Motorsport News Issue 133 - 14-27 August 1998 by V8 Sleuth

former rarer to buiU own eirtuif Issue 133

$4.20 (NZ$5.95incl GST)

NEWS

14-27 August 1998

ArnyHles burns star IS

reborn I

INGAU TO STAY WITH PERKINS Own team will have to wait another year team as soon as possible. At the same time, Motorsport

“Eventually I would like to run my own car and team and it just depends when that time comes when the time is right,” he told

News has heard a rumour link-

us.

ing him with established outfits,

“But I still have a contract (with Perkins) for next year and

me some bargaining power, I’m not predicting anything with my own thing ... I just said it could be next year, the year after or five years down the track. Ingall admits that he is in

I intend to honour it. We’ll see

demand at the moment, though.

By DAVID HASSALL

lines after discussing his long-

and CHRIS LAMBDEN

held ambitions to start his own

RUSSELL Ingall has moved quickly to commit himself to Castrol Team

Perkins amid speculation including one from Gihson Motor that he would leave at the

end of the year. Just days after failing in his bid to win the Shell Series, Ingall found himself in the head-

Sport which Russell denies any knowledge of But Ingall said this week he

what happens after that.

would remain with the Castrol

moment and I would like to win

team in 1999.

the title because it would give

Everything is OK at the

I Li

INSIDE BOC series showdown The Super Touring Championship is poised for a three-way shoot-out after an extraordinary series of events at Winton last weekend

- Full report inside

Top columns Russell Ingall and Mark Webber are in the

middle of the motor sport news at the moment -

see inside for their exclusive columns 04

I won’t deny there are offers

on the table - and pretty good ones at that.” Continued Page 3

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BORLi4ND Racing Developments

■*

U August 1998

V8 rmer set to

Fast camera Unveiling Network Ten’s packed motorsport program for the balance of this year at last week’s Bathurst test day, Ten’s David White revealed the

build own circuit Exclusive by DAVID HASSALL TOURING car driver Kevin

Waldock is planning to build his own race circuit in the

Raceway is to be built 4km from Singleton, 200km from Sydney. Waldock has designed a 3.86km layout, which features a 1.2km main straight, in a valley where spectators will be able to

“The big thing about the design, though, is that it will be bi-directional - in other words,

see the entire circuit.

to allow this.

The occasional Falcon racer

This will be followed by a

Waldock owns the 1000-acre

said he has the local council on-

tight left-hander to provide a good overtaking opportunity.

property, which is called Abbey Green - hence the cir

side and only needs permission from the EPA to start construc

this week.

The track also features a

banked corner, but not a full

tion.

Abbey Green International

oval.

A “fly-by-wire” camera, capa ble of speeds of up to 120kmh, will give viewers a unique view of the V8s as they power up Pit Straight, around Hell Comer and head off up Mountain Straight.

car entry for the Bathurst 3Hour Showroom Showdown for GT-P cars at the FAI 1000

“The run-offs will be designed

“There will be a third-gear corner leading onto a straight where the V8s will get up to about 280km/h,” said Waldock

Classic broadcast.

■ Procar Chief Executive Bill West has confirmed a full 55-

it can be used both clockwise and anti-clockwise.

Hunter Valley region, north of Sydney. Waldock said he hopes to have the circuit finished by August, 2000 - just before the Sydney Olympics.

broadcaster’s latest gizmo, set to be part of the FAI1000

Classic meeting. At the same time, the catego ry has been confirmed as a sup

“We have done the design inhouse, to commonsense stan

port category to this year’s Gold Coast IndyCar race, the GTP

dards, and then it will be prop erly engineered before going to CAMS for approval.”

events sponsored by the Brisbane Courier Mail.

■ A healthy three to four thousand spectators tximed up on a miserable day for what was

cuit name.

The property features a 19th

to be a much-shortened test day

KEVIN WALDOCK

century homestead.

at Bathurst for the V8s last week.

Ingall to stay with Perkins

Perkins expressed surprise and

By CHRIS LAMBDEN

boss Jeff Grech said on Tuesday. “With the Bathurst test day

so easy to wreck a car there,” said

HRT is to conduct a full 1000km Bathurst race distance test next

being washed out last week, we

“A number of teams will be using

week as the team attempts to

repeat its 1996 Triple Crown run.

In that season, the team won the

Shell series, Sandown and Bathurst - the only time the feat has been achieved in the modem V8 era.

The regular testing restrictions have been eased and the Mobil

team is taking full advantage by scheduling a two-day test at Phillip Island, where vital development work will continue with the VT Commodore.

A full tyre test by Gibson Motorsport at Oran Park after the Shell series finale prompted a wave

of enquiries from irval teams, who were under the impression that

testing restrictions were still in force.

The

outcome

has been

the

removal of test bans for August and

September, a boon for teams need ing to put development miles on the VT.

“It’s great that we can run at

Phillip Island,” Mobil HRT team

Grech.

haven’t been able to run the VT on

a spare car there if they can, so it’s

a fast circuit, so next week’s test is a big plus.” The team will spend the first day

reasonable for us to ask.

testing and setting up its VT on the fast Phillip Island track before

Bathurst.”

undertaking the full 1000km test run on the second day. All of the team’s four long dis

tance drivers, plus Todd Kelly (the ex-Young Lion set to race with John Faulkner’s team), will drive during the race distance run.

According to Grech, the team still has some work to do to get the VT right up to the pace of the VS it replaces. “Although we got through Oran Park okay, the data does show that we have a little to do with the VT yet. “Power down is an area where the VS is still the better car.”

While the team hopes to have its second VT on track in time for

Sandown, it is also seeking dispen sation from TEGA to revert to the

VS for the IndyCar meeting.

“It’s quite close to Bathurst and

“We’ve done the required three

meetings with the car to qualify for

won 30 out of 59 races (plus seven seconds and five thirds), but fallen short on pole posi tions -just six from 20 ...

race two at Darwin’s SATCC

when he returned from Europe three years ago.

test at Phillip Island

has won 11 out of 20 rounds;

■ John Bowe has dropped his

Speculation about his star driver has not impressed team owner Larry Perkins, who took Ingall on

HRT to run 1000km

SATCC title. In his two SATCC

seasons (1996,1998) Lowndes

appeal against exclusion from

Continued from Page 1

TESTING TIMES ... Greg Murphy gets some much-needed miles in the HRT VT Commodore at Bathurst last (Photo by John Morris) week, but will get plenty more at Phillip Island when the team does a race distance trial.

■ Some interesting stats fol lowing Creiig Lowndes’ second

disappointment at his driver’s indiscretion in discussing his ambi tions with the press. “I’ve had a brief conversation

with Russell,” Perkins said, “simply to remind him that we have a con

tract for next year.

“I must say, it’s had an effect on the team. They’re a bit disappoint ed about it.

“They didn’t need it, coming at a time when the team should be

pulling together more than ever, with Sandown and Bathurst com

ing up.

“Loyalty is a big thing with my team.

“However, it seems as though there’s an element of things being taken out of context a little, so as far as I’m concerned we’ll just put it

to one side and get on with the job.”

Junior V8 progress

round.

■ Formula Ford contender

Dugal McDougall will contest the Tickford 500, paired with AUSCAR racer Jason Wylhe, in one of Lany Perkins’ VS Commodores. Though the pair will not race at Bathurst, the

outing is a prelude to McDougall’s planned program in a Perkins-mn car in next

year’s Shell Championship Series, as revealed by Motorsport News some six weeks ago.

■ Larry Perkins’ dispute with CAMS over the Shell Falcons’

rear wings at Winton was resolved at Oran Park, prior to

a planned Investigative Tribunal. A document was pro duced which confirmed that the

Shell cars’ wings, along with a number of other cars, were tech

nically illegal at the meeting but that no penalty would be

imposed, but it was agreed that no further action would ensue.

■ A Stewards inquiry at Oran Park also considered evidence

A MEETING in Melbourne last

Commodores

EF/EL

from TEGA Technical Manager

week has further evolved plans to create a Junior Touring Car

Falcons, and the decision to

John Sheppard and series scru

category.

'The project, initially flagged by Commodore Cup contender Steve Carless, is now adminis

tered by a company formed for the purpose - V8 Junior Touring Car Racing Australia. A meeting since the last issue of Motorsport News, which flagged the interest in the cate gory, was well attended and has narrowed the philosophy of the proposed category further. Prime among the decisions is to further up-date the Holden and Falcon cars to be used from

the start, to include VR/VS

and

retain the Holden V8 as the basis for the Holden rather

tineer Ray Robins concerning the marked tyres used by the

than a Chev.

Castrol Perkins team on Russell

“The plan is primarily to cre

IngEtH’s car in the Saturday

within which car construction

morning non-qualifying session. The inquiry ultimately

is kept under $55,000,” spokesman Mark Cotterill told

recorded a verdict which in part said that “we are of the opinion

ate a strong feeder V8 category

Motorsport News. “That requires a high degree of standardisation and ‘control’

parts.”

The group hopes to formally present its preliminary plans to CAMS within a fortnight. V8 Junior Touring

Car

Racing Australia can be con tacted by fax on 03 9704 9300.

that a possibility may exist whereby CAMS tyre identifica tion stickers may be removed intact from a tyre and be reaf fixed to another tyre.” No action was taken against the Perkins team, but the

inquiry recommended an urgent review of tyre marking security.

UAUSUSI1998

■ Stone Bothers Racing is still waiting for the allclear for Steven Richards to drive in the Sandown

500. Richo Jr may be

Knives come out in Lions

forced to miss the race

because of etsting commit ments at Oulton Park for Nissan’s B'TCC etam. If he

does have to stay UK-side, expect to see Scott Dixon make his V8 debut in the Pirtek Falcon.

■ There are likely to be only two Australian drivers

in the Guia touring car classic at Macau this year. Audi Sport Australia are almost certain to take both

of their current A4 quattros, with Brad Jones dri

ving one. 'The other Australian driver at Macau will be

David Auger in his Olympus Alfa Romeo. ■ Alain Menu has

reportedly received a huge offer ot join Ford for the

control tyre debate A threat of legal action from HRT boss John Crennan was one of the deciding factors behind the group backing away from a

“At the same time, there are teams who will fight to retain any advantage that they think they have - be it aerodynamics or tyres, or

night of cloak and dagger politics, negotiating and

time last year.

know that it’s a selfish atti-

- testing restrictions restrict-

bluff.

aware of the delaying tactics

“Others, fortunately, are

competitive tyre for all cir-

By CHRIS LAMBDEN THE fate of tyre regula tions for V8 Supercars in 1999 remains in the bal

ance, following a fort

With TEGA close to a

defining vote on the matter, TEGA Chairman Garry Craft is currently taking legal advice on the repercus sions of several voting options to decide the matter. “1 want to make sure we

are covered, depending on

1999 BTCC. The current

whether all the TEGA mem

Champion, now with Williams-Renault, is delay ing making a commitment

bers, the TEGA Board, or just I make the decision,” he said on Tuesday.

for next season. Ford’s new

car is currently undergoing design at Prodrive. ■ Milton Leslight’s not missing in action, but

engine problems have kept the AAP Toyota Carina pilot away fium the BOC

win

Michael

Gases races. He has lost

four of the units recently,

year’s

one on the track and three

on the dyno. The etam is

Championship breaks an 11-year reign by Van

determined to make it back

Diemen.

for Bathurst though.

Adam Macrow tied up the championship in the first heat at Oran Park, while Christian Jones completed a historic 1-2 for Spectrum,

tinue as co-sponsor of the

Formula Ford Champion ship in 1999. Ford Motorsport stays, but

another naming rights sponsor may be secured before the season kicks off

in March,

Formula

at Croft, Knockhill and

as a manufacturer and com

expected to give Formula 3000 diiver Stephane Sarrazin a run in one of its

cars at Magny-Cours within the next month. ■ There have been

changes to the Himgaroiing circuit, the site of this week

end’s GP, with the pitlane being widened and large sections of the track erlaid. This work includes a

realignment of the main straight, which makes the

track 4m longer than previ ously.

is not expected to stay with

with a series of tactical moves:

nies and some teams,” he

● Tuesday August 4:

said.

“The on-again, off-again approach by the tyre compa nies is designed to consume

time and it isn’t working.

Bridgestone informs its

cuits.

● Thursday August 6:

can

fill the breach

its teams, and can supply the

whole Bathurst field if neces-

sary.

● Friday August 7:

The Stockmans, however, plan to retain their links

with Macrow (see separate story) next year.

In the meantime. Spectrum’s success has seen Borland’s order book for 1999 start to fill.

While

the

prototype

chassis stage, the category’s WA-based

Fastlane Racing is to test a current car late this week at Winton with series contender

Tim Leahey doing the dri ving. - CHRIS LAMBDEN

Konica deal THE Young Lions project is no more following the withdrawal of sponsor Konica last week.

The company with drew from its deal with

tyres for Bathurst.

tiveness and results, to a

of current tyres may have to

all its teams it can supply

... now Formula Holden for Macrow NEWLY crowned Formula

Ford champion Adam

Macrow is to challenge

ing a lack of competi great degree related to

the team’s tyre dilemma. For its part, Konica has cemented its rela

tionship with HRT, in a deal announced late on

Tuesday upping its input to the Holden team for the second half of the year,

Gibson Motorsport was told of the decision a few

for the Formula Holden

days before Oran Park

title next year.

and was, naturally, very

His backers, George and Liz Stockman, have acquired the ex-Bruce Williams, exGreg Murphy Reynard 91D raced most recently by

disappointed:

Markus Friesacher and the NRC etam.

The car will be run by Mike Borland’s team and is

already in

the Borland

Motorsport Developments workshop undergoing a major overhaul and rebuild.

The search is on for corpo rate sponsors to assist in the

1999 program.

The team is unlikely to contest the two-race New

Zealand series in November, preferring to concentrate on testing for the 1999 season. In the meantime, Macrow

“I assumed we had the

deal for the year,” a Fred philosophical Gibson told Motorsport News this week, “and we

were well down the path with planning and pur chasing of equipment for the long distance races. “However, there’s no point in making an issue of it. We’ll just move on.

“I do feel sorry for John Stevenson (Holden

Motorsport Manager), who put a great deal of effort into putting this together at the begin ning of the year and was the last to be told of the

has his Ford Generation XR

decision.”

long distance V8 drive to con

Gibson hopes to find sufficient budget to run

centrate on.

He will share Alan Jones’

Longhurst team Komatsu Falcon, and is due to test the

McLaren miffed over Ferrari traction control

years.

HRT grabs

cease, allowing the company

Macrow’s car owners, George assisted a number of young

<0% M B ■

1 ■

Gibson Motorsport and driver Steve Ellery, cit

MOVING UP... Formula Ford Champion Adam Macrow.

Formula Ford hopefuls in the Spectrum stable over the

Bridgestone reconsiders its supply problem and informs

The win also provides a first championship win for and Liz Stockman, who have

teams that, if a Control tyre decision is made, production

Brian Shead and, in his

influential

the Silverstone-based eteun.

ticking of the tyre compa-

younger days, Michael assisted as a mechanic, one year working with Peter Macrow, the new Formula Ford champion’s father.

death of Enzo Ferrari.

for work for next season and

being delayed by the poll-

individual circumstances. Borland’s uncle is former F2 Cheetah manufacturer

Spectrum 07 is still at the

Pedro de La Rosa is looking

Bridgestone cannot supply

night have centred around

pletes an interesting circle of

■ 'This Friday marks the 10th anniversary of the ■ Jordan etst driver

Bridgestone and Dunlop,

ure) and Calder (“a bit of

Oulton Park) and two each

■ Prost Grand Prix is

The whole thing is now

sjWe.

ning seven out of ten races

comes after several years establishing his credentials

BTCC.

Dunlop informs TEGA that it

first half of the series, win

nervousness really!”). For Borland, the win

under lights, a first for the

prepared to take a wider view, to look at the future ...” Events of the past fort-

Macrow dominated the

the championship (four each at Thruxton, Brands, Donington, Silverstone and

Snetterton race will be

ing its ability to develop a

of some of his constituents and wants to bring the matter to a head as soon as pos-

despite his dramatic exit from the second heat (see our race coverage).

before the late hiccups at Wanneroo (gear linkage fail

Donington on Easter Monday, April 5. The

tude.

Ford

■ TOCAhas let its 1999 BTCC dates off the leash. There will be 26 races in

Snetterton. Six rounds will i be covered hve on the BBC and the action kicks off at

An exasperated Craft is

whatever - and some who

Sandown and Bathurst. ● Later the same day: Dunlop informs TEGA that it wishes to withdraw its agreement to the “20 car” proposal

Borland makes history

THE

Borland’s locally-pro duced Spectrum in this

■ Slick 50 \vill not con

Control tyre decision at this

to service just four cars at

car next week.

the ex-Konica car in the

long distance races, but it will be with new dri vers.

Both of the planned Young Lions drivers have made alternative

plans for Sandown and Bathurst.

Steve Ellery negotiat ed a drive with Paul Romano over the Oran

WORD has recently leaked that the world championship-leading McLaren Mercedes team was planning to

the two teams to keep such matters private until action was taken formally.

Park weekend, while Todd Kelly will share

Ferrari team boss Jean Todt denied an

protest against alleged use by rivals

such agreement existed and said Dennis had met him publicly in Austria two weeks ago to inform him of the planned protest.

John Faulkner’s Betta Electrical Fisher &

Ferrari of a banned traction control system. The threat was delivered in Austria but

was not acted upon in Germany, where the

Ferraris were notably off the pace. McLaren team principal Ron Dennis would not expressly confirm the protest, but said he was “bitterly disappointed” that news of a possible protest by his team had been leaked to the media by Ferrari. Dennis claimed there had been a pre-sea son “code of conduct” agreement between

Todt said in Austria he wished McLaren

would lodge the protest quickly so that Ferrari could be cleared of the insinuations

it was using a banned system.

Dennis and others have claimed recently that other teams were finding ways of get ting the traction control effect, which great ly improves acceleration and control in the wet, through computer engine management systems.

Paykel Commodore. The latter deal will see

HRT supply test miles for Kelly and technical support to Faulkner’s team.

Faulkner hopes to have a new VT Commodore on track for the endurance races.

- CHRIS LAMBDEN

U August 1998

Ralf in the middle of FI driver market By JOE SAWARD

Williams is interested in Ralf because he is German -

AFTER the excitements of

which will keep the team’s future engine supplier BMW happy - and he can be quick, but the Williams manage ment has yet to be convinced that Ralf is mature enough to be a topline FI driver. While Wilhams is a possible

the last couple of weeks on the Formula 1 driver mar

ket, things have now set tled down a little.

Announcements are expect BATHURST CHALLENGER... Tomas Mezera's VT Commodore is only the third to be built.

(Photo by Tony Glynn)

Alain on Menu for Mezera Commodore By CHRIS LAMBDEN

Holden affiliation and scuttle

workshops of Derek Van

meaningful testing, but the

the plan.

Zelm, Mezera’s car - con-

little team is due to test

TOMAS Mezera is look

Mezera also has another

stmcted from the ground up

again at Calder next week.

ing to the British Super Touring Championship to provide him with an

pair of former BTCC champi

in-house - turned a wheel for the first time at Oran Park

FAI 1000 Classic co-dri ver.

The former HRT driver,

currently building up his own team, has fonner cham pion Alain Menu at the top of his shopping list. “A lot depends on his plans for next year,” Mezera told Motorsport News this week. A rumoured switch by Menu to Ford’s BTCC team would conflict with Mezera’s

ons, John Cleland and Tim Harvey, in mind. Either way, a clashing British race will rule any BTCC driver out for the Tickford 500 at Sandown.

Leading Sydney privateer Terry Finnigan will deputise for that race.

In the meantime, Mezera’s fledgling team has become just the third to hit the cir cuit with an all-new VT Commodore. Built at the Melbourne

last Tuesday. With a cage construction different from the existing two Mobil and Castrol cars (“As a

small team, we need to build this car to last three years,” said Tomas), the all-white car from carries backing

Densitron, Plaspak, Ultrak, Holden, Mobil and JBA.

Engine preparation is by John Sidney. An engine management problem precluded any

Johnsons joined IT has been confirmed that Dick and Steven Johnson will team at Bathurst Australian 1000 Classic in November.

As reported by MN four weeks ago, the father and son pairing will share the #17 Falcon at Sandown and

Bathurst, leaving John Bowe and Cameron McConville in the other team car.

While the teaming of the two Johnsons is described as

a “dream finally come to reality” by Steven, it also marks the end of a 10-year Bathurst

partnership

between Dick and Bowe,

which yielded two Bathurst 1000 wins. “I’ve never made a secret

of the fact that I wanted to

race with Steve, but I’ve also said he’d have to prove him self first,” Dick said. The Classic will be Steven’s fifth start at the

Mountain in a V8, having previously shared cars with Allan Grice, Tommy Kendall and Craig Baird.

Mezera will use Yokohama

tyres for this campaign. Most of last Tuesday’s Oran Park activity surround ed a Gibson Motorsport tyre test for’ the brand, with Mezera doing the bulk of the work. “I think we have found

some good improvement,” Mezera said this week, “but new tyres will only be avail able for Indy and Bathimst. “For Sandown, we won’t be in such good shape. For us,

it’ll really be a big test run.”

NZ Formula Holdens on MOTOR Race New Zealand has confirmed the two-race Formula

Holden series planned for late November. Both rounds will be held in

the South Island, with the opening

round

Invercargill’s Teretonga cir cuit on November 29 followed

a week later by the Ruapuna Park (Christchurch) meeting, which will carry the New Zealand Grand Prix title.

Backing for the series comes from shipping compa ny Tasman Express, which will ship a minimum of 15 cars- from Australia for the Trans-Tasman contest.

Heading the line-up will be newly-crowned Australian Gold Star Champion Scott Dixon.

He and countryman Simon Wills will be joined by an

expected additional five New Zealand entries to take on

the Australian contingent,

expected to be made up of all the leading contenders in the 1998 championship. -CHRIS LAMBDEN

ed within the next couple of weeks confiiming that Damon Hill will stay with Jordan and that OUvier Panis and Jamo Trulli will continue as team mates at Prost Grand Prix.

WiUiams has agreed a deal with CART star Alex Zanardi

but is not expected to confirm the Italian’s two-year deal which is rumoured to be worth

$13.2m a year - until the ItaUan GP at Monza in three weeks.

By then Frank Williams and Patrick Head ought to have decided who wiU be part nering the ItaUan. The three men believed to

be in the running now are Ralf Schumacher, Johnny Herbert

and

Juan-Pablo

Montoya. Schumacher Jr is currently the man in the FI spotlight as his manager Willi Weber negotiates with Williams, Jordan, Sauber and BAR.

location for Schumacher, Jordan Grand Prix does not

want to let him go. Sauber would prefer to keep its two existing (hivers as well but is talking to Schiunacher to cover itself in case it needs

to replace Johnny Herbert. The recent days have seen a rash of rumours Unking Ralf to the second seat at BAR, which would seem to be a risk which he does not need to take.

Despite the fact that Prost has both its drivers under con

tract, there has been talk of Jamo Trulli moving to BAR, but this is probably wishful thinking on the part of BAR and Trulli’s manager, Flavio Briatore.

If Trulli could get out of his Prost contract, he would sure

ly join Williams, which has approached him.

Shell backs revised V8 title series SHELL has confirmed its

continued sponsorship of Australian V8 Supercar racing, but with some sig nificant changes. Motorsport Manager Ross Brodie confirmed a further

three-yeau" agreement by the compamy, through to the end of 2001, at last week’s Oran Park SATCC finale. The deal will

of guest appearances at the FI and IndyCar GPs, will be

part of the re-named series, Shell The lengthy Australian Touring Car Championship name has been dropped in favour of a shorter, more readily mar ketable Shell Championship Series.

The winner will, however, extend

still be able to claim the title

Shell’s sponsorship of the Australian Touring Car Championship to 15 years, one of the longest sport spon sorships in Australia. As previously reported in Motorsport News, the series has been expanded to incor

of Australian Touring Car

porate both the Sandown and Bathurst endurance

AVESCO Chairman Tony Cochrane said these key ele

races, with the rumoured

ments would be announced

possibility of a further long

at the Tickford 500 meeting

Champion. Further details on the

1999 series - points alloca tion ratios for the long dis tance races and a 1999 calen dar - were not available at Oran Park.

distance race as well.

at Sandown (September

All V8 Supercar races in Australia, with the exception

12/13). - CHRIS LAMBDEN

/^®O®I70[^D^

14 August m

FAI backs V8 Bathurst ® '

... y'

■«

INSURANCE giant FAI has been confirmed as

sponsor of the Australian 1000 Classic at Bathurst. FAI Chief Executive

Rodney Adler confirmed his company’s three-year spon sorship, with a further year’s option, at the Bathurst test/media day last week. The announcement was

the highlight of an other wise damp day, showers and driving rain reducing the V8

THEY AGREE... sort of. Now the FIA has to ratify (I to r)

on-track action to a handful

Bernie Ecclestone, Ron Dennis and Frank Williams’ deal.

of cautious laps. The planned Top Ten

Concorde agreement! Australian company spon (Er, no, not really...) Shootout was cancelled.

An up-beat Adler said he

was thrilled to have his all-

ALL the Formula 1 teams

sign the revised document.

have now finally signed Agreement, but we under stand that, contrary to earlier reports, the final

Why he has not yet signed is unclear after many months of negotiation, but we suspect it may be related to the ongoing legal action

draft of the document has

between the FIA and the

NOT yet been signed by

European

the FIA.

which claims that the FIA is

the

1998

Concorde

Commission,

soring the all-Australian sporting event. “The

FAI

1000

one

Australian event that stops the country each year,” he said.

“I’m amazed at the pas sion and enthusiasm that surrounds this race and it’s

abusing a dominant position. Talks between the EU and

teams, Bernie Ecclestone’s

the FIA are going on quietly,

Formula One Holdings, and

with the occasional outburst

weather turned it into a

the FIA which controls GP

of sabre-rattling when one party or the other is not get ting what it wants, but we would expect that a deal of some sort will eventually be struck which will keep every one happy and out of the

non-event, FAI also put up a

FIA President Max Mosley did sign a version of the deal in May but we understand that other changes were made after the highly-publi cised Monaco signing cere mony and Mosley has still to

courts.

-JOESAWARD

wet weather tyre works a treat at the Mountain. For the record, John Bowe

Tickets for the FAI 1000

Classic are now on sale via Ticketmaster (Ph: 136 122) with four-day General Admission at $70 and

off.

On-track, the only signifi cant news from the day was confirmation that Dunlop’s new and previously untested

Sunday-only tickets at $45. Information and bookings relating to the official family camping grounds can be obtained by calling IMG Sydney on 02 9261 1777. - CHRIS LAMBDEN

and it’s the

$25,000 prize for anyone breaking the lap record dur ing the day’s Top Ten run-

2:30.94 set during the less wet opening session.

just shaded Russell Ingall (driving the Castrol team’s VT Commodore) for fastest time of the day with a

a great feeling to now be a part of it.” Although the inclement

The Concorde Agreement is a contract between the

racing.

JUST A SHOWER.. We hope it doesn’t look like this when the race starts in November.

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VIC

manufacturer

has

stepped up its platinum level sponsorship at the CART race as part of its 50th Anniversary celebra

NSX with which CART con

Among the obvious signs of the sponsorship at the race meeting (October 15-

trols the IndyCar field. Honda has, as part of its platinum sponsorship, been official motor vehicle sup plier to the event iu previous years.

18) will be the addition of

- CHRIS LAMBDEN

tions.

PIRELLI could appear at the final round of the BOC Gases Super Touring Championship at Oran Park Mark Adderton will test the Italian tyres on

the Thursday of the meeting, prior to deciding between running them or on their current

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an exotically liveried Honda Prelude Pace Car prepared for the supporting races to complement the Honda

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the IndyCar Board the fol lowing day. The Japanese

Dunlops. (0

£ o

The Italian-made rubber is used in the

Spanish Super Touring series, but has not been seen so far in Australia. Local agent Rod Wilson is hopeful that the tyres will be as comp>etitive as they have been in GT Production racing.

Adderton believes that the tyres will represent a reabstic alternative to MicheUns or Dimlops. “It’s all about competition,” he said. “If the Pirellis work out well, I can see a number of peo ple being interested, and that’s good for the series.”

Adderton’s BOC Honda Accord is undergoing

a suspension and engine rebuild prior to the races, where he is hoping to secure second place in the Independents’ Cup behind Cameron McLean. -PHILBRANAGAN

14Augusn99S

MKhelin

McLaren loses

no to FI

Schuey appeal

return MICHELIN appears to have decided against returning to FI following

By JOE SAWARD

sions this year which have

THE FIA International

seemed to favour Ferrari over McLaren.

Court of Appeal rejected McLaren’s appeal result ing from the British GP at

market research in France which revealed

Silverstone and so Michael Schumacher is confirmed as the winner, that This means

that around 60 percent of the population already believes that Michelin is

in FI - and is being suc

Schumacher went unpun ished for overtaking Alexander Wurz under a yel low flag.

cessful.

