Motorsport News Issue 130 - 3-16 July 1998 by V8 Sleuth

U)u4/lVave the flag at Bathurst Issue 130

$4.20

(NZ$5.95incl GST)

NEWS

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Falcon, which is scheduled to debut next year. With Holden's all-new VT now on track, atten tion will swing to the rac ing version of the new Falcon. The road car is to be unveiled in October, while current planning is for a

iusfrSioTOy Bernle Walsh

Sleek look for new AU Falcon THE major Ford V8 Supercar teams are already working on the all-new AU

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January 1 homologation for the new racing Falcon. In order to achieve this, all four of Ford's Level 1 teams already have AU shells in their workshops. Security is tight and all have had to sign confidentiahty documents in order to keep the cars "under cover" until the road car is released. However, early spy shots of the Falcon and Continued Page 3

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3July 1998

Lowndes and Ingall forced to race VTs CRAIG

Lowndes

and

Russell IngaU wiE fight out the 1998 Shell ATCC in their respective teams’ new VT Commodores. An appeal by Holden’s John Stevenson to reverse the require ment that each team’s leading points scorer drive the all-new car at the Hidden Valley and Oran Park Shell Series deciders was rejected by the TEGA Board this week. The appeal was based on the late completion of the cars, the lack of testing and development, and the fact that a drivers championship could well be decided by the respec tive team’s ability to get their new car working. However, the TEGA Board voted 3-1 for the status quo, thus remov-. ing the need for CAMS to reconsid er the case. Both Mobil HRT and Castrol Perkins teams are naturally annoyed at the outcome, but will now work feverishly to give their respective didvers the best shot. “We’ll have to make do,” HRT spokesman Haul Wiesel said. “It means we’ll have to do some more track testing before the truck leaves for Darwin next Friday. “It’s a pity the drivers’ champi-

Duga! set for Perkins tourer FORMULA Ford con tender Dugal McDougall will move into V8

Backing for the car is expected to come from McDougall’s current spon sors, primarily Aloe Quench. - CHRIS LAMBDEN

n V8 Supercar driver Bob Pearson is expected to be released from hospital later this week,Pearson suffered a fractm-ed skull when his Pro-Duct Commodore hit the overpass bridge exiting turn two at Oran Park during private testing just over two weeks ago. The Commodore hit the bridge dri ver’s side on. Fortunately, Bob is expected to suffer no permanent damage from the accident. n Portman Racing, which runs in the British F3 Championship, is said to be ranning an Arrows junior team for the next five years. The team will move into Formula 3000 next season and will run in the same basic colour scheme as the FI cars.

MID-FIELD BATTLERS... Greg Murphy and Larry Perkins debut the VTs at Calder Park. (Photo by Dirk Kiynsmith) onship could come down to a techni cal championship. “Our view all along has been that the two top drivers should fight it out in their regular, developed race cars, but that’s not the way it’s going to be.

“The biggest problem is still a as a fully ready race car,” he said lack of spares if our car has a sub / on Tuesday. stantial accident...” “It’s not the decision we wanted, but we always follow the rules. All I Larry Perkins concurred: “We’ve got a massive amount of ask is that all the others do the work ahead of us to make sure we same ...” he concluded provocatively, -/CHRIS LAMBDEN have enough spares to mn the VT /

BAR'S dull engine deal

BRITISH

American use will Racing Sport Supertec (Mecachrome/ Renault) VIO engines in 1999 and 2000. But the news comes

had been promising to surprise the FI world with a new factorybacked engine. There have been

NO CHANGE... Benetton continues with the ex-Renault units. (Photo by Mark Thompson/AUsport)

promote the idea that

Benetton to follow suit

there will be “a new generation” of engines developed for 1999 and 2000 but insiders at

-piqg Benetton team is expected to announce shortly that it will be using Mecachrome V10 engines

to be actively looking for a new engine supplier for the 2000 season with a deal expected to be made with a

Renault Sport say that this is a pipe dream and that the engines will be fundamentally the same as those used

again in 1999, although it is expected that these will continue to be badged as Playlife VI Os and not called Supertec Sport VI Os. Sauber is also expected to use the French engines, which are likely to be as Sauber badged Petronas VIOs. Benetton is understood I

major manufacturer within the next couple of months, The signing of four teams will mean the need for major expansion at Mecachrome. The engines supplied via Supertec Sport are believed to be costing around 30 percent more than those which come directly from Mecachrome

last year by Williams and Benetton. Williams, Benetton, BAR and Sauber are expected to use the engines.

n Tony Cochrane has announced he is stepping down as chairman of the Gold Coast IndyCar Grand Prix, effective fi-om this year’s race. Cochrane said the reason for standing, down was his growing busiiij'ss, SEL,but one source suggested that it had more to do with Queensland politics and not coincidentally follows the recent state election result. n The St George Kart Centre is sponsoring a perpetual award for the top-placed Formula Ford driver with a pre-1994 car in this yeai’’s national title series. n The Castrol Cougars will be back in action at Sandown and Bathm'st. Regulars Keryn Brewer and Melinda Price will again be at the wheel of a VS Commodore, which team boss Lany Perkins says will be “as competitive as anybody else’s Holden, including our new VT”,

Ford looking to Benetton again?

as a big disappoint ment as the new team

Supercars in 1999 in a third car run out of Larry Perkins’ work shops. strong rumours in The deal was being recent months of deals finalised this week but, Honda and according to Perkins, was' with conditional on a Control Volkswagen but the tyre being introduced reality appears to be throughout the category that the new team has next year. convinced no-one. McDougall joins an everThese engines are increasing list of Formula likely to.be reliable Ford graduates making the but may struggle to switch to the V8 category challenge for victory with some success. next year. Indeed, at one point at BAR was keen to the last SATCC round at Calder, seven of the top 12 runners were former Formula Ford champions or runners-up. “I’ve always said that if you can vrin a Formula Ford championship, then there’s nothing wrong with your driving,” Perkins (a former FF champion himselD said this week.

n Negotiations for a replace ment sponsor for the Australian 1000 Classic continue. TEGA Chairman Garry Craft is hopeful that IMG’s negotiations will be complete in time for an announcement at the pre-event media day at Bathurst on Tuesday, August 4.

(as much as $27 million a year), the extra charge presumably being taken as profit by the mysterious owners of the company, which is managed by former Benetton boss Flavio Briatore. All attempts to establish exactly who owns the new company have failed, although there is much talk in the paddock suggesting that Bernie Ecclestone is somehow involved. - JOE SAWARD

FORD’S situation in Formula 1 remains uncomfortable, although Detroit insiders insist that the company was not taken by surprise when Volkswagen’s Audi bought subsidiary Cosworth. We have heard stories that Audi management has shown little inter est in the sporting side of Cosworth and that the most likely move will be the sale of Cosworth racing to Ford to recoup some of the costs incurred in buying Cosworth, which Volkswagen wishes to use to manu facture engines for Rolls Royce cars. However, Audi is keen to take on Honda and Mercedes-Benz in America and the best way to achieve that would be to enter CART racing with an Audi-badged Cosworth engine, In order to have more control over its projects. Ford is said to be looking for its own team in the year 2000 and we hear may be trying to buy the Benetton team - although the Benetton Family continues to say that the operation is not for sale - and use the massive Enstone facility to build engines as well as chassis. -JOESAWARD t.

4 3Jufyl998

V8s headed for Q Control tyres By CHRIS LAMBDEN

A CONTROL tyre for V8 Supercar racing comes closer this week, with the expected rejection of TEGA’s latest proposal to the tyre companies. The V8 group has proposed a quasi-control tyre deal for 1999, whereby each tyre com pany undertakes to supply a single compound/construction homologated tyre for to up to 20 cars per meetifig. The complex proposal, which would allow contracted

FOYT ON CHEATING ... "As long as you don't get caught, who cares?’ (Photo by Allsport)

ft a«used eating

JOHN Menard, the Indy Racing League team owner for drivers Tony Stewart and Robbie Buhl, has accused fellow oviuier A.J. Foyt of cheating. As a protest, Menard will not enter Buhl in the next two races on the IRL schedule - at Dover on July 19 and Charlotte Motor Speedway on July 25. “I dec.'ded to do it after the last lap of qualifying for this race,” Menard said, refen’ing to Billy Boat’s pole-winning lap for Sunday’s New England 200 IRL race, which was won by Stewart. “I’m leaving Robbie at home for the next two races to call attention to the fact the mles enforcement in this series isn’t what it should be. “Robbie doesn’t like this, and I feel I’m penalising him, but somebody has to call attention to the fact the IRL isn’t enforcing the rules fairly. Boat’s second qualification lap was four miles per hour faster than his first, which led many in the garage to believe something sneaky was going on. “You don’t pick up four miles per horn- in one lap in a qualifying session, be it here. Indy, Texas or at Phoenix,” Menard said. ‘Wou just don’t do that. “If you interview any mechanic in the garage, they will tell you the same thing.” Menard said the IRL would not give trap speeds to the other teams during quali fying. “The trap speeds would absolutely prove what is going on,” Menard said. “Nitrous Oxide is the most lo^cal thing a team would use to get that type of result in a surge of speed.” Menard has hinted that he

is ready to cut back on his involvement in the IRL, or completely leave the series. I think we ought to go where the playing field is more level,” Menard said. “Maybe there is another series that enforces the rules more evenly.” : IRL executive director Leo Mehl declined to comment on Menard’s charges. “I’m not going to dignify that statement with a response,” Mehl said. Buhl said he was unhappy at sitting out two races, but said it was the team owner’s pi'erogative. “I’m just the driver. I’m the loser in this,” he said. Several racers were sur prised at.Menard’s move, including two-time Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk. “If you take your own car out, aren’t you punishing yourself?” Luyendyk said. “If you think another team is cheating, and you do this, that is punishing yourself extra.” When asked if he suspect ed the rules weren’t being enforced equally, Luyendyk said, “Sometimes.” Foyt confronted Menard in the garage area before Sunday’s race to discuss the charges of cheating that were directed at him. Foyt said tyres made the difference in Boat’s two qual ifying laps, because he used scuffed tyres and Boat warmed them up before his 3! second lap. “They damn sure enforce the mles on us,” he said. But Foyt added that he believes stretching the rules to the limit is all part of racmg. “I’ve been accused of cheat ing my whole life,” Foyt said. “As long as you don’t get caught, who cares?”

teams to use another brand if their own was inferior, re homologation by the “worst” of the three tyre companies and even tyre “parity” meet ings, has been discussed by all three current tyre suppliers. However, it was set to be rejected when the companies made their formal response today (Thursday). TEGA’s documentation to

the tyre companies main tained that the only alterna tive to such a set-up for 1999 would be a single Control

tyre. I Based on the tyre compa nies’ responses, this now looks inevitable. As one tyre representative told Motorsport News: “These guys want their cake and eat it too. “On one hand they want a Control tyre, but they still want us to pay them to use our tyres, and then the free dom to race on someone else’s if they want to! “At the end of the day there are two solutions. “If they want us (the tyre

companies) to compete against each other, then fine, let’s do it, open slather. Otherwise it’s a Control tyre and, fi-ankly, that’s where it’s headed.” A Control tyre decision would lead to a tender process, with likely con tenders being Dunlop and Yokohama.

Bridgestone’s Graeme Brown was uncertain whether his company could tender, solely due to its capacity to pi'oduce the num bers of tyres required.

Edwards gets Bud deal

FORMULA Holden racer Darren Edwards will race with Budweiser sponsor ship next year. The Adelaide-based dri ver has concluded a deal with Budweiser Australia for the Formula Holden finale at Oran Park and expects to field an aU-new car under Bud Racing Australia colours in 1999.

"It's gre^t news for us," Edwards said this week. 'Eor the first time, we'll be able to run a car as it should be and we'll be aim ing for the title." Edwards expects to acquire a fresh 94D Reynard for the campaign and is suggesting the deal may also encompass a Bathui-st V8 effort. "We're talking in some detail after Oran Park," he said this week, "and so we'll know a lot more then." -CHRIS LAMBDEN

BEER AND SKITTLES... Edwards, here with a little Budweiser identification, will carry the American beer company's colours fully next year. (Photo by Dirk Kiynsmith)

McLaren suspension secret By JOE SAWARD

appear to be the same as his design although McLaren is so protective of FURTHER investigation into the the system that it is difficult to know contractive suspension - the sys exactly what is involved. tem which we believe McLaren is Our sources, however, suggest that using to gain an advantage over similar systems are to be found on the the opposition this season - McLaren FI cars and on the Mercedesreveals that a similar system has Benz GT sportscars. been patented and trademarked Contractive suspension is a revolu by a French company called SA tionary concept which is claimed to be Mauro Bianchi. dramatically more efficient than tradi Motor racing historians will remem tional linear and variable rate suspen ber that Bianchi is one of two Belgian sions. brothers who raced with some success These systems are, in effect, a com in the 1960s, although his late broth promise between the need to absorb er, Grand Prix driver Lucien Bianchi - vertical shocks and to avoid pitch and who was killed in 1969 while testing roll movement. an Alfa Romeo sportscar at Le Mans The best compromise has tradition is better-known. ally been spring/damper units which Mauro’s career was ,,cut short by a are linked side-to-side by anti-roll dreadful accident at Le Mans in 1968 bars. when he suffered serious burns but The new contractive suspension does recovered to start up an engineering away with the need for anti-roll bars business, specialising in advanced sus-' as it separates the compression of a pension designs. spring from the rebound, making each Bianchi has been involved in wheel more independent. research with McLaren in recent The rebound is made less dramatic years, although the current suspen by the use of a second spring which is sion being used by the team does not used in opposition to the main one.

The compression travel uses only the main spring stiffness, while rebound travel uses the sum of the stiffness of the two springs, which means that the rebound is around three times stiffer. In practical terms this means that the cars ride bumps in a much more stable fashion, which in turn increases the efficiency of the car to give better braking, better exploitation of the tyi'es and improved traction over bumps. It also lowers the centre of gravity under lateral and longitudinal acceler ation. The system can be modified to suit different surfaces by changes to the static position of the car with different spring combinations. We believe that rival teams are already working on such systems, although the fact that the McLaren system has been so easy to hide has made it very difficult for rivals to get a clear picture of how the systems work. McLaren has complained several times to other teams, having found spies inside its garage, trying to spot the secret of the suspension.

3JufyW98

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V8 enduro for Willowbank QUEENSLAND’S newest race track - at Willowbank south of Brisbane - is pitching for a V8 long distance race in 1999. The circuit’s promoters are talking with spon sors about a 500km race and have the tacit approval of V8 group TEGA for the venture providing the appropri ate funding is put in

place, of course. Construction of the new circuit, operated by Motorsport Queensland, is due to get underway very shortly after a late hitch involving the adja cent mining company has been overcome. Concerns about possi ble flooding of the mine as a result of the con struction works at the track site led to the min ing group taking an

injunction to halt work. Those fears have now been allayed and Motorsport Queensland has agreed to take out insurance to cover the possibility. Half the site is already cleared and work on the balance will start any day, upon the lifting of the injunction. The circuit, which already has an SATCC contract, is expected to

be completed in April TEGA Chairman Garry and will host a Shell Craft confirmed his round soon after. group’s interest: The long distance race “Are we open for would be held later in offers? - yes,” he said on the year. Tuesday. U “We’re talking to sponIt would be a good sors and the response is thing for the category optimistic,” MQ and the circuit. Chairman Dennis Brown “We’ve run too long confirmed this week. with the same old stuff, “The pit design was in terms of events. It’s modified late in the i nice to see new venues process and will now and promoters having a accommodate 50 cars.” look at new things.

Brock rejects comeback rumours BACK IN ACTION... Former production car ace Ken Douglas tries the Falcon out at Calder.

(Photo by Richard Farrar)

Moffat Falcon back with Port Power

THE swelling entry for this year’s being a lack of straight-line speed, the Australian 1000 Classic at Bathurst team will be helped by Stone Brothers has been further boosted by the Racing in the engine department, announcement of another car to tack “We really appreciate what they are doing for us ... I’ve always had a le the Privateer’s category. South Australian Appendix J driver great relationship with Ross, Jim, and Alan Heath has bought the ex-Allan Campbell Little, and we thank them Moffat Cenovis Ford Falcon from the very much,” said Robinson this week, four-time Bathurst 1000 winner and Sources suggest that up to five will race the car with current Formula Falcon privateer teams have Ford driver Ken Douglas at the approached the Gold Coast-based Mountain in November. team to perform the same task. The new owner and Douglas drove An interesting aspect of the new team is that Heath is believed to have the car at Calder Park last weekend secured some sort of promotional and, despite running the car as it had deal with Port Power, the Adelaide- finished Bathurst with 1996 tyres and wrong cambers. Heath, according to based AFL team. Robinson, was “quite impressive”. The operation will be based out of Allan Moffat also drove the car Ballarat and the team managed by* Ted Robinson of Robinson Racing briefly, but is not considering any comebacks... Developments. While other teams see the Robinson will also prepare the car, which last turned a racing wheel at Sandown 500 as a necessary part of the 1996 Bathurst 1000, finishing their preparation, the Robinson team is fully focused on Bathurst and will tenth in the hands of Douglas and Klaus Niedzwiedz. skip the traditional V8 Bathurst cur tain-raiser in favour of further testing To overcome one of the car’s main disadvantages in its last outing, that

and development.

“The intentiqn is to rejine, develop and perfect both the car and drivers for Bathurst,” Robinson said. Moffat will still have an involvement with the team, but will “be in the back ground in an advisory capacity". Throughout its racing life, the car has retained its EB specifications, but will be upgraded to an EL model in the near future. Currently the car weighs in at approximately 1390 kilograms so the re-skin will allow the car to get nearer to the 1350kg class minimum weight. Heath is a long-time Appendix J driver and has strong form in Appendix J races at Bathurst in previ ous years in a Ford Mustang. The 39-year-old has been a regular top five finisher in quality fields in the class. Douglas, meanwhile, currently competes in a Spectrum in the nation al Formula Ford series and has won the production car class with Kent Youlden in a Falcon at the 1992 Sandown 500. - AARON NOONAN

Indianapolis waits on GP

INDIANAPOLIS Motor Speedway is still waiting to hear from Bernie Ecclestone about a Grand Prix at The Brickyard in the year 2000. All the signs are that if the

money is right Ecclestone will jump at the chance to get a race at one of the most famous tracks in the world. For years Ecclestone has been saying that he would like FI to take place at

Monaco, Indianapolis and Le Mans - the three most famous race tracks in the world - and it is unlikely that he will let the Indianapolis opportunity slip by.

If there is an agreement we would expect the event to be known as the Indianapolis Grand Prix, leaving the opportunity for a United States GP to be held elsewhere.

PETER Brock has dis missed suggestions that he would return to race driving later this year. The retired legend admits bfe has been asked “what it would take” to get back behind the wheel, but had no intention of changing his mind. The most recent rumours had him taking in a couple of rounds of the British Touring Car Championship prior to the Bathurst 1000 - possibly along with Nigel Mansell. “There have been all sorts of suggestions,” he said this week, “but none that I have considered for even a moment. “I don’t mind doing some fun events, but it is time to let someone else have a go.” - DAVID HASSALL

Dick has operation

DICK Johnson had more than a damaged nose on his Shell Helix Falcon to worry about post-Calder. The Queenslander was admitted to a Brisbane hos pital the day after hostilities at the Melbourne circuit for some repair work on his own proboscus. The operation, which repaired a sinus problem Johnson has suffered for some time, was originally meant to sideline the veteran for only a couple of days. But, following a few days at home when the pain got no better, the 53-year-old was readmitted for a follow-up last Thursday. The unsche duled pitstop meant that Johnson had to miss several promotional appointments while he recuperated. - PHIL BRANAGAN

n RalfSchumacher has been linked to a drive at Sauber next.year and to talks with Frost Grand Prix. n Damon Hill may go to British American Racing if it cannot sign Jacques Villeneuve. We have also heard the name Jeff Gordon being linked to a possible drive with BAR. A Hill-Gordon pairing would make a lot of sense with a team that is named British American. n With Goodyear con tinuing to pursue its plans to withdraw from FI at the end of the year, Michelin’s sporting boss Pierre Dupasquier is pushing hard to convince the French tyremaker to leap into Grand Prix rac ing with Williams and Ferrari. Dupasquier had meetings with both Ferrari and Williams at Magny-Cours to discuss the possibilities. n Nissan has terminat ed its sporting progi'am with Tom Walkinshaw Racing after failingio win the Le Mans 24 Hours this year. The Japanese manufacturer is restruc turing in Japan and so is unlikely to be involved in any FI progi-am with Walkinshaw, as has been suggested. n There have been rumours in recent weeks of continuing contacts between McLaren and CART racer Greg Moore, who is a Mei'cedes con tracted driver. A number of FI teams are currently tiying to sign up North American drivers so that they will be ready when FI is relaunched in the United States in the year 2000. n Sylvester Stallone has given up the idea of having some of the Foi-mulaT teams under writing his FI film because the teams were unable to agree on per centages. Stallone is understood to be close to finalising the funding for the movie from Hollywood. n The German govern ment has announced that it intends to challenge the European Union ban on tobacco advertising, which formally became law last week. The Germans are arguing that the,regula tions are illegal because they relate to health mat ters which should be decided by individual states. n Philippe Streiffs Elf Master Karting competi tion will be held this year as usual at the Bercy Exhibition Centre in Paris over the weekend of November 28-29. Streiff hopes that all the top FI drivers will take part in the event along with some of the top CART stars. -JOESAWARD

3Jufyim

n David Coulthard is threatening to quit the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association because he feels that others drivers are not showing any signs of trying to work out a code of driving conduct to avoid questionable incidents such as the crash between Michael Schumacher and Heinz-Harald Frentzen in Canada- Coulthard believes that action is necessary before someone is hurt. y-

n The new Kuala Lumpur International Airport at Sepang,50km south of the Malaysian city, is to open this week. The 22,000-acre site will soon include a race track where the Malaysians hope to host a Grand Prix next sea son. No decision is expected on a Grand Prix until after the country hosts the Commonwealth Games in September. If that is a suc cess and the track is fin ished a race should go ahead. n The 'TV rights to FI in China, India, Russia and most of Asia (with the exception of Japan) have been sold to a FrenchCanadian company called PPGI, which is understood to be closely related to British American Tobacco. The company has also secured the TV rights for the World Rally Championship in the same region. S Air Canada has con firmed it will sponsor the Canadian GP for the next five years. The airline will replace cigarette manufac turer Players, which has agreed to end its title spon sorship early because of anti- tobacco legislation in Canada. B Work has just begun on the construction of a vast 800-acre motorsports facili ty at Lausitz, between Dresden and Leipzig in the old East Germany. The aim is to have a 2.7-mile road course and a two-mile oval. and a secondaiy three-quar ter mile oval. We under stand that both NASCAR and IRL are interested in the new facility.

n As we predicted in April, the FIA is planning to move its headquarters from Paris, France to Geneva, Switzerland. A move to Switzerland would take the FIA out of the jurisdiction of the European Commission with which it is currently in dispute over attacks by the Competition Commissioner over how the sport is run. n The Extraordinary General Assembly of the FIA in Stockholm has elect ed Marco Piccinini its Deputy President. Piccinini replaces the late Cesar Torres, who died of cancer last year. The 46-year-old Italian is closely associated with Ferrari, having served as the company’s sporting director between 1977 and 1988. n Mika Sale ran into trouble recently with a taxi driver in Helsinki. Sale, a fonner cab driver himself, is reported to have kicked the side of the taxi during a dispute. Sale said that the incident was a “minor mis understanding” and reports of charges being made against him were “out of proportion”. n Damon Hill has joined the crew of Silk Cut, the , British entry in the / Whitbread Round the ! World Yacht race, in a race around the Isle of Wight. Silk Cut is a sister ciga rette brand to Eddie Jordan’s team’s sponsor, Benson & Hedges. n Jackie Stewart has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Cranfield University. The engineer ing school is one of Britain’s top establish ments for automotive engi neers. n The FLA has confirmed that the Automovel Club de Portugal will no longer be responsible for motor sport activities in that country. A new organisation called the Federacao Portuguese de Automobilismo e Karting has been given control of events. -JOE SAWARD

Webber and

Dixon - now what? WITH the 1998 Australian Formula Holden Gold Star Championship now won, Scott Dixon and his back ers met in Auckland last Tuesday to plan the next step in the young man’s career. Initial plans to contest the last three rounds of this year’s Barber Dodge series in the US have been replaced by a more measured approach to, most likely. Indy Lights next year. “Some of them (the back ers) are talking IndyCars right now,” a remarkably calm Dixon told Motorsport News, “but, to be honest, that’s too big a jump. Indy Lights is the realistic option.” “We’ll do the final round at Oran Park and then we’ll be going to the States to see what sort of deal we can do for Indy Lights and arrange some testing.”

With the championship now added to his resume, Dixon’s support consortium is now stepping up its US mar keting push. “At the end of the day, probably 80% of the Lights budget will come from US companies,” Dixon said. “There’s a great deal of sup port here, but NZ is a small country and there’s a limit on the dollars that can be raised here. “The fall in the (NZ) dollar against the US dollai’ doesn’t help much either!” Dixon hopes to contest the two round Formula Holden series in NZ in late November ifit comes to fhiition: “It’d be good for my support group here for me to race here,” he said, “especially if the New Zealand Grand Prix is up for grabs. That’d be a good one to win...” - CHRIS LAMBDEN

MoMOC

US BOUND?... Scott Dixon could be heading for IndyLights.

IT was a great day for the Aussies in the third round of the FIA GT at Championship Hockenheim. With the disappointment of Le Mans behind him, Mark Webber, along with German Bernd Schneider, hit back in the best way possible with a win, to cement their lead in the series. They led a MercedesBenz 1-2 and, better still for Australia, best of the rest was the works Panoz GTR shared by David

Brabham and Eric Bernard. The victory was the first for the new Mercedes CLK LM car and the second of the season for the duo who also took the honours at Silverstone. Their championship lead has been extended to five points over team-mates Klaus Ludwig and Ricardo Zonta. Schneider, starting from pole, powered away into the lead, and set a blistering opening pace, setting the race’s fastest lap on lap six as he opened

(Photo by Dirk Klynsmilh)

NZ BMW drive for Geoff Brabham GEOFF Brabham will return to the BMW fold in three race appearances in September and October - in New Zealand. Brabham will join BMW NZ’s official team which competes in the local Winter touring car series for Schedule S cars. “I know very little about the cars I will be racing,” he said this week. “I know that they are like a Super Touring car but have less power.

“I won’t have any testing before the races. I’ll just line up in the car and see iiow I go.” The move will reunite Brabham with Lyall Williamson, the former BMW Motorsport Australia team manager who oversaw the Bathurst winning effort for Brabham and his brother David last October. But the three races in New Zealand two at Pukekohe and one and Taupo - do

not indicate that Brabham will defend his Bathurst win with the German mar que. Brabham is talking to several teams and expects it to be some time before confirmation of an assault on the Great Race. “I’m looking for the right deal that will allow me to run competitively in that race. I don’t want to go there just for the sake ofit.” -PHILBRANAGAN

1999 Targa Tasmania Class Winner? 72 LJ XUl Torana- Genuine Special Vehicle BODY ROLLING l In .storage for 17 years (currently imregLsterecl), 1 previous owner l Original delivery dociimenlation/h:indlK)ok/tag,s l .Superl') full tmiring car cage l Original trim (needs race seat/carpet liits'n’pieces) l Ail suspension rose joimed/adjusttible l 10 bolt LSD/di.sc lirake rear end l Adjustable watts linkage l Alloy drop lank l Oil cooler l Front spoiler with undertrrty/lrrake ducts l Bilslein shocks l Twin 3" pipes or 2 1/2" side pipe l Originally dark metallic grey (needs respray) l 13 .X 7, 14 X 8 Hotwires l Heaps of bils’n'piecc.s/sp;ire

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AN enthusiastic Victorian police officer will have less-than-fond memories of Sandown. The officer faces a heavy repair bill after shunting his Commodore police car after a ISOkmh plus jaunt around the track during a HDT-HSV owners’ day. The officer took to the track around 4:30pm, after the track had officially closed for the day. “The behaviour is not what is expected from a member of the force, ” said Police spokesman Chief Supt David Triplow.

3July 1998

Schneider take Hockenheim m.

X / / ‘ '● r.

a 16 second gap over Ludwig. The reigning champ pitted on lap 25 for fuel only and then on lap 50 to hand over to Webber. Webber then drove trou ble free to the end of the 500km journey, taking the chequered flag 72 seconds ahead of Zonta. “Bernd drove a fantastic race and made it very easy for me,” said a delighted Webber afterwards. “I just had to keep my concentra tion level up and bring the car home.” Once agdin Webber was

the fastest car on the track during his stint, setting the third fastest time of the race overall behind Schneider and Ludwig. Brabham qualified sev enth after a propshaft fail ure during the afternoon qualifying session, not allowing them to improve on their first session time. Despite this setback, Bernard made quick progress at the start of the race, passing both factory Porsches in the first lap and became involved in a four car dice for fourth place.

Brabham took over on the first pit stop on lap 23, and handed back to Bernard on lap 45, who snatched third place from the Gounon Mercedes while it was in the pits just four laps from the finish. “We were quick straight away this weekend and the result proves our pace is no fluke,” said Brabham. Webber and Schneider now are in equal first place in the championship, hold ing a five point advantage over team-mates Ludwig and Zonta. Dijon, France is

( I

A WEEK earlier, Brabham’s co-driver Andy .Wallace was involved in a collision in the Professional Sports Car Series at Road Atlanta with another car, ending the duo’s winning streak. The Panoz was too badly damaged to continue, leav ing Wallace out of the event, while Brabham transferred to the team’s third car. Luck wasn’t on their side however - gear box problems forced the car to retire on lap 99. '

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n Peter Hills mentioned at Lakeside that he was likely to ‘Castrol Cougai-’ his second Ford Mondeo at Bathurst. Budget permit ting, the likely drivers are Jenni Thomson, who drove the car last year, and Paula Elstrek. n Michelin Man Trevor Sheumack flew to Em-ope straight after Lakeside to assist with the planning for the French company’s Bathurst 1000 effort.^ n Recently sighted at Morwell’s hillclimb was a new Australian-built Fomula Ford. Bniin Beasley and his father Peter have been working on their Minda car- from some time and are now testing the sleek chassis.

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n David Bruce won the latest round ofthe Victorian Fomula Two championship at Philhp Island The Geelong driver qualified on pole in the wet and had to come from behind to win both races in tough conditions. The next race is at Winton in August.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD... Mark Webber and Bernd Schneider are the class of the field in the FIA GT Championship, their Le Mans result notwithstanding. At the third round of the series - the first championship appearance of the new V8-engined CLK GTR ‘LM’ - they ran away to a 72s win. Above, they celebrate on the podium. Apparently the two are shamelessly planning more mutual public showering later this season...

the next venue on the FIA GT calendar, on July 12.

n Rumour ofthe week; that track renovations to the pit lane at Wakefield Park have been approved to allow the Goulbum cir cuit to meet the require ment to hold a round ofthe 1998 BOC Gases Super Toming Championship. If it happens,the roxmd would replace the usual Amaroo Park date.

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3Julyim

Honda hits winning note

JAMES Thompson scoi-ed his and Honda’s first 1998 British Touring Car Championship win, scor ing a pole-position-to-che quered- flag victory in the Sprint Race at Croft. In the Feature Race, series leader Rickard Rydell claimed a well-gudged victory for Volvo, extending,his overall championship lead to 42 points, with AJain Menu and Anthony Reid Ms closest chal lengers. Thompson’s Sprint Race victory was one of the narrow est of the season so far, his winning margin over the Nissan of Reid just 1.27s. Though the Honda man led all the way from pole position, Reid and, for a brief spell, Rydell filled his mirrors throughout. Thompson made a superb getaway from the grid to open a healthy first-lap lead over Reid, Rydell, the Ilonda ofthe fast-starting Peter Kox and the Renault of reigning cham pion Menu. Menu, making up for the disadvantage of a fourth-row gidd slot, made an ambitious overtaking manoeuvre on Kox on lap two, succeeding only in knocking the Dutchman down to seventh and offering Yvan Muller the opportunity to seize fourth in his Audi. Menu made it past the French ace next time around.

The reigning champion could do little about Thomp son or Reid, howev er, and satisfied himself with third at the flag, ahead of Rydell, Muller and Cleland’s John Vauxhall. Independent vic tor was Matt Neal, 12th overall in his Nissan. An early casualty was the second Nissan of David Leslie, which fell foul of the firstlap jostle and slid into the gravel at Clervaux. Leslie more than made up for his Sprint Race disap pointment with a storming start to the Feature Race from pole position, beating Rydell and his Volvo team Gianni mate Morbidelli to the first comer, with the Hondas of Thompson and Kox in close attendance. Reid held sixth and soon found his way past Kox to break into the top five, dis placing Thompson from fourth four laps later. Thompson was the first of the front-runners to make their mandatory stops, diving for the pits on the ninth dap

HARD MEN... Rickard Rydell and David Leslie are prov ing to be two of the men to beat in the BTCC. At the half-way mark in the series the Swede leads by two races'points. (Photo by Bothwell Photographic)

and regaining his position ahead of Reid when the latter stopped a lap later. Leader Leslie - by now 2.5 seconds in front of Rydell made his stop on lap 13, handing the lead to Rydell for two laps before Morbidelli and Will Hoy (Ford) took their turns in front. But although Leslie was returned to the track by the Nissan team just in front of Rydell,

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British Touring Car Championship; Croft 28 June 1998 Round 14 30 laps Round 13 15laps 1 Jame? Thompson GB Honda Accord 21 m 01.8486 1 Rydell 42m 30.7656 2 Anthony Reid GB Nissan Primera +1.2766 2 David Leslie +2.4056 +3.1 566 3 Alain Menu SWI Renault Laguna +2.8466 3 Reid +5.1786 4 Menu +3.7556 4 Rickard Rydell SWE Volvo S40 FRA Audi A4 5 Wan Muller +7.6936 5 Thompson +8.5786 +7.9496 6 Plato +14.3886 GB Vauxhall Vectra 6 John Cleland +8.8036 7 Morbidelli +18.8146 HOL Honda Accord 7 Peter Kox 8 Jason Plato GB Renault Uguna +9.1 536 8 Cleland +20.5806 9 Derek Wanvick GB Vauxhall vectra +13.2976 9 Will Hoy +20.5816 +13.988S .10 Muller +24.8866 10 Gianni Morbidelli ITA Volvo S40 Fastest lap; Leslie. 1m 22.624s. Championship positions; Rydell 145, Menu 103, Reid 102,Thompson,98 Cleland 96,Plato 92.

