018 577 583 or 035821 4014(AH). ti8

Super Sedan, VN Commodore. Quick-change diif. Wide Rve, Willward Brakes, Engineering power steering. Complete ready to race less motor. $12,800. Ph:0418 514 444 or 03 5176 2257. .19

Std Saloon, XW Sedan, Reco 302 W auto, 2fibreglass bucket seals, 25-point harnesses,2 RCI window nets. Has tank protec tion barwork fitted (compulsory for '98). Ready to race, $2,000ono.Ph:039726 4297. .19 Sprintcar Chassis Kit, complete 1986 otr, panels, bonnet, tailtank, nerf bars, 2 front ends. All other parts $1000 ONO. KSE front cover and pump, $250. CAE Dogbox. $200. Pin: 03 6331 2849 or 03 63341385. .20 Sprintcar wanted. Low bar Schnee or Maxim. Complete rolling chassis with or without spares. Must have late model components and no junk. Ph: David 03 5248 3044 or 015 050

Formula Holden SPA 002, Top HP engine rebuilt

by John Sidney, fully rebuilt, new loom, brakes, clutch, all parts crack tested. Heaps of spares with fully enclosed trailer. Entry for 1998 AGP races, 8 spare wheels, toal package ready to go. $48,500 ONO. Ph: 03 9543 4280 or 0418 336 181 120 Zip Eagle (1995) 250 International Superkart, 1985 Rotax 256 engine, Motoplat ign, Mikuni oarbs, JL exhausts, Kelgate brakes. Updated carbon-fibre body work, maintained regardless of cost. On display at Les May Racing (Melbourne). $10,499. Ph: 03 9338 2088 or 0418 993 824. 120 Van Diemen RF87 with RF89 update. Will sell complete or as roller. Car has just been rebuilt, avail able with heaps of spares. Moulds, jigs, ratios etc. $10,000. Ph: 07 3208 8095 (AH), 07 3807 0527 (BH).

119

Amaroo Clubmans (2), new, red or green, Toyota 4AGE motors, 5 speed, mags etc. $28^000each. Ph: 07 3208 8095 (AH), 07 3807 0527 (BH). v-fr".

435. 119 /’

Superkart. 1997 Stockman, 94 Honda RS125 Bkit engine. Near new crank and bearings. Won 5 Of 8 races 97 Aust Champs. Free specs and advice $10,000.

Warren (02)6765 4651 AH or (02)6765 8858. ..9 Speed Clubman kart, 2 fully blueprinted Yamaha KTIOOs, 2 racesuits, stand and trolley, $1750. Swiss Hutless Clubman, chrome moly chassis, blueprinted.

All spare Inc didital tach, $1600. Open double trailer $300 or together $3650. (02) 4883 6253 (AH), (02) 4883 6021 (BH). ..9

Parts 4x15x10 A9X Hot Wire mags $600: 2 x 14 x 7 Hot wire mags $140; New Yella Terra steel lightened fly wheel, suit 308 $200; Holden V8 Yella Terra roller rock ers $200; 4x15x7 Yoko Rally tyres and rims $200; 2 x 4-point Sabelt harnesses $150; Holden pre poll mani fold $80; Holden 308 heads poll model $100; Torana front spoiler $60; 4 x 14 x 7 5 slot mags $180; 4 x 14 x 6 GTS rims $100. Ph: George 03 9598 9172(AH). 120 Datsun 1600, parts. Doors, diff, tail lights, headlights, harness, hubcaps, seats, gearbox, A arms,-struts, bon net, front guards, lots more from $5. 1800 motor, half cage, alloy rear sway bar, Ph: 03 5334 6364 m Doug Nash 5 speed gearbox, 2.98 1st gear, new bearings, sliders & dog rings. Long shifter. Bargain at $2500. Ph: Dave on 07 3823 1413(AH) or 0417 738 947 (BH) ,20

