Motorsport News Issue 131 - 17-30 July 1998 by V8 Sleuth

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B The fall and rise^ of Jason Bargwanna

● Zanardi heads for FI Williams

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Zanardi set for Williams By JOE SAWARD

ALEX Zanardi is report ed to have signed a twoyear deal with Williams, following a visit by Frank Williams to the United States in the week between the French and British GPs. Williams denies that he was in America and refuses to comment on which dri vers are on the Williams list. However, his partner Patrick Head admitted at Silverstone that Zanardi was one of the drivers under consideration. We believe that HeinzHarald Frentzen was told on Sunday that his sei-vices at Williams will not be required next year. Frentzen is lined up to go Indycai- racing next year in place of the retiring Bobby Rahal. Williams has an option on Juan-Pablo Montoya and is still talking to Jacques Villeneuve, but it seems that no deals are in place yet. The French-Canadian is thought to be virtually cer tain to join British American Racing.

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rK UNFINISHED BUSINESS... Alex Zanardi heading for F1. Normally Williams does not like to change both drivers at the same time, thereby maintaining technical continuity, but Williams

and Head are looking ahead to the BMW engine development project and need experienced drivefs with technical abilities.

There was a similar- situ ation in 1989 when the team hired Thierry Boutsen and Riccardo Patrese to get its Renault engines up to speed and then recruited Nigel Mansell when they were ready for a World Championship bid. Zanardi is a very talented test driver and Williams will know all about him because he worked with Villeneuve’s race engineer Jock Clear at Team Lotus in 1993 and 1994. Alex could stay in the US, where Target Chip Ganassi Racing is offering him a great deal of money, but Alex’s wife is understood to want to return to Europe and he still looks at FI as unfinished business and would be a fool not to look at a long-term deal with Williams. Williams is considering Montoya but we under stand that the Colombian has not been as quick in testing as the team had hoped and has difficulty with long distances in the car. In an effort to further assess this situation, the team was due to give

Melbourne Grand Prix gets five more years

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increasingly difficult for pro moters in nearby south-east Asian countries to secure a spot on the Formula 1 calendar. -JOE SAWARD

n LATE NEWS: Graeme. .Cowin will race in the NHRA Top Fuel Series. The Sydney veteran will lain a new McKinney chassis alongside his existing car and will make his US Top Fuel debut at Pomona in November. Next season Cowin and his Australian crew,including his 18-year-old twin sons Andrew and John, will run a seven to 10 race schedule on the Winston Drag Racing Series. The 52-year-old - whose 4.81 best is the fastest time ever recorded outside the USA- raced Funny Cai's in the States in 1985 and ‘87. Co-incidently, Peter Russo is also expected to make his US debut(in Funny Car)at Pomona. n We understand a sponsor has been signed by IMG for the Australian lOQO Classic at Bathurst in November. All will be revealed at the traditional pre event testing and media day, on Tuesday August 4. n The TEGA Board was due to vote on its 1999 tyre options as Motorsport News closed for press. As outlined in om- previous issue, with the cun-ent t}Te com panies unable to commit to ser vicing up to 20 cars per race with a quasi-control tyre, a fi.dl-on onebrand Control tyre now looks more likely than ever. Indeed, we hear the proControl tyi-e camp how has the numbers on the TEGA Board. But we’ve been this far a couple of times before... a Gold Coast IndyCar people vigorously deny that the depar ture of Tony Cochrane as Chairman after this October’s race might have a political backgi'ound. In fact they say that the incoming Labour C^vernment in Queensland would have preferred Cochrane to stay on. a Michael Guest and Ed

THE Victorian Government has signed a five-year extension to its deal to run the Australian Grand Prix in Albert Park. The race will now be held at the controversial venue until the end of 2006. Victoria originally signed a contract to run the race between 1997 and 2001. This was extended to a sixyear deal after Adelaide agreed to give up the race a year early in return for Melbourne agree ing to buy all of its Grand Prix equipment, notably the grand stands and the barriers. As a result, the race moved to Melbourne in March, 1996. Although there is still a tiny group of protesters who oppose the event, the Grand Prix in Melbourne has been a big suc cess, according to the Govern ment, bringing Melbourne international exposure and economic benefits in the form of tax receipts and job-cre ation. Victoria’s Minister for Small Business and Tourism, Louise Asher, announced that the race produced an estimated benefit to Victoria of $95.6 million and generated a net gain of $5 mil lion for taxpayers. The deal, and the announce ment that South Africa will host a GP from next year, means that it will become

Montoya two days of endurance testing at Monza this week. One name which may also be in the frame is that of British veteran Johnny Herbert, who was recently spotted visiting the Williams factory in Grove. Johnny is a good develop ment driver and has plenty of experience. He has also worked well with Zanardi when the pair were team mates,at Lotus. Herbert himself confii-ms the possibility in his Motorsport News column this issue. “My old Lotus teammate Alex Zanardi looks set to switch back from Indycars to the Williams team,” Herbert writes, “and I haven’t made any secret of my desire to partner him again.” However, Williams spon sor Winfield wants to have a high-profile driver in the car and may not consider a Zanardi-Herbert combina tion to be strong enough. Zanardi is also under stood to have had offers from British American Racing and the new Honda FI team.

Ordynski will head the Australian assault on Rally New Zealand at the end ofthe month. Ordynsld and Mark Stacey will partner Yoshhiro Kataoka and Satoshi Hayashi in Mitsubishi’s team, while Guest will have his fii-st NZ outing in a Subaru Impreza WR-X.

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SORTED OUT?... HRT has been working hard getting the VT right for Lowndes to race in Darwin.

Title showdown heads for Darwin CRAIG Lowndes and Russell Ingall step into the unknown this weekend as they continue their duel for the Shell Australian Touring Car Championship in Darwin. Both will be forced to drive their respective team’s all-new VT Commodore at a circuit new to the series and one at which nobody has had the chance to test. It is a situation fraught with danger for both title contestants and both HRT and Perkins teams will be stretched to the limit as they attempt to come to grips with the new circuit in a very short

time.

A pair of practice sessions on Friday will be vital in terms of ini tial car set-up and, more impor tantly, tyre selection'before the Saturday deadline for nomination of race compound. Both teams have reported worth while progress in the testing of their new VT Commodore machin ery since it was confirmed that Lowndes and Ingall would have to race the new cars. “VT is quite different to my older VS and we’ve had to learn what works and what doesn’t,” Lowndes said this week. “With Greg Murphy’s feedback from the Calder race and with what

we’ve achieved, we found a set-up which appears to work and man aged some consistent race runs.” Ingall also confirmed some satis faction with progress on the Castrol VT after further testing at Winton and is suggesting “our usual qualifying result - in the top five ...” A full field of V8 Supercars is entered for the fi rst-ever Northern Territory round in the national touring car championship. And an enormous crowd is

expected at the 2.9km circuit, which features a 1.1km straight and a predicted average lap speed second only to Bathurst.

n Jeff Burton blew the field away in the New Hampshire 300 NASCAR race last weekend. His Exide Batteries Ford Tauras led teammate Mark Martin to the flag by 7.4s. Martin has closed the gap to points leader Jeff Gordon(who finished third) to 52 points. Full report next issue. n Carlos Rolfo is‘changing ends’ this weekend at Mallala. The Sydney driver will have his first drive in the second frontwheel-drive Ford Mondeo ofPeter Hills after running his BBX BMW in earher rounds ofthe BOC Gases series this season. Tony Newman(Peugeot 406)and Adam Kaplan (Nissan Primera) are also returning to the series after missing Lakeside. n Gibson Motorsport confirmed last week that Simon Wills will drive for the team at Sandown and Bathurst. The 21-year-old New Zealander will drive with an as-yet unannounced driver while Darrens Pate and Hossack will share a car. n Olivier Panis is expected to leave Prost Grand Prix at the end ofthe year and German Ralf Schumacher is tipped to be his replacement. Panis is a possible replacement for Schumacher at Jordan.

17My 1998

Ford buys Cosworth Racing THE

\A/ith David Haj NOT HAPPY... McLaren believes that Mika may have won if Michael had been stopped.

History never repeats?

hose who do-not learn from history are destined to repeat, so we are told. And that may very well apply to the good folk at AVESCO/TEGAAA/HOEVER. I refer to plans to incorporate the Sandown and Bathurst endures into the Australian Touring Car Championship next year, an experiment which was tried without success a little over 20 years ago. Sure, things have changed since then and I dare say there are some compelling commercial reasons for wanti ng the change. But chasing the dollar may backfire. You have to look at why it failed last time, and the rea son was very simple. People - the media, spectators and the mug punter watching the TV at home - were confused and didn’t want to know about trying to understand. Before that- and since - it was quite simple. You had your sprint races and the ATCC champion was crowned, then you had you big stand-alone endures with co-drivers and all the rest. Trying to mix the two was simply like mixing water with oil. No matter how hard you paddled, it would not work. Bathurst can stand alone from a championship -just / as Le Mans can stand apart from the GT series and the , Indy 500 can from whatever Champcar series is going : around. These are magical events which, if anything, are diminished by being part of a series. To make things more complicated in the case of Bathurst, co-drivers are involved, whereas they are not in the sprint races. This creates all sorts of problems with allocation of points which are simply unnecessary. If the powers that be really want to get Sandown and Bathurst into a series, why not revive the Endurance . Championship rather than try to tack onto an existing and successful series? It may not have worked too well in the past, but surely the new breed of marketing gurus can sell anyining. Or can they? From what I can see, we have a lot of people running around wringing everything they can out of the golden goose without coming up with anything innova tive or fresh. Now there is a challenge ...

Happy birthday to us This issue ourthe 5thoccasion birthday pass and itwithout would be remiss of marks me to let some sort of recognition (apart from a boozy office lunch, of course). It has been a tremendous period which has gone incredibly quickly and we owe it all to our supporters -the advertisers and readers who have grown stronger with every season. Our staff has been unusually stable through the five years, which says a lot about Motorsport News, our stan dards and our dedication. Four of the six staff have been here from issue one and the other two have been with us ! for two and three years. To you all, thank you. It has been a marvellous ride and we are still building up speed, so hang on!

Schuey victory to be appealed

Schumacher in at the end of the last lap to comply with THE FIA Stewards ran the regulation which into trouble at Silverstone demands that drivers stop on Sunday over the han- within three laps of being dling of a time penalty for notified of a penalty. Schumacher therefore did Michael Schumacher, not cross the finish line and which confused the finish of the race. take the chequered flag but The German overtook came into the pitlane and Alexander Wurz’s lapped stopped at the Ferrari pit, Benetton under yellow flags causing considerable confuon lap 43 of the British GP - sion. when the spray and condiBy crossing the timing tions were at their worst. beam in the pitlane entrance The stewards studied the he finished the race before evidence And decided after the penalty was applied and 24 minutes (there is a limit so, in the minutes after the of 25 minutes in the regula- race ended, it was decided tions) that Schumacher that 10s would be added to should be penalised 10 sec- his race time, onds. This made no difference to The Ferrari team was not the result but it was met notified of the penalty until with a protest from McLaren, seven minutes after it had because the stewards only been decided and there was have the right to take such confusion because the note action if the incident occurs from the stewards did not in the last 12 laps of the race specify if this was a “stop-go” (which was not the case), penalty or whether the 10 McLaren argued that seconds would be added to Schumacher should have Schumacher’s race time after been given a 10-second stopthe event. go penalty, which would Ferrari said that the offi- have lost him around 25s by cial who delivered the docu- the time he had been in and ment did not know to which out of the pits. That may , rule the penalty referred and have handed the race back to that a note citing the regula- Hakkinen. tion in question was handAs neither penalty could written and it was not clear be justified, the stewards whether it referred to Article were forced, some hours after 57c or 57e - one of which is a the race, to i-escind the time reference to a stop-go penalty penalty imposed as it could and the other to a time not apply in the circum stances. penalty. The team decided to bring As it was their mistake. By JOE SAWARD

Morris Indy move

PAUL Morris is getting close to being a starter in this year’s Gold Coast IndyCar Grand Prix on October 18. The former Super Tourer champ, currently racing Indy Lights with the PacWest team in the JJS, is reportedly assess ing options for a drive in his home IndyCar race. However, for 1999 he is still looking at a second season in Indy Lights.

Morris’s father, Terry, left Australia last week for four weeks (including three Lights races) in the US with his son, during which discussions were expected on options for the IndyCar race. Most likely is to stay with PacWest, which runs Mark Blundell and Mauricio Gugelmin in the Champcar series, but is also about to field a third car in selected

races for Paul Jasper. This car is expected to be a ’97-spec ReynardMercedes, the most likely option should Morris finalise a deal with the team. Morris’s Australian mentor, Frank Gardner, is reportedly working qui etly on some of the local funding aspects of the program. > The last Australian to contest the Gold Coast

race was Gary Brabham, four years back. MEANWHILE, Morris fin ished out of the points in the eighth round of tlie Dayton Indy Lights series last weekend at Cleveland. Gearbox problems and a brief excursion over a kerb the kept Queenslander down to a 19th place finish after qualifying 16th.

the stewards could not easily punish Schumacher with a larger penalty and so decided not to punish the Ferrari dri ver in any way, an announce ment which brought howls of protest from the paddock. McLaren immediately announced that it would

appeal the decision as in pre vious cases such an incident has resulted in a stop-go penalty and if that had been applied properly Schumacher might not have won the race. The FIA International Court of Appeal is expected to hear the case before the Austrian GP in a fortnight.

Ford

Motor

Company announced on Monday that it has bought the racing divi sion of Cosworth from new owner Audi. The Northampton compa ny will continue to design and build Ford’s competition engines, notably the VIO Formula 1 and V8 Indycar engines. It seems there is little interest in FI at Audi or its parent Volkswagen and so it was decided to sell Cosworth Eacing to Ford. No details of the price have been announced but the deal may be worth as much as $80m to Volkswagen, which paid $175m for the entire Cosworth company. Ford is expected to make a separate agreement with Volkswagen so that it can continue to use the Cosworth foundry in Worcester. It remains to be seen who will run the Cosworth com pany, although Ford sources insist that it will be run as a separate identity, as is the case with Ford’s subsidiary car companies Jaguar and Aston-Martin. Cosworth’s production engine facilities are being retained by Volkswagen with the intention of using them to produce engines for Eolls Royce, which Volkswagen also bought last week. - JOE SAWARD

BOC finale switch to Oran Park

AMAROO Park will not be having a Grand Finale after all. The after the final round of the. BOC Gases Super Touring championship was moved to Oran Park earlier this week. The race, scheduled for August 30, was moved because of concerns that the Australian Racing Drivers’ Club, which has sold the venue, would not have suffi cient time to run a race meeting, remove its equip ment and still vacate the Annangrove premises by September 1. TOCA Australia Chief Executive Kelvin O’Reilly said that the move was inevitable. “It’s probably more disap pointing for the long-time patrons of Amaroo Park who were looking forward to end ing on a high note,” he said. “But if it’s not possible to have it at Amaroo, it’s not possible. “We’re pleased that we are going to Oran Park, which

has produced good racing in the past” As it was slated to do at Amaroo, and as it did at Amaroo last season, TOCA will be promoting the event but, as yet, there is no deci sion as to whether the race will be on the short circuit (used for the 26 April race) or on the longer ‘Grand Prix’ configuration. “We haven’t thought much about the long circuit,” said O’Reilly. “It is another configuration and an obvious benefit is having run every round on different circuit configura tions. “But, from a spectator point of view, I’m not so sure it’s better and, of course, a longer track requires more mai'shals and so on to run it.” One variable is likely to be settled by moving the race pit stops. O’Reilly said, “Amaroo Park was PROBA BLY going to be a pitstop race and we’ll do that at Oran Park.” -PHILBRANAGAN

17July 1998

ITCC move New Ford

link to

to include Benetton Bathurst By JOE SAWARD

By CHRIS LAMBDEN BIG changes are being foreshadowed as a 1999 calendar for V8 Supercars is prepared for release in a fortnight. controversial Most among them will be the addition of the Sandown and Bathurst long dis tance races to the 10 sprint race meetings cur rently making up the Australian Touring Car Championship. Drivers will score points in both the sprint and long distance races, with a multiplication fac tor applying to the longer events. This was last done back in 1976/77, with mixed reaction, and was subse quently dumped in favour of the separate, stand alone Sandown and Bathurst races which have mtirked the last two

decades. However, Motorsport News understands the decision has been made to go with a combined cham pionship for 1999. Series sponsor Shell, whose SATCC contract expires this year, has been in discussion with AVESCO over a renewed contract, which includes the additional races. Although no-one is pre pared to confirm it, we expect that Shell will agree to a new multi-year sponsorship shortly: “Yes, we’re still talking about Shell’s it,” Motorsport Manager Ross Brodie said this week. “I expect there’ll be fur ther talk this weekend in Darwin and that Shell will make a decision before Oran Park. But I wouldn’t expect an announcement at Oran Park.”

_ FORD’S purchase of Cosworth could be the first step towards a much more serious involvement in FI racing. At the same time, the We believe that the compa 1999 season will start ny will forge a partnership much later than in 1998. with Benetton in the year The first outing for the 2000 which will see the V8s is expected to be the Italian team ranning cars in supporting event at the Ford factory colours. FI Grand Prix in Benetton boss David Melbourne early in Richards will be looking after March. The SATCC woidd Ford’s touring car and possinot start until two or bly even its rallying program three weeks after that. as well, using his Prodrive While a schedule of company and probably a new dates will be released, it Benetton subsidiary, Ford announced on is unlikely that venues will be finMised for some Monday that Prodrive would of them, as AVESCO is take over its British Touring still negotiating with Car Championship prog-am some circuits. from West Surrey racing and Also up for discussion is Reynard, who have run the the format of the races at program for three mostly the sprint meetings. unsuccessful years. Research company The Ford-Prodrive deal is Neilsen is currently for two years and developundertaking some audi- ment of the program (which ence research on race for- will be much better funded

mats for AVESCO and some decisions will be made following their report. - Editorial Page 4

than in recentyyears) is expected to start Very soon, Prodrive already has a deal with Subaru for the World Rally Championship

until 2001, but may use the Benetton umbrella to con duct the Ford rally team. There is no reason why Benetton should not estab lish a touring car operation as well, with all three teams running in similar colour schemes to maximise the impact of the Ford branding. The interesting question if these deals come to fruition is what will happen to Ford’s current works operation, Stewart Grand Piix. The Milton-Keynes team signed a five-year deal with Ford at the start of 1996, which means that Stewart ought to be running the engines until the end of 2000. Ford will not want to be seen to ditch Stewart, which means that it will either have to buy the team or find Stewart a better alternative. . Cosworth could supply two sets of engines, possibly with' one badged as Fords and the other as a Ford subsidiary marque such as Aston Martin or Jaguar. Either one would be good for Stewart as both are famous motor racing names in Britain.

Jacques and Hill heading for BAT? BRITISH

American

Racing is trying to sign up World Champions Jacques Villeneuve and Damon Hill to be its dri vers for next season. The Villeneuve deal is believed to be virtually done, although Villeneuve said at the weekend that such a move would be “a big risk”. Hill may be more diffi cult as Benson & Hedges want to retain a star name. BAR boss Craig Pollock was full of praise for Hill at the weekend. “He has a huge amount of talent and I think he is totally underestimated in Formula 1,” said Pollack. “He is a World Champion who has been a little bit forgotten by the British, and that should not be because he is a great cham pion.” Pollock said he needs drivers with experience to push the project along so Hill and Villeneuve would both fit the bill. -JOESAWARD

Close watch on AU Falcon OOPS. Yes, we stuffed up last issue with the cover story - “Ford’s V8 Fightback”- failing to spill onto pagfe three as it was intended. It was a simple editing error - the publishing equivalent of forgetting to tighten the wheel nuts! Our apologies to you all. A completed and updated story follows: CONSTRUCTION of the first prototype models of next year’s V8 Falcon continue apace in four Ford team workshops, while Holden teams are planning to put the process under close scrutiny.

Work on the Falcon, revealed in pictorial form in our last issue, continues behind closed doors because the road-going car is yet to be released by Ford. Early spy pics and the industry contacts allow us to show you the 1999 race Falcon in reasonable detail. as drawn by graphics ace BernieWalsh, As the road-going Comniodore and Falcon come closer together in jook, following the global trend, so the 1999 race cars Be quite similar in many areas. While the new Falcon must retain the same rear wing cross-section as the

existing car, it will switch to the centre-mounted format used by Holden. It will also retain its current front under-wing. The most distinctive differ ences between the Falcon and Holden will be the Ford’s distinctive headlight design and downward sloping rear bootlid. The recently completed build and homologation of the new VT Commodore was the most open ever, with reg ular by inspections CAMS/TEGA technical peo ple and Ford personnel. It is no secret that, in the end, many Holden personnel felt that their Ford col leagues took excessive

advantage of this and imped ed progress with constant queries. They now get their chance. Monitoring of Ford’s AU Falcon build is likely to be very vigilant... Outgoing touring car champ Glenn Seton is well advanced with his first AU Falcon, hoping to have the car testing in time for some demonstration laps at the, Australian 1000 Classic at Bathurst in November. “I’d like to have it sitting in the pits at Bathurst,” Seton told the Herald-Sun. “If it was possible to do a couple of laps it would be nice, to give people a look at the car for the first time.”

n Reports in the European press suggest that Michael Schumacher will be staying at Fen-ari for the nejrt thi-ee years in a deal worth US$125m (AUS$200m). Schumacher is ah-eady among the high est paid sportsmen in the world and earns a great deal more money from merchandising operations. n The promoters ofthe planned Indian Grand Prix have confirmed that they are planning to build a track in Calcutta in the east ofthe country, India’s second biggest city. Many ofthe companies involved in FI ai-e very keen to break into India as it is the world’s second most popu lated coimtry behind China. n Tliere was consterna tion at the weekend when several Tyrrell team mem bers received letters from British American Racing which suggested that their jobs are at risk. BAR later withdrew the letters saying there had been a computer error... n Former multiple kart champion turned FI star, Jamo Trulli, has decided to stait his own kaii-building company. The first TiniUikart models are;, expected to appear later this year. H The'Foimula 1 team piincipals met in a hotel at Heathrow Airport on Thursday last week to dis cuss a number ofissues relating to the new Concorde Agreement. We understand that Bemie Ecclestone proposed that the World Championship expand to 19 races a year but that the events \'^1 be restricted to two days with practice and qualif^ng on Satiu’day and the race on Sunday. The move will not be popular with some of the cities which welcome FI as they will find it hard to attract spectators on Friday and it will make it difficult for hotels to charge five-night minimum rates. n There is a big push going on to ensure that China has a date on the 1999 Formula 1 World Championship calendar. The event is being support ed by several tobacco com panies and by French oil giant Elf. n Former FI driver and team owner Peter Monteverdi died last week in Binningen, Switzerland at the age of64. MonteverdiT)uilt his own FI car in thfr'1960sSwitzerland’s only Grand Prix car ^ and raced it briefly. In 1990 he bought the Moneytron Onyx and ran the team until it closed down later the same year. n Austrian engineer Rupert Buchsteiner has been recruited by Minardi. In recent seasons Buchsteiner has been the technical director and team manager ofthe RSM Marko Formula 3000 team, worldng last year with Craig Lowndes. -JOESAWARD

?Xo.

By PHIL MORRIS

n Zanardi has set the pace in a two-day private test at the 2.258-niile Mid-Ohio road course last week in which ten teams and sixteen drivers took part. Zanardi was fastest on both days in one of Chip Ganassi’s Reynard 98I-Ho'hdas, turning a quick lap in 65.0 secs, a second and a quarter under BryarfHerta’s record pole lap from last year. Vasser backed-up Zanardi’s testing perfor mance with third fastest time behind Bryan Herta who lapped in 65.2 secs. n The PacWest team enjoyed two good tests last week, running at the Elkhart Lake (Road America)road course and the Michigan superspeed way. Mauricio Gugelmin ran without any problems at Elkhart, and was fastest of the five drivers at the test, although Mark Blundell’s test was cut short by transmission problems. At Michigan the next two days, both PacWest drivers were trouble-free in the team’s first test with the speedreducing ‘Handford’ wing. 0 A new section has been added to the Long Beach street circuit in southern California, adding just over a quar ter of a mile to the track layout for next year’s twenty-fifth mnning of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. The exten sion will take place at the west end of the circuit and will bring the track length up to approxi mately 1.85 miles while adding three turns to each lap. IS CART has struck a nine-^year agreement through 2007 for the Swiss-based marketing company ISL to be the exclusive worldwide mar keting agent for the three racing series owned by CART.ISL will take over sponsorship sales for CART’S FedEx Championship Series, the Indy Lights and Toyota/Atlantic series.

ALEX Zanardi scored his fifth win of the year and fourth victory in the last five CART races in Cleveland, placing him self in an almost irre sistible position to take his second straight Champ car title. Zanardi led most of the race after stealing the lead from team-mate Jimmy Vasser on a restart just 11 laps into the 100-lap race. Late in the race, Zanardi ran second to Christian Fittipaldi for 19 laps after Fittipaldi decided to gamble on not stopping for fuel like all the other leaders during a late-race yellow. But when Fittipaldi was forced to stop for fuel, Zanardi resumed the lead, winning by 8.4 seconds from Michael Andretti. The win extends Zanardi’s Championship lead to a mas sive 58 points over Greg Moore, who failed to finish today’s race after spinning in the opening laps and being collected by three other cars. After ten of this year’s nine teen races Zanardi has col lected 154 points and is on course to set an all-time CART record for points in a single season. Before entering victory lane, Zanardi indulged in his usual display of ‘donuts’. This time he executed six ‘donuts’ in one go. “It may look over the line when I do the ‘donuts’,” Zanardi com mented. “But I do it, first, because it’s fun, and second, because people ask me to do it. Second-placed Andretti’s performance was his best since finishing second to Zanardi at Gateway Raceway in May. Andretti started 'seventh, but moved up steadily holding off a challenge from Dario Franchitti who produced his best result since finishing second (also to Zanardi) at Long Beach in April. Andretti and Franchitti ran in close company through the race’s closing stages and crossed the line less than half a second apart. Michael said his Goodyear tires were excellent in the race, if not in qualifying. “We had a feeling we’d be in bet ter shape in the race,” Andretti commented. “I also

expected the Firestones to go off a little bit in the race. Unfortunately, they didn’t go off enough. I really think if we could have qualified up front it would have been dif ferent. Goodyear still needs to work on matching Firestone in qualifying.” Third-placed Franchitti said he, “made an abysmal start”, and also admitted to making a poor restart after , the first yellow. He also said he had to conserve fuel in the closing stages, although nothing like as seriously as Andretti. Scott Pruett finished fourth, ten seconds behind Andretti and Franchitti, with Adrian team-mate Fernandez taking fifth. Both Patrick drivers came from well back in the starting field with Pruett starting four teenth and Fernandez seven teenth. Gil de Ferran fin- . ished sixth, right on Fernandez'^s tail 'while Zanardi’s team-mate Jimmy THREE-PEAT... Vasser was seventh just half Zanardi took his third a second further back. straight race in Cleveland Vasser started from the pole while Mbore (right) crashed and led the opening eleven from the second race in a laps before fading down the row. field, fighting transmission problems. Vasser shift-with- virus all weekend and was out-lifting throttle mecha- very weak after being unable nism failed, which he reck- to eat any solid food “all oned cost him aroimd half a weekend. On the fourth lap second each lap, and he also he dropped a wheel into the had trouble on one pitstop grass, spun, and was chpped with his fuel vent hose, cost- by the cars driven by Michel ing him an extra ten seconds. Jourdain Jr and Helio Hitting trouble late in the Castro-Neves and then hit race were A1 Unser Jr and squarely by JJ Lehto’s car. Bryan Hei'ta. Unser drove an Nobody was injured in the impressive race, jumping to incident but all four drivers fifth on the opening lap, then were ehminated on the spot, charging from 15th to fifth after spinning in a pitlane incident with Paul Tracy. With only four laps to go however, Unser crawled to a stop with a broken shift link DAN Gurney’s Toyota-pow age cable. Unser’s demise ered All-American Racers briefly allowed Herta into CART team may race a fifth place, but on the last lap modified Reynard chassis Herta spun and stalled while later this year - prior to trying to catch Pruett for returning with its own fourth. Ea^e chassis. AAR last raced its own Tracy ran third through much of the race’s first half Eagle Champ cars two but was given a ten second years ago, and has run stop-and-go penalty for Reynard chassis the last “unjustifiable risk” in his pit- two seasons. With former lane incident with Unser. Swift designer David Bruns The penalty dropped Tracy joining AAR a few months to near the tail of the lead ago, speculation is life that lap and then late in the race a new Eagle will be pro he spun into a tire barrier, duced for next year. ending his race. Gurney would not conMoore fought a stomach firm or deny the possibility.

Will Eagle return? “We’ve bought millions of dollars of Reynards and we certainly know it is an excellent car,” Gurney com mented. “We’re continuing the development of the cars we own and our target is to produce a car that is even better. We know it’s not a stationary target, nor is the new Penske,Swift or Lola.” At this point, AAR’s biggest problems are with its Toyota engines.'This is Toyota’s third year in CART and the company’s latest methanol-burning turbo V8 is more competi-

five than in years past but still doesn’t have the power curve to equal Honda, Ford/ Cosworth and Mercedes-Benz. A new engine - codenamed 5.0, which Robby Gordin ran at Cleveland last weekend - is expected to be ready for the AAR team to race shortly, per haps as soon as this week end in Toronto. So fai* this year, Gurney’s drivers P.J. Jones and rookie Alex Barron have earned only three and one points respectively. -MARTIN CLARK

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Berger to head BMW Motorsport GERHARD Berger has been appointed head of BMW Motorsport and will mastermind the Munich company’s return to FI with Williams in the year 2000. The former Grand Prix star, who retired at the end of last season, has a long his tory with BMW in both tour ing cars and FI and raced BMW-engined Grand Prix cars until he joined Ferrari in 1987. His first of 10 GP wins was at the wheel of a BenettonBMW. Berger confirmed that the BMW-Williams deal is for five years and that a testing program will begin next sea son. The Austrian himself says that he is not going to be doing any driving as he admits that he lost the urge to race since he retired. We hear from Munich that there are several different prototype engines running on the dynos but none of them are producing the necessary horsepower figures. The next generation of VlOs will soon be produced, capitalising on what has been learned on the first units. There is still a great deal of work to be done in terms of recruitment and research and development. -JOESAWARD

Johnsons to team up

By PHIL BRANAGAN DICK Johnson’s wish of driving at Bathurst with his son Steven is almost certain to come true this year. Sources close to the Shell Helix Racing team suggest that father and son will definitely drive together in the endurance races this year. The Racing for Life team, for which Johnson Jr has been driving this sea son, will nm two other drivers in the races at Sandown and Bathurst. The RFL team would not name its drivers before a foimal announcement next week but it is beheved that they are Formula Holden driver Steve Cramp and Commodore Cup star Gary Baxter. The DJR team had found itself in a potentially awkward position after naming Johnson Jr and Cameron McConvUle as the team’s endurance co-drivers fom- months ago. The RFL team was initially sched uled to appear in the opening rounds of the 1999 series but, because of the availability of a Dick Johnson Racing

DAD ‘N’ STEVE... Dick Johnson and son Steven at Bathurst in 1996. Photo by Marshall Cass

car, the team was fast-tracked and Steven landed the drive. Until the driving combination of the blue car was settled Steven was imsui-e as to exactly in which car he would line up for the two classic races. While the Johnson team has not as yet confirmed its driving combina tions, McConville (who tested for the team again last week at Lakeside) is almost identical in build to John Bowe, which would help the team dur ing pitstops. That leaves two generations of Johnson in the famous number 17... AS part of the team’s preparation for the long-distance events, the RFL team will skip this weekend’s inaugural Shell ATCC race at Hidden Valley. The #95 car has been stripped and is being rebuilt at DJR in Brisbane, while Steven will head to Darwin to support the team this week. The car , will be raced at the SATCC finale at Oran Park - most hkely by Johnson while Baxter and Cramp are due to test before the Sandown 500.

Murf and Bargs for jet boats By GRANT NICHOLAS

GREG Murphy and Jason Bargwanna are planning to contest the forthcoming three nation Jet Boat Series that kicks off in the USA this September before heading down-under for rounds in Australia and New Zealand.

‘T got the call asking me if I would like to run several races in the US, then two races in Australia in Januaiy Mowed by several more in New Zealand during March ’99,” commented Murphy. “I said okay, as I don’t have any car race meetings that clash.” Earlier this year both Murphy and Bargwanna

raced the V8-powered, fivemetre hulled jet boats in selected events, running among the more established racers, as they learnt the skill of racing hard and fast through a series of water-filled channels at high speeds. “It was really good fim rac ing the jet boat at/the Albrny venue in Apiil,” said Mmphy.