Morris, Murphy for Bathurst Vectra? By PHIL BRANAGAN

1 1996(GSR 6)3rd SATCC$100,000 1997(GSR 7)1st SATCC $140,000 Both these cars are for sale ready to race with spares if required Both cars upgraded to June '98 EL (2) homologated aero package All running gear bolts into the new 1999 model Falcon race shell Harrop brakes front & rear Proflex shocks GSR spec engines Diff & gearbox coolers Speedline wheels 6-speed Holinger gearbox GSR 7 has Internal sway bay adjusters GSR 7 has pi system club 3 , GSR 6 has pi system 2 For enquiries phone Noel Watson on 03 9706 8901

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Ms advantage was much reduced and the Swede lost no time in attacking. As they entered the Hairpin on lap 17 Rydell nipped inside the Nissan. His car’s suspen sion settings knocked slightly out of kilter by the collision, Reid was powerless to stop the Volvo pulling out a size able lead. Rydell’s victo ry was Ms fourth of the season so far; his winmng margin 2.4 seconds. Thompson lost third place six laps from home when the Honda man locked his brakes entering the Complex, allowing Reid and Menu through for third and fourth places respectively. Thompson held on to fifth ahead ofPlato. Neal took Independent honours once again, but only after having to fight back from a botched pit stop, and overhaul the Honda of Robb Gravett on the last lap.

DOUBLE Super Touring Champion Paul Morris and HRT’s Greg Murphy could race a Holden Vectra in the Bathurst 1000 in October. ! Triple 8 Engineering, Vauxhall’s British Touring Car works team, is close to finalising its AMP 1000 pro gram, and Morris and Murphy are in contention to drive a second car, if the team brings one. What is certain is that one Vectra will head south for the race, along with regu lar BTCC drivers John Cleland and Derek Warwick. But the decision to bring a second car is yet to be made and may depend of the level

they received last season. Because of this support the car (or cars) will be badged ‘Holden’, not Vauxhall or Opel. While Morris appears something of a surprise choice for the team, having little or no front-wheeldrive experience, he deeply impressed the European teams last October by qualifying on pole position and winning the race on the road in his BMW before it was excluded for a driving time limit infringe ment. VECTRA BOUND?... Greg Murphy. On the other hand 1996 of support the team receives race winner Murphy has fi’om Holden. FWD experience at Bathm'st (in 1994, with James Kaye in The team has already indi cated that they will receive a a Toyota Carina) and is very gi-eater level of support than MgMy rated by the team.

Christian Jones’ UK trip By EDWARD KRAUSE CHRISTIAN Jones, winner of the Formula Ford round at Calder, left for England earlier this week to see exFormula One driver Jonathan Palmer about running the Formula Palmer-Audi category in the UK next year. Jones is also investigating the Formula Renault and Formula 3 categories but said that, at the moment, the Palmer-Audi series is the most attractive option. “The Palmer category would cost less than half of what an F3 season would cost, it’s clos er to a Formula Ford budget,” Jones said on Sunday night.

“In F3 you need the best of everything, whereas in Palmer it’s all even, so you know that if you win its because you’re steering the tMng right”. TMs trip is just to talk to various teams and people to let them know he’s interested, with the possibility of a return trip later in the yeai- to test. Financially, Jones says OAMPS has indi cated that it is 100 percent behind Mm and, if the right budget can be found, he would hke to do F3. On the mmom’S that he would be partner ing his father at Bathurst, Jones said, “I’ve read that I’m supposed to be driving with dad, but he hasn’t mentioned it to me yet”.

MARCOS Ambrose’s challenge on the British Formula Ford Championship is looking up, the Tasmanian finishing second in the latest round of the series at Croft on the weekend. He scored pole position for the race by 0.3s and was looking good for his maiden win in the series until gearbox problems slowed his progress. “As I selected third gear the gearbox became jammed, I thought the race was over and I started to pull aside then in the nick of time I was able to free the geai'S and continue.” said Ambrose, who powered back from sixth place to finisher runner-up to team mate Daniel Wheldon. Ambrose now sits in fourth position in the title chase, just four points down on third place man Nicholas Kiesa, but with quite a deficit to Derek Hayes and Jenson Button who are first and second respectively. The next round of the series, round eight, win be held at Snetterton in late July. IT’S been a tough time for Stephen White in the Formula Palmer Audi series. At romids fom' and five at Brands Hatch, White experienced many engine dramas. His oil pressure dropped to zero in round four on the Saturday, forcing him into retfrement after just two laps, while in the Sunday race, which used a rolling start. White managed 14th after experiencing a damaged front wing in the first start. Overall White’s car chewed its way through three engines, two rebuilt turbos and two ECUs.

mbrose hits form

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SINGING IN THE RAIN... Marcos Ambrose had his best run yet in British Formula Ford. The Tasmanian qualified on pole at Croft and finished second to his team-mate.(Photo by Bothweii Photographic) f

chances of winning his sixth race of the sedson. At the restart his Van

had Diemen, which picked up some dirt on its tyres while running slowly, skated off the road and hit tyres and it took some time before he could resume'- missing almost all of his front wing. Despite the lack of downforce he made spec-

los fai for Jan at Stewart GP

ished third.

He seems to have won the Stewart drive as a result of impressive feedback during BH testing and there is no question n that he is a fast driverS| although he has had trouble ^ shaking offthe reputation of being a crasher. In France last weekend he qualified just behind BarricheUo and finished the race 35 seconds behind his team leader, an impressive beginning consider ing his lack of race njiles. ' -JOESAWARD

y]i'jJyly/jijyii jyyiJljjjj

to plan early in the race, the Sydney driver pulling out an'almost nine second lead'before an accident prompted a yellow flag, That was to indirectly cause' an end to Besnard’s

: JAN Magnussen has been dropped by Stewart Grand Prix and replaced for the rest ofthe year by Jos Verstappen. Magnussen has been rather a disappointment with the team although he has not always had the same machinery as Rubens BarricheUo and has received lit tle support from Stewart in the last 18 months. Jan is now expected to.try to get a drive in America, where he made an impression in 1996, . driving four races for the Penske team. Verstappen (pictured)has been in FI since 1994, although J he is stiU only 26 years old. He / has competed in 48 Grands Prix £' with Benetton, Simtek, Arrows and Tyn-ell and has twice finn

i J

Besnard crashes in Minneapolis

DAVID Besnard ended liis latest race in the Minneapolis tyres after an eventful round of the US FF2000 championship. The series leader quali fied second after failing to find a clear lap on Saturday but things went

tacular “progress through the field, running second with eight laps to go. But the progress that had been made had taxed Besnard’s Van Diemen’s front brakes and he fell off

12th in the final results, and received points. It, is likely though that the result will not stand until the end of the season; drivers have to drop their worst two results

the road, this time for good. In spite of the DNF, Besnard was classified

and Besnard already had a second to go with his five wins this season.

Bugatti bid by VW

VOLKSWAGEN is trying to buy the rights to the Bugatti name from Italian businessman Italian Romano Artioli, as we predicted a month ago. The move follows VW’s pur chase of Rolls Royce and Lamborghini and may result in the future return of the Bugatti name to FI. Bugatti is one of the most famous names is motor racing history, the French firm having been the dominant force in the sport in the 1920s and early 1930s. In the late 1980s Artioli

bought the Bugatti name and logo to huild a US$500,000 ($770,000) supercar called the EBllO. It is said that Artioli made more money from merchandis ing Bugatti-badged items than he did from the cars and in 1995 the car company hit trou¬

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, ] I

Doohan wins fifth Dutch GP World of Sport

Motor Racing Calendar Shell Australian Touring Car C'ship’* July 19 . ..Hidden Valley ..Rd 9 Aug 2 ... .Oran Park ....Rd 10 10 round sends held around Australia

Slick 50 Formula Ford*

Rd8 Aug 2 ... .Oran Park Eight round series held in Australia

Australian Formula Holden Championship*

June 21 . .Calder Park ... .Rd 4 ,Rd5 Aug 2 ....Oran Park Five race series held in Australia

BOC Gases Super Touring Championship*

Rd6 July 19 ...Mallala ,Rd7 Aug 8 . ...Winton Rd8 Aug 30 ...Amaroo Eight round series held in Australia

Century Batteries GTP Series

Rd6 July 19 . . .Mallala Rd7 Aug 8 . . . .Winton Rd8 Aug 30 ...Amaroo Eight round series held in Australia

FedEx Champ Series* July 12 . . .Cleveland Rd 10 Rd 11 July 19 . . .Toronto Rd 12 July 26 . . .Michigan Rd 13 Aug 9 . . . .Mid-Ohio Aug 16 . . .Elkhart Lake .. .Rd 14 19 race series held In the United States, Australia, Brazil and Japan ja.

Pep_ Boys Indy Racing League

July 19 . . .Dover Downs . ..Rd 6 ,Rd7 July 25 . . .Charlotte ,Rd8 Aug 16 . . .Fountain Rd9 Aug 29 . . .Atlanta . 11 race series held inthe United States

'For«nula 1 World C'ship Rd9 July 12 . . .Britain Rd 10 July 26 . . .Austria Aug 2 .. . .Germany Rd 11 Rd 12 Aug 16 . . .Hungary Rd 13 Aug 30 . . .Belgium 16 race series held around the world

Winston Cup NASCAR

Rd 17 July 4 . . . .Daytona July 12 . ..New Hampshire Rd 18 Rd 19 July 26 . . .Pocono Aug 1 . . . .Indianapolis .. .Rd 20 33 race series held in the United States

NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series

Rd 12 July 19 .. .Denver , Rd 13 July 26 . ..Sonoma Rd 14 Aug 2 . . . .Seattle . Rd 15 Aug 23 . . .Bralnerd 22 race series held in the United States

SOOcc Motorcycle Grand Prix C'ship*

July 5 . . . .Great Britain .. .Rd 8 ,Rd9 July 19 . . .Germany Aug 23 . . .Chez Repub. . .Rd 10 16 round series held around the world

Australian Rally Championship

R July 5 . . . .Hobart I d4 R Aug 30 . ..Melbourne I d 5. 7round series held in Australia

World Rally Championhip*

July 26 . ..New Zealand . . .Rd 9 Rd 10 Aug 21 ....Finland 14 rally series held around the world event dates in this caiendar were correct at the time of printing. Please consult any individual tracks and/or associations lor date changes. Series or events telecast on Network Ten are marked with an aslerix. Check your local guides for screening details.

MICK Doohan’s fifth straight victory in the Dutch 500cc Grand Prix has made him the first three-time winner this season and has rocketed him from fourth to sec ond in the championship. Max Biaggi, second in the Dutch race at the Assen cir cuit, has taken the lead in the championship again, while the previous leader, Spaniard Alex Criville, has dropped to third after his sixth in Holland. Only five points separate the -top trio, while another Spaniard Carlos Checa is within 12 points of leader Biaggi after following up his Madrid GP win two weeks ago with a fifth place at Assen. New Zealander Simon Crafar finished a fine third in Holland after qualifying second to Doohan - his best performances in 500cc rac ing in his debut season on a privateer Yamaha. It was Doohan’s 49th GP win and his 88th podium finish, equalling the topthree finishing record of the legendary Italian Giacomo Agostini. Queenslander Doohan said it was “a really good race - it just went tl>e way I planned it. “About five laps from the end I thought both Max and Simon would come past me because I tipped the bike hard into the first turn, caught my knee slider in the

A HIGHLIGHT of the Dutch event was 15-yearold Italian Marco Melandri (below) win ning the 125cc GP, mak ing him the youngest GP winner in history. Melandri came out on

FIVE DUTCH GPs... Can Doohan make it five straight titles as well?(Photosby RaceAccessj grass and had to sit the bike up a bit?’ Having led a GP for the first time, albeit only briefly, third-placed Crafar said the race had been “really good” for him. “I had really good corner speed, but I just didn’t have such good drive out of the slow turns,” Crafar said. “Mick seemed to be drop ping the pace at one stage and I saw (Brazilian) Alex Barros catching us a bit, so I went past him to try to pick up the pace again. I knew that Mick could get past with the tow, so I didn’t real ly thipk I was going to win.” While Biaggi was pleased with his fifth podium in his

top in the thrilling 125cc race after the lead see sawed several times on the last lap. The Italian edged his Honda ahead of Japanese ace Kazuto Sakata’s Aprilia at the final chicane to win by less than 0.1 seconds. Tomomi Manako, was 10 seconds behind in third place on another Honda. Sakata still leads the 125cc championship with 131 points, while Melandri and Manako both have 97.

first 500cc season, after four 20 points for the season and 250cc world titles but finish- is 15th in the 500cc champiing out of the top three in J onship. the recent 500cc GPs in ITALIAN teenager Madrid and at Paul Ricard Valentino Rossi was a in France, previous champi- hugely popular winner in onship leader Criville the 250cc race at Assen, lamented that he had never having dyed his hair ridden so poorly at Assen, orange, where he won his first 500cc Riding an Aprilia, Rossi GP in 1992. Criville had a finished almost 20 seconds front suspension proBlem clear of German team-mate % and said: “I was lapping 1.5 Jurgen Fuchs while Japan’s ^ seconds slower than the Haruchika Aoki was third times I can usually do here.” on a Honda. I'' Australia’s other 500cc Aprilia riders are the top rider this season, Garry three in the 250cc champiMcCoy, finished 11th to onship, with Japan’s score world championship Tetsuya Harada still leading points for the fifth time in with 104 points from Italian his debut season in the pre- Loris Capirossi on 90 while mier class. McCoy now has Rossi now has 85.

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Too Slight Martin’s Calder takeover

KIWI Aaron Slight scored a perfect double victory at the sixth round of the 1998 World Superbike Championship at Misano. It was the Castrol Honda rider’s fu'st double in World Superbikes and in both races he had to fight off the challenge of Troy Corser (Ducati ADVF). Slight’s 50 points tally moves him to within just six points of series leader Corser as the bat tle between Honda and Ducati rages on. It was a disappointing day for early season Championship leader Noriyuki Haga - two crashes saw him slip to sixth overall in the standings. The first race began with Corser leading off fi’om pole position but within six laps Slight took control and fi'om then on in was never headed on his way to victoiy by 0.7s. Corser was passed by Edwards, but then overtook the American just two laps from the end and managed to hold on to i-unner-up spot by a comfortable two seconds. Fourth went to Fogarty, ahead of Yanagawa and Whitham. Haga had run in the top fom- for 22 laps, but then slid off at the first hairpin with TWO WINS FOR 99... Steve Martin took two comfortable wins on his Ducati995. (Photobydhi(Kiynsmith) only three laps left. 'The second race was a scorcher - Fogarty got STEVE Martin took two wins in the Calder Martin slicing to the lead on lap eight. the holeshot ahead of Corser, Whitham, round of the Shell Superbike Series and Three laps later Craggill followed at the Edwards, Slight and Haga - and led for the firet looked to be the man to beat over the final Kink but the gap to the leader was too two laps. Then Coreer and Slight passed him and much as Martin was home, 2.35s clear. rounds of the championship. it was back to a repeat of race one’s fight. At the same circuit where he broke Connell was third ahead of Giles and Willis Corser led until lap 18 when he ran wide at through last season for a podium finish on while Buckmaster, fighting to see through turn one, allowing Slight to pass him on the his private Suzuki, Martin took two hard- a misting visor, was fifth. brakes into turn two and the haii-pin. fought wins from Marty Craggill’s In race two Connell won the jump hut Once Slight was ahead, the Ducati’s lack of top Kawasaki on his works Ducati 995. Martin soon asserted his superiority to speed told and Corser had to be content with sec ond place Third went to Fogarty, who was catch ' In qualifying it was neither marque take the lead. This time Craggill was much which took pole. Shawn Giles’ Honda RC45 closer and, ft’om second, knifed past on lap ing Corser and Slight in the closing stages, with was really percolating and the V4 led both six for the lead. Edwards fourth, ahead ofYanagawa and Russell. But from there Martin just bided his time sessions ahead of Mark Willis (Suzuki), Russell and his team mate Haga. Damon Buckmaster’s Kawa and Martin. and, with too much speed for the ZXR750,it They had been at each other’s throats for 20 of After a fall pitched him onto his back for was only a matter of when the Ducati was the 25 laps but, when Haga highsided spectacu a 100m slide Craggill was confined to the back into the lead. larly at the last chicane, Russell was able to second row. With no hope of hanging onto the V-twin cmise to sixth place. New South Welshman Craig Connell’s Craggill cruised home to second in the final Points: Corser 200, Slight 194, Edwards 167, Fogarty 163, Chill 144, Haga 143, Yanagawa 101, Whitham 73, Ducati won the jump in race one but soon two laps,just holding out Buckmaster, with Goddard 71,Hodgson 67. Martin and Craggill were all over him. Giles, Connell and Paul Young next.

)

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Bathurst 1000 Event Management and Motorsport News are pleased to offer you the chance to win an all-expenses paid weekend for two at the 1998 AMP Bathurst 1000, October 3&4. *To enter, all you have to do is mail the original coupon (no photocopies) below to us prior to September 3 and you are in the draw! Air tickets, accommodation, rental car and VIP hospitality including Pit Suite viewing could all be yours just by clipping out the coupon below. Enter as many times as you like using original coupons, which will be t< printed in Motorsport News every issue until August 27. BETTER STILL - book your tickets through Ticketek before September 1 and you will go into the draw for our exclusive bonus prize - the opportunity to greet the winner of the AMP Bathurst 1000 at the finish line. Yes, our bonus prize winner will wave the chequered flag as the field cross the line to finish the 36th Great Race. Simply include your Ticketek Transaction Number (printed on your ticket) and you're in the bonus prize draw.

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Rainey quits bike racing

n As predicted, Tyrrell’s deputy technical director Mike Gascoyne has left the team and is having a couple of weeks of holiday before he starts work with Jordan. Gascoyne’s,chief role this year will be to design a new car for the 1999 season.

WAYNE Rainey has announced that he will retire from running his Yamaha Team Rainey Grand Prix team at the end of the 1998 season. The former triple-World Champion will return to the United States to concentrate on other business interests, with the possibility of becom ing involved in four-wheel racing. Rainey will maintain his involvement with Yamaha as Grand Prix consultant, extending his relationship of 14 years.'

n There has been a management shake-up at Peugeot Sport with man aging ^rector PierreMichel Fauconnier being “promoted” to a new posi tion in South,America and his job being taken by' public relations supremo Corrado Provera. Fauconnier has been in charge ofPeugeot Sport since 1996. His brief was to turn the operation into a wiiming one - which has not happened.

Rainey won three 500cc World Championships with Yamaha from 1990 to ‘92 before his career was cut short by a tragic accident while leading the 1993 title chase. Confined to a wheelchair since the crash, Rainey made a popular return to the Grand Prix paddock the next year in team management. For the last two years he has run Yamaha’s factory SOOcc team and his only race win was Loris Capirossi’s dra matic victory in the 1996 Australian Grand Piix.

Yamaha is set to take over the assets of the Amsterdambased factory team and will continue to participate in the FIM World Championship in 1999 with direct control over its operations. According to 37-year-old Rainey, “1 made this decision in the off-season but we had everything in place for this year and so I decided to do one more season. I told Yamaha of my decision early on. “Basically, I have a combi nation of reasons for deciding to make a direction change in my life.

AS reported several weeks ago in Motorsport News, Peugeot plans a comeback to outright competition in the World Rally Championship in 1999 with its new 206 model. The French giant unveiled the new 206 WRC in Paris recently, but rally fans will have to wait until around the middle of 1999 to see the new car fire a shot in anger, t The car is based on the road-going 206, which will be launched on World markets from September this year, with the company claiming that the rally version will use the same body structure, engine block and cylinder head as well as retaining the same wheelbase. The car will feature the obligatory 2.0-litre turbo intercooled engine which will be fitted with the FIA regulation 34mm turbo restrictor so that the quoted power figures do not exceed the farcical 300 horsepower limit World Championship rules lay down. The new little Peugeot will feed its power to the ground through a six-speed sequential gearbox, three differentials and four-wheel drive. - JON THOMSON

S Ferrari may lose its sponsorship from Asprey next year as the company cuts back because of loss es in recent years. The store lost $8m in the year ending in March 1997 and expects to lose more in 1997-8 because of the cri sis is Asia.

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“Things haven’t gone so weU for us in the last two years but that’s not really a major factor. It would probably be easier to leave if we were veiy successfill. “It’s very sad in a way, but I’ve enjoyed my two lives in Grand Prix racing and I think now is the time to leave.” Rainey will continue to run the team until the end of the 1998 season, but he will miss the German, Czech Republic and Rio Grands Prix in order to cut down on his travel schedule. -DARRYL FLACK

New Peugeot rally car breaks cover

B We understand that Yamaha is continuing its FI engine development programme in the hope that it will be able to find a team at some point in the future. We hear that there are talks going on between Yamaha and Dome.

“Rex (Rainey’s son) is six this year and will be starting school and I want to be there in the States with him at my home in Monterey. “Physically all the travelling is very hard on me. “To be honest, I also don’t have the passion I had a few years ago, so it’s time to make a change. “I have business'interests in Monterey which will keep me pretty busy. ‘Tve re^y enjoyed my kart racing this year and there’s a possibility I might get involved in some car racing stuff.

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Morris finishes Indy Lights race PAUL Morris finished a solid seventh in the latest round of the Indy Lights championship at Portland, ending a string of crashaffected races for the Queenslander. The reigning Super Touring champ, now find ing his feet in the Champ Car feeder category, qual ified 17th, but drove a solid and consistent race for his second top 10

result of the year, and boosted his points tally for the year to 14. Most of the action came at the start of the race

when polersitter Guy Smith went straight on at the Festival Curves chi cane and the field scat tered. Through the melee came Morris, who picked up seven places before the end of the first lap.

“It was just a matter of trying to stay out of trou ble,” said Morris. “I just had to pick them off one by one and hope nobody tried anything stupid and involved me in their accident.” The Indy Lights cham pionship follows the FedEx Championship Series to Cleveland, Ohio on July 12 for its next round.

Cadalora drops Suzuki

LUCA Cadalora’s tenure „at Suzuki’s GP team has ended, after one race. The Italian rode at Assen’s Dutch Grand Prix in what was supposed to be the first of three rides for the factoiy team. He was in the battle for the minor placings and was eighth when he fell late in the race.

But, following a meeting with teapa manager Garry Taylor,' the team and Cadalora have decided to go their separate ways. “Luca felt that he couldn’t get confident and comfort able on the bike and we couldn’t seem to adjust it for his riding style,” said Taylor. “It’s a puzzle as to why he liked the bike at one track

Luca Cadalora (testing at Barcelona) and not at the next one, but we have to respect that.” Suzuki’s plans for the next few races, and who will now fill in for the injured Yukio Kagayama, are unclear. But there is speculation that Cadalora’s decision may

be more to do with an oppor tunity for a full-time ride with Yamaha. Before the recent Madrid 500 GP, Yamaha’s I'iders were reportedly addressed by team management and told that one of them was about to be replaced by Cadalora. One of the results of that ‘pep talk’ may have been the vastly improved performance of Simon Crafar, who fin ished second in Holland on his Red Bull YZR500. The other factor could be the imminent retirement of team owner Wayne Rainey (see story above) which could open up a ‘direct’ opportunity for Luca with a factoiy-run, Amsterdam-based Yamaha team.

3Jul^1998

Photo by Michael Cooper/Allsport

Redfaces, blue cars and bruised egos -A.

tried to keep its promotions going make a triumphant comeback to but eventually had to give it up and / FI in the year 2000. This is insane so French motor racing has gradu- ' because the company is facing a ally sunk towards oblivion. It was seriously unstable future for which only In the realms of engine-build- it is ill-prepared and wasting money ing and aerodynamics that the on F1 is not going to get rid of the French were still world-beaters. thousands of unnecessary workers that Renault has on its books. So what future does Prost have Alain having been and Prost, only Frenchman to the win first the as a vanguard of French industry? Formula 1 World Championship, Sadly, one has to say that there is has now decided that he is going not a lot on offer. It I were Alain, I think I would to try to show the world that a French racing team can succeed. jump on a plane to Hannover to go He is a brave man. and see Volkswagen boss Whjie the Prost name has Ferdinand Piech. He owns brought in large amounts of spon- Cosworth Racing (at the moment) sorship and support from Peugeot, and will shortly own both the the recent announcement that Lamborghini and Bugatti car com Peugeot is to enter the World Rally panies. I would ask Piech for Championship is a sign of things ta Cosworth V10s badged as come. Running both programs Bugattis and I would change the side-by-side makes no sense at all colour of my cars to the old pow and, although the company says it der blue which French cars used to race in. With Bugatti back in F1, French industry would get excit ed and Alain could pick up lots of disen chanted engine people from Renaul t , will pour as much money as neces- Peugeot and Mecachrome. I would saiy into both programs, it is hard get the French government to sub sidise a new car factory near the to imagine that will last for long. Some paddock watchers are German border - at a place called more cynical: they say that, in Molsheim (which has a few Bugatti connections) and I would start order to get out of FI without look away.” ing like having failed, Peugeot building Prost-Bugatti road cars. As they read the stories the Of course, logic very rarely needs to be seen to be moving to newspaper readers make the usual plays much of a part in motor rac something more important. French noises and gestures. “Eh That means that, when the rally ing. There are all kinds of other bah, oufr they cry, “Pas mal. Quatre tonneaux. Wow!” . program is up and running. issues to be taken into account And yet people in French road Peugeot will say: “It is necessary, and the sands of the sport are con accident reports never die. The for the long-term good of the com- stantly shifting beneath the padpany, to concentrate on the new dock. A few months can make a wrtters point out in discreet fashion 206.” I expect they will say that huge difference. that “the driver did not survive the Take British American Racing they consider FI to be unfinished impacf. for example. In December the business and will return ... organisation paid $45m to buy the The French do statishave descends circumstances a team always next Perhaps if Prost starts to win dreadful roadreally accident into factional in-fighting, year they will think again, but Tyrrell team. The deal did not tics. I have a theory that in a cou- as Ligier always did - even when it if they are not careful Peugeot is include the factory and ever since the takeover there has been no pie of hundred years they will prob- should have been winning the going to get itself a Yamaha-like evidence that the Tyrrell staff have ably become the best and most World Championship. image. Peugeot has been in FI for considerate drivers in the world. Eventually the teams all folded five years and won nothing, any desire to move to Brackley to work for the new BAR. because all the madmen and up one after another, helped by Renault won its sixth race with a The new Concorde Agreement women will eventually have been well-meaning politicians who wiped VI0. allows for 12 teams to receive TV wiped out and the bad genes will out sponsorship from tobacco and money and have a voice on the no longer be passed down through alcohol companies and thus 'There are some folk in the pad- Formula 1 Commission, which the generations. stopped new talent arriving. Elf I dock who think that Renault will Driving into Magny-Cours on Saturday morning weearly saw an example of the modern French motorist in action. During the night Jean-Pierre Nutter had hurtled into a corner too fast and had dropped his Renault Boyracer into a ditch. It lay there looking rather awkward. We looked for bodies, but there were none. All Jean-Pierre Nutter had done was bruise his ego and give himself a very red face. The crash was not even going to make the newspapers on Monday. There is a curious tradition in France which glorifies those who have big road accidents. Every Monday morning the locals order a coffee and sit in the cafes reading the stories about those who did not make it through the weekend. An entire school of literature has grown up airound the road accident reports, the aim being to describe the crash in as much detail as possible, but in a nice flowery way. Every object along the way is described in detail. Let me give you an example: “Mr Dupont lost control of his Peugeot and left the road. The car rolled four times and then hit a great oak tree and was torn into two pieces. The front of the car went into an old box hedge a.nd the back somersaulted into the nearby river. The shock waves from the impact rang a church bell 100m from the scene and the car radio was found in a village a mile

I guess the Dutch must have been seriously bad drivers a few centuries ago because nowadays they all drive at 30mph in the middie of the road. Right now, however, the French are still stuck in the lunatic phase, killing off the fast and the furious. There was a time a few year ago when a small amount of this madness was successfCilly channeled into producing a fabulous generation of racing drivers which was, for a few short years, the envy of the world. Heroes such as Jean-Pierre Beltoise, Henri Pescarolo, Francois Cevert, Patrick Depailler, Johnny Servoz-Gavin, Jacques Laffite, Jean-Pierre Jabouflle and Jarier, Didier Pironi, Rene Arnoux, Patrick Tambay, Alain Prost and so on were going to make France great again. And, with the drivers, so grew “ the racing indus- a try in France with teams like Matra, Renault Sport, Ligier, AGS and Larrousse, the serious operations being pumped full of government money from Elf and other-such organisations. »The major problem was that, as a nation, the French have never been very well-suited to running racing teams. The tendency has always been to point the finger when things go wrong rather than admitting that one has made a mistake and getting everyone to work together to fix the problem. In the bad old days at Ligier, the team motto was: “Chacun sa merde”, which in non-literal translation means that if people get into trouble it is their problem. In such

Someone in a boardroom somewhere threw away $45 millionfor no reason at all.

means there was no need for BAR to buy Tyrrell. At the French Grand Prix Tyrrell dropped out of the top 10 teams according to results for the past 12 months, which means that from now on BAR has to pay its own travelling expenses. And so one is left to ask exactly what it was that BAR bought when they handed over all that money to the Tyrrell Family. They even failed to buy the goodwill of the family ... thatcannot someone in but a boardroom One help conclude somewhere threw away $45m for no reason at all. Perhaps there are reasonable arguments that “at the time” it was the right thing to do. When British American Racing was launched in December there was much singing and dancing about big surprises on engines and drivers. And here we are a few months on with the team having signed a deal to run Super Tec Sport engines, which are rebadged Mecachromes, which are rebadged Renaults. They talk of developing the engines in the future, but the only development which has been seen to date is that a Super Tec Sport VI0 is 30 percent more expensive than a Mecachrome VI0 ... Now we must wajt with bated breath for an announcement about drivers. Will BAR surprise us all with an announcement^ about Jacques Villeneuve ' and Alessandro Zanardi? Judging by the team’s performance to date, one would expect to see Jan Magnussen in one car and JeanChristophe Boullion in the other. You would think that people would learn from the lessons of history. The more a team is talkedup at the start, the higher the expectations will be. Everyone is expecting way too much from BAR ... just as they did from Carl Haas and the Beatrice team back in the mid-1980s. All I can see at the moment is the potential for a lot of red faces and some seriously bruised egos. But what do I know? I don’t have $45m to throw away so I guess I must be a sucker in the company of such great business brains... t

SUPER TOURING

3July 1998

l Jones breaks Lakeside hoodoo with double victory l McConville disqualified after final lap clash with Richards l Ron Searle also excluded after incident with Robson l Bad race one start costs McLean dearly l Yellow flag incident prompts McLean penalty while leading l Boring first race, lively second l McLean take Independents’ honours

Jones escapes Lakeside dramas

Report by PHIL BRANAGAN Photos by MARSHALL CASS

RAD Jones ended his one win in 10 starts Lakeside bogey in the most emphatic way after an incident-packed round of the BOC Gases Super Touring Championship. The Audi Sport Australia driver took top points on the day after Jim Richards domi nated qualifying, but a lastlap race two incident between Richards and Cameron McConville was the main talking point of the weekend. Richards spun from second to fourth at the Eastern Loop after contact from McConville resulted in the Volvo Australia S40 spearing off the track. As a result of the incident McConville was disqualified from the race, while Ron Searle was also excluded after a clash with Anthony Robson, the Independent BMW suffering a huge off at Eastern Loop. Richards’ was not the only hard story for the weekend. McLean looked to by storm ing to his first win when a drive-through penalty, the result of passing McConville under a yellow flag, dropped him from a dominant lead to fourth place. Despite that McLean took Independent honours for the day. Troy Searle also suffered in his BMW, after overcom ing a major Friday accident. He ended race one in a t5nre wall before making more repairs for race two.

Entry and qualify¬ ing Predictions of a bigger field for the northern swing of the series were awry. Missing was Graham Dodd’s Honda, stopped by a blown engine, and Tony Newman’s Peugeot 406 which was parked after a falling out between Newman and team manager Paul Grimm. Also skipping the race was Wayne Wakefield, the local ace running out of time to get Stef Zelenak’s BMW 318i race-ready. The weather forecast for Brisbane was fine - unlike much of the rest of the coun try - hut that didn’t stop necks craning to the sky as qualifying started to see what the afternoon would bring. It was warm when the first session started; as it turned out, it would be the warmest part of the day. Richards has set the tone after recording a 51.94s lap to lead allcomers on Friday and, running the 1998 aero kit for the first time, there appeared little reason to

think he would not back it up when it counted. He almost did in Ql, with a 52.08s for his first pole and, significantly, Volvo’s first lead ever in a BOC series. In the second, though, things changed. After having his early 52.38s bounced off pole by Jones and McLean, he fitted a new set of Michelins and went out again. The gods helped. Thick clouds rolled in and the track temperature dropped signifi cantly. Jim responded to the opportunity with a blinding 51.77s lap, backed up by a 51.99s which would also have poled for the S40. That was really quick; faster by 0.06s than Geoff Brabham’s 1997 time, the fastest 2-litre time to date at the track. With the pole point, he also extended his series lead by 100 percent... / Jones was second, twice. He was a tenth and two tenths back in the sessions and reported no problems, despite feeling that the Michelins were graining (a report several teams made). He felt that, as usual, the Audi’s strong suit would be race pace. McConville backed up that theme, though he wasn’t as happy with his qualifying set-up. He lost momentum in the warm-up when a rear stabiliser bar broke, which was not detected by the team until the first session start ed. McConville drove aroimd the problem first up for a 52.56s and, with suitable repairs, chopped off two tenths in the second session. He was fourth, twice. Better still, his race set-up was spot on; a string of 52.4s and 52.5s on 200km-old tyres testified to a strong raceday package, even if he was less than happy with the second row. McLean was next to him. He was solidly in the fivetwos (55.2s) and was near enough to the pace of 1997 to please him and the rest of the Greenfields team with two thirds. As usual Mark Adderton was fifth - in the second ses sion. The Sydney driver missed the first when he had a gearbox problem and the team elected to do a proper fix rather than rush the job to try and get out for a solo Jap. Starting 15th wasn’t too much of a hemdicap, 10 spots down on ‘the usual’. Stepping into the ‘breach’ was Ron Searle. He came up with a fifth (Ql) and sixth (Q2) and was much happier with the set-up of the Transtar Camry after the

OUT FRONT...