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 251 411, „8 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, ex Nomura, 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: 0418 104 853 or 035248 5518(AH). 11a 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 Historic, $8,7'yj. Ph:08 8278 5988 evenings, m Dats,:<n 1600 Sports Sedan, unfinished project, full tubular frame, lift-off body, Spax shocks, A-arm front end. Set-up for 13B rotary. Heaps of spares.$2,500. Ph:0419 334 786. na Two 74 HQ Sedans, 1 mnning, registered 4 speed manual + 1 spare part car, auto. Together $1,700. Ph: 03 9699 8461 and leave a message, na 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 463526or018071925. na

Historic Group Q Bowin P4. 1300cc Corolla motor, 5 speed Hewland gearbox. Make an offer. Ph: Laurie Knight 02 69253257. 119 ●i

VW Scat Speedcar, Stan/on 4 bar, alloy wheels, splined axle, PRO shocks, spare wheels, f/axle, r/rods.

Enclosed lightweight trailer. Proven fast, reliable unit, reace ready, ideal budget racer. $14,000. Ph: 07 3397 1335. la Compact Speedcar, NSW 11, 4 bar Reynolds hi-bar chassis, streader quick change diff. GSXR 1100 engine,Hilborn injection plus plenty of spares. $8500.

ONO. Ph: 02 9628 2238. 120

Speedway

Formula Vee Elfin NG, twice NSW Championship win-. ner. Fresh top hp engine, new battery and brakes, chrome wheels, spares, lightweight trailer. Consistent top 10 runner in novice hands. Ready to race. $8,500ono. Ph: 02 4575 1080. 119

6394 3541. 120

Best offers on oil-coolers, fuel cell shut-offs, Willwood brake pads, S/H camshafts, 650 CFM petrol Holley, autometer tacho, suit Maggy. Phone Mingle 03

5472 4116. 120

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). 11a

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: 018176 420. 110 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. na

.

Unbeatable prices, on S/B 23" Chev Cosworth Pistons, stud-giroles, valve-springs, gaskets, will swap parts for Hi-Po Ford parts or 750 CFM methanol carby in running order. Phone Mingle on 03 5472 4116 120 Lotus Twin Cam Head, reco with new valves. No springs. $1500. Lotus twin cam head- needs repairs. $350. Ph: 03 9480 4040. 120 Tyres, 4S/H wet weather tyres and wheels. 4 stud 8”x10"x13". $500. Ph: 03 9480 4040. 120 Ford 4 cylinder L block, sleeved, $500. Ph; 03 9480 4040 120 2 Light weight, 4 spot calipers wi^h pads. $800. Ph; 03 9480 4040. 120 Wheels, rims and slicks, 16" and 17" rims BBS $100 each ONO. Also some centres BBS and Ronal.

Selection of wets, slicks and intermediates. $50 each.

Ph: 03 6331 2848 or 03 6334 1385. 120 BDA Flywheel, offers. Ph: 03 9480 4040. 120 Toyota MR2 4ADE 1600 motor, and gearbox.

RWD ex Team Toyota. $650. Ph; 03 9480 4040. 120 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3 16 valve, fuel injection complete. $1500 ONO. Bodykit complete, $2500. A250 exhaust manifold, $500 or offers. Ph: 03 6331 2849(BH) or 03 6334 1385(AH) 120 Holden Turbo Manifolds, brand new. Assorted turbo cams. Will take best offer. Ph: 015 312 918 or 03

Kaditcha 1979 F2. Eligible Group Q. Golf engine, Hewland Mk9. Ratios, spares. $20,000neg.

Must be sold. Ph: 03 5881 4411 (BH), 03 5881 1506 (AH)

Drag Racing Junior Dragster, professionally built. 2 meetings old with imported Clements engine. On alcohol runs 11.4 with new 8 year driver or brand new for $8000. Ph: 03 9390 7834 or 0411 094 046 120 Drag car Sports sedan, Mitsubishi Galant, 2 door, full bond alloy roll cage. Enlarged tunnel complete. New paint, no interior. $3000. Ph: 019 978 037. 120

r:

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m

Historic Group Q Rennmax Palliser. 1598cc t/c Ford, 5 speed Hewland gearbox. Not complete.

Price, with bits, starts at $10,000. Ph: Laurie Knight 02 6925 3257. 1 19

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s.