There is no marketing logic in spending the money when the company already has a sporting image. And, although Good year’s sporting bosses have tried to get the man agement in Akron to change its mind about withdrawing from FI, there is now little hope. Goodyear’s withdrawal creates an extraordinary opportunity for a new tyremaker to come into FI and the latest candi-

date is German company

McLaren had argued that the Ferrari driver should be

Geoff Brabham lands

Longhurst Bathurst seat

Continental says that it is interested in becoming

TONY Longhurst and Geoff Brabham will team up for this year’s two touring car enduros, the Sandown 500 and the

involved in a few years -

Australian Classic 1000.

but may consider acceler ating its plans because of the availability of top

Ten years after he won the Bathurst 1000 with Tomas Mezera, Longhurst and 1997

teams

Falcon in an attempt to add to the pair’s tally.

Continental AG.

Williams

and

Ferrari, which will lose Goodyear tyres at the end of this year. - JOE SAWARD

winner Brabham will share the Castrol

The Classic will be Brabham’s sixth start at Mount Panorama and his third with Ford

V8 power. He drove for Glenn Seton’s team in

1994 and ’95, winning the Sandown 500 with David Parsons.

“Geoff is an endurance specialist with impeccable credentials,” says Longhurst “Put that together with our latest tyre, aero and chassis package and we have a real Bathurst winning combination.” Longhurst had been expected to share the car with 1998 team-mate Alan Jones but the addition of Brabham to the team - and the

mid-season switch to Dunlop tyres - sees the competitiveness of the car assured.

with

the

World

Championship. The International Court of

Appeal was helped by the fact that the race stewards

admitted that they had made mistakes in applying the penalty. This gave the judges little

punished for breaking the

alternative

rules

Mika

Schumacher get away with

the infraction.

and

Hakkinen

THE MEN FROM CASTROL... Longhurst and Brabham are looking for success together.

This has created suspicion in the FI paddock that the FIA is favouring Ferrari to stop McLaren running away

that

ought

declared the winner of the race as he finished 22 sec onds behind Michael. The case was that the Ferrari driver should have

been given a 10-second stopgo penalty which, with decel

but

let

At the same time, the three FIA stewards - India’s Nazir

Hoosein, Canada’s Roger Peart and Britain’s Howard

Lapsley - went before an extraordinary meeting of the FIA World Council in Paris

eration and acceleration,

and “voluntarily” handed in

would have penalised him It was never very likely

their licences. The stewards were found to have made several critical

that the FIA would overturn the result - one cannot blame the Ferrari team for

mistakes, including applying the wrong rule to the situa tion and failing to communi

mistakes made by the stew

cate their decision as laid

ards - but to let Schumacher

down in the regulations.

around 25s.

off without a punishment was a less-than-perfect solu tion for the credibility of the governing body, particularly given the fact that there have been several other deci-

The FIA World Council

tried to cushion the blow by

noting that the stewards had been under “considerable stress” because of the extreme weather conditions.

PM hits the podium at Oran Park to take 10 out of 10! RPM Racegear was the only racewear to be seen on the podium at all ten rounds of the 1998 Shell

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UAususI 1S98

m ■ Anthony Reid, current ly third in the BTCC, will

be at Sears Point in October to race a NASCAR Winston West car. Reid wiU call visit California on

the way back from driving Nissan’s factoiy Primera at Bathurst on October 4. ■ Volvo has confirmed it

wUl will stay with TWR for its BTCC campaign.

■ While considering a European Super Touring program, Chrysler will take part in tests at Oschersleben in Germany. The French team ORECA

has been testing the Chrysler Stratus cars since they were pulled out the

●RICKARD RydelRs Bnijtish. Touring>%r

ship title rivals, Anthony.-Reid and-^aiiQl^enu, shax^^

the vfctbiT: spoils at Thruxton^jbut;%4P^!i^J&iKirdi^ ensui-ed that Rydell left the circuit wiUi ah^jarbase^? championship'iead. . *► - J ^ jr^*'

Forty>five points now separatesj^yd^elj^Sn^Ri^iU^ man and reigning champion Menu; W^'orilt^Sh^

races remaining,^time is fast running oubfoi^Jhe.Svn^HI driver if he is to retain his^ci'own.

■ Honda will field an allnew Accord in the ’99

Reid’s Sprint Race ■victoi'y wasja’ârBm^copy/bf lfl^ Snetterton triumjjh'but, this time,'.iKis Nissan’ididîO ftom second on the grid; blasting past pole manlR^db^ as the Swede spun his VolyOls ●Wheels awajyifadAitl^^ ●line. RydelFs tardy getaxy^coSt himjSdfeof^pIpîlSS?

BTCC. Following the mar que’s split with Prodrive

acoident„put'his-RenauR>ahea^^j^^1|;

North American series.

(now with Ford) Fosstech and Advanced Automotive

Design have been assigned to build the new car, which will be launched at the

Binning-ham Motor Show in November.

■ The Malaysian manu facturer Proton has moved

closer to a projected Super Touring entry. A 2-litre engine, developed by Sauber in Switzerland, was put through its paces in a

as Menu, recoveredA'om'aiEriday'higl^^RTfeSKii^

Behind there was chaos as the Vauxhall of Mark Lemmer

HEAD OF THE CLASS... Nissan's Primera and Volvo’s

collided with the Ford of Craig Baird; Baird’s car speared into the barriers, was badly dam aged and came to rest in a dangerous position, prompting the Safety Car for four laps while

was

S40 are the pick of the BTCC field at present. Jim and Steven Richards must be

looking forward to Bathurst. (Photos by Bothwell Photographic)

recovered.

well ahead.

Another lap one casualty was

Rydell, Morbidelli

the second works Renault of

and

Peugeot’s Tim Harvey took their turns in front as the pit

■ Peugeot Sport may

Jason Plato, whose engine gave up the ghost. At the restart on lap six, Reid blasted away from his pursuers. Within three laps he had a one-second advantage and it was clear that only a

Rydell, Leslie and Reid in the race ‘proper’. But before 'Thompson could reassert him¬ self at the finnt. Menu pulled

direct its factory-run Super Touring team away from

problem would halt his inex orable progress to a third win

manoeuvre to snatch the lead

(jermany to run in the BTCC next year. The French-based squad, head

of the ‘98 season.

Perdana sedan at the Johor track last month.

stops

debut and claimed 17th posi

ed by 97 Champion

also, and the battle of the race

tion.

Laurent Aiello, dominated last season but the British

centred on the tussle for fourth between Honda’s

Reid followed Rydell’s Sprint Race example by mak

team (run currently by Motor Sport Developments)

James Thompson, David Leslie (Nissan), the Volvo of

ing a relatively poor start from

entry in 1992.

■ Alfa Corse is preparing for a full BTCC assaiilt in 1999. The Italian manufac

turer registered for this year’s series and will run a handful of races with its

Gianni Morbidelli and Yvan Muller for Audi. Leslie threat

ened throughout the 20-lap race to oust 'Thompson, mak ing contact with its rear

bumper on several occasions, but Thompson held firm. Leslie was in turn under

attack from Morbidelli, until

156, but is concentrating

the Italian made an error at

on developing the car for

the chicane on the penulti mate lap and slipped behind

the German series. Alfa ’

was looking at a partner ship with Prodrive before

that company joined Ford. - QUENTIN SPURRING

Muller and Derek Warwick’s Vauxhall. Brazilian Flavio

Figueiredo, deputising at Vauxhall for the injm-ed John Cleland, made a steady BTCC

with

off a masterful overtaking

Menu and Rydell were secure enough in their slots

has not won a race since its

unwound.

Thompson heading Menu,

the pole, letting Thompson through and into an early lead in the Feature Race. Reid

managed to hold Rydell off for second, with Menu, Muller and Leslie completing the top six. Just as with the Sprint Race, the Safety Car was

brought into play early on, this time when Norwegian Independent Tommy Rustad crashed into the barriers in avoidance of a clash between Plato and Warwick. The restarted race devel

oped into a six-car duel for the

lead, with Menu attacking vig orously to unseat Rydell from

on the 22nd of the 35 laps. Reid claimed fourth spot from his team-mate on the

British Touring Car Championship 1

Anthony Reid

Alain Menu

Round 18:35 laps

Nissan Primera 29m 07.171s

48m 16.489s

+3.488S 2 +5.844S 3

Leslie Rydell

+2.253S +7.175s

+6.555S

Morbidelli

+9.934S

Nissan Primera

+6.970S

Thompson +10.055s

FRA

AudiA4

Vauxhall Vectra Volvo S40

+7.215s +8.744S

6 7

Reid Kox

+10.512S

GB ITA

+10.152s

Bintcliffe

+20.344s

Peugeot 406

+17.712s

Harvey

+25.289s

Ford Mondeo

+20.638S

Muller

+30.101S

3 4

SWI Renault Laguna Rickard Rydell SWE Volvo S40 James Thompson GB Honda Accord

5 6 7

David Leslie Yvan Muller Derek Wanvick

Gianni Morbidelli

Paul Radisich

10 Will Hoy

same lap, but a poor replace

Thnixton 2 August 1998

Round 17:20 laps

+20.025S

Fastest lap Reidim 17.015s 110.12mph (record) Championship points: Rydell 186, Menu 141. Reid 140, Thompson 137, Plato 114, Leslie 110, Cleland 98. Morbidelli 54. Muller 53, Hoy 52. Teams: Williams Renault 122, Nissan Racing 114, Volvo S40 Racing, 105.

ment tyre choice soon started to hamper his efforts and Leslie repassed after three laps, then snatched third from Rydell. Next on the Scotsman’s hit list was second-

placed Thompson, who was suffering gearbox trouble and succumbed four laps from the end - not only to Leslie but also to Rydell. Menu was more than two seconds ahead of Leslie at the

third and Reid right on the leader’s bumper. Menu was

Muller from fifth, but otherwise the deadlock at the front

the first to make a move, slic-

remained unbroken until

third a further five seconds

ing past Rydell on lap eight only to collide with Reid’s rear, causing the Nissan man to shde wide before recovering before dropping back again to fourth. Leslie then displaced

Thompson and Reid pulled into the pits together on lap 15 for their mandatoiy stops, It was a poor stop for Reid, who stalled, and Thompson’s Honda returned to the track

down. More gearbox trouble for Thompson saw him drop to

chequered flag, with Rydell

fifth at the final comer behind

Morbidelli, with Reid hanging on to sixth to keep his title hopes alive.

1998 Shell Australian

MoTeC Touring Car Championship Congratulations to Craig Lowndes a all at Holden Racing Team on a superb performance in taking out the 1998 SATCC Congratulations also to Trevor Ashby, Steve Reed and the Lansvale team on winning the Privateers cup.

With a little help from MoTeC

MoTeC Australia Pty Ltd

7-S/9 Gabrielle Court Bayswater 3153 Pb 03 97615050 Fax 03 97615051

U August m

Besnard

We gave it our best shot tightens his grip

DOWN, NOT OUT:

The disappointment of iosing at Oran Park is obvious, but Russeii has no

DAVID Besnard continued his brilliant USFF2000 season at Mid-Ohio with a dominant win

regrets about his

championship chailenge.

- his sixth of the year. In front of the CART circus

(Photo by Phil Williams

Besnard stuck his Primus Racing Karts Van Diemen on pole position and kept his head in the Pace Carstrewn race to take a narrow but

convincing victory. Better still for the Sydneysider, meetings during the weekend have almost ensured that he will have, at worst, a fully-sponsored drive with one of the leading Formula

Grand Prix events

'day V8 Supercar followers. I was hoping to write this column as the 1998 V8 Supercar Champion, but guess what? It didn’t happen. We gave it our best shot, but I’m afraid it just wasn’t good enough. Iam sure you will read all about the nitty grit ty in the race report, so I will leave that to the

sorts of changes.

experts.

We make the effort

But Besnard and his supporters

One thing I would like to say, though, is many thanks to friends, fans and sponsors who wished me so much good luck for the final round; it was quite overwhelming. I heard a few dropped a bit of cash with the bookies, too, so there was obviously a lot of confidence in me. All I can say to those people is that there will be a good chance to get your money back when we go to the Mountain in November. Trust me, I won’t let that one go.

to go to many of these support and

are still working on their main goal for 1999, securing an Indy Lights

(\which Iwould have loved to be included because I have a

great record there). I am all for these

endurance

Atlantic teams next season.

drive with one front-line teams.

races

Besnard put the opposition on notice during qualifying, with his fifth pole position of the year ahead of Robhy McGehee Jr. Better still,

and, considering the cost to go is as much if not more

than a champi onship race itself, it seems logical that we should get more

Besnard’s main rival for the title, Ryan Hampton, was only fifth after a troubled run in his Tatuus. At the start of the race Besnard

benefit out of it than

Alot of people theyin would me hanging from athought hotel door Sydneyfind (if you will pardon the expression) for not winning the championship. Of course, I desperately wanted to win the Championship this year and honestly thought I was going to. But if, at the end of the day, I could look back and think of any one thing I could have done differently or better that could have changed the outcome, then I obviously would be disappointed. However, the Castrol Perkins racing team gave me the best V8 Commodore possible, Dunlop did their best and Icertainly know that I held up my end of the bar gain, so there is nothing to be disappointed

just a plastic trophy. It will also pro

immediately jumped to the lead

duce a truer cham

for 11 of the 20 laps while acci

but the Pace Car was on the track

pion at the end of the year who is

dents were cleared.

overall the best dri

opportunity to race on a level playing field. With the budget of a few of the top Level

ver, both in sprint and endurance races.

The thingaswhich accounts ing other as strong it hasbyin all recent years isis look con

One teams, Isomehow don’t think it will affect

them too much. They might just have to start staying in four-star hotels instead of five! These individuals should start looking at what’s best for the category as a whole and not just looking after their own interests.

trolled tyres. I know we keep talking about it (and we’re sick to death of it), but finally the people that are in control of our road show are realising it is the only option, especially after Oran Park, which 1 am pretty sure was the last nail in the coffin. I have to admit that the excuse of losing cor porate sponsors out of our industry is a down side, but you have to realise that this type of support affects only a couple of teams and would not be money that directly goes into sponsorship of the category as a whole.

about.

n the next couple of months there should be some interesting news about V8 Supercar rac ing for 1999. One of the changes is that all races will count for the Championship next year, including Bathurst, but unfortunately not the Australian

Oncompetitive the issue ofandmaking more moretheof category a spectacle, there has been much talk on the inconsisten

cies of penalties this year for "forceful" dri ving. I read with interest an article in the English

Autosport magazine where FI boss Bernie

Remember that, no matter how much

control tyre would give everyone the opportunity to race on a level playing field I am pretty sure Oran Park was the last nail in the coffin.

● ●●

whinging these teams will do because they will have to buy tyres, they should have a good look at our poor old mates in the privateer ranks, most of whom are struggling to even afford to get to meet ings. They still have to buy their own tyres each race and they don’t moan about it; they think that having control tyres is the best thing that ever happened. A control tyre would give everyone privateers and Level One teams - the

Ecclestone was defending Michael Schumacher and his aggressive driving style. There were quotes like, "He is a racer and it’s a pity there are not more like him", "Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell, they were racers, prepared to take a few risks", "Whingers are losers" and "We don't want drivers pussy footing around. We want them competing and going for it." What a top bloke this Bernie is! I hope Tim Schenken from CAMS read the same article.

■

In the final two lap dash to the flag Besnard had the race in hand an won by just under a second from McGehee and Tim Duit.

Hampton failed to finish after a clash with Andy Lally, and has now dropped 59 points behind the Australian in the title race.

During the weekend Besnard and his father Jeff had meetings with CART team owners Steve

Horne (Tasman Motorsport) and Barry Green (Team Kool Green), as well as CART Chief Executive

Andrew Craig. The positive reception he received from all three has given Besnard the confidence to concen

trate on the Lights series, despite interest from Atlantic powerhouse Lynx Racing. The Lynx team, owned by racing enthusiast Peggy Hass, has previ ously won the Atlantic title with current CART stars Alex Barron

and Patrick Carpentier. Whichever way he

goes,

Besnard’s immediate future seems

to be very bright...

Two car team for [W01.0GT) f/«;ru/^ Greenfield in ’99

● Quicker acceleration

● Easier starting engine

By PHIL BRANAGAN CAMERON McLean will

step up a level next sea

“There

are

two

cars

available for us,” he said, adding “they are current ly competing in the

son has progressed. McLean will almost cer

tainly get two latest-spec 320is, one of which cur

German series.” It has been little secret

rently leads the German factory driver Johnny

BOC Gases Champion ship.

that during 1998 the team has been getting closer to BMW Motorsport. Reudi

double

Gmeiner, who oversees

current ex-Brabham 320i

Independents’ Cup win ner announced on Sunday that he would be joined by

the company’s touring car program, has taken a per

another car next season,

Brisbane-based outfit and,

will be for sale following the Bathurst 1000, while McLean’s 1997 race car, an Opel Vectra, is still

but team manager John

despite being a non-works supported customer team,

unsold as well. There has been some interest in the

there has been more and more hardware in the

cars, most strongly from Porsche Cup racer Kerry Hayes.

son

when

Greenfield

Mowers Racing runs a two car assault on the

The

McLean would not be drawn on a second driver or even what the cars would be.

sonal

interest

the

team’s garage as the sea-

STW series in the hands of

● Precise ignition timing ● Higher top speed ● increased fuel mileage ● Increased horsepower and torque

Cecotto.

Meanwhile, the team’s

Bert Flood Imports POBox 61 Lilydale Vic 3140 S Ph: 03 9735 5655 or Fax: 03 9735 5699 Email: flood@smart.net.au

l^^O®[FS[p®Jj^

Coke for BJR Audis?

World of Sport

By PHIL BRANAGAN AUDI Sport Australia could run

iMofor ffoc/ng

their A4s in Coca Cola colours -

Calendar

perhaps as soon as October’s Bathurst 1000.

Team personnel would not com

Sandown 500 * Sept 13

ment on the rumours at Winton last

Sandown Raceway, Melb

FAI Australian 1000 Classic *

CLANGER... Herta caused chaos on lap one, taking out Franchitti and Vasser (far left). (Photo by cart News service)

Nov 15 .. .Mt. Panorama, Bathurst

BOC Gases Super

Touring Championship* Aug 30 .. .Amaroo

Rd8

Eight round series held in Australia

Century BoHeries GTP Series* Aug 30 .. .Amaroo

,Rd8

Eight round series held in Australia

AMP Bathurst 1000 The Great Race' Oct 4

Mt. Panorama, Bathurst

Australian NASCAR Series* Oct 3/4 .. .Bathurst

Rd 1

Six race series held at Bathurst, Catder Park

Thunderdome and Adelaide International Rway.

It’s St Patrick’s Day IT was almost like St Patrick’s

Day at Mid-Ohio’s CART round when Adrian Fernandez and Scott Pruett scored a 1-2 for the veteran team owner. Fernandez took his second win

of 1998 by a bare quarter second in front of his team-mate, while Bobby Rahal celebrated his last race in fine style and kept it an allFord/Reynard/Firestone podium by driving from 16th to third. After starting his own race fifth the Mexican avoided a lap one tan gle that eliminated pole man Dario Franchitti, Bryan Herta and Jimmy Vasser. He then held third for most

FedEx Champ Car Series*

Aug 16 .. .Elkhart Lake ...Rd 14 Sept 6 ...Vancouver .. ..Rd 15 Sept 13 ..Laguna Seca ..Rd 17

of the

race

behind

Mauricio Gugelmin and then Greg Moore before moving into the lead for the last 26 laps.

interviewing all the drivers involved (Zanardi, Lehto, CastroNeves), both accidents should have been avoided,” CART Chief Steward Wally Dallenbach said. “In both cases, Alex was the over taking driver.” Herta was also penalised for his

incident, while so was Greg Moore. After the lap one incident Franchitti and Vasser were very unhappy with Herta, both com

plaining bitterly about his opening lap tactics.

“Disappointment is one thing,” Franchitti said. “I’m really quite angry. I can’t believe that Bryan tried such a stupid move. He just squeezed me and squeezed me, and we touched and he put me

into the back of Ribeiro’s car, tear ing a wheel and tyre from the

struck the Brazilian’s right front tyre changer. Andretti was uninjured after flipping four times when he clipped P.J. Jones’s car which had suffered steering failure when a wing endplate from J.J. Lehto’s car was detached in a collision with Alex Zanardi and flew into the

steering system of Jones’s car. Andretti’s rear wheel went over Jones’ car and the Swift-Ford

flipped into the air for a quad bar rel-roll. Andretti was unhurt.

Championship leader Zanardi was fortunate to finished twelfth

his local track located barely an

fastest three cars were out at the

rate incidents. Zanardi slid off the

19 race series held in the United States.

hour’s drive from his home in New

Australia. Brazil and Japan

Albany, Ohio and Team Rahal’s headquarters in Columbus. Rahal

first turn. Bryan needs to think about what he’s doing. Jimmy’s

track coming out of the first turn while running seventh on lap 26, losing ten places. Later he was

Pep Boys Indy Racing League

also finished third in the race last

the stupidest move he’s ever seen.”

year and this performance was his best of the year so far, bettering his fourth place in Toronto last

While the cars of Franchitti and

Vasser were out on the spot, Herta

involved in a small collision with J.J. Lehto which resulted in the incident between Jones and

was able to drive around to the

Andretti.

month.

pits before retiring with a punc

Finally, Zanardi took twelfth place from Helio Castro-Neves

11 race series held Inthe United Stales

Formula 1 World C'ship Rd 12 Aug 16 .. .Hungary Rd 13 Aug 30 .. .Belgium Rd 14 Sept 13 ..Italy ... Sept 27 ..Luxembourg ...Rd 15 16 race series held around the world

Winston Cup NASCAR Aug 16 .. .Michigan Aug 22 ...Bristol ..

Rd 22

Fourth, in a welcome return to

tured water radiator. When he

form for PacWest, was Gugelmin. Championship leader Alex

climbed out of his car, Herta threw his gloves into the cockpit and was clearly very upset.

Zanardi had an awful race. He was

penalised for unjustifiable risk in regard to separate race incidents with JJ Lehto and Helio Castro-

Neves. Zanardi was placed on pro bation, fined $50,0000 and was not awarded a PPG Cup point for Sunday’s 12th place finish. “After reviewing the tapes and

Moore and Michael Andretti

were taken out in separate inci dents. Moore was leading the race when

crashed

into

Andre

Ribeiro’s car while trying to leave the pits, ending his day. When Moore dropped the clutch to leave his pit he slid sideways

Initial reports suggested that the deal would be for the 1999 season

program.

after being involved in three sepa

Rd9

Creek.

Bouslog. ’The wheel bounced along the back of Ribeiro’s car and

he was playing at or thinking. The

,Rd8

a ride with Brad Jones in the team’s two seater A4 ‘ride’ car at Eastern

but now Bathurst appears to be a more likely starting point for the

onto the grass. I don’t know what

Aug 16 .. .Fountain Aug 29 .. .Atlanta

Wills has been a guest of the team during the season and even went for

hands of Ribeiro’s crew chief John

Rahal drove an excellent race at

very upset with him. He said it’s

weekend, but negotiations are believe to have progressed far enough for a meeting with Coca Cola Amatil chief Dean Wills on Monday.

with just two laps to go when the two collided in the esses, resulting in Castro-Neves crashing. CastroNeves’s team owner Tony Bettenhausen complained to CART officials after the race about

Zanardi’s driving. Points: Zanardi 191, Vasser 122, Moore 118, Fernandez 110, Pruett and Andretti 92, Rahal 75, de Ferran and Herta and Franchitti 67.

-PHIL MORRIS

Team manager Kim Jones’ only comment was that “Coke has been

suppl}dng us (with product for a while now”.

“But it would be nice (for Coke) to

win Bathurst twice ...”, referring to Wayne Gardner’s Coke-sponsored Commodore effort for the Australian 1000 Classic in November. Should the deal come off it would

be something of a reunion for Jones and Coke, who raced in the firm’s colours twice at Bathurst with

Wayne Gardner Racing. MEANWHILE BJR

still

Great Race.

It now appears that the team is contemplating putting Jones and Cameron McConville together in the lead car, and putting an experienced local driver in alongside Belgian Jean-Franfois Hemroulle. While the A4 quattros showed improved speed at the Bathurst test day recently, there is a concern that the car could struggle for outright speed compared to the lighter 2WD cars. Therefore putting its two “lead’ drivers in one car is considered an

advantage. That only leaves the problem of who to partner with “Hemi’. While no-one is saying how far discussions have progressed, the team is thought to have former team driver and Bathurst winner Greg Murphy high on its hst of candidates.

Rd 23

33 race series held in the United Slates

NHRA Winston

Drag Racing Series Rd 15 Aug 23 .. .Brainerd . Sept 7 .. .Indianapolis .. .Rd 16

Sept 20 ..Reading Oct 4 Topeka

Rd 17 Rd 18

22 race series held in the United States

SOOcc Motorcycle Grand Prix C'ship* Aug 23 .. .Chez Repub. ..Rd 10 Rd 11 Sept6 ...Italy , Rd 12 Sept 20 ..Spain 16 round series held around the world

Australian Rally Championship Aug 30 ...Melbourne

Rd5

7 round series held in Australia

World Rally Championhip* Aug 21 .. .Finland Sept 18 ..Indonesia

The Great Adventure returns THE

London-Sydney

25th Anniversary London-

Marathon will be run for

Sydney in 1993, the 2000

a third time, in the year

event is already almost fully subscribed, with 95 of

2000. Rd 10

The 30-day, 16,000km

Rd 11

event will cross 17 coun

14 rally series held around the world

All event dates in this calendar were

correct at the time of printing. Please consult any individual tracks and/or associations for date changes. Series or events telecast on Network Ten are marked with an asterix.

Check your local guides for screening details.

tries, arriving on the steps of the Sydney Opera House on July 2, 2000. Organised by Nick Brittan’s

Trans

World

Events, which ran the

the 100 entries taken.

As before, the entry is restricted to pre-1971 vehicles.

non-competitive basis. Competitors in this cat egory even have the option of using a brand new Toyota Landcruiser

on a buy-back deal - pick it up in London, hand it back in Sydney!

Additionally, TWE is introducing a “Challenge"

involves the charter of two

category, for 50 modern 4WD vehicles, run on a

giant Antonov air freighters to undertake

As before, the exercise

two airlifts during the

For anyone chasing

Marathon - from Iran to

one of those elusive final

Thailand, then Singapore

spots in the Marathon or a berth in the “Challenge” category, the entry fee will set you back US$36,000,

to Darwin - a $2 million exercise. Channel 10 will send two crews on the trek to

produce three hours of documentary footage plus news and will run live shows from both Darwin

and Sydney.

finalise it driver line-up for the

which includes two people in a car, airlifts, hotels -

everything. Nick Brittan can be contacted on 02 9979 8882 or fax 02 9979 8883.

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.

WIN

WEEKEND

THE

^■i~9T8 amp BATHURST lAND

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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

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could all be yours just by clipping out the coupon below. Enter as many times as you like 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

BATHURST

I 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. n

1998 AMP BATHURST 1000 CHEQUERED FLAG COMPETITION ENTRY COUPON

Please enter me in the draw for an all

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AMP Bathurst 1000 and would love to

wave the chequered flag My Ticketek Transaction Number is: Post entry to:

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Super Touring - Racing into the future TICKETS AVAILABLE AT TICKETEK - PHONE (02) 9266 4800

CONDITIONS Of ENTTiY

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

competition is open to oil readers except employees of Australasian Motorsport News P/L and Bathurst 1000 Event Management, their associated companies, and families of

employees, 3. The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

4. The prizes |2) ore: |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 Hag (under CAMS supervision) at the end of the 1998 AMP Bathurst 1000. 5. First entry drawn will win prize (o); if this entry hos no Tkltelek Transaction Number, further draws will take place until an entry with a Ticketek Transaction Number is drown, which will win prize (b). 6. Entries must reach Bathurst 1000 Event Management

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original coupons published in Motorsport News |no photocopies), except where this contravenes state law (SA). Permit number TC 98/5313.

J2 U August 1998 Subaru to

stay with Prodrive Subaru - which is on its

way to a fourth consecu tive World Rally title has confirmed that it is to continue its involvement

in rallying with David Richards’ Prodrive compa ny, despite the fact that Richards is expected to establish a new company shortly to run the Ford’s rallying program. Prodrive will take over the Ford

touring car program and Benetton - which

Richards is running - will become the Ford works

team in FI late next year. ■ The FIA is to intro

duce more of the large warning light panels which were seen for the first time at the German

GP. The FIA tried a large yellow illuminated panel at the first corner at Hockenheim to warn dri

vers of danger ahead.

Some drivers - notably Michael Schumacher -

have complained about not being able to see the tradi tional waved yellow flags in difficult conditions. ■ Jordan technical

director Gary Anderson is a man in demand at the

moment with paddock mmours in Hockenheim

linking him to engineering jobs at Arrows, Prost and Williams.

■ Mauro Forghieri, who

{^®0®l7S[p®l79

McLaren keeps Amund winning combo McLAREN-Mercedes has announced that drivers Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard will continue with the team for the 1999 Formula 1 season.