There's nothing like leading two races flag to flag to restore confidence. Brad Jones didjust that at Lakeside, winning the start(above)and, despite battling set-up problems, stroking Audi’s A4 to maximum points in both races. McConville (following. right) was the one in the wars, disqualified after a controversial race two incident with Jim Richards. Ron Searle (bottom) was also disqualified over incidents in race

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team traced the cause of its Friday and, in the first ses sion, a broken driveshaft previously mysterious han dling problem to seals in the housing didn’t help matters rear dampers. Some work on much, forcing Auger to creep the Proflex units had stopped out for a single lap in the them flexing and Searle was second session before the delighted to be able to slide crew got to fixing the prob the car consistently (on, for lem. Like its ‘sister’ Bimmer the first time all season, Anthony Robson was simi Dunlops) without it threat ening to swap ends without larly consistent in his car, but the man had a story to warning. tell. His tow car ran off the Behind, in his usual posi tion, was Peter Hills road on the way north on the Mondeo. The blue beast was whole kit and kaboodle car, trailer and race car suffering the common prob lem of understeer, especially ended up in a ditch. It onto the main straight, but wasn’t quite the ‘Racing Ace Hills and the crew kept their cheats death’ that the media chins up and looked forward may have wanted but it was a lucky escape for the team. to Sunday. Malcolm Rea appeared for Joining him was Kurt The the first time in an ex-Julian Kratzmann. Queenslander took time to Bailey Toyota Carina of 1994 acclimatise to the FWD V6 vintage and, after experienc and halved his first session ing set-up woes in the first deficit to ‘the boss’ to 0.4s, session, he had a mother of all moments in the second qualifying tenth twice. go-around when he had a Bob Tweedie was stagger ing in his consistency, the front left tyre go down Vauxhall Cavalier’s two ses while going under the sion times separated by Dunlop Bridge at full noise... Rea fought the car off the 0.03s. He reported all was well with the three-year-old fence, somehow, and the machine. Ditto for Justin pristine car paid tribute to Matthews’ Faber-Castell his, as he described it, “sheer BMW which was close to the bloody luck” in doing so. The white Pom machine, as tyre (an 18 inch Yokohama) was so strewn with loose and usual. batter cords it looked like it David Auger was not enjoying his ‘home’ race. The needed a short back and Alfa (wearing homage to sides... Still, with only 40 or so Classic Trimming and Motor Bodies, who helped resurrect sorting-out laps the week the 155 last season) was before the race meeting to having set-up dramas on get used to FWD, sequential

MIXED DAY FOR THE BMWs... Twelve months after BMW’s 1-2-3 crush the marque’s Independents had a mixed days. McLean (above) took top points after proving to be the fastest car in the field in race two before a drive-through penalty. Troy Searle (above right) had a race one crash and the usual charge from the rear of the grid. Here (above) he races past Justin Matthews. The Audi drivers had better days on the track than their opposition (right) but McConville lost out in the Stewards’room.

ar boxes and, after a five year lay-off, racing again, Rea was a happy man. Bricking up the caboose was Carlos Rolfo. The Beemer was happier now that its previous gearbox problems had been traced to loose linkages and fixed by the team, but it still had a cheek to bomb a fuel pump on Friday. Then, Rolfo was having drive problems in qualifying; rather than the usual suspect, a slipping clutch, Rolfo and crew sus pected a slipping diff. Limited shp diffs are usually friendly critters but this one was supposed to be a locked job. Character building? “I’ve had enough character built this year to last two sea sons,” Carlos mused... The last starter, as usual, was Troy Searle, though this time there were mechanical

reasons as well as personal. The Hartge BMW 320 skated off the circuit at the last cor ner and suffered quite sub stantial front damage. After a serious effort by the crew he made it out for the warmup.

Race 1 (25 laps) The futurefor 25 lapback-to-the and no pitstop mat for Lakeside (where there is a narrow pitlane entry) threw a spanner into the planning for the team, opinions split 50-50 as to who would benefit and-or suffer. What was important, as usual, was the start. Richards’ was, as usual, modest, the S40 stuttering away. But at least he was rolling; McLean, far from making a winning move in the first few metres, stalled

c Rentals from three and, as the world swamped him, was seventh in to the Karussel. Jones had made a blind er, in fact, as winning start and led McConville, Richards, the always-fast Hills, Ron Searle, Matthews, McLean, Auger, Kratzmann, Robson, Troy Searle and Adderton from the rear, Tweedie, Rolfo and Rea. That first 200m more or less decided the race. By the end of lap one McLean was through to fourth, three seconds behind the lead trio. From there the gap went out by tenths over the next two laps and, with the Independents’ win there for the taking, McLean wasn’t going to over-tax machine, man or tyres to catch the leaders. Ditto for the lead three.

Jones had enough car lengths throughout the race to race on-line while, behind, McCbnville did not, defending stoutly from Richards; The gaps varied a little in traffic (which they hit on lap six) but the only close moment came on the final lap when Adderton tried but failed to get off-line at the Eastern Loop and delayed everyone. Richo got half alongside McConville at the but the 1-2-3 at the first corner was the same at the flag. The action was behind. Hills was not flinching, despite the attack from Ron Searle and, inevitably, Troy Searle and Adderton burst through to make it a four way battle for fifth. The battle was intense; Troy Continued over page t

IS 3July 1998

SUPER TOURING

B0€ Oases Super Touring Championship Round 5- Lakeside, Qld 27/28 June 1998 Race 1 (25 laps) Quel Grid Race lime F/iap On Team Car Pos Driver 52.16 2 22:13.95 52.66 3 1 Brad Jones Audi Sport Australia A4 Quattro 52.56 4 22:14.58 52.65 ,2 2 Cameron McConville Audi Sport Australia A4 Quattro 22:14.67 52.56 2 52.08 1 3 Jim Richards Volvo Racing Volvo S40 22:24.23 52.75 4 52.21 n 3 Greenfield Mowers BMW 320i 4 Cameron McLean 24 laps 54.49 6 No time 14 Honda Accord 5 Mark Adderton 54.99 9 24 laps 55.13 12 Olympus Alfa Romeo 155TS 6 David Auger 54.95 8 24 laps 55.34 24 Faber-Castell BMW 318i ■7 Justin Matthews 54.26 5 24 laps 54.61 3 8 Ron Searle Phoenix Toyota Camry 55.0310 24 laps 55.29 4 9 Kurt Kratzmann Knight Ford Mondeo 54.66 7 Tweedie Vauxhall Cavalier 24 laps 55.36 4 10 Rob Tweedie 55.3511 Robson BMW318i 24 laps 55.33 4 11 Anthony Robson 54.47 6 15 laps 54.73 3 DNF Peter Hills. Knight Ford Mondeo 13 laps 54.50 9 No time 15 '■ Roadchill Express BMW 320i DNF Troy Searle 61.5012 DNF Malcolm Rea M'sport Developments Toyota Carina 8 laps 62.42 4 67.83 13 BBX BMW318i 7 laps 57.99 5 DNF Carlos Rolfo .r. . Race 2 (25 laps) Pos Driver 1 Brad Jones DQ Cameron McConville 2 Cameron McLean 3 Jim Richards 4 Mark Adderton 5 Peter Hills DQ Ron Searle 6 Troy Searle 7 Kurt Kratzmann 8 Rob Tweedie 9 David Auger 10 Justin Matthews DNF Anthony Robson DNF Malcolm Rea

Quai Grid Team Car Race lime F/Iap On 51.99 2 22:16.58 52.76 6 Audi Sport Australia A4 Quattro 52,36 4 22:17.49 52.80 24 Audi Sport Australia A4 Quattro 52.26 3 22:21.73 52.67 2 Greenfield Mowers BMW 320i 22:28.01 52.23 2 51.77, 1 Volvo Racing Volvo S40 ■ 54.05 5 23:03.72 54.32 5 Honda Accord 54.43 7 23:05.70 54.68 6 Knight Ford Mondeo 23:06,29 54.34 21 54.33 6 Phoenix Toyota Camry 24 laps 54.60 22 No time 15 Roadchill Express BMW 320i 54.85 10 24 laps 55.09 12 Knight Ford Mondeo 54.63 8 Tweedie Vauxhall Cavalier 24 laps 55.38 9 55.3811 24 laps 55.44 7 Olympus Alfa Romeo 155TS 54.80 9 Faber-Castell BMW 318i 24 laps 55.43 2 56.3712 Robson BMW 318i Slaps 55.70 3 63,1513 M'sport Developments Toyota Carina Olaps

On lap 16 the Monde o emerged from the Eastern Loop which its wheels pointing at each other and he was forced to park, registering his

near Hungry on lap nine with another blown tyre (at an spot identical to .Saturday’s similar incident> while Rolfo’s race ended) a lap earlier when an electrical problem cut the fuel fl'ow to the BBX BMW’s

the year. A steering arm mount had broken and the crew were going to be pushed to repair it for race two. That incident left Adderton a lonely fifth, from Auger, Matthews, Ron Kratzmann, Searle, Tweedie and Robson, who both were in the midst of having lonely times. Of the others Rea parked

to McLeanmake certain was going that his race two start was much bet ter, and he looked for a sec ond to muscle between the Audis. in the run to the Karussel. But, at the same time, Eichards made his best get away of the season and held the inside line, forcing McLean to sit it out on the outside of the comer. He did, emergmg in third behind the Jones and McConville. Ron Searle and Adderton from followed Hills, Matthews, Robson, Kratz mann, Troy Searle, Tweedie, Auger, while Rea pitted for good after a lap. The front four were not

Drivers Championship: Jones 125, Richards 117, McConville 99, Mclean 78, Adderton 56, Hills 36, Holden/SheumacWMatthews 28, Tweedie 26, T and R Searle 24, Auger 18, Pickett/Shaw/McGill/Kratzmann 15, Kaplan 11, Henderson 8, Robson/Bradshaw 2, Bewley 1. Manufacturers Championship: Audi 144, Volvo 126, Independents Championship: McLean 130, Adderton 104, Hills 68, Holden/Sheumack/Matthews 88, Tweedie 56, T and R Searie 46, Auger 40, Pickett/Shaw/McGiil/Kratzmann 38, Kaplan 23, Henderson 15, RobsorVBradshaw 11, Bewley 4, Newman 4, Rolfo 3. Teams Championship: Audi Sport Australia 96, Knight Radng 64.

Continued from page 15 made the most of things, moving through both Adderton (Karussel) and cousin Ron (Hungry) on lap 11 to take up station behind the Mondeo, which, had a huge moment at Hungry next time around. Hills wrestling it back under control. Then it all went wrong. On lap 14 Troy tried to

brave it out at the Karussel, got onto the mar bles and skated heavily into the tyres. At the same time Ron, unsighted, took to the inside and ran off, behind rejoining Kratzmann, who would, hold him off for the next 1,0’^ laps. That left only Adderton challenging Hills but that was not to last very long.

GUN RACER... David Auger’s Alfa Romeo may be getting long in the tooth but the 155> shov/ed consistent speed in the two races.

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Race 2 (25 taps)

spreading out. Richards’ 52.23s first lap not only erased Craig Baird’s name from the Lakeside record books, it closed the gap" over the fotar cars to under a sec ond, where it would stay for some time - but it was still a stalemate. They got the impetus for change on lap six. Robson got a nudge from Ron Searle at Hungry and, with locked rears, spun the car through 360 degrees, zooming the nose of the car into the barriers on the outside. The yellow flags flew and McConville, seeing them, braked early for the comer . But McLean was watching - only the rear of the Audi, jinked! left and, despite snaking the car almost side ways under brakes, got tlirough into second. And he didn’t stop there . The next time around he repeated the move on Jones and immediately pulled away from the three car battle now raging for second. With con sistent 52.7s and 52.8s, he soon biailt a two second gap and, driving neatly, his first win looked a formality. Until lap 16. Tlie black flag flew and McLean reported in for his drive through, resum ing fourth. Rules are rules and MeLsan was not one to complain later but, like Eastern Creek, this was a race this was a race he

deserved to win and win well. Jones was grip struggling for grip, having changed his set-up for the cooler ambient temperatures, hut soon he had Richards deal with, Auger was caught by the leader on lap 17 and tried to m’ove to the outside at the filial comer. Jones got by but McConville lost so much car speed that the S40 was past by the start/finish line. He was straight onto Jones’ tail but, despite some sideways moments from Brad, wasn’t able to challenge. As they started the final lap they had only to file past Troy Searle, but Jones caught him at Hungry and got sideways. On the exit he covered the inside, Jim looked at the outside and McConville nosed under neath. There was contact, Richards spun into the boonies and was fourth by the time he resumed forward motion. Jones took the flag from McConville and McLean, who had been hauling in the leader by around 0.4s a lap. Richards took fourth from Adderton, who had lost first his power steering, then bat tery power, then the dash board. Hills just held out Ron Searle after a battle for the second half of the race. Kratzmann took ninth after an early-race battle with Tweedie, from Auger and Matthews, who recovered from an off after a tap from Ron Searle sent him off on lap four. Richards sped past McLean alongside McConville on the in lap and the exchange betw^een the two was not too cordial... “An accident on the final more ^^P S®* ^ points?,” demanded Richards. “Forget it.” “Jim, it was an accident,” replied McConville. “Take it easy. Later the two were more restrained. “Cam crunched me into the boonies,” said Richards. “I haven’t been hit so hard for a long time. “In the first race we ran nose-to-tail for 25 laps (and I got) a little touch from McLean. I haven’t been that upset for a long time.” McConville only comment was, “I don’t want to get into a slanging match.” The two were more fiiendly after the press conference but

Lakeside Briefs ■ There was an Ironman feast at Lakeside. Apart from Andrews, who drove Ford Motorsport’s Falcon XR8 in the GTP events, Grant Kenny rolled out in the Club Car events in a 2litre Corolla. The car is usually rallying, and, even featured a Halda in case Kenny wanted to measure the track... ■ No announcement is expected for a while but it appears that the Safety Car for the AMP Bathurst 1000 will be a Volvo T6, the turbocharger version of the new S80 which is being introduced to the press in Sweden this week. The latest Swedish rocket will not be avail able in Australia until October. * ■ Malcolm Rea’s Toyota Carina came with quite a stock of 18 inch wheels and tyres, which he expects to consume before switching to 19s for, at the latest, Bathurst. The cars is expected to be shared by his current team manager. Brad Stratton. ■ Also helping the Rea effort with engine manage ment and Pi systems was Campbell Little, who has similar two-litre experience at Bathurst with Vauxhall (1997) and the Murphy/ Kaye Carina in ’94. ■ Cameron McLean’s race one stall brought back horrid memories of his Eastern Creek start line disaster; “I thought I head the same (engine) noise,” he reported, “and I sat there with my finger on the (start) thinking, ‘Please start, please start, )« please start... ■ While the BOC circus was in Queensland Paul Morris won his first race in the USA - on a jet ski. The current series Champion won at Racine, Wisconsin, about 500km from his Indianapolis base. ■ Porsche Cup’s Kerry Hayes received some unexpected support for the weekend. After drop ping into the local Pizza Haven on the way home and chatting to the owner, he I'eceived some unex pected support in the form of a dozen or so family specials for the weekend.

3JufyW9S

Bowe returns to share wins By EDWARD KRAUSE GARRY Waldon and John Bowe shared the wins at round five of the GT-Production car champi onship at Lakeside. Back in the Ferrari after a two meeting lay-off, Bowe took pole position for both races and won the opener, but the eight-litre Dodge blasted away from the front row in the second race to take a flag to flag victory and increase his lead in the championship.

QuaBifying

Bowe in the Ferrari 355 Challenge circulated in 54.69s in the opening qualifier and then, with “a bit more commitment” bettered that time to 54.44s in the second, half a second quicker than anyone else. As usual Bowe’s concern was about tyre life over 20 laps. Peter Fitzgerald in the Falken Porsche 911RSCS took second and third grid positions for the two races, with 55.01s and 55.19s laps. He, too, was concerned about his tyres, trying to find a suspension set-up that wouldn’t generate as much heat. Waldon’s qualifying efforts netted him a third and second. A baulk on what he felt was his best lap result ed in a 55.16s and then, with a stiffer front shock set-up the Viper GTS cracked a 54.91s for a front row spot. , Domenic Beninca was twice fourth in his black Porsche 911 and was a little disappointed with his times. Rodney Forbes and Terry

Bosnjak were on the third row for both races, Forbes in his repaired Porsche and Bosnjak in the Mazda RX-7 SP. Both were experimenting with suspension a lot. In Class B Dean Canto (WRX), Murray Cai-ter (200SX) and Chris Kousparis filled the top spots. Fastest Class D car by a long way was Michael Simpson in the BMW 323i from series leader Ric Shaw in the Toyota MR2, while Class C was a battle between David Ratcliff (Camry) and Mark Cohen (Commodore SS), while the GTIs of Nigel Stones and Aaron McGill con tinued their Class E battle.

Race 1 Bowe got what was described as his “best ever start” and led all the way. A few-mysterious changes made after the warm-up worked, and the Tasmanian said the car was the best it had ever been. His only dilemma was a brief altercation with the GTS-R of John Cowley. Waldon slotted into second off the line then fell off Bowe a little, but A GREAT WEEKEND FOR FERRARI... Hours before Schumacher did it in France Bowe returned to his winning closed considerably, courtesy of ways in Ross Palmer’s 355 Challenge at Lakeside, sharing the wins with Garry Waldon.(Photos by Marshall cass) some traffic during the latter stages and two blistered tyres. after a great dice. Myhill in the Magna, first Stones and took the win from .Bowe. Fitzgerald was in a lonely third Kousparis took Class B from who went for a bumpy ride at the Fitzgerald still had’what turned out but he suffered an engine manage Carter after a good battle. Canto Karussel and then McGill, allowing to be an engine temperature sensor Stones to take the win. ment problem, causing his car to having two altercations and a blis problem but finished third, then run too rich while, in fourth, tered tyre. Class B runners John Beninca, Bosnjak and Forbes in a Race 2 Beninca was getting a dream run Trimbole(Evo III) and Peter Boylan spread out field. through the traffic and closed on (WRX) had a coming together, the Class B featured another great As expected, the Viper blasted Fitzy. Evo III coming off the worse at the away at the start, followed by Bowe, battle. Canto holding the lead until A slight baulk coming onto the Karussel. he was caught out by the Ferrari, ,'Fitzgerald, Beninca, Forbes and straight allowed Beninca to get Simpson took Class D easily from Carter capitalising and taking the Bosnjak who all formed a nice through and then Fitzgerald had a Shaw, Cohen likewise in C from freight train early on. win from the youngster, followed by flat tyre, finishing fourth. Bosnjak Ratcliff, while both McGill and Waldon began to pull away while Kousparis. took fifth narrowly from Forbes Stones had collisions with Jim Michael Simpson had another Beninca, Forbes and Bosnjak began to fight among themselves until strong Class D win after a great Forbes was hung out at the Eastern race with Trimbole with Shaw sec ond. Cohen made It a double from Loop and spun, which caused Ratcliff in Class C, as did Stones in Bosnjak to almost stop. From then on the battle was between Waldon Class E after a race-long scrap with McGill. and Bowe. At half distance there was. noth Pointscore: Outright; Waldon 123, Beninca 113, Fitzgerald 106, Bowe 73. ing in it as they began to thread through traffic but JB wasn’t in a Class A; Waldon 121; Class B; Carter 124; position to have a real go until the Class C; Ratcliff 115; Class D; Shaw 114; Class E;Stones 144. last corner. Waldon kept his line

Special guest TITLE BID... Geoff Morgan got his title defence back on track with a win and a second at Lakeside.

Marburg and Morgan split Porsche spoils

GEOFF Morgan and Julian Harburg shared the spoils in the Porsche Cup race, both taking a pole a win and a second. Morgan was quickest in qualify ing for the opening race in his repaired Porsche GT2 with a 54.58s from Harburg in the 911C2 (54.65s), but when the flag dropped Julian shot straight to the lead and took off. Morgan reeled him in, as did fourth qualifier Colin Ivory in the 911RSR, and Harburg and Morgan crossed the line side-by-side with Ivory right behind.

Peter Harburg, who qualified third in another 911RSR fought got fourth after a battle with Peter Bradbury in a GT2. Brett Wentworth was fourth early but spun his 930S, eventually finishing sixth. Julian Harburg qualified fastest for race two with a 54.51s, half a second quicker than Morgan and Peter Harburg, and again outjumped Morgan, who this time held on tight, trailing him until the fifth lap when he used sheer grunt to go past down the straight. An interesting battle ensued

where Morgan had the power but Harburg was superior under brakes, but the grunt won out, Morgan win ning from Harburg. Bradbury and Ivory were starting another battle for third until Ivory was given a stop-go, dropping him to sixth, and then he dropped out only a lap later. This left Bradbury an easy third. Peter Harburg and ’Wentworth fought for fourth, Harburg just get ting up at the end.

Points after five rounds: Morgan 151, Bradbury 141, Harburg 117, Wagg 93, Dunn 91.5, Keene 61, Stannard 53.

- EDWARD KRAUSE

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WA YNE Wakefield's hopes of running a BMW in the BOC Gases races may have come to nought but that didn’t stop the iocal hero having a fuli weekend. He piioted the Mazda wagon-from-hell in the Ciub Car races and fiiled in for Iron Man Guy Andrews in the Commodore Cup events. Despite seeing the car for the first time on Friday morning, ‘WW’ planted the V8 on pole, ahead of class gun David Gittus, and took two dominant, all-the-way wins. He also won both Club Car races and set a new tap record.

Moore is less The wild melee at the first turn at Portland may have put a serious dent in Greg Moore’s hopes of winning this year’s Championship title. The 23-year old Canadian had a rough weekend in Orgebn, quali fying 14th (which equalled his worst stalling position of the year three months ago in Long Beach)and then crashing out at the first turn. For Moore,it meant a zero points weekend while Zanardi won and pulled out a 38 point margin on the young Canadian. If nothing else, Moore bore responsibility for the turn one accident at Portland. “I had a good start,” Moore said. “I passed two or three cars as I went down the inside of the track. I misjudged how deep I went in before the Festival Curves. I made a mistake and I feel bad for Christian (Fittipaldi) and Paul (Tracy).” 3Alex Zanardi’s cham pionship-extending win at Portland was the eighth straight Champ car win this year for Firestone. Goodyear’s one and only win of the year so far in CART was with Michael Andretti in the Homestead season opener. @ A1 Unser Jr led eight mid-race laps at Portland while running to a differ ent pitstop strategy than most of the field. As a result Unser moved to third on CART’s lap leader charts, passing Mario Andretti with 3,070 leading laps to Andretti’s 3,064. Michael Andretti leads with the list from Rick Mears but, in combined USAC and CART statistics, Mario remains Champ car rac ing’s all-time lap leader with 7587 laps led over his 30 year career which lasted from 1964-94.

3Jufy199S

Same again in Portiand

Sm... for another championshita^anardi didn't-i d&mmatem Portland, but he still Ipd-Seott Pruett- home to the flag

by PHIL MORRIS

ALEX Zanardi coxild hard ly believe what he had done. Just at the vital moment, he had let the Honda engine in his Ganassi-Reynard stall. It was an uncharacteristic mistake and he couldn’t believe it. The race? Oh, the race was well over. And Zanardi had won it, of course. He had stalled the car trying to per form his trademark donuts after taking the chequers... The defending CART Champion was in brilliant form in Portland, taking his fourth win of the season and a virtual stranglehold on the 1998 title. His main challengers for the race and the title suffered all matter of maladies and Alex left the west coast with an impressive 38 point lead. For once Zanardi didn’t dominate the whole weekend. He qualified on the third row of the gild after giving best to Dario Franchitti on Friday and, ultimately, Bryan Herta. The Team Rahal car was fly ing and the bespectacled one was looking for bis first win. The start of the race was pock-marked by a series of yel low flags. The first was prompted when Zanardi’s clos est points challenger Greg Moore attempted automotive assault by launching his Players car (which started from row seven after a lousy practice) over all and sundry in front of him. He ended Christian Fittipaldi’s race as well as his own and Paul Ti’acy couldn’t miss the mess and retired too. Michael Andretti and Robbie Gordon got going after delays. Moore later apologised for the inci dent. Herta took over up front until pitting early, handing to the lead Franchitti. The Scot looked superb, controlling the race until the first full round of stops, but ended his win ning hopes by stalling after a neat stop by Team Green. He later walked away after a huge shunt involving himself and PJ Jones. Zanardi took over after the

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Scot’s demise but Herta looked capable of ruRning him down. The Italian had track position after the final stops and, at the final restart, Herta and a closely-following Gil de Ferran had only to deal with the lapped Richie Hearn to get at the defending Champ. That was the problem. Hearn was driving in his sleep and allowed not only Zanardi to pull a winning gap at the green, but the delay Herta and allow de Ferran to challenge for second. At the Festival Chicane they bumped; the Brazilian retired on the spot with bent steering and Herta allowed the opportunistic Scott Pruett to grab second.. He threw everything at the Visteon car over the final laps but that’s how they finished, almost seven seconds behind Zanardi. “Ttold my team this morn ing that we had to play the odds and follow the leader,” Zanardi commented about his pit strategy. “But when Bryan stopped ear-ly I was sm-prised because he had a very good car and when you'can lead like that you want to stay out front and build as much of an advantage as you can.'When he stopped. Chip (Ganassi) was a little confused for a while but he quickly changed his mind that we weren’t

1 VIC-82a'5y>eyRd B^unssrick 3056 Pl^’03 9386 53al NSW -10 Carnegie Place Blaektown I'li48 PI; ©2 9676: #655

going to foUow the leader, and it turned out for us.” Tony Kanaan finished a solid fourth for Tasman Motorsport, while A1 Unser Jr moved through nicely after starting 2lst, leading the race during out-of-synch stops (as did team-mate Andre Ribeiro) and staying out oftrouble. The sort of race Moore should have driven...

Bobby Rahal was sixth from Mauricio Gugelmin and Jjmmy Vasser(who flew until aUap 10 incident with Adrian Fernandez). Patrick Carpentier and Hearn (who had dri ven from 23rd to seventh in 15 laps)filled out the top 10. Of the rest, Andretti was three laps down after his early delay and a 360 degree solo spin coming onto the straight.

Mark Blundell was never in the hunt and retired after con tact and JJ Lehto wasted a promising ninth giid spot by falling down the order until parking his Hogan Reynard with a broken exhaust. More road races - Cleveland and Toronto - await the Italian. He’s won 12 races from 41 starts; what price a few more donuts this summer?

It's not easy being Green"

DON’T LOOK BACK... Dario Franchitti showed qualifying speed but was luckless in the race. AFTER a weekend to forget Team KOOL Green left Portland with two bent cars, zero points and much controversy. Ffrstly Paul Tracy had to start 20th on the grid after being suspended from Saturday’s final qualifying session. The Canadian, who was placed on probation Jrme 11 by CART Chief Steward Wally Dallenbach for an incident at the Detroit Grand Prix, was also fined US$20,000 ($31,800) after an incident in which he made contact with the car of Michel Jourdain, Jr. “I’m not happy about the fine or the decision to exclude me from qualifying tomorrow,” said Tracy on the Friday. “I think we had a very competitive car today but as a result of my incident with Michel I didn’t get a chance to show its real potential. I’m disappointed, but that’s life, We’ll start the race from where we start, That’s all I have to say.” “I’m disappointed that CART will not permit Paul to qualify tomorrow,” said team owner Barry Green. “I did not see today’s incident, but based on reports from corner workers and what Paul has told me, it appears that he was at fault. I could agree with CART placing him on probation because of today’s incident, Unfortunately, Paul had already been placed

on probation by a decision I disagree with stemming from the Detroit race, “However,I respect Waly’s decision.” i Team-mate Dario Franchitti was more I forthright. “If what Paul did is worthy of pro- ! bation,” he said,“then there are three or four i other drivers who deserve to be on proha-1 tion.” For Green, it was to get worse. After quali- i fying second and leading the race, Franchitti ’ stalled while trying to leave the pits and his : crew had to pull him back into his pitstall ; after hying to push start him. There were more problems on his second ; stop and then he crashed with PJ Jones, “On our second stop our fueller had diffi- n culty engaging the fiiel nozzle,” Franchitti j reported. “Then I almost stalled it again : leaving the pits, but I got back out and was| pushing pretty hard on new lyres trying to 5 make up the lost time. | T almost got past PJ coming out of turn six. but he didn’t see me and just turned into me, i spinning me around and into the bairiers. “Physically, it was a very tough race - the :■ hardest race I’ve ever driven in - and we i didn’t even finish. I’m disappointed because it was looking good at the start, but we’ll go ■ to Cleveland and try again. I like Cleveland ' and someone has got to beat Alessandro (Zanardi). It might as well be me.”

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Most people let others t l l lead the way i?'

Photo tyA/lpix

We prefer to Barg our way to the front

Some people might think pushing your way past others and fo the Iront of the pack is rude... in this case,we don't! Jason Bargwanna didn't hold back at Calder Park,'barging' his way through fo the front from the second row of the grid in race two. Despite intense pressure from more seasoned campaigners,Jason was never headed in the race, taking out his first V8 Supercar victory. G)ngratulations Jason Bargwanna anc Garry Rogers Moforsport on your magnificent winning efbrt- Valvoline salutes you.

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People Who Know Use Valvoline

3Jtify1998

G J By PETER WHITTEN

In a predominantly maledominated sport, it’s a pleasant change to see female competitors doing well in the mud and dust of Australian Champion ship rallying. While ladies have excelled at co-driving for some years, it has been rare for a member of the fairer sex to get behind the wheel and give the fellas a run for their money. But that’s what a young Sydneysider has done over the past 12 months. Jo Cadman is optimistic that the combination of a good car, a good team and a great deal of confidence will pov/er her to a strong finish in the Australian Rally Championship round in Tasmania. Next week in Tasmania the Sydney-based driver will pilot her Toyota Corolla in the Bridgestone Corolla Cup, which forms a sub-competi tion within the ARC series, and is currently running fourth in a field of nine. n “Tasmania is the first event where everything I’ve been aiming for will really come together,” Cadman says. “I have a really strong and cohesive service crew, a new

Vd.

McRae takes the High

engineer working on the car and a new co-driver who has settled in well with my dri ving style. For the first time in quite a while 1 can simply concentrate on my driving and I’m sure that will give me a real edge in Tassie,” Cadman explained. Cadman agrees on the necessity for total trust between crew members, but does express some concern about Swanton for this par ticular event. “Lizzie (Swanton, her navi gator) is coming straight to Tasmania from a business trip to Sweden with Volvo. I just hope she remembers to switch languages before she starts giving me instruc tions!” The new pair have faired well so far with a fifth out right placing (and second in class) at Bathurst, and were leading their class in the NSW state round at Bega when they were caught out by a tricky comer in the rainsoaked event, three stages from the end. With success in the Bridgestone Corolla Cup in the past, there seems little reason why Jo Cadman can’t be sitting on top of the vic tor’s podium at the end of the Saxon Safari.

COLIN McRae and Piero Liatti finished first and second on the 555 China Rally, the latest round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship. The event is expected to be included as a round of the World Rally Championship in 1999, but Subaru were the only one of the current WRC teams to participate, although that was mainly because their team sponsor also backed the event itself. The lead changed between McRae (above) and Liatti throughout the event as both experienced problems, but in the end it was the Scotsman who came out on top. Toyota’s Japanese driver, Yoshio Fujimoto, finished third in his Celica GT-Four, his last event in the car before he moves to the Corolla World Rally Car at this month’s Rally of New Zealand. Australian co-driver Glenn Macneall had hoped for a Formula 2 winner with ‘Monster’ Tajima, but they retired on the second day of the three day event with fuel problems in their Suzuki Baleno.

But will Rkhard Burns replace him at Subaru? m

RICHARD Burns has been touted as the lead driver for the 555 Subaru team in 1999 if current number one Colin McRae makes his much talked about move to the Ford team. Burns is cur

rently number two driver at Mitsubishi, behind current World Champion Tommi Makinen, hut his performances this year would warrant his return to Subaru the team which

FIDDLING WHILE RICHARD BURNS... Could Burns be counting to 555 in the 1999 World Rally Championship?(Photo by Michael cooper/ALtspoRv place next year with the new World Rally Cars from Hyundai and SEAT planned, and if the rumoured cars

gave him his start in the sport. Indeed ‘works’ drives could become common-

Nissan, from and Peugeot Skoda appear, One leading factory driver regarded as perhaps the best in

the business agree recently that he was about to become very rich, given the expected rush for his services. Photo courtesy Toyczs

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A CHANGE in Toyota from his familiar Celica GT4 to a Tacoma ute has not stopped Rod Millen from his annual assault on the Pikes Peak

in the USA.