_“I always said I’d like to have another go at racing the boats - I’m sure that Jason and I will ran amongst the leading group once we get used to the ci-aft:” Each round will be broad¬ cast oh ESPN, the Ten Network and Foxtel and through one of the fi’ee-to-air providers in New Zealand.

n British American Racing last week showed off its new factoiy build ings at Brackley, although it will be some months before the new facility is up-and-running complete ly. The factory featoes a central corridor which will be big enough for the rac ing tracks to drive inside the building. n We are told that bar’s disappointing engine deal with Supertec is, in fact, part of a twophase agreement between the team and Renault with the intention being for BAR to i-un works Renault engines in 2001. n Benetton som-ces say that the team will not be hiring a test driver this year as it is keen to give its two young race drivers as much time as possible behind the wheel. The news will come as a blow to F3000 di-iver Jason Watt and former British F3 Champion Oliver Gavin, who cmTently diives the FIA’s FI Safety Car. : n 'The Jim Russell Racing School is to i-etum to Silverstone after 10 years at Donington Pai'k. 'The school operated at; Silverstone until its lea-e ran out in 1988.'The Jim Russell Racing School organisation has been in operation for 41 yeai's and has schools all aroimd the world. -JOESAWARD

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n The Malaysian manu facturer Proton has moved closer to a projected Super Touring entiy. A 2-litre engine, developed by Sauber in Switzerland, was put through its paces in a Perdana sedan at the Johor track last week. n Peugeot Sport may duect its factoiy-run Super Touring team away from Germany to run in the BTCb next ye^. The French-based squad, head ed by ’97 Champion Laiuent Aiello, dominated last season but the British team (run currently by Motor Sport Developments)has not won a race since its entry in 1992. n Alfa Corse is preparing for a full BTCC assault in 1999. The Itahan manufac turer registered for this year's series and wiU run a' handful ofraces with its 156, but is concentrating on developing the car for the German series. Alfa was looking at a partnership with Prodrive before that company hitched up with Ford earher this week. HUKconstmctor PObeam is to build a 'cus tomer' open-topped proto type for the popular Inter national Spoils Racing Series. New cam are also being produced by Lola and a new Itahan concern, Picchio. Meanwhile the ISRS promoters wiU com mission its own 'spec' chas sis for the SR2 division of the series to allow entrants to complete new cars with their own suspension and drivetrains. n Toming Car racing manufactm-ers have been invited to Paris later this month to discuss a proposal for a revived European series. Former GT promot er Patrick Peter has been commissioned to assemble a proposal for a new cham pionship, based loosely on Group N(as used in Germ any)ofProcar(Belgium) regulations. Ifinterest is strong Peter will hkely be invited to promote the series as the 'European Tourist Ti'ophy'in countn"es like Belgium, France, Holland, Italy, Spain and Portugal. - QUENTIN SPURRING

Webber crashes, Brabham third at Dijon IT was all good news for the French last weekend with their World Cup win in Paris, hut good and bad news for the Aussies in the fourth round of the FIA GT Championship down the road in Dijon. Mark Webber crashed out of the lead when a wheel broke bn his Mercedes-Benz CLK LM,but David Brabham continued his great 1998 run with third in the Panoz-Ford. The weekend started in great fashion for Webber when team-mate Bernd Schneider continued his daz zling qualifying form, taking his third straight pole posi tion in the sole dry session after topping the times in the wet as well. Zonta was half a second back in second posi tion. Brabham’s co-driver Eric Bernard was in seventh spot after the Panoz team were limited in their track time by a series of prop shaft failures. Schneider took off at the start and built a substantial gap, despite losing six sec onds spinning to avoid a GT2 car. Webber took over the lead when the German pitted on lap 88 to hand over ,to the young Australian, who returned with 24 seconds in hand over the other CLK piloted by Ricardo Zonta. But track debris worked its way between the car’s suspension and its rear Bridgestone and, on lap 111 of the 132, the rim split, deflating the tyi'e. Webber spun backwards into the barriers and stag gered around to the pits for repairs. He rejoined in eighth after losing five laps but his AMG team retired the car when it was handed a 60 second penalty for having more than the maximum four mechanics working on the car during the repairs. Meanwhile Brabham and Bernard were mixing it up with the factory Porsches and Persson Motorsport-run V12 Mercedes, Brabham starting his stint of the

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LONG WAY... Schneider takes the lead early on lap 1. WEEKEND WITH BERNIE...You're in France, the World Cup is on - what do you do? Webber(right) tests headers with Schneider while Zonta (far left) gets ready to yell ‘goooaaallllir... 500km race in sixth place before picking off some of the factory cars in front, I was pleased that I could catch and pass them,” he said after his second podium of the season. “I just tried to keep it fconsistent during my stint and make up the time lost on the pit stop.” Webber was philosophical after the race. “It was a great pity because, up till then, the weekend had gone exactly to plan. Bernd did a brilliant job and I was confident of bringing the car home.” Both Australians complained about dome of the slower traffic in the GT2 class, “I had a few near-misses with the traffic because the track is so nanow and it’s dif ficult for the GT2 drivers to see you,” he said. “One changed lines right in front of me, which probably wasn’t quite the right thing to do!”

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The race was won by the other factory Mercedes, Zonta joined on the top step of the podium for the second time this season by veteran Klaus Ludwig. A lap behind in sec ond was the Allan McNish/ Yannick Dalmas Porsche, a lap clear ofthe Panoz.l The winning duo, who also won at Oschersleben, has re taken the lead in the series on 29 points, five clear of SchneiderAYebber. With their third place Brabham and Bernard are in seventh place. The next race will be at the Hungaroring near Budapest this weekend.

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Formula Three test for Walsh after first win BEN Walsh broke through for his maiden Formula 2000 victory in the Asian Championship at Johor in Malaysia on July 5. The win must have impressed a few observers, too, because Walsh has since been offered a free test with a Japanese Formula 3 team. “It was fantastic to win,” said Walsh last week, “but the race was in a Muslim part of Asia so I wasn’t able to celebrate with a beer!” The Sydney driver had never seen the Johor circuit before and completed only one lap on Wednesday and Thursday because of engine problems, but still managed to qualify second and third for the two races. He was challenging for the lead in the first when he and his teammate collided. Ben managed to continue but had to settle for second place. The two were dicing for the lead in the second race also but, having been delivered some harsh words after the previous incident, were more careful this time

around, But with a couple oflaps to go Walsh managed to outbrake the leader and then held on for the win. “He gave me racing room this time and we actually went through two corners side by side,” said Walsh, “The race one collision was just a racing accident, but the boss was not happy and told us we had to give each other racing room if we want to win the championship. “I really needed the win to have a chance in the championship. “Now I am equal second with my teammate, but he wants to win it as badly as me so it will be a tough fight.” The next scheduled round in India has been cancelled, so the next outing is a double-header in China - two races on Saturday and two on Sunday - in the first week of September, The penultimate round will be in China before the final back at Johor, - DAVID HASSALL

buys TOMS VOLKSWAGEN continues its buying spree, despite the news last week that it has abandoned attempts to buy the Bugatti name. Significantly, however, the company has bought the TOM’S GB factory in Norfolk, which was the base for Toyota’s sportscar team and its still-born FI project. The design of the R&D centre, built in 1992, was overseen by John Barnard before he went to Ferrari’. It is likely that the site will be the base for the wide ly rumoured assault on the Le Mans 24 Hours by VW subsidiary Audi. This could in turn lead Audi into Grand Prix racing, just as Mercedes used sportscars as a stepping stone into FI.

Rail tipped for Prost

OLIVIER Panis is expected to leave Prost Grand Prix at the end of the year and German Ralf Schumacher is tipped to be his replacement. Schumacher has been in negotiation with Eddie Jordan for some weeks but we understand that they have so far failed to agree terms and so Schumacher has been talking to Prost and Sauber. Despite his failure to pro duce results in the last 18 months, the Jordan team seem to think that Ralf has potential and needs a little more time to mature. If an agreement cannot be found, Panis is a possible for replacement Schumacher. Panis is not happy with the way the Prost team has been developing and it seems that Alain Prost is not too keen on keeping Olivier. Jarno Trulli remains under contract for one more year. Prost is still looking to

strengthen its engineering staff and we understand that Gary Anderson has become a tai'get for talks following the arrival at Jordan of Mike Gascoyne, who is expected to take over as Jordan techni cal director when Anderson departs. Anderson has a contract which runs until the end of 1999 but may decide to leave the team earlier. Alain Prost is also a little worried about his future with Peugeot following the company’s announcement that it is planning to enter the World Rally Champion ship. While no final decision is made about whether Peugeot stays in FI beyond the end of 2000, it is likely that the com pany will move on unless Prost starts to win races. There are also rumours that Prost has had talks with Renault about the possibility of the company returning to FI in the future. -JOESAWARD

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Route 66 Raceway New Supertec engine for ’99? finished

PAYTON-COYNE drivers Michel Jourdain Jr and Dennis Vitolo were the first men to test on team owner Dale Co5nae’s new, 2.0-mile Route 66 Race way road course last week. Located in Joliet, Illinois, 40km south-west of Chicago, Coyne’s new track features a drag strip as well as the road circuit. It opened last month with an NHRA National drag race meeting that drew 135,000 people over four days. 'The road course opens with an AMA Superbike race on August 9.

THE politics of FI engines was bubbling away at Silverstone last weekend with some mystery as to exactly what is the difference between a Mecachi-ome VIO and a

Supertec VIO. A Mecachrome VIO is a rebadged Renault VIO, but our spies tell us that the new Super Performance Competition Engineering company which has the distribution rights for Mecachrome engines - may be rather more ambitious than was originally thought and may be building a wmpletely new engine, funded by its cus tomers. SPCE is fronted by Flavio Briatore, although it is uncertain as to whether he owns any shares in the Amsterdamregistered firm. 'There is also some doubt as to who

join Prost for 1999? (Photo ty Michael CoopeMllsport)

will design the new engine, although Renault Sport engineers will surely be involved. The problem for Renault Sport is that both Bernard Dudot and JeanJacques His have left and their replacements do not have anywhere near the same kind of experience in building FI engines. Benetton and British American Racing have announced deals with Supertec and each will be paying around $25m a year. Williams will run Mecachrome VlOs. Sauber’s plans remain unclear although we believe that the Swiss team will run the same engines as Benetton and BAR. It remain? to be seen what these will be called but plans for an all-new Malaysian-funded Sauber Petronas

VIO engine to be bmlt by Osamu Goto’s team in Switzerland seem to have faded away. ' This is interesting because Sauber I^etronas Engineeiing had done consid erable preparation and design work for a new VIO engine and this work could be going to waste. SPCE might adopt the, Sauber plans and use Mecachrqme or another near by facility to build' the engines. 'The biggest problem faced by Sauber was that it was very difficult to attract foreign engineers to Switzerland because of visa problems. The best place to open an FI engine facility these days is in France as there ' is a great deal of FI engine expertise at Renault Sport, Peugeot Sport and Mecachrome. -JOESAWARD

Murdoch Sandown GTP 1-Hour is on to take over FI? BERNIE Ecclestone is said to be negotiating to sell his Formula One Holdings company to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation for around US8600m (about AUS$950m). This would get rid of the problems which Ecclestone has been encountering with GT Production cars will return to Sandown International Motor Raceway for the first time since the flotation of the company. 1993 with OAMPS Insurance Brokers sponsoring a It would also be an attrac tive deal for the Australian 1-hour Enduro prior to the V8 Supercar Tickford media magnate as it would 500 on Sunday, September 13. The two-driver compulsory driver change event supply programming for his many TV stations around the will feature the five classes from the Century world and also make him Batteries Australian GT Production Car Championship as well as a new sports car class money. If the deal does go ahead catering for vehicles such as the Toyota MR2 and we would expect to see Mazda MX5. And in what is believed to be a unique \vorld first, Ecclestone continue to run the show for another couple every competitor entered in the event will receive of years before handing over comprehensive dn-track insurance from OAMPS for their GTP machine for raceday. to a new management team. -JOESAWARD “With the race immediately preceding the

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Tickford 500, OAMPS believe the event also pro vides an ideal link to our regular core business,” said Rob Porter, OAMPS’ Chief Executive. Leading contenders for the event should include the GTP championship leading Dodge Viper GTS of Gairny Waidon, John Bowe’s Ferarri F355 Challenge and the Porsche 911 RSCS machines of Domenic Beninca and former Sandown 6-Hour winner, Peter Fitzgeraid. THE new class at Sandown will provide a taste of a new GTP category next season. Class S will cater for cars such as BMW’s 323i, Toyota’s MR2 and the new MX-5, as well as Honda Preludes and Integras. CAMS is expected to give its go-ahead for the class soon.

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everything to me and I know I have

Hines Racing said immediately

championship.

kept him out of last week’s

disappointed a lot of people, most

after the decision: “It’s disappoint

round of the World Superbike

of all my fans and my team.”

Aug 2 ... .Oran Park . . . .Rd 10 10 round series held around Australia

Championship at Laguna Seca.

ing. I don’t know what to say. I ^till have not seen a test from the FIM

,Rd8

Aug 2 ... .Oran Park

Eight round.series held in Australia

Australian Formula Holden Championship* June 21 . .Calder Park .. . .Rd 4 Rd 5 Aug 2 ....Oran Park Five race series heid in Australia

BOC Gases Super^ Touring Championship* July 19 .. .Mailala

Rd6

Aug 8 . . . .Winton

Rd7

Aug 30 . . .Amaroo

Rd8

Eight round series held in Australia

3: Cenluiy Batteries GTP Series 3

Gobert’s mother Sue, who is also

The Ducati rider tested positive to

his manager, said that Anthony

or anyone. I’d Kke to see it with my

marijuana after submitting to an

requested an independent urine test

own eyes before I condemn him.”

FIM drug test on July 1. His Vance&Hines team was advised of

last Friday, which was negative.

US sources suggest that Gobert’s

The 23-year-old from New South

deal with Vance&Hines specifies

the’ result on July 12 and he was

Wales was sacked by the Suzuki

that an independent drug test is

baired from competing in California.

Grand Prix team last September

required before any further action is

Gobert has admitted smoking

after allegedly returning his first

taken by the team.

the drug while celebrating win

positive test. Gobert denied using

ning the recent US Superbike round at Loudon.

drugs on that occasion and is

According to AMA sources, Gobert could be banned from the

appealing the decision to the FIM.

remainder of the AMA season by

“I was. wrong. Just plain wrong,” he told Associated Press.

Gobert currently lies second in

“I

did

have

smoke

after

Loudon, in celebration, which I

the FIM but, in the short-term, will

the US Superbike Championships,

be required to undergo more testing

and his immediate future is up in the air with his Vance&Hines

if he intends to compete in the AMA race in Ohio this weekend.

Rd6

DUCATI’S Troy Corser

Superbike

cumbed to a poor race

looked

Aug 8 .. . .Winton

Rd7

Kyalami.

set-up to finish seventh.

Suzuki its first podium

Aug 30 .. .Amaroo

Rd8

has walked away from a accident-strewn

The jubilant 35-yearold streeted the field in

“In the second race,

finish of the year before

after

the front tyre was the

he was bumped back to

regaining the lead in the 1998 World

the first 25-lap race, and then rode a calculated

biggest problem because^ fifth in it went off after five or ' stages,

1 FedEx Champ Series* j July 19 . . .Toronto

.Rd 11

j July 26 .. .Michigan

Rd12

I Aug 9 . . . .Mid-Ohio Rd 13 P Aug 16 ...Elkhart Lake .. .Rd 14 19 race series held in the United States,

3 3

Australia, Brazil and Japan

July 19 . . .Dover Downs . ..Rd 6 Rd-7 July 25 . . .Charlotte

5 Aug 16 . . .Fountain

,Rd8

,Rd9 ^ Aug 29 . . .Atlanta . £ h'race series held inthe United States

Formula I World C'ship

^ July 26 ...Austria

^Aug 2 Germany Aug 16 . . .Hungary Aug 30 ...Belgium

Rd 10

Seca

double

the

giving

closing

Superbike Champion

race to claim the second

six laps”, said the disap

“When you are at the

ship after scoring his

leg from Fogarty.

pointed Aussie. “It all

head of a group like that

first win of the season. In an incident-marred

spread-eagled

race at round eight in California Corser was

started to go wrong on

you have a great big tar

the

the seventh lap when I

early laps,after first race

was close to crashing

get on your back. I knew someone would have a

Earlier, the field was in

AKIRA Yanagawa is making

steady progress from injuries

go and when Lavilla made his move I waited

he sustained at Laguna.

a lap then tried to pass him back at the

rider

ings, but remarkably

Mineshaft, only to have

finds himself at the top

James (Whitham) dive

approach to the Corkscrew on lap 13.

place-getter Gregorio

while turning into the fast right.”

the first 28-lap leg after

Lavill^’s (Ducati) tipped over oh his own oil.

just 12 laps following

While the Italian mar

two multiple-bike crash

que filled five of the six

es that left several rid

podium places, it was a

ers seriously injured. Kawasaki rider Akira

day of misery for Corser after he failed to start

of the overall standings.

up the inside and take

For the third time this

me.

Slight brought home a lowly pair of eighth plac-

was being

the first race following

year. Slight crashed and

treated for suspected

‘fuel-feed’ problems on

remounted

spinal injuries after he

the warm-up lap. Full of

much-needed points.

was taken out by Doug Chandler’s Muzzy

fire in the race two, Corser led before he sue-

Goddard led the open

Points: Corser 241.5, Slight 214, Chili 211, Fogarty 208.5, Edwards 195.5, Haga 193, Yanagawa 132, Whitham 102, Goddard 101.

ing laps of race one, and

- DARRYL FLACK

Yanagawa

on road to recovery

grab

The Kawasaki Racing Team taken

out ‘ by

Muzzy

Kawasaki’s Doug Chandler on the

There is increasing speculation that Chandler’s right handlebar broke off as he tried to brake for the comer, forcing him to over-use the rear brake which sent the bike out ofcontrol, and into Yanagawa. Team boss Rob Muzzy claimed,

Rd 11 Rd 12

Kawasaki while holding

however, that the crash was caused

second place in the early

after three-time AMA Superbike

Rd 13

stages of the race. In the other incident

champion Chandler “hit a false

J6 race series held around the world

WSrasIon Cup NASCAR July 26 . . .Pocono

Laguna

declared the winner of

Pep Boys Indy iladnig League

ANTHONY GOBERT (Photo by Nigel Snowdon)

Corser survives carnage Yanagawa

July 19 .. .Mailala

Eight round series held in Australia

didn’t realise would be a serious

problem by the FIM. “I would never do it before or

July 19 .. .Hidden Valley ..Rd9

Slick 50 Formula Ford*

By DARRYL FLACK

Rd 19

Aug 1 . . . .Indianapolis .. .Rd 20 33 race series held in the United States

NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series

Aaron Slight (Castrol sustained Honda) injuries to his leg after a first-lap altercation. He will miss the all-impor tant Suzuka 8-hour on July 26. Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) and Corser battled in the second

July 19 . . .Denver

Rd 12

July 26 . . .Sonoma

Rd 13

race, that finally went to

Aug 2 ... .Seattle

Rd 14

the Japanese with a lap

Aug 23 ...Brainerd

Rd 15

to go. Local Honda rider

22 race series held In the United States

Ben Bostrom backed up

500cc Motorcycle Grand Prix C'ship*

in the first leg with third from Pierfrancesco Chili

his strong fourth place

Rd9

July 19 .. .Germany

Aug 23 . . .Chez Repub. ..Rd 10 16 round series held around the world

(Ducati), who grabbed third in the shortened first leg. While

Corser

has

established a comfort

Australian Rally Championship Rd5 I

Aug 30 .. .Melbourne

neutral” adding that “he just missed the comer, then it pushed a GOOD LUCK, BAD LUCK...

Goddard (left) was in great form at Laguna, leading on a Suzuki for the first time this year. Slight(below) was not so lucky, suffering a leg injury. He’ll miss the Suzuka 8-Hour.

httle bit, then the back end got out from under him.” A spokesperson for the hospital described Yanagawa as stable and in a state of consciousness, despite the huge blow that he had received to the- head. A thorough examina tion of his body and full series of scans has revealed that he has no critical injuries and is therefore in no immechate danger. The

year-old

from

Hamamatsu in Japan has suffered a number of minor injuries. He has lost some teeth, but the fiill extent of his condition caimot immediate ly be established until he has recovered from his concussion. Team Manager Harald Eckl had been to the hospital with Akira’s wife, Emi: “The crash was a racing

able points lead, fellow Aussie Peter Goddard

incident, and one that - no matter

(Harris Suzuki) finished

part of our sport. Akira was most unfortunate to be the innocent vie-

how serious - we must all accept as

7 round series held in Australia

a disappointing 14th and eighth, while sefiond-

tim on this occasion and was lucky

World Rally Championhip*

fastest qualifier Mat Mladin (Yoshimura

to receive no serious injuries.

July 26 . . .New Zealand ...Rd 9 Aug 21 ...Finland

Rd 10

14 rally series held around the world All event dates in this calendar were correct at the time ol printing. Please consult any individual tracks and/or associations for date changes. Series or events telecast on Network Ten are marked with an asterix. Check your local guides for screening details.

Suzuki) retired in the

“After sleeping comfortably on Sunday night, he was able to

opening laps of the first

breathe without the aid of a respi

race, before running off

rator on Monday morning. He may

in the second leg then

still be sleepy, but the good news is

parking his bike in the

that his memoiy is returning fast.

pits. The weekend before in South Africa Chili scored his

first-ever

World

He knows where he is, can recall the race and even knows how he ended up m hospital.” - DARRYL FLACK

^ e

/? ,a c e

WIN A WEEKEND AT THE 1998 AMP BATHURST 1000 lANP YOU COULD WAVE THE CHEQUERED FLAG!!

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 jike using original coupons, which will be 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.

1998 AMP BATHURST 1000 CHEQUERED FLAG COMPETITION ENTRY COUPON Please enter me in the draw for an all expenses paid weekend at the 1998 AMP Bathurst 1000.

! Name: Address: P/code Phone: (H) (W)

I -ir I I I'J t-

(M) BONUS DRAW I have already purchased tickets for the AMP Bathurst 1000 and would love to wave the chequered flag My Ticketek Transaction Number is:

Post entry to: Bathurst 1000 Event Management , Level 1 100 Wharf Road WestRyde NSW 2114

L CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

1. InformoHon on how to enter and prizes form port of these conditions of entry. 2. The

Super Touring - Racing into the future

■k A U S I RAMA

competition is open to all readers except employees of Australasian Motorsport News P/L and Bathurst 1000 Event Management, their associated companies, and families of em ployees. 3. The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 4. The prizes (2| are: |a) air travel for two from winner's nearest capital city within Australia to and from Bathurst, accommodation for one night, rental car, VIP circuit passes and Pit Suite hospitality for the 1998 AMP Bathurst 1000 and |b| waving the chequered flag (under CAMS supervision) at the end of the 1998 AMP Bathurst 1000. 5. First entry drawn will win prize (a); if this entry has no Ticketek Transaction Number, further draws will take place unHI an entry with a Ticketek TransacHon Number is drown, which will win prize (b). 6. Entries must reach Bathurst 1000 Event Management no later than 5pm Friday 3 September. The draw will take place on Monday 6 September, with winner(s) notified by phone. 7. The promoter is Bathurst 1000 Event Management, Uvel 1, 100 Wharf Road, West Ryde, 2114. 8. Entries must be on the original coupons published in Motorsport News (no photocopies), except where this contravenes state law (SA). Permit number to be advised.

12 17JulyW98

p)Co.

Simon says Win THE Steinlager flowed at Bonington when Simon Crafar took his first career GP win in fine

3ran Prc

udad d I

HOME TOWN HERO... A month ago Checa was the toast of Madrid. Now his career may be over. (Photo by Michael cooper/AUspon)

Stroke threatens Checa’s career CARLOS Checa’s racing career looks to be over after suffering a stroke last week in England. The Spaniard, winner of the 500cc race at Madrid only four weeks ago, was fisted as being in ‘poorly but stable’ in the intensive care unit of Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham,last week. Though details of Checa’s condition are sketchy, it is thought that he is experienc ing partial paralysis and may lose his eyesight. He suffered the stroke as a complication to a ruptured spleen after a practice fall at Bonington on the Friday of the Grand Prix meeting. The 25-year-old flew over the bars of the MoviStar-Pons Honda NSR500 and broke a rib, which punctured his; spleen. He was taken to hos-

pital with abdominal bleed ing, had his spleen removed by surgeons and was initially fisted in good condition. The original diagnosis was that he was expected to miss, at worst, the rest of the sea son. But now, it appears a long-shot that that “best case’ scenario will happen. 'The even temporary loss of ‘Charlie’ Checa, who is fourth in the championship on 106 points, means that MoviStar boss Sito Pons finds himself with no fit riders. Jbhn Kocinski missed the British race while cmdergoing a skin graft on a finger he damaged in Spain. The American, who is known to be unhappy with the performance of his Honda NSR500,is expected to return to the saddle within two weeks.

style, beating Mick Boohan by 11.53 seconds. But, in collecting second place points, Doohan boost ed his season’s tally to 135 points, while Italian Max Biaggi - sixth at Bonington - has 128 and Spaniard Alex Criville has 126 after finishing fourth in Britain. Crafar won in style, nar rowly beating Doohan to pole position in qualifying and leading every lap on his way to an historic victory. “No dqubt about it, Simon Crafar did a really good job today - but it was also a good day for us,” Doohan said. “We finished second and got some valuable points that we needed.” Crafar said the way the race unfolded for him was almost too good to be true and in the closing laps he almost felt guilty that he did not have to push harder on his Dunlop-shod Yamaha. “I have to admit I didn’t expect the race to go the way it did,” Crafar said. “I could see on my (lap) board that the gap was getting bigger and bigger, but I just kept giving it 100 per cent because I thought maybe Mick would be able to pull something back. Once the gap was up to nine seconds though I started to ease off, but you feel guilty not going all out!” Japan,bse rider Norifumi Abe was third on another Yamaha. Australia’s other rider in the race, Sydneysider Garry McCoy, made an excursion in

the closing stages but got back on track to finish 13th and collect another three world championship points. It was the sixth time in the eight starts in his 500cc debut season that McCoy has been in the points. Crafar is the first Kiwi to

win a 500cc motorcycle GP for almost 20 years. Dennis Ireland was the previous New Zealand winner, riding a Suzuki at the 1979 Belgian GP at Spa. That was a race boycotted by works teams because of concerns over the state of the track and in

FILLING IN... With our man Craggill sidelined after a fall Damon Buckmaster volunteered to scare the stuffling out of Wynns driver Darren Pate. (Photo by Dirk Klynsmith)

One thing 1 couldn’t under stand at Calder was the com ments made by the race offi cials. On the last lap of the second race it started to rain, eventually they stopped the racing for the V8 Supercars. They told us if it was raining we would have to race - then when it did rain it was the tour ing cars that didn’t race - you can’t ride a motorcycle across the dragstrip when there is hint of any moisture. I don’t under stand the logic of all of that.

would like to thank everyone for their concern and good wishes regarding my groin area after my accident at the Mallala Park round of the Shell Superbike series - everything in back to normal.

During the opening qualifying ses sion at the Calder Park round I had a big crash at around 200 kilometres per hour when a new rear tyre caused my Kawasaki to highside me as I went through the chicane on the back straight. I lost a fair bit of skin in various places plus there was a hole in my left elbow, which let the bone poke through a bit, so I missed taking Wynn’s Racing’s Darren Pate for a few quick laps around the Calder track. My team mate Damon Buckmaster had the privi lege of giving him several quick laps on one of our Superbikes. In the afternoon qualifying session I experienced trouble again at the chicane, this time a lead came off one of the battery terminals and the engine died when I was on a real flier, as it was in the closing min utes of the session I ended up fifth quickest. I was 0.1s off pole, so we were on the pace.

AT LEAST HE DIDN'T CARRY THE BLEDISLOE CUP... Crafar celebrated in fine style at Donington, seizing a silver fern flag from a handy(and somewhat optimistic) spectator.

n on managed score two second placings Supdaytobehind Steve Martin’s Ducati which had the speed over me down the long front straight. Towards the epd of the second race I was taking a few risks attempting to get past him, it was getting a little dangerous for me and I was already hurting a bit so I decided to back off and take second place points.

The following I headed to the US forweek a commitment with my loyal sponsors No Fear, so I took in the Elkhart Lake Road America race meet ing where the AMA Superbike Nationals were being run to see Anthony Gobert win. It was good catching up with him plus Matt Mladin and Melbourne rider Anthony Purdue, who is contesting the 600cc series. I was surprised to see how big bike rac ing was over there, 35,000 fans were hanging off the fences on race day and the teams big colourful transporters with plen ty of corporate support - I had a good time meeting folk and watching their racing.

which Australian Kenny Blake finished second on a Yamaha. It was Yamaha’s first 500cc win since the 1996 Australian Grand Prix at Eastern Creek, when Italian Loris Capirossi won after Criville and Doohan colHded on the last lap. APRILIA factory riders again dominated the 250cc GP at Bonington. Loris Capirossi snatched a last-lap victory when series leader, Tetsuya Harada,sur prisingly slowed with a mechanical problem in the final stages and had to settle for second. Stefano Perugini on a Honda, won a closelyfought battle for third. Harada continues to lead the championship on 124 points from Capirossi on 115 and Japan’s Tohru Ukawa on 86. Valentino Rossi, the reigning 125cc world cham pion and 250cc winner at Assen in Holland a week before Bonington, fell in the British race but remains fourth in the championship on 85 points. IN the 125cc race Kazuto Sakata took his fourth victory of the season on an Aprilia to extend his lead in the championship to 46 points over Marco Melandri, who was fourth. Sakata beat Italian Honda rider Mirko Giansanti by 0.4 seconds, while Youichi Ui, was third on a privateer Yamaha after leading the early laps. Sakata now has 156 cham pionship points to Melandri’s 110, while another Japanese rider, Tomomi Manako, is third on 97 despite a spill.

y next race meeting was at last week end’s Shell Australian Production Championship series at Eastern Creek Raceway where I was aboard a Kawasaki ZX-9R. On Saturday 1 qualified on pole which surprised me as expected the bigger 1 -litre machines to beat my 900cc capacity unit, especially down the long front straight at the Creek. Going into qualifying we decided if I did a 1m35.9s lap I would park the bike as you have to use the same tyres in qualifying as Sunday’s races, so I wanted to conserve my two sets of tyres for race day. I did two laps and on the next time passed the pits I noticed that my pit-board was showing a 35.9s time so I immediately headed to the Kawasaki pits. My crew were over the moon, I had missed read the pit-board as the numbers are too small and I had reeled off a 35.0sec lap - every thing just clicked together and I was seven-tenths quicker than the rest. I didn’t venture back out onto the track for the rest of the day. I won the first race on Sunday and in the second I went off the track at turn nine after missing a gear shift, dropping back to sixth before finally making it back to fourth by the end of the event. Next meeting is at Darwin’s Hidden Valley this weekend which should be real neat as none of us have raced there before. For all of you ridingthe motorcycles on the roads throughout nation, remember that the roads and tyres on your machines are colder at this time of the year and they have less grip so take extra care and think about the changing weather and road con ditions at all times.

‘"1

/^®0®iiS[p®i79

The South Sea Bubble and Young Blue Eyes L

et me tell you the story of the South Sea Bubble and then I will tell you why I am doing it. Transport yourself back in time to the year 1711. Britain and Spain were at war but discussing peace and so it was not a bad idea to establish a company with the aim of promoting trade between Britain and its burgeoning empire and Spanish America. It was called the South Sea company and was mod elled on the remarkably successful East India Company. The sale of shares was slow but speeded up when the company guaranteed investors a six percent interest rate. Some money was raised and plans were laid. These were delayed somewhat by the Anglo-Spanish peace treaty, which restricted trade between the two but you can also buy the best countries, but the company ingredients for a cake and still not wheeled and dealed. produce an edible result. There is By appointing the King as its a little bit of magic - and a lot of chairman, paying out 100 percent time-needed. Thus it is surprising that BAR interest to the original shareholders and agreeing to take over a large has adopted such a high profile in part of the British national debt, its formative stages and is creating Britain was able to inspire confi expectations which are way beyond dence that the business was where they should be. I am not questioning the ability sound. Ships began to transport of Reynard Racing Cars to produce slaves and guano (cormorant drop pings used as fertiliser) to Latin a good car. I am sure it will be a America. capable machine and the Supertec Investors were impressed. The VI0 engine will probably be a halfcompany clearly had plenty of sensible engine. Money can buy you good drivers money and some well-connected people who knew what they were but it is daft to think that you will immediately be challenging Ferrari, doing. For seven months the value of Williams, Benetton and McLaren. the shares rose at 50 percent a These are massive industrial com month (eat your heart out. Bill bines which have been built over a Gates ...) and there was a frenzy of long period of time with careful South Sea share buying. And then planning and pruning, as they have someone noticed that the company grown. It is fairly easy to get into was not doing much in the way of trade and the South Sea Bubble burst. The price of the shares collapsed and thousands a of people lost their shirts. Even the government stumbled. eccentricity, It is a remarkable story which has, for the most part, been not least in condemned to the dusty folder of history. Every so often there the McLaren is an extraordinary case of someone creating ludicrous garage, expectations and the story of the South Sea Bubble is where the wheeled out of retirement to team laid a warn of the dangers of such things.

FI isfull of

mock-marble

t strikes me that it is time for Formula 1 to get out the dusters and clean off the story for the benefit of the folks at British American Racing, who are currently riding a wax rocket towards the sun, leaving a trail of dollar bills fluttering in the air. It is not very often in FI that someone is given $550m to spend over a five-year period, so perhaps it is inevitable that those involved will become a little over-confident and let things get a little out of con trol. Anyone who has been around FI for more than 10 minutes will tell you that to build a winning team takes a lot more than money. You can buy everything and every body in F1 with that kind of money

floor ooo

the FI midfield, but to break into the top club is something else ... I apologise if readers think I have it in for BAR but I have to say that I am simply amazed at what the team is doing and I cannot find anyone in the paddock who thinks differently to me. Expectations goingwhat to be so high that, noare matter hap pens, the team is going to fall short of them and there will be a period in which those who know nothing of the sport and have supplied the

money are going to ask why BAR is not winning. I just hope the team has not made rash promises. Logic would say that it would be better for the team to adopt a quiet and rather humble approach right now and then start blowing the trumpets and squeezing the bag pipes when there is a more stable base on which to build. I do not remember much about what I was taught at Sunday School when I was a kid, but I do recall a biblical tale which points out that a wise man builds his house upon a rock so that when the rains come down and the floods come up YOUNG BLUE EYES; the house will stay standing up, while the house built on sand will Craig Pollack's image is being be swept away. used to sell cigarettes to the The cynic in me says the mas unsuspecting F1 housewife. sive ^PR shenanigans only makes (Photos by Michael Cooper/Allsport) sense if you consider that the team knows the policy is daft and is doing it because the sponsor wants eyes ever match my shirt is when I wear the red and white check shirts it and knows that it will all go horri bly wrong. The consolation, of my mother-in-law sends me ... course, is that those left standing / The Pollock uniform is complet after the inevitable bloodbath will ed by cream coloured chinos which end up owning a very nice racing look lovely in shop windows but not team. The best policy for staff in so nice at the end of a long day these circumstances is to keep a after you have slopped gravy over low profile so that when the bullets them or leant ,dp again the oily machinery of a pit garage door. start to fly, one will not be hit.