JL

Mustang 1996 Coupe SS/A, 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. ns

Open Wheelers-

1500 Sedan, A15 engine,'webers, 5 point 3" harness, aluminium seat and spare wheels, lyres, rear mount, VN radiator ASCF cage complete spare car. $2400. Ph: 02 4883'6253 120 Pontiac Firebird Super Sedan. New 350 Chev roller .

—■engine, McLeod clutch etc. Winters wide 5 quickchange on purpose-built trailer. Heaps of spares, wheels, panels.

Sell complete. Ph; 03 9431'1459 after 6pm. 120 IROC Z Camaro, less engine, Vic 9, $11,000. Rrankland 4.86 quick change, 54 3/4" wide $2,200; 202 steel main Kaditcha 1982 F2 Mk9, Golf engine. 1st. caps $300; 186, 202 roller rockers $240; Set 4 Duke Sportsmans division, National F2 series 1997. Spares Southard videos (PAL) US $80. Ph: 03 5422 1942 (BH), 03 package to suit purchaser. $26,000neg. Must be sold.

5422 7037 (AH), tis Ph: 03 5881 4411 (BH), 03 5881 1506 (AH). 119

Elfin 622. 1972, Group Q logbook. Car fully sorted mmac cond, truly race ready. Probably the best and fastest ANF2 cast. Eastern Creek 1m35s. Hart, FT200, wets and dyrs, 3 sets wheels. Max (018) 44 2060. 119 Off-road, USA import, Fox. S/Bros hubs (Hoatara), Wright, Willwood, Saginaw, CNC, Centrelines etc. Big travel, a winner. $10,000. Ph 048 836 908. 119 Van Diemen RF93, complete race package, fresh paint. Spare engine, wheels, ratios, panels, springs, wishbones. Exc cond, $33,000. Ph (03) 5439 5399 (AH). 119

HQ Body Shell, straight, $300. Other parts available.

Ph: 02 9609 6679. 120 Ex Group A Corolla race wheels, 16 x 6.5 inch, 4 stud pattern or centre-locks. Full magnesium, resprayed white with polished edge. Suit late model FWD car $690ono. Ph: 0414 251 384. 119 Tyres: 4 Falken RX06GB tyres - 205 x 60 x 14, have done 10 laps, suit Club Car or sprints. Only $500. Ph: 0412 337 227. 19 Wheels. 4 Simmons 16x10 two-piece polished alloy outers, new $250 each; two 16 x 10 steel outers, HQ pattern, alloy centres, 3 piece $100 each; two 16 x 10 4 stud Datsun, ally centre $100 each. Ph; 07 3208 8095 (AH), 07 3807 0527 (BH). 19 Intercooler, brand new for motor up to 400hp.

Measures 810mm x 310mm, suit 6 cylinder or rotary motor. $745ono. Ph: Ken 0412 546 157 (VIC). 119 Mkl Cortina parts. GT close ratio gearbox with GT short shifter or std shifter, 1498cc GT intake and Weber carburettor and some other Ford V8 parts. Best offers.

Ph: 03 9850 6993, 0419 554 019. 119 Brakes. Mazda series V, four spot front, effective and light, suit Sports Sedan. Bargain $420. Ph: Ken 0412 546 157 (VIC). 119 Tyres, Formula Ford, 13" Avon ACB9 and ACB10, Dunlop CR82, little use, cheap. Ph: 07 3208 8095 (AH), 07 3807 0527 (BH). 119 2 X 40mm Delorto side draft carburettors, suit recon $300; 2 X 308 crankshafts (one std) $150ono. Ph: 08 9295 4031 after 6pm weekdays, all day w/e. 119 Alfa 33, 1 .7ti set of excellent vented discs and calipers. Ready to bolt in, $350 ONO (03) 9889 1149. na 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, 8 off $450; Lunati 50147 roller cam, new Lunati valve springs to suit $680; Pro-cam solid camshaft (eg Crane CC290) with lifters $290. Ph: John Boyle 0412 169 510. 118 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). la

30Jm3!fW8 Ford Transporter, 351 V8, enclosed 16 foot body, annex, tyre rack, winch. Reliable, comes with rust free spare cab. $5500 ONO. 0418 995 581. 120

Nissan R190 diffs, 1 x 4.6 ratio $325, 1 x 4.875 ratio $375, 1 x 5.1 ratio $425. Ph:,0419 334 786. 118 Bargain-priced small-block Chev Cosworth pistons, valve-springs, stud-girdles, bearings, s/h cams and gaskets. Will swap some parts for 750 methanol carby in running order. Ph: Mick 03 5472

castrom

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo front LSD, new $1,500.