The New Zealander will attempt to break the elusive

10 minute barrier AGAIN in the four-wheel-drive ‘pickup’ in next week’s annual ‘Race to the Clouds’in Colorado. The Tacoma’s 2.1htre turbocharged engine has moved to a mid-engined location in the ute which, with full carbon-fibre body-

work, will weigh in 100 Mlos lighter than the Celica. Millen doesn’t need much of a help to get into the ‘nines’; his best time of 10:04.06s came in 1994 and he has recorded two other runsimder 10:10. -PHIL MORRIS

3JulyW98

DCL

Michael Guest is on the verge of signing a deal with a manufactiu-er for a drive in the upcoming Playastation Round Australia Rally in September. However, Guest will nei ther confirm, nor deny, the rumours that he will drive a Mazda RX-7 turbo in the 22d'ay marathon, despite the fact that sources close to the > operation put the likelihood of the single car entry start ing at “better than 80%.” Guest put in an exemplary drive in the last Round Australia in ’95, taking sec ond place after leading for

Guest for Round Australia Rally? ’95 runner-up tippedfor RX-7 turbo drive

almost a week and hounding Ed eventual winner Ordynski to the finish line. In that rally, Guest drove a four wheel drive Mitsubishi Galant VR4 with Rod Salmon, with many pundits declaring the young Newcastle firebrand would have trouble pacing himself after a career in sprint

events, where he was required to go flat out from the start. Having put his critics views to rest, Guest is keen to go one better in the 1998 event, but would only com ment that, if there was a deal, he would grasp it with both hands. “I hope there is a deal

INDONESIAN RALLY DISTANCES ing the elections for a new president some ITSELF FROM SUHARTO time next year. n In the wake of the cancellation of this RALLY NZ STRUGGLING year’s event, the organisers of the n The organisers of the New Zealand Indonesia Rally have been apparently Rally are pinning their financial future trying to distance themselves from Tommy Suharto, the son of the ousted on making spectators pay to watch the president and a regular rally competitor. action at the Championship event. Following a ban on tobacco sponsorship, Up until 1995, the younger Suharto was also chairman of the Indonesia Motorsport the New Zealand government gave the rally Federation. organisers three years to find an alternative “Suharto is sometimes perceived as having sponsor. During that period, the government a direct involvement in our event,” explained subsidised the event - but, now the organis Clerk of the Course Indradjit Sardjono. ers’ time is up and, as no new sponsor has been found, the event is struggling to stay “Tommy’s only involvement is as a competi afloat. tor and the federation does not run the rally Event chairman Morrie Chandler has said anyway, it is run by a separate organisa that New Zealanders must come to terms tion.” Sardjono was forced to cancel the event with having to pay to watch the rally, a this year in the aftermath of rioting which scheme which has been used to good advan tage by Rally Australia over the past ten led to the resignation of the country’s presi dent. ! l years, but which the event has not totally relied upon. The FIA has said that the political situa The New Zealand event has always had tion in Indonesia should not prevent the enough money to plan two years in advance, event being a part of next year’s champi but it now runs on a year by year basis, which onship and Sardjono is confident that he can go ahead and plan a rally for 1999, given jeopardises the rally’s position when the FIA that the civil unrest will be resolved follow- sits in October to plan thel999 calendar.

going and I hope I am part of it,” said Guest. “But, until then, I simply won’t get excited about it. “We have the next ARC round and then Rally New Zealand to worry about at the moment; they are my first priotities.” The Mazda RX-7 turbo, if that is the car which Guest

will run, should be fast, but pundits doubt its ability to be able to hold together over 18,500 kilometres of hard driving. Some have suggested that Mazda may be entering the high-powered rear wheel drive turbo as a publicity stealer, hoping to gain the limelight throughout the

Rumours are that this year’s event at the end of July could be the last time the Kiwi rally is a permanent part ofthe World title Despite the multitude of problems, Chandler is confident that he can gather enough cash to keep the event going. “We’ll pull it all together,’ he said, “find a sponsor and somehow manage to make the event happen next year.” ! CHINA COULD STEP IN n The China Rally looks ever more like ly to find a place in next year’s World Rally Championship, possibly at the expense of New Zealand, after a second successful running last week. The event nearly featured on the 1998 cal endar, but the FIA thought it needed one more year to gain experience. The event is currently being overseen by the team which runs Rally Australia, as it will be for another year - however, it appears that the Chinese are taking more and more control themselves and, by the year 2000, could be capable of running the show by themselves. The only major safety problem occurred when Hong Kong driver Chan Chi Wah was

days of the rally - and, even if it happened to break, it would have done its job. But Mazda Competition Manager Allan Horsley is known for his thoroughness and tactics and can be relied

upon to come up with a car that will be quick and reli able. -JON THOMSON

confronted with two cyclists who rode straight out in front of his Mitsubishi Lancer. One of the riders was killed and the other seriously injured. Although the police spoke to Chan, he con tinued in the event, apparently unperturbed by the incident which was seen as a fairly normal occurrence on the Chinese roads. YOUNGER McRAE DOWN UNDER n Alister McRae, Colin’s younger broth er, has been confirmed as an entry at Rally Australia driving an F2 VW Golf GTi in what will be the lastWRC outing for the current Golf before the debut of the new model in the British Championship next year. SBG Motorsport, the team which nms the young McRae in the British Championship, will offer the car for .sale after Rally Australia and is keen to see it stay here in Australia. McRae will be accompanied by co-driver Dave Senior in the Australian round of the WRC, where he hopes to overcome the F2 opposition aftei; gaining experience down under last year. - JON THOMSON

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Ferrari brings World Report by JOE SAWARD

software gave Michael and Ferrari ASchumacher slight delay in the FIA’s the chance to win the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours last Sunday.V If the race had not been redflagged he would not have beaten the McLarenrMercedes cars, but the race was stopped and Michael was able to make a better start second time round. You can call it lucky, but you have to grab at the luck when it comes by and someone like Michael always does. Eddie Irvine similarly made the most of the restart to finish second and did a lovely job supporting his team leader by delaying the McLarens. No, I am not suggesting there were team orders. Eddie is just not as quick as Michael. That is the only possible explanation now that team orders are not allowed ...

Quaiifying Things are Magny-Cours. not going so well for poor old Lost in the middle of nowhere, motor racing’s monument to President Francois Mitterand has fallen on hard times since the death of its patron and Frost Grand Prix has moved out, leaving the halls of the old Ligier team for the ghosts, with brown envelopes gathering on the floor under the letterboxes.

There was always going to he trouble for Magny-Cours because it was not given the go-ahead until the middle of March. In addition, as everyone in the world knows, the World Cup is happening in France and all the fans seem to want to spend their time at home. Throughout the weekend the football epidemic was signalled by raucous cheers from beneath motorhome awnings. When the Ferrari and Minardi tents roared with joy one knew that Italy had scored a goal. All this meant that no-one real

ly wanted to come to Magny-Cours and ticket sales were so bad that the local authorities - who are funding the event - decided to avoid the international embarrassment of empty stands by offering every secondary school pupil a free ticket. Mika Hakkinen took his fifth pole of the season and it was achieved without vast drama, Teammate David Coulthard was only third, the McLarens split by Schumacher’s Ferrari. “I was never really in contention,” David admitted later. “I had a problem with a couple of corners which were key to my quick lap.” Hakkinen said he was happy enough and not really worried about Ferrari’s progress, which seemed to owe much to Goodyear. This was backed ,.up by the performances of both' Williams and Jordan and the relatively disap-

pointing showing of the Benettons and Frosts, Schumacher reckoned that he had a good chance in the race because overtaking at MagnyCours is a difficult thing to achieve and so much would depend on good strategy and fast blasts when the track was clear.

Michael is always good at those in a class of his own these days,

ddie Irvine looked better than usual, but then he usually does at Magny-Cours. He was dis appointed to be only fourth on the grid and blamed some yellow flags, Fifth and eighth were the Williams of Jacques Villeneuve and Heinz-Harald Frentzen, the pair being split by the two Jordans, This was not a great surprise as Frentzen was still in some difficulty after a huge testing crash at the track. He added that his quest had mot been«helped by making the wrong decisions on set-up, which put him 0.6s behind Villeneuve. Jacques - only 0.7s off pole seemed happy enough to be vaguely back on the pace and reckoned that he could have qualified in the top three had he not gone off in the morning session and lost much-needed set-up time. There were a few more smiles than normal at Jordan, with Ralf Schumacher sixth and Damon Hill seventh, And Ralf was hoping for a better start than usual, having a modi-

fied clutch to help him get off the line, “It would be great if this could be the turning point for Jordan’s season,” he said. Hill gave Goodyear some of the

LOCAL HERO: Jean Alesi was his usual mercurial self on home soil, qualifying well in the Sauber before having two separate collisions in the race and finishing just out of the points in seventh place. (Photos by Race Access)

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credit for his position on the grid and pointed out that a revised Mugen Honda engine had also helped. The Goodyear lighted most revival of all bywas thehigh per formance of the Bridgestone-shod Benettons, Giancarlo Fisichella ninth and Alexander Wurz 10th. The drivers complained of a fun damental lack of grip. Wurz point ed out that he and Fisichella were not miracle workers and that the times they had set were as fast as the cars were willing to go. Next up in the team-by-team grid was Sauber Petronas, although local hero Jean Alesi was split from Johnny Herbert by the Prost of Jarno Trulli. The Sauber boys were not hav ing a good time after their impres sive testing times at Magny-Cours in the week before the French GP. Both drivers complained that their engines lacked power in com parison to the testing and the return of understeer also annoyed the pair. On Saturday morning the team blew all three engines in its cars, which meant that the team was not perhaps at its most tranquil when the qualifying session began. In the circumstances, 11th and 13th was not bad. Things were not very happy at Prost Grand Prix. This is, of course, the team’s home event and for the occasion Peugeot had brought out a brand new

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3JulyW98

Championship alive

YOU ARE THE BEST: Ferrari team manager Jean Todt warmly greets Michael Schumacher after the French Grand Prix. Eddie Irvine awaits his turn.

IMPROVED FORM: The clear gains made by Goodyear were reflected in a better showing from the Williams team, with World Champion Jacques Villeneuve qualifying fifth and finishing fourth.

Evolution 4 version of its engine, but you would not have known it. Trulli was delayed by an alternator failure at the wrong moment and reckoned that he could have been as high as eighth on the grid. Poor Olivier Fanis was way down in 16th as the result of failing to find a good set-up in the Saturday morning sessions. He tried out the spare car and decided to use that for qualifying but was then clobbered by a transmission problem and had to go back to his ill-handling race car.

The only ray of sunshine was that Trulli was only fourtenths behind the Benettons. Maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel. A solid 14th and 15th on the grid were the two Stewart-Fords which, it is sad to report, reflects badly on Jan Magnussen, who never really managed to match Rubens Barrichello. Jan’s replacement, Jos

Verstappen, wasted no time in cementing his position and with a lap which was just half a second behind Rubens, despite losing most of Friday with an oil system problem. Next up, as one would expect, were the Arrows boys, with Pedro Diniz faster than Mika Salo on this occasion, despite earlier spin ning into a tyre barrier quite heavily, The team was, however, rather frustrated because Diniz had been forced to use the spare car because of an hydraulic leak in his race car and Sale’s hopes of a good qualify ing position were ruined by an engine failure. Splitting the Arrows, Rosset did a very good job for Tyrrell on this occasion, the Brazilian beginning to find his feet after a series of shaky performances. Much of this he felt was down to having done more testing and gained more con fidence in the car.

have done better but for a Ford engine failure at the start of the qualifying session and the spare was fitted with an older, less pow¬ erful engine. Down at the back on this occa¬ sion - in 21st and 22nd - were the two Minardis, with Shinji Nakano using his local knowledge (he used to be a Frost driver remember) to out-run Esteban Tuero. Tuero had crashed quite heavily at the end of the Saturday morn¬ ing session, which put him into the T-car in qualifying, which then suffered a transmission failure.

Race - Reduced to 71 laps

Magny-Cours, if you are ehind someone you stay there unless you have an advantage over.them of more than a second and so the start and the first lap are incredibly important. That is why there are often incidents. There was, therefore, more than a little tension as the lights went out at the start of the race and Hakkinen got off the line well. Schumacher did not do well and had to swerve across the road to stop Coulthard passing him as

well.

But as the back end of the grid swept under the starting gantry there were red and yellow lights shining brightly. Verstappen had stalled on the grid and the race had been stopped.

Teammate Tora Takagi might

Continued next page

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McLaren drivers made a mess of it. In a flash Schumacher and Irvine were ahead of the McLarens. Villeneuve also managed to get past Coulthard. On the back straight David took back the place, but there was nothing either McLaren driver could do about Irvine’s Ferrari and Eddie was not going as fast as Schumacher. The result was that Michael dis

appeared at a rate of knots while both McLaren drivers were frus trated. The race was won in those first few laps. rlf’

SECOND TIME LUCKY: Schumacher races away at the second start while Irvine also jumps clear of the McLarens and, on the outside, ViUeneuve's Williams. (Photo by Nigel Snowdon)

Continued from previous page

NOT THIS TIME: Mika Hakkinen took pole again, but a bad start and a spin dropped him to second.

This was beyond belief, of course, and the paddock cynics assumed that naturally Schumacherjs poor start was to blame for thp red flag. In Canada there were cars all over the place and the race was allowed to run.

ut it was not as simple as that. Charlie Whiting had seen the stalled Stewart and had decided to abort the start. He pressed the button an instant before the five red lights went out, but the abort message did not get through the software fast enough to stop the start from happening. Fortunately everyone avoided Verstappen, but those at the back went under the starting gantry with the red and yellow “Start

There were,Ferrari of course,was those who felt that using team orders, which are - ludi crously - banned in FI these days. Irvine might have been able to go quicker than he did - he was hold ing up the McLarens by at least a second on every lap - but no-one would ever be able to prove it. The sad thing was that Eddie bottled up the McLarens complete ly and all hope of a good race dis appeared as Schumacher went away at the front. Jarno Trulli came into the pits to have “a foreign object” removed from beneath the pedal of his Frost. There was much specula tion as to what this may have been but the team was not saying. It was probably a spanner or a half-eaten sandwich. Whatever it was, it was deeply embarrassing for the team on its home ground, The only man to make dis cernible progress in the first stint was Johnny Herbert, who had made a bad start in his Sauber. He passed Fanis and Barrichello but was then stuck in the queue. By lap 13 Schumacher was 13s ahead and it was all over. Irvine was under pressure from the two McLarens but then there was a big gap back to Villeneuve and a further gap back to the two Jordans. Behind them was Wurz, Alesi and Fisichella, while Frentzen was down in 11th after a bad start,

Abort” lights flashing. ^n the 16th lap Hill suddenly There was obviously some conW slowed with a hydraulic probfusion because the cars had gone lem and, in the excitement which through several corners before the followed, Wurz and Half red flags were shown. Schumacher managed to hit one The whole process was further . another and so the German had to confused by the fact that pit for a replacement steering Verstappen was not sent to the arm. He raced on for the rest of the back of the field as he should have been. afternoon but it was a pointless Second time around, the Gods exercise. He finished 16th, three were'shining on Schumacher - as laps down. The Benettons were the first they often do - and this time he made a good start while both the cars to stop on schedule, with

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3July 1998

Photo by Clive Mason/Allsport

TYRE BALANCE: The Bridgestone runners did not enjoy the same advantage they have so far this year, putting the Benetton and Frost teams further back than expected. (Photo by Nigel Snowdon) BUZZIN’ HORNET; Jordan staged something of a revival at Magny Cours, not all of It attributable to tyres, but (Photo by Clive Mason/Allsport) their race fell apart again. Hill had the same problem in the race as in practice.

French Grand Prix World Championship, round 8 Magny Cours, June 28th, 1998- 71 laps 1 Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F300,1 h34m45,026s 2 . Eddie Irvine, Ferrari F300, 1h35m04,601s 3 Mika Hakkinen, McLaren-Mercedes MP4/13, 1 h35m04,773s 4 Jacques Villeneuve, Williams-Mecachrome FW20,1h35m51,991s 5 Alex Wurz, Benetton-Mecachrome B198, 70 laps 6 David Coulthard, McLaren-Mercedes MP4/13, 70 laps 7 Jean Alesi, Sauber-Petronas Cl7,70 laps 8 Johnny Herbert, Sauber-Petronas Cl 7, 70 laps 9 Giancarlo Fisichella, Benetton-Mecachrome B198, 70 laps 10 Rubens Barrichello, Stewart-Ford SF2,69 laps 11 Olivier Panis, Prost-Peugeot AP01,69 laps 12 Jos Verstappen, Stewart-Ford SF2,69 laps 13 Mika Salo, Arrows A19, 69 laps 14 Pedro Diniz, Arrows A19,69 laps 15 Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Williams-Mecachrome FW20,68 laps; DNF 16 Ralf Schumacher, Jordan-Mugen-Honda 198,68 laps 17 Shinji Nakano, Minardi-Ford Ml 98,65 laps; DNF

“At least I scored a point,” was all and Heinz-Harald was forced to Wurz and Fisichella having decid retire with a bent track rod. ed to go for a three-stop strategy. he could say. Wurz ended up in fifth place, Hakkinen never gave up and They had nothing to lose. which was a good result, although On lap 21 Hakkinen challenged after his second stop was right with he admitted he was very fortunate Irvine. He tried everything he knew Irvine for second place and man to have finished ahead ofaged to scramble ahead, but he but failed to get past, the pair fin spun almost immediately and ishing side-by-side as Mika tried Coulthard. Fisichella ended the day in ninth , Fastest lap: Coulthard, Lap 59, 1 ml7,523s decided it would be a good moment one last blast at the final comer. which was not bad after a collision And so Ferrari finished 1-2, which to pit. Lap Leaders: Lap 1-22 Schumacher; 23 Irvine; 24-71 Schumacher was all very worthy and exciting for with Alesi - which meant a new A lap later Schumacher and Retirements; Coulthard both pitted, but David’s the World Championship. As a TV nose having to be fitted during his Lap 16 Ricardo Rosset, Tyrrell-Ford 026, engine stop went horribly wrong as the spectacle, it was rather dull despite second stop - and a spin after Lap 19 Damon Hill, Jordan-Mugen-Honda 198, hydraulics Takagi’s Tyrrell blew refuelling nozzle would Lap 41 Esteban Tuero, Minardi-Ford Ml 98, hydraulics/gearbox up. not connect properly and Lap 55 Jarno Trulli, Prost-Peugeot AP01,spun off time was lost. All this Alesi lost out on his Lap 60 Tora Takagi, Tyrrell-Ford 026, engine meant that, after Irvine » ,,, sixth place in those final Lap 65 Shinji Nakano, Minardi-Ford Ml98, engine stopped on lap 23, not a disaster after two Ferrari was in a healthy Lap 68 Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Williams-Mecachrome FW2Qi accident 1-2 situation with Irvine World Championship points standings: finished 18s behind Schumacher 1 Hakkinen 50; 2 Schumacher 44;3 Coulthard 30; 4 Irvine 25; and Hakkinen five sec 5 Wurz 14;6 Fisichella 13; 7 Villeneuve 11;8 Frentzen 8; onds behind him. 9 Barrichello 4; 10 Salo and Alesi 3; 12 Herbert, Magnussen and Diniz 1 ended the first lap in The gaps did not 15th position. Constructors' Championship points: change much for the second stint. a few interesting moments in the final moments. Barrichello scraped home in the 1 McLaren-Mercedes 80;2 Ferrari 69; 3 Benetton-Mecachrome 27; Irvine stopped again on lap 43 with top 10 but admitted that he had to 4 Williams-Mecachrome 19; 5 Stewart-Ford 5; Arrows 4; Schumacher coming in on lap 45 fight the car throughout the entire and there were 10 laps in which the 7 Sauber-Petronas 4 Was the victory significant?have Yes, race. Ferrari (and Goodyear) McLarens ran second and third, but “I can feel the potential the car done some catching up, but the it was irrelevant really. They had son having to pay for its own travel and finished 11th. The only positive McLarens still seem to be ahead in has,” he said, “and I know that once to pit again, thing he could say was that the car ling as it has dropped out of the top we get the car right in terms of set terms of pure speed. Having said 10 teams. was at least reliable. akkinen went first on lap 54 that, pure speed does not always up we can show just how competi The two Arrows finished 13th tive we are.” win World Championships. and Coulthard followed, but and 14th with Salo outrunning Verstappen did a great job to fin Behind the top two teams, the refuelling disaster continued For Michael Schumacher fans it was probably a great race, but Diniz, who was having neck trouble ish 12th on his first outing with the Williams and Villeneuve seemed to and David had to make another two one could not help but think that it after his shunt on Saturday. be resigned to fourth place. He team - which was a lot more stops before he had enough gas to might have been more interesting if The two Minardis both retired, pushed hard all afternoon but was impressive than Magnussen’s get to the finish. with Nakano going out with an the McLarens had not been tied up disappointed by the speed of the car showings for the last 18 months. Every time he left the pits he behind Irvine. engine failure in the final laps It was not a good day for Frost. set fast laps, including the fastest as it came out of the slow comers. Still, as we know well in FI these while Tuero stopped at half dis Frentzen had a less successful After Trulli’s encounters with his of the race, and he even managed days, winning is all that matters to overtake some of the slower time. 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Classic Mille Miglia

/ FESTIVALS

Report and photos by MIKE KABLE

Once again, Goodwood’s annual Festival ofSpeed sufferedfrom all manner ofevil British weather, but that could not stop the beautiful cars and beautifulpeoplefromflocking to Lord March’s estatefor what is always the ultimate weekend in motor racing nostalgia. The Tyrrell name may be gonefrom FI racing but the marquefeatured heavily during the weekend. Ken Tyrrell’s grandchildren snapped up some ofthe cars during the traditional Friday auction.

Mercedes-Benz sent one oftheir endurance racing CLK-GTRs along; this is the V12-engined car which Mark Webber drove at Albert Park. The Lord ofthe Manor,Lord March (pictured here withformer Wonderbra modelEva Herzigova)had more thanjustfast cars on his mind...

THE famous hills of Italy have once again reverber ated with the sounds of the world’s finest automo biles. The Mille Miglia Storica, which was revived in 1977, embraces a rally format, unlike the original flat-out, non-stop race which ran from 1927 to 1957 with a six-year pause during World War II. But the overall distance is the same, as are many of the roads and the spectacular Radicofani, Futa and Raticosa Appenine Mountains passes used in the modem classic, from Brescia to Rome and back. The Mille Miglia’s irre sistibility means that there’s always a surplus of prospec tive entrants. More than 800

applied this year for the expanded field of 358 cars from the 1927-1957 era. The final acceptances spanning 52 marques with no fewer than 47 Alfa Romeos, 44 Mercedes-Benz classics, 38 Ferraris and 25 Maseratis carried the colours of28 coimtries, including Australia, which was represented by a 1927 Type 35B Bugatti (dri vers Longes and Fischer) and a 1929 Chrysler 75 Le Mans (Jones and Lutz). Roger Penske, co-driving a Mercedes-Benz 300SL in his Mille Miglia debut with the company’s former chief execu tive Helmut Werner, was prominent among the many celebrities taking part. The sprinkling oh past FI greats included Carlos Rentemann (who has cast cast his hat in the ring to be

the

President

Argentina) and six-times Le Mans 24-hour winner Jackie Ickx, both driving Porsche RS550s. BMW Motorsport chief and engine design genius Paul Kosche teamed with Prince Leopold of Bavaria, in a BMW 328 and Emanuele Pirro was at the wheel of a superb 4.5-litre, 340bhp 375MM Ferrari. Mercedes-Benz gave Jochen Mass a treat by entrusting him with the 300SLR in which Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson won the 1955 MiUe Miglia at an average speed of nearly lOOmph. The pleasure of driving that great car more than com pensated for the fact that Mass missed out on winning a trophy!

3July ms

Doing a man size job By CHRIS LAMBDEN

SEVENTEEN years, 11 months and one day now goes into Australia’s motor sport record books as the age of the youngest ever Australian Gold Star Champion. That this breaks the previous age record by over four years is astounding. Formula Holden is clearly offering a career path to the ever younger racer... Kiwi Scott Dixon completed his mission with a round to spare at a Calder Park meeting which threw up all sorts of obstacles - a tortuous drivetrain-breaking track, cold tem peratures and, finally, a deluge which brought proceedings to a pre mature halt. Both Darren Edwards and Todd Kelly threw out challenges to the champion-in-waiting, but both were repelled and Dixon took maximum points - albeit half points for the rain-shortened race two. Kelly, second in both races, nar rowed the gap in his contest with Mark Noske for second in the series. The two HRT Young Lions will decide the runner-up spot at Oran Park’s final round, in August. Finalised at Calder, however, were all the other races within a race: American John De Vries has an unassailable lead in the ‘Silver Star’ category; Kelly can’t be caught for Mobil Rookie of the Year; and the NGK Pole Position Award is Dixon’s (six, to Noske’s three).

Qualifying

Calder continues to be a trans mission-breaker among the Formula Holden troops. The crest of ‘Bob’s Hill’, out of the turn twothree esses, is particularly savage as the cars go light, then cope with torque and the grip of the wide rear Dunlops when they come down.

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Axles, CV joints, gearboxes - there were failures of all types as the teams prepared for the weekend, although race day dramas were surprisingly minimal, with one exception. Dixon’s SH Racing Team contin ued on its untroubled way with no mechanical dramas and two more pole positions. The grip of this year’s Dunlop (replacing the previous Avon) con tinues to show with, in this case, an improvement of over two seconds on Jason Bright’s lap record in the first session, Dixon’s pole a handy 52.4731 seconds, set mid-session. Another all-Kiwi front row ensued, with Simon Wills running his compatriot very close (52.4993s) late in the half hour. Noske (52.8426s) and Edwards (52.8875s) were close on row two, Noske’s preparation upset by a final drive failure the day before. His mechanical woes would contin ue in the second session, with a diff failure halting the Primus car less than 10 minutes in. Edwards too would have a fraught second session, the engine in his Reynard tossing a rod after just four laps. Back to the first session, though, and Marcus Friesacher and the reg ularly improving Owen Osborne made up row three, ahead of Ramsay and Asai. Ramsay was debuting the first of the Birrana team’s 94D Reynards and, apart from a heart-stopping throttle jam on Friday, it was com ing along fine, as the team and dri ver adapted to the monoshock front suspension and sequential gearbox. Les Crampton led the Silver Star brigade, sharing row five with Craig Bastian. Where was Kelly? Fitting a replacement gearbox (the original

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NEW CHAMP... Dixon sealed his Gold Star in convincing fashion, until the rain came. (Photo by ouk Kiynsmtth) had split a casing) had taken longer than expected and in the end Todd only completed a couple of flying laps, qualifying 19th and last... Dixon was a fraction slower in the second session (52.7802), although this time again came late in the session after first Wills and then Kelly had temporarily held pole. In the end there was under a tenth to Kelly, while Wills had become involved with someone else’s off after setting his third-best time, filling his radiators with grass and overheating the engine. It would prove costly come race

day.

Noske was fourth, with Ramsay now moving up to fifth, from Bastian, Asai, Brede, Crampton and Bob Power.

Race 1 (20 laps)

The warm-up brought dramas for Noske and Wills, the former break ing a CV joint, which was replaced for the race. For Wills, however, the news was glum. Most likely as a result of its overheating the day before, his engine did a big end and he was out for the day. So Dixon lined up alongside a blank grid spot, but any thoughts he might have had of an easy race were dispelled by Edwards, who made a flier (with the spare engine installed) from the second row to lead into turn one. Into the turn two-three esses Osborne and Friesacher were banging wheels (Osborne would slow with damage to the right-

front suspension) while Noske went off to avoid the melee, rejoining down in 10th. Edwards and Dixon already had a gap at the end of the opener, from Friesacher, with (as a result of the turn two fracas) 200 metres back to Crampton, Kelly (a flier from the back!), Ramsay and the rest. Dixon was soon applying the pressure to Edwards, clearly able to get alongside on the main straight, but not by enough to risk a serious pass. The yoqngster clearly had the championshjp in mind. It could have gone on all race, as Edwards looked to have the gaps plugged, but onto the straight for the seventh time Edwards’ Reynard jumped out of second gear and that was enough. Dixon was through, his next lap was a second quicker, and so it con tinued, with a 53.0658s on lap 14 the race best as the Kiwi cruised away to win by a comfortable seven seconds. But not from Edwards. Kelly was flying, and by lap 11 was past Friesacher and onto Edwards’ tail. Again, Edwards looked to have him covered, but as the duo shot down the back straight for the last time, Kelly tried the outside (unsuccessfully), but as they then flicked left, Edwards ran wide and left the gap. Kelly was through, to lead Edwards home, with five seconds back to Friesacher, a recovered Noske, Ramsay, Crampton, De Vries, Bastian and Brede.

The Lion King claims his crown! Congratulations Konica Holden Young Lion Todd Kelly on taking out the 1998 Formula Holden Rookie of theJTeafe it was an effort by our Young Lion that was truly Konica Tough!

1 a &● L

Race 2 (Cut to 5 laps)

It was very black overhead as Kelly, from the outside front row, got the better of Dixon off the line, but the lead didn’t last. Into two-three Dixon was harassing, Kelly ran wide onto the kerbs on the exit, and the yellow car was through. That, it seemed, was that. Noske followed through in third, with Edwards demoting Ramsay before the end of the opener, Brede (a great start) and Asai following. A couple more laps and the driz zle came. Then the rain. Cars soon started to spear off everywhere. Into lap seven and Dixon spun Out of turn three. Kelly missed him, but then spun too at the next corner. By now the red was out and the result declared as at the end of lap five: Dixon, Kelly, Noske, Edwards, Ramsay, Osborne, Bastian, Brede, Crampton and Oakeshott the top ten. The Stewards deliberated and half points were allocated enough to tie up the championship for Dixon. For the young Kiwi, Oran Park will now be fun: “Without having to think about the championship, I can race the way I want to,” he said. Ominous for the challengers, you’d think. Points (After 5 of 6 rounds): Dixon IGO; Noske 116; Kelly 114.5; Ramsay 70; Friesacher 60; De Vries 45; Edwards 35; Crampton 24; Wills 23; Brede 20.5. Silver Star Category: De Vries 159; Crampton 114.5; Brede 84.

ATCC

CALDER PARK

3JiilyW98

DU<S

l Lowndes cements series lead with victory l Race 3 cancelled after torrential downpour l Bargwanna wins second race for 2nd overall l Race 1 brake failure ruins Ingall’s weekend

l Bright takes Ford honours with third on day l Commodore VTs make circumspect debut l Skaife and Crompton star in qualifying l Smerdon takes Privateer honours

Mobil

Report by PHIL BRANAGAN

TOO FLAMIN’GOOD... Craig Lowndes extended his series lead with overall victory on the day.

(Photo by Dirk Klynsmith)

ALL FIRED UP... Dick Johnson heads for retirement after bursting an oil cooler in an incident with Faulkner and Poole.

holding off the 1996 champi on right to the flag for his maiden V8 victory. The ‘other’ Jason, Bright, also had a strong weekend, taking two third places in the newly-rewinged Krtek Falcon EL‘2’.

veryone talks about the weather but no-one ever does anything about it. But the drivers in round eight of the 1998 Shell Big loser of the weekend ATCC did something about and, perhaps, luckiest escapee the weather at Calder; they skipped the third race when it - was Russell Ingall. After a was cancelled due to a near typically strong race one perflood. formance'he was heading for a row two start in the second The unprecedented action race when his brake pedal came after the skies opened went to the floor on the final as the cars were lining up in pit row. Greg Murphy went lap, sentencing him to a trip out for two sighter laps and, down the escape road and a following consultation with season-worst 12th place. Mark Skaife dominated the officials, the 24th race of qualifying, taking his fifth the championship was can celled. pole of the season, though bad starts cost him dearly, drop Craig Lowndes had won the first race but he failed to ping him as low as 23rd in unnerve a rock-solid Jason race two before he charged up Bargwanna in race two, to fifth. Garry Rogers’ star rookie Greg Murphy and Larry Perkins made mixed debuts making a scalding start and

Six-time Bathurst winner Larry Peitkins has been captured like never before in this brilliant portrait by ^fiowned artist Helen Young. Just 500prints ofthis magftificent painting are being offcredlwith each one numbered andindivMually signed by.the artist and Larry Perkins. Printed on quality silk gloss 200 gsm paper, with border, each picture measures 30 cm x 42 cpi unframed and comers with a certi^cate of]^^^^ authenticity. To secure your copy,post the coupon to.>- HHen Young' ~ m Box 1066 Albury NSW2640 Mobile 0412 099175 □ Visa

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WELL QUALIFIED ... Neil Crompton surprised everyone, especially Glenn Seton, when he qualified ahead of the boss, but bad starts cost him dearly in the races. (Photos by Marshall Cass)

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LITTLE BIG MAN... Bargwanna drove superbly In the second race to hold out Craig Lowndes. (Photos by John Moms/Mpix) DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH... Young guns dominated the results, with Craig Lowndes (24), Jason Bargwanna (26)and Jason Bright(25) filling the podium. (Photo by Dirk Klynsmith) in the new Commodore VTs. Murphy qualified on the fourth row but got knocked around in race one while Perkins spent the whole weekend searching for bal ance in the Castrol version. Paul Komano continued his controversial season, being involved in two incidents, while Chris Smerdon was the class of the Privateers with a first and a second.

Eotry & Qualifying

elbourne in June is a chilly place and, added to the Calder wind, it was not a nice place to be. No wonder a lot of Vies retire to the northern climes. Still, racing is racing and 35 of the VSs, VTs, EFs and ELIIs faced off at the Keilor bullring for the 32 grid spots. Making the field was Simon Emerzidis, with a bor rowed gearbox, while Ray Hislop returned to the series to face using Yokohama con trol tyres for the first time. The talk in the pits was aU wings. It wasn’t that the Falcons’ new package of ‘Commodore’ front splitter and 53nun ofrear wing height wasn’t working, it was - too

HUNG OUT... Steve Ellery has a wild ride down into the first corner in the Konica 1/5, but he hung onto it and continued.

well, apparently, and over loading the rear supports. After consultation, TEGA’s technical boffins permitted the fitting of a centre wing support, similar to the ones seen on the old Commodore VPs. Dick Johnson Racing provided four of them on Friday while Harrop Engineering buUt 10 more for the troops’ use on Saturday, and all was tickety-boo again. Not that it mattered much. Calder is a track that places a premium on where you start and, this day, on this track,'in this cold, Bridgestone ruled qualifying like never before. Skaife’s pole took all of 55.63s and was backed up by Lowndes’ 55.85s effort. On their home track, the Men from Mobil were untouchable.

Both drivers their cars,complimented tyres, crews and each other but, in the end, it was what the other drivers said that was more telling. Basically, everyone arrived at Calder expecting an HRT butt-whipping,in qualifying and that’s what they gotf Move on; there’s nothing to see here. There was, however, at

‘HRT Heights’. Murf was back in action in the neat VT and, even though it was looking a little skatey, it was sure good to see the man with a steer again. The car was “stUl nervous in the rear and the power is not going down as well as it should” thought Murf. He was all the way down in 10th, 0.43s slower than Lowndes.