When speaks you your self helistening tofind British And thatthe is why under stand Cult1 fail of to Pollock. American, a curious transatlantic Clearly there has been a strategic decision to turn Jacques melange of sounds, punctuated by Villeneuve’s old school teacher into the odd Scottish vowel. Pollock obviously loves the role an international celebrity. in which he is cast but does have a In sbme circumstances this tendency to be rather too smartwould not be dumb. People relate arsed with his replies. It is all part of to people. BAR logic presumably says that people will see Pollock on the policy of making BAR seem like a “fun” racing team, but it comes TV and sub-consciously associate ^ across as glib and lightweight. Just before Silverstone, BAR decided to host a “bolting” ceremony at its impressive new factory in Brackley. Most of the journalists invited decid ed to bolt and so a handful of hacks was joined by 200 suits and assorted hangers-on. The ceremony consisted of the promotable Pollock being raised in a BAR-branded cher ry picker with a worthy building type to tighten up a bolt with a big spanner. I am not an archi tect, but I can tell that no bolt was necessary for the location except as a means of creating “a photo opportunity”. As we wondered what on earth we were doing there, we mused over how it was that the BAR spin doctors had not realised that you do not open a new factory with a spanner unless him with a rush of nicotine and you want someone like me to write immediately go out and buy hun “a spanner in the works”. dreds of packets of British There followed a half-hearted American cigarettes. question and answer session As one cannot turn on a televi which was so dull that the Mayor of sion or open a magazine without Brackley asked a question. What, seeing pictures of Pollock at the he said, can he do for BAR and moment, it has been fairly simple to what can BAR do for Brackley? study whether or not he looks like a Pollock dived headfirst into a large Lucky Strike. He’s perfectly glib response about cheaper this presentable. He looks neat and tidy and one suspects could figure in and cheaper that, but then Adrian housewifely day-dreaming because Reynard managed to wrestle the his nice blue eyes always match his microphone from his fingers and nice blue shirt. The only time my produced a quite brilliant piece of

political flannel, talking about jobcreation schemes, engineering scholarships and zebra-crossings for little old ladies. It was a master ful performance. 1 am not sure it was worth the $125,000 the event cost to stage, but after buying Tyrrell, throwing away 125 grand is small potatoes for the BAR boys. Still, FI days, is fullnot of eccentricity these least in the McLaren garage, where the team decided to lay a mock-marble floor. It is actually not as crazy an idea as it might seem. The sponsors and VIPs loved it and it meant that the garage was easier to clean. McLaren is always the team which introduces such new ideas and it is inevitable that the rest of the field will follow suit. Before you know it, the mock-marble-layers of Europe will be abandoning Italian villas and criss-crossing the Continent, rushing from Grand Prix circuit to Grand Prix circuit to tart up the garages. I would not be sur prised if Bernie Ecclestone buys a mock-marble-laying business to cash in on the new industry or Flavio Briatore corners the market in mock-marble production facilities and hikes the price by 30 percent. In an age when technical inno vation in FI is so limited because of the regulations, it is gloriously ironic that the man who has taken over the mantle of being the great innovator in FI is Ron Dennis. A Colin Chapman of comm,ercial ideas. It was Ron who invented mechanics with names, theatrical staging in the garages, life-support machinery for racing cars and, of course, the motorhome. There are many other clever ideas which the team has developed but which they refuse to discuss for fear that others will copy them. The arrival of the mock-marble floor set me wondering what on earth the magician Ronzo will come up with next. Stone cladding on the outside of the garage? Grey flock wallpaper? Mechanics dressed in silk dressing gowns being served canapes by girls in French maid uniforms? Probably

interview

n July 1998

Now it’s Bernie the movie Bernie Ecclestone has

MN: You’ve told me before that

people come up with film ideas

become a movie producer in partnership with film

every month and you never hear of them again. What made this

Star Sylvester Stallone. They are planning to bring Formula 1 to the big screen next year, which has created plenty of interest among race fans around the world. ADAM COOPER spoke to the F1 supremo about the movie:

siy well and i trust him to do the job.

MOTORSPORT NEWS: There are rumours that the film has been delayed. Is that true? BERNIE ECCLESTONE: Quite the opposite. The script's done and they're going to get starting next month. Sly's been to our TV centre to see how much of our stuff they can use in the film. The digital images are almost as good as celluloid, so they can use those things now.

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MN: Are you fully behind the project? BE: I think we decided on May 22 we're going to bankroll it our selves. We're probably not going to M use the studios in the normal way. " for you to make money? BE: I hope and think it will be MN: So you’ll be partners? successful. The film will be like a BE: Yes. ●●Rocky film; very human. Although MN: Basically he’ll get anything it will be FI racing, it won't be purehe wants? ly racing. If you bother to follow BE: Yes. That's exactly what I what we do every weekend and want him to do. I just want to say, make that into a film, it will be 'Right, get on with it.’ When you’re enough, with all the intrigue and with the studio there are so many the things that go on. That's things ... I went out with all the enough. So that's what we hope lawyers the other day. Christ! I can he's going to do. understand why films don't get made, MN: What’s your experience in MN: So really this is a chance the business?

BE: We made a film with Brabham called Bobby Deerfield in 1976, with Sidney Pollack. He's a very serious director and producer. And we never had any problem with that. They shot 200,000 miles of film and didn't use much of it. What happened in the studio decided that it should be a love story and not a story about racing, so the racing was incidental. The film never worked that well. MN: WiJI the film be tied up with a particular team?

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MN: When they made ’Grand Prix' In 1966, everyone com plained about the disruption in the paddock, all the cameras and so on. How are you going to prevent that? BE: But that was the old days. Because I was at Brabham at that time when Al Pacino was making Bobby Deerfield, it was obviously always a little bit of aggravation, because you have a star around. But when Sly starts to do things and peopie get used to him being there it will be just like another team guy. MN: NASCAR supported ’Days of Thunder' and gave the direc tor all the help he„needed, but they were very disappointed with the results. How can you be sure the same thing won’t hap pen? BE: Never saw that film. I trust Sly. He's an FI guy and I trust him to do a good job.

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BE: No, I don't think so.

MN: What do the teams think about it? BE: I haven't asked them, to be honest.

FORMULA 1 FAN... Sly Stallone (above) has a new movie i Photos by Nigel Snowdon) partner in Bernie Ecclestone (top).

MN: Do you know the storyline? BE: i do, but I don't. We're not going to show the script to any body. ■

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Craig Lowndes and Russell Inga CRAIG Lowndes and Russell Ingall resume their battlefor the Shell Australian Touring Car Championship in Darwin this weekend, but we couldn ’t wait. With the help ofthe latest computer simulation equipment, we put them to the cyber-test. DAVID HASSALL reports:

he two outstanding drivers of the year. Head to head. No holds barred. Best man wins. It was an opportunity even the two protagonists could not resist. Of course, the real contest will take place in VT Commodores this weekend at Hidden Valley and then two weeks later at Oran Park - apart from the no holds barred bit - but why not let them loose on a Hyper Stimulator for an early call on the title of champion? Both drivers have experience of the simula tors (though to different degrees we were to dis cover) and an early release version of an exciting new software package made the whole exercise that little more interesting. The new package is called Grand Prix Legends, which recreates the cars and circuits of 1967 r- a classic era for the sport when Sir Jack’s Repco-Brabhams took the World Championship for the second straight year and when the Cosworthengined Lotus 49 first appeared. The beauty of the Legends package is that the narrow-tyred FI cars with lots of suspension travel are more like our current touring cars than the popular FI and Indycar systems avail able. And, with Jon Crooke’s Hyper Stimulators, we were able to put Craig and Russell behind the wheel with realistic steering, braking, throt tle and gearchange mech anisms.

computer is even harder than the real thing because there are none of the seat of the pants feelings you get with the real thing and vision is never as good with a screen, but the Legends package made it harder again. Why? Because the old cars were a real handful. They slide a lot more, flop around on the suspen sion, have far more power than the

“I would not have enjoyed racing then at all,” he said rolling his «yes. “They are dangerous looking things ... too dangerous for my lik ing. I’m glad I missed that era, that’s for sure. “I don’t think I’ve driven an open-wheeler with that little grip. They had a massive amount of horsepower really and they were putting it through these small treaded tyres ... and the suspension movement as well, that’s what causes the understeer and over steer because they had so much suspension move ment. “They certainly would have been interesting to drive ...”

The Comparison And how experience did the Legends compare with a modern V8 Supercar? The closest our heroes came to pin ning it down was that it was like driving a tourer in the wet. “Yeah, it’s a bit like driving around in the wet because you have to use the throttle so much in the wet to make it steer, that’s the comparison,” Ingall decided. “As far as an open wheeler goes, it’s proba bly not far off a 1980s Formula Ford with a heap of power; the later model Formula Foifd stuff is pretty stiff.” Lowndes, who has even more open-wheeler expe rience, agreed with his rival’s assessment. ‘Teah, it would be very close to_a touring car in the wet,” he said after a practice session. “It is very close to the throttle and brake control you need, and you slide around a lot more (than with the FI software). “It’s got more movement (than a touring car). Watching the front of the car dive ... it’s weird. “It’s really good, actually. It is realistic with the car moving around, the front and back sliding. “Getting off and on the throttle changesghe character of the car ... what it was like, I guess, back then and what it is like in Formula Fords. With Formula Holden and Touring Cars we have more down-

a bit like driving a V8 Supercar around in the wet because you have to use the throttle so much to make it steer. - Russell Ingall

To make things even better, the latest machines are fitted with proper right-hand gearshifts. Though the shifting is still sequen tial, the stick shift is more like a touring car/classic GP car and the changes have to made more slowly than the modern steering wheel flipper system. The software itself, even in pre release demonstration form, was most impressive and a real challenge for the drivers. It is no secret that driving on a

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old tyres can handle and can easily step off the road under braking. If this is what it was really like in the old days, our modern heroes ai-e most impressed. “They definitely worked harder in those days than we do today,” said Lowndes after his first taste of the computer. “It’s very realistic. You get the power slides and the t understeer... Ingall may be regarded as an old-fashioned style of racer in the Brabham mould, but he no longer wonders what it would have been like to race in the old days.

force, which takes that ‘slidiness’ out of the equation.” Craig said it was difficult get ting used to the pitching of the old cars, being used to the modern cars sitting very flat and “darting around”. “It’s very hard to be consistent because everything is changing,” said the youngster. These would be prophetic words ...

Adapting

0 how did our two modern stars handle the slip-sliding ways of the old cars? And who handled it the best? It didn’t take long to form a view. Within minutes the cast was set. Though Russell was clearly tak ing some time getting used to the foreign environment, it was clear that he had spent quite a bit of time cyber racing. It turns out he has his own machine at home, and it showed in his approach. By contrast, ‘Junior’ jumped in, took off at full noise ... and promptly had the most monumen tal accident of all time at the first corner. If this had been the real thing, he would now be an ex-racing driver. “I’m never good on computer

games,” Craig confessed with not a trace of remorse. “I haven’t got one at home and the one from HRT is on tour now, so I don’t get on them much. Even on the one at the race team, I tend to do a couple of cor ners and then crash, so this is not the first time and it won’t be the last...” Prophetic words,indeed. It must be said that even the game’s creator admits the car on the demonstration software is not well balanced and both drivers would have liked to have been able to change the set-up but were unable to. That facility will come with the full release version next month. “I would like to have more front grip because you can control the rear with the throttle,” said Lowndes. “If you could adjust the car, it would make it nicer to drive.” What was immediately notable for an outside observer like myself was how good these guys are with their throttle control, steering and anticipation. Even Craig, with lit tle computer experience, was con trolling the car with hair-trigger reflexes and deft use of the con trols.

17JulyW98

it to the max! Photography by Graeme Meander- Coventry Studios

excellent replay facilities, sending the Brabham into a series of monu mental crashes as he struggled to even get a single lap together. Then, all of a sudden, it chcked for Craig. A series of hot laps with few crashes culminating in a lmll.22s. This was going to be a contest after all. Russelljumped back in for a few lap practice laps and charged off before realising something was wrong. Joker. Lowndes had left the car pointing in the wrong direction after spinning, so Russell found himself going around the track backwards! Once pointed in the right direction, Russell quickly turned a lml2.69s lap to give Craig something to think about as the time arrived for the rac ing to commence.

Race 1-3 laps

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“Some of the saves you saw,” com mented RusseU later, “show that the skills you learn (on the racetrack) are relative, no matter what the environment.”

the United Grand Prix Watkins GlenStates was the scene of in the 1960s and early 1970s before it moved to Long Beach and the old track was a good choice for our con frontation, being fast and flowing and relatively easy to learn. The cars to choose from were the 1967 championship-winning RepcoBrabham of Denny Hulme and the Cosworth-engined Lotus 49. We went for the less powerful Brabham,

not for parochial reasons but because the faster Lotus was a real handful to drive. Ingall was quick to settle down, showing the benefit of his consider able experience driving his own sim ulator at home, ● After 20 minutes exploring the limits of the car and learning the cir cuit, Russell was down into the lml3s bracket, which seemed fairly impressive. The world record - set by an Australian with the unlikely IS name of Dave Mansell lm06.340s, so Russell was certainly getting onto a good pace. As already mentioned, Craig was quick to explore the limits of the crash barriers and the system’s

0 CLASSIC DRIVING... Craig Lowndes in the ‘Lotus’at Watkins Glen.

Legend in the makin

A Ithough we had two machines X^n the appropriate Mobil and Castrol colours - the Legends demonstration software does not allow for them to be linked. Again, ware is a most exciting devel that will come with the fiftl release The Grand Legends opment forPrix cyber racers soft version. particularly those who can remem ber the classic era of Grand Prix Consequently, we decided to pit the guys against each other and the racing in the 1960s and early clock, with three-lap time trials. It 1970s, before aerodynamics does not sound like much, but sur changed the sport forever. viving even three laps on a computer With Legends, you will be able to drive a Brabham, Lotus, BRM or without crashing when you are new to it is a challenge in itself Eagle at 11 recreated circuits such as Monaco, Spa, Silverstone and Ingall hit the track first and immediately set the tone fof the rac- ■“ the daddy of them all, the old Nurburgring - all 21 km and 173 ing, driving smoothly and clearly comers of it! within himself to get a good result on Without taking all the risks that the board. The Enforcer was in per resulted in two or three drivers a centage mode and it put the pressure year being killed in that era, you on his young rival from the outset. can experience the thrills of driving Russell’s standing start lap was 500kg cars producing 400 horse really clean and stopped the clocks at power on tyres with the grip of a lml5.41s and, despite a big lock-up current family sedan. and a near-lose on the last corner Although the environment is old, (“That was a big save,” commented the computer technology behind it Craig in admiration), the first flyer is cutting edge, so the graphics are was an impressive lml3.55s. actually more sophisticated than The final lap was a bit untidy, the latest Grand Prix and Indycar including a huge lose, but he some games. The cars move around a lot how managed to get back on track more, and in a more realistic way. and post a lml6.95s. There will be fewer aspects of While Russell had clearly been the car set-up to adjust and, of more conservative than in practice, course, no pit-to-car telemetry infor Craig hooked into from the outset, mation or adjustments on the getting onto the grass a couple of move. times before losing it big time, spin As Mike Lescault, the Legends ning through 720-degrees, then los software designer, told ing it again just before the end of Gamesmania magazine: “The play an incident-packed first lap. The er is limited to obtaining information time was lm21.77s and Craig was from the in-car gauges and the clearly behind the eight-ball. gearbox lever position only. Continued next page

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“Driving in the 1960s was very much a ‘detached’ experience for the driver. With no form of commu nication to the pits other than hand signals and the pit board, the driver was very much isolated. “Some additional information will be available via the replay function ality, but we decided from the beginning to make the racing aspect of the game as realistic as possible.” As a consequence, you only get your lap times from your pit board and - just like the old days - not for the lap you just completed but the one before that. Quite frustrating. Nevertheless, it is a brilliant con cept and thoroughly enjoyable to drive, especially sitting behind the wheel of one of the brilliant Hyper Stimulators. To get into the mood, the Hyper Stimulator people have produced new models in the Lotus and Ferrari colours with old, round steering wheels and - more impor tantly - they have develop^ a right-hand gearshift, which is more authentic than using steering wheel flippers for the Legends, Indycars, NASCAR or even BTCC gamds. Also new is a wide-body Stimulator, not just for classic authenticity but for the many cyber racers who do not fit the slim hips Formula 1 build. But be warned. Once you try it, you will want to buy it. -DAVID HASSALL

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last lap, Craig really lost the plot. The same comer claimed him, but then he spun four more times before crossing the line backwards for a final lap time of lm56.41s. Russell knew he had it in the bag and, after a solid lml6.27s opening lap, started to enjoy him self, holding a magnificent slide through Craig’s trou ble corner on his way to a personal best of lml2.11s on lap two. Even a spin on the final lap, dropping his time to lm20.35s, could not pre vent the Castrol driver from claiming the spoils on the day and becoming our first cyber champion. “Experience was the dif ference, mate,” was Ingall’s assessment of his win. “Always live to fight another day...” But will it turn out that

Continued from Page 17 But he didn’t back off. In fact, he seemed to try even harder. He had a massive crash in turn two on the second lap, but that paled in com parison to another later in the lap when the car rolled. Luckily in cyber racing you survive such set backs, but the race was over. Another big crash on the last lap hardly mattered, nor did the times - lm53.52s and lm25.61s for the last two laps. If this was the Hidden Valley round, Craig had well and truly blown his points lead

Race 2-3 laps

nd so it came down

At"0 this. Our fantasy

never good on computer games ... I tend to do a couple ofcorners and then crash. - Craig Lowndes

championship challenge would be determined by the winner of our second three-lap time trial. This was our Oran Park Grand Final. This time Craig went first and immediately he took a more conservative approach, having obviously learned from the previous race. The lap was smooth and the time lml4.54s - was a full second faster than Russell’s earlier standing start lap. But on the second lap, the corner that had troubled Craig throughout

practice - a fast third-gear righthander over a brow at the end of the straight - caught him out again. He hit the brakes too late and shd off. Then another lose left him with a disappointing lm28.91s on the board. Trying to make up time on the

way when the VT Commodores hit the track again this weekend in Darwin? Not even the com puter can tell us that. n

POSTSCRIPT: While we were at the Hyper Stimulatorfactory having ourfantasy races, Russell had the Grand Prix legends dimo software installed in his own computer and took it home. By midnight that night, he had worked his way down to a lm08.95s. less than three seconds slower than the world record mark. --

Todt to stay at Ferrari long-term FERRARI sporting director Jean Todt is to stay with the Italian team for the foreseeable future. Todt joined the team on a five-year contract in July 1993 and has been largely responsi ble for its increasing competi tiveness in Formula 1 in recent seasons. Todt is believed to have

agreed to another five-year deal, which will run out when he is close to retirement age in July 2003. The move maintains the sta bility of the company at a time when it is trying hard to keep hold of Michael Schumacher, not just for 1999 - which now seems certain - but for the long term. \

The best way to achieve this will be to guarantee Schumacher not only a completely dominant role in the team but also more money. It is expected, therefore, that Eddie Irvine’s option with the team will be taken up for next year. Although the Northern

JEAN TODT Ireland driver talks about leav¬ ing Ferrari to become a team leader elsewhere, he knows that it is not very likely that there will be any offers from the top teams. His best course of action is therefore to stay where he is and hope that Ferrari will become so dominant that he will be able to win races when Schumacher suffers mechanical failures. -JOESAWAR©

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THE recent deal involving Mecachrome, Renault Sport and the mysterious Supertec Sport company have led to speculation that Williams might not be running Mecachrome VIO engines in 1999. The speculation arose because Williams insisted that it had a deal with Renault Sport rather than with Mecachrome or Supertec Sport and that it was not going to pay the extra money being demanded by

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flotation will live up to early expectations. The problem for Ecclestone is that there are not many private buyers around willing to spend the kind of money he wants for FOH and most of the compa nies that might be interested may prefer to wait to see what happens with the European Commission. If the EC has its way, they might then be able to bid for the commercial rights to FI against Ecclestone without having to buy into the exist ing company. The fact remains that the float will go ahead if the investment bankers involved

believe there is a successful business to be sold whether or not Ecclestone is involved. That depends on the legal battle being fought between the FIA - which leases the commercial rights to Ecclestone - and the European Commission. All the indications, howev er, are that the business is sound and profitable and thus once the paperwork is sorted out the float will go ahead - unless someone comes along in the interim and offers Ecclestone a deal he cannot turn down, which appears very unlikely to happen. -JOESAWARD

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1JJulyW98

James Courtney's Dolce Vita At the age of18, James Courtney looks to have the world at hisfeet. The double World Karting Champion isfirmly settled into the European lifestyle in Italy and, as TonyKart’s star driver in Formula Super A, expects more wins this season. MIKE KABLE caught up with him in Prevalle to talk about racing and ‘La Dolce Vita’- The Good Life.. LOOK for the fresh-faced kid with the biggest grin arovind the place at Prevalle, the home of Tony Kart, and you’ll find James Courtney. Chances are he’ll be either pack ing the Italian team’s transporter with the proverbial one thousand and one bits and pieces in readiness for the next race, or unpacking it after the last race. If he’s not there, Courtney more than likely will be whizzing around the tight little 1.3km Garda del Sud track at nearby Lonato, in a day long series of stop-go practice ses sions. You might also see him skate boarding along the town’s main sti-eet, or chucking a wheelie on his new scooter. Invariably watched, it should be added, by a group of schoolgirls casting admiring glances at their Australian heart-throb. James, who turned 18 on June 29, is a works driver with a difference. A two-times World Champion who is still an apprentice of sorts, expected to pitch in and get his hands dirty when it’s necessary. He’s the new boy on the block this year in the international Super A category, competing against older, far more experienced drivers in his bid to win a third title in the 1998 championships being run on

A CHAMPION’S WHEELS... It’s only fitting that Courtney’s Aprilia scooter - a gift from TonyKart boss Roberto Robazzi-should be the Valentino Rossi Special. The two teenagers share an enthusiasm for speed and World Championships though, so far, James had avoid ed following Rossi’s outrageous hairdos... (Photo by Mike Kable)

September 13 at Ugento, close to the Adriatic Coast in the south-east of Italy. Tony Kart is the king of karting; the No.l manufacturer with an out-^ put of nearly 5000 karts a year, that ai-e exported to 35 countries. The modest sum of money Courtney earns, supplemented by financial help from his family, do not allow many extravagances. But his unconventional job - on a career path he’s confident will lead him to Formula One, his ultimate goal-has its advantages. For a start, he doesn’t have to punch the factory’s Bundy clock when he arrives. That’s a huge relief for a yormg guy who admits to suf fering occasionally from the teenage problem of getting out of bed in the morning! He also lives rent-free, in a refur bished third-floor apartment over looking Prevalle’s main street, a cou ple of kilometres from Tony I^rt.

Last but not least, he’s on a set of smart wheels. The latest wide-wheeled Aprilia 50cc scooter, resplen dent in Italian motorcycle racing genius Valentino Rossi’s silver and red colours, was waiting for him when he returned from Australia earlier this year. It was a gift from an appreciative Roberto Robazzi, the team’s chief who took Courtney under his expan sive wing three years ago after see ing the youngster with a mop of blond hair and an infectious smile win a race at the wheel of one of his company’s karts at Raleigh, on the north coast of NSW. That scooter has been a turning point in Courtney’s life. It’s given him a measm-e of personal mobility, at a time when he was having diffi culty adapting to faraway Italy, or to be more specific, the thought of being lai-gely confined to Prevalle, a

My goal in life is not just to get to FI. I want to be afront-runner first, then a world champion. I have to do it. IfI don V, / won’t be ! happyfor the rest of my

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tranquil, out-of-the-way town of 5000 inhabitants in the pic turesque hills between Lake Garda and Brescia in the north east area of Italy. Courtneys reluctance to leave Australia again was obvious when he farewelled his close-knit family - his folks Jim and Deanne, his twin sister Rebecca and his elder sister Melinda - in March, before boarding a Rome-bound Qantas 747. He’d had a ball here after going to Monaco to receive his FIA trophy for winning last year’s Formula A kart world championship in France, that followed his Junior world champioriship victory two years earlier in Poi-tugal. His selection as one of the Australian Grand Piix CoiiJoration’s six ‘special ambassadors’ had given him a privileged pit and paddock entree to his first FI race, for the bargain price of meeting, shaking AHEAD OF THE PACK...

Courtney had had an up-anddown 1998 season though here, at Suzuka in Japan, he was right on the pace, leading the field in the Super A qualifier. (Photo by Sean Henshelwood)

JAMES COURTNEY

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hands and chatting with countless VIP’s over the four-day Melbourne classic. He had rubbed shoulders there with the likes of the legendary Sir Jack Brabham, who was aware of Coui-tney’s achievements, promised him that he would go to one of his future races and proffered some friendly advice about how to catch the eye of potential sponsors. Also, he’d made contact with a couple of notable friends in the paddock,such as Tony Kart world cham pion graduates Jarno Trulli, who had met Com-tney when they raced in sepai-ate divisions at Raleigh and befriended him when he first ven tured to Europe, and Jan Magnussen. Courtney told me at Albert Park of his mixed feelings about returning to Europe, to a new situation where he separate incidents which had left would be based at Prevalle. He had him somewhat sore and sorry for a lived in Holland last year, with the few days. Courtney explained he’d been English-speaking family of a Tony ‘brake-tested’ by a rival in one of the Kart engine tuner Martin Koene. This time though, Robazzi was preliminary races. “I was injured, but I didn’t let on insisting on him staying in Italy, so because I would not have been he could be more involved in the allowed to drive in the next race. I team’s frequent test and develop started 11th in that and was nmment sessions between racing com mitments in Europe, Japan, the US ning third at the five-lap mark when and Canada. the engine broke at the fastest part of the track, where you pull about The seeds of the recurring home sickness that had bothered him, 130 kays. “It really let go, at 20,000 rpm. I despite the best efforts ofthe Robazzi hit a t3rre barrier first, then the fence fanjly in his first full-scale European behind that. The kart went up and campaign in 1996, had already been sown. aroimd, but didn’t turn over. I was knocked out for a few seconds. “I’ve got to put that problem “It was not a good place to stay, so behind me this year,” Courtney had said. ‘Tt affected Craig (Lowndes) in I staggered across the track and laid on the grass. Fd hurt my knee, neck Europe last year. I don’t want the and the muscles at the lower part of same thing to happen to me again.” The brave face however, was close my spine.” Courtney was treated at the cir to cracking three weeks later at Sydney Airport. His departure was cuit’s medical centre. He rrrissed the helped by an imexpected upgrading finals, in which both Super A heats to the comfort of business class, cour were won by another Tony Kart-contracted driver Davide Fore, 24, who tesy of James Strong, chief executive fives at Brescia. of Qantas, who had been impressed 1 Fore also won both feecond-round by Courtney’s positive approach in an impromptu 15-minute meeting heats at Val d’Argenton in France, during the Australian Grand Prix, that produced finishes for Courtney; which enjoys the airline’s backing as 20th in the first heat and fourth in the second. its principd sponsor. The scheduled third round on a I caught up with Courtney again new track using a section of Imola’s in April, soon after the opening FI circuit was called off when the round at Lonato of the four-round European kart championship. teams filed a protest against inade Prevalle is only a few kilometres quate safety precautions. That non-event followed a rainfrom the farmhouse apartment near Felice San Benaco at Lake Garda affected World Cup meeting at that’s become a base in my frequent Suzuka, Japan, in which Courtney showed his class by being the visits to Italy. He was cheerful, despite a fastest Super A qualifier with a wretched start to the series via two new lap record to his credit.

fraternise with another Australian, Ben Horsmann, who drives for the Birrel team and lives in Milan, 130km up the autostrada. Some Australian companies have rallied around Courtney. His casual gear is supplied by Mossimo, Oakley makes sure he doesn’t run out of sunnies. Globe takes care of his dri ving shoe requirements and Honda Australia give him a car to drive whenever he’s in Australia. Qantas has promised to assist him. He’s in no rush to fast-foi-ward his career.

Off the track, Courtney has lost his initial apprehensions about being stranded in Italy. We got together from time to time during my six weeks there and it became increasing ly evident that he is enjoying his lot. He’s made some new friends, is keeping company with an Italian signorina, has become much more con versant with the language, appreci ates the Italian ambience, has a har monious relationship with everyone who works for Tony Kart, throws himself whole-heartedly into the fre quent test sessions and thanks to the scooter, is able to dash off on his free days to the likes of Desenzano - the biggest city on Lake Garda’s south ern shore - and bustling Brescia. They’re both 20km away and Courtney knows all the short cuts. There’s more than one young Australian in the area. Ryan Briscoe, also from Sydney, is contracted to the Desenzano-based CRG team. At 16 going on 17, he’s contesting the Formula A category Courtney vacat ed after his world championship vic tory. Courtney and Briscoe, who shares an apartment at CRG’s factory with an American and a Peruvian who also drive for the team, are good mates. They raced against each other last year and share a mutual fiking for the biggest pizzas on offer in Desenzano at Pizzeria A1 Ceppo, run by the genial Giovarma Carpani, whose son Fabio is a 500cc world motorcycle championship rookie this l year. > “Ryan’s been real fast so far this season, but he hasn’t had a win yet,” Courtney said when I asked him about Briscoe’s progress. They don’t get the chance to

“My objective is to stay in karts until at least the end of next year’. I still have a lot of things to learn. I don’t want to go halfway into Formula 3. To blow any budget I might have in the first year, before I know fully what I’m doing. “My goal in life is not just to get to FI. I want to be a front-runner first, then a world champion. I have to do it. If I don’t, I won’t be happy for the rest of my life.” These heady ambitions are not ego-driven. Courtney doesn’t have a swelled head. But he does have confi dence in his abilities, which is only to be expected considering his accom plishments. His achievements have not passed unnoticed by FI’s talent scouts who keep a constant eye on kart racing in the hope of discovering another Senna or Schumacher. The canny Courtney doesn’t give much away, but he did reveal he’s been “talking with,some pretty heavy people, whom I don’t want to name”. Motorsport News knows that one of them is Scotsman Craig Pollock, chief of the fledgling mega-budget BAR FI team, who was Jacques Villeneuve’s manager when the French-Canadian won the respective IndyCar and FI championships in 1995-97. Pollock saw Courtney in action late last year at the annual indoor charity bash at Bercy, Paris - and had a quiet chat with him. What makes James Courtney tick? “My determination, I suppose,” he replied. “Karting is different from other forms of motor racing. Qualifying isn’t everything. You can win from the back. If you’re good enough, you can come through the

field.

“I had to qualify on a wet track for last year’s world championship and wormd up being only 25th. But I stUl won. It’s a matter of knowing the right technique and going for it.” n

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FORMULA. -I

!/July 1998

Magic Michael do Report by JOE SAWARD

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Prix? Err... Urn... Well, I Who wonBernie the British Grand guess Ecclestone probably did. Somehow or other Formula 1 managed to create a race which was so controversial that it was able to win some space in the news papers on the day of the World Cup Final. Michael Schumacher scored another opportunistic victory from an event that looked destined to again fall McLaren’s way. The Ferrari driver was 40 sec onds behind title rival Mika Hakkinen when a toirential down pour brought out the Safety Car. But Hakkinen had already gone off and damaged his front wings so there was no way he could defend his position when Schumacher attacked at the restart. However, it turned out that the German had committed an offence and, ignoring their own rules, the FIA stewards made a real botch job of the punishment (see news pages). And then everyone started shout ing about it...

Silverstone There is a sign at the entrance to Silverstone village which reads; “Silverstone Please Drive Carefully”. One cannot resist a lit tle smile because this funny little Northamptonshire village is known throughout the world for being a place where careful driving is not recommended. This is the home of one of the world’s most famous racing circuits and this year celebrates its 50th anniversary. But Silverstone is more than just a race track. Its presence helped to

DIFFICULT CONDITIONS... Michael Schumacher not only had to deal with the weather, but aiso a faiiing radio, forcing the Ferrari team to communicate by pit board (above). (Photo by Race Access) stimulate what everyone now calls “motor racing’s silicon valley”, the centre of the global motor racing industry. The sport is one ofthe few activities thesq^ days in which Britain really is best and Silverstone is home to many of the FI teams. And what a miserable place it was this year. One would expect England in July to be a warm and bright place full of burmy rabbits called Flopsy and Mopsy and fields full of golden com. Instead, it was windy and cool and as the weekend went on it grew worse and worse as the weather men talked of gales sweeping in off the Atlantic.

Qualifying Mika Hakkinen took pole position with some ease, leaving World Championship rival Michael Schumacher trailing in his wake, and the McLaren.star could probably have gone quicker had he needed.

There was little doubt, however, that Ferrari and Goodyear have done a good job in recent months to close the gap on McLaren and Bridgestone. “We have to work harder,” Hakkinen said, “but there is defi nitely more to come.” What was probably significant was the fact that Mika Hakkinen was the only Bridgestone driver to opt for the- new soft tyres which have been rushed out in response to Goodyear’s improved tyres. David Coulthard was not having as easy a time of it as his teammate and he seemed a little peiplexed as to why: “It seems strange that I was slower this afternoon in qualifying than I was in practice this morn ing.” Whatever the problem, David was over a second slower than Hakkinen and fourth on the grid. He was very disappointed. Schumacher ended up second

and was very happy with the per formance, having expected to be a lot further back: “I could have been even closer as the first section on my last ran was looking good, but then I locked up a wheel at Abbey and ran wide.

M/DDLE ... As Irvine staggers away, Alesi blasts his Sauber between the Ferrari and Frentzen’s Wiiiiams, followed by Damon Hili in the Jordan. Herbert(Sauber)and the Benettons follow.

(Photo by Race Access)

However I do not think I could have got the pole.” Schumacher added that the tyres were working really well and he felt Ferrari would be in very good shape for the race. Ferrari teammate Eddie Irvine was 0.7s slower, which meant that . he was fifth on the grid. The biggest surprise was to find Jacques Villeneuve in third almost as big a surprise as the colour of his hair, which was a con servative episcopal purple. I don’t suppose anyone would be surprised if Jacques turned up in Hockenheim wearing a twin set and pearls. The Williams looked a lot better than it has in recent months and obviously the new Goodyears helped. “It feels good to be back,” said Jacques. “This is the first time this year where the car has felt good and I could attack, but we only got it right for the last run in qualify ing and there was still some time left in it.” Heinz-Harald Frentzen was not' having such a good time and, although he was only three-tenths slower than Villeneuve, he was down in sixth place on the grid. He blamed the gap on a mistake he made at Bridge Corner. With the top three teams filling the top six slots it was left to . Damon Hill to lead the chasers in his Jordan-Mugen Honda. It was a good performance, but Damon was disappointed, reckon ing that the car had the potential to be rather better. Half Schumacher was originally 10th fastest, over a second behind Hill on this occasion after spinning off at Abbey and having to ran back to get the spare car.