PIAA Super Rally d/lights $200. Marvel brake pads, as userjl by Marty Beckton $400 per four wheel set.

Suits Lancer. Ph; 0418 104 853 or 03 5248 5518 (AH). 118 Gearbox, Holinger 6 speed, ex Mark Poole.

Rented aftef^athursl, many spares available. $12,500ono. Ph; James Rosenberg 08 8524 8131. na Nissan factory race wheels, 16x9 $1,000, 17x9 $850. Ph: 0419 334 786. 18

Trailer. 28'. Suit any purpose. 240/12V lights, kitchens, benches, pressure water. Side awning.

18mths old, prof built, immac cond. Cost $18,000, sell $9500.(018) 74 0135 or (07) 3204 7443. 09

Trailers/Transporters Freighter Pantec and trailer, tandem axle, with tailgate lifts NASCAR, excellent condition. RWC $17,500 Ph: 03 9543 4280 or 0418 336 181. 120

CB

/

Mazda 13B Bridgeport, race engine, as new condi tion. Professionally built. $2500 ONO. Selling to finance other project. Ph: 019 978 037 120 Genuine Pro Series 111 Autocraft 2600cc engine, 3 stage oil pump, fuel injected, steel crank, Carillo rods, good condition, ex Speedcar engine. $6,800ono. Ph: Clive Baxter 08 8984 4794. 120 Lotus Twin Cam, complete engine, “L’ block Webers, extractors etc. $5000. Ph: 07 3281 7005. 120 Holden 308 block JSR, fully machines, bored and honed 30 thou. Decked and line honed. Needs sleeve. $700. Ph; George 03 9598 9172(AH). 120 Chev 366 methanol, bowtie block, 17 degree. Dart aluminium heads, matching manifold. Grower crank, JE pistons, T&D roller rockers, dry sump. 650hp strong motor, full recondition. $17,500. Ph: 03 5176 2257, 018 514 444. 119

IT' b'a

Trailer to suit F/Ford, fully enclosed tandem axle.

Includes hydraulic brakes, tilt roof for walk-in access, full annex. Registered. Priced to seil quickiy at $3,500. Ph: Trevor Haines 0412 057 295. 19

Tandem trailer. Fully enclosed, 2 tonne capacity.

10'x8'x5'6", elec brakes on 4 wheels, lights, rocker springs. Reg 9/98, $5000.(07) 3372 4384 or (0414) 82 9435. 19

12 port 202 aluminium head (Perfectune) $1,400; 4,71 GM blower + Fisher manifold, suit 202, complete with extractors. Thermotec, spare belts, pulleys $1,500; knifeedged 202 Commodore crank .010" $350; 186-202 dry sump $1,000. Ph: 03 5422 1942, 03 5422 7037. .19 Mazda 13B PP, built tp Racing Beat spec, genuine 310hp. Set ip for injection, ali brand new, just run in $5700.(0419)334 786. ..9 Ford 2 Itr Cosworth, 2 x 45s, $15,000 spent, not assembied, with 5-speed, 2.5" exhaust. Suit Escort.