Three Ford-Bridgestones followed the HRT dhow. It was little surprise to see Bright third. He had led all¬ comers on Friday (when the HRT cars cruised) and, with a 55.92s, Jason was many peopie’s prediction to win his first race on the weekend. Team Manager Ross Stone

Continued next page

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32 3July 1998 Calder n

S Dick Johnson had a first on Friday; a ride as a passenger in the Racing for Life car, piloted by son Steven. After the ride Dick emerged a little grey around the gills. “I’m beginning to wonder what I’ve done to deserve that,” he said. n Sunday’s rainstorm prevented Dunlop from giving its new rain tyre a gallop. The English-made rubber replaces the Japanese wets for future races and its designation was referred to by Dunlop’s Russell Stuckey as “X’. The tnith is out there, somewhere... n Craig Lowndes’ 24th birthday on raceday was the subject of much atten tion, not the least of which was a birthday cake from track owner Bob Jane after his win. It took the super-fit HRT driver TWO blows to get the candles out. a Mark Skaife’s pole position was his fourth straight, an impressive statistic given the compet itive nature of the series. He has a little work to do to set a new record, though; Peter Brock scraped in with 13 straight in 1979/80. □ The comparison of brand tyre speeds between 1997 and ’98 was interesting. For Bridgestone, Skmfe’s pole time was 0.6s faster than Murphy’s pole last season. Dunlop’s best qualifier both years was Ingall; this time sixth (56.16s) and last year- 10th (56.95s), a 0.79s gain. Yokohama was the big loser, from second in ’97 (Wayne Gardner, 56.25s) to 18th with Steve Ellery, 0.7s slower. ■ On Saturday after noon four ‘lucky’ people went for a pillion ride with Damon Buckmaster, Mark Willis, Steve Martin and Shawn Giles. Wynns driver Darren Pate, who was with Buckmaster, described the lap as ‘awe some’. It was only 13s slower than a Superbike race lap. ■ Trevor Ashby ran his first-ever Calder race as a Level 2 competitor. With only eight rounds required for Privateers’ champi onship consideration, and only six of those to count, the Lansvale team moved up a Division for the weekend. ■ No wonder Adam Macrow had to change engines after the first Formula Ford race at Calder. The official results from RaceTime Computing listed the number 8 car has having an engine capacity of 1207cc while everybody else had 1600cc... -PHILBRANAGAN AND AARON NOONAN

ATCC

CALDER PARK reported that the car was lit tle changed from the time that it was pulled out of the tmck, which was a promising sign. Bright led Glenn Seton and Neil Crompton - or, rather, Crompton and Seton. The ser vant bounced the master by 0.026s (“I just dropped on the right side of the tenth”, shrugged Cromley later), the drivers starting with differing set-ups and working closer as time went on. At last - well, sixth - a Dunlop; Ingall. Both Castrol cars (and practically all Dunlop cars) were not unbal anced per se, as much as lack ing grip. Ingall was just 0.05s slower than Seton on 56.16s and was looking forward to a better race. He was 0.34s (and seven places) clear of the boss. Perkins was running the new VT for the first time and was generally happy with the car for its first run. While he was way back in 13th, Lany was not going to get excited - or depressed - about it too much.

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RACE TWO HRT ACTION... Murf spins the new VT under

and three spots, split by Paul Romano and Tony Longhurst, like Alan Jones running Dunlops for the second time. 359s identical in compound but not construction to the latest Level 1 tyres. Of the rest; Steve Ellery took the honours in the Yokohama class with 18th and Tomas Mezera (filling in

At the otherscale, end ofcar-wise, the evo- for Darren Hossack at lutionary Wynns) just bested Darren was John Faulkner. As the Pate for 21st after being driver of a four-year-old ex- delayed on his fast lap by a HRT Commodore on backmarker exiting the pits Bridgestones he could have straight onto the racing line, been reasonably expected to Michael Schumacher-style. be in the top 10, and he was Rod Nash took Level 3 hononly fom'spots up on his 1997 ours, just deaf of Mai R'ose, speed. But the improvement while Trevor Ashby, having was an impressive 0.81s, in his first race at Calder, was. the same car,in 12 months. 30th after all sorts of set-up Bargwanna was eighth. He woes, Robert Smith was first had had a run at Winton on reserve, ahead of the ‘No Tuesday and was happy with the car, as was Garth Tander, Timers’ Mike Donaher and who had not driven since his Mike Imrie. home town touring car debut. Race 1-21 laps He was 11th. t’s an ill wind which does Upsetting the Bridgestone train was the second Dunlop' no-one good. That could have been on runner, John Bowe, in 9th; The Shell Helix cars didn’t the minds of many drivers on actually look too bad on the the way to the track. After an track; they were balanced, early morning shower there was a drying line for the according to team manager warm-up bijt, despite fore ‘Curl’ Orr, they simply lacked casts of meteorological maygnp. Tenth was Murphy, from hem in the afternoon, hopes Tander and Mark Larkham. were high for a dry escape to On 14th, Steve Johnson proceedings, Qualifying well’is one bounced his Dad by a tenth

pressure’from Tender(above) while Lowndes locks everything (below)and hurls on left lock as he dives under Seton to take second. (Photos by Neil Hammond and Mpix) thing, backing it up with good starts is another. Skaife and Crompton wasted much of their good work with lousy getaways; into the first comer Mark was third, Cromley eighth. In the middle of the pack, inevitably due to Calder’s ‘funnel’, was mayhem. Romano found himself boxed in and Mezera was trying to avoid hitting him when, sud-"^ denly, he was hit in the rear by Johnson. Jones had a choice; spm onto grass or hit Tomas. He chose curtain number one. Oh, the race. Lowndes was already 50m clear of Bright by the top of the hdl, then it was Skaife, Ingall, Bargwanna, Seton, Bowe, Crompton (who was hung out to dry in turn one), Tander, Murphy, Faulkner, Ellery,

Perkins, Longhurst, Johnson II, Pate, Poole and Romano. After a mid-56 first flying lapj, Craig was two seconds in front and the battle for the win was over. But Skaife was mounting a major sortie on the rear of Bright; the Commodore looked to have more everything than the Falcon, but Bright was not giving in. Faulkner’s was hampered progress by a rubbing rear tyre. He had been clout ed in the melee by Murphy and, after a tyre started rub bing, he developed a small fire in the rear and parked after five laps. Murphy continued with a pugilistic front end; for most of the race he held off Perkins in an all-VT battle for 10th. In the second half of the race

they started to close on Tander. Romano was pushing Longhurst hard and, at the end of the back straight on lap seven, had a look under the Castrol Ford, which spun on the exit. As a result Tony resumed and Romano got a ten-second pit penalty. By lap 13 Bright was strug gling. Skaife got a harder launch off the fi nal corner, carried his momentum down the straight and drove around the outside of the Falcon in turn one, immediately pulling a small gap. So, another HRT 1-2, with Bright third. Good news f6r Ingall; despite a sohd mid-race bump while lapping Rose, he was looking at a second row start for race two after starting the final lap in fourth.

Smerdon bounces back to win JUST a few weeks ago, Chris Smerdon’s Commodore was looking a right old mess after col liding with Paul Weel at Mallala. At Calder Park, the hard yards put in by his crew paid hand some dividends, with the South Australian driver winning his first Privateer’s Cup round. While Smerdon held the upper hand on his rivals in the main races, the Privateer’s Cup dash featured a dice between Mai Rose and Dean Crosswell, with the young Tasmanian making a last lap charge at Rose at turn one. “I had nothing to lose ... Mai was defending his line pretty good,” said Crosswell in reflection, who ran off the road in the attempt and resumed to take fourth spot behind Smerdon and Rod Nash. Russell took fifth from Emerzidis, Quartly and rookie Robert Smith, while Ray Hislop completed just one lap. The first heat, however, wasn’t clear-cut for Rose. He burst from the line to lead the Privateers into the first few turns but, emerging from the turn two demolition derby,

FIRST WIN... Chris Smerdon, here followed by Nash, heads for victory. (Photo by Dirk Klynsmith)

Smerdon gained the lead from Crosswell, Russell, Tratt, Quartly, Rose, Hislop and Emerzidis. However, Crosswell stopped on

lap three with a broken rocker and the crew decided to give race two a miss. Smerdon pulled away in front

while Russell held Rose out until lap 14. On that same lap, Emerzidis dropped his left rear into the dirt coming onto the straight, flicking the Simon’s Holden to the right and hit ting Quartly fair in the left hand side, causing considerable damage to both vehicles. Quartly continued with severe dents to the left of his car and no left side windows, while Emerzidis retired on the spot. Smerdon cruised away to head Rose home by a mammoth 21 sec onds. Russell, Hislop, Quartly and a delayed Tratt followed. Tratt took revenge for his race one disappointment, coming from behind to score a six-second win in race two from Smerdon, who took overall honours, his first Privateer's win in V8 ,acing. Rose, Nash, Russell, Hislop, Quartly, Smith and Mike Imrie rounded out the privateer field in what was a see-sawing battle. - AARON NOONAN

CALDER PARK

3July 1398

Shell Australian Touring Car Championship S:

Hit

Qualifying Pos Driver Team/Car Time 1 Mark Skaife Mobil-HRT Commodore 55.6302 Mobil-HRT Commodore 2 Craig Lowndes 55.8577 Pirtek Falcon 3 Jason Bright 55.9298 Ford Credit Falcon 55.9556 4 Neil Crompton 5 Glenn Seton Ford Credit Falcon 56.1123 Castrol-Perkins Commodore 6 Russell Ingall 56.1622 7 John Faulkner Betta/Fisher&Paykel Commodore 56.1908 8 Jason Bargwanna Valvoline-Cummins Commodore 56.2246 9 John Bowe Shell Helix Falcon 56.2289 Mobil-HRT Commodore 56.2819 10 Greg Murphy 11 Garth Tander Valvoline-Cummins Commodore 56.3616 12 MarkLarkham Mitre 10 Falcon 56.3892 Castrol-Perkins Commodore 56.4524 13 Larry Perkins 56.5189 14 Steven Johnson Raoing for Life Falcon 56.5376 15 Tony Longhurst Castrol-Longhurst Falcon 16 Paul Romano Romano Commodore 56.6193 17 Dick Johnson Shell Helix Falcon 56.6977 56.9571 18 Steve Ellery Konioa-HYL Commodore 19 Alan Jones Komatsu-Castrol Falcon 57.0439 20 Mark Poole Elosoh Service Commodore 57.3023 21 Tomas Mezera 57.4305 Wynns-Kmart Commodore 22 Darren Pate 57.7438 Wynns-Kmart Commodore Toll Falcon 58.3453 23 Anthony Tratt 24 Rod Nash 58.4847 Highlift Commodore 25 Mai Rose Fairfax Commodore 58.5231 26 Dean Crosswell Trust Bank-Ericsson Commodore 58.5269 Gearbox Commodore 58.9634 27 Gary Quartly 28 Chris Smerdon ITC Commodore 59.1900 NHL Falcon 59.3137 29 Ray Hislop Lansvale Smash Commodore 59.4785 30 Trevor Ashby 31 Simon Emerzidis Simons Earthworks Commodore 59.5725 Commodore 59.9724 32 Darcy Russell 33 Robert Smith Smiths Truck Sales Commodore 60.3916

TURN TWO CARNAGE...

Greg Murphy runs into the back of John Faulkner at the start of race one, starting a chain reaction with Mezera spearing off across the grass and all hell breaking loose around him. The Wynn’s car was repaired for the second race.

(Photos by Neil Hammond)

Bad news for Ingall; the brake pedal went straight to the floor at turn one on that last lap. The left front brake line had sheared and Rusty headed up the escape road with rear braking only. He headed towards the circuit exit gate. More good news; it

was open. More bad news; there was a security guard on a motorbike in the gateway... Commodore missed motorbike my, ooh, a few centijpetres. That security man was very lucky. Ingall wasn’t; he resumed in 11th. It was a telling moment in the series.

That made Bargwanna fourth from Seton and here’s something - Tander. The rookie had overcome Crompton and Bowe on his way through to sixth while behind those two Fords came Murphy, LP, Ingall and

Continued Page 46

Race 2(21 laps) Pos Driver Race time Fast Lap On 1 Jason Bargwanna 20:15.4844 56.9161 9 2 n Craig Lowndes 20:15.6790 56.6364 4 20:17.0970 56.7181 4 3 Jason Bright 4 Russell Ingall / 20:25.3810 57.1072 4 5 Mark Skaife ' 20:26.4336 56.7672 6 20:28.3782 57.1086 4 6 Glenn Seton 7 John Bowe 20:28.5953 56.8475 4 20:32.6244 57.2490 3 8 Mark Larkham 9 Garth Tander 20:36.0082 57.1098 4 20:36.2848 57i048 3 10 Paul Romano 20:43.5399 57.3832 11 11 Larry Perkins 20:44.7797 57.2465 4 12 Greg Murphy 13 Darren Pate 2 58.1874 58.4354 7 2 58.3894 57.2715 11 14 Neil Crompton 21:10.9429 58.0706 3 15 Tomas Mezera 21:24.8918 57.5875 3 16 Alan Jones 17 Anthony Tratt 20 laps 59.3221 5 18 Chris Smerdon 20 laps 60.1415 10 19 Mai Rose 20 laps 60.0203 10 20 Rod Nash 20 laps 59.9063 6 20 laps 59.6675 6 21 Trevor Ashby 22 Darcy Russell 20 laps 60.6611 7 20 laps 60.0616 5 23 Ray Hislop 20 laps 60.3848 8 24 Gary Quartly 25 Robert Smith 20 laps 60.9946 3 20 laps 57.2290 4 26 Tony Longhurst 27 Mike Imrie 20 laps 61.8673 14 DNF Mark Poote 3 laps 58.1986 3 DNF Dick Johnson 3 laps 57.8493 3 DNF John Faulkner 3 laps 57.3233 3 1 laps No Time DNF Steve Ellery

Race 1 (21 laps) Pos Driver 1 Craig Lowndes 2 Mark Skaife 3 Jason Bright 4 Jason Bargwanna 5 Glenn Seton 6 Garth Tander 7 John Bowe 8 Neil Crompton 9 Greg Murphy 10 Larry Perkins 11 Russell Ingall 12 MarkLarkham 13 Mark Poole 14 Steve Ellery 15 Tony Longhurst 16 Alan Jones 17 Dick Johnson 18 Darren Pate 19 Chris Smerdon 20 Trevor Ashby 21 Paul Romano 22 Mai Rose 23 Darcy Russell 24 Ray Hislop 25 Gary Quartly 26 Anthony Tratt DNF Steven Johnson DNF Simon Emerzidis DNF John Faulkner DNF Dean Crosswell DNF Tomas Mezera

r'^

Race time Fast LapOn 20:04.9893 56.2064 3 20:09.0343 56.4682 5 20:15.9220 56.3688 4 20:17.3121 56.7085 6 20:19.8535 56.8885 3 20:26.1148 56.8893 4 20:26.6492 56.7325 3 20:27.1305 56.7501 5 20:29.5018 56.8747 3 20:31.7362 56.9650 4 20:35.6121 56.4498 6 20:39.7253 57.3186 4 20:42.2021 57.7847 7 20:45.0288 57.7957 4 20:49.3520 57.5587 5 2 52.9307 57.4495 9 2 54.2578 57.5913 9 2 56.9568 58.1457 4 20 laps 59.5858 4 20 laps 58.7468 9 20 laps 56.9271 3 20 laps 59.9492 2 20 laps 60.2397 3 20 laps 59.9566 5 20 laps 59.4278 7 18 laps 59.9569 3 12 laps 57.4378 8 12 laps 59.8204 6 5 laps 58.4512 3 2 laps 69.6751 2 2 laps 1:15.4754 2

IIMIUIRItni

«>’

THEM'S THE BRAKES... Ingall spears up the escape road and out the gate, barely missing a security man on a motorbike. (Photo by Thunder-Pics) Points Lowndes 804 770 Ingall Perkins 619 Skaife 602 Bowe 582 Bright 538 Seton 530 D Johnson 488 Longhurst 414 Bargwanna 347

Larkham Faulkner Romano S Johnson Jones Ellery Tander Richards Hossack Finnigan Pate

328 308 248 238 211 208 188 188

Poole Ashby Crompton Crick Mezera Smerdon Reed Murphy Bfiags 151 ' Rose 108 Weel

88 73 72 68 64 46 41 38 36 28 26

Doulman Hislop Trait Brewer Osborne McLeod Hoffeman Price Nash f4ork Crosswe!)

26 20 17 14 13 10 8 6 4 2

First-time winners forget the script By AARON NOONAN

positions to 12th. Ritter soon came under pressure from Owen, who dragged Mecklem up to engage in some three-wide action down the main straight, and Macrow had fallen further to 13th... Jones capitalised on a small mis take from Leahey at the beginning of lap five to take the lead. While probing on the outside of turn one on Jones, leahey lost another position to Owen, who nipped through on the inside. By lap seven Macrow was ninth while Murchison’s run from 20th on the grid was severely delayed on lap 12 with a spin in turn one. To add insult to injury, teammate Chris Staff ploughed straight into

THE statistics showed that it was very likely that Adam Macrow would sew up the Australian Formula Ford Championship at Calder. But since when has motorsport ever followed a script? The Victorian “Brat Packer” could only manage lowly tenth and seventh place finishes at round six, while two first-time winners, Tim Leahey and Christian Jones, stood on the main step for the two races.

Qualifying With the championship still with in his grasp, Leahey timed his first championship pole position perfect ly. He zoomed around the Cdder in 61.1448s, (six-tenths under Greg Ritter’s record), out-pointing the Spectrum of Jones by just 0.09s. Alex Davison stunned many by putting the Wynn’s Van Diemen on row two, with Macrow alongside. Behind were Ashley Seward and Wanneroo winner Christian Murchison. Just five-tenths sepa rated the group. Ben Savage had Greg Ritter for company on the fourth row, while Owen Kelly and Justin Cotter com pleted the top ten. The only female driver in the field, Leanne Ferrier, qualified just outside the top ten, lining up on

him.

MSP DITCH EFFORT...Owen makes a move to pass Leahey on the outside of turn one on the final lap, only (Photo by John Morris/Mpix)

to slide wide. Leahey also ran wide, allowing Jones(#6) to slip through for the win. eleventh position just ahead of Macrow and Ritter right behind. Davison quickly disposed of Leahey Russ Occhipinti. ' and forced his way by Jones on lap three around the outside coming Macrow dodged a bullet at the into turn six. Macrow’s engine was lacking start. He crept at the light and looked certain to get black-flagged speed and he was in seventh by lap but, before the lap was over, the red six. flag was out. A pile-up at turn two Jones made a few unsuccessful (which eliminated Ken Douglas) lunges at Davison, but it was Leahey who took the spoils, fol made all penalties null and void, From the restart, Jones led into lowed home by Davison, Jones, turn one, with Leahey, Davison, Ritter, Tyler Mecklem (from 14th in

Race 1-10 laps

a 1991 Van Diemen!), Steve Owen, Justin Cotter, Iccy Harrington, Seward (who made contact with Murchison) and Macrow in 10th. His engine from race one was replaced after the race.

Race Two-13 laps Leahey made the most of pole and swept into the lead on the opening lap from Jones and Ritter. The engine change for Macrow had little effect as he dropped two

Out in front, the win was up for grabs and Owen tried a desperate on Leahey, but ran very wide, allowing Leahey to fight back. Leahey, however slid sideways, allowing Jones through to take his first national championship win. Ritter claimed Leahey for second, while Davison took fourth. Keep an eye on that guy for next year ... Kelly took fifth, followed by Ty Hanger, Macrow, Owen, Cotter and Savage. POINTS: Macrow 193, Jones 163, Leahey 154, Ritter 96, McDougall 93, Murchison 84, Zerner 62, Davison 59, Owen 58, Seward 46.

M 3JufyW98

(^®0®IISUWI70

Mayfield breaks through

J By Martin DCIar

n Dave Marcis and Busch Series stand out Buckshot Jones(in his family-owned Pontiac entry)failed to post speeds fast enough to make the Pocono field. Johnny Benson, Steve Grissom, Derrike Cope, Todd and Geoff Bodine,Kevin Lepage and Lake Speed took the seven available provision^ starting slots. Marcis is set to make an announcement at Daytona in July, possibly about his retirement as a driver. n Mattei Motorsports announced on June 22 the addition of Waddell Wilson to their staff, as the Vice President of Racing Operations for the Geoff Bodine-pUoted team. Wilson has been in NASCAR since 1963 and has won the Daytona 500 seven times as either an engine builder or crew chief. Wilson last worked for Team SABCO in an advisory position - prior to that he was with DarreU Waltrip Motorsports. n Steve Park tested at the GreenvfllePickens Speedway in South Carolina on June 23 and is hoping to return behind the wheel at New Hampshire on July 12. Park has been subbed by Darrell Waltrip while recovering from his injuries and Waltrip is signed on through Pocono on July 26, with Park set to return the fol lowing weekend at Indianapohs. However,a second team looks a possi bility for at least New Hampshire. n Morgan Shepherd will drive the American Equipment CAT Chevy at Daytona on July 4. a Bill Davis has stated that MBNA will not be back to sponsor Ward Burton in his Pontiacs nejct year, the bank is still expected to continue it's other involve ments within NASCAR. H On the laimours fi’ont,Ted Musgrave's job at Roush Racing is apparently under threat at year’s end if peiforaiance does not improve. The same could also apply to Michael Waltiip's position with the Wood Brothers in the Citgo ride, a Another mmour circulating is that NASCAR could race in Europe in 1999.- A new facility is being built in Germany and the two-mile oval at Lasitz Ring could see the Winston Cup cars visit there, when their contract ends with the Japanese pro moters in November this year. Expect an announcement at the year ending New York awards banquet.

JEREMY Mayfield had been knocking on the door of vic tory lane aU season long, but on June 21 he knocked the door down at the triangular Pocono track, holding off a charging Jeff Gordon to record his first points race win in his 125th start. The points leader dominated the event, leading 122 of 200 laps from his third starting spot and fending off points contender Gordon for the win by just 0.341 seconds. The 29 year-old remarked: “When I saw the chequered flag I couldn’t believe it. It’s emotion al for me; to come in this series and win is a hfe long dream.” Mayfield’s crew chief Paul Andrews was a former Alan Kulwicki employee and led the late Kulwicki to victory lane at Pocono in 1992, his champi onship season. For the third race in succes sion, controversy overshadowed the results. Rusty Wallace was black-flagged for jumping the start from his outside front row position. Wallace was 27 seconds in arrears of the leaders when he returned from a stop and go penalty on pit road. “I guess I had more power,” said Wallace. “We both came through the gears and I was pulling away from him (Gordon). “When I pulled away, they

LEADING THE SERIES IS ONE THING... but winning races is another. Consistency got Jeremy Mayfield’s Mobil 1 team to the top of the NASCAR points table but he had to wait until Pocono’s (Photo by DavidTaylor/ALLSPORT) tri-ova! to register his first Winston Cup victory. (NASCAR)brought me in. I don’t really understand that one. I keep having a problem with the same fella. I know he’s good on restarts- maybe I’m too good. Luckily for Wallace - but unlpckily for Ken Schrader Dale Earnhardt planted

Schrader driver’s side in the wall to uncoil the first yellow flag on lap six, allowing Wallace to decrease his deficit, A sore Schrader(complete with cracked helmet) and team owner Andy Petree were not amused with the apologetic Earnhardt.

“I’m sure it wasn’t intentional. but five laps into the race wreck ing somebody?,” said Petree. “It don’t make a bit of sense to me. You see these drivers wreck ing each other here lately and you don’t see any penalty from NASCAR. These drivers don’t

Will Dodge come,back to Winston Cup?

It seems possible that Chrysler Corporation could be set to make a return to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. The talk is the Dodge Intrepid sedan which competed against Ford’s Taurus in the showrooms of the USA - could be seen as soon as the year 2000. The Chrysler Corporation was one of the mainstays of NASCAR competition for three decades until withdrawing in the mid-1980s. But, despite the fact that they have not been in the main Winton Gup series for 20 years, they do compete in the NASCAR Truck Series with the Dodge Ram. Chrysler has said in the past they have no interest in Winston Cup because they do not produce a car with V8 power and rear wheel drive, unlike the Ram which has a V8 option. It now seems that there may be a change of heart in Detroit. - MARTIN D CLARK

ALL SHOW... Is NASCAR's show about to become a four-make series? (oavidTayior/ALLSPORT)

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I s

3July 1998 seem to be at any kind of a risk for being penalised.” Little also bit the wall hard late in the race follow ing contact with Kenny Irwin and that had Little’s crew chief Jeff Hammond seething; “It’s a good job I’m not a driver, ’cause if he’d done me like that, I’d be looking for him.” Both Mayfield and Gordon received five second penal ties for speeding on pit road at the same time, giving the lead briefly to Mai'k Martin. Unfortunately for Wallace, his bad luck continued when the Penske South Taurus broke a crankshaft and he dropped fi'om the ranning on lap 13. Finishing his day in 42nd and last, Wallace also dropped to sixth in the points standings. Engine woes troubled many other drivers, with Dick Trickle, Ricky Rudd, Hut Stricklin, Kyle Petty, Rich Bickle, Jeff Green, Kenny Wallace, Joe Nemechek, Bill Elliott and Rick Mast the unlucky ones. Gordon sideswiped the wall exiting turn four, but still managed to bag his fourth pole of the year with a 168.042 mph run - excep tionally fast by Winston Cup standards and two full tenths of a second faster than outside pole sitter Wallace. It was the fourth time in five races that Mayfield had

■ Ted Musgrave has been released from Roush Racing and the Family Channel/P rimestar Taurus. Musgrave, who joined Roush as a second team in 1994, has been replaced by Kevin Lepage, who had been wheeling the unspon sored LJ Racing Chevrolet. ■ Circuit ace Tommy Kendall attempted to qualify the SABCO First Union Monte Carlo at Sears Point - having failed, he then drove the LJ Racing Chevrolet, when owner Joe Falk released Lepage on the news of him joining Roush Racing. Jeff Green will return behind the wheel of the SABCO Chevy at Daytona - Kendall finished 16th, Musgr-ave 19th. ■ Todd Bodine has been released as the dri ver of the ISM Tabasco Pontiac, having failed to qualify for Sears Point, his seventh DNQ in 16 races. Loy Allen a former Daytona pole sit ter, will pilot the car in Daytona on July 4.

finished sixth or better, showing why he heads the points standings and he picked up an extra US$40,000 for winning the race from that position. He also went down in histoi'y as the first time a driver had won his first race at the

tricky triangular track.

Team co-owners Michael Ki'anefass and Roger Penske threw 3 party at the team’s headquarters the following eveninf, Penske even seen dancing the ‘Monkey Roll’ and flipping over in hds suit to the sound of a live band! Mayfield took the lead for the final time from his child hood idol, Darrell Waltrip, (the par having grown up in the same Kentucky town) with just 20 laps remaining. Waltrip had a stellar run in the Earnhardt Pennzoil Chevy,ending his day a fan tastic sixth after leading laps 170 through 179 - in the last eight races he has finished outside the top 20 once, at Richmond. Earnhardt had a success ful - for him of late - eighth place result, his best finish since a fourth at Martinsville in April. The Intimidator has recorded just six top 15 results in the season’s first 13 races, hut two top 15s in only two races since the crew chief switch. In only his second race with the team, Wally

Dallenbach Jr also had a great run in the Hendrick Bud Chevy, finishing seventh, after a tenth at Michigan, Hendrick have now decided to keep Dallenbach on through the Daytona July 4 race, citing that Daytona would not be a good race to bring back Ricky Craven fi-om the injured list, Dale Jan-ett posted anoth er strong placing in third, closing on Gordon for the ranner-up slot in the warring laps, recording his fifth straight top ten. The Roush pair of Jeff Burton (starting 28th) and Martin followed D.J. home, both recording their sixth straight top ten results, The race lasted a marathon four hours, 14 minutes, plus an additional one horn- red flag period for rain, the probable cause for the high attrition. There were nine cautions, the worst for Schrader, although Johnny Benson also gave the wall a hard knock. Final result; Mayfield (Ford) 117.801 mph, Gordon (Chevy), Jarrett (Ford), J Burton (Ford), Martin (Ford), D Waltrip (Chevy), Dallenbach (Chevy), Earnhardt (Chevy), Marlin (Chevy), Spencer(Ford). Points standings; Mayfield 2208, Gordon 2172, Jarrett 2160, Martin 2155, T Lahonte 2008, R Wallace 1992, B Lahonte 1910, J Burton 1903, Spencer 1799, Earnhardt 1722. .

Back to Bathurst

NASCAR racing returns to Mount Panorama in October at the AMP Bathurst 1000 race meeting when the local racers get one hour oflive television coverage nationally on Saturday, October 3, plus a five minute highlights package on Sunday morning before the start of the Super Tom’er endm-o. Australian NASCAR boss Bob Jane said that over 95% of the NASCAR drivers that were contacted last Thursday (June 25)stated that they wanted to participate in the event, so now the local sanctioning body and the Calder Park staff are working positively towards making the event happen. “Om- October 11 race for the NASCAR dri vers has been transferred from the Calder Park Thunderdome to Mount Panorama on October 3,” stated Jane. “Only the NASCAR teams will be competing in the Bathm-st event - no AUSCARs will be racing there.” NASCARs last appeared on the Mount Panorama circuit in late Februaiy, 1996, with Jim Richards grabbing pole position in his Bob Jane T-Marts/No Fear Chevrolet Lumina with a 2 minute 15.56 second lap time before going on to win both four-lap demonstration races. Several of the leading NASCAR teams

expect their qualifying times vrill be in the low 2.14 region, with a high 2.13 lap possible if the track and weather conditions are conducive. “The NASCARs broaden the broadcast appeal into the North American market, which is a region where we are not strong,” explained Greg Eaton, Chief Executive of the Bathm-st 1000 Event Management. “At the same time, I am offering the NASCAR competitors a live one-hour televi sion package throughout Australia via the Seven Network and into Asia on AusTV.” The NASCAR race on Saturday afternoon will be run over 100 kilometres - 16 laps around the Mount.Panorama circuit - with a compulsory pit stop a feature of the event. “It is anticipated that the 1998/99 super speedway series calendar will be officially announced in several weeks time,” commented Jane.

“We’ve had to make adjustments to suit this particular race meeting, plus it is being ' worked on and massaged around our drag rac ing activities and other major sporting and events of interest. “We’ve got om- television in place and we’re attempting to ensure that we have no clashes with Moomba and other important events.” -GRANT NICHOLAS

r THE RETURN... .■ ■■ NASCAR at the Mountain. (Dirk Klynsmith)

- MARTIN D CLARK

Sears Point to Golden Gordon

Jeff Gordon won his fourth race of the year, his second victory on a road circuit and took his first win at Sears Point Raceway last weekend. Gordon battled Bobby Hamilton late in the running, taking the lead with just ten laps remaining. With the win, Gordon took over the points lead from Jeremy Mayfield, who fin ished a lowly 18th after an off-track experience. Gordon also won the pole with a 98.711 mph run, rook ie Jeny Nadeau with his cir¬

cuit racing experience start ing to his outside - but, fol lowing two excursions, Nadeau ended his outing firmly planted in a bank to air the first caution. Terry Labonte and Dale Jarrett were among those who suffered tyre trouble, while second-placed Ricky Rudd was spun out at the three-quarter point' by Geoff Bodine. Final results; J Gordon, Hamilton, Andretti, B Labonte, R Wallace, Martin, Marlin, Mast, Irwin, Grissom; - MARTIN D CLARK

Graeme & Anne (G & A Racing) would sincerely like to thank %e sponsors who have helpe(J us to win our 2nd Sportsman ChapipiioJiniii^^ (Back to back!) ' '^

IMBitjSR

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Beam me up, daddy!

Scotty WiUiams, the local half of Kevin Schwantz’s KS Racing NASCAR operation, is now a father. Tyler Jack Williams - a hefty 71b 15oz young bloke bom on Saturday, June 27 and now being coddled by Ms mum, Jacqui - is obviously destined to pursue a motor racing career if his heritage is any sort of a guide. His Stateside “Uncle Kev” was delighted to hear the news and is already revising his plans to accomo date young Tyler in his future Winston Cup program.

A special thanks to Paul, Phil (Crew Chief), Shane, Brian and Dave who have been so dedicated in helping us win back to back championships. Thanks to Lynne, Ute and Sylvannia and our friends who attend every race meeting and support us.

1998 WINSTON CUP SERIES RESULTS Save Mart/Kragen 350 - Sears Point. June 28th, 1998. I. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Jeir Gordon, #24 DuPont Chev Monte Carlo

11.

Dale Earnhardt, #3 GM Goodwrench Chev Monte Carlo

Bobby Hamilton, #4 Kodak Chev Monte Carlo

12.

Bill Elliott, #94 McDonald’s Ford Taurus

John Andretti, #43 STP Pontiac Grand Prix

13.

Darrell Waltrip, #1 Pennzoil Chev Monte Carlo

Bobby Labonte, #18 Interstate Batteries Pontiac Grand Prix

14.

RonHomaday,#l7NAPAAutoPartsChev Monte Carlo

15.

Dalejarrett, #88 Ford Credit Ford Taurus

Rusty Wallace, #2 Miller Lite Ford Taurus Mark Martin, #6 Valvoline Ford Taurus

16. Tommy Kendall, #91 Uttie Joe’s Auto Ford Taurus 17. Mike Skinner, #31 Lowe’s Chev Monte Carlo

Standings After Rd 16 Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet

Jeremy Mayfield, Ford

Mark Martin, Ford

Rusty Wallace, Ford

Dale Jarrett, Ford

Bobby Labonte, Pontiac

Terry Labonte, Chevrolet

Sterling Marlin, #40 Coors Light Chev Monte Carlo Rick Mast, #75 Remington Arms Ford Taurus

18. Jeremy Mayfield, #12 Mobil I Ford Taurus

Jeff Burton, Pontiac

Kenny Irwin, #28 Texaco Havoline Ford Taurus Steve Grissom, #41 Kodiak Chev Monte Carlo

19. Ted Musgrave, #16 PrimeStar Ford Taurus 20. Ken Schrader, #33 Skoal Bandit Chev Monte Carlo

Jimmy Spencer, Ford Dale Earnhardt. Chevrolet

10.

3S <

Report and photos by DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

Racers braved extreme heat, bad air and a tricky track this past weekend as the NHRA made it’s stop at Gateway International Raceway, just outside St. Louis, Missouri, for the 2nd Annual Sears Craftsman Nationals and, when the smoke cleared, it was defending series Top Fuel champion Gary Scelzi notching his first win of the season after defeating Kenny Bernstein in the final round, 4.711/300.60 to 4.858/288.73. Frank Pedregon took out the Funny Car honours, Kurt Johnson Pro Stock and Matt Hines Pro Stock Mot.orcycle. Top Fuel The Winston Top Fuel team, led by Alan Johnson, gave Scelzi the consistent performance and clutch set-up needed to negotiate the slip pery racing surface that gave fits to most of the fuel teams. Scelzi qualified in the number two position with a 4.655/304.25, behind the “Bud King” of Bernstein (4.649/309.70). That set up a match with the Tenneco fueller of Joe Amato in the opening round of eliminations. Amato had a chance to move into a tie for the points lead with a round one win, as current point leader Cory McClenathan was given an early exit for the second event in a row at the hands of Jim Head. Amato’s dreams of the point lead, as well as his tyres, went up in smoke just past the 400 foot mark, while Scelzi cranked out a solid 4.764/297.52. Round two gave team Winston a scare, as Doug Kalitta strapped a huge holeshot on Scelzi, .437 to .516. The Alan Johnson power in the Winston car was all that enabled Scelzi to run Kalitta down and take the narrow win, 4.743/297.81 to a 4.834/296.24. Scelzi then took out the Mopar Parts dragster of Mike Dunn in the semis, 4.736/295.46 to 4.803/301.91, to earn the team a shot at the event title. Bernstein, meanwhile, had to dodge a bullet or two on his way to his third straight final round appearance.