BRITISH GP

l/Ju/yOT

es If again HEADING FOR NUMBER FOUR... Schumacher leads Alex Wurz and teammate Eddie Jordan towards his fourth win from eight rounds this year. (Photo by Race Access)

COMEBACK DRIVE... After being forced onto the back of the grid, Ralf Schumacher drove an uncharacteristically controlled race in difficult conditions to score Jordan’s first point of the year. (Photo by Nigel Snowdon)

0^ -

xrH, After qualifying, though, Schumacher was bumped to the back of the grid because he was unable to comply with the cockpit safety regulations which the FIA decided to check on this occasion. As a result his times were taken away. The car was modified so that Ralf could make the start - from the back of the grid - but it was going to be an uphill struggle in the race. Eighth on the grid was a very good performance from Jean Alesi in his Sauber and, with Johnny Herbert just 0.003s slower, the two Swiss cars were looking a little bet ter than has been the case in recent weeks.

“I don’t think it coiild have been much closer between Jean and I,” explained Herbert, “maybe if I’d squashed a couple more flies at high speed the nose of my car would have been long enough to cut the timing beam a fraction before I did.’ Both drivers were happy with the handling of the cars in race trim and so there was optimism at Sauber that the race might result in points. It was not such a good weekend for Benetton, with Giancarlo Fisichella and Alexander Wurz in 10th and 11th. Clearly the Benetton was not hafidling as well as it has done at recent events.

Maintaining the team-by-team theme down through the grid, Arrows drivers Pedro Diniz and Mika Salo (who had gearbox trou ble) were 12th and 13th, the pair spht by a tenth of a second. The team was using the latest Ctype Arrows engine, which the dri vers reckoned was a big improve ment. Diniz reckoned that if he had used the same tyres as in the Silverstone testing he would have been even higher up the grid. Fourteenth on the grid was not a great showing from the Prost team but one never expects much from the team which tests a great deal less at Silverstone than its rivals and is thus slightly handicapped. Like Benetton, the team was also somewhat thrown by the latest Bridgestone tyres and had to find a new set-up in a hurry. Originally Panis was just a few tenths behind his Italian teammate but he also fell foul of the scrutineers over the size of the cockpit opening and so would join Ralf Schumacher at the back of the grid. The two Stewart-Fords were 15th and 16th with new .boy Joa, outqualifying Verstappen BarrichelJo. While Jos was happy to beat his teammate at only the second attempt, neither driver was very happy with the overall performance as they had been hoping for a much better result. The last four places on the origi nal grid (before Schumacher and Panis were bounced to the back) were filled as usual by the Ford customer teams, with Tora Takagi proving to be the fastest as he often has this year. He was 1.6s faster than teammate Ricardo Rosset, which meant that the Brazilian

was behind both Minardis. On this occasion Esteban Tuero was ahead of Shinji Nakano.

Race -60 laps

As the winds swirled over Silverstone and the rains began to fall on Saturday afternoon everyone wondered what cards the weather gods were planning to play on Sunday. The answer was low clouds and more rain and in the Sunday morn ing warm-up session it was clear that the Bridgestone tyres were just right for the conditions. Coulthard was fastest with Hakkinen one-hundredth of a sec ond behind him. . The McLaren pair were a mas sive 1.8s ahead of the nearest chal lenger (Bridgestone-shod Giancarlo Fisichella) and 2.2s clear of the fastest Goodyear runner (Eddie Irvine). Race morning was spent with the teams watching the clouds and call ing up airports to discuss what the

weather was going to be like when the cars went to the grid at two o’clock. The weather looking dodgy as they lined up and the damp track meant that the whole field started on intermediate tyres although a few of the drivers thought about slicks. Both Stewart men took the gamble, but it was the wrong choice. When the lights went out Hakkinen made a good start and left Schumacher standing. But the man on the move was Jean Alesi, who hurtled away from eighth, sliced between Hill and Frentzen, left a slow-starting Irvine flounder ing in his wake and slipped ahead of Villeneuve for fourth as they dived into the first comer. Irvine made a dreadful start and dropped back to 10th position. “On the grid the anti-stall device cut in and so I changed up and had to start in third, gear,” Eddie explained.

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FORMULA.1

UJufy1998

didn't see any reason why Ishould just move over and let Jean by. We are both racers and had simply optedfor different strategies. Mine was going well

had high hopes for the British Grand Prix, but it turned out to be one of my worst days in a tough season. When we arrived at Silverstone we disn't help. I assumed that they wanted me to covered that the latest Goodyear tyres, move over and going into Priory on the 27th which had not been available to us in the lap I started to wave Jean by. previous week's test, required us to revise But it's difficult when you are racing in the set-up we had arrived at then. such conditions, trying to decipher a radio In Friday's free practice my car felt very message and watching your mirrors. I spun nervous. The rear end was snappy in the off into the dirt and as soon as I felt the slow to medium corners, and there was a much IMPROVED: The results may not reflect it, but Johnny is happier with the Sauber marshals pushing me I knew it was over bit too much oversteer for my liking in the chassis, though the engine is still down on power. Here he prepares to qualify at Silverstone. because outside assistance in such situa quick ones. of course he understands the rigours we tions is illegal. I just drove round to the pits After one lap in the afternoon, an did! As it was, my time was only three thou sandths of a second behind his and we face, having once driven an Ft Lotus. He to retire. My frustrating British GP was over. hydraulic pump failed, but I made it back to said he was looking forward to the chance lined up eighth and ninth on the grid. the pit^ and the team did a great job to If the race was dry, I felt confident that to present me with a trophy at the end of change'it in half an hour. I had time to do Two weeksof earlier I wentintofortune Magny-Cours confident an upturn for the my set-up was going to get me some the race, but that was not to be. one run and was able to improve my morn Red Bull Sauber Petronas team, so an I decided on a one-stop strategy. Like ing time, but there was still work to do on points. But this was British summertime, so Jean, I started on intermediate tyres eighth place finish was disappointing. But the forecast promised serious rain! the handling.'As we left the circuit on Saturday because there was a chance th&t it might some positive aspects from our weekend It was pretty horrible again on Saturday bode well for the races to come. morning. The car was twitchy, with massive evening the teams were being advised to not rain again. When Jean came up behind me on the In the week leading up to the French understeer that would suddenly become batten everything down against the high flick oversteer exiting corners. It was rough winds that were due during the night. Sure 24th lap, I was driving my own race. I knew Grand Prix we had a very good test at over the bumps, too. But my engineer Gil enough, the track was wet for the morning he had started well with a lighter car and Magny-Cours. We had a lot of things to try, and I calmed it down and once we got the warm-up, and would stay that way for the had just made the first of his two planned the most significant being a longer wheelstops, but I didn't see any reason why I base. There was also revised rear suspenbalance right we were able to improve the rest of the day. should just move over and let him by. We sion geometry and aerodynamic modificaride, too. By qualifying it felt as good as it are both racers and had simply opted for tions which included a new front wing, had in Magny-Cours. before I was honoured to be different strategies. Mine was going well. I don't think it could have much closer Just visited by the His race Royal Highness Michael, All season Jean Alesi and I have been Then the team began talking to me on complaining about understeer, but in longer between Jean and I. Maybe if I'd squashed the Duke of Kent, who is a great motorsport a couple more flies at high speed the nose fan with a particular interest in sportsman- the radio, but it was impossible to hear what wheelbase form the car felt a lot better, in anybody was actually saying because of part due to better weight distribution but of my car would have been long enough to ship, He was kind enough to wish me well and the interference. No doubt the weather didcut the timing beam a fraction before his Continued Page 49

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BRITISH GP

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njufy1998

MERCEDES OUT FRONT... For most of the race it was either the McLarens of Hakkinen and Coulthard out front (right), untit the conditions forced the use of the Mercedes safety car(above), after which everything changed. (Photos by Nigel Snowdon and Race Access)

Continued from Page 23 He began a charge up through the field which saw him pass Wurz on lap 2, Herbert on lap 4 and both Hni and Villeneuve on lap 8. By lap 12 he had caught and passed Frentzen and was fifth, chasing after Alesi. It was good charge. Later he complained about Hill weav ing-in front of him and on this occasion it seems that the complaint was justified. While all this was going on Coulthard had snuck up behind Schumacher and on lap five eased his way ahead in the stadimn area, moving into second place. He quickly left Michael behind. On the same lap, Frentzen passed Villeneuve to take fifth place. The race then stabilised, but on lap 14 rain began to fall. Almost immediately Damon Hill fell off. “1 lost the car and spun and then stalled,” he admit ted. Not a great perfoimance. Two laps later, Frentzen dropped the ball at Bridge and was out. Most of the field now began to head for the pits to take on fuel and new tyres,

only Herbert staying out on a one-stop strategy. This meant he climbed to fourth place before being overtaken by Irvine, who had managed to pass Alesi during the pit stop sequence. Up at the front the McLarens were imperial after the stops with the Bridgestone tyres suiting the conditions. They left Schumacher behind in dra matic fashion and for a while

)

Coulthard looked as though he was going to give Hakkinen a hard time but then he eased off and simply shadowed Mika. The weather grew worse and just before the second pit stops were due David flew off the road at Abbey. His race; was over. * Schumacher was suddenly second but Hakkinen was still miles ahead and not

Porsche Celebration Festival, 11th - 15th November 1998, Melbourne Australia

looking under threat. The top three all pitted and rejoined on wet rubber.

Invitation to all Porsche owners

The weather had gone from bad to worse with dri

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Porsche owners of ali modeis to be a part of history in the

ving rain and gusting wind arriving just as the pitstops were happening. The conditions were fright ful and really a Safety Car

making. Porsche’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Festival will be held in Melbourne in November 1998. Share the glory and be a part of a program of events, culminating in a parade of hundreds of Porsches from all over Australia and New Zealand.

Continued Page 49

British Grand Prix 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Event 1. The Porsche Rally - Wednesday to Friday November 11 -13

World Championship, Round 9 Silverstone, July 12th, 1998-60 laps

special performance, navigational and driving skill events at well-known Porsche driving venues.

Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F300,1h47m02,450s

Event 2. The Porsche Cocktail Party - Friday November 13

Starting in Shepparton, Central Victoria, finishing in Melbourne and comprising more than a dozen

Mika Hakkinen, McLaren-Mercedes MP4/13,1h47m24,915s Eddie Irvine, Ferrari F300,1h47m31,649s Alexander Wurz, Benetton-Mecachrome B198, 59 laps Giancarlo Fisichella, Benetton-Mecachrome B198,59 laps Half Schumacher, Jordan-Mugen-Honda 198, 59 laps Jacques Villeneuve, Williams-Mecachrome FW20,59 laps Shinji Nakano, Minardi-Ford Ml98,58 laps ToraTakagi, Tyrrell-Ford 026, 56 laps

Event 3. The 50th Anniversary Porsche Parade on the banks of the Yarra - Sat Nov. 14 A oncfrfn-a-lifetime line-up of Porsches commencing with Porsche No. 1 from the Museum in Stuttgart Event 4. The Porsche Anniversary Ball - Saturday November 14 The crowning social event of the Porsche Festival will be the glittering, black.tie, 50 years Porsche Anniversary Ball to be held in the ballroom of the new Crown Hotel in Melbourne.

Fastest Lap: Schumacher, Lap 12, 1m35,704s Lap Leaders: Lap 1-50 Hakkinen; Lap 51-60 Schumacher

Event 5. The Porsche Picnic at Domaine Chandon - Sunday November 15 Tour through the Victorian country side for a Porsche picnic at one of Melbourne's finest wineries.

Retirements: Lap 13 Damon Hill, Jordan-Mugen-Honda 198, spun off Lap 15 H.H. Frentzen, Williams-Mecachrome FW20, spun off Lap 27 Mika Salo, Arrows A19, spun off Lap 29 Esteban Tuero, Minardi-Ford Ml98, spun off Lap 29 Ricardo Rosset, Tyrrell-Ford 026, spun off Lap 37 Jarno Trulii, Prost-Peugeot AP01,spun off Lap 37 David Coulthard, McLaren-Mercedes MP4/13, spun off Lap 38 Jos Verstappen, Stewart-Ford SF2, spun off Lap 39 Rubens Barrichello, Stewart-Ford SF2, spun off Lap 40 Olivier Panis, Prost-Peugeot AP01, spun off Lap 45 Pedro Diniz, Arrows A19,spun off Lap 53 Jean Alesi, Sauber-Petronas Cl 7, electrical

Call 1800 062 911 for full details, or book now on the form below.

Book now by faxing or mailing this form today l and be a part of history in the making. ^

World Championship standings: 1 Hakkinen 56; 2 M. Schumacher 54; 3 Coulthard 30;

Return to Porsche Cars Australia. Fax:(03) 9428 0959. Mail PO Box 280 East Melbourne, Victoria 3002. Enquires; 1800 062 911. » Commemorative Badges will be issued to all participants in the Porsche Parade. l An exclusive range of commemorative clothing, trophies' and mementos will be available during the festival. I Please print |

YES, I would like to participate in the Porsche Celebration Festival. Name (Mr. Mrs. Ms. Dr.):

4 Irvine 29;5 Wurz 17;6 Fisichella 15; 7 Villeneuve 11; 8 Frentzen 8;9 Barrichello 4; 10 Salo and Alesi 3;

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12 Herbert, Magnussen, Diniz and R. Schumacher 1

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Constructors’ Championship standings: 1 McLaren-Mercedes 86; 2 Ferrari 83;3 Benetton-Mecachrome 32; 4 Williams-Mecachrome 19; 5 Stewart 5;

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6 Arrows and Sauber-Petronas 4;8 Jordan 1

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Rally/Cocktail Party/Parade/Ball/Picnic ($500 deposit will be accepted) Cocktail Party/Parade/Ball/Picnic Cocktail Party/Parade/Picnic

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Ptease note Rally participants may belonn to a Porsche Club before being eligible to compete.

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SPRINGS INGERSOLL-RAND

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17July m

n We tend to take for granted the contributions to Histone motor sport ofthe officials(including race com mentators). At the Annual General Meeting ofthe Victorian Historic Racing Register on June 23, special plaques were presented to Don Kinsey, Kerry Luckins, Ian Wells, Ron Simmonds and George Humble in appreciation of their dedica tion and their efforts in making our race meeting commentaries not only well informed but entertaining. Preliminary plans have been announced for the New Sandown Historic to be held on October 23 to 25, 1998. The meeting will be organised and run by the MG Car Club of Victoria. For after hours informa tion contact Ivan Rice 03 9350 4395, David Vemall 03 5978 6472 or Bill Cutler 03 9857 9731. n Another major rally coming up later in the year is the 1998 Classic Adelaide, scheduled for November 19 to 22. The event is open to all sports and saloon cars ofthe “classic” era, manufactured up to the end of November, 1970 and “run-ons” ofthe model. This is possibly the fastest growing area of motor sport world-wide because it is seen to be affordable for most serious club motor sport enthusiasts. There ar'e two entry cate gories for the 1998 Classic Adelaide. The Rally section is a four-day tarmac special stage event timed to the sec ond on closed roads through Adelaide’s Mt Lofty Ranges. This will be run under CAMS regulations and is a flat-out speed event. The Tour section is designed for the owner/enthusiast who is passionate about interesting motor cars, would love to be part ofthe rally but follow ing at a more leisurely pace, seeing the action on some of the special stages, visiting South Australia’s historic Grand Prix venues such as Lobethal and Victor Harbour and taking in the social functions as official participants. For further information, contact the Classic Adelaide Rally Office on 08 8344 4424 during work hours. n On October 3 there will be an all-vintage speedway meeting organised by the Horsham Motor Sports Club in conjunction with the Victorian Classic & Vintage Speedway Club. Because of Horsham’s location in the heart of Victoria’s wheat belt, the club is hosting the biennial Vintage Tractor Rally on the same day. The Wimmera Mallee Historical Vehicle Society has also been invit ed to participate, so it will be a real vintage weekend with plenty to see and do. All vintage speedway car and bike clubs around Australia are being inrited, and entry forms and further details can be obtained by phoning Iain McPherson during business hours on 03 9784 1872.

n Another of the ‘greats’ of Australian motor sport, Eddie Thomas was hon oured by the Victorian Classic & Vintage Speedway Club at the recent meeting held in Murray Bridge, SA. Eighty-year old Eddie received the Colgate Awai-d for the biggest smile and also a trophy for the best long-term contributor to motor sport from the club. As the club’s Max Miller said, “I hope I can drive an Offy as well as Eddie when I'm 80!” n Entry forms for the inaugural Shannons Australian Motorfest to be run at Winton Motor Raceway on November 7 to 8 will be available immedi ately following the Historic Winton meeting at the end of May. n 1998 is a landmark year in the history ofthe automo bile, and in addition to the many family based activities being planned for the mgtorfest, some key anniversaries^ rvill be celebrated. These include 50 years ofPorsche and Holden,75 years of Triumph,40 years ofthe XK120 Jaguar, 10 years of Holden Special Vehicles, and the centenary' ofRenault. Let’s know if there are others to celebrate. n The Post Classic Racing Association will be conduct ing its next motorcycle race meeting at Wakefield Park on July 26. For details contact 02 9477 7341. n This year’s gathering of the Bugatti fraternity was held in Echuca on the week end of May 9 to 10 and attracted a splendid assort ment of 16 rare “Bugs.” Organiser of the rally, Peter McGann said several cars were seen for the first time including two Type 13s and a twin cam,super charged Type 51 from New Zealand, and the Type 23 of the “young” Murdochs, Geoff and Neil. Another first time entry was Bob Humphries’ Type 13 from NSW,and all the way from Townsville came David Pierce who spent three days trailing his car in order to take part. The Saturday 9th pro gram featured a run of more than 300kms.from Echuca to Barooga and back - not a bad effort considering the age(and value!) of the machinery,followed by a casual dinner at “Oscar Ws Restaurant” for those who made it home in time. According to Peter McGann, Sunday morning was devoted to “fixing cars and telling lies,” followed by another run in the afternoon to Torumbarry Weir. The event concluded with a formal dinner that night and the prize giving. Peter landed the task of organising the rally because his own car(a Type 23)is still in bits. You’d bet ter get a wriggle on with the restoration, Peter, oth erwise you might have a permanentjob! -BRIAN REED

Return of the DRM

AN interesting sports car has been unearthed in Queensland and is currently undergoing a total restoration. It’s the DRM3, a car built by David Richardson in 1968 along the lines of an Elfin Mallala. According to the logbook the DRM3 was cam paigned regularly until 1976, finally in the hands of Queenslander Richard Croston. Back in 1967 Richardson pur chased the Greville Edgerton Elfin Mallala, and it was possibly at this time the thought of building his own car based on the Mallala first crossed his mind. The DRM3 is now owned by a Queensland enthusiast Joe Farmer who plans to return the car to its 1968 specs.

-BRIAN REED

CHECK THE FLARES... David Richardson’s DRM3 bears more than a striking resembiance to Elfin's Mallala. The front tyres protrude beyond the wheel arches; Everyone else in the country had flares that were TOO big in 1968...

VALE- KEL RICCI FOLLOWERS of Historic motor sport were sad dened by the loss of one of its most popular and enthusiastic competitors, Kel Ricci, who passed away on June 30 after a short illness. Kel and his wife Margaret were tireless workers for the Victorian Historic Racing Register, and were two of the driving forces behind the annual Mangalore Sprints. Fittingly, Kel won his class at Mangalore on April 19 in his Lotus Europa (pic tured below) when he covered the quarter-mile in 15.39secs. It was to be his last competitive drive. Earlier at the Eddington Sprints he spoke enthu siastically about how new tyres had improved the handling of his Lotus, and not long before his death he had discussed with his friends his hopes to still drive in a few smaller Historic events. Kel,60, was a competitor until the end. To Margaret and family, the Historic racing fra ternity extends sincere condolences. Photo bK Brian Reaa

BEAUTY and the BEAUTY... Her name is Angelika and she obviously knows class when she sees it.

Concours Classic for Gold Coast By BRIAN REED SOME of the world’s greatest classics in motoring and fashion will come together in a spectacular new interna tional event on the Gold Coast from July 24 to 26. The highlight of the threeday festival will be a glitter ing Concours d’Elegance in which beautiful cars and the best in fashion will share the catwalk at Conrad Jupiters. Organisers expect to draw owners of valuable classic cars from around the world for the inaugural event. ' Other activities during

Young Gun

QUEENSLAND may have a bright young talent coming along, if the recent State Hillclimb Champion-ships at Mt Cotton are anything to go byA youngster named Eric Day of Tamworth drove what is basically an old Elfin Vee extensively modified with double wishbone front suspension, larger wheels, wings, and a turbo charged traction controlled Mazda

13B rotary engine. According to Richard Harris, the car is an Historic chassis revamped for the specific purpose of hillclimb ing, and “was driven with bulk enthusiasm by the 17year old lad.” He didn’t win the State title, but was right up there with leading competitors Bill Norris, Peter Gumley and last year’s champion John Davies. - BRIAN REED

ANOTHER 17-YEAR-OLD... Hot on the heels of Scott Dixon’s Gold Star win comes Eric Day’s performance in his Elfin. (Photo by Richard Harnsj

the International Festival of Elegance will include a Classic Concours competi tion for 300 rare and collec table cars, a car club display of up to 1200 vehicles, a Cavalcade of Cars through Surfers Paradise and a Grand Auction. The International Festival of Elegance has been mod elled on one of the world’s most famous classic car events, the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California. Proceeds from the festival will benefit disadvantaged children through the Variety Club of Queensland. —3

17JulyW98

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Telemetry

The Spy in the Car HOW DOES TELEMETRY WORK ? o

KEEPING TABS: As well as getting lap times, drivers like Michael Schumacher can also have the engineers post critical performance data from his car onto the small screen placed on the car in the pits.

ne of Formula One’s greatest mysteries is telemetry. This is n This radar. B Once activated, E]This antenna, the system used to measure placed directly in placed about 300 electronic various parameters within the car metres in front of equipment in one of front of the pits, the chassis’ reactions, the engine’s the pits, activates the side pods of the receives the car's performance or various other ancilinformation and a transmitter in car sends its laries. the car. passes it to anoth er information by This information is then down Hertzian waves. antenna in the pits. loaded each time the car completes laDBhJP EBP a lap, the data then being shown on screens which are constantly being monitored by data analysis engi neers. \ PI r« \ Telemetry allows the team’s race \ engineers to see what is going on within the car. how the car reacts to changes that they might make to the engine or the chassis. They can tell if there is a problem with the engine, or the chassis. Many times, they know these problems before the dri ver, does. 7The team can compare its two * V drivers around the same lap, where Vi S Engineers in one driver might be making up time the pits observe the on the other, whether one driver 'V car’s behaviour. puts more load on the suspension than the other at various points dur The telemetry is used to study the car ing the lap, and which system is the f while it is on the track. The information quicker. The antenna in the goes from the car to the pits and not from the pits to the car, In short, telemetry allows the pits is linked directly which is against regulations. The information provided by the team to spy on the driver, to back up to the engineers’ his comments about the car with car is ground-speed, G-force in corners, engine temperature, computers. hard and fast information, and to revs per minute,« oil pressure, gear box status, etc. make the car as quick as it can pos And finally the electronic side is downloaded and teams are only advantages analysed. sibly be. For the driver, it is a dou points on the track. In short, while Obviously not all the information allowed to download once a lap. ble-edged sword. He can learn from there may be 30 or 40 sensors, up already mentioned is also down Even this poses its own problems: can be monitored, so the telemetry the system and use it to back up to 100 different parameters may be loaded. Information from all sources is collected in the data acquisition certain systems might be directional, immediately monitored has to be what he feels, but it also reveals his measured. so that they can only download at selective, choosing the most impor mistakes around the track. There are three basic stages in box, ready to be downloaded. tant information at that time. one point, while multi-directional sys telemetry. tems are somewhat slower in down The first is the collection of data; mation second to be stage transferred is for thattoinfor the loading their information. The information is collected by it can come from the chassis, for The sensors placed around the car. information the engineers have tomonitoring know whatthe to At Ferrari, for instance, they have instance. Here, suspension travel pits, either by cable when the car is . There is then a third stage: the And some 30 or 40 sensors on the car, and load may be measured, aerody in the pits, or by high frequency actual interpretation or decoding of look out for, remembering the basic the groups of numbers which are remit of their job: to make the car go namic load can also be measured, radio link. although there are many other mini downloaded into readable informa faster. They therefore seek to report This is where the Italian compa computers which also measure the temperature of the shock ny, Magnetti Marelli provides its tion - in most cases, graphs on on any information they can find that parameters on the car which also absorbers recorded and weight dis will improve the car’s performance. tribution can also be monitored. send back their own information. help. Thanks to their system, two monitors. But this information is also avail Again, this has been developed megabytes of information can be These, for instance, can measure The engine is seething with sen able to Ferrari’s two'drivers, Michael by Ferrari’s technical partner, downloaded in a couple of seconds fuel consumption, they can adjust sors: pressures, temperatures, loads Magnetti Marelll. It has the fuel management, even mea agatn, all faithfully recorded and on each lap. The FIA closely con trols the amount of information that to be transferred into (( sure fuel consumption between two downloaded to the pits. information that can be monitored and this is by no means a simple task, depending on for mat. And it has to involve many different jf colours and even sys tems for activating alarms to alert the engi neers should something fail on the Schumacher and Eddie Irvine, if car. they need it. Sitting in their cars, they can ask to see graphs on their own monitors and their data analysis The information then transferred to six different is computers placed engineers can then download those in the rear of the Ferrari garages, graphs so that they can make com parisons, for example, between the where they are constantly monitored engine revs on certain laps, or the by the team’s data analysis engi suspension movement comparing neers. one setting with another. There are two monitors for elec Telemetry has advanced enor tronics, two for the chassis and a further two for monitoring the mously In recent years and teams engine. Each screen in scrutinised admit that it would take an age to monitor all the information that is by data analysis engineers whenev er the car is running and, later in the available. Much of it is simpiV day, those same engineers will seek ignored, but it is always there should further methods to improve the car it be needed. Once again, it is part of the enor from the information provided by their basic parameters. They work mous care and detail which is so closely together and can simulate important in the world of Formula 1 racing and that ultimate quest for and compare so that theoretical set tings can be utilised and their speed. ■ COMPUTER POWER: A data analysis engineer monitors the bank of computers in the back of the Ferrari pit

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Telemetry allows the team to spy on the driver (and) back up his comments about the car.

INTERVIEW

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Jason Bargwanna has come backfrom the brink. At the Australian 1000 Classic at Bathurst last year he stole the limelight in qualifying by setting the pace in the Holden Racing Team’s Young Lions Commodore. But barely 40 hours later his career looked to be in tatters when he crashed the car heavily at Forrests Elbow,forcing him out of the big race. Exactly 35 weeks later, Bargwanna’s determination to succeed broke through at Calder when he took hisfirst Shell Series race win in Garry Rogers’ Valvoline Commodore. It’s been a tough timefor the 26-year old but, as he told PHIL BRANAGAN, he doesn’t see 1998 as being that different to any other year of his career. MOTORSPORT NEWS: At the Australian 1000 Classic last year: you would have had pretty strong expectations going into the race. Jason Bargwanna; I knew that the Young Lions program was quite a good thing. I knew that HRT was able to produce a very fast car and that we had a good tyre to run on. I believed that, all things being equal, we had a good chance for a podium result on the day. We proved that in qualifying. The car was as fast - if not faster than the other two HRT cars but, obviously, a small mistake on my behalf on Sunday morning cost us a result. MN: In that Friday qualifying ses sion there was an electric atmos phere. After qualifying fifth at Sandovun was that the best you were looking for at Bathurst? JB: Yes and no. I believed that the car was capable of being the fastest car there. It had been very balanced and very fast during the week and on Friday morning, I ran on old tyres and was fifth - and I knew the four cars in front of me had set their times on new tyres. I knew that, hopefully with a.good lap, we could be in front of the pack. MN: Then came Sunday morn ing. Was that the lowest point of your career? JB: Absolutely. Not to the point of having a crash; at the end of the day, we’re racing drivers and crash es happen. That is the way that things go - you have to prepare for the fact that, sometimes, things go wrong. I don’t think it’s possible to be 100 percent all the time. But, to do it in that environment, after such a build-up and, obvious ly, to let the team down after the

year’s worth of work in the Young Lions program, to have it come unstuck on Sunday morning was quite a low point. I was thankful that Peter (Brock) was there to give me good words of support. The people I had around me were able to give me great support and I was able to carry on. But, it was the lowest point of my career so far.

have been mid-December. I had tried to put myself in a position where I could talk to a couple of teams about having drives with the support of the sponsor group I had to create a drive. Then, out of the blue, Garry called me and we had the conversation. It actually came together pretty quickly, with a lot of support from a lot of people. And... here we are now.

MN: On that day, what did you MN: You got the go-ahead think was going to be your future when? - or, weren’t you thinking about JB: Just before Christmas. I started it then? working in the (Garry Rogers JB; No, you’re always thinking 'Nissan/Subaru/Daewoo) dealerabout it - what a good performance ship in early January, can lead to or if a bad performance can not lead to other things. MN: Starting a full season I had the feeling that that could alongside Steven Richards, possibly have slowed up my what were your expectations for progress to becoming a profession- the year? al racing driver. I knew it wouldn’t JB; Knowing that the car we ended stop it, because I knew I had the up with was an ex-HRT car, what I drive within myself to make it hap- set out to achieve at the start of pen. I felt it would slow it up a bit; the year was to have solid results I’ve seen similar things have an and, hopefully, win a race or two. effect On other young drivers who Then, in the endurance races, we had tried to prove their worth and could have a strong package and had bad days which either stopped try and get a result - try and win their careers completely or, at least, the race - at Bathurst, slowed it up significantly. Steven had a lot of experience, I was thankful that Garry offered the team was obviously growing me such a good opportunity to and the performance of the team come back this year and to prove was getting better and better. I that I can do the job. That proved always believed that there was a that what I believe inside is reality. good group of people there and good sponsors, they were on a MN: What was the time frame? good tyre. I thought that if Steven After Bathurst in mid-October, and I could work together throughhow long before you and Garry out the year to produce results, Rogers discussed the drive? that would work out. JB: It felt like an eternity. It was the We had a good result at longest time - to have something Tasmania and I was looking forlike that at Bathurst, in the last race ward to working together and of the year, on television and all growing but that changed as well, that sort of thing. It seemed to be all they talked about over the MN: Did you see your role as Christmas period. backing up Steven? My first contact with Garry would JB: When I started Garry explained

Eve approached everything the same. I won races in myfirst year in Formula Ford, Formula Holden and now in myfirst year in touring cars. that the situation would be that there’s no number one driver in the team and that we would have equal opportunity to perform. Steven’s experience was something that I was able to capitalise on and work from. He was someone I could ben efit from working with; in a way, he was the leader of the team. With him leaving that all changed. MN: Was that a double-edged sword when he left? His experi ence leaving the team was not going to be a good thing but then your role was going to be expected to change. JB: True but, at that stage of the year, I was starting to take my own direction in the set-up of my own car. So it didn’t really have that much of an effect as far as getting

more speed out of the car. There was then going to be one driver, not two, who could produce a result because it was a bit unfair to put Garth under that sort of pres sure in his first couple of races. Now, Garth is well and truly up to speed and we’re back to a level playing field. MN: How different are the cars? It’s well-documented that your car is ex-HRT and the other is ex-Gibson Motorsport. JB: At the start of the year, prior to deciding who would drive which car, we tested at Calder and Steven and 1 drove both cars. There was a tenth of a second in it. So, performance-wise, there was nothing in it. My car now has power steering and other changes so that the cars

JASON BARGWANNA

17July im

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BAD TIMES... Last October Bargmnna trashed the Holden Young Lions Commodore at Bathurst(far left) but didn’t shirk the issue, owning up to his mistake and facing the media straight away. GOOD TIMES... This year Bargwanna (left) has been the revelation of the season in the Valvoline Commodore (right), upsetting the V8 pecking order with a win at Calder and two overall podiums.

(Photos by Dirk Klynsmilh)

BUSINESS AS USUAL... Bargwanna is used to racing with classy drivers and has won in every class he has contested. At right his ‘ancient’ Reynard Formula Ford leads at Lakeside in '95; following him are Jason Bright and Mark Webber. (Photo by Mashall Cass)

THE REAL REASON... Bargwanna went off at Wanneroo but his ‘grid girl’-Rogers-may have distracted ihims somewhat (Photo by Dirk Ktynsmith)

MN: Winning the race must change your aim for the rest of the year a bit. JB: We can carry what we learned at Calder into the rest of the sprint races. That could mean another race win or, at least, a more con¬ sistent result. But we’re evolving our package so that when we get to Bathurst we’ll have a strong race car and a good team that can allow us to be extremely competitive and, hope¬ fully, win the race. ^

((

If Craig was going to get past he was going to do it the hard way. I wanted to win that race; I wanted to win it more that he wanted to win it. are identical. All the iparts and bits and pieces now fit both cars, it’s a bit, not a bitza, but an evolution of the HRT car. It’s Garry Rogers Motorsport-spec. There’s not much between them. The brakes, engine, gear box, shocks and so on are all GRM now.

think fe have a long way to go in terms of the way I set the car up and get the most out of the car. We have to do that consistently to be championship contenders and, I believe, in the next couple of years that will be a possibility. We can produce results. I believe we’ve been capable of doing that all year, it’s just been a matter of putting it together. Bigger and more experienced teams already have the ingredients mixed in the right order and know how to do it week after week. I’ve got no reason not to believe that we can achieve that level.

MN; Can you compare what the HRT called ‘The Pram’ (the Young Lions car) !o yours to make it better? JB: In a way, yes. I understand when a car feels good, to know when it’s working well. When we test we get the car to that level and then change a few things. I can work to where we want the car MN; Previously it was relatively to be and a lot of that is due to the unheard of to have someone experience i gained last year with win a race in their first full seaHRT. Before that f had no idea son. But Ingall, Murphy and now you have achieved that. what was going on there. But now we’re taking our own JB: I can only compare what has happened to me with previous road and we're making improve ments to it. It’s getting better all years - in Formula Ford, Formula the time so now, hopefully, we can Holden. I’ve never really had any thing to do with touring cars in the consistently produce the results. past. There’s no difference now that I MN: It’s obvious that HRT is see comparing the competition in running on a much bigger bud get than GRM but Lowndes touring cars to what I was doing in open-wheelers. You’re out there, couldn’t get past you at Calder. JB: At the end of the day we have trying to win races. The difference a Holden Commodore on is, this year, instead of three or Bridgestone tyres and a good four guys fighting for the lead, group of people work on the car. 1 you’ve got up to a dozen who are

harder in the second. I focused on getting a good start. At the first corner I couid see Craig was in third. He got past Glenn quite quickly and 1 knew he would be pushing very hard. But I knew that if I could keep him out for the first 10 laps, we had a chance. Our car is always very good over the second half of a race. By lap 10 I was actually pulling a gap and I focused on putting smooth, fast, consistent laps together. If Craig was going to get past he was going to do it the hard way. I wanted to win that race; I wanted to win it more that he want¬ ed to win it. I didn’t feel I was under pressure. l l l l r- r. .*v

MN: Garry made the comment at the start of the season that you would win a race - not ‘if’ but ‘when’. What promises has he made to you regarding dyeing his hair or whatever when you win a round? JB: If we win a round, we’re all going to shave our heads!

all capable of winning any race. I haven’t thought, Tm moving to touring cars, it’s going to be completely different’. It’s been the way I’ve done every race in every category I’ve been involved in. I’ve approached everything the same. I won races in my first year in Formula Ford, Formula Holden and now in my first year in touring cars.