Ready to be assembled. $10,000. Ph: Andrea 08 8285 1 4912 or 0412 071 442,

Wanted

Nissan U'-D Turbo, 180HP/6 speed, 18'x8'2"Wx7'8"H body, larpe storage lockers, long range tanks, rego, clean, comfortable and fast. Vehicle must be sold, but no more time wasters please. Bargain at $18,500 ono. Ph: 03 5248 3044 or 015 050 435. 118 Car trailer, as new, e;ec brakes, chrome wheels, truck tyres. Full susp, tare 630, GVM 2000. Long reg, will fit Falcon. $3200 ONO. P/ione (02)9440 8909. 119

Mazda Diesel transporter. 3 tonne with winch, ramps, tyre racks and storage compartments. 48K on clock, 9 mths reg. $8500 Greg (0419) 36 1908. 1 19

Other

Engines

?

4116. .18

VW7—

Mutti purpose trailer. Prof built, dual axle, elec brakes. Suit small sedan, open wheeler, karts, motor bikes. Full floor, low sides, carry racks. New cond, $2650 ONO (0417) 28 1746 or (02) 4959 8374. 19

^5

/

Dick Johnson photographs, preferrably of his Sierra and Biu-Stuff and Greens-Tuf Falcons and EL Falcon. Ph: Ryan Story 08 8852 1370. n9 Autocourse, 1993 (Prost). Al l offers consid ered,(02) 9439 3077 or Afi,(02) 6352 2957. 119 Racesuit, must be CAMS approved, size small, to $300. (02) 9635 6754 (H), (02) 9638 7354 (B), (015) 499 903 (M). 119 Shockers, to suit 93 Swift FF. Must be adjustable or Bilstein, URGENT (0418) 130 133 or (03) 6326 5555. ..9 Pit crew required for Super Tourers, voluntary basis, Sydney area, mechanical experience not necessary. No criminal record. Male or female.

Fax your details to 02 9774 1448. ns

Historic photos, 70s and 80s: Brook, Johnson, Richards,. Senna, Pros! etc. B/w and coiour.

Majority unpubiished. Tourers, F5000, FI, Sports.

Also 2-litre, V8s, Historic. Fax for details 02 9960 6552. 20 Dorian timer, set of 4 wet weather tyres 15 x 7. suit Sports Sedan. Ph: 02 4588 5174 (BH). 120 Mazda RX7 1988 Series 4, EFI Turbo, 23,000km, excellent condition, Jap import, $8000.

Also Hillclimb alloy turbo sports car. Subaru motor $3000. Ph: 02 6734 2259 or 02 6732 3353. m Advertising space on HQ Holden racecar, Prime positions available. Attending high profile race meetings. Last race event driver attained pole position. Ph: Jim 015 932 948. 120 Book Collection, 50 plus titles including cov ering ail FI Champions 1950-1996, some rare titles. $1000 the lot. Ph: 02 9825 2059 after 5pm only. 120 Yamaha YZF750 SP, immaculate condition, 2000km from new. Will trade anything of value. $16,000 best offer. Ph: 015 312 918 or 63943541. .20 7” Carello Biode headlights, new, ideal for rally car $25 each. Auto Actions and other motorsport pubiications. Every AA since 1979. Huge coliection. $300. Ph: 03 9748 3608 (AH). Id Motor books: Australian Motor Racing Annuals - No 8 $75, No 9 $150, No 10 $150, others $25 each. JH1000 1981 $35, 1982 $150, 1983 $25.

Others available. Also 300n-other car books. Ph: 02 9997 7832. .19 Sparco doable layer momex saifS, blue, small; black leather nomex boots, size 8; nomex balaclava, socks, all brand new. $675 the lot. will separate. Ph: 03 9761 1704. 119 Onyx 1:43 models. The early sports racing cars, complete your collection. Most of 1998, some of 1989 and all of 1990. All B&M. $1,100.

Ph: 049 598 555. 16

^Motorsport News' RACE $i|i#"iP gives you the opportunity' to promote your products and services to widest possibie range of motorsport competitors and enthusiasts. ^1 Advertising in RACE SiMfO'iP costs as little as $50 per issue!