Prof Jurgen Hubbert, Daimler

Benz board member for passenger cars and responsible for the Mercedes racing program, made the announcement the day before

on just about everything - from the German

Hakkinen and Coulthard took their fifth 1-2 finish of the season in the German Grand Prix.

The reason why I was back in Australia was to take advantage of a five week break between

Grand Prix telecast to Sale of the Centuryl

WARSrETNfc » . S.f

'We are happy with what they did in the past years, and this

the round of the FIA GT Championship at Budapest (which was very successful for us) and the next at Suzuka (on August 23).

year," Hubbert said.

It was good timing for another reason, too,

because my sister Leanne gave birth to my first niece, Jemma, who was born on Monday after noon this week. Both are doing fine and I was even able to nurse the baby,

"Both are capable of becoming world champion and we want two

^oulifhartt

drivers in the team capable of that. "In addition to their perfor mance on the track, they are sup ported and admired by the entire

y first week and a half back in Australia M was incredibly busy, but also very enjoy-

Daimler-Benz workforce.”

able.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis indi

Because I spend most of my time overseas, it's easy to become a bit detached and removed

cated the team had options on both drivers.

"Beyond 1999," he said, "we are equipped to ensure that, if both

from whafs happening at home, even though the many e-mails, phone calls and faxes I receive do a fantastic job. It's not something 1 particularly seek out, but it was hard not to notice the amount of public and media support for me on this trip and the recognition my racing overseas is now receiving

drivers continue to do the excellent

job that they are doing, there is no reason that their futures are not secure in our team."

Ferrari is the only other team to

here.

have announced its drivers for

There was one very special occasion last

next year, confirming Michael

week when I was presented with a certificate of

Schumacher and Eddie Irvine.

achievement by the City of Melbourne. Although it was in recognition for my racing achievements, I didn’t just accept it for me but on behalf of the people who have been around me since day one, in particular my sponsor. Yellow Pages, who have been so supportive for

■4

"I am delighted with the news," said Coulthard.

"I was always confident that I

has been involved in Formula 1 for the last 40

would be with McLaren-Mercedes

next season. I did not want to go

PUT IT THERE... Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard shake on

years with Ferrari and

anywhere else.”

their continuing partnership at McLaren in 1999.

so long, especially in the beginning when they

Lamborghini, is working as a consultant to BMW

on the Munich company’s VIO engine program. The 64-year-old Italian was

one of the star FI engi neers in the 1960s and 1970s.

■ The FIA has spent the last few months looking into the correlation

between the front wings of FI cars and the number of

overtaking manoeuvres

which have taken place in races since the 1950s to

see if the racing can be improved.

Foster’s at Spa Bernie to meet

AUSTRALIA will have at least one representative in the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa on August 30 - Foster’s. The world-renown beer company has become the race’s naming rights sponsor as part of its push into Europe.

Foster’s is now the eighth largest selling beer in Europe and is the only non-European brand in the top 20.

It is targeted at Formula I’s core market, men aged 18-35 years.

FIA moves to

■ Although there are rumours of FI engine com panies looking anew at V8 engines for the future, we

plug tunnel

believe that most of the

THE FIA has been forced

research and development

However, at least one

to make a new ruling to prevent Super Touring

clever designer, believed to be with the GM Vectra team, figured that he could gain an aerodynamic advantage by filling in the gap underneath the exhaust pipe and there by creating a smoother sur

going on at the moment is centred on direct fuel

injection systems...

■ Volkswagen’s Ferdinand Piech has

announced plans to build an automotive theme park near the company’s head quarters in Wolfsburg, Germany. Auto City 200

will be used to exhibit past and present cars from the various companies. VW now controls Rolls Royce,

teams sealing the exhaust tunnel under the car, thus creating a smooth under

body surface and gaining an aerodynamic gain.

When the teams began to run their cars with very low ride heights, the drivers were damaging the exhaust pipes over the kerbs, so the manufacturers were granted permission

create

face.

This ploy was rejected by the British Touring Car Championship scrutineer until the team concerned

pointed out that the dictio nary definition clearly stated

Mandela on GP BERNIE Ecclestone will meet South African President Nelson Mandela next week to discuss a South African GP in 1999.

framed a rule which defined

the required channel, which

to draft a new rule to circum

protrudes into the cockpit

vent the loophole. - QUENTIN SPURRING

above, as a tunnel.

Consequently, the FIA had

or 17.

The rest of the dates will

recent approval

issue as he has enough

South African cabinet of

races

anti-tobacco legislation, cou pled with another fall in the value-of the rand, would suggest that a race is unlikely to happen.

already. At the moment there are 17 dates on the 1999 calen

returning to Europe for the

by the

The Tobacco Amendment

the

calendar

South

America

before

dar but it is possible that

San Marino GP at Imola on

Ecclestone will extend the

May 2. It is

series to

races

if an

Bill will go to South Africa’s

agreement can be made.

parliament later this year for ratification but may be

The race would take place near Kyalami, Johannesburg, probably at

expected that Monaco and Spain will have to switch dates with Monaco

We would expect that

The draft calendar is

Ecclestone will insist that

expected to be announced at

on May 16 and the Spanish GP on May 30. Although there have been serious economic problems in Asia, the Malaysian gov

the start of October.

ernment wants to use the

amended to allow FI cars to run with tobacco liveries.

ban when he meets Mandela and the South

and Cosworth.

happen either on October 10

be much as they are this year with the season kick ing off in Australia on March 7 and then moving to

FI be exempted from the

a floor.

Malaysia will probably

South Africa, has the basis

give way over the tobacco

for

and

Automobile Association of of a deal with Ecclestone

access and therefore required

agreed

European season in September and the Japanese GP in October.

chairman of AA Racing, a subsidiary of the

but Bernie is unlikely to

that a “tunnel” was

FIA

between the end of the

Grand Prix bid in his role as

The race is not presently

pan to protect them.

The

organised South Africa’s

included in Ecclestone’s draft calendar and the

recessed channel in the floor-

Bentley, Audi, Horch, Lamborghini, Seat, Skoda -JOESAWARD

f you’ve watched any TV recently, the chances of you missing me on your screens must have been virtually nil as I seemed to be

African sports minister Steve Tshwete on August 19.

Selwyn Nathan, who has

the end of the season.

We believe that there

race to show that Malaysia

will be very little change from this year’s list of dates

is back to normal.

but that the series will

FI calendar will not now

expand to 17 races - with

take place until 2000.

Malaysia filling the gap

A major shake-up of the

-JOESAWARD

14 August ms

what day is it?

the world in

Europe and the States, but then I

all goes to plan, Vd like to think I will be very close to entering Formula 1 by Melbourne, 2000,

were taking a huge risk by sponsoring a com plete unknown! It was an honour to receive the award and

it was good that so many influential people could come along and share in the occasion with me.

have also spent a lot of time with Mercedes Benz Australia over the past couple of weeks.

First up, Ihad the opportunity to give some AMG customers and Yellow Pages guests a

few hot laps at Phillip island in C43s and E55s, which was good fun. I also visited the new Mercedes driver train

ing facility at Nonwell in Queensland and met with some of the regional managers. Mercedes have been really fantastic and I have enjoyed their company and working with

After such a busy schedule, Iwas able to

- it's the one I've been looking for¬ ward to the most all year. The cir¬ cuit is a real classic and it has a lot

of modern day history and contro¬ versy about it, which only adds to the mystique of the place. Although it's a championship round.

STEINE

Suzuka is double the distance of the normal

GT rounds, so instead of 500km this is a lOOokm race. It's going to be very hard on dri¬ vers because the humidity level is expected to

be very high and, as always, every lap will be like qualifying, so it's going to be incredibly demanding. Hopefully, Bernd and I can finish ahead of Ricardo and Klaus and move back into the

championship lead - it would certainly be a nice way to return to Europe, especially as the next race is at Bonington. After Suzuka, the remaining rounds are all on tracks I've had experience of, except Laguna Seca, so I feel very comfortable about the second part of the season. it goes with the territory, but a lot of the I know Australian media are tipping me to be on the

them.

enjoy a few days off with my family in Queanbeyan and be around when the baby was born before returning to Europe on Wednesday. By the time you read this, though, I will actually be in America with my teammate

never do anything by half mea sure! 1 can't w/ait for the Suzuka race

Formula 1 grid at Melbourne by the year 2000.

Certainly, if all goes to plan I'd like to think I

will be very close to entering Formula 1 by then, but it will all hinge on whether the irght opportunity is there or not. It's important to realise that it all takes time and I need to be fully prepared for Formula 1 when the moment comes. After all, I was only racing Formula Ford less than two years ago! On the other hand, so long as I can main-

Bernd Schneider and some of the AMG crew for what I've learnt is an annual excursion to the Elkhart Lake round of CART series.

ON A ROLL: Just before

You might think it's a bit of a busman's holi day, but I'm looking forward to spending a bit of time with the boys. I think Bernd had lined up a bit of fitness training for us but he's just phoned me from Germany to say he's rolled over on his ankle while playing soccer and it has come up like a

Australia, Mark

balloon!

at Hungoraring.

flying to celebrates another GT

victory with Bernd Schneider in the title round

From the atStates, weOkay, then flyI know to Osaka the race Suzuka. Imust for be

exactly the opportunity Mercedes and AMG are providing me with at the moment - I'm I'm best prepared to deal with it.

THE FIA World CouncU has added to the confusion over

FIA said that: “it is perfectly legitimate for a team to

team orders by explaining

decide that one of its drivers

that team orders were not

is its World Championship

with a clear instance of team orders at the recent Austrian GP. The World Council con

actually b^umed when it met

contender

cluded

in March but that it had sim

other will support him”. The was under pressure for making such a fiiss over

and

that

the

McLaren’s manoeuvres in Melbourne while Ferrari

was allowed to get away

■

Ferrari slump stops

Team orders - more FIA confusion

In a media statement, the

driver at this level of the sport - and that's confident the break will come at the time when

crazy flying to Japan from Australia via

ply been pointing out that the rules prohibited acts “prejudicial to the interests of any competition”.

tain my pace and continue to obtain a deep understanding for everything that surrounds a

whatever it likes in the

that any future

future, a situation which can only add to possible accusations of manipulation by the governing body.

instance of team orders will

Even Ferrari boss Jean

be “judged on its facts and in the light of long-standing motor sport tradition”.

Todt admitted that using

the Monza box office FERRARI’S disappointing showing last week end at Hockenheim has cooled enthusiasm for

the Italian Grand Prix on September 13. Michael Schumacher finished fifth and teammate

Eddie Irvine came eighth - the team’s worst perfor mance in recent months.

team orders in future would

The fallout has reached the Monza circuit, where

Which means that the FIA

be “risky” because the nde was open to interpretation.

ticket sales are well down on last year’s figures. A few weeks before the race, tickets are still available for

is in a position to decide

-JOESAWARD

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u U August ms

Yanagawa to return

My Favourite Martin

no way possi ble that we

could complete an endurance event on the same bike.

AFTER being spectacular ly T-boned a month ago,

During the

Kawasaki SWC star Akira

’m back home again after spending four weeks win ning championship races in various parts of the coun try as well as scoring fifth outright in the famous

Yanagawa is due back in the saddle at the Brno

round of the Superbike World Championship on August 30. The 27-year-old Japanese rider was lucky to escape with multiple injuries in a crash at Laguna Seca. Yanagawa said, “All I can

Suzuka 8-Hour race in

Japan with TKA team-mate Damon Buckmaster.

The Shell Superbike round at Darwin’s Hidden

remember about the race is

Noriyuki Haga’s crash on the second lap. My next memory is waking up in hospital the next day. “It’s as if it happened to someone else because I can’t

remember anything at all. It was a really bad crash, so my injuries could have been worse,” he added.

Yanagawa stayed in hospi tal in San Jose for three

nights and then for one fur ther night in the Kawasaki Racing Team doctor’s hospital in Japan, where they found that he had fractured his left

hand and left collarbone, lost two front teeth and suffered severe concussion.

Surviving his worst-ever crash has left him philosophi cal, and fully aware of the dangers of his profession. “Of course no accident is a good one, but this sort of thing could have happened to any one. It is after all a part of my job! So, it has not affected my attitude towards racing, except now I realise how much I miss it.” - DARRYL FLACK

KEEP THE #1... Craggill took his second Superbike title at Oran Park. (Photo by DiikKiynsmiih) MARTY Craggill’s dash from Japan to Oran Park was a quick one - but not as quick as the speed with

In the first 10 lap race Buckmaster beat Craggill

which he sealed his sec

But, after three laps Craggill shot by for the lead and, while Bucky was dealing with the red threat, opened

ond straight Shell Australian Superbike Championship. After starting the meeting with a nine point lead Craggill took a win and a second in the two races to become the first rider since

Mai Campbell to keep suc cessfully defend the title. Craggill started the week end in style, taking pole posi tion with a ImlO.lls lap,

title.

In the cooler conditions

up a lead that was to better four seconds by the end of

Buckmaster wasn’t going to face a strong challenge for

the race.

the lead but the all-Ducati battle for second was a

After qualifying on row two it was Connell who came

through to second from Martin and Buckmaster. The second race was held

late in the afternoon (the

peach, Martin using every inch of the road to eke a way by Connell. The 1998 Champion was fourth, just clear of Giles, Moss and

bikes being shuffled around yet again to suit the TV

Young.

well clear of Steve Martin’s

Ducati, Damon Buckmaster

schedule) and shortened to

(Kawasaki)

nine laps.

sistency of Craggill which told, with four race wins (the

and

Shawn

Giles, whose recent speed on Honda’s RC45 continued with a lml0.86s.

j.- ; THE crowd wend wild and the Poms were

.t competitive, but it was Colin Edwards ■ (Castrol Honda) and Troy Corser (Ducati - ADVF) who shared the wins at Brands

: Hatch’s World Superbike Championship

^ roxmd. ●

away, just clear of Martin, Giles, Moss and Wilshaw.

lead he would not relinquish. Connell grabbed second from Martin and Craggill, who appeared content to watch the opposition and get enough points to seal the

-The Kent circuit was packed with 82,000 punters - the biggest WSC crowd ever, and Brands biggest for a two-wheel race - and

This

time

was

In the end it was the con

Valley Raceway was most enjoyable, the weather was warm and it’s great to race at a new venue, plus the Northern Territory people were really interested in the motorcycles. Overall I enjoyed the track. There were a couple of spots where the run-off area was too small, howev

er the promoters have advised us that they will be altered for next year’s round. The main straight is bit too long for our bikes, but they may be changing that in the future by including some sort of extensions into

the layout that will make it better for us.

I qualified on pole, finish ing in second place behind Craig Connell in the first race. He was holding me up under braking and through the comers but his bike was

faster down the straight so I was unable to get past him. In the second race I

all

same number as Buckmaster

locked up the front brake as

Buckmaster, the green Kawa firing off the line and into a

and Martin) and one more

we went into the first comer

than Connell.

on the opening lap. I went off the track and dropped back to last position. The loss of championship points saw me irde aggressively and fast to the chequered flag. I recorded the quickest lap of the race as I clawed my way up to fifth place.

Edwards, Corser

split Brands wins

The followingwedaygot a (Monday) phone call from the Kawasaki folk in Japan

they had all come to see a British victory, but it was not to be despite heroic perfor

wanting me to fly direct from Danwin to Tokyo for the 8Hour. This certainly caused a bit of a flurry as my

mances by Carl Fogarty (Ducati Performance) and Jamie Whitham (Suzuki

WSB) who both took rostrum places in the second race.

leathers were in the TKA

The first 25-Iapper was a Ducati-fi-ee zone, Edwards leading team mate Aaron Slight home by the narrowest of margins,

transporter heading back to the team’s Sydney raceshop and there was no way of contacting them as they tore across the desert. So we managed to get some irding gear flown to

with American Scott Russell (Yamaha SBK)

taking third ● his first rostrum of the yeai\ Fogarty took fourth, despite severe chat¬ tering on his Ducati, ahead of Whitham, Scot NiaU Mackenzie (Boost Yamaha) and

Darwin from Melbourne

Corser. It had been a disappointing result for the Ducatis, caused mainly by wrong

before I jetted off to Suzuka. Fortunately I had my pass port with me and my visa

tyre choices. Corser didn’t make the same mistake sec¬

ond time out. He chose the right tyre and led the race fi:om start to finish, ending up the winner by a comfortable three seconds. But the battle for second had the huge crowd jumping up and down in excitement. Friends Fogarty and Whitham slugged it out for virtually the entire 25-lap race, with Fogarty sneaking it by less than a second at the flag.

■ just dfV!

129, God’dard 110, itusseU 99;S<

set-up.

lead with a leg two win in Engiand.il^^Ni^snmvden)

binations was most pleas ing. We would like to go back again next year with an all-out assault on the

event, with plenty of testing and development on the bike under our belts - Ifeel

certain that we can grab glory for Kawasaki next year. That evening we had dinner with Fox Sport motorcycle presenter Kevin Magee before heading back to Oz for the final round of the Shell series at Oran Park.

was the fastest in every

I session on Friday and

managed to grab pole on Saturday again in prepara tion for Sunday's final. The extra point for pole position gave meal 0-point lead before we started the first race.

By winning the first event I had a 15 point advantage and all Ihad to do in the second race was

finish in the top 10, so I decided to let the rest go for it while I comfortably cruised around in fourth to claim back-to-back Shell

Australian Superbike Championships for Team Kawasaki Australia.

I didn’t want to take any risks as the series was mine and we had to race at Queensland’s Lakeside

track the following weekend in the penultimate round of the Shell Australian

Production Superbike Championship. It was pretty easy in the end, you do all that worrying about points before the event and it all

works out to plan.

After some dra; mashaving with the ZX-9R

previous rounds, where the handling characteristics were different at each track,

it all came together at Lakeside. Ihad only won one race on it this year and basically I’d been uncom petitive. Iwon both of the 12-lap races and established a

aged to keep in front to get maximum points. After qualifying third I was pleased with my riding. There was plenty of fairing bashing and stuff, so it’s good to be in a position to win another championship as I’m only 11 points behind

can race with a similar bike

LEGS ELEVEN... Corser maintained his WSC points

placing ahead of many other established rider com

second event, but Iman

all on Friday and qualified 11th in the one-lap Superpole. On Friday night the team management teamed Damon and myself up on our race bike as we

1:26.164 on the 21st lap of the seconi Points:®jrS® 275.5, Sliglit 245i Fogarty 241.5, Edwards 233.5, .eiili 228„5. Ha^'206.'tffB3^T?'ft 132, Whitham

the finish line and the fifth

had been a reserve irder for

year. Damon was listed as

! byThe iupeifhiM^api^o^ Biltoii^^tfiaih, w&'rectd^

first Dunlop runners to cross

a couple of years and I told them that I didn’t want to go the reserve irder for the ’98 attack on the race. I was fourth fastest over

t .

still not correct for me. Damon and I were the

new lap record for the class. Imust admit that my tyres were starting to go off in the

there under those terms this

There was also another no-holds-harred

race Isuffered cramping in the legs as the set-up was

I wasn’t going to com pete in this year’s event as I

was current.

last hour of the

series leader Kevin Curtain. The series final is at

Phillip Island next month on a fast, flowing track that I really enjoy and I’m sure the ZX-9R will be a real

Originally they had me

weapon against the

paired with a British irder,

Yamaha and Ducati

lain McPherson, who is was

just over a foot shorter in

machines. Hopefully we’ll be able to bag our second

stature than me. There was

national title for the season.

U August W98

Villeneuvey the Professor,

Superswede and psychoanalysis

here are many people in the Formula 1 paddock who believe that Jacques Villeneuve has just made an enormous mistake by signing for British American Racing - and he will probably never win another

Formula 1 race as a result of that decision.

This may seem to be a pretty radical belief but there is good

JE NE REGRET RIEN...

reason for there to be doubts

about the World Champion's decision to leave Williams.

Villeneuve says that he knows the move is a big risk but I doubt he fully appreciates what he has done. I think he is being naive and greatly underestimating the

Villeneuve has a strong rap port with engineer Jock Clear. Everything will need to be developed from scratch at BAR in 1999...

unusually named Formula One Cigar Und Pipe Smokers (FOCUPS) club. He also drinks whisky in liberal doses and rec ommends that everyone should take one Aspirin a day...

difficulties that exist for new

teams when they try to compete

with the great industrial combines of Ferrari, McLaren, Williams and Benetton.

It should be pointed out that in the modern era in F1 these four teams have won 183 of the last

184 races - and with an average of 16 Grands Prix a season you can work out for yourself how long this domination has been going

began the day they started racing motor cars.

They never bother themselves with such mundane things as past

getting the whole package togeth er proved to be impossible. Reynard Racing Cars is behind Villeneuve in his new adventure. It

Monaco in 1996.

- who led his heart rule his head -

This does not stop ambitious people from trying to beat records. The human race has always tried

or the example of Emerson Fittipaldi to see just what a dan

is a fine organisation but it has always been a company which specialised in mass production of customer racing cars. Such com panies have never done well in Grand Prix racing and it is unreal istic to think that Reynard will be an immediately competitive opera

gerous move it is that he has just

tion. It will take at least five years

made.

(and probably several changes of structure) before the team un^ier-

on. The only exception to the bat tle of the big four was Olivier Panis's lucky victory for Ligier in

to break down boundaries and

beat existing records so I guess it is natural for people to try to make history. However to give you an indication as to just how difficult a

heroes and their adventures - or their mistakes.

Perhaps before signing his BAR deal Jacques ought to have studied the career of Stirling Moss

At the end of 1975 Emerson -

a double World Champion who

stands what Formula 1

was still in his twenties - left

about. It is hard. And as the Ford

is all

task faces a new team in FI, it

McLaren and signed to drive for the Fittipaldi Automotive team. He

should be pointed out that the last

and his brother Wilson wanted to

learned with its adventures with

put Brazil on the world technology map. Brazil did not, however, have the technology and expertise

Stewart Grand Prix you do not win simply because you have more money than the big teams. I am quite sure that

one to enter FI which has gone on

win

Grand

Prix

Benetton, which entered FI as

Toleman in the Spring of 1981. The team did not become a regu lar winner until the early 1990s.

needed.

Motor Company has recently

Just because there are records

ing that the talent was still there if

does Villeneuve believe he can win races but I am not so

does not mean that they cannot be broken but it is not going to be as easy as the British American Racing bosses think it will be. At the moment there are a lot of peo ple being sucked along by the optimistic publicity being put out by BAR.

he had had a decent car and then,

sure that those behind

having been outrun by the young Keke Rosberg, announced that he was giving up racing to manage

him in the enterprise understand just how difficult it is. If they do, they are Involved in the project for other rea-

Emerson struggled on as a dri ver for six years, occasionally hint

the team.

The sponsors were not inter ested in running a bright new Brazilian hope called Chico Serra and at the end of 1982 Fittipaldi

o never been able to under

ne of the things that I have

was closed down. Emerson left

stand about Formula 1 people is that while they spend their days and nights trying to make history they all seem to think that history

money. He later built a new career and

Europe having spent all his a new fortune in American racing and just the other day was idly quoted as thinking about starting a new

parallels between Fittipaldi and Villeneuve are numer

ous. The Fittipaldi team was established as a vehicle for

Emerson, the BAR

team

was

always

Intended to have Villeneuve as its dri

ver. Fittipaldi had some very good peo ple working for it -

vided dramatic breakthroughs. This

was

illustrated

with

Ricardo Rosset's accident in prac tice for the German GP. A few

years ago the crash would have killed the Brazilian, but thanks to

the FIA-pioneered cockpit sur round material - a sort of plastic squishy stuff you use for packing around electrical goods you want to move from place to place - his life was saved. The plastic absorbed the impact when his hel met hit the side of the cockpit and Ricardo avoided breaking his neck... For that one must thank the

members of the FIA Advisory

Group on Safety who pushed

sons.

The switch to BAR is the best

ahead with the research which

way for Jacques to be in a stable position in FI from which to com mercially exploit the Villeneuve brand, selling the potent image of Jacques the wild-haired rebel to stodgy middle of the road compa nies which want to attract the pur ple-haired youth of today. It is a very sound marketing ploy and I

enabled that sort of progress to be made. The Advisory Group is still

a great deal of money in the years ahead. He may well become a case study in a new kind of sports marketing - but 1 doubt he will win any races...

going strong, looking at ways to save drivers in big accidents. They have not managed to answer all the questions - the effectiveness of sand traps (or the lack of it) has so far eluded even scientific stud

ies into the dynamics of gravel but they have done a remarkable job. The leading light in the

Grand Prix since 1978.

Those whoareignore they say, fated history, to repeatsoit

His commonsense approach

and it is such a shame that more

and willingness to speak his mind has made him a respected figure

people involved in FI do not pay heed to the sport's history for it is

The Prof - as he is known to

in FI circles. In many respects

ing, progress has been made at

and sundry.

full of lessons which have been

something to the understanding of the business.

FOCUPS Club...

ness.

The younger generations, of course, are blind to history and

this was graphically illustrated recently when Ronnie's daughter turned up at a race and was asked by one of the stars of today what her father was doing these days... I was never around racing in

those days but Peterson was still a great influence on me and I

The young racers of today are benefiting from the advances made by the wise old men of the sport. One is rarely able to say nice things about the FIA these

remember very well listening to radio reports on the night of the accident, trying to find out what had happened to him.

Lip until that evening I had watched Formula 1 because it

was something to do on a Sunday afternoon after the black and white

cowboy movie was over and because they had a lot of crashes.

It was only when Peterson' was

killed that I asked the question:

ning of a quest to try to under

the cost of lives. Each crash adds

member of the bizarrely named

people in the FI paddock who remember him with great fond

Professor Sidney Watkins, who has been at every Formula 1

and

THE PROF (left)-

September 1978. It is coming up to the 20th anniversary of the death of "Superswede" and there are many

"Why do these guys do that when they know they can be killed?"

Adrian Newey - but

Sid Watkins, active

Milan after a crash at Monza in

neurosurgeon

research

learned the hard way. Just as in the early days of fly

Postlethwaite

that the sport lost one of its top drivers of the day - Ronnie Peterson, who died in hospital in

his heart rule his head,,.

everyone in the paddock - is like the FI village doctor, supplying aspirins and peace of mind to all

notably Dr Harvey

t was not long after The Prof

I started attending Grands Prix

Jacques ought to have studied the career of Stirling Moss - who let

have no doubt will make Jacques

FI team... The

days, because of the slap-happy and arrogant way in which the sport is being run, but in terms of safety the last few years have pro

While he is deadly serious about his safety work he takes a more relaxed view about life in the

paddock and rarely tells FI people to do what is best for them. He

knows it is pointless and, besides, he loves to smoke good cigars and is an active member of the

And that resulted in the begin stand the mind of the racing driver.

Twenty years later Ihave made some progress in that study but the conclusion is that there are no

patterns of behaviour at all. People race for different rea sons: some to prove themselves, some to escape from mundane lives; some because they are risk-

junkies. There are many different reasons but the one thing they all share is that the moment they get

into a racing car and are left alone by the world they are at their hap piest - and at their best. Making good career decisions is often quite beyond them... ■

1S 14Augusll998

WINXON

Photo by Noel Papalera

Stayin’ alive jASES /

}!NC HiP

\XVrTA F=1 N/N/1

& ● McConville dominates Winton with 2 wins

● Jones suffers gearbox and tyre problems ● Richards’ podiums keeps series hopes alive ● McLean seals Independents’ title with second and third in two races

● Mechanical attrition strikes Independents Report by PHIL BRANAGAN THE fight for the BOC

and tyre dramas.

Gases Super Touring Championship will go

Jones retired after leading the Sprint Race when a gear ratio broke, and struggled to fourth in the longer second race with tyre graining. While Jones was struggling Jim Richards moved through

down to the final two races at Oran Park in two weeks after Winton’s

penultimate round of the series.

Cameron McConville went

to second in the first race

home to Melbourne with top

(aided by a Cameron McLean spin) and third in the second

points from two wins for the day after series leader Brad Jones suffered mechanical

behind the two fleeing Cam Macs.

McLean sealed his second

straight Independents title for the Greenfield Mowers

Entry and Qualifying

In the wet an Audi 1-2 would

have been a formality; in the diy, it was not. Still, it was an

team, but was kicking him self for making a driving error while pushing

South-Eastern

Australia

McConville for the race one

Sydney

lead. Best of the rest of the

‘Indies’ was Mark Adderton, who overcame qualifying set up problems with a strong Sunday run.