MN: So how did you feel at Calder when you had a good first race with fourth and then won the second? JB: It was exciting! In the last few races I made mistakes which I shouldn’t have been making. I have enough experience to not throw it off the road iike I did at Wanneroo. So I changed my approach to con solidate in the first race and push

MN: Was it particularly satisfy¬ ing to win your first race in front of an HRT car? JB: It was particularly satisfying to win a race! To beat HRT, DJR Larry’s team and the Stone Brothers was great. I don’t have any personal agenda to beat HRT; I’m out there to beat every other driver. I love winning races. It’s so exciting to drive down pit lane and see all the teams on the white line' clapping and cheering was fantas tic, because I know it lifted the level of respect I get within those teams. I’m very happy. With the team for which I drive, with the competi tion that I race. I want to have a 20 year career in touring cars and be successfui. I really enjoy racing V8 Supercars and the races that we have here in Austraiia and I can’t think of a single reason to change.

MO.

//Ju/yOT

Dale Jr wins No 3 Dale Earnhardt Jr. dominated the recent NASCAE Busch series DieHard 250 at the Milwaukee Mile, leading for 209 laps and win ning by 5.483 seconds over Elton Sawyer. Earnhardt, competing in his first race at the at Nazareth, recorded his third win of his short career. Driving a Chevrolet, he became the eighth different win ner in as many Busch series races at the track. n Jeff Qordon’s victory at Sears Point last month Iqaves only four tracks on the 20 venue tour that he has not conquered - Michigan, Phoenix, Texas dnd Las Vegas. All four tracks are sure to be next on the 26-year-old’s checklist... n Many teams were not happy with pit road circumstances at Sears Point, NASCAR allowing ‘blending’ after the drivers made their stops. The pit road at the road course is on the outside of the hairpin in turn 11 and if a driver pitted and was, for example in sec ond position, he could return and blend in around 21st and not at the rear of the pack. The reason NASCAE introduced this mle was because the stop and go official at the end of pit road could not be seen clearly and they felt this could cause an accident. One sug gestion that has been made for future events, is that the pace should speed up after the pit road eiftrance, allowing the cars that pit to then rejoin at the rear of the field similar to speedway races. n Ricky Rudd is attempting to start a second team in 1999 and, by all accounts, Busch Series reg ular Elton Sawyer is being consid ered for the driving position. Melling Racing have also expressed an interest recently to run a second car alongside Lake Speed in the Cartoon Network Taurus. n Steve Park will return to the wheel of the Dale Earnhardt Pennzoil Chevrolet at Indianapolis and hot before. It was decided that with the opera tion being in its first year, they would continue to run Darrell Waltrip behind the wheel through the date originally set for Park’s return following injuries sus tained at Atlanta in March. n Mark Martin will undergo surgery at season’s end for a her niated disc in his back. Martin revealed he has been driving in pain for some weeks, but would have to miss races if he was oper ated on any time soon.

The Rainbow Warrior gets the(Sears)Point By MARTIN D CLARK

JEFF Gordon may have made his name on America’s ovals but he showed at Sears Point that he knows a thing or two about road.racing as well. The Rainbow Warrior won his fourth race from 16 in 1998, lead ing 48 laps and taking his second road course victory and first at the re-configured 2.52 mile track. Gordon, who was born close to the northern California track before moving Indiana, battled Bobby Hamilton hard late in the going, taking the lead with just 10 laps remaining in the 112 lap event. “It was a lot of fun racing that aggressively late in the race,” remarked Gordon. “I wish Mark Martin had been around,” refer ring to the Roush driver who suf-. fered with rubber build-up on his tyres and lost almost a lap, but still finished sixth after a late race duel with Rusty Wallace. Gordon also won the pole with a 98.711mph, rookie Jerry Nadeau (with his circuit racing experience) starting to his outside. Following two excursions in the first two laps, the first while leading Gordon on lap one, Nadeau ended his day finnly planted in a bank on lap 14, airing the first yellow. Apparently the first ‘off broke a shock and then, before he lost consciousness, something came inside the car and jammed up the steering wheel. With the track changes came a lack of overtaking points, the tricky turn 11 hairpin seemed to be the only spot of real use and this was where the action was cen tred. While lying second Ricky Rudd was turned around by the fast-qualifying Geoff Bodine. , “I got ‘Bodined’, I guess,” said

Rudd.

drab array of local fans... (Photos by Martin D Clark)

divert to Denver, where he was “The rear brakes locked up and I /rushed to hospital with carbon ran into Ricky,” countered Bodine. monoxide poisoning. Jeff Burton backed his Taurus Two time Sears Point victor firmly in the concrete barrier exiting Irvan later got trapped in the the hairpin after apparent contact ‘kitty litter’ on the new turn seven, from Jarrett, but the video replay which prompted a confession he however showed the opposite. had not mastered the fresh layout, “I hate it when people race hke while Ward Burton broke a gearthat. It ain’t the first time I’ve had box. along with circuit specialist trouble with him. He’s a really Tom Hubert who quahfied 10th. good race car driver, but that right Gordon headed Jarrett through there was uncalled for. That ain’t lap 37 when the pair pitted, racing, that’s wrecking,” remarked Gordon looking strong prior to an unhappy Burton who finished that, but Jarrett’s Yates crew had 39th and Jarrett, 15th after barrier the Taurus out front after the repairs that took 11 laps and ended stop, relinquishing the lead to any chance of a fuel strategy finish. Gordon again on lap 48. Rick Mast, with contact from the Sterling Marlin took over the tyre-punctured Ernie Irvan, was point from Jarrett after the next among the hairpin spinners also, restart before Rudd headed but after a strong quahfying effort Bodine after the caution for the he rallied back to finish eighth. broken wall on lap 63. Hamilton hit the front for the Unfortunately for Mast on the way back home the commercial first time on lap 85 and looked plane he was travelling on had to strong, but Gordon passed Bodine,

Rudd and John Andretti over a ten lap period and chased the Kodak Chevy down, the pair making con¬ tact several timefe m the formidable turn 11 and swapping the point on three occasions. NASCAR officials apparently told the two crews to ‘Calm it down’ but by then Hamilton’s older tyres were all but used up and Gordon held on to vnn by 2.748s. That’s what makes our sport what it is.,, we’ve got fenders,” remarked Hamilton who had shoved his way past Gordon for second around the mid-way point. “I drove the car and tyres plumb to death. That’s what great about racing Jeff, he knows what hard racing’s all about, you don’t have to wony about any retaliation.” Of those who had strong runs, rookie Kenny Irwin finished ninth. “I can’t believe we finished in the top 10,” he said after finishing 13th or better for the fourth straight race, a strong result for a rookie. Steve Grissom finished a season best 10th, Dale Earnhardt followed him home, with Truck Series champ Ron Homaday (driving the Tyler Jet Chevy soon to be diiven by Darrell Waltrip) 14th. Andretti finished a strong third from 21st on the grid, his best NASCAR circuit result. Final result; J Gordon (Chevy) 72.387 mph, Hamilton (Pontiac), Andretti (Pontiac), B Labonte (Pontiac), R Wallace (Ford), Martin (Ford), Marlin (Chevy), Mast (Ford), Irwin (Ford), Grissom (Chevy). Points standings;(Jordon 2357, Mayfield 2317, Martin 2305, Jarrett 2283, R Wallace 2147, B Labonte, T Labonte, J Burton,Spencer,Earnhardt

name returns THE most famous name in NASCAR racing has returned to the winners’ circle - for the fourth generation. Adam Petty, competing in the American Speed Association, took his first series win on June 27 at the 1-70 Speedway in Odessa, Missouri. The young Petty, 17, took over a record previously held by Mark Martin (below) for the youngest winner in ASA history. Martin won at age 19, at Anderson,Indiana in 1978. Petty’s father Kyle and grandfather Richard were 19 and 22 when they took their first victories. The ASA cars are similar to the NASCAR Late Model Series, featur ing Chevrolet Camaro’s and the Pontiac Grand Prix, that Petty was wheeling among other makes.

Hhoto by David Taylor) Allsport

1998 WINSTON CUP SERIES RESULTS Standings After Rd 17 Jeff Gordon, Chev ...2527 II. Bobby Labonte,#l8 Interstate Batteries PontiacGrand Prix I 2. Mark Martin, Ford ...2475 12. Jeff Green, #46 First Union Chev Monte Carlo 3. Dale Jarrett, Ford ...2429 13. Darrell Waltrip,#! Pennzoil Chev Monte Carlo 4. |o'■el^nly Mayfield, Ford2390 14. Terry Labonte, #5 Kellogg’s Chev Monte Carlo 5. Rusty Wallace, Ford .2307 15. Bobby Hamilton, #4 Kodak Chev Monte Carlo 6. Bobby Labonte, Pont 2205 16. Derrike Cope, #30 Gumout Pontiac Grand Prix 17. Dick Trickle, #90 Heilig-Meyers Ford Taurus 7. Terry Labonte, Chev .2166 i 18. Dale Eamhardt,#3GMGoodwrench Chev Monte Carlo | g, Jeff Burton, Ford ... .2134 19. Ricky Rudd, #10 Tide Ford Taurus 9. Jimmy Spencer, Ford 1968 20. Ernie Irvan, #36 SkhUes Pontiac Grand Prix 0 0. Dale Earnhardt, Chev 1961

Jiffy Lube 300 - New Hampshire. July I Ith, 1998. I. 2. 3.

Jeff Burton, #99 Exide Batteries Ford Taurus Mark Martin, #6 Valvoline Ford Taurus Jeff Gordon, #24 DuPont Chev Monte Carlo

4. 5. 6. 7.

Rusty Wallace, #2 Miller Lite Ford Taurus Mike Skinner, #31 Lowe’s Chev Monte Carlo John Andretti, #43 STP Pontiac Grand Prix Dale Jarrett, #88 Ford Credit Ford Taurus

8. 9.

Kyle Petty, #44 Hot Wheels Pontiac Grand Prix Ken Schrader, #33 Skoal Bandit Chev Monte Carlo

10. Kenny Wallace, #81 Square<D Ford Taurus

1/July 1998

’98/99 NASCAR dates Back in Black ... but will Richo be there?

CALDER Park Raceway has announced the Superspeedway and Drag Racing dates for the 1998/99 season with the six round NASCAR championship series kicking off at the AMP Bathurst 1000 race meeting on Saturday, October 3, at Moimt Panorama. As signalled in our last edition, the NASCAR teams will contest a 100 kilometre race around the 6.2 kilometre road circuit, complete with a mandatory pitstop, as the US-derived Stockcars only have an 80-litre fuel cell fitted to them. The second (November 22), fourth (January 2), fifth (February 13) and sixth (April 4)rounds of the series will be conduct ed on the Calder Park Thunderdome, with the second and sixth rounds reverting back to the original Sunday afternoon format of racing. Calder Park’s strategy suggests a theory that more family groups will attend the Superspeedway meetings in the day-time during November and April when the ambi ent temperature in the evenings is lower. Both of the remaining Thunderdome meet¬

ings will be conducted under the million dol lar MUSCO Sports Lighting system. The Adelaide International Raceway roimd of the series has been transfen-ed from its tra ditional mid-January date to Saturday, December 5 - still featuring night racing under lights. 1995/96 NASCAR champion Jim Richards siad this weeek that it was exciting for the NASCAR drivers to be going back to the mountain track after their two 4-lap demon stration events at the venue in February ’96. “They will be very fast there - a combina tion of speed and endurance for the brakes. The top teams will certainly be quicker than in ’96.” “However, I’m not sure if our team will be contesting the NASCAR series this year, as our sponsorship package is not in place at the moment,” stated Richards. “Our car is just a bare shell, as it finished the last race. With only about eight weeks to go before our Pontiac Grand Prix is due to roll out of the raceshop, we still don’t have a bud get to go racing.” -GRANT NICHOLAS

Fires deiay 400 PepsiMYrajuf THE Pepsi 400, the first night NASCAR race at Daytona International was Speedway,

KPS 400 SSSL

agreed that a post ponement was the proper move. “It’s hard to feel right about running a race or doing any-

postponed because A of wildfires burning C_J| thing else like that yi/UJT while thousands of out of control in Florida. people are watching it from a shelter The race was rescheduled for Oct. somewhere,” he said. All tickets will be 17, just one of two honoured for the Oct. open spots remaining 17 race. on the 1998 schedule. The Pepsi 400 usu The other, July 18, was ruled out because ally fills only twothirds of the grand there is no guarantee the situation will be stands at Daytona because of the 100under control by then. degree temperatures As a result, the Pennsylvania 500 at SMOKED OUT... The smoke haze around in July. After decid Pocono Raceway on Daytona International Speedway prompted ing to install lights for the first night July 26 begins a a three month delay for the Pepsi 400. race, all of the stretch of 16 Winston was questionable. Interstate 143,000-plus seats had been Cup races in 16 weeks. The streak concludes Nov. 8 with 95, paiTs of U.S. 1 and other sold out by March. While the Pepsi 400 is not the season-ending NAPA 500 main roads to the track have been closed by fires that the only Winston Cup series at Atlanta Motor Speedway. have ravaged the area, burn race held at night, the antici The postponement is the pation began building as first in the 39-year history of ing dozens of homes and businesses and forcing the soon as Graham announced the Pepsi 400, the traditional evacuation of about 35,000 last year that lights would be midway point of the NAS installed at NASCAR’s most people in two counties. CAR Winston Cup series. storied track. “It’s too dangerous for “Our biggest concern right everybody,” said racing fan The $5 million project is now is for the people of cen Mark Smith of Dalton, believed to be the largest tral Florida,” said Mike Georgia. “We’re breathing ever for a sporting arena. Helton, NASCAR vice presi soot and everything else Completed last month in dent of competition. “Even today, due to the current right now. There are ashes time for testing, it required 1,835 lamps around the 2falling out here. Just imag weather, conditions are con ine what it’s doing at the mile tri-oval to generate as tinuing to escalate.” much light as the high The race would have been race track.” Most of the drivers had beams of 87,000 passenger the first motorsports event cars. already arrived for Thursday televised by a network dur But the fires will put the ing prime time. CBS Sports, night’s qualifying. ^ lights on hold. John Andretti, ‘You can’t really complain which owns the rights to the race, could not immediately too much,” driver Bobby last year’s winner of the Hamilton said. “We’re talk Pepsi 400, certainly under say whether its schedule stands why. ing a little inconvenience and would allow for a night race “It looked like some additional expense for Oct. 17. Armageddon,” Andretti said. While the fires have not us. We’re talking major prob “You’d never know how bad a directly affected the 480-acre lems for the people who live around that area.” situation is until you see it, week for a 16-week stretch and this is bad.” Driver Jeremy Mayfield speedway, access for fans

The ’98/99 season of NASCAR will see the retiuTi of George Elliot to NASCAR racing. After sit ting on the sidelines for the ’97/98 season, October cannot come soon enough. Talks between Elliot, Jim Richards and Dick Midgley were held to discuss the pos sibility of running a two car team but, after a few meet ings, no further action was taken. Making life'a lot more diffi cult for Elliot was transport ing his car to and from Melbourne. A workshop has been set up so that all work and testing on the car is now done in Melbourne. All Elliot needs to do is fly down, and then back up to Sydney once testing or race meetings are completed. Keeping his lifestyle hectic is the new gaming section of his hotel, west ofSydney. Rhoto by^Thunderpics/A0at Elliot is also completing GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE... Elliot has swapped his novel the screenplay for his first ‘Terminal Greed’for terminal speed -in his Chevy NASCAR. novel, ‘Final Custody’, while his publisher is on his back to necessary major structural two race meetings. Since publish another novel. To changes needed on the car leaving, Mike has had a very date, George has written two 'are being completed at the successful two seasons in the moment, at their new Keilor American Winston West books, the other being Terminal Greed’. workshop. series, helping two different Elliot is hoping that he will teams win the Champion Elliot has teamed up with Tonuny Smith, who will be in once again be successful in ship. Due to a lack of sponsor charge of building, updating gaining the services of Mike and maintaining the Chevy Steurer, his crew-chief of two ship at the moment, most of Monte Carlo. Smith has also seasons ago. Due to over the funding for the up-com been given the role of crew- whelming commitments in ing season will be made by chief and team manager. America, Steurer will only be Elliot. -LISA WINKLER available for one, possibly New front and rear clips and

PEPSI

wfson

INTERVIEW

17July1998

After a year in the NASCAR wilderness and a return to CART Robby Gordon believes at last he could be with a

WjCOf^

competitive program. MARTIN D CLARK caught up with a much more restrained and politically correct Californian after his recent NASCAR race at

o)U(°.

Motorsport News: Was the reason you joined Arciero-Wells because you had hoped you would bring some fresh blood and some sparks into the team? Robby Gordon: One of the main rea sons I joined Arciero-Wells Racing was because I saw what happened with Honda when they got involved with CART racing. They dominated the series. It took them two or three years to build and learn and then they kicked butt. So the key was looking at the long-term goal and knowing the commitment. I still have some friends that work inside at Toyota - I raced off-road trucks for Toyota years ago - and I still have my connections there. I knew some of the pro grams they were doing and I knew how committed they are to this series. So I figured that would be a better place for me at the time, rather than to be at a team that has been around for a long time and might never win a champi onship. So, looking at the big picture I could be involved in building some thing, instead of just being a shoe. MN; How do you see your future with the team and the Toyota powerplant? RG: Right now, at this time and day, I feel very, very confident that we are going to sort out the engine and the things going to be extremely competi tive. I’m pretty excited about the whole program.

REFLECTIVE TIMES... Gordon had plenty of time to contemplate his move to NASCAR racing in 1997(left). Despite his lack ofsuccess in the SABCO Chevrolet no-one could accuse him of not having a red hot go... .Phomsoy onmni inghamand oavd T:iyK3f AfIspotV

BACK IN BUSINESS... Robby Gordon is back in CART replacing Hire Matsushita at Arciero-Wells Racing in the Panasonic/sponsored, Toyota-powered Reynard. Photo by Jamie Squire Allspon

MN; Was you departure from the Team SABCO Winston Cup team and the closure of the IRL team a disappointment to you? RG: The departure wasn’t a disap pointment, because by the time we departed we were so wound up on both sides that it wasn’t working and that was the right thing to do. The thing that was more of a dis appointment to me was the way the whole program worked out. I went into SABCO looking for something completely different than what Felix (Sabates team owner) was interested in. I wanted to help turn SABCO into

lIJul^W98 a Hendrick Motorsports - doing that not by just being a driver, but by understanding some of the technical issues that we deal with on a day to day basis on a CART team. Not that CART’S any better, because NASCAR racing is good, of course but, with some of that technology, we should be more competitive. I believe that's why Kranefuss (Penske Kranefuss and driver Jeremy Mayfield [second in points standings]) is so competi tive right now. The discipline and attention to detail, is in my opinion, a little different in what we do com pared to them. But 1 understand they run 32 races too. To do a team right, it’s extremely expensive to start a Winston Cup team. What I had planned, I thought Felix was committed to that task. The closure of the IRL team was not a big deal. I’ve got to be careful how I say this, because you never know what happens, but the key for the IRL team was the Indy 500 and we weren’t planning on running any more IRL races until this year’s Indy 500. MN: What do you think is the answer to the lack of success with SABCO’s three car team? RG,: My first issue was the three cars, but I’d rather not comment. It just didn’t work out and if I keep needling into there, everybody’s going to say, ‘Robby wants to try to nail SABCO’. I want them to go on and do what they want to do and I can go on and do what I want to do. That way, we can remain friends. MN; After a great run in the Sears Point Winston Cup race that ended with a flat rear tyre and subsequent broken suspen sion, how did you view your performance? RG: Actually, the broken suspen sion happened before the flat. The weld on the rear panhard bar broke. It all comes down to crafts manship; that is a part teams buy from a book. The sidewall was then flattened by the rear axle moving. One thing I was real happy about, especially after last year with Felix saying ‘oh, you know he crashes, he does this, he does that.’

The number one thing for me to do this year is not to make any mistakes, politically or on the track. If I have a car that can run 20th, then I need to run 20th, instead of taking a 20th-placed car and driving it up there. Which -

7^.

CAT CALL... Despite his tough 1997season Gordon returned to Winston Cup racing at Sears Point last month for a one-off drive in the Caterpillarsponsored car. He had problems in qualifying but, come race day, was one of the fastest drivers on the road course. (Photo by Martin d ctark) trust me - I’m committed to win ning, but I understand you have to have a handling car. And that’s something I didn’t have all the time with SABCO’s cars. I tried to run with JeffT3ordon and, I believe, I can run with Jeff Gordon in equal equipment, on any day, I promise you. But the key is equal equipment and understanding how the car’s set up and where the balance is, there’s so many things that hap pen. I believe the two of us can be very competitive, spebd-wise. So the key for me, was not to make any mistakes and that was something we didn’t do the whole time we were at Sears Point. We were top six every practice ses sion and third quickest in ‘happy hour’ (final practice). We qualified poorly because Kenny Wallace had a failure, he oiled down the track in front of me. John Andretti was the next car to go out, then it was myself and then it was Tommy Kendall, who also was very quick. We all qualified back in the pack. I qualified 18th and they qualified worse than that. John went on to run third (and) we ran top three during the race. I would say we were the quickest car on the track for a long time. I know we were catching Gordon during that first stint until I burned the tyres off, because I just used the car too hard. The key is I’m learning what it

takes to be competitive in (Winston) Cup cars too. It could be a CART car one day and a Cup car the next day and I believe ,l can win in all of them. MN: Do you see yourself return ing to Winston Cup full-time if a competitive ride was out there? RG: I don’t think I would return unless if was my own team. That’s not out of the question either. It’s all about control and the way the structure is set up. I’m not just a race car driver. I’ve been around this game a fang* time now - too many people have controlled my destiny.

MN: Having competed in CART, IRL and Winston Cup, how do the series apd governing bodies compare? RG: You’re putting me on the spot, huge! I’m gonna say I really like the way NASCAR’s run as a govern ing body. They have the game fig ured out. I'm not going to nail the other ones, it’s just that NASCAR knows what it takes. From a fan perspective, a team perspective, to a sponsor’s perspective of what it takes to be successful in racing. It is beautiful, those guys are so smart. They are on the game, it’s great

I tried to run

with Jeff

Gordon and, I believe, I can run with Jeff Gordon in equal equipment, on any day, I promise you

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to race for that and see the fan fol lowing and the sponsors following and all the stuff that goes along with it. Every body should look at them and try to copy them. MN: I loosely compare NASCAR to the Mafia. How did the ‘fami ly’ treat you at Sears Point on your return? RG: No problem. I never had a problem within NASCAR. At times I think Felix wanted me to have problem. But I didn't think I ever had a problem with any of the dri vers or any of the teams as far as I was concerned. Because I wanted to go into the series and kick everybody’s butt, there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s all about racing, it was nothing per sonal against them. Felix kept turn ing it into a personal issue and is wasn’t, it was a competitiveness issue. MN: If the opportunity arose for you to compete in Formula One, do think you’d take that oppor tunity? RG: For sure. Yes.>^\s long as it’s a competitive situation. This is something i’ve been thinking about the last couple of years. I believe I could hav'e made SABCO competitive. But the key is having the right tools to do that. One persons not going to do it, it’s a team, an organisation makes a successful, winning operation.

3S POSSUM Bourne has sewn up his third straight Australian title with another double heat win in the fourth round of the Australian Rally Championship, the Saxon Safari around Hobart on July 4-5. Bourne staged another titanic battle with Toyota rival Neal Bates but had the edge when it was really nec essary, taking leg one by seven secs and leg two by 43s. to take maximum points for the fourth time in four rounds. Only the final round the Rally of Melbourne which car ries 50 percent bonus points is left to run and Bourne can’t be beaten securing a hat-trick of ARC wins

n entry of 44 cars faced he starter on a gloomy winter’s weekend in Hobart, with the rally heading into traditional territory in the Styx River Valley North west ofthe city. Bates drew first blood on the opening super special stage around the Derwent Entertainment Centre, lead ing Bourne by a second and then, once out in the forests, the Corolla leapt ahead by another eight seconds. Bourne was complaining of a lack of heat in his tyres. “It was diabolical; the fronts were just not getting enough heat in them to work properly and thei’e was nothing I could do,” said the Kiwi. Rick Bates put his stamp on F2 from the word go but the opening stage was later to prove his downfall. The Daihatsu driver was alleged to have jumped the start by one second, the penalty would later be one minute when Stewards met that night. “I didn’tjump the start, so I have nothing to worry about,” said Rick prior to being given the penalty. He would protest but this was later dismissed. Crocker was powering in Group N,leading the category by four seconds over Queenslander John Goasdoue after three stages. Stewie Reid was having an ordinary time in the Subaru with a spin on stage one and then a flat on stage two costing him over 30 seconds and costing him any hope of a Group N win on day one. Wet conditions in the second half of the Styx stage meant Bates would again be straggling with the Dunlops. Bourne took 11 seconds off him to give him a 15 second lead with just two shorter stages remaining.

opposition in Tasmania, and seated Ms 1998^ title with a round to spare. JON THOMSON braved the cold to report on the KJm's

GREAT WEEKEND FOR THE 5s... While Bourne and Vincent were clinching their third title (above) John Goasdoue was having a baaaad weekend in his Mitsubishi. (Photos by Jon Thomson and Joel Strickland)

John Goasdoue saw his the closing stages the rally and possibly his rally Canbeira driver would have career come to an end when to settle for second in the eight kilometres into the class Herridge taking third. In Leg 2 Bates and Bourne stage a front left tyre let go and the Queenslander under- were out of the blocks quickly steered off the road and into a as the clouds gathered and stump at more than 120km/h. rain threatened, the pair On the penultimate stage were equal on time after the of the day Bourne again first stage but then BatesJ day edged further ahead taking deteriorated rapidly. It started to rain as the another two' seconds off Bates, the shorter 11 km leaders sat waiting to start stage coming straight after the second stage and that the long Styx stage with meant Bates’ tyre handicap Bates unable to change tyres would again come into play. and grab back any advantage The Dunlops costing him from the Kiwi. eight seconds to Bourne over With only one stage 23 kms. remaining on the day it would Bourne took the rally by take a Herculean effort from the scruff of the neck and Bates and although he came ' shut Bates out by posting a close his charging drive was ^ time 25 seconds faster on the not enough. Bourne claimed long-second stage. The Kiwi °n the final stage that he had a 33 second margin with ^ould not have driven it any just 12 kms of competitive quicker. stages remaining, Crocker clinched another On the penultimate stage o Group N win with most of his the rally M^aydena Bourne opponents dropping out fin- rubbed salt into he wound ishing a minute ahead of taking another 12 seconds off West in the Lancer. Bates to put the rally totally With Rick Bates wearing out of his reach, going into the minute penalty for jump- the final 1.1 km Super ing the start of SSI and some Special at Derwent rapid times by Mackenzie in Entertainment Centre Bourne had a 37 second lead. A lightening fast run on the dry hard base at Derwent Australian Rally Championship Round 4 saw Bates take back two sec DAY ONE onds but leave the Canberran with an uphill battle to pre Subaru WRX 1 Possum Bourne/Craig Vincent vent Bourne from equalling 2 Neal Bates /Coral Taylor Toyota Corolla WRC his three in a row ARC 3 Cody Crocker/Greg Foletta Subaru WRX(Gp N) record. Mitsu Lancer 4 John Long/Damlen Long In group N Reid had a slow 5 David West /Tony Best Mitsu Lancer(GpN) fourth stage dropping 19 sec 6 Spencer Lowndes /Claire Parker Mits Lancer(Gp N) onds to Crocker turning a DAY TWO comfort zone into an anxiety Subaru WRX 1 Possum Bourne/Craig Vincent attack. With a margin of just 2 Neal Bates /Coral Taylor Toyota Corolla WRC three seconds Crocker could 3 Stewart Reid/Anthony McLaughlin Subaru Impreza(GpN) only take another one second 4 Cody Crocker/Greg Foletta Subaru WRX(Gp N) on the final stage letting the Mitsu Lancer 5 John Long/Damien Long Queenslander out of jail with 6 David West /Tony Best Mitsu Lancer(GpN) a two second win. ARC Points Bourne 160, Bales 11Z Long 94, Crocker 70. f But it would be an overall Group N Crocker 124, Kennedy 118, Lowndes 105 win for Crocker with a win Formula 2R Bates 122, Mackenzie 108, Herridge 94 and the second boosting his Manufacturers Subaru 44, Daihatsu 36, Toyota 30.5 Group N hopes.

Saxon Safari Tasmania

Tasmania was our last The Saxon SafarY chance to keep our ARC hopes alive. It was only a slim chance, but the team were not deterred and worked incredibly hard in the lead up - it was another one of those periods in our lives where our spouses didn’t see much of any of us. And when we did turn up it was only to say ‘goodbye see you in a week!’ The Corolla had received a freshen up and despite lim ited pre-event testing, I was really happy with the set up and the car felt like new. Tassie was to be our first wet rally this year, and there were some unkowns regard ing our tyres in the wet and muddy sections. The tyre testing carried out to date had only been in dry condi tions concentrating on increasing the wear rate while maintaining decent grip. We had had no oppor tunity to test in the wet and therefore no idea of how the tyres would perform in the slippery conditions. But we were about to find out and the 39km ‘Styx Road’ stage would turn out to be the deciding stage of the rally. The first thirty odd kilometres

We just struggled in the slip pery conditions on a couple of stages. However Sunday dawned a new day and we didn’t lack any determination to try again. We did realise n though, that it would be an k uphill battle. Considering the 5 same Saturday stages ? would again be repeated and we knew where our were OK - damp but not weak points were. With that severely slippery unlike the in mind we decided to try final seven kibmetres of the running a full “wet” tyre on stage which were wet, ‘Styx’ and ‘Maydena’. muddy & boggy, and very t was a brave move. But we very slippery. had nothing to lose and everything to gain. We Itgreasy was hard going in and the weren't going to win in the conditions Possum took eleven sec conditions, and this may onds from us in the stage. have just turned the tables. If The following ‘‘Maydena’ we could hold the tyres stage was also wet and he together for the first thirty kilometres up to the mud, managed another two sec onds. That only left the final then just maybe we would stage of the heat - ‘Lanes’ - have a chance. However, as luck would the last twenty two kilome tres to keep any ARC hopes have it, the stage had actual alive. It was all or nothing. ly dried out overnight, to the The stage was mostly dry point where there was even and we committed ourselves a hint of dust. Coral and I sat totally, managing to win the on the start line and laughed stage by two seconds. But - there wasn’t much else we we were still seven seconds could do - our brave move overall short of victory. had just disintegrated into a We had had a good day. total disaster. The car had run faultlessly. Continued on page 49

VCo.

l Rally New Zealand entries ; closed with a total of 83 ; entries, with official champi onship entries from : Mitsubishi, Subaru, Toyota ; and Ford. Formula 2 entries ! come from SEAT, Hyundai i and VW. Team’s Cup entries from Stomil, MF ; Grifone, Dor, Gaxprom, I Uruguay and; A|; Wahaibi ' and a big surprise official : Peugeot driver Gilles : Panizzi will compete in a I Group N Peugeot 106. A ; 306 Maxi is also entered on I this event, rented by the I Australian driver Marty I Beckton. Beckton will drive I New Zealand Craig ! Marshall’s car. Although it is i not a kit car, it is fitted with a i kit car engine. . l Another Finn is progress: ing his career:following the I recent works drives given in ; New Zealand to Juha : Kangas and Toni I Gardemeister, the I Mitsubishi Group N driver ^ Janne Tuohino is to drive a F2 VW Golf for the Sawfish , Racing Teams’ Cup team in ' the Neste Rally Finland. ; l Defending Unlimited Class champion and recordi holder Rod Millen took the i victory again in the 76th run; ning of the Pikes Peak ; International Hill Climb. Millen took his Toyota i Tacoma up the 1;2.42-mile gravel road in 10 minutes, , 7.70 seconds, only just ' short of his 1994 record run I of 10:04.06. The road sur' face was tacky after n overnight rains, but as the I day wore on it dried and ; Millen’s hopes faded. I’ve ^ been waiting for those per; feet conditions,” said Millen. : “The bottom was very good, j but the last part wasn’t so : good.” Nobuhiro Tajima of Japan came second in the I Unlimited Class at 10:32.57 I in his Suzuki Sidekick, while I Bobby Regester finished I third in a highly modified i Chevrolet Corvette. ●iPerth-based Bridgestone ! Corolla Cup driver, Roman Watkins, has won the Australian Sports I Commission scholarship of ; a drive at this year’s I International Rally New i Zealand. Roman won out ; over fellow Bridgestone I Corolla Cup drivers Steve I Forsberg, Jason Slott, Jo ; Cadman and Ashlea ' James. ‘The Australian i Sports Commission I Scholarship is designed I to give a young driver ; the best chance of fur; thering their career on I the international stage,” I said Australian Rally i Commission Chairman I Garry Connelly. “This ; will also help ARCom’s I aim of having an ; Australian competing in ; the World Rally i Championship by the I year 2000. “Roman is a worthy winner of the 1 scholarship and I’m ; sure he will show just ; what sort of talent he ; has in New Zealand at I the end of July.” The I selection committee I consisted of Garry i Connelly, Ron Cremen I (ARCom Board mem; ber), Ben ieazley (TV I Producer Australian ^ Rally Championship),

17Jufy1998

/]. the By Peter 'Wtf'hitt Editor-Australian Raliysporfwws Graeme Brown (Bridgestone) and Jeff Whitten (Australian Rallysport News). The selection criteria were divid ed; into commitment and determination, driving abili ty, personal attributes and promotional aspects. The scholarship will provide $9500 towards the cost of Watkins’ team competing in New Zealand. Bridgestone will provide 12 rally tyres to the team for the event. l British, Rally Champions Volkswagen are to contest November’s Rally Australia. Alister McRae will drive the Sony and Pirelli backed Golf GTI in the event. The event, penultimate round of the 1998 World Rally Championship, will be the final ‘works’ outing for the Mk III Golf before it is replaced by the new Golf GTI. McRae, co-driver David Senior, and the SBG Sport team of Daventry, England, are aiming to give the old car a successful send off. “The Mk il has been tremendously suc cessful,” says 27-year-old Alister, “and it's still compet itive and winning rallies. I’m hoping that it will end its career with a win in the World 2-litre Cup in Australia.” McRae drove the Mk il to victory in British Championship rounds in Wales and Scotland in 1997, and in June won the Scottish Rally for the sec ond year in succession. SBG Sport plans to sell McRae’s car in Australia after the rally. “We very much want to find a good home Down Under for Alister’s old Golf once it has completed the rally, so that what has been a very suc cessful ear in Europe can continue its winning ways on the other side of the world,” team chief Steve Bagnall said. SBG Sport will be asking around AUS$80,000. l Touring car icon Peter Brock will drive in the 1998

Copy Press Bay Stages l Rally at Batemans Bay on July 18th. Using the event as a shakedown prior to his assault on the Round Australia Rally, Brocky will debut his Holden Jackaroo as car zero. The rally is a round of the NSW Rally Championship, as well; as part of the NSW Clubman Championship and the NSW Gemini series. Brock’s attendance has been secured by rally director Stewart Nicholls and fellow North Shore Sporting Car Club member Bruce Garland. Garland has been preparing Brock’s Jackaroo at his Sydney workshop. l Ari Vatanen will enter August’s Neste Finland Rally at the wheel of an M-Sport Ford Escort WRC, his first appearance on his home event for four years. The 46year-old former World Champion will, however, be making his third appearance in an Escort on this year’s ‘World Rally Championship, having taken third in Kenya and fifth in Portugal while substituting for the injured Bruno Thiryin the official Ford squad.“It is almost too good to be true,” enthused Vatanen on Monday.'The deal came together at the end of last week. Its only a one-off, but who knows what will happen in the future? “I can hardly believe that it is four years since 1 last did my home event,” added the rally veteran. “I’m going to feel like a foreigner in my own country.” l The new SEAT WRC suc cessfully completed its initial shakedown ains late in June, precisely on the schedule proposed by the team at its launch at the end of May. Details of the first tests are academic as these were no more than systems checks. Further work will be carried out before the car’s debut at the Neste Finland Rally at the end of next month. A SEAT spokesman confirmed that there are no plans to enter the Mantta Rally as a final shakedown test, the Spanish team pre ferring ‘to go straight for the big one’. ● Mitsubishi expects to take up its option to retain dou ble World Champion Tommi Makinen (left) by the Neste Finland Rally at the end of August. The team is determined to hang on to its team leader even if it loses Richard Burns to Subaru, as is being widely rumoured. Ford has Juha Kankkunen under contract for 1999 and has until October to decide if it will retain Bruno Thiry. Juha Kangas will drive a third Subaru Impreza WRC98 in New Zealand, the young Finn getting his first outing in a factory car after being signed up for a development pro gram earlier this season.