■s.

STRIKE FORCE... Chuck Etchells’ runner-up spot at Madison puts the four second fuel coupe driver within striking distance of points-leader John Force.

Flamin' Frank tames the heat and Scelzi runs hot

foot mark, Dakin was back in front A safe 4.808/295.66 stopped the and was still leading the race at car of Steve Smith in round one; 1000 feet when the blower belt was but, in the second round, Bernstein tossed and Bernstein squeaked had to earn a win with his driving. past, winning by just .073 seconds, At the green, in his second round 4.836/297.71 to 4.931/243.63. race with Jim Head, Bernstein’s car went up in smoke - he pedalled at Funny Car the same time Head’s black drag Frank Pedregon, in only his rook ster begun to spin the tyres and it became a battle for traction and a ie season as a Nitro Funny Car dri ver, scored his second straight vic win, which Bernstein took at 5.905/269.29. tory behind the wheel of the “Big” The closest call came in the semis Jim Dunn, Johnny Lightningwhile facing the tough independent backed Dodge Avenger. car of Pat Dakin. Pedregon defeated the Kendall Dakin made the program on a Oil Chevy Camaro of Chuck last shot 4.813/298.90 to qualify Etchells in the final round, him twelfth - he then used a 4.802 / fi 295/232.07 to 5.354/259.06. Etchells’ car started to lose tracto stop David Grubnic and a 4.865/264.78 sent a tractionless tion just past half-track, mixing up some cylinders and, even with the Eddie Hill packing. In the semi final round, Dakin power going out, Pedregon was able to hold off the charging car of was away first, with Bernstein Etchells. quicker to 60 feet - but, by the 330

Jim Dunn bias the experience of tuning cars for just about every kind of track and weather condi tions and the situation at Madison made this a timer’s kind of race. Pedregon qualified number eight at 5.196/288.09 and began his march to the final round by defeat ing a tractionless Jim Epler in round onh with a 5.137/285.98. In round two, Pedregon ousted low qualifier Tim Wilkerson (5.064) and the JCIT Firebird with a 5.360/219.99 in a tyre-smoking duel. Defending event champion Ron Capps and the Copenhagen Camaro gave the Dunn/Pedregon team thenclosest race of the day, Pedregon leaving first and winning, 5.158/290.60 to 5.207/288.83. Etchells, on the other hand, had three close races to earn his final round berth.

NOW WE’RE SMOKIN’... Gary Scelzi’s Alan Johnson-tuned Winston entry lit up the win light in Top Fuel, downing Kenny Bernstein’s Budweiser King.

In round one, Etchells improved from his tenth-best qualifying 5.224 to a 5.105/287.63 to defeat the close 5.186 from the Mateo Tools Dodge of Dean Skuza. In round two, a holeshot-aided 5.151/288.36 stopped the quicker 5.116 of Cruz Pedregon. In the semi final round, a round that saw three of foim cars cloaked in Chevy Camaro skins, Etchells used a 5.131/288.83 to stop the newest member of the Chevrolet team, Whit Bazemore, who trailed at 5.177/285.35. Points leader John Force lost in the first round for the third time this season when Bazemore deepstaged and cut a light on the seven time NHRA/Winston Champion. Bazemore’s 5.254/280.19 held off the 5.252/278.37 of the Castrol Mustang. Tony Pedregon didn’t fare too much better, as his Castrol Syntec Mustang was trailered by the Tom Floover/Pioneer Dodge driven by Coiy Lee, 5.206 to 5.315. Pro Stock Kurt Johnson debuted his new Rick Jones Race Cars chassis in fine style by taking the Pro Stock Honors with a final round win over the red-hot Oldsmobile of Jeg Coughlin Jr. The AC Delco Camaro performed flawlessly, considering the track conditions and the high tempera tures. Kurt put the new Camaro into the second spot with a 7.037 and rattled off times of 7.062, 7.079 and 7.091 in taking wins over Steve Schmidt, Shawn Collins and Jim Yates. Coughlin, winner of the last event, stopped Richie Stevens with a 7.161, then took a 7.137-second single in roimd two when low quali fier Warren Johnson (7.012), broke following the burviout. A 7.100 defeated Larry Morgan in the semis and gave Coughlin his chance at a second straight Pro Stock crown. In the final, Coughlin cut a light on Johnson, but the difference was made up by half-track, where it was

3July 1998

FoUowmg the sale of his Nationals-winning Holden Statesman, Melbonrne Top Doorslammer racer Peter Kapiris has ordered a new ’53 Studehaker from chassis guru Murray Anderson. Anderson, who. has just relocated back to Melbourne, begins woi'k on the new Pennzoil machine this week, with an expected completion date of September. To be equipped with one of Anderson’s famed swing-arm, lad der-bar rear-ends, Kapiris expects the new Stude to place him right amongst the front runners in the Top Doorslammer wars. -Concvpl by Shane AbbottI Warpaint RacingraphLx

a side by side race until the finish line, Johnson winning 7.056/195.31 to 7.169/194.25. Matt Hines scored yet another win in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, defeating Dave Schultz in a repeat of the Columbus final. Schultz cut a pefect .400 reaction time in the final. with Hines right there with a .402 - but it was the Vance and Hines power that made the difference on the other end, allowing Hines to take win number six of 1998,

7.411/182.03 to 7.563/176.81.

Federal Mogul Dragster & Funny CaiPro Stock Truck David Wells took the honTim Freeman made his ors in the Federal Mogul Pro Stock truck debut a good Dragster class, defeating one with a final round win Mark Kinser in the final over chassis builder Jerry round, 5.720/246.91 to Haas. 5.784/244.96. Jackie Stidham won the Freeman’s Chevy S-10 went 7.877/171.59, defeating Federal Mogul Funny Car Haas’quicker 7.810/173.07. . title, defeating Steve Freeman stopped points ''Addleman in the final, leader Larry Kopp in round 5.939/240.64 to 6.231/235/91. two and defeated low qualifier John Lingenfelter in the Z28’S FIRST...Kurt Johnson won his first event for Chev. semis.

PEHNZOIl

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ON A ROLL... Jeg Coughlin continues to impress in his rookie year, reaching another'final in Pro.

SOUTHSIDE

[ENGINE CENTRE HIGH QUALITY MACHINING FOR STANDARD AND RACE ENGINES

LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE... Frank Pedregon won his second in a row for owner Jim Dunn.

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SPECIALISED MACHINING FOR * RESTORING 1950'S & LATER ENGINES TO STANDARD * SPEEDWAY * DRAG RACING ' * SKI BOATS * STREETMACHINES * CIRCLE TRACK * HISTORICS John Zappia relies on Southside Engine Centre to keep his Zap’s Rat III runningfast & reliably

SPECIALISTS IN CYLINDER HEAD SERVICE BORING AND SUNNEN HONING CON ROD RESIZING CRANKSHAET REGRINDING LINE HONING PIN BORING ENGINE BALANCING SUREACE GRINDING ALLOY WELDING MAGNAELUXING/CRACK TESTING ALL TYPE OF PRECISION MACHINING

Ph:(08)9317 1233 Fax:(08)9317 1922

Unit 3/7 Blaikie St Myaree WA 6154

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3July 1998

National Top Doorslammer hero Victor Bray is planning to have leading drag racing con structor Murray Anderson build him a new ’57 Chevrolet that he hopes will feature a series of innovative features to improve the safety of the 6.2second,230 mph-plus chargers. Bray has applied to ANDRA for clarification on several body changes that are planned for the new Castrol machine, as the popu lar Queensland racer isn’t sure whether he has to have new body moulds made, or his current set modified slightly to meet future design requirements. “If I’m not able to build a new car the way that I plan to have done by Murray (Anderson), I’ll probably just get him to update my current chassis with several new safety specifications, plus get him to incor porate several minor changes,” explained Bray. “I would like to build another car, as there is a safety issue with the cars running the PSI superchargers. “With the poupe-bodied cars like the Willys,' Studebakers and Corvettes, the supercharger doesn’t intrude into the windscreen like on our Chevrolets and Ford Customlines. The burst-panel on the PSI blowers are at the back of the unit, so it’s compulsory to have a deflection plate that comes up from the rear engine plate and this deflects the escaping gases away from the engine. “However, with the windscreen angle and body design of our cars, plus the Holden Statesmans and Commodores, the screen is right around the back of the blower if the engine is mounted in the chassis as per the legal requirements in the rule book. “When the plate does its job, the escaping air can’t get out clear of the windscreen, resulting in the cowling being blown back in on the driver - which is not a nice experi ence when you’re travelling at over 200 mph. I’ve had four screens come back in on me. “All I want them to do is move the windscreen back a little bit, without changing the angle, or the body shape, so that there is no per formance gain. “I have no hidden plot - all I want to do is make it safe for the guys ninning the cars mnning this type of body and blower.” Whipplechargers actually blow their gases out the left-hand side of that particular unit - however, Bray stated, if a Whipplecharger on a Ford Cutomline ever let go, it would blow the.whole front body section off the car. A special flap and ducting aiTangement needs to fitted to the Customlines to ensure that the gases escape fast and safely. Troy Critchley, Col Dunn, Peter Kapiris, Lucky Belleri'and several others have all suffered from this PSI gas problem over recent years, as the superchargers on their 200 mph-plus machines are encased by the windscreens. “This matter and several other safety issues need to be incorporat-

Bray to field new'57 Chevy Doorslammer

PENSIONED OFF... Victor Bray's astoundingly successful, world-beating Castrol '57 Chevy Top Doorslammer is to be replaced.(John Bosher pic) ed into the Top Doorslammers if we’re to run them safely,” said Bray. ‘The times and speed that these are performing now make them extremely popular with the crowds and we want to ensure that the rac ers in our class provide them with plenty of good, closq and exciting racing. , “ANDRA retains'the right to tell the competitors what they can do when they are about to build a new car. They did the right thing by Peter Gratz after he burnt his car . in October last year, Another massive season has heen planned by the gurus at WA’s Ravenswood International Raceway, Track manager Peter Pike has confirmed that 35 meetings have been penned in, providing a mix of street racing through to headlining national competitions. The calendar includes eight major events, featuring rounds of the Australian Top Bike Series (November 21) and the Australian Top Doorslammers (December 5) and the two-day Westernationals (Februaiy 27-28). Pike said they would also run another two Funny Car match races between WA’s Allan Dobson (driving Allan Greene’s Chev

“He made several small.modifica tions to his car and went o'nHo win two Christmas Trees in that config uration without getting permission - but ANDRA has been fair about what they have been allowing to happen, especially on the grounds of s^ety. “The new ’63 Corvettes definitely hold an advantage over our body style of car,” explained Bray. “They are more aerodynamic and, with three or four of them being built locally, we’re going to see some homy looking sports cars rac ing very soon.

“That Corvette body seems to have built to suit the our Top Doorslammer niles to perfection but don’t worry fans, my first love is the ’57 Chev! “When I debut the new car depends on ANDRA’s decisions, plus where I fit into Murray’s build list - I’m behind a number of other guys that are having him provide them with new cars from his Melbourne-based race shop. “I believe he’s going to build a new car for Peter Kapiris, plus fit a ’63 Corvette Stingray body on Cameron Brook’s chassis, as well as

supply a couple of others for guys that are still deciding which body style to use.” It is believed that Kym Petterwood and possibly Brett Stevens may be moving into the Top Doorlsammer ranks next sea son, both having inspected one of Anderson’s Studebaker creations recently. With the possibility of six to seven new, or rebuilt, cars hitting the track next season, the Top Doorslammer category is certainly about to go through a‘major resur -GRANT NICHOLAS gence.

Ravenswood releases new-season schedule Beretta) and Lloyd Jones (driving the Lloyd and Graham Jones’ Dodge Daytona). Usual competition racing will again be run, along with 12 Sunday grudge meets and monthly street meetings on Wednesday nights. Another feature of next season’s calendar is the five Saturday night spectaculars, with the biggest of

these being the Holden v Ford Shootout on January 2. Last year, organisers were over whelmed by the response to this meet ing, with the queue kilometres long, two hours before the meet started. Pike admitted the event was a bit of a “sleeper” but, due to its popu larity, it has been promoted to the January time slot.

Others in the Saturday series include the Pours, Sixes and Rotaries Show (January 16) and the All Street Bike Night (March 20). The first street meet is on Sunday September 6, with the first major show on Saturday October 31. -DARREN O’DEA

1998 NHRA CHAMPIONSHIP DRAG RACING SERIES - POINTS TO JUNE 29TH, 1998.

1998 NHRA Top Fuel Championship ,817 I. Cory McClenathan, McDonald’s 2. Joe Amato, Tenneco Automotive ....797 3. Gary Sceizi, Team Winston-No Bull . .771 4. Kenny Bernstein, Budweiser/Prolong .695 5. Mike Dunn, Mopar Performance ....636 ,608 6. Jim Head,Jim Head Racing 7. Bob Vandergriff, Jerzees America 538 .537 8. Larry Dixon, Miller Lite/MBNA

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

9. Doug Kalitta, Kalitta International .. .503 10. Bruce Sarver, ATSCO Power Steer ..455

9. Dean Skuza, Mateo Tools/Mopar ....501 10. Al Hofmann, GM Performance Parts ...420

1998 NHRA Funny Car Championship .815 I. John Force, Castrol/Mac Tools 2. Chuck Etchells, Kendall/MaMa Rosa .,81 1 Ron Capps, Copenhagen/MBNA ... .722 Cruz Pedregon, Interstate Bat/Hot Rod . .705 Tim Wilkerson,JCIT International ...647 Frank Pedregon,Jim Dunn Racing ... .619 .605 Tony Pedregon, Castrol Syntec WhitBazemore,TeamW!nston-NoBull ..577

1998 NHRA Pro Stock Championship Warren Johnson, Goodwrench/Pontiac ..882 Jeg Coughlin Jnr., Jegs Mail Order 743 Jim Yates, Peak Anti-Freeze/Splitfire ...71 1 Kurt Johnson, ACDelco/Chevrolet ..667 Mark Osborne, Dick Sherman Racing 570 ,553 Mike Thomas, Pennzoii .‘. .. . .450 7. Mike Edwards,JK Racing Pontiac

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

8, Tom Martino, Six Flags Thrill Parks ..429 397 9. Mark Pawuk, Summit Racing 366 10. Bruce Allen, Oudaw Additives

3July 1938

Claremont reprieve

The State Government and Claremont Speedway have dan gled a financial carrot that will see that speedway remains at Perth’s showgrounds for anoth er two years. The deal was officially announced late last week and reverses the Royal Agricultural Society’s evic tion notice that would have taken affect this month. Two years ago, the RAS gave notice that the speedway’s days were numbered and that a new home would have to be sought. Since then, attempts to find a new speedway home have failed and a further extension was granted. “Both myself and chairman of directors Gary Miocevich are over the moon,” promoter Con Migro said. “Now we can get on with the seri ous side of planning our racing and the relocation.” Migro said the announcement was a significant and welcome reprieve for the thousands of speed way fans throughout Western Australia. He said the deal, believed to be a high six-figure sum and implement ed by the State Government, recog nised that Claremont Speedway

was a popular and viable motor sport and worthy of government support. “It also recognises that Claremont Speedway is the world’s oldest continuous speedway opera tion. “However, while this decision is welcome, it is only temporary and what is now needed is for the Government to make a decision on a new home for both speedway and Ravenswood [drag racing].” Migro said it was becoming criti cal for the survival of both sports which attract nearly 200,000 spec tators each year - that a new site was decided upon soon. International Ravenswood Raceway, WA’s only drag racing facility, is located 80 km south of Perth, near the coastal city of Mandurah. Migro denied rumours that the site of the new venue had already been pin-pointed. An implementation committee, chaired by Planning Minister Graham Kierath, was meeting reg ularly to establish and house the 35 to 40 ha site. RAS chief executive officer Bruce Wynn said there were certain legal issues still to be satisfied before a

formal agreement was reached, but said they were pleased with discus sions between speedway manage ment and the State Government. “In considering the issue, the RAS took into account the

Government’s strong desire to min imise the impact of the speedway’s relocation,” Mr Wynn said. “But a strict condition of our agreement is that both the speed way and State Government must give firm undertakings that there will be no further applications for additional extensions, regardless of the circumstances.” The decision will put on hold the first part of a major redevelopment to establish a world-class exhibition and entertainment venue at the showground arena. Mr Wynn conceded it was a con siderable setback and said work would now not commence until the year 2000. “The State Government’s support for our future plans means the Society can offer the showgrounds to a wider range of potential users and event organisers.” Claremont’s first meeting of the new season is scheduled for Friday, October 16. -DARREN ODEA

Mark K dominant

Mark caught the backmarkers again during the final lap and took the chequered flag with ten carlengths to spare. Haudenschild and Steve Kinser claimed the other

Dual defending Eagles Nationals winner Mark Kinser loves Nebraska - the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series points leader has won nine of the last 13 races the series has run in Nebraska, including Friday’s Preliminary Feature on opening night of the 15th Annual Eagle Nationals at Eagle Raceway on June 26. Kinser was the sixth-fastest qualifier in the 25-caifield. He won his seventh Channellock Dash of the season for the right to start the Preliminary Feature on pole. Sammy Swindell started next to Kinser on the front row. Jac Haudenschild, who has finished among the top four in all seven races since returning from a shoulder injury on June 13, passed Steve Kinser for third place./

two automatic starting positions in Saturday’s Dash by finishing third and fourth. Danny Lasoski finished in fifth place, ahead of Stevie Smith, Weilker, Donny Schatz, Droud and 14thstarting Johnny Heinera. Steve Kinser received his second Vivarin Fast-Time Award of the season after pacing the qualifying ses sion xvith an 11.650-sec lap. Satm-day’s portion of the show was postponed until Sunday night, following a thunderstorm which hit after the heats. Driver point standings: 1. Mark Kinser (4.630) 2. Steve Kinser(4,575)3. Sammy Swindell(4,562)4. Stevie Smith (4,549) 5. Andy Hillenburg (4,455) 6. Johnny Heirera (4,393) 7. Danny Lasoski (4,366) 8. Jeff Swindell (4,259) =9. Dale Blaney (4214) - BRETT SWANSON =9. Tyler Walker(4,214).

With US speedway rac ing the season in full swing, times for the Jensen Construction/ Hallett Materials Team have been fruitful. We started the year perfectly at Knoxville Raceway, setting quick time and winning the fea ture in our new J.B. Enterprise Sprintcar. The car is a little different to what I have been used to run ning in the past. When the Pennzoil World of Outlaws series came to town around April 24, we realised really quickly that we still have a lot more speed to find - but, with everyone in our team working together (in between rainouts), we have managed to make the car comfortable and fast, more often than not. Our Shaver engines have been running really well, with five wins (four at Knoxville and one at Husets in South Dakota) and six quick times (four at Knoxville and two at Husets). The power has definitely been there and the Jensen Construction/Hallett Materials Team has given me a car that is capable of going anywhere on the track. I was normally known as the dri ver who stayed on the bottom groove, but in the last couple of years it seems that I am up by the top cushion more during the racing.

Some people see a racer in the making, while Lori and myself are hoping that he is the next Greg Norman! Whatever A.J. chooses to do, we will just make sure he does it the honest way.

I pJM

The main goal is to be wherev er the fastest line is and where you can pass others. Our sonregular hasschedule consisted this sea of Knoxville every Saturday, then Sundays at Husets in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, which is about five hours from Knoxville - and any other shows around the area that feature World of Outlaws, All Stars, NCRA, or other events that pay good. The more racing I do, the better nxy experience will become.

n recent times, it has been pret ty wet here in the Midwest, but pretty soon the sun will pop out and the humidity will be up and the Amoco Knoxville Nationals (August 12) will be here before we know it.

y brother, Paul, has been working hard at tying up loose ends for the J&J Auto Sports Team back in Australia. We had a fantastic season last summer and I’m sure looking for ward to bigger and better things next summer. We even have some big sur prises along the way - but more of that later.

t is also very good to see so many Aussie speedway competi tors doing so well across America, Our son the A.J. weather goes to the races especially with Kerry Madsen win when permits, and he definitely enjoys watching ning last Saturday night's the racing. My wife, Lori, says that Knoxville Mid-season Feature he is fascinated with the cars and from me - and giving us Aussies a loves following them around. 1- 2 result, which enabled me to This is pretty good for a nine extend my series lead. Keep up month old child, but then again he the good work Aussies! has been walking since eight Bye for now. months. Skip.

By Brett Swanson Bloomington n The Bloomington race fell foul of the weather on June 12 just after time trials and was rescheduled to July 15. Eldora n The following night it was on to the historical EWora high-banked half-mile where Sammy Swindell took his third straight Outlaws A-Feature at the venue. Swindell’s flag to flag victory, coupled with Mark Ks 12th place finish, enabled Swindell to gain 28 points in their battle for first place in the championship points chase. Tyler Walker, the Channellock Dash winner, started on pole and drove his^'Eagle ahead of Swindell as the green flag fell. Swindell used an inside move between the first and second cor ners to take the lead seconds later. “Tyler’s motor took off really well and surprised us. We had to get after it to get by him in turn 2,” Swindell explained. Steve K, winner of 22 Outlaws main events at Eldora, worked his way to second and challenged Swindell on the last lap, but came up marginally short. Haudenschild, back after his injuries, ran third, ahead of Hillenburg, Lasoski, Walker, Herrera, Blaney, Danny Smith and Jeff"Swindell. Brooke Tatnell, back from his own injuries,finished 23rd. Beaver Dam n The shoulder he injured 16 days before was still sore and he was breaking in a new crew chief, but Haudenschild hadn’t slowed down in the World of Outlaws series. In only his second race back after nursing the injuiy for a cou ple of weeks, Haudenschild won the 7th Annual Beer Town Showdown. The $10,000 win was Jac’s third main event win this year and the 24th of his career. Haudenschild, the second fastest qualifier in the 31-car field, finished third in both his heat and the Dash. He started the A-Feature inside the second row and passed Hillenburg as polesitter Mark K burst into the lead at the drop of the green flag. Kinser opened a handy gap xmtil Schatz spim. Following the restart, Haudenschild got his chance and used the low groove to make the winning pass. “We were able to get a little nm on Mark there on the restart,” Haudenschild said of the winning pass. Kinser was pushing hard and twice jximped the cushion, the sec ond tune dropping to third behind Hillenbxirg. The pair swapped the position until Kinser nailed it for good. Hillenburg held off the chal lenges of Steve K, with Lasoski, Jeff Swindell, Walker, Blaney and Sammy Swindell following. LaSaUe n Stevie Smith is having a stel lar year with the Outlaws and, following the June 19 race at LaSalle Speedway, he was heading the list of A-Feature winners. Smith’s win was fortuitous, as

he took over the lead when Sammy Swindell succumbed to the pressure, jumped the cushion and hit the wdl and retired. Smith, the fourth fastest quali fier in the 30-car field, followed Swindell across the line in the dash for the right to start the main event outside the front row. Swindell opened a gap from the start, xmtil Smith closed it in traf fic. The pair raced side by side until after a caution, when Swindell crashed out. With the aid of lapped traffic, Lasoski closed on Smith and chal lenged him late in the race, but was actually passed by Haudenschild on the last lap. Steve K was fourth, with Jeff Swindell fifth, ahead of Mark K, Greg Hodnett, Walker, Lance Blevins and Hillenburg. Granite City n The following night (June 20), Haudenschild kept his hot streak alive by winning at TriCity Speedway. Haudenschild passed Hodnett late in the ninth lap en route to his second win in the last three races and his 25th career victory. Haudenschild, the fifth fastest qualifier, beat Hodnett in the Dash to start the Feature fi-om pole, but Hodnett took the lead going into turn 3 on the opening lap. In traffic on lap 9, Haudenschild used the low line to take the lead and Lasoski demoted him a fur ther place a few laps later. As Hodnett was being pushed further and further back through the field, both Mark K and Sammy Swindell stopped with engine dra mas on lap 21. Hillenburg was flying and worked his way to second, ahead of Lasoski, Herrera, Stevie Smith, Hodnett, Blaney, Steve K, Darmy Smith and Schatz. Tatnell finished a fine 12th. Haubstadt n After a 22nd and 20th place finish at LaSalle and Tri-City speedways, Sammy Swindell bounced back, taking his fifth win of the season and the 234th of his career when he passed Walker on lap 14 to lead the final 26 laps and win the 40-lap,$7,000 event. Swindell was the fourth fastest of seven drivers recording times quicker than the record he set back here on May 10. He followed Walker and Stevie Smith across the line in the Dash and started from the second row. Walker received the luxury of starting the Dash from pole when a rare spin in his heat from Mark K saw him miss the Dash, allow ing Walker to take the last spot. Walker led the fii-st lap by inches from Smith, who dropped to third on lap 7. Using the traffic to good effect, Swindell snared the lead with a low pass on lap 14. Swindell’s advantage was lost when Steve K flipped three laps from home while dicing. Swindell went on to win from Smith, Walker, Haudenschild, Mark K, Kelly Kinser, Herrera, Jeff Swindell, Gaiy Hayhm-st and Schatz. Danny Smith was 12th and Steve K recovered to be 14th. State Fair n Stevie Smith and Sammy Swindell were back at it again at State Fair Speedway, but this time Swindell didn’t crash out - Smith, though, was up to the task and claimed the $10,000 first prize. “When you look up into a grandContinued cn the next page

^0 3July ms

By Brett Swanson Continued from page 39 stand like this and see all the peo ple who are into racing, it pumps you up,” Smith said, following Ms seventh A-Feature victory of the season. Smith, the sixth fastest qualifier in the 28-car field, won the third heat and his third Dash of the year to start from pole. He drove his Ingersoll-Rand Black Bandit into the lead at the drop of the green and led every lap, except lap 22, of the 30 lap race. Haudenschild was the- early challenger, pushing Smith for the first seven laps. Swindell then grabbed second on lap 18 and was closing with the aid of a couple of cautions. On a restart, he took the lead, but Smith copied the move next lap around to take back the lead. Haudenschild and Swindell then traded places and then Lasoski took third from Haudenschild, until Danny smith flipped with just four laps to go. Swindell challenged Stevie all the way to the flag and came up less than a car length short at the

finish. Seventh-starting Steve K put on a charge to grab third from Haudenschild, Lasoski, Mark K, Blaney, Herrera, Gaerte and Walker. Tatnell was 13th and Danny Smith was credited with 22nd. Brad Doty to pace Kings Royal n “One of the darkest days of my racing life was at Eldora Speedway. But one of my brightest days in racing could quite possibly be at Eldora, when I get to make this lap again,” said Brad Doty, after announcing he will drive around the legendary race track in a Sprintcar, ten years after his career-ending acci dent at the Kings Royal. Doty will pace the four-wide Outlaws parade lap before the green flag falls on the $50,000 to win race. Doty will be behind the wheel of the recently restored #18 Coors Light Gambler that he drove to such success in the 1980s. “I’ve always had the dream of going back and making a lap at Eldora, just one lap even,” Doty said. “Just to get this opportunity, it’s something I’ve never taken real seriously, but it was always in the back of my mind. “I’m going to be' back in the car one more time and that’s it,” he said.‘That niche wdU be fulfilled.”

late Model future for Brad Blake -If

push for quality drivers in quality cars. “He’s got natural ability and is a very smart racer. And he’s done a

sion’s technical director, said realis tically they could have up to 18 cars next season. After racing on country tracks in the infancy stage, they hope to run at the more high-profile tracks next charge went exceptionally well, time around. with the car/driver combination Nylander said fellow competitor Ben Ludlow has had talks with regr looking promising straight off the ular Australian visitor America’s trailer. John Soares, with the view of mnEngine rules in the class mean ning in WA next year. that competitors can run with three And, speaking of the American, it different engine/weight/tyre combi nations, with engines up to 450 looks like the winner of the next cubic inches allowed. series could win an all-expenses paid trip to the States to have a Nylander said at this stage he crack at Late Model racing over would drop a 406 cubic inch engine into the lightweight Camaro for there. Blake. While competitors struggled to come to tei-ms with their cars in the While Nylander was not having a first season, Nylander believed the go at the guys already in the divi left-hand drive version was the sion, he said the addition of some one like Blake to the category right weapon for the job. ‘The cars are right, there’s no would help their profile. question about that,” he said. Although nothing has been con The inaugural champion believed firmed, it is also understood that Brad’s uncle, Barry Blake, is also the loose tracks actually did the interested in switching to Late competitors a lot of good, saying it Models. gave them an opportunity to sort Kevin Bell, who has fronted with out their overall package. He claimed this would help them an immaculately prepared (and put on an entertaining show when Nylander-built) Super Sedan in recent years, will definitely run a the key was turned on the new sea son. Late Model. - DARREN O’DEA Nylander, who is also the divi-

America’s July 4 Independence Day will be the backdrop for Warrnambool speedway ace Tim Morse furthering his motor racing career in the United States. Morse, 19, will take a one month break from his employment as a fit ter and turner, leaving Australia for a four-week position on one of the USA’s major speedway teams commencing this Saturday. The current Victorian Modified Rod Campion will join Tim Fuller and his team in New York State for a hectic racing schedule. Somewhat surprised by the invi tation, Morse said he believed the trip to the speedway capital of the world would be the catalyst he needs to enhance his racing fiirure. “I was pretty surprised when Tim [Fuller] asked me to come to the States and link up with his team,” Morse said. “I’m hoping that this wifi, above all, give me the experience that I

need to learn a lot about the set-ups that are involved with open wheeled racing - it’s all really excit ing,” he said. Morse will be accompanied on the trip by New South Wales Modified racer Mark Robinson of Lismore. Morse, in his third season of rac ing, may also get to drive during the trip for the team. He will be living with the Fuller Racing Team in their race transporter, primarily based on the east coast of America in the state ofNew York. “We’re with the team from the word go and it’s pretty full-on once we arrive,” Morse said. “It’s a case of just go with the flow, but I’m sure I’ll be able to adjust to week after week of rac ing,” Morse said. His father, John, travelled exten sively throughout the USA many years ago and came home and raced Sprintcars - Morse junior hopes that he can follow in his father’s footsteps.

After just one year in the Sprintcar ranks, former WA Super Sedan and Modified star Brad Blake is set to return to tin tops. But the Bimbury-based car sales man won’t be back in action in his #0 Super Sedan, instead opting for the breakaway Late Model category that has put the cat amongst the pigeons on the West Coast. A deal has just been done that will see Blake drive the Nylander house car owned by Alan Nylander. There had been talk that Blake would take the plunge into the lefthand drive sedans for some time, but nothing was confirmed until Nylander announced the deal last week. . This will see Blake compete in all the points rounds in a Chev Camaro. And the deal will most likely force Nylander, who claimed the inaugural series, to the sidelines for most of next summer. “I will probably just drive in the non-points rounds,”‘AJ said. Nylander said Blake’s entry into the division marked the division’s

lot of laps,” Nylander added. Blake has dready had a taste of things to come, when he ran one of Nylander’s cars at a meeting at country Narrogin recently. The team owner said his new

Premier hosts Spnntcar title Morse Stateside trip r

Premier Warrnambool’s Speedway has confirmed its status as one of the country’s leading racing venues after being selected to host the pres tigious 1999 Australian Sprintcar Championships. The much-delayed decision means the club will again stage an exclusive double-header by holding the famous Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic and the national championships on successive week ends. The club last hosted an Australian Sprintcar title in 1994 and also ran the Classic and a World Series Sprintcars round all inside a 10-day period. Next year’s Classic is scheduled for January 30-31, with the cham pionships to be held on February 56. Premier Speedway Club presi dent Graeme Hose said that the club was pleased the decision had finally been reached and they could

now plan for the event. “It really is fantastic news. It’s been an anxious wait and now we have a real opportimity to complete our planning on it,” said Hose. “I believe it’s going to top off what we are going do next year and should help everyone involved get over last season’s robbery, which was a real clout to us all,” he said. The country’s two major events running virtually back to back will also coincide with the rich Kings Sprintcar Challenge at Borderline Speedway, Mount Gambier, which means six nights of racing inside ten days for south-west Victoria’s speedway fans. These three major meetings will carry in excess of $150,000 in prizemoney. Premier Speedway just edged out Geelong’s Avalon International Raceway as host of the country’s blue ribbon event, after much lob bying by the Warrnambool club. -GEOFF ROUNDS

“Dad went over there and came home to race a Sprintcar and it’s something that I’d just love to have a go at. “Really, it would be a dream come true, but at this point in my racing I’ll probably race another full season ofthe Rods, as I’d Uke to win the Australian Modified Rod championship. “But, between now and the new racing season is a fair way off yet; anything could happen, though who'knows?” Morse’s addiction to racing was rewarded when he won two of the major awards at the Premier Speedway Club’s end of season din ner recently. He won the overall aggregate for Modified Rods and the Members award. The latter is awarded to the diiver that club members vote as the best-performed over the season in any category. -GEOFF ROUNDS

Litre Car Smee’s untimely winning streak It’s rare that you’d hear any racecar driver refer to a win ning streak as untimely, yet Sydney Litre Car star Nathan Smee could be excused for feel ing that way. The talented young racer has strung three consecutive wins together at the end of the season, at a time when there’s been little con sequence for the victories. Reliability problems with the potent Pulsar engine robbed Smee of big results in both the NSW and Australian championships - in fact, there were times during the sum mer when he had to wonder if

they’d ever get to go racing again. though, he’s been inundated with Smee is definitely a member of motor woes and hasn’t competed in the “top two” club in NSW, sharing NSW as the new national champ that, mantle with Muswellbrook yet. With Eden out and Andrew hotshot Andrew Wright, but both have had engine problems late in Wright in the USA crewing for thq season. Aussie Speedcar driver Adam In fact, both Smee and Wright Clarke, Smee has picked the last suffered badly in the fortune stakes three races of the year to find form. for the National title. . He’s scored two wins at Ever the opportunist, fellow Newcastle and one at Parramatta, youngster Dean Eden stepped up the latter being one of the best and claimed the win at Charlton in races this summer. QLD ^ but, alas, he may soon be Smee and Michael Pope staged a lost to the Litre Car ranks in favour fantastic tussle at PCR, where both of a Speedcar drive. exuberant youngsters powered Since the title win for Eden, away from the field to use the cush-

ion way up high on the track. Nathan got the nod when the che quers fell, but not before Pope had given him plenty to think about. The last three wins have given the Smee team something to smile about, but it may have come too late in the season. “It’s been a frustrating year for Dad and I,” Smee said.‘We’ve been fast all season, but in the big races something’s always happened with the engine that takes us out. It’s good to get the wins on the board now, but it would have been better to have them earlier in the year.” There have been plenty of legiti-

mate challengers for Wright and Smee to contend with, though. Aggressive youngster Kane Bailey, spirited veteran Jeff Pickering and surprise packet Craig Gearing have all had their share of main event wins and placings. For Smee, now, the challenge,is to maintain the consistency he’s enjoyed in the last three weeks and carry that into a new summer. “If we just knew how to avoid those dramas we had earlier in the year I’d feel a lot better, but I think things are on the upside fi-om here,” said Nathan. -WADEAUNGER

3Jufy1998

'■V

John Leslight continued his remarkable winning sequence when he piloted his American Truck Parts Camaro to victory in the 1998 Queensland Super Sedan Championship at Bundaberg’s Carina Speedway on June 13. After starting from position four in the 40-lap title decider, Leslight executed a couple of controversial passes to dispose of front row starters Larry Nelson (CQ Head Centre Camaro) and Ross Brims (Brims Bulk Transport Camaro) to assume the front running. With his rivals being delayed and, in some cases, eliminated by lapped traffic, Leslight stretched his lead as the laps wound down and was comfortably clear of Brims and defending champ Lyndsay Hawkings (Laser Media Camaro) when the chequer appeared. On a night when poor officiating again overshadowed some fine ontrack performances, the results weren’t confirmed until the early hours of the morning as a protest from Brims was considered and ultimately dismissed. An irate Brims, who refused to participate in the trackside presen tations, was fuming about the lack of action when Leslight swept across the infield to assume the lead on lap 5. Despite post-race admissions from both Leslight and the chief steward that the infield had been used illegally during the move, there was no action taken and Leslight was confirmed as the new champion. A somewhat depleted field of 25 cars - due to the postponement of the event from a month earlier and a somewhat destructive night of racing the previous weekend fronted for the event at what is undeniably Queensland’s biggest, fastest, most exciting venue. The opening round of heats, all of which were incident-free, saw Brims, Nelson and Rod Gough (American Truck Parts Pontiac) collect wins. ' Brims and Nelson doubled up iii round two with another win each, with Shane Paulger (Breaka Pontiac) confimiing his status as a title threat when he clocked the fastest time of the night on his way to victory lane. Nick Girdlestone’s title hopes suffered a blow when he fell victim to an over-watered section of track in turn 2 and slammed the wall at high speed. Round three resulted in -wins for Rockhampton duo Des Korn (Coalfields Tyre Service Pontiac) and Mick Doblo (Adnought

Leslight captures QLD Super Sedan crown

Paulger relegated Nelson another spot on lap 38 and then dived underneath Girdlestone to grab fourth.