It was raining almost every

Audi 1-2.

where

Melbourne,

The ‘Big Four’ - Jones, McConville, Richards and

especially,

McLean - had been com-

Bathurst - but, in common

mendably close during the timed sessions held up until

and,

with the Shell ATCC week

end in May, Winton turned on a perfect day for qualifying for the 16 cars present.

when it counted. Richo came

What a difference it made.

up with a lm24.64, six-tenths

qualifying, and it looked like the theme would be repeated

would be driven like “an endurance race”. The team was confident it was under

control, as long as the weath er didn’t get too warm on Sunday. For his part, Richards biggest drama was, for once, not tyres or such like. On his first lap out in the first ses

clear of the Greenfield BMW. Then the other Cameron

sion, the car made it around

edged the Volvo with a lm24.34s, which was a little

suddenly became unpinned and flew up. Jim backed off

better than the respective team managers, George

immediately and cruised around to the pits with the

to turn two when the bonnet

Shepherd and Kim Jones.

hazard lights flashing, which

Then, as the saying says, along came Jones. Bradley toured out, warmed ‘er up

prompted one of the oddest sights of the series.

and planted the silver hammer on pole with a lm24.1295s lap. That famil

iar sound in Winton’s new pit lane was massed gulping. The time was a surprise, even to Jones. To put it in perspective, it was 1.6s under

the lap record, 0.7s quicker than the 1997 pole time and, even, only 0.12s off Russell Ingall’s five-litre lap record. If

WITH A WAVE AND A FRIENDLY ‘HI HO, SILVER'... Richards scored a second and a third in the Volvo S40. Here he is waved through by Bob Tweedie in the ex-Richards Vauxhali Cavalier. (Photo by Marshall cass)

ing of the team’s Michelins, McConville reporting that the longer, pit stop second race

Faced with a slowing Volvo with flashing lights, up to half a dozen drivers assumed

that the session was being halted and pulled into line behind. Pied Piper like, JR led the queue around until hopping into the pit lane, into which he was followed by a couple of cars. There were

he had done the time in quali

some red faces to be seen afterwards... Behind ‘the four’ in the first session came Ron Searle. 'The

fying for the Shell round, he

Transtar Camry was now

would have been seventh on

behaving itself after its

the grid... It was some effort, especial ly since Jones had missed much of Friday practice after buzzing and engine, which had to be changed. TTie only other news was a little grain¬

Mallala gearbox-chewing exercises, following some quick local fabrication to over come

the

fact

that

its

Hewland gearbox - a ‘mirror’ of the more usual Hewland unit - will not abide normal

SURER TOURING MAC TIME...

U August 199S

PIVOTAL MOMENT... Richards and

Two from two for McConville kept his championship hopes alive. Jones suffered with tyres on race day and both Audi

McConville pitted together and, as

drivers - and Richards - can still win the title at Oran Park in two weeks’ time.

usual, the S40 took more time to service

(Photo by Dirk Ktynsmilhj

than the A4, even

though Cam had to

snipping his times into the lm29s, qualifying 13th for

swerve around

Adam Kaplan’s awkwardly-placed Nissan (front)

both sessions. Sixth in both sessions was r*

-.-

Tony Newman. The Fastway Peugeot was running well and the Kiwi, pleased to get

PUTTING THE ‘OH’ IN PEUGEOT...

some time in the car, was

Tony Newman had

finding out some interesting things while running at a pace previously unaccus

a better weekend in

his ex-MSD car,

heading in the right direction in set-up and showing some speed in qualiying

tomed. One of the bulletins was

less than good. When the brakes got hot after a long nm, the pedal went half-way to the floor unexpectedly. Newman thought it was odd that the car had pad knock-off and, when the team pulled

and in race two. (Photos by Dirk Klynsroith)

the car’s four (twin) front

calipers off, realised that one side had leading, smaller pads and one larger. Odd that, though the team over came the problem of uneven pad wear by ‘rotating’ the pads between sessions. Newman just shrugged and pledged to get used to the lower brake pedal. Adderton had two sev enths. The BOC Gases Honda

Accord was running well on its Dunlops, even though Adderton suggested that, two years after the car scored the only ‘Independent’ race win at Winton, it was getting a little tired. “The engine needs rebuilding,” said Adderton, “but we haven’t had the time

or the money to do it”. Adam Kaplan was next up, the Hunter Holden Nissan

innards. Crew chief Mike

Quinn was not exactly brim ming with confidence that the fixes would work, but he

wasn’t pessimistic either. In the second session,

something else odd happened. The car suddenly started bil lowing smoke from its right front tyre. A suspension upright had just broken (odd, since it is the ‘unloaded’ cor ner at Winton) and there was

tyre smoke everywhere. That meant that Searle would

appear only ninth on the sec ond grid. Into the breach appeared Peter Hills. After an eighth in the first session, the Knight Mondeo moved up to fifth with a four-tenth improve ment to lm27.80s. Hills put the improvement down to get ting used to running on Michelins, explaining that the

experience from Q1 was worth “a tenth on each heavy

braking, and there’s four of them.”

New for the team - apart from Hills’ Michelins (“I went

to buy Dunlops and they didn’t have enough” [if only 5litre tyre switches were this simple!]) - was his team mate. Stepping into the #89 Ford for the rest of the season

was Mark Zonneveld, arriv

ing with a cheery attitude and experience in Formula Two, a Commodore Street Sedan and, apparently, motocross. Mark took his

time acclimatising to the car,

Primera running well in the first session but appearing in pit lane in the session with oO spewing from the gearbox. Kaplan was sure that he had shut things down before any serious hurt was done (there was still more than two litres

of oil aboard) but the crew faced some extra curricular

activity to change it. Anthony Robson had gone the complete season without spinning the DCM BMW and was determined to keep the record intact at Winton. He

missed by only two spins, looping it into the dirt some what spectacularly but with no damage to man or beast. He was 10th twice, with a bestof lm29.15s.

David Auger and Bob Tweedie kept their seasonlong battles close, as usual, two Alfa and Vauxhall drivers

separated by a tenth while swapping places in the two session. Tweedie was finding balance a little tough to find, the crew finding an unbal anced drive shaft. Auger had no problems in his car, and the two were looking forward to their battle.

Having a nm in the FaberCastell

BMW

was

Bob

Holden. The veteran was get ting miles on board “so I will have less cobwebs on for

Bathurst” and was in the 34s,

with no problems of note to report. Malcolm

Rea

did.

The

Toyota Carina was refusing to behave itself in the gearbox

department and, after a sin gle lap in the first session, the crew hauled the unit out to

find well-word dog irngs. He

USED CARS FOR EVERY OCCASION... That’s what the rear wing has written on it and Adam Kaplan tested the theory

missed the second session as

after a race one, lap one nerf from Mark Zonneveld’s Ford Mondeo. (Photo by ark Ktyrrsmith)

18 MAugusUW

SUPER TOURING

ojuci

Silence is

golden Sam Newman will think

twice before complaining about his race car again. The TV head mentioned to the RPM team that the

gearbox had felt a little

odd during qualifying, so the team installed a newer one for the race. The unit

came straight out of a nearby Falcon XR8 road car; Sammy’s...

■ Speaking of Fords, seen at or near the circuit

on Sunday was a Ka, the company’s European super mini (which will not be sold in Australia) and a

slightly-disguised Falcon AU, which goes on sale ne.xt month. ■ Non-Monica Lewinski

Joke of the Week: why couldn’t Newman’s Falcon overtake the Suzuki in front of him? Because blokes in their 50s have

trouble passing Stones. ■ That other Newman, Tony will be bringing his second Peugeot 406 to Australia soon. While his

team has battled to get the current car reliable, Newman will have the other car here after

Bathurst, ready for the 1999 season.

■ Our thoughts are with John Pachos and his

family. The Knight Racing team manager mshed home to Sydney on Saturday night after the sudden death of his father

George and, in the absence of the man better

known as ‘Barrel’, Peter Hills and the team reor

ganised for Sunday, all members wearing black armbands.

■ Details, details. With the ‘pit’ walk, on the Winton grid Cameron McLean brought every thing he needed - pens, hats, posters - with him. But the the public cleared and the cars were fired, the team suddenly realised that he had for

gotten his helmet. With the trip to the garage about 900m and back, he onlyyusf got his lid on in time.

■ The Audi Sport team were in full attack mode in

the Sunday warm-up, practicing up to 10 stops on Jones and McConville.

Their best effort was a rip per 7.3s, the best for the season; but, at Thruxton’s BTCC race last month, James Thompson’s Honda lads took the standard down to 6.23s ... ■ After his Lakeside

exclusion for clashing with Richards Cameron McConville must choose

his words more carefully. After race two he said,

“My main ambition for the weekend was to knock Jim

off for second spot.” “I’m glad you didn’t knock me offi” smiled Richo. - PHIL BRANAGAN

Continued from page 17 I thought if I stayed in sixth (gear) I might be able to get home and get some points,” he mused. “But it was impossible around the second gear corners.” It was a rare - and

BMs IN THE WARS...

Anthony Robson had a good weekend, with two Strong finishes in the DCMsponsored 318i. A4 CHASER... McLean had an even better

From there Richards found

weekend: two podiums and a second straight Independents’ Cup title.

his rubber fading while

Now for a win at Oran Park?

costly - DNF.

McConville looked uncomfortable- but McLean was confi¬ dent that his rubber was

going to stay consistent. He closed onto McConville’s tail. setting a new lap record on

the way, and started probing for a gap. It looked like he was finally going to right all the wrongs from the season and win a race. McConville was a little cau

tious into the second Masport right-hander on lap eight and McLean tried to get a really strong drive onto the next straight. He locked the rears and pirouetted off onto the dirt, losing around eight sec onds and letting Jim back

(Photos by Noel Papalera)

out of turn two, the 406 gyrated onto the grass. For a while it looked like a red flag or a Safety Car would be needed but the car got going and Tony ended up back on the black after losing a lap. After lap one McConville led Jones, McLean, Richards, Hills, Adderton, Robson, Kaplan, Tweedie, Auger (hap

pier after a roll bar swap), Zonneveld, Holden, Kaplan, Newman and Rea (who, again, parked after a lap).

But, as McConville pulled a little breathing space, it was clear that the other Audi was

That let McConville off the

battling for grip. Jones was struggling to keep second. McLean was putting the hurt on and, after a strong drive out of Masport on lap seven

hook and he sped home to an

the Greenfield car slewed

effortless win. Richards and

alongside at the Motorsport News Esses, had a big

into second.

“It was my own fault,” Cameron shrugged later. “Mine, mine, mine...”

McLean took the podium spots from Adderton, Hills (who was being caught by Robson) and Tweedie, whose potential battle with Auger evaporated when the Alfa’s tyres grained badly early in sorts of trouble. Ron had, off

like Mallala, he would have to

all things, another upright

use his NASCAR experience to try and get the spots back in the pits. McLean set the ball rolling on lap nine with an 11.5s stop (34.5s track time), resuming

for race two. Newman wasn’t. An oil

pump bearing had failed and the crew were running around to get a replacement. He just made the second race.

fourth. Next time around Jones was on for a 10.3s effort but

Race 2 (27 laps)

he was unlucky. The delayed Kaplan Primera was at the top of the pit lane and Brad lost time jinking around it.

With McConville on pole and

With 32s lost track time he

Jones next to him, the bets

gained track position but

were on Audi winning the first corner, and Jones win

ning the race. McConville won the start and, this time, Richards made one of his

more usual starts, letting McLean into third.

Newman was going but.

third.

But this time, Jim had the rubber. He erased McLean’s lap record and, on lap 16, nudged the Audi slightly and took the spot at Masport. He immediately pulled away and only two careful final laps allowed Jones to close

McLean was still ahead in third.

On lap 12 McConville and Richards made their stop together. After 9.5s McConville was out, Richards losing around 6s to the snap py Audi Sport team and.

the gap to under a second at the finish. Similarly McConville strolled home in the final laps for a near-5s win from McLean and Richards, who finished the day equally on points. Jones kept fourth from Adderton, Hills, Robson (a strong day), Zonneveld, Tweedie, Holden and Kaplan

(after a lap two clash with Robson and the long pit stop). The upshot of the whole

day was that seven points separate the title contenders heading into Oran Park’s finale. No-one has raced Super Tourers there before and all things seem possible on ‘neutral’ ground.

BOC Gases Super Touring Championship Round 7, Winton Motor Raceway, August 8/9

ond at turn one.

the race. The Searles were in all

broken engine. Both were out

when he rejoined, an up-tospeed Jones surged past into

moment (which Cam sorted out on the exit) and took sec

Brad fought hard for the spot and, when they emerged from the corner, was fourth, as the Volvo had sped by as well. Now Jones was stuck;

failure, this time at the rear (very unusual) while Troy parked after three laps with a

Race 1 (14 laps) Qual

Grid

Race time

F/lap

C McConville Audi Sport Australia A4 quattro

20:20.2349

1:25.5355

1:24.3433

J Richards

Volvo Australia S40

20:25.0028

1:25.5716

1:24.6414

C McLean

Greenfield Movers BMW 320i

20:30.4076

1:25.4508

1:25.2103

4 5

M Adderton P Hills

BOC Gases Honda Accord

20:57.4236

1:28.4997

1:28.2459

Knight Racing Ford Mondeo

21:11.6444

1:28.7897

1:28.2614

A Robson

DCM BMW 318i

21:13.2935

1:29.6407

1:29.1508

R Tweedie

21:33.3786

1:29.8993

1:29.8382

21:36.2873

1:30.8066

1:29.7080

13 laps 13 laps 11 laps 3 laps 3 laps 2 laps 1 lap 1 lap

1:34.8313

1:34.6763

1:32.8846 1:28.5732 1:25.5563

6 7 2

1:29.9287

1:28.0798

1:30.2419 1:29.2625

3 2

No time

1:28.0827

Pos Driver

Team/Car

D Auger

IBC Racing Vauxhall Cavalier Olympus Cameras Alfa Romeo 155TS

B Holden

Faber Castell BMW318I

M'Zonneveld

Knight Racing Ford Mondeo DNF R Searle Transtar Toyota Camry DNF B Jones Audi Sport Australia A4 quattro DNF T Searle Roadchill/Hartge BMW 320i DNF T Newman Fastway Couriers Peugeot 406 DNF Adam Kaplan Hunter Holden Nissan Primera DNF M Rea

Motorsport Developments Toyota Carina

Race 2 (27 laps) Pos Driver Race time 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

McConville McLean Richards Jones Adderton Hills Robson Zonneveld Tweedie Holden

11 Kaplan DNF D Auger DNF

Newman

DNF

Rea

DNS T Searle DNS R Searle

39:36.8695 39:41.6140 39:48.0075 39:48.8354 41:05.4533

1:24.1295

1:25.8115 1:25.9126 1:25.3181 1:25.8784 1:27.8388

14 3 14 12 9

QualGrid 1:24.8090 1:25.3031 1:24.9455 1:24.8632 1:28.2206

1 4 3 2 7

26 laps 26 laps 25 laps 25 laps 24 laps 24 laps 18 laps 14 laps

1:28.2456 9 1:27.8066 1:29.9024 12 1:29.6485 1:30.8923 6 1:30.3353 1:30.3097 4 1:29.7530 1:34.7935 3 1:34.5362 1:30.2069 16 1:28.4733 1:30.6678 10 1:29.8528 1:30.7237 9 1:27.8701

5 10 13 11 14 8 12 6

1 lap

No time

1:29.0461

1:28.8307

1:51.5231

Independents:

Points after 14 races:

F/lap On

Jones

162

McLean

194

McConville

158

Adderton

136

Richards

155

Hills

112

McLean

120

Tweedie

Adderton

Hills

Tweedie

HoWen etc

Auger

51 47

Pickett etc

RandTSearie

Kaplan

Robson

Henderson

OtfWiUy

Newman

Rolfo

Kratzmann/Zoenveld

Manufacturers: Audt

204

Robson

Volvo

174

Henderson

Bewley

Newman

Holden/Sheumack Matthews

T Searle

R Searle

Auger Kaplan

Pickett/Shaw/McGill

Teams:

Audi Sport Aust Knight Racing

177 118

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20 UAugust 1998 By PHIL BRANAGAN IT was Ferrari 1, Porsche 1 in Winton’s two rounds of the

Century

Batteries

Production Championship, with John Bowe and Rodney Forhes taking a chequered flag each. But, in reality, the Ferrari for men cologne 355 Challenge was the class of the field, the Tasmanian coming from near last in the second race to mow down the leaders before

Red rockets light up Winton WOOD ^

Bowe ran out of tyres at the sharp end of the race.

Peter Fitzgerald overcame a lousy starting position (seventh) for race two and headed into the night with a pair of second placings, while Paul

Stokell also had his best weekend in

the Lotus Elise Sport, firing the

green sportster to two fifth positions

and harrying the bigger cars on the Lotus-friendly Benalla track.

Qualifying With Garry Waldon absent with a

rolled Viper and an unprepared Mazda RX-7 it was Bowe who took

the point. The red rocket was in the lm28s in both sessions for the two

* Vi

Beninca, plunging to seventh. He had recovered to fourth by tbe end of the lap, behind Bowe, Forbes and Beninca and ahead of Aitken, Costanzo, Stokell and Almond, who spun messily at the Motorsport News esses on lap one.

But while JB repeated the dose in Q2 (with a lm28.54s) Fitzy was in big trouble. After a couple of warm up laps the OllRSCS’s throttle

Bowe vanished. After two laps and was 1.93s clear after two laps, and only 0.6s better off after lap 16 when the flag fell. The only ‘problem’ he had was while lapping protdge Sam Newman, who thoughtfully drove off the track when JB lapped

stuck shut and he was left to burble

him for the second time. Bowe and

to a halt. That left him seventh and,

the car were just too fast and he had

apparently, in all sorts of trouble. The good news was that the unusu

tyres to look after. Fitzy wasn’t that concerned about

al problem was easily fixable.

his. On lap four he avenged his turn

poles, leading Fitzgerald by 0.2s in Qi.

OOPS, I MUST BE GOING...

Bowe spins around in race two, setting up a great charge, while Forbes makes good his escape. Kosi, FAN Turn...

Kosi Kalaitzidis gave Proton its first win in GTP with a race one

flag.

(Photos by Oik KlynsnOhj

and fifth. Top viewing. Forbes eased away over the final laps to win by 4.16s from Fitzgerald, Beninca, JB, Stokell, Costanzo and Aitken.

For the rest of the Class A

one loss to Beninca to take third at

Canto took his revenge in

brigade, life was more straightfor

Penrite and took four laps to creep

Class B from Carter, while

ward. Forbes and Beninca went 3-4, 2-3 in the two sessions, clear of Ed Aitken’s similar Club Sport. Alf

up on Forbes. He zotted by into sec ond on lap nine and got home sec

Costanzo head Stokell’s Lotus.

this time it was David Ratcliff who bested Cohen

Race 2 (16 laps)

ond.

Forbes took third from Beninca

In the classes, Chris Kousparis just pipped Dean Canto in B, Michael Simpson’s BMW was too quick in D and Mark Cohen’s

Commodore topped the family, C Class. As usual, Nigel Stones led

Kousparis took B easily after Canto had a wheel bearing go on

the E tiddlers.

him while, in the taxi class Cohen slaughtered the FWDs until the

Race 1 (16 laps) The Ferrari hasn’t made great starts this season - no, make that the Vipers and Porsches have made rippers - but Bowe got everything right this time and hopped into the lead.

Fitzgerald was looking for second at turn one but got nerfed by

by Aitken

sticking through his Arai... Forbes, Beninca and Fitzgerald were soon running nose-to-tail,

where his fun ended. Stokell

just clear of Stokell (going bril

fought back hard, harry the 355 and the two put on a great show for the rest of the race. The gap stopped coming down to the lead

It seemed only fire, famine or

and Stokell, who had just enough in hand on in the corner not to get swallowed straights.

race he was past Aitken into sixth and zeroing in on the quintet. He pressured Alfy into a half-lose a lap later; he was now fifth. Fitzy had a scare on lap seven when an unsighted backmarker pulled over on his left rear at turn one, leaving him with a smoking tyres for a lap or two, but still he pursued Forbes’ lead. Bowe with no trouble getting by Stokell on horsepower but that’s

flood could stop Bowe winning race two, but there was something else

the

starting with ‘F’ he had to contend with - Forbes. At Penrite the

Ferrari got a bonk in the door and around it went. By the time he recovered JB was 21st, almost 15s behind the leader and with horns

gearbox got cranky, allowing Chadwick past for the win. In D Simpson had a long lead but was almost run down by the rear-ofgrid starting similar car of Luke Searle, while a rare Stones error

allowed Kosi Kalaitzidis to give

he got a spot of clear road in front

Proton

its

first-ever

win

liantly clear of Costanzo). But all eyes were on Bowe. Once

he started to home in on the

Australia.

Famous Five at 1.5s a lap. By mid-

ers but the two Gold Star winner

fought hard to the flag for fourth

Aitken emerges from the chaos PINK rules Winton’s races in the Australian Porsche

4.61s lead over the last three

Cup when Ed Aitken took

Harburg held out Morgan, Ivory, Paterson and Tryhom

both wins in convincing fashion.

Aitken was well-placed to avoid the chaos around him

as he qualified on pole posi tion but, in race one, that mattered little as a bad start

put him well back at the first comer.

Peter Bradbury, Martin Wagg and Colin Ivory all clashed in the melee, resum ing well down the order while coming man Julian Harburg grabbed the lead from Geoff Morgan, Aitken and Roger Paterson.

Aitken got by Morgan at the first corner on lap two and set off after the leader.

laps.

for the minors. Race two started with a

bang - literally. Ivory, Paterson and Morgan all went off in the same turn one

graveyard, prompting a red flag. 'The restarted race, now an 8-lapper, saw Aitken jump away to lead Harburg, but

when

missed

change the Queenslander zoomed by. Then, on lap five, it was Harburg’s turn to fish for a gear on the side straight, allowing Aitken back past. Bradbury went with him, but

Julian recovered his compo sure quickly to hold the track and keep second. It was looking like a close

After nosing around for a gap for a few laps, he repeated the trick on lap seven and

finish for the minors when it

immediately cleared out to a

all happened on the final lap.

Wagg emerged from under Harburg’s wing to out-brake him in to the Motorsport News Esses while, right behind him, Bradbury had tangled with Harburg on the pit straight and had a rear tyre go down. Ivory and Morgan shot past as the TNT car scrambled to the line, just holding sixth.

After the race Harburg was excluded from the results over the incident. In Class B Peter Bolton

took home a pair of wins in

the Carrera 2,, leading home the RWD ‘traitors’ of Warren

Luff (968CS)

and

Mike

Downard (928), while in race two it was Peter McRae’s

Carrera

left

chasing

Bolton. Points after 14 races (appeal

pending): Morgan 204, Harburg 181, Bradbury 176, McRae 158, Bolton 156.5.

-PHIL BRANAGAN

EXPENSIVE INCIDENT...

Morgan and Ivory tangled at turn one. part of a multi-car race two faux pas. (Photo by Neil Hammond)

PINK PANZER...

Aitken pressured Harburg into error and took two dominant wins. (Photo by Noel Papatera)

in C. In D Simpson took the double, just from Ric Shaw’s Toyota MR2, while Stones domi nated Class E in his Suzuki.

And, ‘hello, Newman’? The big fella drove neatly but not especial ly quickly until the very last lap, chucking Henry’s XR8 into the salad at the Motorsport News esses and then distinguishing him self by bogging it mightily. Did you see the big building right on that corner, Sammy? That’s the media room. You Idiot... Points after 14 races: Beninca 157, Fitzgerald 154, Waldon 123, Bowe 98, Forbes 93, Stokell 46, Costanzo 37, Almond 36.

Class B: Carter 170. Class C: Ratcliff 168. Class D: Shaw 160. Class E: Stones 199.

Groodbye i #

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all back for one last time!

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Adults: $12.00 Children under IS: $3.00

Qualifying: August ZZ / Racing: August ZZ

ORAN PARK

August 1998

ATCC

Report by DAVID HASSALL

raig Lowndes completed a remarkable career rebirth

by wrapping up the 1998 Shell Australian Touring Car Championship in front of a huge crowd at Oran Park Raceway on August 2.

The Mobil Holden Racing Team and Bridgestone provided the young star with the equipment and Lowndes himself put together a typically dominant performance behind the wheel to put the title beyond doubt. Craig’s driving all year was of the highest calibre, winning six of the 10 rounds this year, and even the late switch to the VT Commodore

could not stop his march. Pole position and three start-tofinish victories at Oran Park were

as decisive a performance as he could have imagined and Lowndes celebrated the win in the exuberant

tyre-smoking manner which also marked his 1996 title win.

But Lowndes was probably even happier this time, rating the series win as harder than two years ago because of the higher level of com petition. Challenger Russell Ingall had a

difficult weekend and once again came up shy in the Castrol Commodore.

DOING THE BUSINESS;

Craig Lowndes lets the new VT Commodore drift wide towards the wall as he enters the main

straight in front of the huge crowd. MAYBE NEXT YEAR:

The weekend just never panned out for Russell Ingall, who has taken the title down to the last

round two years running now. Surely his time will come...

(Photos by Dirk Klynsmith)

The tough street-fighter has now finished 6th, 3rd and 2nd in his

three seasons back home. Surely his time will come.

A determined tail-gunner role by Mark Skaife gave the MHRT a 1-2 result on the day and enabled Skaife to break clear of a group bat tling for third place in the series, capping a stellar season for the team.

Larry Perkins held on for fourth in the title from John Bowe, the

top-placed Ford runner, and defending champion Glenn Seton. Tony Longhurst’s controversial move from Yokohama to Dunlop was completely vindicated with third place overall on the day, hav ing started from the front row of the grid for the first time since the BMW days. Jason Bargwanna continued his superb late-season form by finish ing fourth on the day - giving him an excellent 7th in the title from

Falcon drivers Longhurst, Jason

Bright and Dick Johnson. It was a great day for the Valvoline team, with young Garth Temder following Bargwanna home in fifth place on the day, his best result in a short but promising V8 career.

Porsche 944 S2 Speedster, extensively modified for competition nse. Carbon fibre l)ody panels, cbrome-moly welded in cage. full bearing suspension. Proflex shocks, dual s})rings, Tilton

I/I pedal box, Breiubo discs/callipers, Motec controlled vario-cam motor, 6 speed box and mort*. Car was built by Cameron

O McLean and is fastidiously prejtared to exacting detail.

Phonp for price & detail sheet to 07 3.503 ] 733 hh or 07 5.504 5722 ah.

ORAN PARK

0 ■

Lowndes dominates final to clinch title

Tyre performance sinks Russell Ingall’s bid Skaife makes it another HRT 1-2

Tony Longhurst makes it to the podium Valvoline team prominent with 4th and 5th Trevor Ashby clinches privateer award faster and there was no simple explanation, even though there was

Qualifying raig Lowndes wasted little time staking his claim to the title by dashing to pole position - the first

c for

Commodore

Bridgestone tyres (type 259) domi nated.

a new construction in use.

John Bowe thought that it might have been a dud batch because they

simply didn’t work when fresh. \%ile challenger Ingall wallowed down in 9th position (a quarter of a

But there had been no great development work on the VT, just 10 shakedown laps before it was shipped to Sydney. “This is only my second pole of the year,” commented Craig, “and it

second faster than anyone else on the same tyres, but still his worst result of the season), the fastest

couldn’t have come at a better time.

been able to test and were therefore

“Our aim was to outqualify Russell and we’ve obviously man

not prepared to gamble on. ‘To be honest,” said Ingall, “we should have followed Tony’s lead and gone with his tyre selection.” Longhurst could hardly have been happier with second in the Castrol Falcon, proving that his small team has pi-epared a much better car than his early season performances have indicated.

aged that by a fair margin.” There was considerable contro

versy surrounding Dunlop (see news pages), but the bottom line was that the usually dependable 359s were not on the pace. Everyone was mystified because the tyres simply should have been

Dunlop user was actually Longhurst on 640s, a new, softer tyre which the Castrol team had not

Shell

Australian

Touring Car Championship

Round 10

HAPPY WINNER:

Craig Lowndes lets loose with the

champagne as the sun begins to set on Oran Park, having just clinched his second

touring car title.

HAPPY FANS:

A group of Lowndes supporters outside the HRT compound after the final race carry the good news for their man.

(Photos by Dirk Klynsmilh and Phill Williams)

“It has been horrific mentally,” said Tony of the bad times, “because

ular Pirtek Falcon is repaired after

form continued, the MitrelO Falcon

its Darwin accident.

we have looked like a buhch of

Sharing the third row were the

wankers. It’s amazing how much

two Ford Credit Falcons - Neil

easier the car is to drive now.”

Two of the season’s pace-setters

Crompton ahead of Glenn Seton again - which was a good effort

driver 7th on the grid alongside Garth Tander, the young West Australian three places ahead of team leader Bargwanna, who didn’t get a clear lap.

were on the second row, Jason

from the Seton team in light of

Splitting them were Ingall and

Bright qualifying just ahead of a disappointed Skaife, who felt his set-up was better suited to used

recent trouble getting the front end

John Faulkner, who as thankful

to work.

just to be there after his car was

tyres.

as we are because of the turn-in

Valley.

It was something of a surprise to

problem,” Glenn admitted, “but this

see Bright so high because he was driving the team’s spare car - Alan Jones’ car from last year, which has

has always been a great Bridgestone circuit.” And what about being beaten by his teammate? “Neil’s just a one-lap

The Dunlop-shod Falcons of Alan Jones (12th), John Bowe (13th),

not been used since.

This car was being updated for the endurance races and was quick

ly brought into action while the reg-

“I’m quite surprised to be as high

screamer and I should be OK

tomorrow,” he grinned. Mark Larkham’s good recent

“turned into a ute” at Hidden

Dick Johnson (15th) and Steve

Johnson (17th) were in terrible trouble - the first because his car

was “understeering like a pig” and the others because the Dunlop 359s

just would not work on the Fords. “The car just felt evil,” said Bowe, “and we will have to re-engineer it for tomorrow.