Photo by Joe!Strickland

BACK FOR MORE... Bates(above)and Toyota will be in the ARC for at least another two years. RUMOURS that Toyota might he on the verge of pulling out of the Australian Rally Championship have been scotched by the company’s Australian Motorsport spokesman Mike Breen. Speaking at the South-em Safari in Tasmania last week, whepe rally age Neal bates again suffered a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Possum Bourne, Breen said the company was committed tot he ARC until the end of the year 2000 at least. “We spent $600,000 on get

which Bates car is based, there will be added marketing imperative behind campaigning the WRC Corolla, “The new Corolla will be sold here in five door spec and will be fully imported so it is going to important to use our rally involvement to market the new machine,” he said, The new Corolla will be sold alongside the current shape car which is locally manufactured, giving the Corolla Cup which is finally beginning to blossom, a chance to continue

ting the WRC Corolla on the basis that it was going to be amortised over at feast three years. It would be financial suicide to puU out now,” said Breen. “We always knew this year was going to be difficult. It is basically a development year and that is both for the team and for Dunlop which is putting an enormous amount of work into the new tyre pro gram,” he added. It was apparent in Tasmania that Bates had an

obvious handicap compared with Bourne, whose Pirelli tyres seemed to have a wider range of competitiveness than the Dunlops on the Toyota. Breen went on to say that with the introduction to the Austrahan market in October of the new Euro Corolla, on

for at least another year or two. Meanwhile Subaru Australia is believed to be all but com mitted to Possum Bomme con testing the ARC again in 1999. With safes of the Impreza and the performance packed WR-X version soaring the rally program and Bourne’s success has provided an enor mous marketing boost for the company and it is believed plans are well advanced for the continuance.

.. but no NZfor Bates

BATES will not be run ning in the Rally of New

Zealand later this month following a failure to pull together funds to finance the World Rally Championship excursion. "We had more deadlines come and go than the Sydney Morning Herald and finally last Thursday it

came to the point when it was just too late for us to get the car on the boat and get there in time,” said Bates. “It is disappointing but we now have to concen trate on the Rally of

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

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

Melbourne and Rally Australia,” he added. Althougffi he wouldn’t admit it, it is believed Bates was keen to compare the WRC Corolla against Bourne’s Subaru Impreza running on the World Championship control fuel rather than the special Elf fuel that the Kiwi has been allowed to run here in Australia. Bates has been running the lower power WRC fuel because that is the only fuel map the Corolla came with. -JON THOMSON

3S njufyim

RICK BATES

Not just Neal’s brother Story and photos by JON THOMSON

“G’DAYNeal “No I’m Rick” Those few words have been the curse of Rick Bates life for the past nine years, ever since identical twin brother Neal picked up a factory diive with the Toyota team. For the proponents on both sides of the nature versus nurture argu ment Rick Bates provides an exam ple. that either side could use to prove their point of view. On one hand genetically he obvi ously shares a great deal with his brother in/ terms of talent and drive on the other hand the pair grew up in a family which provided an enor mous amount of motorsport experi ence at a young age. Both Rick and Neal competed in hillclimbs and lap dashes as kids long before they had road licences thanks to their father, Dick. Both excelled and obviously showed tal ent from the start and when they got their road licences they moved to the dirt. “It was the cheapest way to get into motorsport and living in Canben-a where rallying was such a big part of the sport you were mad if you didn’t give it a go,” says Rick. Dick Bates proud father of the twdns says that he thought that Rick was at times quicker than Neal early in their careers but there wasn’t much in it. “They’re very similar in ability and pace in my view,” said Dick.' The matching siblings had, until Neal picked up Toyota patronage, enjoyed parallel careers in rallying, Neal in a grotty white Datsun 1600 and Rick in a shocking pink one, the colour due to backing .from Readymix concrete. For those who can remember the Bates brothers’ cars weren’t the only things that needed a good detail back in the 1980s. The twins have certainly brushed up the image since the Datsun days of greasy jeans flannel shirts and unruly long hair. There was the time when in the Bega Valley rally of 1987. Rick was waiting outside control for the start of a special stage in the shocking pink Datsun. He decided to tighten a bothersome loose starter motor connection but in the process short ed the spanner across to the oil filter blasting a hole in the thin metal. As hot oil shot out he dived back into the car gi-abbed a self tapper from the floor and screwed it into the hole plugging the leak as his navigator leapt back in ready to start the stage. The repair got him through the stage and enabled him to-finish the rally. It is a sign of a quiet imflappable spirit which embodies Rick and one which has kept him involved in the sport biding his time while his brother gained the big breaks. Neal’s discovery shot him to prominence and he has had the major share of the limelight in Austi-alian rallying in the last few years Rick on the other hand has toiled away in the background making a buck working mainly at precision driving for TV commercials and movies and teaching aspiring rally diivers how to go faster. There were a few breaks along the way for Rick, like winning the Peter Jackson Search for a Champion con test in 1990. The prize a drive at Bathurst was shared with co-winner Peter Gazzard but an antiquated

LUCKY 13?...

Bates, Brittain and Daihatsu’s Charade have formed a formidable combination in the Formula Two events this season.

IP and badly prepared Holden in a Celica GT Four in the NSW Commodore didn’t allow either dri- Rally Championship partnered by ver to really shine. Nick’s wife Jenny. “I don’t mind circuit racing but I / The hand me down, rebuilt Celica find more challenge in rallying and was not as competitive as many of its more fun. I am not selling circuit the Lancers and Subaru’s it faced up racing short but driving fast on a to but Rick managed to win the title loose surface is what I like doing tying with John Long on equal best.” points. That may well be the case but a The Celica was pensioned OS' bnd series of class wins, four in a row in Rick and Jenny then faced the ardu fact , in the James Hardie 12 Horn- ous Panama Alaska Rally for classic gives Rick a degi-ee of tarmac credi cars. Rick wiped the floor with the bility but rallying is still his main opposition in the self prepared focus. Porsche 911, highlighting the That is not to say that he isn’t Canben-a lad’s immense dri-ving tal prepai-ed to try new things. A season ent in every condition. in the cut and thrust of speedcar Out of the blue last year came the racing proved that. Of that year of invitation to drive for the factory racing on the dirt ovals Rick says Daihatsu team in the Australian that ultimately he didn’t feel that Rally Championship in he most safe. competitive class in the title. A fom-th placing in the Australian Formula Two. Speedcar Championship final and a The decision by Daihatsu has win in a heat at the famed Sydney proved a good one, after two roimds Showground Speedway along with of the 1998 Super Series Rick Bates wins and impressive results at leads the title decisively heading to Pan-amatta and in Canben-a prove round three In Queensland at the he wasn’t mucking around or that end of May. fear got to him. The ability for Rick to step into “It had a good combination of the what is the most closely fought and better aspects of racing and the fun competitive sector of the Australian of rallying, sliding a car aroimd and Rally Championship and totally setting it up for corners and that hose the opposition in a car which sort of thing but no matter how good gives away horsepower to the others you were the risk of getting involved can not be undersold, despite the in someone else’s mess was always modesty that the quietly spoken at the back of yom- mind,” he says Canberran displays. “I think we have had a lot of luck While Neal forged ahead as one of the stars of Australian rallying so far, or at least the others have Rick’s competition career was put on had some bad luck,” said Bates in the back burner. typical self effacing style. The flame was re-ignited in 1996 But for all the display’s of modesty when marathon rally organiser Nick there is a hard edge of competitive^ Brittan backed the other Bates boy ness underlying the character ofRick.

Even on an event like the Panama Alaska which was more about trophy hunting and doing it for the glory than pure competitiveness Bates always was quietly inquiring about theiimes set by other drivers. even when he had a virtually imassailable lead. In the Australian Rally Championship things are much more serious, manufacturers dollars are involved and the future income of a professional driver. Far from being a pushy self promoter Rick Bates prefers to let his results do the speaking for him; “I am not a pushy person, I am detei-mined but I wouldn’t get on the phone and annoy the heU out of all the car companies asking them for a drive, if they think I am good enough then they will make an approach,” says Rick. “That is what happened with Daihatsu, they made the approach to me and gave me the chance to prove inyself, I didn’t have to make any promises to them. “That’s the problem when you get on the phone and sell yourself to the manufacturers, you have to make promises that are at the mercy of the uncertainties of the sport,” he says. “I only want a sponsor if I can do the job and give them value for money,I find it embarrassing if that doesn’t happen,” he adds. Through his time kicking aroimd the edges of the sport, while he watched Neal clinch three Australian Championships Rick says he hoped he would get a chance to prove himself but was realistic enough to realise that the possibility was slim given the fact that he was just doing minor events on a shoe string budget. Daihatsu’s approach came, he is quick to point out, on the recommen dation of Ross Mackenzie, the guy who is now Rick’s team mate in the Daihatsu Rally Team. “Ross and I have always gotten on well together since the days when he

and I were both contesting the NSW Rally Championships before he moved to Perth and I suppose we are fairly similar in that we let our results do the talking. Does he think Mackenzie would be regretting the recommendation now that his new team mate is kicking ass? I may have won the first two rounds but anything could happen in the remaining three rallies, I could score no points in Queensland and Tassie and he could be equal with me again. “But we still get on well, we share information about what we are finding with the cars, because in the long run we are trying to do a job for Daihatsu and not for our ovm individual benefit.” He admits that it would be great to get a drive in a fronl; line turbo four wheel drive car- and be in the same league with his brother and Possum Bourne but believes that Formula Two is the place to be at the moment. ‘T would love to be at the fi-ont of the field battling with Neal, Possum and Ed but there is simply not the depth to allow for that, there aren’t that many seats to go around “The closeness of competition, the fact that there are three or four manufacturers all vying for supremacy makes F2 really chal lenging and fun as well. “It is a pity that we have lost Wayne Bell’s team from the local scene, it could have provided a real stepping stone for Aussie drivers onto the world stage but now that it has gone to the UK I don’t think the Poms will be quite as keen to give drivers from down here a go,” says Rick. ‘Wayne, however is proving that he can match Kermeth Eriksson on rallies and had a good results in Portugal so it shows an Australian can be competitive given the chance. “It is far too hard to try and mount a privateer challenge from here, Neal and Possum do the odd round of the World Championship and Michael Guest has been trying to get an Asia Pacific campaign together but the resources you need to do it properly are enormous and almost beyond a privateer or semi privateer team which is why it is such a pity we have lost Wayne’s team,” he says.

1/July ms

SCORE ANOTHER... Cannon’s potent Stude claimed another IHRA win.

Cannon claims another READY, SET... Perth’s Robin Judd is all set to debut his newly-acquired Studebaker doorslammer this summer.

Judd skims door open

Perth rookie setto debut Stude ^slammer story and photo

racing and he suggested I look at a gas car, an 8-9 second car and I thought that was a good idea and a good place to start. Robin Judd has adopted an "But nothing eventuated until unusual approach in launching talks were held with Ravenswood Ms drag racing career. Instead promoter Gary Miocevich.” of starting at the bottom and As a result Judd -^as pointed in working his way up, the Perth the direction of the (supercharged businessman opted to leap frog bracket and didn't put up much of straight into level one competi- an argument, tion by purchasing a Top Around August last year the very Doorslammer. same Studebaker that had already He will front for the 1998/99 sea¬ caught Judd's attention was adverson in the ex-George Clasby '53 tised for sale. Studebaker, complete with a 51 lei He thought it was too coincidenKeith Black engine. tal and ignored the advert. The stunning car, and the But curiosity got the better of Studebaker Racing Company, was him the second time the advert unveiled in front of friends and appeared and talks began that ultisponsors in Perth on June 27. mately saw the Porsche swapped But why did this man, who is a for the rolling chassis, partner in a chartered accounting Judd then headed to America to firm and with no motor sport expemeet Brad Anderson and source an rience at all, settle for something engine that was purchased from near the top of the drag racing tree? Frank Manzo, the current NHRA Tve always been a motor racing alcohol funny car champion, fan but over the last three to four B^ this stage Judd's list of conyears the drag racing side of things tacts in the sport had started to has really taken over," Judd said. sound impressive, but he just kept "My wife and I decided to go on adding names to the teledex, down to Ravenswood and take the spending time with another legend kids and I really enjoyed it. in Scotty Cannon, who recently "I went a few more times and the toured Austraha. Cannon ran the Rootes blower enthusiasm started building up." In 1996 the love affair continued system while Down Under and that with Judd taking in the Nationals combination was enough for this at Calder, where he saw the drag racing rookie, who was putting Studebaker in action for the first together some mean machinery in a time. short space of time while relying on He then displayed his road-going the expert advice he was receiving. Porsche at WA's Motorvation, But there was one thing missing where he met up with drag racer - experience. Ian Brown. Judd had never sat in a drag car, "I said I was interested in drag let alone hurtled down the quarter by DARREN O’DEA

mile at full noise in one. A whole bunch of passes were completed at Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School in California that saw the West Aussie getting his gas and Super Comp license and culminating in a 6.60 second run in an alcohol Funny Car. But, despite the sourcing of some excellent components and the expe* rience of learning how to drive with the two-time World Funny Car Champion Hawley, the Perth newcomer is not expecting big things in his first season, prefening to compete in the local doorslammer round and other national events on his home track, "Depending on how our sponsor ship goes, we may venture over east, we're talking to some (poten tial sponsors) at the moment that might just swing it. "But I just want to get comfortable with the car ... we are not going to go out and set records. I just love the horsepower, it's infectious and you can't describe it. Judd paid tribute to how much Cannon and Australia's Victor Bray meant to the sport, describing Bray as a bit of a mentor, "Victor will help out a competitor because he wants to see the sport survive and I take my hat off to him for doing that, "It's a very exciting bracket, the public love it, it appeals to them." The car, with Lee Brailsford as crew chief, will roll up for a couple of street meetings at Ravenswood in September/October, with plans to have the licensing complete for the first major meeting, on October 31.

One week after a transmission In the final round, Romine sinfailure forced an early exit gled at 5.00/284, when Johnson from eliminations in Cordova, was imable to repair damage from Scotty Cannon returned to his a round two engine fire. 1998 Pro Mod onslaught hy Johnson had defeated Danny sweeping the field at the IHRA Dunn in round one but in a round Empire Nationals. two 5.24/257 win over Bieneman, Cannon, who’s Murray he pushed out a head gasket. Anderson-built ‘53 Studebaker has The resulting “blow torch” fire been almost unbeatable in the became so intense that it exploded a rear slick, States following its return from Australia downed fellow' Johnson brought the mount to 3^1 Anderson customer, Fred Hahn in straight and safe stop in the- shut^ the Pro Mod final. down area, but'there was damage..] Cannon had quahfied second at to the chassis and the teani was- i 6.50/213, behind the 6.46/212 of out of parts to repair the ear-;< l ‘,—1 Hahn. In round one, a 6.55/212 Former IHRA Champioa, defeated first time quahfier. Butch Yoak,took honors in Stock dri?; Lee’s blown ‘97 Chevy Pick-up ving his 812 cubic incn Ford ProjJ^ truck. The second round saw the to a final round win over theVre^ Cable TV Magazine Studebaker lighting Chevrolet Monte CarlSi-o^ take out Carl Moyer’s ‘57 Bel Air Pete Berner, 7.94/128 to 6 with a 6.56/212. Yoak, the number three qnalifii In the semi final round. Cannon er at 6.82/201 reached t|re stepped up in performance by round by taking wins over .Stuanfri stopping Dale Brinsfield with a Evans, Ed Machacek ap'd- "Tonyl 6.50/214. GilUg. Hahn, driving Jim Oddy’s Berner, the fiffh qualjlief’at^ Synergen backed ‘37 Chevy, had 6.83/201, stopped the Ffqrds'i^’ posted 6.52/210, 6.63/208 and Thomas Lee, Chapld'e Pepperg an(^ 6.53/210 wins over Canadian A1 Tim Nabors’.Cbewolk ,bef6re(-nhp . Billes’ ‘38 Chevy, Mike Janis’ final round loss to Yoak.' :„'■ The trend of recent winners nofi Corvette and Quain Stott to set up an all-Anderson Race Cars final qualifying at the next event con-‘1 round. tinned, as last week’s Cordova' In the final Hahn left first and winner Ron Miller failed to makev appeared to have Cannon covered the quick show with a 6.907 best. Point leader Floyd Cheek, who, until he repeated the drop in per formance of round two. runner-upped in Cordova after Cannon thundered past to set being low qualifier here, barely ! made the Leicester show with a low et and top speed of the meet at sixteenth best 6.90/201. 6.45/217, while Hahn was second Cheek was knocked off in round ● best at 6.63/208. The win is Cannon’s third in one by low qualifier, Montecalvo four events and extends his point (6.78/202). Von Smith padded his point lead lead on second place Hahn. Defending Top Fuel Champion, in the Alcohol Funny Car class, by Paul Romine returned to victory scoring his second straight IHRA circle in New York, hy taking top national event win. In a final round battle of Pontiac honors over Tommy Johnson Jr. Firebirds, Smith defeated Scott Romine had qualified his Weney, 6.14/227 to 6.23/225. CarQuest fueller second at The tough 3 race in 4 weekend 4.99/282, behind sm-prise top qual ifier David Bieneman’s 4.98/283. July schedule comes to a close in In eliminations Romine stopped two weeks, when the tour travels Bmce Litton in round one with a into mid- Michigan for the 17th 4.91/285, then took out Doug annual Car Quest Northern Herbert in a repeat of the Cordova - Nationals, - DAVID OSTASZEWSKI final with a 4.99/282.

1998 NHRA CHAMPIONSHIP DRAG RACING SERIES - POINTS TO JULY 12TH, 1998.

PENNMIL 03

9^9^

3333

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

1998 NHRA Funny Car Championship I. John Force, Castrol/Mac Tools 815 2. Chuck Etchells, Kendall/MaMa Rosa . .81 1 3. Ron Capps, Copentiagen/MBNA . . . .722 4. Cruz Pedregon, Interstate Bat/Hot Rod . .705 5. Tim Wilkerson, JCIT International . . .647 6. Frank Pedregon, Jim Dunn Racing. . . .619 7. Tony Pedregon, Castrol Syntec 605 8. WhitBazemore,TeamWinston-NoBull ..577 9. Dean Skuza, Mateo Tools/Mopar 501 10. Al Hofmann, GM Performance Parts . . .420

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, Pennzoil .450 7. Mike Edwards, JK Racing Pontiac . -. 8. Tom Martino, Six Flags Thrill Parks . .429 ,397 9. Mark Pawuk, Summit Racing ,366 10. Bruce Allen, Outlaw Additives I. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

4(1 i/July ms /

i/jy

David Ostaszew^f n Don Lampus made his debut in Top Fuel at Cordova. Lampus, of Garland Texas, plans to run a few more IHRA events at Michigan and Norwalk, before hitting the NHRA tour in Maple Grove. Licensed just one week prior in Denver, Lampus showed up at Cordova ^nd rocketed to a 4.95/295.0 on his first pass. In the first round on Sunday, Lampus holeshot Tommy Johnson Jr.,and lost a close race 4.94/295 to 5.00/291. n The once controversial Dannielle DePorter (yes, you remember her from back in the Rachelle Splatt/Luxor days) was back, behind the wheel of the Megas Top Fueller. DePorter qualified well at 4.92/295, but fell to David Bieneman in the opening round, 5.04/281 to 5.23/236, when the motor exploded. Pieces went flying everywhere, puncturing a slick and scattering more pieces, some over the grand stands and into the pit area. 0 As always, the IHRA Pro Stock field had a wide variety of makes and models in the progi-am. The qualified field was com prised of five Ford Probes, one Ford Thunderbird, four Chevy Monte Carlos, four Pontiac Firebirds, one Pontiac Grand Prix, and one lone Dodge Avenger. Not a bad mix and one which would surely make the NHRA envious. @ After knowing the mix of the bracket, how tough do you think Pro Stock racing in IHRA compared to its west coast cousin's class? Well, the two previous events held this season were won by Thomas Lee and Daniel Seamon. But,just because you've won an event, doesn't mean you are guar anteed a spot in the field; both dri vers missing the 6.93 cut at Cordava with Seamon being the first alternate with a 6.95 and Lee ending up 25th \vith a 9.80 best.: n You want nostalgia? Out of 30 Pro Mod - cars on the grounds at Cordova, only seven models were newer than 1995,23 were 1970 or older and only one late model made the field, that being the '95 Corvette of David Chambers. Corvettes still seem to be the popular body of choice with 10 rac ers choosing the '63 model, while there were two '66s and two '.53s. a Johnny Rocca and his '49 Ironhorse Mercury made a return to the track,following a nasty crash at the IHRA open er in Bradenton, Florida earli er this year. Rocca, now with Aussie and for mer Victor Bray Castrol team dri ver Troy Critchley as crew chief, qualified the crowd-pleasing car for the first time ever with a tenth best 6.68/207, but lost in the open ing round to runner-up Landon Jordan -6.64 to 6.78. "We reached one objective this weekend," said Rocca."We wanted

to make it into the program and then work from there. Now that we have the DNQ monkey off of our backs, we can concentrate on winning some races."

rl^rt claims Cordova

aknon

n There were seven blown cars trying to make the pro gram; Cannon, Rocca and Hahn all made the field, while the '70 Chevelles of Kevin O'Dell and J.R. Sandlian and the '97 Chevy pick-up trucks of Dale and Butch Lee missed. The trucks were exciting to watch as the lack of downforce and the power of the blown motors created tons of tire smoke from half track to the lights. Dale Lee was on a decent pass Saturday night, but was forced to lift when the truck made a move toward the centre line. His 6.77 left him 18th. n As you know the NHRA allows unblown/ injected-nitro combinations to compete against blown alcohol combos in the Federal Mogul Dragster class ... well, the IHRA does the same with the Alcohol Funny Cars. Former NHRA national event winner Gary Retell was the only racer at Cordova to try the set-up and qualified 15th at 6.56/182. Another racer Scott Weis had tried it at Darlington, running a 5.942/235.97 best and dipping into the fives on several passes, while former Pro Mod racer Billy Gibson has also run as quick as 5.99/237 with the nitro pop. n Rockingham Dragway President Steve Earwood and the IHRA announced prior to the Cordova race that they have reached an agreement where the North Carolina facility will host two champi onship events during the 1999 season. The first being contested April 9-11, 1999 - a date that in the past had been used by the NHRA to host their Winston Invitational. The second will likely be run on an autumn date. Earwood confirmed that, follow ing a successful ten year tenure with the NHRA, the track will no longer play host to the Winston Invitational. "It was a great 10 years," Earwood said. "But nothing lasts forever. As soon as we had closure on the Invitational, we began working with Bill Bader to create the new feature events. “Under Bill's leadership, we feel that the IHRA series has tremen dous growth potential". Rockingham Dragway was biiilt in 1961 and after hosting some events by the now defunct American Hot Rod Association, it became one of the flagship tracks for the IHRA, hosting two events a year from 1972 through 1988. The track has undergone some major improvements since 1992, when Earwood purchased the facility. There have been new per manent restrooms added, new con cessions buildings, paved pits, expanded Sportsman pit areas, new Musco lighting, new Compulink timing systems and several new gi-andstands, maldng it a state of the art facility. It is believed the NHRA’s Winston Invitational event will be moved to the Bristol facility which, ironically, will move from IHRA sanction to host the event. Bristol is owned by multiWinston Cup track owner Bruton Smith, who is currently undertak ing a major reconstruction of the facility to bring it up to current day NHRA standards.

win streak ends

FIRST FOR ‘98... Doug Herbert claimed his first IHRA win for 1998, in the chase for his fifth World title. (Ostaszewski) While Doug Herbert scored his first victory of the 1998 tour as the IHRA moved into Cordova, for the Illinois l SummerNationals on July 5th, the big news from the event was that the winning streaks of Tommy Johnson Jnr. in Top Fuel and Scotty Cannon in Pro Modified came to an abrupt end - Johnson failling to Herbert in a wild, tyre-smoking dual while Cannon, who had a huge lead oyer eventual event winner Gary Shearer, lost to parts breakage. Herbert, driving his Snap-On Tools dragster stopped '97 series champion, Paul Romine and his CarQuest-backed dragster in a rain delayed, tire smoke-filled, final round. Herbert deep staged in the final, getting the jump on Romine and hazing the tires from halftrack to the finish line, scoring a 4.98/291 to 5.28/240 win. Romine's mount had shook and broke the tires loose before mid track. . Herbert qualified number one at 4.88/297 and had stopped Bruce Litton in round one, 4.92/292 to 4.99/288. In round two he took out point leader Johnson in a wild race, Herbert exploding the motor in a huge mushroom cloud, but still managing a 5.09/249 for the win over Johnson's 5.18/243. Romine had qualified the Clayton

Harris-tuned dragster second at 4.91/285 and stopped Danny Dunn in the opening round, 4.92/278 to 5.07/289. Romine then blasted to a 4.90/286 to stop the ex-Dick LaHaie car of David Bieneman, which trailed at 5.16/274. Herbert's win, his 16th career IHRA title, moved him into third in the point standings and within five rounds of first place as he battles for his fifth championship. Pro Mod saw two first time final ists battle for the Cordova crown as Gary Shearer driving the Shearer and Roberts '63\Corvette faced the similar skinned machine of Landon Jordan. In a close final round, Jordan dri ving took a slight advantage at the start, but got loose in the middle and Shearer was able to run him down, posting a 6.68/207 to 6.72/202 win. The difference at the finish line'Was a mere .012 seconds. Shearer reached the final round with 6.75,6.67 and 6.79 wins over Brian Gahm, Scotty Cannon and Carl Moyer. Jordan, meanwhile had been more consistant, posting 6.64, 6.64 and 6.65 wins over Johnny Rocca, Robbie Diamond and David Chambers. Cannon and his Cable TV sposored '53 Stude had looked like the car to beat once again, being the quickest car in each qualifying session and improving every time down the track. The Murray Anderson-built "Killer Red Mater"

ended up number one, posting the quickest legal Pro Modified run in history at 6.396 seconds at 217.00 mph. Cannon was unable to back up the record in a 6.493 win over John Bartunek, then exploded the Lenco tranmission in the second round facing Shearer, ending his 9 round winning streak. "It kind of scared me," said Cannon. "I have kicked the rods out of there, but never had something that violent happen before. These things are stuff you cannot predict, nor can you prepare for. You just have to take the disappointments in stride and keep pushing for ward." Like Shearer, Ron Miller also became a first time winner as he drove his Moser Engineering Chevrolet Monte Carlo to the Pro Stock win. In the final round, fac ing defending World Champ Floyd Cheek, Miller holeshotted the Ford Probe and got to the finish line first at 6.92/199 to hold off Cheek's quicker 6.88/202. Miller qualified niunber eleven at 6.90 and had earher stopped Doug Kirk's Dodge, John Montecalvo's Chevrolet and Dwayne Rice's Pontiac, while Cheek was the top qualifier at 6.82 and advanced with wins over the Fords of John Konigshoffer and Jon Yoak and David Jenkins Chevrolet. - DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

FIRST OBJECTIVE... Johnny Rocca qualified his Ironhorse ‘49 Mercury, but lost in the first round. (Ostaszewski) 1

WF-

njuiyim track and considering that tem peratures were up around 35 degrees (in our scale!) we were very happy qualifying fifth with a 4.714, the frustration of Columbus seemingly well and truly behind us. Just to show that qualifying up the ladder doesn't always guaran tee you an advancement past the first round, I redlighted and hand ed the win to Pat Dakin, who had qualified 13th. Normally, I stage first, but Dakin went in early and when I staged, the car lept into the lights a bit further than normal. I don't know why it did that, but I have been cutting a lot of great lights and I guess that's what happens when your pushing hard on the tree.