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COIVIIVIENT Drawing conclusions

0) (0,

0 (0_ NfFtVS

Editorial Editor David Nassau TecUnlicai; Tony Glynn Assistant Editor Phil Branagan Graphics Co-ordinator Viv Brumby

Advertising Advertising Manager Gerald McDornan

Administration Managing Director Chris Lambden

Contacts 89 Orrong Crescent Caulfield North VIC 3161 (PO Box 1010 North Caulfield 3161) Phone: 03 9527 7744 Fax 03 9527 7766 Email: msncws@corpHnk.com.au

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General: Mike Kable, Jon Thomson, Brian Reed, Dar^'l Flack FI: Joe Saward, Adam Cooper Europe- Quentin .Spurring, Ian Bamsey, Gwyn Dolphin US: Bruce Smith, Phil Morris NZ: John Hawkins Speedway: Dennis Newlyn, David McNabb, Wade Aijnger, Geoff Rounds, Mark Neale, David Lament, Chris Metcalf, Sue Hobson, Michael Attwell, Tony Millard (UK) Rally: Peter Whitten Drag Racing: Gerald McDornan, Greg Ward, Jon Asher (USA), Dave Ostaszewski (US/\), Nick Nicholas, Steven White, Ker .^erguson, Scott Jug Suptj'Speedway. 'Martin Clark (USA), Brett Swanson Karts: Ian Salvestrin, Allan Roark, Graeme Burns, Edward Krause Photographers: LAT, Dirk Klynsmitfi, Zoom Photographies, Neil l-lammond, Nigel & Diana Snowdon.

Brad Steele, Tony Glynn, Thunder-Pics, Marshall Ca.ss, Mike Harding, Brisbane Motorsport, Frank Midgley, John Bosher, Phil Williams, Mike Patrick (UK) noTORSPORT NEWS is publishetj by/XusKiliisibn MororspofT News Pt>' Ltd ACN No 060 I ?9 9?B Li.:tciors C lArnbrtm (Ma.iagingl. D H^ssaii. A Glynn Publisher: C Uimbdcn Printed by: Wilkp Color 37A9 Browns Rd Gayton 316S Distributed by: NDD Ltd Mdreri.il publiihed by MOTORSPORT NEWS h ' cnpyTighl and nor be icproduted in full or in . part v.'lihaui the written permission of the ' publisher freeUince rcnmbuuons are welr.umt.’. : and wft’le Dll cure wnl be taken. Australasitin Wororspori News Pry Lrd does nor ar.cepf fcsponsibility for damage or loss of marenaJ submitted

was in your review of the Indycar season where you said that Honda had taken the honours in the engine stakes. If I am not mistaken this particular honour went to Mercedes Benz.

Dear Sh, Brett Swanson’s article on the Harris speedcar has left me wonder ing what exactly the breakthrough IS.

I guess the article was complete and provided complete coverage of the issue for most speedway fans but there are a few of us (who really enjoy your magazine, by the way, who would like to know HOW the twin universal tailshaft system actu ally improves the handling of a speedcar.

My guess is attached (right). Npt being very familiar with the speedcar rear suspension layouts (or speedcar regs) I have made a couple of key assumptions based on the arti cle and photogi-aphs only. I would really like to know how accurate these assumptions are if you can find the time to reply.

My main point however is that the article led us into a fair amount of technical detail without revealing the actual reasons for the improved performance. It seems a pity that Brett has been close enough to spot the real breakthrough but has not let us in on it.

L bet that I am not the only one who enjoys the occasional technical article. My vote is for having one each issue!

v^UI-I VCI LC

Send letterr to Talk n n

ASST ED: Thanks, Greenway.

Attleborough is not near Silverstone. I afraid my brain hasn’t been the same since I saw ‘Batman and Robin’ starring Alicia Snetterton.

In the CART review I should have been clearer; I meant that Honda powered Zanardi to the Drivers’ title. Mercedes-Benz won the Manufacturers’ title.

Divide and Conquer Dear Sir,

John Ballantyne jgballan@iol.net.au/

I’ve got the Winfield Blues Dear Sir, “What’s happened to the other six beans?'

That was the first thing I thought when I saw the pic in Issue 118 of Alain Menu and Jason Plato in their new colours (although being a mono chrome shot, ‘colours’ could be a bit of a misnomer, y’know'what I mean...) promoting Williams/ Renault’s new backers, Nescafe ‘Blend 37’ coffee.