“There is something wrong with the batch of tyres because there’s

just no grip when they are green.” To prove the point, he went 0.7s

faster in the following morning’s warm-up session on the same tyres to be thh-d-fastest. Strange. Among this Dunlop/Falcon group were Paul Romano, who might have been higher if his radio had

been plugged in and he had gone out in better traffic conditions, and

Lany Perkins, who “put in a shocker”.

Best of the Yokohama runners

was Steve Ellery, who was having his last run in the Gibson-run Konica Commodore and was half a

second faster than Wynns-backed ‘teammates’ Darren Pate and

Tomas Mezera, but was still bewil dered that he had gone backwards

on new tyres with no grip at the front.

Best of the privateers was Continued next page

BLAST OFF... The attempted

9 'Ml

start of race two, with Lowndes

leaping away from Skaife, Bright, Longhurst, Seton and Ingall. Moments later, though, four of

them tangled and the race was (Photo by John Grote) red-flagged.

24 UAugusIM

ORAN PARK

ATCC

'f ●● >

■ *

COMEBACK DRIVE... Neil Crompton again made a big impression, qualifying ahead of

NO BALONEY... Tony Longhurst’s revival continued apace at Oran Park. Now with Level 1 Dunlop tyres, the Queenslander put the Castro! Falcon on the front row of the grid and ended the weekend with a podium finish after a strong race day. (Photo by Dirk Klynsmith)

Anthony Tratt in the Toll Transport Falcon, who did

the second session, relegat

he settled down to a stalking

ing him to a reserve slot for

role.

very well to head regular front-runners John Briggs and Trevor Ashby. Trevor was annoyed to have messed up his qualify ing run on his home track and was only two places

the race.

Tander was having a bit of a fuelling problem, which loaded the engine up at low speed, and Russell eventual ly made it up to 6th only

ing recovered pretty well from a bad start, passing Tander three laps from the

Schembri were right behind

end.

the title combatants at the

Larkham and Bargwanna were next from Faulkner, Romano, Steve Johnson, Elleiy, Mezera and Bowe.

finish, having been part of the battle all the way

remained out for the rest of

through.

the day), while Longhurst’s

The mid-race safety car situation was brought about by an incident between Terry Finnigan and Greg Crick which resulted in damage to

was not damaged at all, hav ing simply been stuck in the

team boss Glenn Seton and later driving strongly through from the back of the field after being forced out of the second race in an opening lap incident. (Photo by Marshall Cass)

ahead of rival Chris Smerdon in the title-decider.

Race 1-18 laps Lowndes

devoted

the

morning warm-up session to practice starts and, while they were “all bad”, he did everything right when the lights turned green, scam pering away into an immedi

when Garth’s Commodore hesitated on a mid-race

restart from a safety car period. The leading runners ran

Both Shell cars were in the

the last lap to win. Rod

Nash

and

Neil

ate lead while Skaife was forced to hold an outside line

nose to tail for most of the

position in a car had been

wars, JB after getting caught out wide and clobbering a wall (forcing a stop to repair a guard and change a tyre)

first half, but it was far from

and Dick Johnson after los

repaired from its big smash

to keep Bright behind the

the bonnet of the Sony

ing out in an attack from

Commodore.

in Darwin.

HRT steamroller.

Perkins.

Missing out completely was Mark Poole, who broke a tailshaft before recording a time and, despite getting

exciting, there being little chance of overtaking, and

Ingall made his usual good start, leaping up to 7th

even after the re-start it was

The privateers turned on a

permission from other dri vers, was not allowed out in

attempt to get inside Tander almost resulted in a spin and

a procession to the flag Lowndes showing the way from Skaife, Bright, Longhurst, Seton and Ingall. Crompton was next, hav-

fantastic battle with Ashby stalking Smerdon through out imtil getting a better run onto the straight and

It was quickly extin guished and Terry was on the grid for the next race, but Crick was out for the day.

Splitting them was young Paul Weel, his best starting

ahead

Larkham

and

Crompton, but an early

muscling past at the start of

both cars, then a fire under

Race 2 - reduced

to 15 laps The first race might have been something of an anti-

new race, reduced to 15 laps. The damage to Ingall’s VT was relatively light and quickly repaired on the grid (though the rear window

sand.

Bright, however, was the last car removed and, although it returned to the grid in time, the front mounting lugs for the nose were damaged and Jason was pushed away. It was a

tough break, particularly as he seemed to have second

place for the taking. If IngaU thought he had a dodged a bullet, though, he would have to reconsider moments later. Some sand

had found its way into the

climax, but the second race

clutch.

started with a bang. As Bright made another good start and Skaife another poor one, they charged into the first turn with Ingall and Longhurst almost along-

Moments before the lights went green, the Castrol

side them on the outside.

Four into one just didn’t go. Skaife tagged the rear of Bright’s.Falcon, sending the blue car sideways in front of the pack and taking Ingall and Longhurst oft" with him all three apparently innocent victims.

With three cars off at a

high-speed corner, the red flag was quickly out and the race stopped. It would be a

Commodore could be seen

lurching forward with Russell frantically trying to hold it with the brake while

waving out the window to alert those behind him - and the officials - that he had a

problem. When the field finally charged away. Ingall staggered off until he was up to speed, by which time 6th on the grid had become 20th on the road. The championship was almost over.

With Lowndes racing clear at the head of the field again.

DASH AND CRASH ... The privateers’ race started with a bang when the Falcons of Danny Osborne and John Briggs clashed, sending the Briggs machine into the back of Paul Weel’s car and out of action for the rest of the day. (Photos by Noel Papelera)

^ Vis ●:

ATCC

ORAN PARK

U August m

Russell needed to finish at least 10th to retain even a

mathematical chance of win

ning the title and charged back as hard as he could to

claim 9th by the end of the race.

But even if Lowndes retired

from the third race, an Ingall race win looked unlikely with the

likes

Skaife

and

Bargwanna to contend with ahead of him. The restarted race turned

out to be almost as procession al as the first, though a storm

ing drive by Bargwanna kept it interesting, the Valvoline car chasing the two Mobil machines hard all the way to the line.

Bargs made some changes to the car after race one to cure some understeer and

soon found the car going “like a jet” and looking after its tyres.

Jason made a great start from 10th on the grid to be 5th at the end of the first lap, then quickly disposed of Seton with a great move. He then pursued Ijonghurst foi' 10 laps before the Falcon’s Dunlops had gone off. At the end, only a second covered the first three cars all

Bridgestone-shod

Commodores, of course.

Longhurst faded badly at the end, dropping eight sec onds in the last five laps, but

managed to hold out Seton, Tander (who had a clutch

CLOSE TO DISASTER... Nobody realises how close Craig Lowndes went to throwing it all away at the start of race one when he got the Mobil HRT Commodore so sideways that he was lucky to get all back. One can only wonder what the repurcussions would have been if the car had snapped out completely in front of the field. (Photo by Phil Williams) ,

Romano.

all day,” he said later. “Is he

which caused a bit of a vibra

Ingall was next from Bowe, then the Yokohama duo of Ellery and Mezera (their tyres

sure it was me because I

tion. “Then I hit a kerb, there was a bang and suddenly the vibration stopped, so some thing must have been hanging

problem),

Larkham

and

working better in the heat of the middle of the day) and,

didn’t feel a thing?”

Race 3-18 lapS

from the back of the grid, Perkins and Jones. Bowe had a great battle \vith Elleiy, including a series

A good start and keep out of trouble. That is all Lowndes would have been thinking about for race three, and it worked out perfectly,

of three corners when they went side by side, and JB paid tribute to the young man after the race. “You know I have never

The biggest threat was Bargwanna and he almost made it past Skaife at the start, which might have led him to victory, but Skaifey

really rated Steve, but he’s

was in no mood for that and

come a long way,” said the veteran. “I was impressed.” Faulkner ran 8th early until he tangled with Romano (“Again,” he said, exasperatedj and dropped back to 15th Ashby dominated the priva teers this time, finishing 6.3s clear of Smerdon, Nash and

was quickly running tailgunner for Craig. In fact, Longhurst managed to get past Bargs on the opening lap and stayed there for the first half of the race, when his tyi-es faded again, allow ing Bargs through. Jason quickly reduced the gap to the leaders and again

Well.

chased them hard to the line,

at the end.

off the car.”

Shell Australian Touring Car Championship JL

Race 1 (18 laps)

Qualifying

Though well behind the first three, Romano did well to charge through to 4th place, passing Ingall and then gain

ing places as Longhurst and Seton had troubles. Glenn retired near the end

when something came loose and wore through the oil pump belt, which cost him third place on the day. Tony hung on for 5th from the impressive Tander, who had to come back from a

clutch-related bad start again, then Ingall and Perkins, Bowe, Larkham, Crompton (from the back of the grid), Faulkner and Bright (also from the back).

1 2 3

Craig Lowndes Tony Longhurst Jason Bright

Mark Skaife

Neil Crompton

6 7 8

Glenn Seton Mark Larkham Garth Tander

Russell ingall

10 John Faulkner

11 Jason Bargwanna 12 13 14

Alan Jones John Bowe Paul Romano

Dick Johnson

relative word I hasten to add - to the finish, and the title.

clear of Smerdon this time.

Larkham. Cromley was very angry at Bargs, but Jason was bewildered. “I didn’t see Crompton

Lowndes’ only worry was when two privateers came together in front of him and he ran over some shrapnel.

he celebrated with some enor mous bum-outs on the front

But it was Craig’s day and

straight which delighted his growing number of fans. ■

Mobil-HRT Commodore Ford Credit Falcon Ford Credit Falcon Mitre 10 Falcon Valvoline-Cummins Commodore Castrol-Perkins Commodore Commodore Valvoline-Cummins Commodore Komatsu Falcon Shelf Helix Falcon

1:08.1278

1:08.1323 1:08.2146

1:08.3218 1:08.3605 1:08.4013

Driver

Race time

F/ lap

Craig Lowndes

Mark Skaife

28:51.2942 28:52.1675

1:08.5379 1:08.4943

3 4

Jason Bright Tony Longhurst

28:53.6297 28:55.4499

1:09.0317

Glenn Seton

28:57.4648

1:08.9305

6 7

Russell Ingall Neil Crompton

28:58.8146

1:08.9066

28:59.1701

1:08.8434

1:08.8257

On 2 2 2

Garth Tander

28:59.6078

1:08.9955

1:08.4769

Mark Larkham

1:08.4941

Jason Bargwanna

29:00.6987 29:01.5087

1:09.2422 5 1:09.2649 14

John Faulkner

29:03.7736

1:09.1614

Paul Romano

29:05.2953

1:09.4798 13

Steven Johnson

Steve Ellery

29:09.8893 29:10.1567

1:09.6641

1:08.6672 1:08.6902

Romano Racing Commodore

Pos

29:15.4100

1:09.7294 1:10.1498

5 5 6

Racing for Life Falcon

1:08.9999

Tomas Mezera

18 Steve Ellery 19 Greg Crick

Konica-HYL Commodore

1:09.0985

John Bowe

29:16.7335

1:09.8686

Ericsson Trust Bank Commodore

1:09.1684

Trevor Ashby

Wynns Racing Commodore Wynns Racing Commodore Sony Commodore

1:09.4761

Chris Smerdon

29:38.0282 29:38.7728

1:11.2262 1:11.8448

4 3

1:09.6414

Rod Nash

29:39.3807

1:11.7500

1:09.7676 1:10.7332 1:10.9121

Neil Schembri

29:39.7654

1:13.2281 17

John Cotter

29:43.0737

1:13.0678

Mike Conway

29:47.0963

1:13.1961

1:11.3358 1:11.6125 1:11.7410 1:11.8313 1:12.6157

Alan Jones

Dick Johnson

Anthony Tratt

N/C

PaulWeel

1:12.7017

DNF Darren Pate

Steven Johnson

Darren Pate Tomas Mezera

22 23 24 25

Terry Finnigan Anthony Tratt John Briggs Trevor Ashby

Toll Falcon

Supercheap Autos Falcon Lansvale Smash Repairs Commodore 1:11.2790

26 PaulWeel 27 Chris Smerdon 28 Michael Donaher 29 Rod Nash

32 Danny Osborne 33 John Cotter 34 Simon Emerzidis 35 Richard Mork 36 Robert Smith 37 Mike Imrie 38 Mark Poole

Castrol Falcon ITC Commodore Ultra Tune Commodore Commodore CAMPS Falcon Gearbox Commodore Colourscan Falcon Commodore Simons Earthworks Commodore Commodore Smiths Truck Sales Commodore SAABWreck Commodore Bosch Service Centres Commodore

Race 2 (Shortened to 14 laps) Pos Driver Race tin>e Fast Lap On 17:33.6191 1:08.6092 3 1 Craig Lowndes 2

■ *

1:12.8539 1:13.1605 1:13.2020

1:13.2853 1:13.6580 1:14.1070

1:41.8273

DNF Michael Donaher

DNF Terry Rnnigan DNF Greg Crick DNF Larry Perkins DNF Danny Osborne DNS Mike Imrie

Race time

Fast Lap

Craig Lowndes

Jason Bargwanna Tony Longhurst

17:34.7110 1:08.8331 3 17:42.7433 1:08.8582 3

Mark Skaife

21:00.4070 21:00.7096

1:08.7519 1:08.7677

Jason Bargwanna

21:01.7194 1:09.0125 5

Glenn Seton Garth Tander

17:42.9570

1:09.2218

Paul Romano

17:43.1558 17:44.7282

1:09.3284 1:09.7985

4 5

Tony Longhurst

Garth Tander

21:10.7992 21:13,0587 21:16.8221 21:18.2396 21:19.3326 21:20.4118 21:20.7657 21:21.2082 21:21.7056 21:21.9730 21:26.4436 2156.7924 21:29.7503 21:32.0336 21:37.1552 21:44.2771 21:57.2788 22:12.9782 22:13.4413

1:09.0767 5 1:08.9274 3 1:09.2051 7 1:09.4343 5 1:09.3528 3 1:09.6446 4 1:09.6064 3 1:09.2360 4 1:09,5353 8 1:09.3310 14 1:09.8816 5 1:09.7049 5 1:10.2175 3 1:10.0969 3 1:10.7239 7 1:10.6237 6 1:11.7352 6 1:11.9432 5 1:11.9214 12

17laps 17laps 17 laps 17laps 17 laps leiaps leiaps 15 laps 8 laps

1:12.8164 10 1:14.0836 5 1:13.9988 5 1:11.8063 5 1:13,7055 5 1X19.1986 6 1:12.7193 6 1:09.9460 5 1:13.7934 3

1:08.8377

Mark Larkham

Paul Romano

Russell Ingall

17:44.9191 17:49.2289

1:09.3582 12 1:09.5020 3

Russell IIngall Larry Perkins

John Bowe

17:52.9765

1:09.7500

John Bowe

Mark Larkham

Steve Ellery

Tomas Mezera

17:53.1555 17:53.7258

1:09.6782 1:09.9850

4 7

10 11

Neil Crompton

Larry Perkins

17:54.4560

1:09.5052

John Faulkner

1:10.2179 5 1:09.6178 5 1:10.7962 7 1:10.9261 15 1:10.8611 3 1:12.2611 5 1:12.9649 4 1:12.1391 5 1:12.2705 5 1:13.3937 11

13 14

Jason Bright Steve Ellery

Steven Johnson

Tomas Mezera

Alan Jones

John Faulkner

Terry Rnnigan

Darren Pate

Dick Johnson

Trevor Ashby

20 21

Chris Smerdon Rod Nash

Paul Weel

23 24

John Cotter Michael Donaher

Simon Emerzidis

17:59.9363 18:00.4766 18:05.6183 18:07.0311 18:10.8271 18:36.1925 18:42.4661 18:42.6336 18:43.2338 18:45.3612

14 laps 14 laps 14 laps 14 taps 13 laps 1 lap

1:13.1495 1:13.3345 1:13.5162 1:12.4712 1:13.2612 1:33.5129

9 6 7 8 7

Dick Johnson

Darren Pate

Terry Rnnigan Trevor Ashby

Chris Smerdon

Rod Nash

Michael Donaher

Richard Mork

Mike Conway

26 27

Paul Weel John Cotter

DNF

Glenn Seton

DNF

Danny Osborne

26 27 28 DNF DNS

Mike Conway Anthony Tratt Danny Osborne Neil Crompton Jason Bright

DNS

Neil Schembri

DNF

Alan Jones

Mark Poole

DNF

Simon Emerzidis

DNS

Rnal Points LowrxJes 992 942 Ingatt

Race 3 (18 laps) Driver

17:33.8340

1:09.7321 17 1:10.1326 2 1:11.6127 6 1:11.9957 3 1:11.8611 2 1:11.0765 6 1:10.9270 6 1:11.1687 6 1:10.0051 2 1:13.6136

DNS Mark Poole

17 laps 17laps 15 laps 13laps 121aps maps 8 laps Slaps 7 laps 3 laps

Pos On

Mark Skaife

3 4 5 6

(Photo by Kiynsmith)

Piftek Falcon

Neil Schembri

when he was squeezed between Bargwanna and

Castrol'Longhurst Falcon

1:07.7725 1:07.9195

Shelf Helix Falcon Castrol-Perkins Commodore

Mike Conway

clean-sweep at the front, Ashby completed his third win of the day in the privateer ranks, 15s

1:07.6720

16 Larry Perkins

but there was never any real chance of an upset and the Craig was able to cruise - a

Time

Mobil-HRT Commodore

1:08.6915 1:08.6986 1:08.7442

Crompton failed to finish because of front end damage suffered on the opening lap

Team-Car

Pos Driver

Just as Lowndes made it a

HOT STUFF... Marshalls move quickly to extinguish Terry Finnigan’s car.

i'^ugust 1/2;

4 4

Skaife

768

Perkins Bowe Seton

722 682 676

Barowanna

603

Lonohurst

586 564

D Johnson

550

Larkham Romano Faulkner Tander

474 418 376 301

Eltery Jones

266 261

SJohnson Richards

260 IBS

Finnigan

159

Pode

124

Crompton

116

Hossack Mezera Pate

Crick

Ashby

156 140 139

100

Smerdon Reed

63 63

Briggs Murphy

58 38

Weel

32 28

Doulman Trait

Hisiop

Brewer

Peters Osborne Nash McLeod

13 12 10

Price Kmkck

Mork

Croasweil

Smth

Schembri

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2S UAugusl1998 L

ustralia Day

By CHRIS LAMBDEN

Fresh tyres are the go at Oran Park and on this occa-

UP W’ OVER... Jones

and Murchison fly off in race two. The

Spectrum and the badly damaged but stood up the the impacts well. Despite taking some time to

RaCG 1 (10 laps) Ti /Tacrow was a couple of

TIM Leahey put in a late challenge for series run ner up by winning the

Sion, Jones used them like a veteran. He found himself

iVlfeet better off the line then Jones, but his team-

final round of the Ford

lap and put in a 1:12.0964,

mate had the inside running

drivers were unhurt.

and hit the front for a race

while

(Photo sequence by Marshall

win that never really seemed

Cass)

50 Motorsport/Slick Formula Ford Champion ship at Oran Park. In a dramatic day, Adam

Macrow clinched the title with a conservative fourth

place in race one, while Christian Jones - who had dominated the entire week

end thus far - triggered off a nasty collision which

brought heat two to a very premature end.

out on his own on his third all

around

him

couldn’t get under 1:12.5. He tootled around for a

Behind him, Macrow was

playing it cool, painfully aware that points not prob-

to get close.

lems were needed to tie it

Jones came out for ses-

He didn’t resist when

guard and only for two laps before it became obvious again that the times would be slower than earlier. All

Leahey and then Murchison muscled by to set up their own race-long duel for second, with Cotter, Ritter, Davison and a fast-starting

guard, Michael Borland’s

Spectrum 1-2 championship result ending 11 years of domination by Van Diemen.

Qualifying

All the top ten grid times were set in the first session, team-mate Macrow joining Jones on the front row, edging out the Fastlane/Van Diemen duo, Leahey and Christian Murchison, by a tenth

and

three-tenths

Wliile thoughts wereMacrow’s very much on

respectively. Hot Rookie (and points

points,

leader in the Motorsport News Cup for car two years

Christian Jones

needed a maximum from the

weekend to present any hope of a challenge and he started like he meant it.

Qualifying produced a rare Formula Ford feat, nearly half a second between pole and the rest and Christian was the man

on the day.

old and over) Alex Davison

(RF95) missed a row two start by just a hundredth of a second, with Greg Ritter’s RF98 alongside.

Justin Cotter, Chris Staff, Ashley Seward and Christopher Dell completed the top ten.

free Murchison from

up.

sion two, only as a safe-

over. Rover.

The day also brought final confirmation of a change of

the inverted VD, both

in doubt.

few more laps then put the car away. Nobody was going

Van Diemen were

Leanne

Ferrier

filing

through behind, Murchison towed past his team-mate as they started lap three, Leahey responded on lap seven. By now Jones was three seconds clear, reeling off con sistently quick laps before easing back late in the race. It was as comprehensive a win as any in the series.

Leahey held on by a few metres for second, while Macrow’s relieved fist-clench as he crossed for fourth and the title said a lot. A previously huge points lead had been whittled down to a final round clincher... Cotter was clear in fifth.

It r ^

t~. ■

'-nS*

from the duelling Ritter and Davison, with Seward, Ferrier and Staff bunched

for eighth, ninth and tenth.

Race 2 - stopped after two laps

With the championship

pressure now all over, the opportunity was there for

a hot final sprint, but clearly Jones was going to be hard ot toss - well that was until it

all went haywire. Jones had blasted clear

from pole, with Leahey, Cotter ( a terrific opening lap), Murchison, Seward, Macrow and Ritter in line

astern at the end of the open ing lap. Out of Oran’s tricky FlipFlop, Jones’ car clipped the inside kerb and spun violent ly down the hill. Leahey and Cotter somehow missed him, but next in line Murchison SON OF A GUN... Until race two Christian

Jones was having his best weekend yet; an easy pole position and a dominant race one win. AJ must be a proud dad.

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(Photoby MarshallCass)

didn’t see what was happen ing through the smoke untO it was too late. His car t-boned Jones’ still

sliding car right in the side and went up and over. It wasn’t a good looking crash and the red flags were out rapidly, the race declared after 2 laps, vrith half points allocated.

Jones was out of his car

and hobbling clear immedi ately, but it took some time to release the concussed Murchison. Both went to hos

pital for checks, but were later released, Murchison stiU

suffering a little amnesia but both, thankfully, just badly shaken.

Fortunately, the title had been decided, but the race two fracas made it awfully

close for second, Jones getting there by three points. Final series points: Macrow 211; Jones 183; Leahey 180; Ritter 109; Murchison (Rookie of the Year)

98; McDougall 93; Davison 69; Zemer 62; Owen 58; Seward 57.

14 August m

Young Lions sign off By CHRIS LAMBDEN TODD Kelly won the final round of the Holden Australian Drivers Cham

pionship at Oran Park to jump into second place in the series behind Kiwi Scott Dixon.

However, even Kelly con ceded his win was due in part to

unfortunate

crash

involving Mark Noske in the second race of the day, when Noske looked set for a clear double win and a maximum

points series finale. Noske crashed heavily at turn one after a misunder

standing involving the lapped car of SA’s Roger Oakeshott, having just drafted past Kelly for the race two lead.

However, the win was just

reward for the young Formula Holden Rookie of the Year,

overcoming some set-up prob lems late in the day to defeat newly-crowned Champion Dixon, who racked up a sec ond and a third with the

championship pressure off. Other notable efforts included second in race one for Kiwi Simon Wills after a

good qualifying run. Fifth in the second, after a bad open ing lap, still earned Wills third on the day.

Qualifying

95D spec Reynards, for recent recruit Marcus Friesacher.

However, it was the lead car of championship con tender Noske which dominat

ed qualifying. A subtle adjust ment to the suspension pre load transformed the car and

with a well-balanced set-up, Noske was half a second clear

in pole, with a 1:00.9518. Mark Larkham’s long standing race lap record (1:01.7900) was likely to get a pounding. Simon Wills continued to

exhibit obvious pace, the Telegroup car with a fresh .engine following the Calder

'failure and slotting into the other front row spot with a 1:01.4763.

was

YOUNG'UNS TO THE FORE...

Mark Noske and Todd Kelly split the wins at Oran Park, the two ex-HRT Young Lions ending the series on a high

the third row, with Asai, Friesacher, DeVries and Bastian rounding out the top 10 for the opening heat. Noske

was

note.

four tenths

slower in the later session,

(Ptxjto by Marshall Cass)

PRIME POSITION... Noske took race one In fine

but that was still good enough to wrap up a pair of poles. The session ended spec tacularly, though, a split oil line sending the Primus car and a couple of others - pirou etting on the oil...

form but tangled with a backmarker in the second,

leaving Kelly to take hon¬ ours on the day. (Photo by Dirk Klynsmith)

Dixon was back on the

ew for this round was the second of the NRC team’s

Where

ticularly off the bridge. Brenton Ramsay and Darren Edwards completed

Champion

Dixon? In a rare non-front

row spot, that’s where. The team had lost a little time

with a broken input shaft during practice and Dixon would only complete half this session after a wheel-banging moment with another car bent a rear arm.

Kelly was fourth, his team struggling to get a constant set-up over the bumps - par-

the inside run, praying that

front row, three-tenths off

Oakeshott had seen them and would move. He hadn’t. At

Noske’s time despite a nose bleed mid-session which left his helmet and balaclava

looking decidedly gory, while Darren Edwards pulled out one of his good runs to snatch third, from Kelly. Missing from the front action was Wills. His oil pres sure gauge began to signal diving pressure mid-session so the Kiwi switched off the

engine and parked. His time to date would be enough for seventh and the problem would later be traced, thank fully, to a faulty gauge. Ramsay was fifth again, sharing the row with Friesacher, with Wills, Asai, DeVries and Robert Power

completing the top ten.

Race 1 (18 laps) TZeiiy ’s crew had tried a m XVmajor change spring/shock set-up overnight and the morning warm-up proved promising, the Konica car heading the sheets, from Dixon, Wills and Edwards.

Wills actually got the slightly better jump at the start, but baulked the first change, leaving Noske to lead clearly from Kelly, Dixon,

the last moment, Noske had

to jink left, across the kerbs. The Primus car flew across

the kerbs, across the bows of the startled Oakeshott, and Edwards and Wills as they swept cleanly through the opening comers. Things weren’t so good for Friesacher, though, the 95D trailing through at the back after a turn one off.

Dixon was looking to progress and slipped inside Kelly as they started lap two but, although he briefly closed on Noske, the Victorian was able to ease the gap out.

Pacing himself to the finish, with Wills easing the gap down, a bad baulking by a

Telegroup car scrabbling on the dirt briefly.

backmarker saw Noske’s lead

on Kelly over the next two laps, setting up an exciting contest, with Edwards and Ramsay hard at it a bit fur

slashed, the Victorian only getting over the line by Is. Kelly and Edwards contest ed fourth throughout, with no position change, while Ramsay fell back into an Osborne, Asai, Brede battle, which raged most of the race until Brede’s late retirement.

Indeed, Dixon would in the

end have to give best to compa triot Wills who, after regaining his composure, drove beauti fully to sweep past Edwards and Kelly on consecutive laps (inside Ifelly at the tricky turn three), close in on Dixon by mid-race, then tow past into turn \J2 on lap 12. Dixon, whose car seemed to have developed an oversteer problem, would easily retain third, but leader Noske - at one point so comfortable would have a late race scare.

Race 2 (18 laps)

Kelly blinder made of a start an absolute from the outside of row. two, slotting between Noske and Dixon to

lead clearly into turn 1, an advantage he extended over the opening lap. Noske, Dixon, Edwards and

Ramsay filed through in a chasing group at the end of the opening lap, with Friesacher, Asai, then a gap to Wills, who again hadn’t had a good opening lap, the

Noske and Dixon honed in

spun to a halt in the sand fortunately without damage to man or machine.

ther back, with Friesacher, Asai and the closing Wills set

This left Kelly to fend off a late challenge from Dixon for the race win, the overall win on the day, and second in the series. Todd agreed it was an unfortunate way to decide the

for their own contest for sixth.

spot.

The laps rolled out, with none of the top three able to make

decisive

move,

although Noske was certainly pressuring leader Kelly, look ing for an opportunity. It came at the end of lap ten, when Noske got a good run onto the main straight and slipped alongside Kelly, on the inside, as they ran down to turn one.

The complication was Oakeshott, on whom they

were closing rapidly and who hadn’t yet seen the approach ing duel. They all arrived at turn one together, Noske committed to

fometer

Edwards held off the race-

long challenge from Ramsay right to the line, while Wills had managed to dispose of both Friesacher and Asai.