Top Fuel racers unite New owners groupformed at Sydney meeting

Australia’s Top Fuel teams have to-be Top Fuel racer Vic Baker and team/driver running in Top Fuel, taken control of their own des three-time Australian Top Fuel Funny Car or Top Bike. By Aussie David Grui tiny with the formation of a Championship-winning driver/team Ironically, it is believed AFRA’s self-run management group, owner Santo Rapisarda - were not charter guidelines will be used to Atwe thewere close my last column, similar to the TEGA/TOCA present at the meeting. in of Texas in prepara help set-up the new Top Fuel tion for the Castrol Lone Star Touring Car organisations, in A similar group, the Australian organisation. Nationals at Dallas. Sydney last weekend. Fuel Racers Association,, was A full press release from the yetA 4.66/293 qualified us 4t.h, but formed in the late ’80s, and while Held at former Australian Top to-be-named organisation announc dropped cylinders were still a Fuel Champion Graeme Cowin’s AFRA was strong in its early days, ing the formation of the gi'oup was problem. Nevertheless, we ran Rocket Industries facility near it has had no influence on the sport expected after Motorsport News Bob Vandergriff in the Jerzee's Eastern Creek last Sunday, the Top since the early ‘90s. closed for press. car in round one. Fuel owners voted for their new - GERALD McDORNAN AFRA membership relied on a Things appeared to be going group to take over the marketing fine until the 800ft mark when shit and organisation of their bracket BLAST OFF... A new Top Fuel Owners Group has been formed.(Basher) started flying out of the car from from ANDRA. everywhere. The engine fireballed It is believed the set-up for the most important part of has our performance this season in the lights and we blew a tyre. It The organisation will be similar to the been the crew. We are always the was quite spectacular and made Pro Stock Owner’s Association and all the local TV stations news cov first into the staging lanes, even their ‘take-over’ of the Pro Stock / erage. The car sustained plenty when I kill an engine, blow the bracket recently. tires, break headers etc. of damage, but to the crew’s cred While all were remaining tightLed by crew chief Richard it they did a great job in repairing lipped about the full extent of the Hogan, they are some of the most it for the next round. meeting, Motorsport News under (Oh yeah, we still managed to talented guys around. stands that the new group will Lee Norris and Sam Miller are keep Vandergriff behind us all the receive the full support of ACTORA, from Okalahoma and fly into the way to the fipish line!) with its CEO, Mr. Tony Thornton We came across Mike Dunn in races..Lee handles the bottom being present at the meeting. the second round and, even end and is a the teams welding ANDRA’s role is expected to be though I cut a nice light on him, specialist. Sam happens to be a reduced to one of just rules maker we were up in smoke not long VW technician during the week, and not one of a financial partner in after. Needless to say, Dunn was but that doesn't stop him from the venture, as CAMS’s commercial long gone, so there was little doing the left hand side of the arm, the Australian Motor Sport engine at the races. point in getting back on it. Commission, is with AVESCO, the John Boyce is another fly in, We passed over on the race at V8 Supercar promotions company Englishtown and went to Brad handling the right hand side of the jointly owned with TEGA and SEE. Madman's chassis shop near engine. John works for Tim Motorsport News understands Seattle to get our current car front McAmis, a very well known Pro and back halved. We also have a Modified chassis builder, building that the group - which elected a brand new '97 car that wasn't race cars. As you could imagine sub-committee comprising chair used last season and it was he's a gun fabricator. man Romeo Capitanio, Mick Victor Scardina is our full time Atholwood and Stan Sainty to over updated to identical specs. This clutch man a job he did for car should debut at the US see the operation - also appointed a World Top Fuel champion Gary marketing consultant who is under Nationals at Indy in September. Scelzi.last season. stood to have direct links with a The Mitchell family, who own major Australian brewing company. By now.allI'mheard sure about that you have thewould new the whole deal, are the final and Only two team owners/competi facility at Chicago, where they vital component in the whole tors with Top Fuel interests - soonjield the inaugural Route 66 - Fram Nationals recently. The facility is actually in Joliet, which many Aussies are familiar with for being the place where the jail is that Jake Blues, right, spent his time before being released and "getting the band back together" because he and his brother Elwood were "on a mis sion from God" The new drag racing stadium was touted as Scandinavian Andersson leads The decision to split Europe's The FIA European Top Fuel being the best drag strip Series appears to be struggling alcohol classes again lead to the the Pro Stock points race ahead of ever built and I can say fellow countrymen Jari Konola and with just four Top Fuel cars alcohol Funny Car class being sup that it's everything that Jacob Ferrer. ported by just two racers, while turning up for the second we heard, and more! The next round of the FIA round of the series at Alastaro, only five dragsters fronted for their Built like a football sta class. European Drag Racing Series will Finland on the July 3-5 week dium, the 30,000-plus European Champion Peter Beck be held at Mantorp Park, Sweden end,although the number was a crowd on race day on July 24-26. huge advancement on just the took out the dragster class with a enjoyed an absolutely MISSION FROM GOD ... “Joliet Jake. two that fronted for the first low et of the event 5.72/238 over state of the art facility. n Bob Jarrett and John Jarmo Roivas' 6.13/237, while Leif roimd at Santa Pod in May. Unbelievable. team's operation. England's Barry Sheavills was Andreasson's 6.07 was enough to Spuffard have added to their For the event we qualified sec John and his wife Paulette own again the class of the field, the defeat a troubled Mikael Kaagered fuel Funny Car stable following ond, our best ever qualifying spot, in their final, and only, race. the purchase of Dean Skuza's Wynn’s-backed driver top qualify with a 4.629, but the race itself a cattle ranch in Montana and a Beck and Roivas jointly lead the 1997 Dodge Avenger fuel coupe, ing with a 5.07/265 ahead of Jens was a bit of a bummer - Shelley sheetmetal company in California. John works at the race car work Nybo (5.17/269), Anita Mikela (who dragster category after the first two with the purchase of another Anderson flogged us in round one Avenger, this time an ex-Tom shop full-time while his sons Tim, events, while Andreasson leads the was making her debut behind the when we turned the tyres. I guess Joe and James divide their time wheel of Europe's first four second slim looking alcohol Funny Car Hoover mount from fellow we just made the wrong lane between the ranch and the workEnglishman BiU Sherrat. choice. fueller), 5.30/275 and Tommi division. shop. Spuffard, who is Europe's quick The Europeae Pro Stock Series, Haapanen (5.79/259). Tim, who fancies himself as a fter the visit to Joliet, things Despite recording a poor reaction which has been solid for the last est Funny Car driver, will drive the bit of a musician, is also the team new car at the Summer Nationals time in the first round, Sheavills decade, again provided some excel continued along the same vain at Colombus for the Pontiac manager. easily round up Haapanen with a lent racing and ets, with 10 cars at Santa Pod in August, with for Paulette goes to all the races mer Australian tourist Gary Page Excitement Nationals. Some of 5.39. while Nybo, who was the only fronting for the eight car field. and can be found cleaning the oil taking Spuffard's place behind the the older, tracks like Columbus Three cars qualified in the 7.1 other competitor to Sheavills at the can't take the power like a lot of pan, mixing fuel for the car and first round at Santa Pod, downed second range with Niclas wheel of the DJB Showtime the others can, so we made some packing the chutes. Mikela in a close 5.21 to 5.24 con- Andersson heading the field with a Avenger, which debut earlier this Even though the Mitchells are 7.13. year. adjustments to compensate. test. wealthy enough to fund a Top In the final Andersson was dis The Jarrett/Spuffard team, who Unfortunately the engine in our In the final round Nybos struck have run solid bests of 5.4/269 with car wasn't as much of an animal Fuel team, you'd go along way to problems and the Wynn's fueller qualified, allowing former as it normally is and our 4.89 best meet a family that is more down Champion Scandinavian Tomi their previous Pontiac fuel coupe, ran through for a 5.28/280 pass. to earth. left us unqualified in 18th. Naturally Sheavills and Nybo are Laine to claim victory with his are currently on the hunt for spon Cheers - Dave. St Louis is another very tricky sors to enable the two-car operation in a close battle for the Top Fuel great 7.10/195 in the Pontiac Trans to continue beyond August. Am. series.

Sheavills takes second '98 Euro Top Fuel event Onlyfour carsfrontfor second round ofseries

17Jul!/199S

NASR faces its critics n Ray Solomon,the President of the Sprintcar Racing Association of Victoria(SRA)reports that even at this early stage interest in the upcoming Series is on the up with a couple of additional tracks keen to join the fray. The Redline Raceway at Ballarat are keen to run a round ofthe series and in fact the cars of Boh Forbes, Steve Knight, Shane Stephenson and Kevin McCallum ventured to Ballarat recently for a series of den\onstration runs. n On the other side of Melbourne,the Rosedale Speedway are keen to secure the retm-n of big time Sprintcar rac ing to the eastern venue. They have already undertaken some earth works to re-profile the track. A demonstration run is also planned 'for Rosedale. Both tracks have been inspected and advice given as to requii-ed improve ments and given the level of enthusiasm from the clubs it would be unlikely for a race not to take place at both venues this summer. Up north Wangarratta Speedway has also expressed an interest in a round of the series. There is of coui’se also a chance that the Sprintcars may make their debut on the currently being revamped Bacchus Marsh track. n Greg Foster, the F in D&F Racing Products, says that prepa rations for the up coming speed way season ai’e in full swing and he personally has been flat out building and repairing race cars and components. “I’ve just sent Glenn Ifriotts Gambler back to Darwin after a repair and Mike Van Bremen’s car has a new front end on it.” He stated, “I’ve just got to make a couple of new panels and it will be finished.” As well as those two cars, Foster also has some work to do on the cars of Ray Scott and one of the Flocon Teams Gamblers(the one wlrich was backed into the embankment at Parramatta in a private testing session). Harry Kippers National Rod is also in for some comprehensive rebuilding. In terms of new cars Wayne Milburn has a new fi’ame on the. way as does Albury’s David Anderson. 'The Flocon Engineering team has also commissioned the con struction of two new chassis. Foster has also been busy build ing wings and components with both TatneU racing and Brad Heywood taking delivery of a cou ple of wings each. n Billy Roberts, the man behind the Grizzly Chassis and Robway System has been retm-ned as President of the NSW Sprintcar Club for a second term despite a concerted effort from Brian Linigan who ran against Roberts. Fornier President Bob Tunks is the Vice President and Viv Lewis is the Secretaiy once again. Arthur Cowin is the Treasm’er. The committee is made up of Brian Linigan, John Shore, Boh Lee, Trevor Shields and Alan Sonter.

The National Association of Speedway Racing (NASR)aims to unify Speedway’s numerous bodies under one roofbut the promoters behind the concept are encountering some flak. BRETTSWANSON investigates... FOR a group that is planning to set itself up for the betterment of Speedway racing, NASR, the National Association of Speedway Racing, is having a hard time convincing its con stituents of its plans. Ask around, and the very parties whom NASR will represent and be funded by, are unsure and suspicious of what the new group has to offer. A group of interested parties met with NASR officials in Sydney on June 27 to try and resolve some of CLOSE TUSSLES... We’re used to seeing hard battles on the track - like this one between Terry Bracken the concerns that still exist with and Skip Jackson - but the upcoming NASR battle off the track will bear watching as well. (Photo by Geott Rounds) NASR’s structure and future direc tions. Solomon stated. “There’s been a that part of the $175 was to pay for Speedways) Insm-ance as a wedge, The NASR people met for two was the worst I’ve ever seen. but what the competitors need to days prior to the meeting, which general lack of information out of “It’s an attempt by promoters to realise is that FAS is only a browas attended by representatives NASR, a distinct lack of communication. gain control and then reduce the kerage company. Any association from the Sprintcar Control Council prizemoney, because they can’t or group can arrange it themselves “NASR refused to supply a busi of Austraha(SCCA), the Australian promote the sport properly. with their own brokers or even go Speedcar Control Council (ASCC), ness plan and they rejected out “Just look at the proposal they direct to Sedgwick’s.” the Australian Saloon Car right our demands to see the mem Following the meeting Neville Federation (ASCF), the NSW and orandum and articles of association (NASR)sent around. Ofthe income they will generate the/re only bud- Harper, the President of the ASCF, Victorian Sprintcar Clubs and oth- that relate to the company. sent a letter to all the state secre“We need answers about the geting $30,000 for marketing. ers. structure of NASR and need to clar “How much marketing and protaries reporting on the meeting, Bill Roberts, the recently re The letter in part stated; “John motion of the sport is that going to ify whether NASR’s vision is the elected President of the NSW Hughes addressed the meeting and get us?” Sprintcar club, has some serious same as ours(the clubs). “There is also the question about reservations about NASR: Bob| Kelly, staunch supporter spoke on behalf of NASR and delivwhether the West Australian of Sprintcar racing and a share- ered the usual amount of rhetoric “It seems there has been some holder in World Series Sprintcars we have become accustomed to, but misinformation about Government report on the WA Speedway funding and how speedway can get Industry is relevant to the rest of p/1, also attended the meeting and again without any specific strategy was disappointed with the out- or positive direction. some,” Roberts told Motorsport the country and whether'NASR “It was pointed out again by sevwill actually address the problems come. News. “I don’t know why they bothered eral competitor group representa“I met with Trevor Johns, the in Western Australia,” explained having a meeting,” he said. “They tives that if a strategic business Government Liaison officer to Solomon. “I think that with the lack of weren’t listening to us, they were plan was presented and all the pro Gabrielle Harrison the NSW telling us< posed benefits and aims of NASR Minister for Sport and Recreation communication that is coming from NASR and the fact that the SCCA, “I also challenged John Hughes met with the approval of the comand he told me that the Government won’t give money to the ASCC and the ASCF are cur- and his ability to run NASR. I petitor groups, NASR may very Proprietary Limited Companies, rently working to align their rules. don’t believe he’s the right person well be better placed to gain support. However, despite several Private Enterprise or Promoters the time is right to forget NASR forthejob.” Kelly continued. “There ai-e some requests, such a plan has not and . He also said that Speedway and for the associations to get Competitor Groups can apply together and,work with the promot- questions about some of the dfrec- was not forthcoming,” tors and whether they should be The letter continued: “It became already, as they are, for ers,” he concluded. Government assistance,” Roberts / Roberts has similar thoughts to there and also there’s the question evident that NASR want nothing about why weren’t the director- less than TOTAL CONTROL of all stated before the meeting. ' Solomon on many ofthese issues. Speedway in Australia.” After the meeting on June 27 his “The proposed NASR licence ships open to the general pubhc? “I think there could be some high Harper’s letter went on to state attitude hadn’t changed. states that you abide by NASR’s powered and astute business peo- some of the questions put to NASR “Their attitude is all wrong,” he I'ules and regulations! What rules stated. “There’s no give and take. and regulations? NASR doesn’t pie out there who would be wilhng and some of the non-commital to sit on the board and who could answers that were forthcoming have any rules or regirlations. ' It’s their way or else. In the meet make a difference.” which caused those assembled to “You’re going out there and rac ing there was no conciliation, just confrontation. ing your cars, but you don’t know NASR confirmed that the direc- lose faith in the proposal, “With only one minor competitor “Dave Lander (Promoter of what rules you’re running to,” tors of NASR Incorporated wouldn’t be paid, as it is to be a gi'oup involved and less than 10% Parramatta and Newcastle) has Roberts explained. “The Minister for Sport and non-profit organisation, but when of tracks involved (despite stated that if you aren’t a member of NASR you won’t be able to race Recreation through Trevor Johns questioned as to whether the direc- Australian Speedway promoters at his tracks. strongly encouraged the speedway tors of NASR Pty Ltd would be Association saying they had total remunerated, there was no direct support for NASR fi’om their mem “I don’t agree with this but, divisions to get together and become unified so that we can then response. bership), clearly the dictatorial thanks to some political undercur “NASR is set up to make money approach being used by NASR has rents on the Sydney scene where apply to the government for fund drivers are being encouraged tp ing to build a multi-functional for a selected few people,” Kelly failed to attract members and the join, I don’t think that the drivers speedway (ie cars, bikes, oddessys stated, echoing the sentiments of feeling of most people attending etc) at Eartern Creek because they his son. this meeting was disgust and will be strong enough to refuse. are concerned about a monopoly of “It’s stacked against the competi- anger at the audacity of NASR to “We are being bludgeoned into tors and it’s the competitors who try and enforce the will of so few submission.” stated an exasperated speedway ownership in Sydney.” Roberts. Multiple Queensland champion vdll pay. There’s no guarantees as people at the expense of so many.” John Kelly was even more scathing. to how much it will cost five years Following the meeting the “NASR Company Secretary and World Series race director John “It’s a set-up by the promoters down the road. Sprintcar Racing Association of “I don’t believe that NASR will Victoria sent a three page letter to Hughes said the same thing and others,” he said. “A dictator help us here in Queensland. I John Hughes with a list of 27 ques applied to the World Series rounds ship. “Sure, it’s only $40 or $50 this agree that Speedway needs a tions and concerns relating to - no NASR,no racing.”. Ray Solomon, the President of year, but what about next year? clean-up and the concept is good NASR, World Series and FAS. As We’ve seen it with World Series. but they’re not consulting us, yet no reply has been forthcoming. the Victorian club, agreed: These next 12 months could First it was free, then there Was a they’re telling us. “They were not prepared to nego “They’re trying to use the FAS prove to be a very interesting time tiate, nor wei’e they forthcoming control tyre then it was $75, then with information requested,” $175, and the television coverage (Federation of Australian in the world of Speedway racing.

n July 1998

Kfnser tops Dakotas duel

AMONG a recent prolifera tion of new speedway class es including AMCAs and LHD sedans out west, South Australia’s newest category, V6 Sprints, is rapidly gaining momentum since being announced exclusively in MN in 1996. It’s taken around two years to get off the ground but these cars, basically small sprintcars, have already gained acceptance at SA’s country tracks. With a rapidly expand ing car count and enthusiasm helped along by identities such as Patron Phil Herteen and Drivers Rep Johnny Moyle, there are likely to be more reg istered V6 racers than speedcars in South Australia this coming season. “We tossed round names

STEVE Kinser and spare. Scoring the most Sammy Swindell were points in the preliminary the big winners in the progi’ams gave Kinser the inaugural triple feature pole. He drove his #11 Duel in the Dakota’s at Quaker State Maxim into Red River Valley the lead as the green flag Speedway last weekend. fell, only to have Tatnell hit ‘The King’, Steve Kinser, the outside wall and start a won both Thursday’s and four-car crash involving Friday’s features but had to Wade Nygaard, “B’, Featui'e settle for second behind winner Daryn Pittman and Joe Gaerte. Swindell on Saturday. The Kinser cousins raced In Thursday’s prelimi nary Kinser led all 20 laps. nose-to-tail after a mid race In the feature Swindell caution and Swindell joined made a great start but the battle for the lead dur Kinser’s was even better as ing lap 17. Steve, Mark and like Speedway kites and he quickly passed Herrera Swindell raced threeand Haudenschild and then abreast in the fourth comer Winged Midgets, but'settled passed Swindell for the lead the next time around, but for V6 Sprints,” explained spokesman Zeke Agars, Steve managed to maintain late on the opening lap. emphasising the section’s need He went on to win by less first place. The leaders were nosethan a second. Mark Kinser for a unique identity. “We believe there’s no other V6 finished third ahead of to-tail again when they powered section in Australia.” HaudenschiM, Danny entered lapped traffic dur Lasoski, Andy Hillenburg, ing the 20th lap. Swindell “Our focus this past season was somewhat make-or-break Herrera, Stevie Smith, Greg executed a low move into the fourth corner to take - to show the public what Hodnett and Donny Schatz. second from Mark the next After timing in 12th we’re about, hopefully gaining time around. But, after a fastest ahead of Danny recognition and becoming an Smith’s 19th, Brooke restart, in a three-lap dash autonomous speedway sec tion.” Tatnell only managed sixth to the chequered flag in his heat to Smith’s sec Swindell controlled the Originally the V6 brigade ond place. Tatnell then ran restart and cruised to the intended allowing regular 235th ‘A’ Feature victory of speedcars to compete from the third in the B Feature, pro gressed to the main event, his Pennzoil World of rear of the grid if they fitted Outlaws Series career. and ran 16th. Smith fin wings, but this proved imnecLasoski finished in fourth ished 14th. essary due to strong sup'port On Friday Kinser made place, ahead of Herrera, which has seen nine cars rac no mistake after a restart HaudenschUd, Schatz, 16th- ing in their debut season. and left the rest fighting starting Dollansky, Jeff \With the number of con behind him as he recorded a Swindell and Hodnett. firmed entries for next sum half lap win over Stevie Tatnell finished just outside mer already approaching 15 Smith, Hillenburg, Mark K, the 10 in 11th place. and the prospect of 20-plus Dale Blaney, Swindell, Current points; Steve cars by 1999, the future of V6 Tyler Walker, Schatz, Kinser 5,276, Sammy racing seems assured. A large Lasoski and Tatnell. Danny Swindell 5,252, Mark number of former speedcar Smith was credited with Kinser 5,236, Stevie Smith and sprintcar competitors 22nd. Tatnell had timed 5,215, Andy Hillenburg have jumped on board along 5,071, Danny Lasoski 5,036, ninth quickest while Danny with drivers like Max Bell, a Smith had been 12th. Johnny Herrera 5,034, Jeff former crew chief for Tom Swindell 4,855, Dale Blaney On Saturday Swindell Tomlinson, and 46-year-old passed Steve Kinser during 4,833, Tyler Walker 4,789, ,. John Kipling who has been enticed out of retirement after Brooke Tatnell 2,072. a 27-lap restart and won the -BRETT SWANSON race with 10 car-lengths to a near fatal speedcar accident

BLACK BEAUTY... Scott Agars shows some pace in his V6-powered car. iPhoto by oaviaMcNabb)

V6 Sprints ready

at Speedway Park five years ago. In October, 77-year-old Dud Lambert is also due to face the starter, having con verted his Autoki-aft speedcar to a V6 racer. The section was initially conceived through a perceived need to improve safety stan dards for open-wheelers in SA along with making the whole deal affordable - hence the choice of Mitsubishi 3-litre powerplants. ^ New V6 engines can be bought for under $4000 and many entrants have procured second-hand motors for under two grand. Combined with the reasonable cost of a good speedcar roller, most potential (h-ivers can find themselves on the track for less than $11,000. This stacks up veiy favourably against the outlay for a cur rent model speedcar or sprintcar.

The cars have an 80 inch maximum wheelbase and are heavier than regular speedcars, with a minimum weight of 10001b. However, most V6 cars are using quick change rear ends and other refine ments. They run a flywheel with starter motor and a dis tributor replaces the computer normally found on the Mitsubishi V6. Methanol fuel is used with a pair of Holden carbies in place of fuel injechon, boosting the reliabili ty factor. “This package was designed to help produce close racing and that aim has been met,” according to V6 race driver Mike Buxallen. “Blanket fin ishes are quite common.” The V6 category is no slouch either - these cars can cover Bordertovm’s clay track in 15 seconds and the top drivers have been timed around

Murray Bridge’s Riverview Raceway in 13 seconds which is better than the V8 rods. “Possibly the only criticism I’ve heard is that with twin mufflers, our cars aren’t very noisy,” revealed Buxallen. They probably do sound over-refined out on the track, but this aspect should improve when planned exhaust system modifications are implemented, “We’re introducing a control tyre ruling for next season,” said Agars, “but all V6 entrants are aware that our basic rules and regs won’t be changed for three years.” Drivers and owners can there fore plan ahead with a degi'ee of stability. Another pleasing factor that emerged last sum mer has been the willingness of competitors to help each other out during race meet ings. -DAVID MCNABB

Great finale for Mothar Mountain By CHRIS METCALF THE final meeting for the sea son at Gympie’s Mothar Mountain Speedway was held on June 27 and featured the final rounds of the Skinner

ning end to his most successful sea son in the division. Don Birt (Aussie Auto Falcon) and Chris Albert (Bob Jane TMarts Commodore) finished second and third respectively in all three heats before the order was reversed in the feature when Albert grabbed the runner-up berth. Geoff O’Keeffe (Currimundi Hotel Falcon) and Kev Barkle (Elf Commodore) were the only others to go the distance in-the feature. Meehan finished with 1664

Engineering Super Sedan Series and the Autobarn Modified Production Series. The Super Sedan events were a yawn with Cameron Meehan (Lewin Homes Falcon) finishing the night undefeated to score maximum points, well clear of Warren points and secure the series crown. Despite having the series (1331), Birt (1033), Jamie McHugh (981) and O’Keeffe (625), wrapped up already due to the absence of Peter Warren, Meehan Ian Miller (617), Ian Marshall still di’ove hard to ensure a win- (540), Wayne Randall (51 8), Kylie

Max Dumesny Motorsport

Albert (422) and Lee Noon (393) completed the top 10. The Modified Production brigade put on a good display with Greg Raymont (Cooroy Auto Wreckers Cortina) and Queensland champ Gary Pagel (MadilTs Commodore) locked in battle for overall honours. Todd Doyle (Betta Electrical Commodore) stole the spotlight on the night though with a superb drive under pressure to take the 20 lap feature event. Doyle, who also recorded a heat win and a new eight lap track record, took the lead from polesitter Raymont on lap three and with stood all attempts at dethronement. Raymont, who somehow escaped

(627), Michael Hally (527). Once again, the Street Sedan feature was a crash and bash affair that failed to go the full dis tance before officials called a halt to proceedings. State champ Chris Elliott was declared the victor over Dustin Home and Tony Hehir, who put in a mighty drive from position 20. The Super Street Sedan feature was another effortless win for the very talented Greg Waters from Ewan Johnstone, Frank Packer and Jim Springate. The Junior Sedan'feature went to Mark Raymont. ahead of Jon Rachow, Andrew Dyne, Sal Dailly and Jamie Thompson.

1998 WORLD OF OUTLAWS/SKOAL OUTLAW SERIES

Australian Distributors for

POINT STANDINGS TO JULY I2TH, 1998

Steve Kinser 2. Sammy Swindell 3. Mark Kinser 4. Stevie Smith 5. Andy Hillenburg 6. Danny Lasoski For more information on Hoosier Drag and Speedway Tyres call: 7. Johnny Herrera NSW: §2 9679 I99§ Fax §2 9679 1187 8. Jeff Swindell VIC: 03 9331 6477 Fax 03 9331 7444 9. Dale Blaney SA: 08 8332 0800 Fax 08 8364 0296 10, Tyler Walker e

^^ RACING TIRE

penalty following a clash with Mark Ferguson (Russ Industries Cortina) that brought about a restart with six laps remaining, finished in sec ond spot and wrapped up the series. Gary Pagel finished third ahead of Mark Pagel (Ampol Commodore), Brock Clifford (STP Cortina), Andy Geppert (Terry Geppert Mechanical Escort) and Glenn Pagel [Commodore). The final points standings resulted in a narrow series win for Raymont (1880) over Gary Pagel (1821), Mark Pagel (1635), Clifford (1508), Geppert (1385) and Troy Brittle (1041) were next best ahead of Peter Doyle (1000), Todd Doyle (904), Steve Thomson

5,276 5,252 5,236 5,215 5,071 5,036 5,034 4,855 4,833 4,789

1 1. Joe Gaerte 12. Jac Haudenschild 13. Greg Hodnett 14. Donny Schatz 15. Craig Dollansky 16. Dion Hindi 17. Lance Blevins 18. Brooke Tatnell 19. Larry Neighbors 20. Daryn Pittman

4,765 4,755 4,707 4,631 4,014 3,029 2,71 1 2,072 2,023 1,674

RED RIVER VALLEY SPEEDWAY-JULY I2TH A-FEATURE (30 LAPS) II. Brooke Tatnell I. Sammy Swindell 2. Steve Kinser 12. Andy Hillenburg 13. Dale Blaney 3. Mark Kinser 14. Bill Robertson 4. Danny Lasoski 15. Jason Wendt 5. Johnny Herrera 16. Stevie Smith 6. Jac Haudenschild 17. Pat Miller 7. Donny Schatz 18. Tyler Walker 8. Craig Dollansky 19. Jimmy Kouba 9. Jeff Swindell 20. Scott McDonald 10. Greg Hodnett

l^®0®J78[p®Dl9

UMyim n Poole is set to be the new venue for future British Grand Prix after impressing FIM officials when the recent A Overseas Final of the World Championship was staged there. By Tony MiHard The home track of Aussies Craig Boyce and convinced of the merits of Mark Lemon is now the small screen. superbly laid out with a The British referee is in restaurant seating 600 peo charge ofthe Swedish GP on ple and the ability of the 28 August and plans to track staff to clear tonnes of insist on a monitor screen water from the track surface being available to him. within 24 hours of the meet

-H

ing could swing the views of the FIM in its favour rather tham this year’s venue which is Coventi-y. n Toni Kasper,the ‘per manent’ Czech wild car in this yeai-’s GP series, won his Continental semi-final with ease and needs to do well in just one more round of the World Championship at the 6>nd of August in the Continental Final itself to gain an automatic place in next year’s GPKapspert gained a 15 point maximum ahead of Sydney rider Todd Wiltshire who is riding on a Gennan licence. Wiltshire netted a 13 point retm-n. Kasper beat the Aussie in heat 17 after coming from the back. Wiltshire’s only other defeat was at the hands of the Pole Adam Fajfer. S Following the Danish Grand Piix most of the top riders stayed in Continental Europe and most raced in Poland just 24 hours later. But it was a trip to Sweden for most ofthe Aussie quartet as Leigh Adams topped the scorers for Indainema in a home win over Rospiggama, he scored 13. Jason Crump scored 10 as Vargama won 53-43 at Bysama but Ryan Sullivan with 9 was on the losing side for Kapama at Valsama as was Craig Boyce for Vastervik despite scoring 16 points as they narrowly lost 49-47 at Smedema. Controversial FIM referee Frank Ebdon is the latest to back the idea ofreferees having TV monitors in their boxes for major events. Ebdon was much criti cised for decisions made in the German Gr^d Prix but went into the SKY TV stu dios to watch the Danish event. He went away totally

g|rpjjg campaign is growj„g jn Britain to race the Premier League meetings in 1999 aboard petrol-driven Honda engines. A trial meeting between Sheffield and Newcastle for the Honda Cup was staged recently with the action completed in 90 minutes without any hitches. The appeal of a big brand name such as Honda is believed to be attractive to sponsors and could spark a revolution among those com mitted to motors powered by the conventional methanol.

will come back. He has been too good a rider for too long to have more than just a slight drop in form.” Boyce was a member of Australia’s losing Test team against England at Wolverhampton and his club form produced a 3 point return in a recent home match. Poole supporters have alleged Boyce has been keeping his best machines for the Grand Prix series. n Australians Todd Wiltshire and Jason Crump were involved in an unpleas ant outburst as Wiltshire rode his first meeting for new club Oxford against Swindon. The two were riding as partners in heat 3 and came together on the run-in to the pits bend. Ankle ligament injuries are expected to keep Crump out until the British Grand Prix and he missed the first test match at Wolverhampton between England and Australia, The two riders have not

spoken to each other since n Sheffield had hoped to the incident. bring in Himgarian star and n The arrival of Todd GP rider Zoltan Adoijan to Wiltshire at Oxford meant boost their ranks but British youngster Lawrence Britain’s Department of Hare being released and it Employment has blocked simply was not a good week the work permit application. for yoimg Hare. With many British riders Riding for Premier still without a regular club League Newport he crashed slot permits are becoming . in his very first race against increasingly difficult to Edinburgh and broke a leg. obtain for foreign riders other than those from EU countries. n Wiltshire’s appearances in England do not affect his n Todd Wiltshire has laid commitment to the German his cards fiimly on the table League and his club and says he is determined to Landshut are second in the make it into the Grand Prix Gennan Superleague after a ranks. second place behind The Sydney rider now Diedenbergen ahead of back in the British Ehte Wittstock and Leipzig. League with Oxford has The Sydney rider totalled already qualified for the 13 points and suffered two Continental Final ofthe defeats, both against Danish World Championship. Champion rider Brian “I am just five rides from Karger who scored a 15 qualifying for the Grand points maximum for the Prix and that would be winners. amazing. I want to be part of the GP bandwagon and n Mark l^emon has not had the best ofluck this sea n that’s why I returned to the track.” He said. son when racing in Sweden with his club Bysama bot n Poole team manager tom of the Elite League. Neil Street, who is also the But the Aussie top scored boss of the Aussie national with 11 points as the team team, hasjumped to the enjoyed their first win ofthe defence of out ofform season by 49 points to 47 Sydney rider Craig Boyce. l against Indianema for Said Street,“His foiTU is whom Leigh Adams totalled not quite what it was but it

DEFENDING... Neil Street is standing up for Craig Boyce (#16). (Photo by Mike Patrick)

Poms take first test

England 55 Australia 41 at Wolverhampton

THE Australians, without injured Grand Prix star Jason Crump, proved no match for England in the first of three test matches. But England did not take the lead until heat five with the early battles tough and tight. It was Shane Parker at reserve that proved the star for Australia, with two heat victories in his 12 point haul and a superb third place m heat 14 when he passed Mark Loram just before the line. Mark Lemon enjoyed two heat wins, taking heats 13 and 14 but by then it was too late. The only other Aussie to record a heat victory was Leigh Adams, who led home Scott Nicholls and Chris Louis in heat six with team mate Steve Johnston tailed off' The remaining two Tests in the three match series are at Eastbourne and Kings Lynn on August 1 and 2.

BATTLE OF THE 7s...Shane Parker chases Paul Hurry on his way to winning heat two. It got worse from there...

England

Australia

3 1 2 2 3 11 Mark Lemon 1 0 3 3 2 9 Chris Louis 3 Scott Nicholls 2 2 1 3 1 10 Jason Lyons 0 2 0 1 2 2 Ryan Sullivan 2 0 0 Martin Dugard R 1 1 0 Mark Loram 3 3 3 0 3 12 Craig Boyce 12 1 1 0 5 03 20 Joe Screen 5 Leigh Adams 1 3 1 0 1 8 2 3 Steve Johnston2 0 0 0 12Andy Smith 1 3 3 3 2 12 Shane Parker 3 2 2 3 1 12 Paul Hurry

Heat-by-Heat

1. Louis, Nicholls, Lemon, Lyons. 2. Parker, Johnston, Hurry, Smith. 3. Loram, Sullivan, Boyce, Dugard (ret). 4. Hurry, Parker, Adams, Screen. 5. Loram, Lyons, Dugard, Lemon. 6. Adams, Nicholls, Louis, Johnston. 7. Screen, Boyce, Smith, Sullivan. 8. Hurry, Parker, Nicholls, Lyons. 9. Loram, Adams, Dugard, Johnston 10. Nicholls, Louis, Boyce, Sullivan. 11. Hurry, Screen, Lyons, Adams. 12. Parker, Hurry, Boyce, Dugard. 13. Lemon, Louis, Adams, Screen. 14. Lemon, Smith, Parker, Loram. 15. Loram, Nicholls, Parker, Boyce. 16. Louis, Lemon, Adams, Hurry (exc) ONE FOR THE GOOD GUYS... Leigh Adams leads Chris Louis and Scott Nicholls in heat six. (Photos by Mike Patrick)

KARTING AFTER less than impressive entries in the FMK support classes in previous years, Ipswich pro vided full fields of karts in Junior Clubman, Senior Clubman and RESA Cup as sup port for the Queensland round of the Wynn’s Australian Champ ionships. In Junior Clubman it was NSW teenager Kristy Graham who stole the limelight, qualifying on pole, winning three from three heats, the pre final and the final (by over six seconds). Graham (Tony Kart) was only really challenged by her brother Adam (Tony Kart) who followed her home in the three heats, but succumbed to mechanical prob lems during the finals. Following Kristy home in the final was DINO driver James Farquharson who was back with the marque after a brief stint with Azzurro. NSW Champ Farquharson received his kart on the Friday afternoon and spent the day assembling it before steadily climbing through the field to take second. Third Queensland’s

n July 1998

Great racing in RES round two WET TIMES... GKS Lemmens lead driver. Jan Heylen Is expected to make the trip to the Creek from Belgium.

Oceania moves ahead By SEAN HENSHELWOOD

RESA RACER... Darren Steeden has returned after four years to race forTIblKart. (Photo by seanUensheiwood) Clinton Roberts (Swiss Hutless), from compatriot’s Kel Tresseder (CRG) and Kurt Wimmer (Arrow AX6), with Austrahan Junior National Light Champion James Gurr (Top Kart) tak ing home sixth. In Senior Clubman the heats were a bat-

tie between the Azzurro’s of'Peter Jenkinson and Lawrence Kronen, pole sitter Jenkinson taking two wins, Kronen the other. The two battled again in the, pre-final although this time with Chris Williams (Azzurro) and Zeb

Lowe (Arrow AX6), with only a handful of Jenkinson taking his corners to go on the third win of the week- last lap. end to line up on pole Jenkinson followed alongside Kronen for him home only three the 20 lap final. tenths in arrears, The'two fought lap with Williams third, after lap trading the from Lowe, Jason lead a number of Vince (Azzurro) and times before Kronen Paul Baxter (Azzurro). made his bid for the - SEAN win taking the lead ' HENSHELWOOD

SINCE Eastern Creek International Karting Raceway and the North Shore Kart Club con firmed their intentions to host the 1998 Oceania Championships, prepara tions have been full steam ahead. Modifications have ah’eady been made to the $3.5M facility to provide spectator areas which can view the entire circuit, as

well as modifications to the existing pit areas which will provide better access to the circuit. Ensuring that all is in shape for the November 28/29 event will be FMK President Ernest Buser who will be visiting the facility on July 20. Interest from overseas continues after the con firmation of entries fi-om TibiKart Motorsport, GKS Lemmens/Tecno and Mike Wilson Karting International.