MORE GLORY... John Leslight added the Queensland Super Sedan Title to his season’s tally. (Mike Harding) Camaro), as well as another success for Paulger. Brims secured pole position for the feature with his third win in the final round of qualifying, The remaining-heats fell to Chris Bussey (Yokohama Pontiac) and Leslight. Twenty-one cars remained to con test the final and the grid assem bled as follows: Brims, Nelson, Leslight, Bussey, Paulger, Gough, Doblo, Wayne Randall (Castrol Mazda RX7), Korn, Cameron Meehan (Lewin Homes Falcon), Hawkings, Girdlestone, Jack Childs (AMP Camaro), Bronte Perkins (Precision Auto Repairs Falcon), Chris Ede (Corvette), Gerard Smyth (Pontiac), Richard Kay (Falcon), AI Starling (Byron Towing Service Pontiac), Bevan Collins (FTH Earthmoving Camaro], Rob Thompson (Fourex Falcon) and Don Birt (Pennzoil Falcon), The initial attempt to get the race underway was aborted when Nelson spun to a halt in turn 2 after being shuffled back several spots. With Nelson allowed to restart from the front, the race got under-

A final stoppage came on the final lap, when Nelson spun again without penalty. Officials decided to run a two lap sprint to the finish minus Girdlestone, whose Murray’s Race Parts Pontiac was in the middle with a flat tyre. Leslight held on to win from a seething Brims, Hawkings and Paulger, with Doblo snatching fifth in a last comer swoop around the outside of Nelson. In his best performance ever, Korn finished on the lead lap in sixth, followed by Meehan, Sm3dh and Collins, who clocked the quick est time in hot laps but struggled from then on. Starling, Ede (whose courtesy whilst being lapped cost him sever al spots) and Thompson were the only others to go the distance. Gough, Perkins, Kay, Birt and Childs, the latter in his farewell appearance in the division, failed to go the distance, Despite the absence of several stars and the post-race controversy, the event was a success for the new Bundaberg promotional team. A big crowd was in attendance, the track was in good condition and the racing was very competitive from the outset. - CHRIS METCALF

Thompson, who was dicing with way cleanly at the next attempt, Starling and seemingly oblivious to with Brims leading Nelson, the lead cars looming behind. Leslight and the rest through the At the restart, only Leslight, opening laps. Brims, Nelson, Hawkings, Paulger, Leslight quickly discovered a Girdlestone, Doblo, Gough, Korn short-cut across the grass and found himself out front with just' and Meehan were on the lead lap. The final 10 laps produced heaps six laps on the board. of action and plenty of positional After a slow start, Bussey changes. regained fourth from Paulger and Hawkings continued his terrific took the challenge to Nelson. run and roared into third on lap 35, The first stoppage came on lap taking Girdlestone with him into 13, when a flat tyre left Randall fourth as Nelson was baulked by stranded against the tqrn 4 fence. Starling. At the resumption, Leslight remained in front of FLATOUTA LUCK... A puncture ruined Nick Girdlestone’s outing. (Mike Harding) Brims, Nelson, Bussey, Paulger, Gough and Hawkings, who encoun tered a series a mechani cal maladies in qualifying but was on the charge in a desperate attempt to snare his fourth consecu tive crown. There were no changes to the order until Bussey relegated Nelson from I ^ third on lap 28, only to have his race ended two laps later when he slammed the back of

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3July 1998

Graham and Rush PCR Gold Medal winners

Report by TONY MILLARD A magnificent performance by Jason Crump saw him come foxirth at the Danish Grand Piax at Vojens on June 20, the best performance hy an Australian in a Speedway Grand Prix since he won the British GP two years ago. Only a disappointing gate in the final - where the young Aussie had to give best to 1998 Danish GP win ner Hans Nielsen, runner-up England’s Chris Louis and cun-ent championship leader Tony Rickardsson from Sweden in third

Now racing in the USA around Steven Graham and Garry Rush are the Gold Medal winners at the Wisconsin/Indiana area, Steven will return at the end of this month Parramatta City Raceway in to prepare for what he hopes is vic the Speedcar and Sprintcar tory in the second annual $100,000 divisions, respectively. place - prevented Crump making For Rush, it was a more than Speedcar Super Series. The Gold Medal for Sprintcars the rostrum. appropriate way to finish what has TOP AUSSIE... Jason Crump with engine tuner Klaus Lausch. (Patrick) For the other three Australians has been shared evenly among the been a great career. big guns of racing, although Rush in the event, it was another disap The ten-time Aussie champ pointing night. clinched the PCR Track now has the lion’s share. Previous winners include Brooke Craig Boyce was out after his sec Championship and also suitably ' impressed the judges to win the Tatnell, Robbie Farr, Skip Jackson ond ride, while Ryan Sullivan and and Rush on two occasions. Leigh Adams each lasted three Gold Medal by a healthy margin. Winner of the most popular rides to leave Crump to battle it It’s the second year in a row that alone against the Europeans and Rushie has won the Gold medal, Speedcar driver award was Adam but it’s the fifth time he’s been hon Clarke, who wins a lot of support two Americans. A second place in his first outing oured in the celebrations as a with his high-line theatrics, raw behind Chris Louis in heat one whole. ability and coniical nature. Clarke is interactive with the meant Crump was through to, heat Three times previously (including last year), he has been nominated fans whenever possible and this 8, where a place in the first two would qualify him for the main as the crowd favourite, as voted by contributes to the support he event. earned both on and off the race the spectators of the track. Another second, this time behind This year, however, lady racer track. Swede Stefan Danno, meant a real There have been no repeat win Kelly Linigen pipped him on the ners in the Gold Medal for the ly tough outing in heat 11 with line by two points in the most popu Championship leader Tony Speedcar division since the acco lar driver category. Rickardsson, World Champion lade began in 1995. Last season, Linigen finished sec Previous winn&s include Brett Greg Hancock and British title ond to Rush in the award by three * votes, but this year she turned the Morris, Craig Brady and Robbie holder Louis; Farr. A third behind Hancock hnd . relatively untroubled four laps to Sullivan share twelfth place and tables to win by two points. are battling on the borderline of The outstanding contribution to Rickardsson meant the Aussie take the title. Linigen’s win was even more sig Nielsen reached the final for the automatic qualification for next needed^ a place in the first two in nificant when you consider that she the sport award has gone to Track first time since winning the season and will probably have to . heat 15 if-he was to stay alive. pipped Rushie in his retirement Chaplain Garry Coleman. German Grand Prix at Landshut keep doing well to win through via He stormed from the gate to head The “Racing Reverend” has provid season, a summer of racing you the GP Challenge. ed the spring-board for what is now a home Brian Karger, while former last year. would have thought he was des But the rider nicknamed “The For Adams, two points behind, it tined to win. 24-man strong motorsport ministry world champion Billy Hamill was left trailing with the Pole Piotr Professor” certainly gave a lesson to is a similar tale, but for Boyce an Speedcar racing’s highest award, in most forms of auto racing. Protasiewicz to tumble out of the the 23 yoxmger riders in the field as eight point retmTi from three GP’s Coleman was the man who recog the PCR Medal, went to Padstow nised the need for such a service driver Steven Graham. to how to ride the Vojens circuit,, to date is little short of a disaster meeting. with which he is so familiar. and he’ll be looking to do much bet Crump’s effort meant a chance in Winning six main events from \^ithin speedway and has offered As a seeded rider from his sev ter in the remaining meetings. nine starts, “Weavin” Steven was /many the support and care they heat 19 to make the semi-finals and the stand-out driver in a class field ' needed when times have been enth place in the previous GP in a second place behind shock Czech in his #14 and #41 Stealth Gaertes tough. Placings and points rider Toni Kasper took him through Germany, Nielsen entered the 1. Hans Nielsen (Denmark) 25 meeting for heat 12 and started For many, though, the kind- to meet Rickardsson, current world collectively. 2. Chris Louis(England) 20 quietly behind Danno. Indeed, it’s been a season of firsts hearted chaplain is a friendly face champion Greg Hancock and the The second place was enough to 3., Tony Rickardsson(Sweden)18 for Steven - he bagged the in the pits and.'provides a welcome Dane Brian Karger in heat 22. 4. Jason Crump (Australia) 16 Australian Grand Prix (which his Second place behind Rickardsson take him to heat 17, where his gat warm word around racing. Previous winners of this award Toni Kasper(Czech Rep) 15 father Bany won many years ago) meant Crump was in the final, but ing was good enough to head home 5. Greg Hancock(USA) 14 Hancock, Czech veteran Kasper 6. and the NSW Championship, the include Sid Moore, Bob Tunks, last choice of gate left him occupy 7. Brian Kerger(Denmark) 12 and the lively Pole, Tomasz Gollob. ing the outside ‘trap’ and he could Gold Me4al capping off a great Alan Felsch and Ron O’Brien. -WADEAUNGER make little ground on a watered 8. Mark Loram (England) 10 The legendary Dane then fol summer for the QANTAS Engineer. 8 track - but fourth place saw him lowed England’s Louis home in his =9. Tomasz GoUob (Poland) PCR GOLD... Legend Garry Rush talks to Wade Aunger.(Tony Glynn pic) 8 beaten, but far from disgraced by semi-final and that meant he only =9. Jimmy Nilsen (Sweden) had third choice of gate in the final =11. Brian Andersen(Denmark) 7 his performance on the night. =11. Stefan Danno(Sweden) 7 It was a different tale for the oth- itself, 6 ers from Down Under. =13. Billy Hamill(USA) That proved little handicap, as he showed class and speed to leave the =13. Henrik Gustafsson(Sweden)6 A third place in heat 1 and a dis tant last in heat 5 meant Boyce was others standing to thrill his many =15. Piotr R-otasiewicz(Poland) 5 =15. Andy Smith (England) 5 out after just over two minutes of fans in the crowd as he took the title. =17. Leigh Adams(Australia) 4 racing. Nielsen’s efforts only slightly =17. Lars Gunnestad(Norway) 4 Sullivan was encom-aged by com overshadowed a tremendous perfor =19. Ryan Sullivan (Australia) 3 ing second in heat 3 behind Danish =19. Armando Castagna (Italy) 3 mance by Louis, who took the run Champion Karger, but a last place =21. Sebastian Ulamek(Poland) 2 in heat 8 saw his motor looking ners-up spot in his best perfor mance yet in the Grand Prix after a =21. Zoltan Adoijan(Hungary) 2 decidedly sluggish and meant a sec ond successive race in heat 9 to series of battles. =23. Jesper Jensen(Denmark) 1 stay in the meeting. The eclipse so far in the series of =23. Craig Boyce (Australia). Again he was slowly away, never the two Americans who have won Overall Standings picked- up speed and was on his the last two world titles has been a (after three Grand Prix) way home before the main event. disappointment for Hancock and Tony Rickardsson 68 points, Jimmy It was much the same story for Billy Hamill and, with Rickardsson Nilsen 47, Hans Nielsen 45, Billy Adams, whose second spot behind having won two events and finished Danno gave him hope in heat 4, but third at Vojens, it will take some Hamill 44, Chris Louis 43, Tomasz Gollob 40, Greg Hancock 30, a third place next time out in heat good riding to prevent him wirming Henrik Gustafsson 29, Stefan 7 meant he was fighting to stay back the World title he won in involved. 1994, the last year it was raced Danno 27, Toni Kasper 26, Mark Loram 23, Ryan Sullivan 22, Jason When he was third in heat 9, under its old format. Crump 22, Andy Smith 21, Leigh Realistically, Hamill, currently that was it and Cnimp was left to Adams 20, Zoltan Adorjan 14, carry the Australian flag all the fourth in the standings, has a way to heat 24! chance, along with second-placed Brian Andersen 12, Brian Kerger Nielsen, at 38 the oldest rider in Jimmy Nilsen, Nielsen (now third) 12, Armando Castagna 9, Peter * the field, took the title in his home and Louis, but all are more than 20 Katisson (Sweden) 9, Craig Boyce country. points behind Rickardsson and, if 8, Piotr Protasiewicz 8, Gerd Riss The four-time World Individual he keeps making the final in the (Germany) 6, Jesper Jensen 5, Bo Champion took the chequered flag remaining events at Coventry, Brhel (Czech Rep) 5, Lars just twice in the four rides he need- Linkopping(Sweden) and Bydgoscz Gunnestad 4, Sebastian Ulamek 3, ed, but his speed from the gate (Poland), that would probably be Jacek Kryzaniak (Poland)3, Robert Barth(Germany)2, against Rickardsson, Louis and enough to give him the title. -TONY MILLARD Crump was enough to allow him a Of the Aussies, Crump and

Nielsen wins Danish GP

Crump misses out on podium finish

J July 1998

Clifford cleans up at Archerfield

The first of two scheduled winter shows at Archerfield Speedway was held on June 21, but failed to gain much support from competitors with small fields in all divisions. Modified Productions, in only their second outing in Brisbane this season, were the wor-st offenders, with only half of the nominated entrants actually making an appearance. Brock Clifford (STP Cortina) was the dominant performer and scored a comfortable win in the feature race, which was shortened to just 'T12 laps. Despite suffering considerable damage the previous evening in Mackay and an all-night drive to make the show, Clifford easily outclassed the small field to win by almost half a lap. In a day dominated by Ford dri vers, Mark Ferguson (Russ Industries Cortina) finished in second spot, ahead of the Falconmounted duo of Neville Mansted and Allan Ii-win. Jason Geraghty (Valvoline Commodore) was the only other to go the distance. The two qualifying heats were taken out by Clifford and former

Todd thethe Sydney rider who Wiltshire, finished on rostrum of the World Final seven years ago, is returning to British speedway this was forecast exclusively in these columns a month ago. Wiltshire has been racing in Germany for the last two European summers and his form has been sensational. As a result, the authorities in England have given him a work permit to race for the Oxford Cheetahs, alongside fellow Aussie Jason Crump.

Australian champ Arthur Wieden (Forbes Batteries Falcon), who was forced out of the feature when he slammed hard into the turn 3 wall, Jeff Bancroft looked set to cleansweep the Formula 500 events when he took out all three heats with ease, Starting from the back in the fea ture, Bancroft had sliced his way to the front, when an engine malfunc tion forced him infield, handing the lead to Jason Moy. When Moy also headed for the grass shortly after, John Willmott took over the front running and greeted the chequer ahead of veteran Ken Murray, Des Carsburg, Niall Chandler and John Lawson. Litre Sprintcars provided the most entertainment during the afternoon and also opted for a fastest-from-the-rear format for their feature event! Bruce Ayers proved too strong in the 15-lapper, finishing ahead of Toowoomba’s Keith Blatch, Ray Eager, Stuart Farmillo and newcomer Luke Beeston. The four preliminaries, taken out by Blatch (2), Ayers and Eager, featured some close dicing that almost compensated for the lerck of cars.* - CHRIS METCALF

mmssm

Craig Boyce has joined clamour for action replaysthe to be used by referees before mak ing exclusion decisions in the big Grand Prix meetings. Boyce was the victim of a dubi ous move by Hans Nielsen at the German GP. “They have the facility in Rugby League and they use it in cricket,” he said. “I would definitely like to* see the system used in the Grand Prix.” Boyce had another disappoint ing Grand Prix in Denmark, but an ankle injury has not helped his confidence recently. The British are of nego tiating forpromoters TV coverage the coming Test series with England, for which the Aussies should be boosted by the inclusion of Todd Wiltshire. If a deal can be clinched to show the three-match series in England, it is likely Fox Sports in Australia will also have the tapes to show the action Down Under.

mmmm

Australian Frank Smart, who rides in the British Premier League for Exeter, has a real fan in the Elite League. Belle Vue promoter John Perrin has recently given the 28 year-old four guest bookings. The Perth rider first raced in England in 1990, but disappoint ing form saw him stay at home for three years before returning to England to race at Exeter last year. He has not ruled out the possi bility of trying out in the Elite League on a regular basis next season and Belle Vue would be the first to offer him a contract.

/- . .> h:-

CARE?®OTERS

Outgoing Super Sedan champion Lindsay Hawl^gs (above) finished third at Carina, Bundaberg, on June 13, afpr having to fight through &om the back of the grid follow ing,^actice problems and putting in the drive of the race. Larry Nel^n (below), who finished sucth after being the second topscorar in qualif^g heats, passes Chris Bussey. - Mike Harding

FAMILY AFFAIR ...23 yeans after being crowned British Champion, John Louis congratulates his son, Chris, at the British Final.(Mike Patrick pic)

c l 1»^

Swede Henrik Gustafsson and top British riders such as Paul Hurry, Joe Screen and Kelvin Tatum.

ritish riders Joe Screen and Martin Dugard have been nominated to race as wild cards in the British round of the World By Tony Mlllardj.’ljK' Championship Grand Prix on August 7. that has a genuine shale surface Toni Kasper continues as the and a track complete with safety guaranteed Czech Republic rider fence, albeit not more than 120 in the field, which includes the four metres in circumference. Aussie regulars - Ryan Sullivan, Craig Boyce and Shane Parker Leigh Adams, Jason Crump and are two definite starters from Craig Boyce are all again in the Australia, as both appear set to field, spend an English winter in Although Crump came fourth in England. the event at Vojens and therefore has direct qualification into the Top riders Sam and Ermolenko, Greg Hancock Tony main event as a top eight rider, Rickardsson, all world champions, the other three will all have to bat are expected to race, along with tle from the very first heat. ACTION REPLAYS... The onlyfair way, says Craig Boyce.(Mike Patrick pic)

ark Lemon was battered and bruisecf after scraping through the Overseas Final of the World Championship and earning a place to race in the Inter Continental Final at Vojens in Denmark. The 25 year-old Aussie has enjoyed a purple patch recently in British domestic speedway and he has until August 21 now to pre pare himself properly for Vojens and his big chance of edging towards a lucrative Grand Prix place for next year. The meeting Brighton will indoor be staged againatthis com ing Christmas with a truly interna tional field, the meeting being tele vised this year for showing imme diately after Christmas. It is the only meeting indoors

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POINT STANDINGS TO JUNE 29TH, 1998

Mark Kinser Steve Kinser Sammy Swindell Stevie Smith Andy Hillenburg Johnny Herrera Danny Lasoski Jeff Swindell Dale Blaney Tyler Walker

4,630 4.S7S 4,562 4,549 4,455 4,393 4,366 4,259 4,214 4,214

1 1. Joe Gaerte 12. Greg Hodnett 13. Jac Haudenschild 14. DonnySchatz 15. Craig Dollansky 16. Lance Blevins 17. Dion Hindi 18. Larry Neighbors 19. Brooke Tatnell 20. Terry McCarl

4,189 4,122 4,075 4,026 3,466 2,71 1 2,634 ,907 1,480 3,316

EAGLE NATIONALS-JUNE 28TH A-FEATURE(40 LAPS) I. Steve Kinser 11. Greg Hodnett 2. Sammy Swindell 12. Johnny Herrera 3. Mark Kinser 13. Joe Gaerte 4. Jac Haudenschild 14. Craig Oollansky 5. Stevie Smith IS. Donny Schatz 6. Danny Lasoski 16. Skip Jackson 17. Dion Hindi 7. Tyler Walker 8. Andy Hillenburg 18. Don Droud,Jr. 9. Dale Blaney 19. Daryn Pittman 20. Bruce Divis 10. Jeff Swindell

KARTING

3July 1998

the pre-final - now it was Pontello’s turn to suffer a mechanical failure and Wlodzinski’s weekend kept on going bad, finishing a distant 13th.

Report by EDWARD KRAUSE

Pre-Final The result of months of develop ment work bore fruit for Nick Agland, who reversed his abysmal start to the Wynn’s Australian Karting Championships with an emphatic victory in Formula A at the second round at the Willowbank circuit in Queensland on June 28. The factory Arrow/Bridgestone Formula A driver had a newly developed AX6 chassis and, more importantly, a different compound Bridgestone tyre to help combat the Dunlops which were so dominant at the opening round in South Australia. For the first time in recent mem ory, there now appears to be parity between the tyre makes, as both Agland and runner-up William Yarwood in a CRG/Dunlop, pushed each other all through the final, both recording times within a few hundredths of a second. Also giving Agland an edge was a newly-developed Italsistem/Saetta motor, which had a newly-devel oped front inlet port with an exter nal rotary valve running off a pul ley system, which Agland claimed was worth a couple of tenths a lap. In Intercontinental A, last year’s ICA Junior champion Michael Caruso was another to have a major form turnaround, winning the class convincingly, while in the junior category, Neil McFadyen made it two from two this year, the young Top Kart pilot proving too strong against all competitors' in a rain-shortened final. Eastern Creek International Karting Raceway Formula A Before a wheel was turned, there was controversy about the tyre situ ation. After the drubbing the Bridgestone drivers encountered at the opening round at Bolivar with the YFB compound tyre,

COMPLETE SUCCESS... Smiles all round for Formula A's Nick Agland and DPE team.(Sean Henshelwood)

AX6 Agland trumps Ipswich competition Bridgestone nominated the softer YFA rubber for its drivers to use. Dunlop Australia importer Les May was fuming, claiming that the Bridgestone provided wasn’t the same as the original YFA that was homologated, but this was denied and no protest was issued, ending the matter. Qualifying & Heats For the second round in a row, Wesley May was the fastest qualifi er. He topped the time sheets in both sessions, only to be eliminated from the first for being under weight. He still got his Energy/Parilla/

POiNTS LEADER... Jamie Whincup settled for fourth in Intercontinentai A.

Dunlop combo to record a 48.423 to head the 21-kart field, the largest ever Formula A grid for a champi onship round. Next fastest was Chris Cox (Tony/Italsistem/Dunlop) with a 48.469, then Joshua Pontello (RevolutionA^ortex/Dunlop) and Mark Winterbottom (Merlin /Atomik/Dunlop). After being fastest in the warm up, William Yarwood was unable to improve his time with fresh tyres to be fifth in his CRG/CRG combo, while Nick Agland was the first of the Bridgestone runners in his Arrow/Italsistem machinery. ●Following him was Ryan Wlodzinski (PCR/Dunlop), defending champion David Clark, who has switched to CRG and Mark Domaschenz, who only received his Merlin equipment late Friday after noon and “slapped it together for qualifying,” while Malcolm Heath rounded out the top ten, which was covered by a mere 2/lOths. The remaining fi eld comprised Tyson Pearce, newcomers Clinton Dive and Simon Richardson, Troy Hunt - who was fifth after the first session, but was also found under weight - Reif Corbett, Luke Van

Doom, Steve Maher, Daniel Richert, Andrew Wamsley, a bitter ly disappointed and confiised Gary Dann - who led the final here in ’97, but was struggling with chassis set-up - and Patrick Buckley, who rounded out the field. The heats were a fairly hectic affair. Nick Agland got off to the best start, winning the opener after early combatants May and the very fast Wlodzinski both went out with mechanical failures. Pontello took second from Cox, Winterbottom and Domaschenz. Race two saw Wlodzinski again in the wars, dispatched to near the back after a turn one collision, but he made another comeback to sixth, while this time May fi nished the job to win this and the final heat. Pontello again took second, this time from Clark, Domaschenz and. Heath, while Agland had his own troubles to finish 11th. He got it together for race three, finishing second behind May to take pole for the pre-final, while Hunt began to pick up the pace, fin ishing third in front of Clark and Domaschenz, who used consistency to get himself onto the front row for

Agland won this race in the first few laps, charging away to be a massive 2.1 secs in front after only seven laps, while Clark and Domaschenz made a fight of it for second place. The eventual winning margin was 2.4 secs after the 18 laps. Clark able to hold out Domaschenz for second. Pontello came out best ofa seven way dice to take fourth from Hunt, who just held out the fast-finishing William Yarwood, who had a shock ing run through the heats and fought his way from 20th through to sixth right behind Hunt. Wlodzinski was looking menacing early on, his pace getting him to fourth, but around mid-distance he went off the boil and fell back to seventh. Steve Maher, who switched to a stiffer Dino chassis mid-Saturday for a marked improvement, fin ished eighth, while followed by Winterbottom and May. Final Agland did another runner at the start of the final and had the gap out to 1.9 secs after only three laps. That was all the time it took for Yarwood to get up into second posi tion and there started the chase. Clark, however, wasn’t finished and on the next lap gave Yarwood a tap at the end of the back straight, (called Whlliam Yarwood Racing Corner) to move back into second and, after another five laps of dic ing, the gap from Agland back was 2.4 secs. Yarwood finally broke clear when Clark dropped out with a broken chain. Yarwood set oS in a valiant pm-suit and slowly began to claw back the gap, a tenth here, then a tenth there and then started pulling out two and three tenths a lap to get it down to 1.2 secs by lap 16. Then Agland responded and both he and Yarwood put on a fascinat ing display of sheer head-down, on the limit driving, both lapping in the 48.4-second bracket lap after lap, which was matching the pole time set by May, over one lap on fresh tjTes. Both drivers setting these times repeatedly after 20 laps of a very gruelling final and an earlier 60kms of tough racing with tired engines and tyres was an example of why Formula A is the, premier category in Australia - and proof

ON A MISSION... William Yarwood (below) was the only driver to challenge Agland. (Sean Henshelwood pics}

KARTING that the FMK series has a tyre par ity situation at the moment. Yarwood set the fastest lap of 48.413, good enough for pole posi tion, but not good enough to catch Agland. With about six laps to go, the Queenslander backed off slightly to cool the tyres and engine before launching another attack, but that was all Agland needed, the gap blowing out and the race was his by just under two seconds from Yarwood. Before the final, Agland’s mechan ic Rod FaiTeU said: “We deserve this win and we’re going to get it. We’ve worked on getting this chassis right and, after what we copped at Bolivar, we’ve earned this.” For Agland afterwards, it was a similar sentiment: “It’s a real relief. After Bolivar, this is exactly what we needed and we worked hard for it.” Yarwood was disappointed, but glad that his previously disastrous weekend turned around, as was Troy Hunt. Refining his chassis throughout the weekend, it all came good in the final and he used consistency to get himself up near the front and decid ed to sit there. He pushed Wlodzinski toward the end and, when Ryan lost an engine, Hrmt had his podium posi tion. Fourth went to Domaschenz, who . in relative terms put in the perfor mance of the weekend. With no testing, each race he tried something and was consistent and fast. As the next round is in his home state, at a track he knows only too well, with some testing he , could be serious contender. Fifth for Pontello was a good result, showing that he is finally coming to grips with the relatively new Revolution chassis, although he said he was looking for grip. Pearce salvaged his weekend with a sixth, followed by Winterbottom, Reif Corbett, Daniel Richert and May rounding out the finishers, all having weekends that just didn’t quite go to plan. Winterbottom and May, especial ly, had some speed, but making it last for the weekend was the challenge. Engine problems put out several runners, notably Wlodzinski and Heath with only laps remaining, while Gary Dann didn’t get past.the first lap, locking an engine and causing Dive and Richardson to go out while taking evasive action, ending a miserable weekend for the South Australian. While he didn’t finish the final, Clark still managed to take the lead championship from

Wlodzinski, 91 to 88, with Agland third on 84, then Hunt - who, if he keeps improving, should be able to challenge the leaders - followed by Pontello, Yarwood, Winterbottom, Heath, Dann and May in the top ten, all covered by 34 points. With the topsy turvy champi onship thus far and 60 points a round up for grabs, this ain’t over by a long shot. KartOz Magazine Intercontinental A Until the pre-final, Michael Caruso, the ’97 ICA Junior champi on, never looked a likely threat this weekend. The young Tony Kart driver was busy sorting his chassis and engine package and even busier getting knocked off the track during the heats. He qualified fifth, finished ninth and sixth after altercations and then dropped a chain to be off ten for the pre-final. A change of Vortex engines and his chassis and he picked up his pace to charge through to finish second, a surprise even to himself, behind Clint Qathcart, who had been the likely winner all weekend, after setting the fastest lap along the way. It wasn’t vrithout its excitement, Caruso dicing with Brendan Dive, Clayton Pyne and series leader Jamie Whincup, whom he passed with the latest oflate brakes. In the final he “did what I had to do,” followed Cathcart and then pounced on lap 11 at Energy Karting corner and simply drove away, setting another fastest lap of 48.522 to win by five seconds and move up into third in the championship, 19 points behind Whincup. Leading the field for most of the weekend were^ Cathcart in the new Arrow chassis. Dive in the No-Dig Birel and round one winner 'Whincup in the Tecno. Caruso and Cathcart were Bridgestone-shod vs Dive and 'Whincup on Dunlop, In his Inter A debut, Cathcart was most impressive, qualifying fourth and then had two firsts and a second in the heats to be on pole for the pre-final, which he then won. Whincup qualified second, fi n ished with two thirds, but grabbed a win in the final heat to stay on the front row, but slipped back to third at the end after fighting with Cathcart for most of the pre-final. He then got caught up in a dice with Dive for third in the final and. after some spirited competition, Dive got the upper hand for third, leaving Whincup a distant fourth.

Dive has proven to be the qualify ing star of the Inter A field, taking pole twice now in a very competi tive class. His pole time of 48.326 was a mere 2/lOths faster than seventh, the top ten covered by half a sec ond. Only a last-corner ambitious move by Kris Walton while Dive was in third in race two spoiled his run, pushing him off the track and into seventh to go with his second and third placings. In the pre-final. Dive finished fourth after battles with Caruso and Clayton Pyne, before displacing Whincup for third in the final. Of the remaining players, Pyne had the pace, but had a ‘Murphy’s’ weekend where everything that could go wrong did; Barclay Holden had a strong run until the pre-final when he fell out; Kris Walton showed some pace, but a combina tion of accidents and mechanical failures thwarted his attempts. Fifth in the final was a good result for Alan Gurr, putting him fourth in the championship - but, unfortunately, a set-up miscalcula tion in the pre-final destroyed his front tyres and he suffered thrpughout the final. i Bob Jane T-Marts ICA Junior Young Top Kart driver Neil McFadyen made it two from two, to take a commanding series lead. All throughout the weekend, McFadyen and DPE driver James Small battled it out unjil the veiy controversial final. McFadyen took pole position from Small, but then finished sec ond behind the 'Victorian in each heat. In the pre-final, McFadyen just took off and won convincingly, but it wasn’t so easy in the final. After two starts were red-flagged - the first when a collision put Ricky Occhipinti into the wall and the second after only a lap due to Tony D’Alberto rolling, thankfully neither of them injured - the race was finally run with minimal light, but was red-flagged after only 11 laps due to excessive rain-fall, the youngsters still on slick tyres. McFadyen fell behind Small at the start and held and stayed there for six laps, then made his move and took the lead, never to be head ed until the abbreviated finish. ■ Small succumbed to Jamie Carter at the end of the final, the young South Australian Mirage dri ver running third all weekend until the final. Daniel Elliott capped off an impressive debut with fourth over all, with James Hamgan fifth.