Osborne, held off the simi

larly close attentions of DeVries, while Power did the same over Bastian for lOth. Final series points: Dixon 187; Kelly 146.5; Noske 136; Ramsay 86; Friesacher 66; Edwards 55, de Vries 49, Wills 46, Osborne 26, Asai 25. Silver Star: de Vriefe 199, Cram-

pton 134.5, Brede 96, Power 79, Jacobsen 68, Digby/Oakeshott 58. Rookie of the Year: Kelly 185, de Vries 120, Friesacher 107, Crampton 75, Asai 73.5. Pole award: Dixon 6, Noske 5, Wills 1.

Memory Tyre Pyrometer

Computtr Stopwtrtch

●

3S UAugust 1998

Mercedes bends Fei By JOE SAWARD

GATECRASHER:

Who’s that bloke up there with the McLaren drivers?

Why, it's Jacques Villeneuve, the defending World

Champion, on the podium for the first time this year... SECOND AGAIN: David Coulthard

again followed in

Mobil

Hakkinen's wheel tracks.

ika Hakkinen and David Coulthard demolished the

Qualifying

ago as 1932 and used in the

Mercedes team.

It was a day when Michael Schumacher and Ferrari

were curiously off the pace, much to the disappointment of his home Hockenheim.

crowd

Hakkinen’s sixth win of

the year widens his champi onship lead to 16 points over Schumacher.

“I’m very pleased about that,” said the cautious Finn, “but there is still a long way to go and I will be going flat out until the end of the sea son.”

Hockenheim

jsate

irkins ^ kes

n German the word “wet ter” means weather and as the Formula 1 circus headed

up from Austria to Germany the weather was very defi nitely wetter und wetter as storms and unsummerly drizzle swept across the south of Germany.

ar?

■■ ’ 3 :

52.

imus

’■Y

assic

Larry Perkins has been captured like never before in this brilliant portrait by renowned artist Helen Young. Just 500 prints of this

LON iVE KLNGi

Tripoli GP, which needed high-speed blasts. In the building boom of the

car industry, watching the road signs to places you read

I the circus gathered on

t was with some relief that

Friday to discover that - as always - the weathermen were wrong. It did not rain all day.

The result was no big sur

1960s, the old circuit was

prise for the two McLaren-

swallowed up by an auto

Mercedes MP4-13s of Mika Hakkinen and David

bahn which cut it in half but

the

compensation

paid

enabled the owners to add a new stadium section to the

Coulthard were always going to be strong on the fast blasts of Hockenheim, which

circuit and racing began on

likes cars with lots of horse

the new track in 1966.

power and not much drag. One always has to be care

Theold contract between and the new sectionthe of

ful at Hockenheim about

Hockenheim make it a weird

place. Much of the track out in the pines is inaccessible to the spectators. The fast old straights are like a tunnel for the drivers.

And then they burst into the stadium section, which they call the Motodrom, where the

drivers are greeted by huge enthusiastic crowds of jolly Germans, waving flags, drinking beer and talking about “Schumi”.

declaring that a team has made a huge leap forward because the track is very dif ferent to the others on the FI calendar and suits certain cars better than others. It was unusual to see

Damon Hill’s Jordan up with the big guys but it would be unwise to start telling the world that Jordan will be

competitive at every race track from now on.

Come Saturday everyone was ready for a display of

The ugly nationalism which was prevalent a few years ago has faded and now it is just a nice pleasant

Mercedes-Benz muscle and

buzz.

seriously under threat from anyone, despite the fact that they had to use hard Bridgestone tyres because the soft ones were chunking.

Once upon a time Hockenheim was a place of death, but memories are short and although a few folk trek out each year to the first chicane to ponder the memo rial to Jim Clark, killed in there in the Spring of 1968, most people in the FI paddock seem to have forgotten. Except when it rains. Then they remember that the spray hangs in the air and it

rain and so it was with some

the heartland of the German

destined for action at the

promised rain and then more

heading north-west through X

Mercedes-Benz racing cars

the trees when he went off

the trucks on the autobahns

Six-time Bathurst winner

late-1930s as a test track for

The weather forecasters

trepidation that we dodged

●

Hockenheim in the wet is

this year for the McLaren-

year.

a place where risks cannot be calculated.

plan and finished fourth to score his first point of the

stay-

And so we ended up at German car industry Hockenheim, built as long

Hill used a more sensible

^dead^

in 1982, ending his career with terrible leg injuries.

and

another famous name in the

A fine showing by Ralf Schumacher was hobbled by a poor strategy from the Jordan-Mugen Honda team, though teammate Damon

C/Oi BY -.

Unter

Weissach Turkheim.

Grand Prix to score their fifth 1-2 finish in 11 races

Williams.

Ferrari down the track back

opposition in the German

As a result, defending World Champion Jacques Villeneuve was finally able to score his first podium of the year after a strong run in the

>ods of Thunder tak

about in car magazines: Zuffenhausen, Ingoldstadt,

was this which caused Didier Pironi to cartwheel his

McLaren efficiency and Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard never looked to be

On Saturday morning David was quickest, but in the afternoon it was Hakkinen who collected his

seventh pole position of the year.

He was a little lucky on this

occasion

because

Coulthard’s hopes were destroyed with an engine failure

which

saw

him

scramble to get to the T-car

IfkA«itwtn«

c>m»j magnificent painting are being )■. IOC offered with each one numbered October 19.1997 clas ●A Panorama Circuit and individually signed by the artist and Larry Perkins. Printed on quality silk gloss 200 gsm paper, with border, each picture O.

measures 30 cm x 42 cm unframed and comes with a cprii^pafe of authenticity. To secure your copy, post the coupon to:

Hidm Young PO Box 1066

Albury NSW2640

Mobile 0412 099 1 75

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p/c Prints dispatched by registered mail within 21 working days of receipt of your order. Add $A5 for NZ airmail.

©Motorspon News. Issue 133

OUT OF THE POINTS... Benetton struggled again. Fisichella did best with seventh place.

GERMAN GP

l^®0®[?8[p®l7D^

14 August 1998

rari title ambitions in the final minutes of the session.

“I didn’t really get a chance on my last two runs,” David explained, “but I am relieved to be second on the

grid. At the end of the ses sion I felt that the circuit had

a lot more grip, but I was in the T-car, which was set up for Mika, and so my attempt was really a long-shot. If I had not had a problem it would have been close.” Hakkinen reckoned that

his car was not perfect but it did the job and put him half a second clear of Coulthard. It was the first time since the new rules that we have seen

the cars produce faster lap times than last year, but this was not such a surprise. The new regulations made the cars narrower, so they go down the straights faster, and engines and tyres have been developed as well. The biggest surprise on Saturday was the sudden burst of speed from Jacques Villeneuve’s Williams.

einz-Harald Frentzen

H would probably have

matched his teammate if he had made better use of his

tyres, but he was over a sec ond off Jacques’ pace. And that put him back in 10th on the grid. But

what

was

the

Williams secret? Was it, as

we heard suggested in the paddock, that the team had finally come up with similar software to that being run by other teams? It looked like it, but team sources insisted that this was not the case and Villeneuve himself reck oned that the Williams is

HOME STRETCH... Mika Hakkinen extended his title lead with another dominant

victory for McLaren. TOO HOT... Eddie Irvine

overcooks it at the chicane, which let teammate Michael

Schumacher through. An oblivious Damon Hill races

on to fourth place, his best result of the year.

simply a good car in low-

to be on the front row.”

downforce trim. “In the last two corners

Competing in the race, Jacques said, would be a dif ferent story, but he reckoned

there was a Stewart going very slowly,” he complained. “For the first time this year,

the Williams would be able

to “hold our own” against the

however, we were able to

rest of the field.

fight for pole position. It is alnlost a disappointment not

The performance of the two Jordan-Mugen Hondas was also interesting, with Ralf Schumacher and Damon

Hill lining up fourth and fifth on the grid, separated by two-tenths of a second. “It is encouraging to see how we have closed up with the opposition,” said Ralf, “I did not expect to qualify ahead of Michael.” Damon reckoned that there could have been even more: “The new Honda E-

spec engine really helped and the car ran very well,” he said. “Our car is definitely right for these track condi }■

on the new long-wheelbase Ferrari before it was aban doned because Michael was not convinced that the machine - which is 15cm

the car was playing up ... The odd thing is that

team-by-team nature. The Benettons usually go

Michael did not mention it.

very well at Hockenheim, but

Whatever the case, the incident cost him the first 45-minute session and he

tions.”

longer than the normal cars - was any more stable.

Sixth on the grid was Eddie Irvine, the fastest

This meant that Michael

second 45 minute session

started Saturday having

when his engine went boom. So he went into qualifying having done only six laps in two days with his regular

Ferrari driver for the first

time this year. Eddie said that qualifying had been a real struggle for

done no work at all on his normal chassis - a curious

strategic

decision

from

Ferrari.

the Ferrari and that his car

Then, on his first serious

really did not feel very good

lap on Saturday morning, Michael went straight off trying, it seemed, to go too fast on cold tyres. Just like

on full tanks. The fact that

he outqualified Schumacher was barely mentioned because, if Eddie’s day had been difficult, Michael’s was a disaster.

He spent Friday working

had done only six laps in the

car. He looked to be more at

sea than Long John Silver and ended up ninth on the

Alexander Wurz and Giancarlo Fisichella did not

look so competitive this year. The team seemed to be

rather confused as to why this should be, although it

was probably related to the

started, hoping to make up

places on the grid by not making too many mistakes. His last lap was as fast as he reckoned the car would go. Herbert was less fortu

nate. On Saturday morning

decided to go for the harder

he suffered a gearbox elec

that

the

Bridgestones. On this occasion Wurz was

the

faster

the

two,

grid, his worst qualifying performance of the year.

ure.

made little sense so one must

The fourth row of the grid was shared by the Benettons and, as often happens at Hockenheim, the back half of

presume that something in

the grid showed a distinct

Austrian GP, the incident

Alesi was a bit all over the

place with his settings and ended up back where he had

Benettons

fact

although Fisichella’s efforts were spoiled by a clutch fail-

his off-track moment in the

sixth row.

Behind Schumacher and Frentzen were the two

Saubers, with Jean Alesi and

Johnny Herbert sharing the

tronics failure which dam

aged the gearbox itself and so he missed most of the ses sion. In the afternoon he had oversteer but was not able to

improve the situation in the time available.

Thirteenth on the grid was Rubens Barrichello, who

reckoned he might have gone

U August m

o one of the easiest tracks in FI. It’s really

n the face of it, Hockenheim should be

Jr.

one long piece of road like a great curving straight, interrupted by three chicanes and with a fiddling infield section at the end. In truth, it can be maddeningly difficult when it comes to setting up an F1 car. Believe me, I know, because I spent two

days trying fruitlessly to do just that in prac tice for the German Grand Prix. Actually, I

ohpQy

really spent just a day and a half, thanks to more mechanical problems.

Jean Alesi and I had a trouble-free day

DISAPPOINTMENT... The crowd expected big things of the Schumacher brothers, but Michael was never in contention and Ralf (following him into pitlane after the race here) chose the wrong strategy for the race. even faster if he had not had

to pass Ralf Schumacher at the entrance to the Motodrom. “He had slowed down but

his car was still on the racing line,” said Rubens after

wards. “If he had a problem he should have gone offline.”

impressive result, unless a customer Ford engine has a lot more power than a

Peugeot VIO. Takagi’s show ing was not without drama,

though. The team was running very little wing to make up for the horsepower disadvan tage and this meant that

T Terstappen was struggling

they really did not like going

set-up for his Stewart and

through the first corner. In the morning Ricardo

V badly to find a decent

then made some mistakes

Rosset demolished his car there with a massive crash which left him unable to

while trying to drive around the problems and so he ended up in a very disap pointing 19th position on the grid. The two Prost-Peugeots were struggling as well, with

the impact - recorded at

Jarno Trulli and Olivier

30G. A few years ago Rosset

Panis ending up 14th and 16th, the young Italian faster

would probably have been

than the French veteran.

Panis did not help himself on Saturday morning when he went off heavily and had to use the T-car for the rest

of the day, while Trulli com plained of a basic lack of grip in the chassis.

The team ran very little wing and so the only logical

qualify in the afternoon

because of a bang on the head. Luckily the cockpit surround absorbed some of

killed in such a crash. One often criticises the

FIA, but in this case the gov erning body has done a very good job. As Ricardo was sitting around seeing stars, Takagi did exactly the same thing early in the qualifying ses sion after setting a very good time on his first run.

conclusion is that the car has

Japan’s rising son duly

one or two major aerodynam

demolished the second car of

ic flaws.

the day and very nearly

The Prost aerodynamicists were not much in evidence,

presumably working on next year’s car in a windtunnel somewhere...

Splitting the Prost boys was Tora Takagi in his Tyrrell, which was a very

nailed a third later in the session when he took the T-

car for a sandy moment at the same corner. On this

occasion he just managed to stay away from the tyre bar riers.

“Experience is only gained

at a price,” said Tyrrell wiseacre Harvey Postlethwaite. “We shall be sacrific

ing a young virgin tonight in the hope of better things

on Friday, when he was third and I was ninth, but electronics problems meant that I couldn’t run the torque control system that Jean had and I was sliding all over the place and losing heaps of time in the stadium. Eventually the inevitable happened and I spun on to the start/finish straight, fortunate ly without doing any damage. Saturday afternoon was very difficult. The car still felt bad because of the lost set-up time. It was oversteering and giving me little feedback. Iwas quite surprised then to find Jean 11th, just ahead of me.

t ●

I got by with third instead, but on the 38th

lap even that went missing at the first cor ner, so the system shut the engine down and that was that. Another disappointing end to a disappointing weekend.

WithaftertheAustria, GermanthereGP had following so soon been little time to do anything between races, but there was

a diversion for Jorg Muller and Ion Saturday evening when we attended Red Bull’s tradi tional Hockenheim Petit Prix kart race.

The paironoftheus first hadlapquite an race, entertaining tussle of the passing and repassing one another until Igot boxed

This was won by Marlene Dietrich - not

the late actress, but a 13 year-old girl whose father runs the track in Mannheim. She did a

tomorrow.”

in at the second chicane. On the exit

damn good job.

While the idea may have appealed to Dr P, it looked like most of the Tyrrell boys

Rubens Barrichello came blatting by on the straight - his Stewart was much lighter because he was one of the few who opted for two refuelling stops - so that was that. Later in the race I was closing slightly on Jean , fighting for 10th place, but then my gearbox began playing up again. At first it wouldn’t select fourth gear on downchanges.

good on the Friday night after finishing fourth-fastest in practice, particularly as Idid my time after going back to a well-used set of tyres that I’d actually flat-spotted earlier

would be spending the night in the pit garage rebuilding cars rather than rampaging around Baden Wurtenberg in search of willing maidens ... Rosset hoped that the stewards would let him start

the race on Sunday without setting a qualifying time, but he went home disappointed. Only 21 cars would start.

Race - 45 laps

Onovercast Sunday and morning remained it was that way throughout the warm-up, when Coulthard

Sharing ninththerowtwoof Schumacher and Hakkinen. the gridthewere was

Arrows and one can only sug gest that perhaps the team

fastest

from

Ralf

money to fund both the engine and chassis develop ment programs. On this occa

During the lunchtime peri od the clouds began to gather and there was the odd spit of rain as the -cars lined up on the grid. Fisichella had a problem

sion the drivers said the

with his car and had to

engines were fine but the

switch to the spare, which was set up for Wurz.

needs to find some more

chassis were not handling well.

But the rain held off and

Down at the back, as usual, were the two Minardis, with Shinji Nakano out-running

when the lights went out Hakkinen made a great start

Esteban Tuero on this occa-

corner, followed closely by

Sion.

Coulthard.

Tuero reckoned he might have

done

better

if his

engine had not blown up, forcing bim into the T-car, while Nakano complained of a lack of straightline speed. Soon after the qualifying

to lead the field into the first

Villeneuve made a poor start, though, and was passed by both Ralf

As for the Austrian GP, Iwas feeling quite on.

The weather scuppered my plans on

Hakkinen setting five in the first six laps with Coulthard adding two more and Schumi Jr getting one for himself. This suggested that the Jordan driver was on a two-

stop strategy because Damon Hill was obviously not going as well, because he was car rying a heavier fuel load.

For the first 14 laps Ralf hung on grimly and was never more than 1.5s behind Coulthard while David was

similarly

always

Hakkinen’s tail. The three left Villeneuve behind. It was inevitable that the

Jordan would have to stop and on lap 14 the yellowsuited mechanics spilled out of the pits and got ready for Ralf to arrive. It was the

wrong strategy and he rejoined ninth to find himself

ers slowed his IN lap. He also overshot his pitstop marks, but the McLaren mechanics are now so well drilled that this cost him no

time at all and he emerged from the pit as Hakkinen came by. It was close, but Mika was ahead again. One wonders what might have happened if David had been ahead, given the World Championship situation and the FIA’s latest confusing edict on team orders. It was, irrelevant. thankfully, Hakkinen was ahead and

David was not in a position to challenge him.

Theseconds pair had on a Villeneuve gap of six and it stayed much the same until lap 34 when Villeneuve suddenly began to close in.

Schumacher and Hill. He

stuck behind Frentzen until

Were the McLarens slow

fought back and was ahead of Hill by the time they

the Williams driver stopped.

ing? 'The lap times after the

With Schumi Jr out of the

way, the McLarens were

race showed that this was not the case but there was

untroubled until the mid-

definitely a leak of some sort

race stops. Mika came in on lap 26, leaving David to lead for a lap before he also stopped. 'There was a possibility that David might have taken

in Hakkinen’s car. “There was some

reached the first chicane.

session ended, the rain

The start proved to be a

began to fall again and through the evening there were showers and everyone

disaster for Wurz (who was left at the tail of the field)

and Panis (who jumped the

worried about a wet race at

start and had to take a 10s

Hockenheim - which is prob ably the most dangerous thing in FI these days.

stop-go penalty). In those early laps there was a blizzard of fastest laps:

the lead but two backmark-

fluid

coming out of the back of Mika’s car,” said Coulthard,

explaining that overtaking his teammate would have

been very difficult.

LEFT: Another shocking day for the Stewart team with both cars dropping out with transmission trouble. BELOW: Ra(f Schumacher charges ahead of Hill, Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher at the start, but his eariy pace was deceptive.

GERMAN Gi>

l^®D®[FS[p®[T{}^

UAugusimS

**After Silverstone Jean said he didn^t want me in the

team next year. No doubt that will be another of his teacup storms... unlike him, I haven ^t slagged off the team in public.

VlA

1 HOT AND BOTHERED: It has obviously been a hard day in the office for Johnny as he debriefs engineer Tim Preston (above) after qualifying. In the race, Johnny diced with Alexander Wurz for a while (left).

was awash instantly. It was so bad that nobody ventured out for the first 30 min

because I was running so slowly, so the tyres were really dead and I couldn’t improve. It was damned frustrating, but I knew that

utes.

in the circumstances I had to be the team

Iwas eighth-fastest after my first run, on full wets, a smidgeon ahead of Jean. When I went out for my last run I knew that he was already on another fast one so I kept looking for him in the mirrors, ready to let him go by. Eventually he came past but by then the temperature in my tyres had dropped

player. I just hope that Jean reciprocates at some stage later this year,

Saturday, however. When it rained at lunchtime, boy, it really rained! The track

at Silverstone, where Jean got angry because he thought I’d held him up, and I got upset because I didn’t think it should have been necessary for me to move over for him.

As far as I’m concerned, he and I have

That worked as far as the first corner,

been having what I would call a healthy fight

where one of the Minardis just came flying into my vision and promptly shoved me into the gravel. So much for cautioni The car was undamaged and I drove it back onto the track, but the cockpit was now full of stones and plenty of them lodged behind my back, which made life very

all season. But after Silverstone he said he didn’t

uncomfortable!

The single stop plan worked okay but, even though I tried very hard to save my tyres, the understeer that had spoiled my pre-race warm-up kept coming back. I’d push hard for a handful of laps, then have to back off to let the tyres recover before trying

I was starting so far back, I opted for a sin

ended up 18th on the grid and, because I

to push again. I finished eighth.

gle-stop strategy and decided to stay out of

we could discuss OnSauber Fridaysoevening I’d sat downthewithincident Peter

trouble in the race.

want me in the team next year. No doubt that will be another of his teacup storms; to me it says that he sees me as a threat. But, unlike him, I haven’t slagged off the team in public.

Asanfarofferas onnexttheyear is from concerned, I have table Peter Sauber to stay with the team, and for sure it is my intention to stay in F1. But the interest from elsewhere is also

growing and I will be considering every option very carefully before making any deci sion. There’s plenty of time and at this criti cal stage of my career it wouldn’t be wise to rush into anything. ■

German Grand Prix

World Championship, Round 11 Hockenheim, August 2nd, 1998 - 45 laps 1 2

Mika Hakkinen, McLaren-Mercedes MP4/13,1 h20m47,984s David Coulthard, McLaren-Mercedes MP4/13.1 h20m48,41 Os

3 4

Jacques Villeneuve, Williams-Mecachrome FW20,1 h20m50,561 s Damon Hill, Jordan-Mugen-Honda 198,1 h20m55,169s

Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F300,1h21m00,597s

Ralf Schumacher, Jordan-Mugen-Honda 198,1 h21 ml7,722s

7 8 9 10 11

Giancarlo Fisichella, Benetton-Mecachrome B198,1 h21 ml 9,01 Os Eddie Irvine, Ferrari F300,1h21 ml9,633s H.H. Frentzen, Williams-Mecachrome FW20, 1 h21 m20,768s Jean Alesi, Sauber-Petronas Cl 7,1h21m36,355s Alexander Wurz, Benetton-Mecachrome B198,1 h21 m45,978s

12 Jarno Trulli, Prost-Peugeot AP01,44 laps 13 Tora Takagi, Tyrrell-Ford 026, 44 laps 14 Mika Salo, Arrows A19, 44 laps 15 Olivier Panis, Prost-Peugeot AP01,44 laps 16 Esteban Tuero, Minardi-Ford Ml98, 43 laps Fastest Lap: Coulthard, Lap 17,1m46,116s

Lap Leaders: Lap 1-25 Hakkinen; Lap 26-27 Coulthard; HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION... The Williams team was a serious factor again at Hockenheim.

“It may look like a walk in the park to anyone who is

watching,” said DC, “but

were guzzling a bit much and

the end of the race. It was

save). Whatever was wrong

so the team leaned off the VlOs and Mika felt a sudden

that kind of day. Hill finished fourth, which was a good result for Jordan and a triumph of Damon’s

with the Meister?

believe me, when you are doing 350kph into the brak ing area while following another car and losing downforce, it’s very difficult. “It is one thing to pass a car with inferior perfor mance, but to get past a car with exactly the same perfor mance as yours is entirely

loss of power. The TV commentary boxes turned into a cage of raging multilingual parakeets as

different. There is far too

was.

much at stake to go for glory by locking up the brakes on the inside and getting it all

And Hakkinen so itandwas Coulthard that

up sixth, which was a good result - apart from the fact

crossed the line for their fifth

that he started fourth ... Between the two Jordans at the end of the race was

wrong. I don’t need that for my championship and Mika doesn’t need it for his.

“In the end we had a good fight but there wasn’t much chance of us overtaking.” As Villeneuve edged closer to the McLarens he noticed the fluid leak as well.

the drama unfolded, but the

chirping soon subsided as Villeneuve began to drop back. Now something was wrong with the Williams. Jacques had no idea what it

1-2 finish of the year. “It was great, Villeneuve

of his

said

third.

“Today we kept with their pace and finally got on a podium.” Frentzen’s afternoon was

Ralf

result to Ralf Schumacher

Schumacher’s optimistic twostop theories. The problem was traffic. Ralf rejoined in ninth place

without bothering to have two stops. He started sixth, slid off and let Michael past (thus avoiding the need to have a mysterious “brake problem” later in the race).

strategy

over

behind Frentzen and there

he stayed until Heinz-Harald stopped mid-race. At his sec ond stop Ralf was able to make up time and so ended

World Championship chal lenger Michael Schumacher, who performed with all the presence of the Invisible Man.

less glorious. He had started

He made a good start to

so far back that he was never

nm seventh and wheii Eddie

going to be able to do a great

Irvine went off (by accident

deal.

rather than convenience on

this

sums

“In front of me during the race - nothing happened at all, nobody spun, nobody crashed, so I didn’t have any chance to gain ground. It was pretty boring really.”

refused to add up. The con clusion was that the engines

of the first lap - and ninth at

“As soon as I got closer to the two McLarens I was get ting some oil that David was

receiving,” he said, “and it became pretty hard to see.” Down in the McLaren pit there was a fair bit of pencilchewing going on as well because

the

fuel

Heinz was ninth at the end

Irvine’s performance was similarly disappointing. He managed to achieve a similar

occasion)

Michael

slipped ahead. His brother’s bizarre strat

egy helped him move up to fifth and there he stayed until the end of the race,

looking as exciting as card board (apart from one lurid

He was seventh when he

stopped but overshot his pit (perhaps he had a real brake problem) and dropped to eighth, where he finished, chasing Fisichella to the line. It was not a good day for Benetton but, thanks to Irvine, Fisichella was able to

make up a place. He started eighth. He finished seventh.

Lap 28-45 Hakkinen Retirements:

Lap 2 Lap 24 Lap 27 Lap 36 Lap 37

Pedro Diniz, Arrows A19, throttle Jos Verstappen, Stewart-Ford SF2, transmission Rubens Barrichello, Stewart-Ford SF2, transmission Shinji Nakano, Minardi-Ford Ml98, gearbox Johnny Herbert, Sauber-Petronas Cl7, gearbox

Drivers' World Championship standings: 1 Hakkinen 76; 2 Schumacher 60; 3 Coulthard 42; 4 Irvine 32; 5 Wurz 17; 6 Villeneuve 16; 7 Fisichella 15; 8 Frentzen 8; 9 Barrichello, R. Schumacher, Hill and Salo 4; 13 Alesi 3; 14 Herbert, Diniz and Magnussen 1 Constructors’ Championship positions: 1 McLaren-Mercedes 118; 2 Ferrari 92; 3 Benetton-Mecachrome 32; 4 Williams-Mecachrome 24; 5 Jordan-Mugen-Honda 7; 6 Stewart-Ford 5; 7 Arrows and Sauber-Petronas 4

Johnny Herbert had been driving around behind Jean but he began to suffer gear box trouble and on lap 38 the

Tora on the penultimate lap but then suffered gearbox trouble and lost the place, although he did manage to

car went into neutral and the

finish.

engine cut.

Diniz retired early in the race with a throttle problem.

A lap behind was Trulli on a weekend which Alain Frost

The final finisher was

will not remember fondly.

Tuero, two laps down in his

victim of a dreadful start

Jarno finished 12th and

Minardi, while teammate

caused by a clutch problem. He spent the early laps whizzing past the slow cars and then became bogged down until the chequered flag came out and put him

Panis 15th (having lost ground with his stop-go penalty). The best the team could come up with was that

Nakano stopped on lap 36

Wurz finished 11th, the

it was the first time that both cars have finished this

with gearbox failure. Stewart failed to finish

either car - the only team to do so - Barrichello going out

after 27 laps with gearbox trouble

after

early

out of his misery.

year ... What a marvellous

Behind the lonely and bored ninth-placed Frentzen came Alesi’s Sauber. “It just wasn’t quick enough,” he

achievement.

charge while running a two-

Takagi drove a very good race, battling for most of the

stop strategy, and Verstappen a couple of laps

said.

afternoon

with

Salo’s

Arrows. The Finn got past

earlier with transmission failure.

■

34 UAuguslim As the NHRA’s infamous “West

Coast Swing” nears its climax with the Prolong Superlubricants Northwest Nationals in Seattle, Washington, the drag racing rumor mill is running fiill-bore. Along with stellar on-track

action, there’s already plenty of talk about which drivers will be

with what sponsors for 1999 and beyond. In addition to all the sponsor ship rumors, there’s increasing talk about the future of the National Hot Rod Association’s

SUPERIMh

programs, while at the same time racers and aftermarket

firms are keeping a close eye on the progress being made by the International Hot Rod Association under the direction

of new owner. Bill Bader. BLAZEMORE BURNS

■ You’ve got to feel for Whit Bazemore, the former photogra pher turned Funny Car racer. Bazemore apparently got the word from Winston that his spon sorship wouldn’t be renewed for ’99 during the week between the Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals in

Denver

and

the

Autolite

KENDALL LOVES CHUCK... First in the fours Funny Car driver Chuck Etcheils wili retain Kendall Refining support. (David Ostaszewski pic)

AH the news that fits

Nationals in Sonoma, California. Trying to put his best foot for

Stateside update by JON ASHER

ward, the thoroughly professional driver candidly spoke about his sit uation during a television interview from Sonoma and then released a

thoughtful statement through Winston about his relationship with the company. While so many people know Bazemore as a driver, many of us behind the guardwall remember his days as Winston’s drag racing shooter.

Always one of the finer lensmen out there, the young man had a dream and successfully pursued it.