Does that sound odd? Not, to me at least, any more odd than all the hue and cry over Williams FI’s new colours. I can name only two other Australian companies in recent years that have taken up a NamingRights sponsorship in Formula One: Qantas, one race per year, Melbourne and Fosters, two races per year at their late-80s peak, Adelaide and Silverstone.

Compared to this, Winfield - who I never even knew were Australian - have their name splashed liberally all over two front-ranning race cars which will be visible in all seventeen races this year.

Nowhere have I seen or heard the comment that an Australian compa ny is taking the initiative in enter ing into a highly-competitive market

which can deliver worldwide expo sure for their product, and bring in valuable export dollars to help repay our enoumous and exponentiallygrowing foreign debt.

No, instead it’s mass hysteria over the fact that the product involved is tobacco, “Ooh, unclean! Ban it immediately! (But keep all the lovely^ sparkling sales tax money we make off it rolling in nicely, if you don’t mind.)”.

Ay, there’s the rub. This is why all the ranting and raving has been about advertising tobacco. If govern ments were serious about protecting ug from this supposely hfe'-threatening weed (I’ve never tried it, so I don’t know - and I don’t want to, either, thank you) it would be illegal.

But the fact that I can, if I so wish (which I don’t), take a stroll down to my comer store arid buy a cai-ton of Winnie Blues without fear of being blown to bits by the Thought Police only highlights the hypocrisy with which this issue is being addressed. And hypocrites are notoriously unreliable, so I’ve heard...

Fact: Nobody else has the money to sponsor a front-ranning Formula One team.

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After that slight on the German company perhaps you had better tell your correspondent, Mark Webber, to disassociate himself from your paper in case he should lose his nice new company car before it is run in.

Nigel Greenway Carrum Downs, Vic

(I yCAf - ?.(, issues)

Call Gerald McDornan on I

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Pteferw*? ws De ow: to typed. ti"et tetter The staff of (ylotorspod Newt cc«a not necessary agree weft oprsctr

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Opinion: And after all this farce has died down, nobody else will have the inclination, either.

David Hutchison Brisbane, QLD dhutch69@thehub.com.au ASST ED: Good points Hutch.

Except; Winfield is a brand name of Rothmans which is a multi-national with headquarters in South African. Winfield is now sold in 13 countries in Europe and Asia, and is about as Australian as Paul Hogan’s facelift.

Unless we are mistaken Dear Sir, In your article on Mark Webber you say that he was living in Attleborough near Silverstone. Well, unless the town has moved west about 50 miles it should read ‘near Snetterton’.

Actually Attleborough is famous in motor racing temis as it has been the temporary home of many an aspiring young racer since the days of Emerson Fittipaldi.

The other interesting comment

e :9

You have hit the nail on the head with your editorial comments regarding the cuiTent divisions in our sport.

I believe we will have to suffer at least another year of the same before any resolution would be possi ble because (1) The 5-litre crew are the mercy of Tony Cochrane arid Co. and it will take at least that long for them to complete their exploitation and move on to something else and (2) There must be a limit to how much more money TOGA can throw at the 2-litres to try'to gain public acceptance, Unfortunately, their attempt to carbon-copy the successful British programme, where the motoring public have a natural affinity with the cars being raced, is lost here with our long-standing Ford v.

Holden mentality still prevaihng.

The 2-litre racing is superb, but is in desperate need of developing a stronger local identity. Some positive factory involvement by Ford Australia and GMHA, and the participation of some ‘name’ drivers would be a start, Also, same day TV coverage would be much preferred to the sanitised package now being shown a week later when everyone knows the result.

In the meantime, we -will continue to have two Bathursts, still too close to be practical; Victoria getting four ATCC rounds to NS'W’s one to satisfy someone’s personal anti-ARDC vendetta; and even without a Peter Brock farewell tour, I confidently predict we will be told of ‘record’ crowd attendances ever3fwhere the V8s appear this year'.

Just as well we still love om’ sport.

Henry James Southport Qld

By Barry Fotey

Jim Richards

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The view from second place.

Get used to it.

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