3Mym

A ■"a V If

ON THE PACE... James Small In new generation AX6. (Henshelwood)

Return of the Arrow

After a less than impressive debut at the opening round of the Wyim’s Australian Karting Championships at Adelaide back in March, it was smiles all round at Drew Price Ei^ineering post round two with an impressive back from the brink perfor mance for the team. At one stage, they had the pace in all three FMK classes, with Nick Agland finally claiming the team’s only victory in the Eastern Creek International Karting Raceway Formula A class driving a new development Arrow AX6 '‘Intel-national’ chassis. Also driving this new chassis was DPE regular Clint Cathcart, who was making his debut in the KartOz Magazine Intercontinental A class. Cathcart was the pacesetter throughout practice against what is possibly the toughest competi tion in the country. Not only was Cathcart making his debut, but it was also the debut of the 1998-spec Rotax reed valve engine, imported by DPE and meticulously prepared by engine tuning guru Anthony Bartolo. Cathcart also tried a second DPE Arrow development chassis during practice, a chassis which was a different shape to the stan dard ‘International’ chassis. Ultimately, however, they were so impressed with the material alterations to the existing chassis that they concentrated their efforts squarely on that. In fact, one team member thi-oughout the course of the week-

end suggested that the new chas sis was so good that they weren’t sure where, or how, they could alter it to gain any more speed. Cathcart was unlucky not to have taken outright victory, despite the dominant perfomance of reigning Junior Inter A Champion Michael Caruso in the final - the talented Melbourne dri ver suffered severe migraine headaches throughout the Sunday. This, coupled with the high physical demands of over 4Gs in some corners and a 30-minute final, took their toll, Cathcart forced to finish second some five seconds behind Caruso and twelve seconds clear of Brendan Dive in third. Rounding out the team’s perforpiance was Bob Jane T-Marts Junior Intercontinental A driver James Small, using a similar chassis to Agland and Cathcart. He won the three qualifying heats, but lost out to the pace and package of Top Kart’s Neil McFadyen in the finals. The other pleasing situation for the DPE team was the perfor mance of the Bridgestone tyres. Despite supplying only six senior teams due to availability, Bridgestone surprised a number of people by turning around Dunlop’s stunning dominance during the opening round of the champi onship. There now seems to be a true tyre parity in the series, leaving the battle to manufacturers and engine builders. - SEAN HENSHELWOOD

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Calder Park SATCC Continued from Page 33 Larkham, who had had a fairly uneventful time. Bad news for Johnson Jr was that, after replacing a gearbox after the warm-up, his crew faced and engine change after the first race. They lost the race against time and he missed race two.

Race 2-21 laps

ain. Rain go away, come again ^ome other day. It was almost sunny for the sec ond race, but in the distance was a sign of things to come - black clouds which threatened heavy precipita tion. After qualifying Skaife was asked whether he was getting paranoid about his lousy starts. No, he replied. He hadn’t even practiced them especially. BARG'S BIG MOMENT ... After a mature drive in the second race, Jason Bargwanna takes the chequered He should be paranoid - and he flag to record his maiden V8 Supercar victory at Calder Park. (Photo by Marshall Cass) should practice. If his race one get away was a tlu-ee out of ten, this one . Sr, Romano, Fauljcner, Jones and Likewise, Ingall got onto Seton’s an oil line fire. He rolled up to a tail and started to hassle him for mai'shall’s post and hopped out; like couldn’t be measured by modern Skaife (who passed eight cai-s on the Poole and Faulkner, race over. technology. It was awful; car 50 first lap), third but soon all eyes were on the hopped, stopped, then moved as he The Funnel claimed victims back straight. Behind the lead trio. Ingall was got it started. By the time he hit the again.' Ellery got skatey under holding onto Seton with Bowe mak Skaife’s starts may stink but he bump at the end of the ‘old’ straight, brakes and clouted a few cai-s on the certainly has pace. He was picking ing it another three-way fight, while off cars inside, outside, whatever, he was 26th. way to the escape road; Tander got Larkham was fighting off Tander Lowndes’ start was a seven out of involved with someone as well, losahead of Perkins, who soon had a running the same pace as the lead ten, but Bai-gwanna’s was a 10. No, ing a side ■window; and Perkins also ers. After three laps he was 13th spin back to ... Mm-phy, which stai-tmake that an 11. From grid four tagged someone on the way as well, and zapped past Poole in the back ed another VT vs VT fight. Bargs lit the fuse perfectly and was causing a rear tyre to smoke on a Bright lost the leader’s draft when straight Kink, nudging him on the in front even before the old track ran guard for a few laps, way. he got cut up in traffic mid-race and, out. A shocked Lowndes wasn’t even Lowndes wasted little time getting Dick Johnson, right behind, had over the final handful of laps, second; Seton was, with Bright by Bright and zeroed in on the rear to wash off all his speed to avoid TLowmdes threw everything at foi-mer fourth from Ingall (a predictably of the Bargwanna Commodore. Until boning the Bosch cai-. Right behind HRT teammate Bargwanna. huge start), Crompton (who was to they hit traffic he more or less stayed DJ, Faulkner had nowhere to go. Jason reported a couple of pretty pit after a lap for a stop/go penalty), there, then the gap see-sawed from As the wreckage settled, heavy taps (“but nothing to turn Faulkner’s nose was stoved in and Bowe, Murphy, Tander, Larkham, lap to lap. But, on a clear road, the car around”) but, try as he Johnson’s rear end was ablaze with Longhurst, Poole, Perkins, Johnson Bargwanna had him covei’ed. might, Lowndes could not pressm-e

gy accessible to all competitors. With precise and readily acces sible chassis set-up information a major key to winning on-ti-ack per formance, Intercomp’s range of equipment is designed for easy networking with most laptop com puters. Intercomp’s products include computerised scales systems with instantaneous centre of gravity calculations and weight percent age goal time frame features, plus digital alignment equipment and mechanical turn plates, as well as bubble and digital caster/camber gauges; all capable of detecting even the smallest error. Australasia’s largest special ist retailer of motorsport and motoring accessories and Revolution equipment, Racegear offers Intercomp products through its 17 stores across Axistralia, or thi’ough its mail-order service which can be accessed on 1800 804 778.

him into a mistake. Despite almost nailing a recovering-from-an-off Ashby with a few laps to go, Bargs hung on to win by 0.21s and celebrated mightily. He also received a musing ovation from even the opposition teams in pit lane. This can be a nice sport some times ... Behind the lonely Bright came Ingall, who snuck past Seton for fourth at turn one with six to go. But Glenn wasn’t fifth; Skaife was, hav ing shot through the field to finish only 11s behind the leaders. Seton, Bowe and Larkham fol lowed, while Tander just held out Romano for ninth, and Perkins took out the VT honom-s.

Race 3 - Abandoned

the field lined up in pit lane for ,he third race, the dark clouds delivered on their threat and di-enched the track. After 15 min utes of “wiU we or won’t we?”, a 30minute hiatus was called while the water was swept off turn one and, at the end of that, Mm-phy motored out for a peek. There was no need for a verbal report. After two twitchy laps the Murf motored straight back to the HRT garage and stepped out. Even if everyone else was racing, he was not. The race was cancelled. Ingall was pissed off - no race meant no chance of closing the points gap. Just as predictably, Lowndes was happier with the deci sion. The other drivers seemed happy or upset in equal numbers. With the largest points spread of the season. Ingall heads to Darwin with a lot of ground to make up. The Big Wet IS over up north isn’t it? ■

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Suzuki Swift GTi. Black, Koni adjustable suspension, 15

dition, nothing to spend pre-season. Sponsorship available with lease/buy arrangement. We will accept offers, must sell. Genuine enquiries only. Ph:039776 0704(AH). 131 Holden HR show car. Modified 192, four speed, mags.

Black Beast, 74 GTS De Tomaso Pantera. 490hp, Carillos, Cosworth pistons, Motec injection, Chev crank, Simmons wheels, 17x11 rears, 17x9 fronts, large Harrop brakes, all round roll cage. Ideal Targa/Club car or just touring. In A1 cond. POA. Ph:TonyJory0418 130 133,03 6326 5555. ix HQ race car. Very well presented. Sealed engine only 3 meetings old. This car gives you affordable and reliable racing for just $3,800. Ph:03 9850 5566,015 527 854. 130

Escort Twin-Cam, 1972, GT1600 original equipment. Inc block, head, Webers. Air cleaner, spare etc. Rebuilt engine with Cosworth cams. Car in excellent condition. Offers around $10,000. Ph: Paul 08 8258 6883,0417 836 634. is

continued over page

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NAME: ADDRESS:

CATEGORY;

Cars: □ Sedans □ Open Wheelers General: □ Parts □ Engines □ Trailers

□ Speedway □ Drag □ Wanted □ Photographs □ Other

3Jul^W98 Speedcar. Stealth chassis, 166ci Mitsubishi, Argo rods, forged pistons, dry sump, braided oil lines, splined Halibrand diff, power steering, Carrera coilover shocks on front, adjustable Carrera shocks on rear. $17,500ono. Ph: 02 9604 0208. 131 TD Cortina Modified Production, ex Chriss Rng Aust 1, big hp engine, Sachs clutch, power head steer. Car fully rebuilt, mini spool diff. Must sell $8,500. Ph: 07 5446 7722. 131 Sprintcar. 1995 Tognotti, standard or reverse arm, 372 Rodeck engine. Ready to race. $33,500. Ph: Shane 0417-780 1969 BMW 2002, fully prepared Road Rallies 2.2 litre engine, 5 speed gearbox, twin caliper brakes. Veto seats, Simmons wheels. Terra Trip, Intercom, Sabelt 6 point harness, full custom interior. Ready for any event. $22,000. Ph: 03 6231 42^ 129

Datsun 1600,13B rotary, 48 Weber, ACT & NSW Board rego. 4 meetings old, very competitive, heaps of spares (too many to list) with regd. trailer if needed. POA. Ph: 02 6297 7206,014 494 516. 131

Speedcar engine, Volvo ohc, dry sump, stroked engine, forged pistons, aluminium oil tank, braided lines etc, inci exhaust. Fresh, ready to race. $5,700ono. Ph: 02 9604 0208. 131 Modified Production TE Cortina, strong 250 Xflow methanol motor, 4 speed, adjustable suspension. Very competi tive car, plenty of spares, ready to race. $7,500ono. Ph: 03 5978 7679,0419388 192. ui 96 Maxim, only done 7 meetings. Best of everything. Will sell as roller or will separate. Lots of parts. Ph: 03 6363 1231 ,03 6363 1382 (AH). IX

Swift SC93, ex Steven White, currently raced by Christian Jory. Top Lamer engine, blueprinted, gearbox, many spares, updated bodywork. Ideal 1st car. Has good record National series. Nothing to spend. Complete package $28,000, would consider lease. Ph: Tony Jory 0418 130133,03 6326 5555. la Experienced race car engineer with transporter and all equipment available for 1999 season. Space for two Formula Fords. Ring for prices or package deal. Ph: 07 5446 7611, fax 07 5446 7480. .so Formula Vee. Ready to race with fresh engine. Ideal for cir cuit and/or hill climb events. Comes with lightweight trailer, all for $3,500. Ph: 03 9850 5566,015 527 854. .30 95 Mygale F/Ford. Not raced this year. Front-running car, perfect condition. Adjustable shocks, many spares. Can supply latest Lamer engine. $24,000ono. Ph: Justin 0418 478 867, or (AH) 045 723 589. .33

Modified Production Charger, CM panels, aluminium f/tank, Holley blue, rear radiator, power steering. Fulcrum modi fied suspension, strong near new 265 Hemi 12.5,to 1, methanol 350 Holley, McCreary tyres. Fast and reliable.-Urgent sale. $4,300. Ph: Ray 07 4035 5100 any time. .30

Drag Racing

Suzuki Pro Motor 1327cc. Star racing head, titanium valves, big block - Wiseco, new guides & ri ngs, 3 speed auto, new crank. Great motor - provenm 7 second motor. Complete $10,000 (will accept Villa in Monaco if short of funds). Ph: Maurice Allen 03 9602 5833. 131 LH Torana Drag Show Car. YZ Inch lines, scoop, harness, drag suspension, SL/R dash, wheel. Fresh paint, detailed undercarriage. Too many new parts to list. Less 308/Glide 9” and Centrelines. $6,950ono. Ph: 08 8396 5607. 131 Alfa Romeo Guilia Sprint GT. Full-off body restoration, 2 litre motor, adjustable suspension, 5 speed gearbox, log book, LSD, trip computer. Great Targa, Dutton or Club Car. 3rd in class Targa NZ, 3rd in class Targa Tas 97. Spent $45,000, ask ing $16,500. Ph; 0418793390. 129

separate. Urgent sale. Ph: 03 5334 3104. J31 Superkart. Haase chassis, Yamaha 80cc engine. Immaculate presentation and performance to match. The best ot everything with heaps of spares. $3,800. Ph: 02 4733 5442. 13J

079. 13.

Celica 1988 GT4 turbo. 74,000kms; race suspension; diff lock; new tyres. Drives great. Not for Road Reg but perfect for race or rally. $6,800. Ph: 02 4957 2905. .39

Sports Sedan, 78 Celica, 3.5lt Rover alum, motor, Celica 5 speed gearbox, LS diff, 4 wheel disc brakes, 15x10 Rebel wheels, dual axle. Reg trailer.. $6,SOOono. Ph: 02 6559 4002. 129

Complete 1995 Speed Kart, ready to race, with competi tive Yamaha KT100J motor. Heaps of spares. $1,800ono. Will

Benson 250cc International Supeikart. 91 Yamaha TZ Vee twin engine, heaps of engine spares, Kelgate brakes, slicks and"fet tyres. SlO.OOOono. Ph: 08 8340 2099, 130 Formula Ford RF95, maintained regardless of cost. Ex Webber, Bargwanna. Top hp Lamer engine, one meeting old, lop ten AFFC in 1998. $36,000. Ph; Roger 0417 335 965. IX Drive available, Formula Ford, Oran Park DTE round and Bathurst support race November V8 race. Championship-win ning car. Fully serviced, including crew and testing. Ph: 07 5446 7611, fax 07 5446 7480. 130

Opeii Wheelers

fas

/●

Hewland Mk9 transaxle, as new cond, hardly used from new. $4,000ono. Ph:08 8552 4000, 0419 777 229. ■.31 Ford Kent forged steel crank, counterbalanced, xdrilled, etc. Cosworth steel rods. 82.5mm forged pistons. Mass full race b/v head, steel r/gear, bronze guides etc. Borg & Beck triple plate sintered race clutch. Phr 08 8248 0274. ,31

Pioneer component system. Tape deck, graphic equaliser, TWC amps, 2 x 6x9” 200 watt, 4-way speakers, WB electrical aerial. Never used. Cost $2,500, sell $1,800ono. Ph: 08 8396 5607. 135 Various. Hilborn fuel injector, suit 289/302W Ford. Complete pump, lines, pill valve, camshaft drive + timing cover. $1,500. Harrop full floater, Bord Warner diff, suit XF Sportsman, new 308 LSD, inci brakes to suit, $2,700, MSD 7AL-2 ignition system, brand new, incI s/b Chev crank trig ger, ad] timing control (dash mt), $1,500. Set new 351C Ford conrods $400. Set, Grower steel conrods (new), suit 289/302 Ford $1,500. Set, Ford Indy rods, ex GT40 289. Exc cond $1,000. Ph: Dave 03 5941 1082 (BH), 03 5941 2035 (AH). ,3, Doug Nash 5 speed, with Don Long vertical gate shifter, good condition, case open for inspection. $2,500. Ph: Mick 0412 191 202, .31 Honda Civic Si parts. Koni shocks, front and rears (recing special) for AT Civic, $750; Si 1600 twin cam engine, EF Civic, $800 + computer $350; LSD, Mugen, suit AT or EF model, $800; Si 1600 extractor, $200. Ph: Grant Milligan 00 11 643 366 9033, 00 11 6425 325 244 (NZ). ,31 SBC GWi 118 degree heads, Weld Tech CNC ported, excellent condition with flow chart. Bare. $3,500. Alcohol 750 Holley carb, $500. 830 annular Holley, 2 hrs dyno time, only $500. Ph: Mick 0412 191 202. ,3, Magneto, MSD ProMag, 10 times more voltage and spark than conventional magneto. Cost new $2,700, sell $1,950. Ph: 03 5176 1355, 0418 514 444. 13! Subaru. Four 15x7 Hotwires with RE520S Bridgeslones, 205/50x15, $425: Fuel boost system, WRX, $300; Electronic boost control $250: Padgid brake pads $200: roll bar $250. Ph; Ron 0414 399 337 130 Attention, Targa BMW drivers. Half cage, full har ness seat belts, Halda mounting, spare (new) wheel for 318is 91 model. Ph: Phil 0412 042 615. .30 Oil pump, Jenkins 3 stage dry sump pump and pulley. New. $1,000. Ph; 02 6686 9000, or 02 6686 3735 (AH). 130 Brand new 2-Iitre Kombi heads, 48x38 titanium stainless valves, Chev double springs. These are the best heads. $1,800. Ph: 02 6655 5715. or 019 125 965. 130 AVS 17 inch polished rims, made by Yokohama, with 245x45x8 P7 new series tyres. Good tor road or racing. Suit Porsche or VW, Porsche stud pattern. $2,500. Ph: 02 6655 5715,019125 965. 130

●^ -Y

Commodore Cup, Car No. 8. Professionally-built turn-key car, no expense spared, Platt engine, immaculate condition. Opportunily to enter competitive National class which includes Balhurst, $23,000. Ph: Ian 03 9556 5400,0418 395 566. 129

Elfin 623, chassis no 74443. Kept in top race condition. 1300CC Holbay all steel top hp Ford engine. New 271 Dunlops. Log book + cert of decription. $28,500. Ph: 08 8552 4000,0419 777 229. 131

1994 Ford XL Crew Gab dually. 7.3 litre turbo power stroke diesel. 5 speed manual trans, power steering, air cond. 6 sealer, ideal low vehicle. Cheap at $59,500. Ph: 03 5176 1355, 0418 514 444. i3i

Engines

Speedway

1997 Stealth Pontiac Midget. All best equipment. New body kit. Fully rebuilt engine - fresh block, rods, pistons. Ready to rock & roll. NZ$38,000. Ph; Ray or Shayne Alaoh, 00 11 649

Elfin 622 Historic Group Q. Total restoration completed 5 years ago, now running F3 configuration. Quick, relaible car holds Group Q Under 1300 lap records at Amaroo and E. Creek. Full Cosworth Ford engine ex UK, specifically built for F3 with BDA crank and rods, gear driven camshaft etc, twin plale .clutch and Mk8 Hewland. Flawless in finish and presentation. 'Documentation available, spares inci. Ph: Richard Harward 02 9789 8470 (BH), 02 9568 4147 (AH). i»

91 Swift, complete with strong engine, spares include ratios, radiator, bodywork, springs, roll-bars, etc. Proven race-winner. $16,500ono. Must sell. Ph: Steve Owen 03 9840 6770. 131 Championship-winning Tony Karts. "Extreme” $2,800, Formula, $1,900; Exagone, $2,600 or $3,000 for near new chas sis. Very fast engines, J or Clubman. All prices ono. Ph: Greg 0413 877 774,07 3375 6000. 131

8361017. 131

SB Chev, Brodix heads, Oliver rods. Crane roller cam and rockers, 750 methanol Holley, ext coil magneto, Tilton clutch, HE sump. Raced only three meetings in Super Sedan. $10,000. Ph: 07 4957 7019, (AH) 07 4959 2728. 131 NASCAR engine, Chev, current spec 18 degree. Built by Performance Technologies, USA. Ex Richard.Midgley. Raced twice 97/98. Replacement cost $60,000+, priced to sell at $32,000 neg. Ph: Scott or Neville 03 9459 2649 (BH), 03 9435 6861 (AH). 131 BDG aluminium two-litre. Rebuilt, not run, mostly new components. Complete, carbs to flywheel. $25,000. Ph: 00 11 6425 326 922, (NZ) 131 Holden 202 race engine, fully rebuilt, balanced & blueprinted. Fully worked head, roller rockers, ACL rac ing pistons, Starfire rods. Crow cam. Straight cut gears, Hi Energy sump. $2,200. ono. Ph; 03 5978 7679 or 0419

5th wheel trailer, 27', 20 ft floor length. Full annex, elec brakes, drop door, alum, w/bench, cupboard storage, 6mth old long wheel base V6 auto, cruise control, a/c, p/steer, tinted win dows, LPG/petrol. air bag. Economical tow vehicle. Ideal for Sprintcar, Speedcar, Formula Ford etc. The Lot $33,000ono. Ph: 02 9707 5884 (BH), 02 9715 1735 (AH), 0418 403 744. ,31 Isuzu 22ft pan, tailgate lifter, tyre rack, large bins, sleeper, tong range fuel tank, nosecone. 8 months reg. $19,000ono. Ph: 019 405 721 (Vic). 131

388 192. 131

Commodore 3lt Mod, power quicksteer, 15" wheels, fully adjustable suspension, full race motor, r/rockers etc., tuned exhaust. Very competitive car, ready to race. Trailer and parts available by neg. $4,999. Ph; 03 5331 5870.,

Van Diemen RF95, maintained regardless of cost. Ex Webber, Bargwanna. Top hp Lamer motor one meeting old, top ten in AFFC 1998. $36,000. Ph: Roger 0417 335 965. 131 Historic Elfin Mono, professionally rebuilt, Lotus twin cam engine, Hewland 5 speed gearbox, new Goodyears. Group M logbook, CAMS certificate of description. Immaculate condition. $42,500neg. Ph: 03 5475 2852 (AH). 131 Supeikart, 250 National. Excellent, well maintained condi tion. Spares, new (yres, wet&dry. Enclosed trailer. Offers, Ph: 02 9820 1673. .31

Chev 366 Grower 5/8 stroke crank, Oliver 6" rods, JE pistons, roller cam, bowtie block, splayed caps. Dart 17 degree heads, T&D shaft rockers. 650 hp. $18,500. Ph: 0418 514 444 or 03 5176 1355. 131 Holden 186 race engine. Triple Del Orto carburet tors on methanol, with air box or petrol. Speedway, Super Production Open. Series. Ladies. Spares includ ed. Very quick, fully rebuilt. No. 2 car ACT/NSW 1997. Ph: 02 6492 3869. 130 Alloy Chev SB, block brand new, with Ridgecrest 4 bolt main caps $3,500. 13.5:1 Keith Black signature series pistons, new, $600. Ph: Steve 014 029 619. 130

Parts Ford Kent Titan dry sump pump, dry sump, alloy r/cover, Cosworth A8 cam, with Duplex assy. Quaife c/r pro gearbox, 3 rail, 2.4 1st, all new internals (ex works), 2000E casing. Many other parts also available cheap. Ph: 08 8248 0274. 131

Mod Prod Cortina. Powerhead, quicksteer, Tilton clutch, Carrera shocks, weight jacks, alum seat and tank, MSD alum bell housing. Supertrap muffler, top hp motor. Ex Queensland no 1. Heaps of spares. $7,500ono. Ph: Sid 0418 726 226, 07 5485 0019. 13,

Chevron B34, 1976, ex European F3 oar driven by Marc Surer, with as-new Italian 2-litre Novamotor. Historic logbook. Some spares, including wheels & tyres. Excellent value at $42,900. Ph: 07 3396 1624. IX

LH rollcage, Bond, alloy, 6pt, full polished, suit Drag, Circuit Racing, Street Car or Show car. Cost $625 new, sell $550ono. Ph: 08 8396 5607. 13) Weld Wheels, 16x15 with 34x17x16 Goodyear slicks, $850pr; Dragway 5x5 front runners with Goodyear Eagles, inol A-arms, $550. Ph: Mick 0412 191 202. ,31 Supercharger, GM671 BDS, with manifold for Ford Boss 302, pulleys, twin Carters, BDS air scoop belt, etc. All pol ished. $2,8000n0. Ph: 02 9742 6929. .3,'

1988 Chevy Sierra Classic crew cab dually. 454 litre V8, power steering, air cond, dual fuel with 200 litre gas tank. Best one around. $39,500. Ph: 03 5176 1355,0418 514 444. 131 FIDO, 82 model, ex-Ambulance, 351 V8, auto, dual fuel, 150lt gas tank & twin fuel tanks. Tow bar. With or without 12 mths reg & RWC. $8,500ono. Ph; 03 5978 7679.0419 388192. 01 Enclosed trailer, suit Speedcar, Litre or race car. 12’9” long, 6'9” wide, 5'7" high. Override brakes, dual axle, tyre rack, skock & radius rod rack, spares shelf. Rego, excellent condition, $2,700ono.Ph: 02 9604 0208. 131

Trail Boss, 95 model K57859. Hot wafer, sh.toilet, fridge, 5 berth, rear compartment, 13'x8' car or workshop. 1986 Isuzu d/cab, 5.8 diesel, steer, air, 137,000kms. rego (NSW) 2/99, Will split. $8S,OOOneg. Ph: 02 4454 0244, or 02 4455 1221 (BH). IX

3July ms Tandem trailer, up and over style. Plenty storage under

Datsun 1600 fibreglass guards, bonnet and

Otlier

neath, used for Super Sedan & Modified Production. $2,500. Ph:

rear wing, plus slicks 195-50-15 or 205-50-15. Ph: 02 4340 5048. 131

1997 KTM EXC 250, excellent condition, road-worthy, reg

035978 7679,0419 388192. 131 Toyota Transporter, car or motorcycles. Dual cab, seven seater, diesel, good cond. $6,250ono. Ph: 015 737 768 or 07 55729226(AH), ix

Wanted And parts: engine computer, gearbox, LSD, discs, FIDO XLT,81 model Ranger 250. Cross-flow,4 speed manu

wheels, suspension, roll cage, s/wheel etc. Complete car considered. Ph: 03 9889.4531. 131

ka!, bull bar, driving lights, canopy, CB, phone, side steps, air "shockers, twin fuel tanks. 9 months rego. In mint condition. No

Automobile Year book number 2. Must be in .

good condition. Ph: Peter 03 9560 4467

rust. $13,000ono. Ph: Peter: 03 5275 4904. ix

mm ll

The Drill Bit Sharpener That Works stop Throwing Dull, Worn Drill Bits Away

● Easy to use as a pencil sharpener - 60-9Dsec./drill hit. ● Sharpen High Steel, cohall & carbide drill bits. ■ Sharpen 118°, 135" point angles & masonry hits. ● Powerful 24D volt motor & six ft cord, ● 400-500 sharpeniogs from replaceable Diamond wheel. ● Splits points to make any drill bits self centering.

DOCt

Old Super Sedan

V. RJ^INQ PROOUCn^^

20’ Shipping container, shelved, carpeted, lights. Has $45,000 of bolts & fasteners to go with it. Bargain at only

parts - arms, shocks,

springs, brakes, coilovers. Ph: 02 6242 6638 (AH), 02 6296 1774 (BH), 0412 273 113.

$13,000. Easily relocatable. Ph: for details. 03 5472 4116.

130

(Castlemaine) 131 Books: Great Race books Nos 5, 6, 7, 8, Also Australia's

Must be 16, 17 or 18inch and in good condition,

Greatest Motor Race, various prices, excellent condition. Ph:

with or without tyres. (C418) 581 961. 130

Anthony 08 8277 3752. IX

-FI

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diff complete would be fine. Cheap as possible. Ph: 02 6242 6638 (AH), 02 6296 1774 (BH), 0412 273 113. 130

Wheels, aiioys to suit Lexus SC400/Toy@ta Soarer

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Motorsport News"RACE

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2 BBS 19 inch touring car rims, centre lock. Ph: 02

Toyota Sprinter AE86, 83-85 wanted: information for conversion to 1600/1800 twin cam supercharged.

until 11/98, hand guards, front tyre 85%, rear tyre 100%, original

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IMPORTS

COIVlIVtENT

3Jiify1998 Enough is enough

Editorial Editor David Hassall Technical Editor Tony Glynn Assistant Editor Phil Branagan Graphics Co-ordinator Viv Brumby

Advertising Advertising Manager Gerald McDornan

Administration Managing Director Chris Lambden

Dear Sir, For the past thirty years I have been an avid supporter and some time competitor in motor sport and CAMS has been the governing body. If we take a look back and study the perfomance of CAMS over that period, it has failed miserably to achieve almost any advances for competitors. Is CAMS doing its job for the full benefit of motorsport and the com petitors? Or is it taking care of its own position and reaping more money for itself? That appears to be the main agenda. CAMS’ role in motorsport is dif ferent from what the average com petitor thinks it is. Its job in the past covered licences, setting of rules, disputes, insurances, setting dates with track

and let both classes almost destroy themselves. * CAMS should have stepped in, made a decision on what was best for the long-term survival and ended the feud that was occurring. CAMS is not very interested in any form of motorsport other than V8 Touring Cars; after all, that’s where the money is generated right now.

Touring Car round, he has to pay them so much money that there is no money left to pay any of the other supporting classes, It’s gotten to the point that the Touring Car competitors think that’s the way it should be. After all, we have the most money invested, they cry. They get all the money, all the television and all the promotion

Contacts 89 Orrong Crescent Caulfield North VIC 3161 (PQ Box 1010 North Caulfield 3161) Phone:03 9527 7744 Fax: 03 9527 7766 Email. msnewi@corplink.<om.au

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Contributors General. Mike Kable. Jon Thomson, Brian Reed, Darryl Flack FI: Joe Saward, Adam Cooper Europe: Quentin Spurring, Ian Bamsey nn US: Bruce Smith, Phil Morris NZ: John Flawkins / Speedway: Dennis Newlyn, David McNabb, Wade Aunger, Geoff Rounds, David Lament, Chris Metcalf, Sue Hob-Son, Michael Attwell, Tony Millard (UK), Darren O'Dea Rally: Peter Whitten, Jon Thomson Drag Racing: Gerald McDornan, Greg Ward, Jon Asher (USA), Dave Ostaszewski (USA), Nick Nicholas, Steven White, Ken Ferguson, Scott Jug Super Speedway: Martin Clark (USA), Brett Swanson, Grant Nicholas Karts: Ian Salvestrin, Allan Roark, Graeme Burns, Edward Krause Photographers. LAT, Dirk Klynsmitfi, Zoom Photographies, Neil Flammond, Nigel Snowdon & Diana Burnett, : Brad Steele. Tony Glynn, Thunder-Pics, Marshall Cass, Mike Flarding, Brisbane Motorsport, Frank Midgley, John Bosher, Phil Williams, Mike Patrick (UK) MOTORSPORT NEWS i; pubiiitierj by Aui'.raifllian Moiorspon News Ply Ltd ACN No 060 1 921} P-'ceto’. C[.arnoden [W-naqingl. D Hassall, A Glynn Publisher: C Lambden Printed by: Wilke Color 37-^9 Browns Rd Clajrion 3168 Distributed by: NDD Ltd . M.iieriai published by MOTORSPORT NEWS is copyright .’irid m.-iy not U? rcDroduc.ed in firil or m p<jrf withoui the* wrirren pcrm.<:s:on of ihc publisher. Freclcinre contributiorh arc welcome, and while all rare will be tai^en, Ausrrals^is'an Moiorsporr News Pty J-td does nor accept responsibility for darnaeje or loss of material suomiirpxf. Opinions expresscNl in Mororsporr News are oof , nticessariiy those of Australasian Motorsport News l f'ry I rd or Its staff. l * Recommended arvJ max-ntum price only

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FA/R GO... Not all readers agree that Michael Schumacher deserves to be singled out.(Tony Glynn pic) promoters and national events, the Grand Prix and many more duties. Now CAMS is changing its role from the past and moving more responsibilities onto competitors. Some of the classes - V8 Touring Cars, Sports Sedans, etc - are able to make their own rules. This is usually done by just a few people. They said, you guys fight it out amongst yourselves as to your own class rules and, when you have worked that out, come back to us and we will give it the OK All, or most, classes have been told to manage their own affairs. Each class has to employ some one to represent it and to fight for their cause. When Thundersports and Sports Sedans were trying to compete against each other, CAMS sat back

The Touring Car people have done a gi-eat job of promoting their cause, but CAMS has been right behind them all the way. They don’t care about anything else except Touring Cars. I was told recently that CAMS has a financial interest (in other words, a share of the pot of gold) in the Touring Car people. If this is correct, I think this would be a conflict of interest with the role they play as a governing body in motorsport. If this is correct, we can now see why they want to delete certain classes from their list. The reason the other classes have struggled is that CAMS is helping promote the Touring Cars and not giving any of the other classes any serious attention. When a track promoter has a

and that’s the real reason why they are so popular today. This is great for V8 Touring Cars and great for CAMS and that’s the way they like it. What if the promoters of all the major circuits got their heads together and refused to pay the Touring Car people the huge amount of money they demand for each event? And what if the different sup porting classes got their heads together - Formula Ford, Formula Holden, HQ, Sport Sedans, Porsche Cup, etc - and refused to race at any of the Touring Car events until they received some (and I say just some) of the money those V8 Touring Car people get? I would have thought it was in CAMS’ best interest to make cer tain that these supporting classes

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get paid some fair and reasonable amount of money for their effort and investment. So we have to ask ourselves, do we think CAMS is doing the right thing for the whole benefit of motorsport? Just think, a handful of people working together could put untold pressure on CAMS to change their position. Remember that person called Bob Jane, who has done more for motorsport than anyone else over the last ten years and caused CAMS major headaches a few years back? Is it time the people at CAMS be given notice to get things right, or maybe move over for a new breed of governing body? Billy Hyde Swan Reach, VIC

Bashing Schuey

Dear Sir, It is now official. I suffer extreme stress every fortnight when I pick up Motorsport News. Why? Because of a man named Saward. Mr Saward’s article on the Canadian Grand Prix is nothing but a Michael Schumacher Bash. It is quite apparent that his dis like of M. Schumacher is clouding his perception of what Grand Prix racing is all about. Constantly flinging mud at him is irresponsible from an interna tional journalist. OK, he doesn’t like him. Big deal, ' but I don’t want to see the evidence of this every time I pick up my favourite magazine. Now,if he had been super-critical of Wurz or Villeneuve in the same race, maybe I wouldn’t be so hot under the collar. You, my friend, have a flawed character by allowing this obses sion to belittle Michael Schumacher at, it seems, every Grand Prix. It has possessed you. As for the incident involving HH, it is quite clear from the relative positions of both race cars that Michael Schumacher could not have seen the Williams, let alone recognised who the bloody driver wasj More to the point, it would appear the exit lane from the pits is in wrong position to allow as ®nfe an exit as possible, Youi- personal opinions obviously prevent you from considering this and other rational thoughts where Michael Schumacher is concerned. Apart from writing to voice my views on this particular matter, if the bashing continues, the only other thing I can do is stop buying this otheTOise excellent magazine. David Leviston Ballarat, VIC davidl@qonline.com.au

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