He scraped together the money to attend Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School (then located at Gainesville Raceway in Florida)

Evans often went without eating so their car could get the parts it needed to keep going.

and then got his first national event opportunities by scouring the

nesses justifiably assumed that

Bazemore began building a reputa-

Bazemore had lost his life - but he

tion for himself that ultimately

helped produce his Smokin’ Joe’s Racing sponsorship from Camels. Ironically, that car would win its

country for alcohol Funny Car own-

became “Blazemore” after a series of fires that would have forced a less dedicated competitor into

miraculously emerged unscathed. While other drivers opted for the “cool” look, Bazemore had always covered his body with as much saffety gear as possible and that made

ers in need of a driver.

retirement.

all the difference.

One of those conflagrations came during qualifying for the US Nationals some years ago and was

With minimal backing from Loctite Permatex’s Fast Orange

from a broken leg suffered in a motorcycle accident, But, even then the young man played the role of supportive, pro fessional car owner, praising the

His first forays into fuel Funny Car racing were less than success ful, as he and Australian partner/tuner Gary “The Guv

Bazemore’s nickname quickly

so severe that many trackside wit-

Hand Cleaner and then a shortlived sponsorship from Mobil 1,

first race with Dale Pulde behind the wheel as Bazemore recovered

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UAugusIBS could definitely emerge with their

triple IHRA World Champ for not only having won, but for having so successfully motivated his team as

SEELING FINGERED FOR CHEATING ■ On the Winston two-wheeled

well.

angle of the sun and that having

front, it appears as if Star Racing team owner George Bryce and rider AngeUe Seeling have already re-upped with R.J. Reynolds for next season. Seeling came on board at mid year and has done a commendable job for the series sponsor, despite the astonishing domination demon strated by Matt Hines and his father, engine-builder Byron. Seeling is far from being a

run was one of the stupidest things

favorite of her compatriots, a situa

sent to teams racing with Kendall in NASCAR Winston Cup and

he’d ever done.

tion that’s probably been exacerbat-

Busch series competition, too.

In the last year, or two, some

have suggested that Bazemore has become a complainer, but those who suggest that often listen to his finish-line interviews and forget the context.

At Seattle, for example, Bazemore said after his Friday

evening qualifying run that he couldn’t see because of the low

feathers ruffled. CHUCK ACES KENDALL

■ Kendall Refining has report edly informed all of their con tracted “players” that they won’t be renewed for 1999, with two notable exceptions, current nitro Funny Car racer Chuck EtcheUs and defending Federal-

Mogul champion Frank Manzo. Our information is that these cancellation notices have also been

out here have approached me for next year,” but he wouldn’t be more specific than that. He did say, however, that he’s been contacted by Kendall and they hope to work things out with him by September. Frankly, they would be foolish to let him get away.

with the car impacting the guardwall and turning backwards while again on fire.

He wins races, carries himself like a solid professional and has an exceptional team behind him, head ed by the formidable husband and

ankles and wrists and was released

The car slid down the wall for

quite a distance, all the while cov ering Anderson with fire. She emerged from the incident with what at first appeared to be relatively minor burns on her

from the hospital after a brief stay - but we’re now told she’s been

readmitted and may spend two or

wife team of Tim and Kim La HaieRichards.

three weeks in intensive care.

“The General” has done an excep tional job this year and, following

more serious than it was first

That wasn’t whining. That was merely telling the truth from his

Her burns were apparently far

thought. RANDY GETS DUNN

■ Shelly Anderson’s brother Randy has also had a tough year, although his fortunes may be on the upswing with the arrival of big Jim Dunn, who became “available” after parking the car

perspective behind the wheel and, as his in-car camera had clearly indicated, you couldn’t see a darn

thing but that blinding sun shining straight into the windshield. On other occasions, he’s men

that

tioned the fact that other Ford dri vers - and since John Force and

had

carried

the

third

Pedregon brother, Frankie, to a pair of unlikely yet impressive

Tony Pedregon were the only other

back to back victories.

Ford drivers out there, it was obvi

Say what you will about Dunn, the man knows how to get a car down the track and anything he

ous who he was talking about - had enjoyed the benefit of wind-tunnel testing that he hadn’t had; some people took it the wrong way, but

can do with the Parts America

Pontiac is going to be an improve ment over where they were before

he had a point. Force and Co had been to the

his arrival.

wind-tunnel and, while Bazemore

The team had failed to qualify in two of their last three outings and had withdrawn their entry after Shelly’s incident in Sonoma. With Dunn’s arrival, crew chief Larry Frazier became “expendable” and quickly packed his tools and left.

was ostensibly a part of the Ford team, none of the infonnation gath ered had been directed his way.

Our guess is that this profession al young talent will land on his feet. He’s got an excellent team head ed by the steadily improving tuning combination of Canadian Rob

He wasn’t on the sidelines more

Flynn and Floridian Chris Cunningham and, if he can keep everyone together until a deal is signed, he’ll make someone in the corporate world glad they took a

than a few hours before being con tacted by Bob Brandt, who was recently selected by Don Schumacher and his son, Tony, to

HARD KNOCK... Unfortunately, Winston has pulled the pin on its support for Whit Bazemore. (Keith Burgan)

chance on him. SCELZI SPEAKS NO BULL

■ It seems apparent that defending Winston Top Fuel champ Gary Scelzi and owner/ tuner Alan Johnson will be

retained by Team Winston for next season.

Scelzi hasn’t had the season he

had last year, but how often does one win the championship in his rookie year? It’s not that Johnson and Co have

lost their tuning combination as much as it is that everyone else has caught up to them.

This year, for example, Jim Head opened the year like a ball of fire and has remained competitive.

ed by her winning races they felt they should have won. However, what some of those competitors have failed to bear in mind is that Bryce’s engine shop is one of the top two in the sport and rider John Myers was dominating before the arrival of Seeling and the emergence of Hines. A recent article in Car & Driver

Magazine entitled “Drag Queens” about women in the sport suggest

ed that Seeling had been caught cheating and that the NHRA had covered it up for public relations purposes.

There’s considerably more to this story than has come out yet and, while C&D reports having received

Kenny Bernstein has shown

letters of concern about the article’s

flashes of brilliance, but has never had the consistency needed to get to the top of the charts and stay there. Still, it’s not too late for the Bud King driver to climb over his irvals,

content from both Seeling and Bryce, no formal legal action has yet been instigated. However, should such action fol low, the deposition phase will prove highly enlightening, as there’s more than one eyeball witness to exactly what took place and some people

but Lee Beard will have to be on

top of his game week after week for that to happen.

Long-time NHRA Divis’ion 5 standout alcohol F/C driver Vern Moats received one of those notices

the Autolite Nationals, has his dri ver in the lead for the champi

be the crew chief on the new Exide

Batteries Top Fuel entry, which will begin serious competition next season.

and reportedly may have also

onship, the latest in the year any one other than Cruz Pedregon has

Brandt had been working on the Bruce Sarver entry and had once

received the same kind of bad news

headed John Force in this decade.

again proven his tuning talents by doing more with less in terms of parts and money than almost any

from Mopar Parts, who’d provided critically important association backing.

SHELLY LUCKS OUT

■ SheUy Anderson has had one of the most abysmal seasons

one else out there could have

accomplished. Still, our information is that Brandt departed with Sarver owing

Moats appeared, as he does every year, at the Mopar Parts Mile-High

we’ve

Nationals in Denver, only to leave a beaten, broken man.

years. After starting out with five straight DNQs, the Parts

In the second round of elimina

America team finally started to

unpaid wages, a not uncommon

tions, his car went into violent tyre shake, momentarily knocking him out. The car sped off the end of the

turn things around, but as of this writing the team had

occurrence with the Northern

track sans parachutes, drove right through two catch nets and impact

races.

ed a dirt berm head-on, destroying the car in the process.

witnessed

recent

missed a total of seven of 14

Part of the problem was unques tionably the understandable lack of concentration demonstrated by

crew chief Larry Meyer, whose par Moats emerged from the incident relatively unscathed, but his once ents were reported missing in the immaculate Dodge Avenger was a Arizona desert after an infrequent . trip to town. scrap-heap-ready mess. An extensive search failed to pro It was not a good weekend for the duce positive results, although sev popular Iowan. Etchells, meanwhile, reports that “three sponsors of existing teams

him several thousand dollars in

California driver.

Schumacher’s

sponsorship

announcement left the Peek Bros

without a driver, but Tony will

apparently make at least two more appearances in the car to fulfill a sponsorship obligation promoting the film, “Blues Brothers 2000,” a

sequel to the original film staring Dan Akroyd and the late John Belushi.

Since it was a straight-to-video

eral weeks later their bodies were

production, the film apparently

discovered near their vehicle, which

needs all the help it can get. The Exide Batteries program is

had become stuck in the sand after

an apparent wrong turn took them further from paved roads and civi lization.

At the Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals, Anderson qualified, only

reportedly of three year’s duration with a million dollar base funding and was certainly engineered by the senior Schumacher, whose fam

ily has been involved in the “electri

to have the main fuel line rupture as the car left the starting line in

cal industry” for decades. The family fortune came from the

the first round.

production and marketing of items like battery chargers, so its natural that they would have close ties and

'The ball of fire that erupted was

impressive and hot enough to almost singe the spectators crowd ed along the fences, but once again Anderson’s day ended early.

good “ins” with a company like Exide.

Meanwhile, Sarver’s car is now

At the Autolite Nationals in

being handled by Gene Fasching

Sonoma the following week, the car suffered an engine failure during qualifying. 'That almost immediately result

and his sons and “all they did” in their first outing was get the Atsco Power Steering Remanufacturing

ed in a tyre and rear wing failure, SURVIVOR ... Reigning Top Fuel Champion Gary Scelzi (left) has hung onto his Winston backing for 1999, despite a less than spectac

Nationals.

ular current season. (Ostaszewski)

Continued on next page

ride to the finals of the Autolite

Now, of course, the question becomes whether or not they can

keep up that kind of competitive pace.

3S U August 1998 Mytrack recent tripshowed to Danwin’s Valleyin really that isHidden the jewel

you can be sure that it will run hard and fast.

the crown as far as drag racing design goes when both road racing and drag racing are

sent, which puts me further down the list, as I was hoping to have a brand-new machine

approximately 30 that will be able to be

for next season - maybe I’ll have to get

which should see some strong perfor mances during the qualifying sessions for the eight-car fields at race meetings. We had some 6-second non-qualifiers at

Murray has four cars on his books at pre

carried out at the same venue.

Having the double-sided armco separat ing the road-racing track from the dragstrip

away with an update with the current Castrol ’57 Chev.

is what a couple of other tracks on the east

Oastroi^

ern seaboard could have done with - the

benefits for all parties are tremendous.

Ibelieve that there is a big future for drag racing in the Northern Territory, now that they have got the complex up and running the facility is great and the people are real nice.

We did plenty of burnouts and demon

strations for the fans and even the Touring Car guys were excited about what they saw. Iwas proud to be able to be at the inau gural race meeting to strut the drag racing side of things.

I believe that ANDRA is currently negoti ating with the promoters up there to run a round of next year’s Australian Top Doorslammer Championship series, which would be great - I’m already looking fonward

Peter Kapiris sold his Holden Statesman to a couple of guys in North Queensland, plus Robin Judd in Perth is about to debut the ex-George Clasby Studebaker Champion and the construction of Peter

Kapiris’ new Studebaker is progressing well at Murray’s Melbourne raceshop. Peter Gratz told me last week that he is

working on something new at Murray’s shop - I really don’t know what he’s up to, but

Lucky Belieri is looking at building a new car, plus Cameron Brooks is having a ’63 Chevrolet Corvette body fitted to his chassis

There about 44around Top Australia, Doorslammers sittingare in sheds with raced during the next summer season,

the recent Konica Winternationals at

Willowbank Raceway and, as the competi

to be eligible to race with all of us - with the

tion to make the fields next season will be

Beretta body fitted, it was the third-quickest car in the world and the kid is just complet

Top Doorslammer racing looks extremely

ing his rookie year.

In addition, Shane Elcoate and his dad

guaranteed to be pretty fierce, the future for bright.

have five Top Doorslammers on their jigs to

Since early ’97, Peter Kapiris, Scotty Cannon, Peter Gratz, Shane Elcoate, Troy

Corvette from their stable supposedly going

that is a great outcome, particularly when

be completed before March '99, with a ’63

to Pro Stock racer Kym Petterwood. I suppose the next thing for me to do over the next couple of months Is to stand at

the front door of Murray’s raceshop to ensure that I get a car for the next Top

Critchley and myself have won races and

you consider the fact that some tracks suit

different blower combinations, or a certain chassis works better than the rest under the

race conditions that we are facing on that

occasion.

Doorslammer series.

CLASS ACTION... Top Doorslammer is currently looking particularly healthy. (Bob Potts pic)

to that meeting.

ANDRA now hasin place a goodandsettheof fans rules like for the category the speed, smoke, noise and excitement

Hidden Valley Promotions, the company set up by the Northern Territory Government, is a high-quality group that is

that is associated with our supercharged cars, plus we love performing in front of the big crowds. The Top Doorslammer rules are now operable, the changes suit the various blow

easy to deal with and has a real vision for

the future of the complex.

ers, plus the running of a championship series round every month will suit the major

AtDoorslammer present, therecars seems to beoutnewof Top coming the

ity of the competitors - so ANDRA is to be congratulated on what it has done and deserves a pat on the back.

woodwork all around the country. Harley Davidson racer Brett Stevens has purchased a brand-new Studebaker Champion that Murray Anderson built for

These days, you don’t hear any com plaints about the rules.

Andrew Pearce.

For the past three years, all you heard about in the pits was supercharger over

Unfortunately, Andrew had some family problems strike him and he had to sell the

drives, weights and other stuff and the rules

car before it could hit the track - I believe

were bullshit - now, thanks to workable rules, we have a whole host of new racers

that they would have been stout competi tors.

wanting to compete in the category.

Continued from page 35

quick young shoe - Larry Dixon lost in the first round.

QUOTE OF THE YEAR

■ From a Top Fuel team owner

After suggesting that “I think we can run 300 in this round,” Dixon

who

bowed out of the event at 280 miles

would

rather

remain

anonymous for obvious reasons:

“We drug test on this team and, if you don’t fail, you can’t work here.”

per hour.

Columbus last year when his underpowered car proved to be the right combination for National

Trail Raceway’s slippery surface, but this season the team hasn’t yet been close.

BURNDOWN

■ Despite Cory Lee’s statement that “I slave-drove him into the

race - Bandimere likes things first class for everyone who comes to his facility, competitors included. Ray Franks didn’t race in

Denver, but had an engine in George Marnell’s Tenneco

Lee, like so many other drivers (Bazemore immediately comes to

Automotive Pontiac, which failed to

mind here) long dreamt of being a driver and accepted some jobs as he

Arturo Delgado ran harder than he has in recent months, but his

make the cut.

PARTY TIME

grave,” the truth behind crew

a On the eve of the Mile-High Nationals, Funny Car driver

learned the ropes because team

man David Armstrong’s hospi

Steve Schmidt engine failed to get

owners promised him a chance to

tal stay in Denver was a severe

him in, as well.

Ron Capps treated his team to backstage passes for the Van

chemical burn on his leg that apparently resulted from the

drive along the way. With Ronnie Swearingen serving as his tuning mentor, Lee became

Green, an outdoor arena on the

unintentional mixing of miner al spirits and some sort of sol

summer season began, Pro Stock qualifying was largely determined

outskirts of Denver.

an accomplished wrench and is now doing equally well behind the

vent during routine mainte

wheel.

Capps wasn’t the only racer in attendance, as Bud King PR guru Jay Wells also brought a group to the show, courtesy of his longstand ing relationship with the band’s road and stage managers. Capps was the invited guest of

nance on the car.

Halen HI concert at Fiddler’s

PRO STOCK DOINGS ■ Ten teams tested in Denver

ass guys away from here,” but

prior to the Mile-Highs and it paid off for just about all of

bass ^itarist Michael Anthony, a

patriots seemed greatly concerned by Armstrong’s injuiy. Could, they wondered, such an

long-time gearhead. Both groups met the band prior

occur again - and, with all the

the

show

and

were

then

ensconced in center seating about ten rows back from the stage. A video crew from Diamond P

unintentional chemical reaction

volatile materials currently being utilized in professional racing, such a scenario seems at least possible. There’s no question that when

Sports appeared at the concert to shoot Caps enjoying the show and confused some of the fans by turn ing on their camera lights for better

the fuel cars warm their engines in the pits the volatility of the fumes has increased dramatically in the

footage.

Crew members routinely wear expensive and often completely face-covering breathing masks,

Most of those sitting around Capps had no idea who he was and

couldn’t figure out why “television” was concentrating on one guy! Team owner Don “The Snake”

Prudhomme didn’t appear at the track until mid-morning on Sunday, reportedly being delayed in Los Angeles after having received an invitation to a surprise birthday party being thrown by Barbra Streisand for her new hus

band, James Brolin! My, that Snake travels in some circles, doesn’t he? Both of Pmdhomme’s teams test

ed extensively in Denver prior to the Mile-Highs and, while Capps got to the final round before losing on a holeshot - a rarity for the

last five years.

while the fans who are inundated

with the acrid yellow fumes are usually left choking and gasping. The more hard-core among them now have their own masks and headsets and can often be seen

standing as close to the back of the cars as they can get.

It now seems likely that Lee will take over the driving for team owner Tom Hoover next season.

The pair is set to announce an extension of their sponsorship from Pioneer Electronics and, with Hoover’s leg still on the mend, he’s apparently decided to vacate the

seat in favor of a younger man. Now 57, Hoover last won at

by what took place dming the cool er Friday evening session. Larry Morgan’s situation was,

unfortunately, all too typical of

Lee further suggested that the incident would “keep all the weakbehind the bluster Lee and his com

As has been the case since the

pretty good no matter when you run.

Such is not the case at the events

in Richmond, Columbus. St Louis, sometimes Denver and certainly Sonoma, Seattle, Brainerd, Indy and even Maple Grove. Simply put, if you don’t make a great run Friday evening, you’re probably not going to have much to do Sunday afternoon. Car adjustments are also critical ly important in Pro Stock and we saw serous evidence of this in

Denver, when engineer Rob Downing got together with crew chief Dave Butner to make some

bar adjustments to Mark Pawuk’s Siunmit Racing Pontiac. Downing had all the possibilities printed out on a computer cadcam program in minute detail and he

rected 5,800 foot altitude has never

what goes on in the class. Following the afternoon session, the driver of the Raybestos Clutches Pontiac was Number 1, but after getting slightly out of the groove he had to come off the throt tle on Friday evening.

been easy and this year it was made tougher than ever by extremely high temperatimes in the

The result was that his name was moved back to 25th on the list and he didn’t make the show.

90s Fahrenheit.

In addition, it’s apparent that the track surface is showing signs of

The racers have grown increas ingly concerned about what many perceive as a one-shot qualifying

builder Rick Jones of RJ Race Cars took a torch and hammer to the

age.

situation for the hot weather

Last repaved in 1989 when the track was completely rebuilt, it now appears ready for a fresh coat of asphalt and concrete, as even the Pro Stocks were sliding the tyres on

Camaro’s aluminum flooring.

national events and several plans have been suggested. Pontiac racing manager Fred Simmonds has suggested to NHRA officials that eight spots be filled from Friday’s qualifying, with the other eight to come from Saturday’s action and that might be the best plan put forward yet. Another plan, suggested by Kurt Johnson, would have the Friday “evening” session moved up at least an hour, with Saturday’s first ses sion for Pro Stock also moved up at

them.

Dealing with the track’s uncor

the transition from the launch pad to the asphalt. John Bandimere is one of the

best track owners in the.nation

and, along with an immaculately groomed facility, the racers found this year that the concrete guardwalls had been extended all the

way to the end of the track, increas

ing driver safety considerably. The sand trap and catchnets at the far end had also been improved, while additional pit space had been

least an hour.

and Butner then made their deci

sions accordingly. It must have worked, because Pawuk went to the semis, his best outing of the season. We saw another type of “adjust ment” taking place in the Kurt Johnson camp, when chassis

Kurt was concerned about the

angle of his foot when holding the clutch in, so Jones “adjusted” things by adding a considerable bubble for added heel room.

We got the usual “please don’t take picture of this” from Jones, who was concerned some might think he builds his complete cars that way. AND FINALLY.,..

■ After the massive firing at NHRA a few weeks ago that saw 19 people lose their jobs, Jr Dragster art director Bill Crietz got the last laugh. After cleaning out his office, he cued up the office intercom system, played the national anthem and then, like an American television station signing off for the night,

season and don’t be at all surprised

“That,” as Johnson suggests, “would make the atmospheric con ditions pretty close and would make things fairer for everyone.” It’s apparent that, during the early portion of the season, the weather doesn’t change as much from the afternoon to evening

said “Goodnight everybody!” and

if it’s repaved before next year’s

hours, so the conditions remain

walked out.

carved out of the side of the mountain.

Bank on Bandimere giving the track a serious look during the off

UAu01998

Radical new Winston format High-dollar Winston Showdown heralds new NHRA approach The number of instances in

On August 12, the NHRA, Winston

which a drag racing press conference has produced really

and Bristol Dragway announced a momentous new plan for the running

hard news in the last couple of

of what’s now going to be called the

years can probably be counted

“Winston Showdown.”

on one hand. Better add this

Forget the term “Winston Invitational” - it’s been permanent-

one to the list.

Seattle & Stanton update ■ Joe Amato and Ron Capps took the honours in Top Fuel and Funny Car, respectively, at the 11th Annual NHRA Prolong Super Lubricants Northwest Nationals at Seattle on August 2. The win saw Amato move to within one round of the points

lead in the series pointscore after he defeated Cory McClenathan in the final. Capps drove his Roland Leong-tuned, Don Prudhomme-owned Copenhagen Camaro to victory over final round opponent John Force, while Warren Johnson defeat ed his son, Kurt, to take out his 69th Pro Stock title.

■ Pat Dal^ nailed Shirley Muldowney in Top Fuel at the 17th Annual IHRA Car Quest Northern Nats at Stanton on August 2. Reports by David Ostaszewski in the next issue of Motorsport News.

ly discarded in favor of a new event format that has the potential of for ever changing the face of drag rac ing as we know it. Too strong a term? Try this on for size. On the weekend of July 8-10 next year, a 24-car field of fuel burners, consisting of equal numbers of Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars, will face off against one another, with the Funny Cars getting a handicap start! Positions in the 12-car fields will

be determined through open quali fying and previous racing successes. Ten positions will be filled by the defending Winston champion and the most recent, active race winners.

Active is defined as “competing in a majority of the races that season, or the previous season,” according to the information released at the

998t #-5£ar finalists i

Selectors Panel, the Team repre sents the best in drag racing from the driver, crew chief, builder and

supporting manufacturer/sponsor side of things. Election to the Team is a pretty prestigious honor, one that such competitors as four-time IHRA Pro Modified World Champion Scotty Cannon puts a great deal of stock in. Cannon has been quoted as say ing election to the Team was more important to him than his champi onships, because his peers made

John Force

deg’s Mail Order

Cruz Pedregon

GM Performance Parts

Summit Racing Equipment FUNNY CAR CREW CHIEF

Wes Cerny (Cruz Pedregon) Austin Coil/Bemie Fedderly

TOP FUEL/ FUNNY CAR CHASSIS BUILDER Brad Hadman Race Cars

McKinney Corporation (Murf McKinney) P&P Fabrication (Steve Plueger) TOP FUEL/FUNNY CAR SPONSOR Budweiser

Mopar Performance parts

ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR DRIVER

be just two truly “open” spots in each field and, regardless of the numbers recorded by these hopefuls during qualifying runs, they’ll be seeded 11th and 12th in their

respective categories. Just in case you’re thinking that there aren’t many racers around willing to try and make a two-car field, consider that the winner of

this race will take home $200,000!

Let me repeat that: $200,000

Bob Newberry COMPETITION DRIVER Darren Davis

Not so. Going into the third round, when there should be six winners, the two quickest losers from the second round will be

same manner as the fuellers, with

PRO STOCK DRIVER

AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER OFTHEYEAR Chevrolet

Jeg Coughlin Jr

into the finale?

added to up the field to eight cars. Man, what a format! There’ll be an accompanying 16car Pro Stock field, which will have its first 10 positions filled in the

Tony Bartone

Buddy Nickens David Rampy

Winston

Dodge Pontiac

Scotty Cannon

six open spots remaining. The winner’s purse for Pro Stock will be $50,000. Eight Pro Stock Bikes will race for $10,000 at Bristol, with the first

mat running for a $15,000 winner’s share.

better.

Further, should eliminations be

impacted by rain, there’s always Sunday afternoon as a rain date. From what we’ve learned so far, this race seems to have been more

thought out than many we’ve attended.

Questions abound after the announcement, of course. The first has to be, is this a taste

of the future of drag racing? If the concept proves successful and acceptable to fans and competi tors alike, could we see a combining of the two classes in the future and,

if so, how will the corporate com-

mxmity and media react? As one Winston source admitted: “This format is so new that we’re

really not ‘suggesting’ anything. “Heck, we don’t even Itaow if it’ll work. We might get the handicaps wrong, or something like that. “We’re just going to have to wait and see if everything clicks and if the fans like it.

“As far as a permanent change goes, that’s not our call. That’s up to the racers, the fans and NHRA.” If you’re considering a stateside trip to take in some drag racing, this might be a good one to consider - on successive weekends you could catch the action at the completely reconfigured Bristol Dragway and then head west to another excep

tionally fine facility, Bandimere

Speedway, for the Mile-Highs. -JON ASHER

Calder calendar

Shannon Jenkins

In addition to the award cate

Tommy Mauney

gories listed above, the staff of Car Craft Magazine will select the win

The 1998/99 national open

the ANDRA Pro Stock and Pro

ner of Person of the Year, which

dates have been announced for

Calder Park Raceway, the action commencing on October

Stock Motorcycle rounds will be run. before the visiting USA Jet

PRO STOCK/PRO MOD CREW CmEF/ENGENE BUILDER

Warren Johnson

Richard Maskin (Dart Industries) PRO STOCK/PRO MOD CHASSIS BUILDER

Jerry Bickel Race Cars Jerry Haas Race Cars RJ Race Cars (Rick Jones) PRO STOCK/PRO MOD SPONSOR

Ron Capps

ALCOHOL DRAGSTER DRIVER Mike Gunderson Darrell Russell Rick Santos

Frank Manzo

(Jim Yates)

FUNNY CAR DRIVER

ferent winners, not including Vandergriff and Hofmann. That means they’re no longer qualified for the race. Again, as an example, if Vandergriff and Hofmann don’t reach the winner’s circle again before next year’s Sears Craftsman Nationals, they’ll be forced to try and capture one of the two open spots in their respective fields.

goes to the winner of five roimds of

Rich Purdy/Jerry Bickel

Mike Green (Cory Mac) Alan Johnson (Gary Scelzi) Jimmy Prock (Joe Amato)

But, let’s assume that in the next 10 national events there are 10 dif

racing. Oh! You’ve thought of the fact that someone will get a single going

PRO MOD DRIVER

TOP FUEL CREW CHIEF

Worth noting is that the event will be a night race, with qualifying Thursday and Friday evenings and eliminations Saturday evening. That’s a smart move, because Tennessee in July can be oppres sively hot and humid. By running after dark, competi tive conditions should be markedly

At that point, they’d be automati cally qualified for the Showdown.

David Schultz

The Finalists for the 1998 Car

Coiy McClenathan Gary Scelzi

Car in Minnesota.

Angelle Seeling

Warren Johnson Jim Yates

TOP FUEL DRIVER Joe Amato

Pro Stock Truck will also be

included in an open 16-vehicle for

Roland Leong (Ron Capps)

issues of Car Craft and, with those votes now counted, three Finalists have been named in each category.

Craft Magazine All-Star Drag Racing Team are listed below - the Team will be formally announced during an awards banquet slated for Saturday evening, September 5, during the US Nationals.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE Matt Hines

five slots going to the most recent race winners and three going to open qualifiers.

Let’s say, for the sake of discus sion, that Bob Vandergriff wins Top Fuel and A1 Hofmann Funny wins

(John Force)

the selection.

Balloting for this year’s Team took place in the May and June

Nationals at Brainerd.

What this means is that there’ll

press conference.

Car Craft Magazine, a member of the Petersen Publishing Company family of magazines in the USA, has been producing the All-Star Drag Racing Team program since 1967. Voted on by the readers of the magazine, as well as by a special

Winston and NHRA will begin keeping tabs on things with the upcoming Visionaire Northstar

will be presented to that individual

Cars anive on February 20 - with

who has had the greatest, positive impact on the sport in the last year. CC will also present the Ollie Award, emblematic of an individ ual’s career-long contributions to the sport. Previous winners of this presti

Nostalgia racing, followed the next month by ANDRA Championship series rounds for Top Doorslammer and Top

gious award include NHRA founder Wally Parks, the legendary Mickey Thompson, “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, Don

be conducted, with the second round of the ANDRA Top Fuel

gious race meeting being the grand finale of the Calder Park

“The Snake” Prudhomme and Bob

series being the featui’e attraction.

drag racing season.

In the New Year (January 16),

-JON ASHER

Stange.

with

Wild

Bunch

and

Bike.