Hasenkam for 0/S ^^ingIve^ in KARTING

MR HUNDRED PERCENT... Orange-based TonyKart driver Brett Hasenkam has been in unbeatable form in recent races and is now heading overseas. By SEAN HENSHELWOOD ROUND two of the PCR RESA Cup series saw 22 of Australia’s best RESA drivers line up in an effort to make ground on round one winner Brett Hasenkam for the coveted Champion ship prize of a fully paid drive in the 1999 FMK Championship in Intercontinental A. One driver who was destined to make Hasenkam’s job more difficult was for mer lOOcc International driver Darren Steeden, making his return to top level karting after a four year break driving for TibiKart. Steeden threw down the gauntlet early taking pole for the heats, although it was Hasenkam (Tony Kart) who drew first blood winning the open ing heat from Steeden and Melbourne’s

(Ph oto by Sean Henshelkwood)

/rr

Ashley Wright (Tecno). In heat two the result was reversed, Steeden winning by only a tenth from Hasenkam, David Hardy (PRD) taking third. Hasenkam then took the third heat under lights on Saturday night from Hardy and round one runner up Dean Oven (CRG), before Wright came through to take the pre-final from Steeden and Hasenkam. Fourth was RESA ‘regular’ and new Queensland res ident Michael Sukahar (PCR). The expected battle between Hasenkam, Steeden and Wright came to an end on lap three when Steeden lost an engine at the end of the back straight leaving Hasenkam to run to the flag, over two seconds clear of Wright, with Hardy third. Bruce Moore (Merlin) took fourth from Oven and Jeffrey Moore (PCR).

r.. 4.

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Toyota Corolla Levin, factory superdiarged 4AG. Ready to rally etc. All options, roll cage etc. 1994 model, like new, lowkms, $14,000, Ph:03 9437 1645,

Fiat 124 Sports Sedan. 1997 Tasmanian Champion, 10 wins, 11 pole posns in a row. Mid mount 13BRP, factory c/r 5 speed and LSD. Total rebuild start of 1998, motor, box etc, new 2-pack paint. Heaps of spares. Fully end trailer and V8 XC Wagon tow car. $20,000 the lot. Car (in Sydney) only $15,000. Ph:036229 4313(BH),036249 3359(AH),

Nissan GTR (the real thing) 1990 4WD twin turbo. All options, choicp of 2 cars, $33,000 and $45,000, 12 months rego, like newcond.Ph:039437 1645,0418322642. .32 Alfa Romeo Super Tourer.Factory car, all taxes and duties paid. Buy one of the most reliable 2-litre cars in Australia. $60,000 not neg. Substantial spares package available. Ph: David Augqr 0418 794 240 or 07 3252 5511. 132

Ford Mondeo, rebuilt Rouse car - V6 Cosworth, 6 speed, Xtrac sequential, all factory parts. Truly affordable at $55,000 firm. Spares package available. Ph: John 029796 4328 (BH), or fax 02 9790 7035, or Peter 02 9597 6393, fax 02 9567 6506, 018 117 070. .32 Mazda 626, late 94, V6 hatchback. 1 owner. Spirt Alloy mag wheels, 5 speed manual, ABS brakes, a/c, sunjbof, CRS/CTRL, CD; E'windows, P/S. A drivers car. Luxury cruiser, handles like a sports car. $26,000. Ph: Bob 018 749 403,018 647 626. .32 Datsun 240Z rally car. Excellent shell and body, 2.8 litre, CROD box, 4.6 dirt, twin Thermos on 3 core, Koni wet sleeve adj suspension, adj platforms, fully adj front end. big brakes, Terraphone, 18-point steel cage, excellent seats/harnesses. Rally 2000 lights, alloy wheels, March 99 reg. $8,300. Ph: 03 9584 9353,018104949. 132 Escort Twin Cam 1972. Big valves, Cosworth LI cams, bored 711M block, 1750cc, steel crank etc. Recent niotor/gearbox rebuild. Mlnllites, Momo wheels. No rust. Reg 5/99. Forced sale. Ph:02423412497. .32

1963 Mkl Lotus Cortina. Nicest example you'll find. Present owner searched world-wide before deciding on this particular vehicle. Car owes him NZ$74,000+, an absolute bar gain at NZ$45,000. Ph: Steve Weeber 00 11 643 338 0471. .32

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Ford Escort SS, red& silver, Windsor Super T10 close ratio. Falcon diff, fibreglass bonnet, boot and guards. Must sell $6,500ono. Ph: Barry Wraith 07 5594 0860,018 450 213. .32

Mini Cooper S, Group NC, 1330. Straight cut geras, alloy panels, LSD, 6x10 Minilites, perspex. Nothing to spend, wilh trailer, $12,000ono. Consider part swap for XU1 road/race. Ph: 03 5977 8372. .32

JPS BMW 325 M3. Original car, built by JPS in 1986 raced in 1987 ATCC by Longhurst/Richards. Spare engine, gearbox, diffs and suspension etc. Complete car package with fresh engine. NZ$90,000. Ph:00 11 643 338 0471,fax 00 11 643 338 0915. .32

AUSCAR Sportsman, VL Commodore. No expense spared, championship-winning engine, winner of Best Presented Car, heaps of spares including engine and 16 different sway bars etc. Very competitive, must sell. Ph: 03 9404 4113, 0417 014 383. .32

Nissan Pulsar GTiR 1990.4WD,turbo, 12 months rego, all options, ABS, 240hp. As brand new. $29,500. Ph: 03 9437 1645,0418 322 642. .32 Holden VK V8 Calais, white duco, all electrics, immaculate inside and out. Full Brock Group 3 body kit. Mag wheels. RWC. $8,000ono. Ph:03 5433 2417. .32 Suzuki Swift GTi. Black, 15 inch alloys, Pirelli lyres, Koni adjustable suspension, engine mods, power chip, K&N Rampod filter, stainless extractors, Tokico brakes, quick-shift 5 speed, v. tidy interior. 4/99 reg. Must be sold for $8,500(cheap er than std GTi and lot more fun). Ph:035248 3044 132

Commodore HDT VC Brock, black, factory manual, S.OOOkms, in storage, immaculate. One of the rarest Brocks left. $33,000. Ph:024384 1447(AH), or 018432066. 132 Escort Twin Cam, std engine, new gearbox, original car $9,500 inci spares. Rebel 13x7 competition 4 spoke wheels, as new, $650; big axle LSD rear loader assembly, suit Escort, $950. Ph:08 82785988. .32 Falcon XR 1968 sedan,351 Cleveland, 11:1 pistons. Stage 4 cam,4MA crank, 750 Holley. $13,500 spent on motor c$ auto, HD gears, 3500 rpm stall converter, 9” LSD, 2 stage nitrous. Body *& interior VGC. Central looking security system. Reg 6/99. $12,800. Ph;07 3209 6464. .32

Mazda RX-3 Group 2E Club Car. Brand new 13B race Bridgeport, IDA Weber,5 speed, Lockheed calipers with vented discs, Koni/Bilstein suspension, Recaro, CAMS logbook,spares. Title winner, Winton 6Hr placegetter. $6,500ono. Beat the RX7s and Datsuns for a third of the price! Ph:035248 3044 132 NASCAR Pontiac Grand Prix front steer, complete $25,000 or will wreck. Dash 10 heads, Pontiac heads, both complete with manifolds. Scales, two-ways, gearbox Jerico, cambered rear end. Ph:02 9636 4447,0418 637 454. .22

1946 Hudson 8. Original, with Hudson radio, new & used spares. Reasonable offers. Enquiries to Hudson, P.O. Box 105, Palmerston North, New Zealand. 132

Dick Johnson Ford Cosworth Sierra. Built 1988/89, win ner SATCC 1989, second Bathurst 1990. 27 wins in 46 starts. Car has been rebuilt to original condition, complete with spares. Ph:00 11 643 379 3719, or 00 11 643 21 325 602. 131 Nissan Pulsar GTiR turbo 4WD, for rally rego, black. Undamaged.$18,000. Ph: Andrew 07 3883.3133. .3.

Buchanan Holden Lb Sports, recent full professional rebuild just done. Targa Tas, 6hr race, numerous Histories. Easy to drive and maintain and lots of fun. Cheap to race. $26,000. Ph: 02 9913 1084,018 246 856. 131 1

continued over page

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NAME: ADDRESS:

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

□ Speedway □ Drag □ Photographs □ Other □ Wanted

48 17Jufy1998

£>11(0

Mustang 1969 Mach 1 428 Cobra Jet. RHD, new paint, fresh original engine, new interior kit, shaker excellent body. Needs reassembly after paint. $26,00ono. Ph:02 97426929. ,3,

Commodore AUSCAR,top ten quaiifier, ready to race con 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). ,31 Holden HR show car. Modified 192, four speed, mags. Premier interior, big sound system and more. Absolutely immac ulate, usable quick cruiser. $8,750neg, Ph: 03 5968 3059 or 0417577129. ist Torana LH SLR5000, L31, M21, GU7. Colour white/black. GMH verification. Mild 308 A9X flair kit, Simmons, Deo 98 reg. Fully reconditioned.$13,000 firm. Ph:024446 0254. 131 :n I

Celica GT RA35, 1977. As competed in Targa Tasmania. 1996 class winner, 1997 category prologue winner, 1998 class winner. Ground-up rebuild and race preparation, very quick car. Includes rollcage, 2 race seals, harness etc. Road reg, ready to compete. $19,500. Ph: Greg 0398420183,0419 361 908. 131 Nissan 300Z twin turbo. Latest shape, raced in NZ Super GT series. Professionally prepared, road registered, ideal GT racing or Targa. For full specs phone 00 11 644 232 8097, fax 0011644-232 8059. 131

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Torana Sports Sedan, 202, c/r box, Detroit locker, SIratos seat, lots of spares, wheels, tyres. Includes reg tandem trailer. $6,000 or swap for GT Falcon plus cash your way. Ph: George 024952 5078. 131

Open Wheelers i

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 877 774,073375 6000. 131

Van Diemen RF95, maintained regardless of cost. Ex Webber, Bargwanna. Top hp Lamer motor one meeting ijld, top ten in AFFC 1998. $36,000. Ph: Roger 0417 335 965. ,3, 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:035475 2852(AH). ,3, Supeikart, 250 National. Excellent, well maintained condi tion. Spares, new tyres, wet&dry. Enclosed trailer. Offers. Ph: 02 98201673. ,3, Complete 1995 Speed Kart, ready to race, with competi tive Yamaha KT100J motor. Heaps of spares. $1,800ono. Will separate. Urgent sale. Ph:03 5334 3104. 13t Supetkart. Haase chassis, Yamaha 80cc engine. Immaculate presentation and performance to match. The best of everything with heaps of spares. $3,800. Ph: 02 4733 5442. 131

Engilies Chev small block, 360ci, built and maintained by JSR, 700-r hp, 370 ft/lbs. Bowtie, Scat, Carillos etc. Pontiac heads, titanium Jessel etc. Barnes dry sump. Complete engine. Best available, inspection invited. $26,000ono. Ph: 03 5174 0664(AH). 132 Ford Boss 302. SVO A4 block, steel crankshaft, Carillo rods, Wiseco pistons, 4V heads, Roush SVO manifold. Comp 9000 dist, Romac balancer. Dyno figures. $9,500. Ph: 07 3878 2740, 015 673 707. 132 186-202 Starfire rods, floating bushes, new $250; Arias pistons 202 +.003", suit supercharger + turbo $400. GM 202 billet cam $70. MSD5 ignition control $100. Ph: 03 5422 1942(BH),03 5422 7037(AH). .32 SB Chev, 355 SB Chev, 520hp, splayed caps, 6” Lunati rods, Ross pistons. Dart leads, steel crank, stainless valves. Crane cam, MSD Dist, Vicotr manifold + more. $8,000firm, Ph: 07 3807 5590, 0412 272 603, or 07 3807

1^' r-

Torana 4 door rolling shell. ANDRA spec steel roll cage. Engine bay modified for BBC. Ideal project car. Ph: 02 6242 6675(AH). ,32 Suzuki Pro Motor 1327cc. Star racing head, titanium valves, big block - Wiseco, new guides & rings, 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. ,31 LH Torana OSrag 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

2065(BH). 132

NASCAR #2, complete or rolling. Offers please. New bare chassis, Russell Cady Monte Carlo body, $32,000. Monte Carlo, immaculate, ready to race, $65,000, rolling $35,000. Ph: Ian Thomas 07 4051 5961 (BH). 131 HQ Race car #16. 2nd 1997 Div 1 championship. Ready to race, C&B engine + complete inventory of spares. Assistance given to purchaser. $7,200 (+ trailer $8,700). Ph: 02 97481564. 131 Thunderdome HQ, all log books, new sealed motor (as new), sealed box. Can be test driven before sale. $7,200. Ph: 03 9563 7072. 131 ^ Nissan Pulsar GTiR 4WD turbo Group N, 1997 QRC champ. Ready to race, 100% complete, with spares package. $25,000. Ph: Andrew 07 3883 3133. 131

The Tighe Vincent. Famous Australian air-cooled car. Built 1958 by Ivan Tighe. Championship winner. Fully restored to original. Comes with moulds, jigs, spares. Group Lb logbook. All offers considered. Ph: Peter 02 9211 2854.

Escort Modified Production (ex Peter Graham). 2100cc avgas engine, power steering, Willwood brakes, adjustable suspension, all fibreglass panels, spares, ultra reljpble. $5,500ono. Ph: Brad Bassett02 9548 2227(AH)or 0418 424 689. 132 F500 Speedway car, roller, competitve car. Torsion bar car, rear splined axle, comes with spare wheels and tyres $4,500 ono. Ph: Danny 039785 1898. 122 Fender Bender HG,one meeting old since full rebuild, motor sealed. Competitive car ready tb race, less window net and harness, with spares. $1600ono. Ph: Ed 0414 240 006, 02 9628 5170. 132

Chev engine parts - complete Dart 23 degree aluminiurn heads. Crane 264 camshaft, Barnes dry sump kit, tim ing cover, rev kit + various other engine parts. Ph: Brett 015 601 053, 08 8390 3017, 132 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. .31 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 out gears. Hi Energy sump. $2,200. ono. Ph: 03 5978 7679 or 0419 388 192. 131

Datsun 1200 Club Car, good hp 1500 engine, big brakes, adj suspension, full 6pt steel cage, ute diff. Ready to race, $5,500ono. Ph: 02 4774 1621 (evenings) or015 282 417. 131

Cooper Honda Formula Libre, powered by Honda CBR1000 engine. Immaculate presentation. Currently leads class in 1998 Hillclimb Championship (NSW). Includes fully enclosed trailer and spares. $9,000ono. Ph: 02 6337 3510. 132 ^

Parts

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Su-i

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

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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

836 1017. J31 ■I-.

Escort Under 2 Litre Sports Sedan. Toyota IGGE, five speed, locked diff, spare engine, mags, tyres, $8,000ono. Ph: 07 54622415. 131

Mazda R100 Sports Sedan, fresh midmount 13B Bridgeport, 4 spd, 4W discs, 48 IDA, 2i5" exhaust. Spares and trailer included. Quick and easy to maintain. Must sell, best offer. Ph: 03 9408 8740,0414 613314. 131 Holden Kingswood HQ, 40,000 miles, one owner until 1995. Excellent condition, RWC, AM/FM, tape, stereo. 202 manual, no aist. $5,500. Ph: 03 9354 9936,0418 130 383. 131

Elfin Catalina FJ #629. Built 1962, magnesium wheels, discs, twin Webers, 1558cc pushrod. Original, restored. Group M logbooked. Easy to drive & maintain. New Dunlops, radiator, battery. $31,000. Ph: Peter 02 9211 2854. 132 Kaditcha F2 82, Mk 9, Golf engine. National series winner. Spares to suit. Offers around $26,000. Ph: 03 5881 4411 (BH), 035881 1506 (AH). 132 Van Diemen RF86. Damaged, ex-Paul Morris, some Historic value in future.,$4,500ono. Ph: 07 5446 7611, fax 07 5446 7480. 132 Commodore 3K 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. 131

CRG Kart, very good "J" motor, rebuilt carburettor, seat cover, new electronic tacho, hydraulic brakes & ventilated disc. $1,800ono. Also race suit, immaculate cond. $200ono. Ph: 02 9636 5464,0419698 132. 132 Gemini Coupe Sports Sedan, under 2 litre. Nissan SR20, Motec, Hilux rear, Volvo brakes, Tilton pedals, quick rack, 2 sets wheels. Lakeside 58.4, 1998. Spares, complete. $12,000 (roller $5,500). Ph: 018720 540. 131 LH Torana Drag Show Car. See under "'Drag Racing." 131 Datsun 120Y Coupe Sports Sedan. Mid mount 13Bpp, 5 speed. Previous AROCA 6hr outright winner. Strong and reli able. $6,000. Ph: 02 9981 3651,02 9982 7433. 131 Holden VK Calais tuibo, intercooled 202oi, Celica 5 speed, 8.5" LSD, disc rear, cruise control, air cond, p/steer, 17” chrome wheels, all electrics, alarm. CD, etc. $15,000. Ph: Andrew 07 38833133. 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. 131

Eifin 623, chassis no 74443. Kept in top race condition. 1300OC 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

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 780 079. 131

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

1 Reliant Scimitar SE5A. Rare and sensual 1974 sporting saloon. V6 Ford, 4 speed, o/drive.- Recent complete restoration, lovely road car, or with Club sport potential. $15,000ono or trade. Ph: 02 4821 7371. 131

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

516. 131

Speedcar engine, Volvo oho, 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 ^7679,0419388192. 131

Coil overs as new $400: Hugo shitter and cable as new $200; 9" housing braced 46" 31 spline axles $250; Hornet seat $80; Mini spool $50. Ph: 07 3282 7971. t32 Dorian Data-1 timing transmitter, c/w charger and mounting bracket. Only used twice, no further use. $400. Ph: 03 5248 3044. 132

Sprintcar parts - Hi bar chassis with tank & parts $2,750. 4 quickohange rear ends, from $2,000 ea; complete front axle, Sanders driveline, shocks, torsion bars, radiator, gear sets and more. Ph: 08 8251 3096 (AH). 132 Cosworth Sierra cylinder head, new exhaust seats, reconditioned. Bare, plus 2in and 2 ex valves. $1,000obo. P9587 6199, fax 9587 6807. 132 Head gaskets. Ford Sierra Cosworth. New, 12 off, $90 each obo. Ph: 9587 6199, fax 9587 6807. 132 Gearbox: Doug Nash 5 speed (1:1 top), back-cut 3rd'gear dogs, hydraulic throw-out bearing, just refreshed by Rod Smith, with Hurst shifter (reverse lockout), excellent condition $3,100, Ph: 0416 053 620. 132 Rear axle housing, V8 Supercar. 9". New & s/h, suit Commodore VP, VR, VS. $600. Ph: 03 9587 6199, fax 9587 ■ 6807. 132

Mazda rotary components - complete 13B to suit rebuild ■ $450: two RX4 gearboxes $250 for both; various distributors, starters, radiators, oil coolers, tailshafts, sway bars, complete RX3 Club Car with Bridgeport. Ph: 03 5248 3044. 132 Sprintcar parts - 3 x 1994 JSR 29"bar chjassis, 2 x KSE steering boxes, Sander driveline. Winters rear end, 23 x torsion bars, left rear wheel, FBI fuel tank, + various other parts. Ph: Brett015601053or08 8390 3017. 132 Fuel tanks: 2mm alum 750x500x250H $100. Steel 640x440x360H $50. Commodore knife-edged crank, 202 exSpeedway $350; 202 steel main caps + studs $350; BRC 1.6 roller rockers + posilocks 186-202 $240. 202 windage tray $50. Ph: 03 5422 1942 (BH), 03 5422 7037 (AH). 132 Harness: "Total" 6 point, rotary buckle, 3 inch webbing, long shoulder straps, clip-in. Used twice, no further use. One of the best available. $400, Ph: 03 5248 3044. 132 NASCAR Pontiac Grand Prix body panels: full front sec tion, flat track diff housing. NASCAR block. 30 over $3,500. NASCAR chassis, suit rebuilt Speedway Lumina body com plete. Ph: 02 9636 4447,0418 637 454, 132 Mk1 Cortina 2-door body, rolling chassis, ideal for Group N6 Historic racing. $1,200ono. Also Mkl 4-door body (no motor, g/box) $290ono. Ph: Bob 018 749 403,018 647 626. 132 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 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. 131 Weld Wheels, 16x15 with 34x17x16 Goodyear slicks. $850pr; Dragway 5x5 front runners with Goodyear Eagles, inci A-arms, $550. Ph: Mick 0412 191 202. 131 Supercharger, GM671 BDS, with manifold for Ford Boss 302, pulleys, twin Carters, BDS air scoop belt, etc. All poF ished. $2,8000n0. Ph: 02 9742 6929. 131

n July 1998 Hewiand Mk9 transaxle, as new cond, hardly used from new. $4,000ono. Ph: 08 8552 4000, 0419 777 229. 13t 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. Ph: 08 8248 0274. 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. 131 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, adj 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 1088 (BH), 03 5941 2035 (AH). 131 Doug Nash 5 speed, with Don Long vertical gate shifter, good condition, case open for inspection. $2,500. Ph: Mick 0412 191 202. n. 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). 131 SBC QM -18 degree heads, Weld Tech CNC ported, excellent condition with flow chart. Bare. $3,500. Alcohol 750 Holley card, $500. 830 annular Holley, 2 hrs dyno time, only $500. Ph: Mick 0412 191 202. 131 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. 131

fffaiisporters/Tffaiiers F250, 460ci, C6, CD, air, LPG, 5 seat. Trailer 21ft, aluminium tilt, electric winch. Both units excellent condition. $18,000ono. Will separate. Ph:0418 979 388 or 026258 8266. 132

Continued from page 36 Needless to say, the wet tyres were destroyed very quickly and by the time we reached the mud there was nothing we could do other than attempt to keep the car on the road and make it to the finish — and that was a mission, I can tell you. Congratulations to Pos sum and Craig. They have had a perfect year and deserve their third Australian Title. We have thoroughly enjoyed the competition and it has kept us on our toes. Our Corolla has been quick and I thank my crew for their dedication and enthusiasm throughout the series so far. Our tyre development pro gram has been coming aiong well and we are hoping to have another new tyre in time for the Rally of Melbourne. The Champion-ship may have been won, but the battle continues and we would love to end the series with a win. ue to a lack of money we have decided not to stretch the resources and make the trip over to New Zealand for the WRC round, instead we will consolidate and concentrate our efforts on Melbourne and then API Rally Australia at the end of the year. I’m also looking for ward to some circuit racing in the endurance events coming up. My first foray into the V8 scene will happen at Sandown and Bathurst dri ving with Paul Wee! and I’m really looking forward to it. Coral’s cheesed off though, and can’t understand any form of motorsport that doesn’t allow the co-driver and the pace notes to come along! By the way I had my first win for a while last Sunday beating Barry Sheene in the Sega Rally Championship on RPM, at the same time win ning a new Toyota Corolla for a contestant. That’s a nice feeling. Next time we’ll have to try the motorbike equiva-

lent. n

1972 Bedford Bus car transporter. 6 cyl turbo diesel, 5spd, semi auto, seats 8, sleeps 4. Fridge, cupboards, 12/240 volts, winch, good tyres. Vic motor home rego 11/98. $12,500ono. Ph:07 3812 4398 or 0418105 016. 132

Motec Computer interface and transmit modem unit, to suit 2 Group ECU, Ph: 02 6579 1180. 132 Dorian lap timer. Holden 202 race motor or cylin der head. Yokohama 205/60/13 second hand tyres 008R. Ph: 0419 440 973. 132

1994 Ford XL Crew Cab dually. 7.3 litre turbo power stroke diesel. 5 speed manual traps, power steering, air cond.6 sealer, ideal tow vehicle. Cheap at $59,500. Ph: 03 5176 1355, 0418 514444. 131 Isuzu Dual Cab Transporter. Set up for karts, but suitable for Formula Ford also. Comes as complete unit with full pan, ,aero kit, generator, winch, lighting, fridge, microwave, tool chests and racking, plus a fitted 20x20 annexe. $50,000. Ph: Paul Burfitt 039480 0977, fax 03(9484 1029,

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Continued from Page 25 should have been sent out a couple of laps before it was. In that period we lost four drivers and there were all manner of wild moments as drivers tried to keep on the tarmac. On lap 42 Hakkinen’s McLaren spun off at Bridge comer. “There was plenty of water on the track. Rivers. Puddles,” said Mika. “I will never forget that one. It was one of the worst moments. I didn’t think I was going quick but there was absolutely nothing I could do.” Mika somehow made it back onto the track. A front wing endplate was WET AND WiLD... Rubens Barrichello splashes down the pit straight at broken but he did not Silverstone. He was outqualified by new teammate Jos Verstappen, but both know it amkthe rain was drivers spun off shortiy before the safety car came out. so bad that he was not Schumacher had Nakano in his Minardi team had done a good job going quick enough to be transgressed on lap 43 which was a worthy and might have scored aware of a problem. And then (finally) the when he overtook the effort: “I could not keep point if the cars had kept the car straight,” he running. Sale was Safety Car was sent out. lapped Wurz under a yel reported. “It was like stopped by a throttle This wiped out Mika’s low flag. The FIA stew problem while Diniz ards made a complete surfing!” 38s advantage. Tuero was not as fortu spun off. For five laps the pig’s ear of the punish Neither Frost made it remains of the field tmn- ment and Ferrari ran nate and spun out on lap 30. home, both spinning out dled around behind rings around them. The result was that, The only other finisher when the rain storm was Oliver Ga-vin, the weath er lifted and the water on rather than taking the was Takagi, who finished at its worst just before the track was dispersed a chequered flag, Michael ninth despite a penalty the Safety Car was little - not a lot. And went into the pits for a from the stewards - despatched. “I think the Safety Car then the race was stop-go penalty and fin applied properly (proba restarted. ished the race in the pit bly by accident) - for should have come out leaving the pitlane when sooner,” said a depressed For a lap Mika kept lane. Alain Frost. The two Benettons fin the red light was on. the car on the island but The same fate befell Tyrrell ' teammate at Becketts on lap 51 the ished fourth and fifth a the two Stewart drivers. Rosset fell off at the lap down, the gap exag McLaren went straight Towards the end of the off onto the grass. gerated by the use of the same time as Tuero. Sauber deserved a bet day the sun came out at Schumacher was through Safety Car, and they Silverstone for the first ter result than they got were followed home by and away and Mika fell Ralf Schumacher, who but in the closing laps time of the weekend. Of back towards Irvine. gave Jordan its first Jean Alesi’s impressive course, by then most of The second Ferr,ari point of the year with a fourth place evaporated the FI paddock were so looked threatening for a while. He tried to pass good performance from with a hydraulic problem jaded that they had gone off to drink. in the gearshift mecha and failed and then the back of the grid, It might have been a found himself without Villeneuve kept going, nism. A great shame. Herbert retired when dirty day, but at least the grip and traction and despite a big spin and slipped backwards. other adventures, caused he was trying to get out championship is dan But the drama was not by o decision to use inter- of Alesi’s way and spun gling precariously. By taking another amazing quite finished for in mediates when full wets off, trying,to concentrate Michael victory, those closing laps there were needed. Seventh on too many things at Schumacher has nar the same time. were excitements going was a disappointment Neither Arrows made rowed the advantage on in the stewards’ room after the promise of qualit to the finish, which held by Mika Hakkinen and down in the Ferrari ifying. was also a shame as the tojust two points. n Eighth was Shinji pit.

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Johnny Herbert Continued from Page 24 also to improved aerodynamic flow over the rear wing. The understeer had gone and the car felt very good indeed. Jean ended the test equal fastest with Mika Hakkinen's McLaren, and I was third, a tenth of a second behind. For the weekend, however, Goodyear had a new prime tyre, which had a different construction. To try and offset a loss of straightline speed i ran with less wing on Saturday, when my car was fitted with the latest specification SPE 02D engine ready for qualifying. Just as we were making fur ther progress, however, my engine blew up and had to be replaced with a race specification engine. Jean was fortunate to get a tow in the first part of his last qualifying run, but I wasn't quite, so lucky. I really could have done with one! In the end he was 11th fastest and I was 13th. Aher all the progress we had made with tfte chassis, that was very disappointing. p^or thecar race I decided to use'dhe spare right at the last moment because the clutch on my race chassis felt odd during the pre-race warm-up laps. But at the start it was the spare's throttle that felt funny, and the engine bogged down momentarily. Once that happens it's disaster time! I was really hacked off, especially as I'd spent all of the previous Saturday practising starts at the Lurcy-Levis track. ^ Eventually I managed to overtake some people - which isn't easy at the best of times, let alone at Magny-Cours - but it was one of those tough after noons when nobody ahead of me seemed to retire. That was a bitch because once again the car felt damn good. It's good to know that we have made significant progress on the chassis front. What we need to do now is work on the engine.

his is traditionally the time of year when the driver market starts to move and this year is no exception. I may be part of the movement myself. My old Lotus teammate Alex Zanardi looks set to switch back from IndyCars to the Williams team arid I haven't made any secret of my desire to partner him again. 'i still feel that I am driving as well as ever and that i have a lot to offer a top team. And at this stage of my career I'm looking for the chance to win again. None of us are in FI simply to take part. n

COIVtIVIENT

July 1998

Showtime!

Schuey - it’s love

0 (0_

Editorial

Editor David Hassail Technical Editor 'Tony Glynn Assistant Editor Phil Branagan Graphics Co-ordinator Viv Brumby

Advertising

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Dear Sir, I have subscribed to your fine magazine for more than two years, but Joe Saward has finally driven me to not renew my subscription. I am sure he watches a different race to the rest of us. His bias and bigotry knows no bounds. If he cannot present Formula One racing in a factual and unbiased manner he is doing his profession and your magazine a disseiwice. So he dislikes Mr Schumacher. This should not stop him from reporting on some of the most exciting and faultless drives I have seen since watching movies of J.M.Fangio, without his petulant sniping about the “flawed character” of Schumacher. (Wish I had his flaws). Without the absolutely outstanding drives by Michael in inferior cars. Formula One would lose a major drawcard for enthusiasts like myself I believe we are watching, in Schumacher, one of the greatest drivers the sport has seen and I thought eventually Saward would have to give up his obsession of knocking every move of Michael’s. He obviously hasn’t and, because of this, I am sure your readership will suffer because of it. Joe Saward is not up to the stan dard required for your magazine. Please contact me if and when he is replaced as I would dearly love to renew my subscription.

<r;

lC PO Box 1010 North Send leaers rcTalk Vic 316 i. ou E-ma.l address, or fax :o 03 9527 7766. Tne staff of Motofsport News does not necessarily agree with opinions express tjy readers;

Bouquets for 10

Alan Jones’ interview “minutes” before the British GP with Murray Dear Sir, Walker was so obviously recorded A quick thank-you to Channel 10 for showing the History of FI series the previous day. Poor Darrell had they are currently showing on to keep making excuses as to why l AJ needed an umbrella, where as it Sunday afternoons. was not raining on the grid pgr FI followers, it is tremendous gge all that old footage and to be (although it was wet). For an old man, Murray Walker reminded of how good some of the must be very fit to make it back to racing used to be. While we can’t go backwards, the ITV commentary room to call the race so quickly. And if this was particularly with safety, it does

^ David Carlisle e-mail H P i u

Dear Sir, As the touring car championship enters its final two races, I’d just like to wish both Craig and Russell the best ofluck for a fair contest. The politicians taking away your regular race cars doesn’t help, but I just hope the rest of the field leave you both to sort it out head-to-head. I’ve admired the slightly differing styles of both drivers over the past couple of years. Either would make a worthy champion. Elizabeth McDonald

Go Bargs Dear Sir, I must admit to some surprise as to the lack of media attention Jason

Schuey - it’s love/hate

f^.g

Gary Simpson Darwin, NT

Plympton, SA

Allan Drinki'ow aldrink@ibm.net

Dear Sir, You’ve got to hand it to Schumacher. He’s brilliant - and can tell bare-faced porkies without blinking. At the post-race conference at last weekend’s GP, he claimed to (a) not know why he had been given a stop-go penalty because (b) his radio hadn’t been working for the second half of the race. I clearly saw him converse, in animated fashion, for some time after he stopped his ear in pit lane, and then his team,- manager Jean Todt all but pinned him to the stairs up to the rostrum, clearly making sure he knew the “company line” on what had happened. Wasn’t the last one to consistent-/ ly plea “I know nothing” a certain Sergeant Schultz?... P.S. It was still a brilliant win, Michael. Poor Mika looked a little shell-shocked. $100 to win (the championship) on MS? Odds on

Dear Sir, The Biggest Thing Since Cyclone Tracy - that’s how big the V8s are going to be up here. Like a number of people I share the concern that making Ingall and Lowndes race the new VT Commodores could affect the out come of the championship. It will be a shame if a simple mechanical problem, because the cars are so new, decides who is the 1998 champion. Or if one of them gets taken out by a third party because they’re not fast enough to nm at the front, Apart from that. Hidden Valley will be huge. NT will turn it on for all you Southerners,

ON THE UP ... Jason Bargwanna hasjoined an elite club of Australian touring car race winners show how difficult the rulemakers have made it for modern FI drivers to actually RACE, Again, well done lO. Anyone would think you were pitching to get the FI broadcasts from Nine! Alan Pearson Clayton, VIC

Brickbats for 9 Dear Sir, Do Channel 9 think we are fools? After numerous dodgy incidents in the telecasts over the years (like accidentally crossing to the real „f ^ instead of the alleeedluuudge iiibtedu ui uue diiegeu ly‘Tve” delayed footage etc) I have finally decided that they must think l l i t n ●. the FI Viewing public are fools.

not bad enough, the grid positions they were talking about were the provisional ones, with Coulthard and Villeneuve ahead of Schumacher. Whilst the interview was rather

Bargwanna’s first win in touring cars has attracted. Obviously he got all the attention in the world at Bathrust last year, firstly for being fastest in qualify ing and then unfortunately for wrecking the car in the waim-up. Maybe you have to be part of one of the super teams, complete with full-time PR people to get the pub licity you deserve? It’s tough being one of the new young faces in touring cars, but anyway, you’ve got some fans up here Jason. Keep it up and good luck for many more victories. >

interesting, Channel 9 should not play the audience for fools. Are they trying to hide the fact that they do such a poor coverage, with 3 min utes of qualifying highlights 2 min utes before the race? As journalists they should be truthM, and tell us that they could only interview Murray the day before the race, and that the start of the race does not really coincide with the closing credits of “Free Willy 2”.

Andrew Plough Ryde, NSW ASST ED:Good timing, Plough. YouTl enjoy our chat with Bargs elsewhere in this issue.

Wade Tubman Carlingford, NSW

“Oldie” Parramatta, NSW

Sad but true Dear Sir, I thought a 17 year-old Gold Star Champion was huge - until a few days later I saw a 15 year-old win a 125cc Bike GP. What next!

By Barry Foley

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