On December 4-5, the Victorian

Drag Racing Championships will

the Top Alcohol dragsters and funny cars contesting the third round of their ANDRA series. In March, the ’99 Nationals, the

33rd Australian Drag Racing

Championships, will start on Thursday and finish on Saturday night (March 18-20), this presti

- GRANT NICHOLAS

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

PEHHIOIL 'BT

I. Cory McClenathan, McDonald’s 1063 2. Joe Amato, Tenneco Automotive ... 1045 3. Gary Scelzi, Team Winston-No Bull ..952 4. Kenny Bernstein, Budweiser/Prolong .879 5. Mike Dunn, Mopar Performance 795 ,746

1998 NHRA Funny Car Championship .999 I. John Force, Castrol/Mac Tools

Ron Capps, Copenhagen/MBNA

988

Chuck Etchells, Kendall/MaMa Rosa ..937

4. Cruz Pedregon, Interstate Bat/Hot Rod ..908 .845 5. Tony Pedregon, Castrol Syntec 6. Tim Wilkerson, JCIT International .. .789

1998 NHRA Pro Stock Championship

I. 2. 3. 4.

Warren Johnson, Goodwrench/Pomiac .1216 Jeg Coughlin Jnr., Jegs Mail Order ... .922 Kurt Johnson, ACDelco/Chevrolet ..876 Jim Yates, Peak Anti-Freeze/Splitfire .. .826

Mike Thomas, Pennzoil/Finish Line .. .676

Mark Osborne, Dick Sherman Racing 667 .604 Mike Edwards, JK Racing Pontiac Tom Martino, Six Flags Thrill Parks . .546

Jim Head, Jim Head Racing

7. 8.

Doug Kalitta, Kalitta International .. .686 Bob Vandergriff, Jerzees America 678

7. 8.

WhitBazemore,TeamWinston-NoBull ..784 Al Hofmann, GM Performance Parts .. .645

7. 8.

Bruce Sarver, ATSCO Power Steer ..671

Dean Skuza, Mateo Tools/Mopar ... .638

9. Mark Pawuk, Summit Racing 10. Richie Stevens, Collins Racing

10. Larry Dixon, Miller Lite/MBNA

.633

10. Frank Pedregon, Jim Dunn Racing

589

537 ..485

3S lUugusll998

SUPER SPEEDWAY But Park was not so lucky, as he

Report by

impacted the turn four wall

extremely hard, luckily not re

MARTIN D CLARK

injuring himself.

“It was real disappointing, with ten laps to go, to have something

Jeff Gordon made history on August 1 by becoming the first two-time

winner

like that happen,” remarked Park.

the

Gordon again headed the restart and again it was shortlived, as Jimmy Spencer, following contact from Green, spun into the turn two wall - Spencer received a mild con cussion and was kept in hospital overnight for observation. This caution put paid to any

Brickyard 400 in front of his

home crowd at Indianapolis. Gordon was one of five drivers

entered in the race going for the Winston No Bull Five, the chance of an extra million dollars if the win ner came from the five.

His victory nailed down the largest-ever purse in motorsport

chance Jarrett had of moving through the field, although a top

history, Gordon’s US$1,637,625

ten was still within the realms of

eclipsing Arie Luyendyk’s 1997 Indy 500 purse of $1,568,150. “I just don’t know what to say; I guess what’s meant to be is meant

possibility. Following a fast track clean-up,

the green flag uncoiled with just three laps to run and Gordon held

to be,” remarked Gordon of his

off Martin and Labonte. But the race did not end under

order OF

sixth 1998 win in the fifth staging of what is becoming Winston Cup’s

the green flag, as a wreck at the rear of the pack on the front stretch wiped out Rudd, Joe Nemechek, Jerry Nadeau, Robert Pressley,

major race.

“In ’94, eveiything went our way and today everything went our way. I feel sorry for Dale Jarrett and Jeff Burton, as they had awe some race cars, but my team did a great job in getting us to victory lane.”

After leading 97 of 160 laps, Gordon’s win came as no surprise, but his Hendrick Chevrolet was by no means the fastest car on the track.

Jarrett gambled $10,000 for one million, running out of fuel and

GOOD LITTLE EARNER... Jeff Gordon once again took out the world's richest race. (Martin D Clark pic)

Gordon strikes aoU!

Gordon started third, the same position he started in 1994.

Ernie Irvan was the polesitter, taking his second successive

Brickyard pole with a 179.394 mph lap - he went on to lead a six-car breakaway at the front of the field, the group comprising Gordon, Jarrett, Kenny Irwin, Jeff Green and Jeremy Mayfield. Geoff Bodine put a good qualify ing effort to waste when he spun entering turn one, flashing the yel low lights for the first time. All teams pitted and Gordon took the lead for the first time on pit road, Irvan, Jarrett and the impres sive Irwin in his tracks, the latter racing three-wide with Mark Martin and Mayfield in turn one. Jeff Burton, who started back in 34th, was on a tear until he suf

fered a broken differential gear and dropped off the lead lap to finish 36th, 15 laps off the pace. Mayfield quickly picked off Irvan

practice the previous day. Following a second round of pit stops, Irvan again headed the fray, with Terry Labonte, Gordon, Jarrett and Dale Earnhardt the contenders.

Gordon swung under Irvan for the lead, Jarrett following through and going one better seven tours later.

Jarrett then opened up a healthy 4.2-second advantage over Gordon, Martin, Irvan and a fast approach ing Steve Park, back from his hor rific March Atlanta wreck.

Rusty Wallace, running fifth, suf fered the same problem as his team-mate on lap 62, pitting for a blown right front tyre and losing a lap in the process. Jarrett’s Yates crew elected to

stay on the track so Dale could pick

and then Jarrett to hound Gordon

up the $10,000 halfway bonus on

for the lead, as Ken Schrader, one of the faster cars on the track, pitted for a cut rear tyre and lost a lap.

lap 80 - but, after taking the crossed flag, Jarrett’s Ford sput tered out of gas, just making it to

pit road as team-mate Irwin’s crew sprinted to push D.J. to his stall. Once pit stops had cycled through, NASCAR threw a yellow for Ward Burton, who had run dry of fuel on an entry road in turn four. Jarrett got one lap back, as did Wallace, who pitted to make cam ber adjustments to the right front of the Penske Ford, the team decid ing this was the factor in both he and Mayfield blowing tyres, as both were using the same suspension

was trying to get in on my rear bumper,” said Gordon. “I didn’t know if I could get away from him or not. I think he got tight coming

set-up.

Gordon led Martin, Irwin and Irvan on the short restart, Brett

Bodine and Buckshot Jones making contact exiting turn four on lap 94. Gordon again headed the pack and Jarrett again got back one lap - and he gained another, as did J Burton, when Wally Dallenbach detonated an engine in his ElliottMarino Taurus, uncoiling the yel low flag for the fifth time. Again, it wasn’t long before the yellow flag aired again, this time on lap 117, when Earnhardt apparent ly took the air off Irwin’s spoiler in turn two and the young Indiana native ended his day hard in the

UH, OH... #88 Dale Jarrett runs out of fuel as fourth-placed Mike Skinner goes by. (Martin D Clark pic)

off the turn and hit the wall.”

wall. The incident had the fans on

their

feet

and

car and Earnhardt.

He drove in on me in turn two and

Brickyard 400 winner Shortly after, on lap 34, Mayfield blew a right front tyre and slammed the outside wall exiting turn two - this was his second right front flat, his first coming in final

As with Jarrett’s victory last year, the flagman waved the yellow and chequered flags, Gordon hold ing off Martin, B Labonte, an impressive Skinner in a back-up “He (Martin) made a great effort.

Historic $1.6 million payout for

putting himself four laps down, but he was able to regain his lost laps on each restart and power away from Gordon.

Jones and Chad Little.

pointing

Earnhardt under the caution for

dumping the driver that they had watched over the years compete in the US AC open wheelers at nearby Indianapolis Raceway Park. Again, Jarrett and J Burton were able to regain laps as teams pitted for the final time during the cau

Martin countered: “I just didn’t have enough car. They had us cov ered and they had the lead; it’s hard to beat a man when they’ve got that going for them.” Jarrett’s spoilt run ended with a 16th place, while Darrell Waltrip, in his first outing with Tyler Jet, netted 13th. John Andretti started ninth and

finished seventh, even after holing

tion period.

the front of the STP Pontiac follow

Earnhardt and Childress team mate Mike Skinner elected to take

ing contact with Ricky Craven on pit road. Wallace finished eighth and took over fourth in the points from team mate Mayfield, who returned to the

on two tyres only and they headed Sterling Marlin, Gordon and Bobby Labonte, who had quietly moved forward after the halfway point. Gordon picked off Skinner and Earnhardt to resume his place up front, Jarrett also forging past Earnhardt, who had cut down on D.J. at the restart and made easy work of Gordon to finally get on the tail of the lead lap. B Labonte and Martin mounted a

charge on a distant Gordon, Martin passing Labonte on lap 143 - but Gordon stood on the gas and kept his healthy advantage. With nine laps to run, 1997 win ner Ricky Rudd, who had brought the Tide Ford into the top ten, cut a tyre - Park, another top ten run ner, also cut a tyre, possibly from the same debris.

track and finished 42nd.

Gordon, who turned 27 three

days later, has earned $20,297,457 in just five and half seasons - he is second on the all-time money table behind Earnhardt, who has mount

ed up $32 million in 19 seasons. Final result: Gordon (Chevy), Martin (Ford), B Labonte (Pontiac), Skinner (Chevy), Earnhardt

(Chevy), Irvan (Pontiac), Andretti (Pontiac), R Wallace (Ford), T Labonte (Chevy), Schrader (Chevy). Points standings: Gordon 2897, Martin 2825, Jarrett 2704, R Wallace 2604, Mayfield 2536, B Labonte 2530, T Labonte 2379, J Burton 2359, Earnhardt 2272, Schrader 2200.

MERCHANDISING... New colours for #6 Mark Martin. (Martin D ClarK)

l^®0®[7S[r^l70

U August ms ■ ISM Racing, that fielded Pontiacs with Tabasco spon sorship for Todd Bodine before firing him and trying two other drivers, has closed it’s team doors and partially merged with Tyler Jet Motorsports to field Tabasco Chevrolets for veteran driver

Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip will also change car numbers from his familiar #17 to the ISM #35. The deal was finalised late on

Pardus, Gary Bradberry and Derrike Cope. The latter three all crashed, with Cope managing to smack both his primary and secondary cars exiting turn four on what would have been very fast qualify ing laps.

July 27, when Tyler Jet owner Tim Beverly purchased an interest in ISM Racing from it’s owner Bob Rancher, who also owns the IRL operation piloted by recent Charlotte winner Jeff Ward.

■ Seven drivers failed to make

the

Brickyard

400 - Hut

Stricklin, Bob Schacht, Loy Allen, Robby Gordon, Dan AUSTOIL SIGNS WITH GENE COOK ... Austoil Lubricants

IMUli By Martin D Clar

Provisional starters for the

Indianapolis event included Bill Elliott, Ted Musgrave, Johnny Benson, Brett Bodine, Jerry Nadeau, Rick Mast and Darrell Waltrip.

has again si^ed on to provide ongoing

sponsorship support for NASCAR Ford stalwart Gene Cook. At a gathering at his East Keilor work shop last week. Cook more than happily greeted the Austoil team: pictured above by ThunderPic^Agfa are National Accounts Manager Jim Marinis (left), a cheerful Cook, Sales and Promotions Co-ordinator Karen Allison, Marketing Manager Consumer Lubricants Michael Tate and the Victorian Sales Manager - Auto, Mark Hall.

Jim Richards out? No T-Marts support for NASCAR champ It appears that Jim Richards, Australia’s winningest NASCAR driver, will not be contesting the 1998/99 Australian Super

Speedway Championship series in his Pontiac Grand Prix after

losing corporate support from the Bob Jane T-Marts group. Richards, the 1995/96 NASCAR titleholder, stated that unless someone comes along with a signifi cant budget to implement a racing

program, he will put his local NASCAR endeavours on hold.

There is a possibility that he may go to the US next year to particiJeff Gordon is really stamping his authority on the 1998 Winston Cup season after hav

ing taken the Bud at the Glen at

pate in several road race events under the guidance of Canadian NASCAR team owner and preparer Dick Midgley. “It will be disappointing to not be out there racing on the

coming endurance classics at

Thunderdome and at Adelaide next

at taking out those events,” a philo sophical Richards said.

season,” commented Richards after the shock T-Marts news, “but I

realise that these things happen at times and you have to push on.” Earlier in the week, he tested with Cameron McLean in Garry Rogers Motorsport’s V8 Supercars at Winton Motor Raceway as part of the team’s build-up for the forth-

Sandown and Bathurst.

“I’ll be sharing one of the Holdens with Jason Bargwanna at Sandown and at Mount Panorama and I

believe that we have a good chance “At the same time. I’m looking at the possibility of running in next season’s GT Production car series,

if they run with the V8 Supercars. “But I’ll still attend some of the

NASCAR race meetings - even if it’s only as a guest commentator.” - GRANT NICHOLAS

Gordon^s Glen

the Watkins Glen Circuit on

August 9, his seventh win of the year.

Following hard upon his victory at the Brickyard 400, the Watkins Glen win was also his third straight victory and fourth in the last five

Seventh win of the season sitting on the outside row in the CAT Chevy. Goodyear had the rain tyres

The best racing of the day came when the Wallace, Martin and Gordon trio caught second-placed

rival Mark Martin in the Roush

continue to take the gi'ooved tyres to the two circuits and possibly the Martinsville events for use in light

Petty in the closing stages of the race, with Gordon three-wide and passing Martin and Petty in one move - a lap later, he dogged Wallace, making the pass to head

Taurus after a late-race charge.

to moderate rain.

off after leader Mike Skinner.

He gained ten points on Martin and now leads by 82 points in the series pointscore standings.

Gordon headed the pack early. Fellows and Rusty Wallace also in contention through the first caution on lap 9, when Derrike Cope got stuck in the gravel after contact with Chad Little in the inner loop. At lap 25, Gordon had a threeplus second advantage over Martin,

races. He has now won three

straight circuit races in the Hendrick Monte Carlo, coming over the line 3.4 seconds ahead of points

Gordon won from pole with a 120.331 mph lap, the seventh time the race has been won from the pole in 15 events at the 2.454-mile track.

Ron Fellows was the only other driver to hit 120 mph in qualifying.

ready for the first time, but they were not required - NASCAR will

With five circuits to run, Gordon

was just two seconds in arrears of

KIM TEAMS UP ... Reigning NASCAR champion Kim Jane and

his striking bride Ginevra formed their own team at Xavier College in Kew, Melbourne, on July 12. (Thunder-Pics/Agfa pic) John Andretti (posting another strong finish) was eighth and

Skinner and, on the the following

Earnhardt claimed eleventh spot.

lap, he took the lead going into the inner loop, Martin passing Wallace

Martin (Ford), Skinner (Chevy)

for third, with Dale Jarrett now closing on Wallace.

Wallace (nine seconds in arrears)

Martin passed Skinner for second on the final lap, while Petty (anoth

and Ricky Rudd.

er of the fuel misers) was sixth.

Final positions: Gordon (Chevy),

Hamilton (Chevy), Rudd (Ford),

Nadeau (Chevy), Little (Pontiac), Kendall (Chevy), Park (Chevy),

Musgrave (Ford), Said (Ford).

Points standings; Gordon 3082,

Wallace (Ford), Jarrett (Ford),

Martin 3000, Jarrett 2859, Wallace

Andretti (Pontiac), Benson (Ford), B Labonte (Pontiac), Earnhardt

2606, J Burton 2453, T Labonte 2422, Earnhardt 2402, Schrader

(Chevy),

2285.

Petty (Pontiac), Marlin (Chevy), Nemechek

(Chevy),

2769, B Labonte 2664; Mayfield

1998 WINSTON CUP SERIES RESULTS Bud at the Glen - Watkins Glen. August 9th, 1998. I.

Jeff Gordon, #24 DuPont Auto Chev Monte Carlo

Z 3.

Mark Martin, #6 Valvoline/Cummins Ford Taurus Mike Skinner, #31 Lowes Chev Monte Carlo

4. 5.

Rusty Wallace, #2 Miller Lite Ford Taurus DaleJarrett,#88 Quality Care Ford Taurus

6. 7.

Kyle Petty, #44 Hot Wheels Pontiac Grand Prix Sterling Marlin, #40 Coors Light Chev Monte Carlo

8. John Andretti, #43 STP Pontiac Grand Prix 9. Johnny Benson, #26 Cheerios Ford Taurus 10. Bobby Labonte,#l8 Interstate Batteries

- MARTIN D CLARK

Ilf-

Standings After Rd 20 3082 I. Jeff Gordon 2.

Mark Martin ...

3000

IZ Joe Nemechek, BellSouth Chev Monte Carlo 3. 13. Bobby Hamilton,#4 Kodak Maxx Hm Chev Monte Carlo 4.

Dale Jarrett ...

2859

Rusty Wallace . 5. Bobby Labonte

2769

6. Jeremy Mayfield

2606

7. Jeff Burton 8. Terry Labonte .

2453

II.

DaleEamha«lt,#3GMGoodwrenchChev Monte Carlo

14. RickyRudd,#IOTideFordTaurus IS. Jerry Nadeau,#9 Cartoon Network 16. Chad Litde, #97 John Deere Ford Taurus

17. Tommy Kendall, #46 The Money Store Chev Monte Carlo 18. Steve Park, #1 Pennzoil Chev Monte Cario

19. TedMus^ve,#l6PRIMESTARFordTaurus 20. Jimmy Spencer, #23 WmstonlNo Bull Ford Taurus

2664

2422

Dale Earnhardt

2402

10. Ken Schrader ..

,2291

^0 14 August 19% Michael Guest will be fac

Guest WRC drive likely

ing the starter in the Sony Playstation Round

Australia Rally at the wheel

Subaru

Impreza WRX and not in a

Mazda as first proposed. Guest had been in inten

Discussions underway with Subaru for full-time Group N Impreza

sive negotiations with Mazda

with the main sticking point being funding and was then approached by Queensland Subaru driver Jason Wark, with whom the Newcastle

star will drive on the 22-day epic.

“The Mazda deal almost

in the end, it is a better

came off,” said Guest. “We just needed some extra funding which wasn’t

chance for victory than a two

forthcoming and then the Subaru drive came up - and,

tion for me, as my ties with

wheel drive car.” “It is also a better situa

Subaru are now becoming stronger.”

Thiry stays with M-Sport for ’99 Despite suggestions that he would be dropped by Ford for 1999, Belgian Bruno Thiry looks set to be retained by the compa ny’s rally team contrac tor, M-Sport, as its third

Guest’s win in the Group N category in the Rally of

McRae, whose ability has sealed surfaces, would spear head the Ford attack with the new Ford Focus WRC.

two driver, Thiry may be retained alongside Colin

Armin Schwarz, dumped

McRae and Juha I^ankunnen

from the Ford outfit last

to improve the team’s attack on tarmac events - Thiry

was previously thought to

year, tested the newly com pleted Octavia WRC. The former Toyota and

have been

to be

Ford driver admitted to

dropped because of his incon sistency on gravel. However, Malcolm Wilson

being impressed by the car and apparently refused to

in line

forward last week when

rule out driving permanently for the team when it joins

head of M-Sport, believes that combining Kankunnen’s gravel ability and Thiry’s tal ent on asphalt will strength

the championship in 1999 It would be the German’s first works ride in a World

en Ford’s chances in the

Rally Car since he was

manufacturer’s

dropped by Ford mid-way through 1997. -THOMSON

champi

onship.

comprehensively beat reigning Group N World champ Gustavo Trelles, has made Subaru’s competition arm,

ing a full-time drive in the

World Rally Championship at the wheel of a Group N Impreza, as the maker bids to break the dominance of Mitsubishi in the Production Car class.

McRae signs with Ford Word in from Europe as Motorsport News went to press is that Colin McRae has signed an agreement to

Rally Championship when the final roxmd is contested

at Collie on September 12. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo dri

Rally Australia in Perth in

wheel drives will dominate

November at the

the way people think they

wheel of a

Subaru Impreza WRX, but it is unclear whether this will be the Subaru Australia car he

drove in New Zealand, an STI car, or the Les Walkden

car

years he has accumulated more fastest stage times than any other driver. McRae’s appointment as lead driver in the 1999 Ford

Focus World Rally Team completes a change of direction that Martin Whittaker, Ford’s Director of European Motorsport, has been putting together for the past two years.

This new approach began with the appointment of Malcolm Wilson’s M-Sport company to run Ford’s rally progi’am - two years later, the decision was made to produce the Ford Focus World Rally Car and now McRae has been signed for the progi-am.

Bruce Garland will be

has also built Peter Brock’s

Round Australia Jackaroo, surprised many in 1995 with his giant-killing performance

his

in 1995, believes that the

standard-spec Jackaroo can win the event, despite the fact that he has had to con vert it back to more standard

trim after first preparing it as a Safari-spec machine. Round Australia organis ers made it impossible for the Safari-spec vehicles to win, or feature prominently

Motorsport Stirling Stages

4. Dunlop/Hoi

Ford Escort

in the results of the event

on July 25.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo

1.09.14

overall by not running these vehicles through the first two

This

event

went

McGroarty in a nip and tuck affair - Herridge was fastest

10. Feaver/Chudleigh

1.02.40

- DARREN O’DEA

on September 6.

marathon.

Garland, who came fourth

1.08.56

Round Australia, which will

Holden

class

in the last Round Australia

Third overall went to Rob

A field of just 65 cars will

Jackaroo for the 22-day

Nissan Skyline

penultimate round on 46 and

reckon we have to start as favourites.”

stages, thus only ever having a class standing and not an outright placing throughout the remaining 21 days. The larrikin driver, who

aiming for victory in the Sony Playstation Rally, having switched to the T1

drove his Subaru RS Turbo around in 1.02.36. Then came;

Yokohama

are going to and I proved last

time that I can go the dis tance and pace myself - so I

Playstation class move by Garland

McRae has clearly demonstrated that he is one of the most talented drivers of his generation - over the last four

Herridge’s son Dean, who

the

“I don’t think the big four

year contract with Ford last week.

ons Tony Flood and Allan McCarthy, who were both last

said Guest.

-JON THOMSON

8. Lingford/Moir

the

will be reliable and we all

1995 and win this event, par¬

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 1.07.40 9. Percival/Percival

event,

And still in the hunt is another Lancer Evo driver in

know how quick they are,”

McRae - the 1995 World Champion and runner-up in 1996 and 1997 - and his co-driver Nicky Grist signed a two-

penalty.

vers Gerry McGroarty and Dennis Dunlop head the points table going into the 45 points, respectively.

(STI), sit up and take notice and, according to Guest, “dis cussions are underway.” Guest is likely to contest

be flagged away in Adelaide

and incurred a five second

“Jason and his team have

done a tremendous job with the Impreza. It is strong and

one better than his effort in the last Round Australia in

McRae will drive the all-new Ford Focus World Rally Car and will partner Juha Kankkunen, one of the world’s most successful rally drivers.

Others expected to throw the cat among the pigeons include former State champi non-starters

WRX.

face the starter for the

Multiple contenders for WA title At least one of five drivers could take out the WA

Subaru Technica International

ticularly in a strongly-built, but mildly-tuned Impreza

he campaigned late last year and in Queensland this year. Guest believes he can go

drive for Ford in 1999.

■ Skoda’s first outright World Rally Championship effort took another step

Curently Ford’s number

The win, which saw Guest

the possibility of him secur

LATE NEWS LATE NEWS

been proven on both loose and

driver.

New Zealand has opened up

in a standard Jackaroo. “I am not worried about

switching back to Tl-spec, because the Jackaroo is such

a strong unit in standard trim and the quad cam V6 produces such fantastic horsepower straight out of the box,” he said. Garland will be co-driven

by long-time navigator Harry Suzuki, who partnered him to victory on the Australian Safari in 1996. - THOMSON

5. MacKenzie/Cook Daihatsu Charade GTi

Farrell

The two drivers recorded

(Subaru Impreza WRX) and former Australian champion Rob Herridge (Subaru RS 'Turbo) on 36 points each.

1.00.58 for the 12 stages and

1.05.05

Falcon GTfor Africa

the event would have been

called a draw, but Herridge

7. Purshouse/Letessier Mitsubishi Galant VR4

One of Australia’s great muscle cars, the Falcon

entered the final control late

1.05.36;

Simon Lingford on 39, just ahead

John

but surrendered the win on a

1.03.39

technicality.

6. Farrell/Randell

Subaru Impreza WRX

GT, is set to be let loose on the African Continent

in September when an Australian rally crew attempts to win the 21day Shield of Africa Rally.

good idea that I am doing the Shield of Africa that she and

her husband, Mark, have actually become one of our sponsors through their com pany, On Time Insulation,” said Fritter.

Norm Fritter and his co

“I think it entirely appro priate that a daughter helps

Ph: (03) 9386 5331 Fax: (03) 9383 2514

driver, Bryan Price, will pilot the same Falcon GT

to support her ageing father in a sport that he loves,” he

which Fritter took to seventh

added.

SA: The Mag Wheel Centre

outright on last year’s Panama to Alaska Rally. Fritter first took part in a marathon rally when he drove in the 1970 Ampol

will be up against pre-1970 high-performance machines

Round Australia Trial and

from around the world in the

then returned to long-dis tance rallying for the 1979 Repco Round Australia Trial.

11,300 km marathon, which starts and finishes in Cape

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Fritter and Price hope to tame the dark continent in

the 5.8 litre V8 Ford, which

Town.

itself on the Panama Alaska, so now it is up to us to make sure we get it back to Cape Town in one piece,” said the colourful Fritter.

“We have received amazing support from sponsors, which has enabled Bryan and I to put this effort together and the task now is to repay their faith in us,” he said. Fritter, who runs his own construction management company, Rondal, has

attracted support from a range of companies in the building industry, including Peter Kelly Flooring,

McNealls Air Conditioning, Clear Shield Glass, Big Ceiling Systems and Ralph M Lee Electrical.

It was on that event that

The pair believes the big

he introduced his daughter. Coral, to the sport of rally-

Falcon will be in its element

Other companies which

on the gravel roads of the

have contributed include

mg.

African continent as it takes

That paternal influence sparked an ongoing passion for rallying which has taken the now Coral Taylor to three Australian Rally Championships as co-driver

on some of the rallying elite of the 1960s, including Mercedes Benzes. “We know the Falcon is

for Neal Bates. ‘Coral thinks it is such a

tough enough and it certain ly is fast enough - it proved

Automatic Fire Protection, Cooks Plumbing Supplies, ABC Texture Coatings, M and B Automatic Doors, Atlantic Communications, Davis Cranes, Leased Portable Buildings and Jord Engineers.

Porsche 911s, Ford Escort BDAs, Datsun 240Zs and

-JON THOMSON

SPEEDWAY

Murphy Sprintcur WA deal for Ekins driving a Sprintcar at a couple of major meetings in Western

negotiations are currently underway.

his home town track in Danvin, the

former midget champion is a possi bility for WA. Car-builder Murphy confirmed that the deal was possible, but said nothing was set in concrete at this stage.

But, it is fair to say that talks have been held, including running the four-night USA v WA Speedweek at Claremont and Bunbury in the New Year. In the meantime, the car has been left in Australia’s Top End for Ekins to contest the Northern

Territory Sprintcar Series over six nights on four different tracks, starting on September 18. Murphy is pretty pleased with the way things have gone on the experimental car and said he may even build a newer version of the car in the future.

The current version was actually modified from the Murphy that

Terry Cutts started off with last season.

And talking of Cutts, it looks like he may well again be linking up ■ The World of Outlaws-sanc-

tioned Night Before The Big One race and the independent ly-run Historical Big One at Eldora’s famed half-mile high banked track were the big events of the past weekend. “Wild Child” Jac Haudenschild, driving the Jack Elden-owned Pennzoil Maxim, continued his domination at the fast half-milers

with his third straight WoO win at Eldora.

Haudenschild, the third fastest ' qualifier, started from pole after winning his 10th Channellock Dash, but lost the lead on the open ing lap to Andy Hillenburg. But

Jac was saved when Steve

Kinser hit the wall and flipped, tak ing Dave Blaney - having his first Sprintcar race of the season - with him. Tyler Walker was also involved, but was able to effect repairs. Hillenburg repeated the dose on the

restart

and

led

until

Haudenschild used the low groove in turns 1-2 to take the lead on lap 17, which he held till the end.

Stevie Smith continuing his stellar year with even more victories and yet more firsttimers taking their maiden

Outlaws By Brett Swanson

Outlaws’ victories. Route 66

with a sellout crowd that witnessed Stevie Smith take his second

team,

After successfully campaigning

on record for a lot of drivers,

World of

the

Warrenne Ekins could be seen

the car in WA’s North West and at

of the Pennzoil World of Outlaws continues to be one of the best and closest seasons

Murphy

with

ation that sees the engine laid over about 30 degrees and taking its pedigree from Speedcars.

■ The 20th anniversary season

■ When the Outlaws rolled into Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, lUinios, for their inaugural visit on July 26, they were greeted

Recently-crowned Northern Territory Sprintcar champion

Australia this coming season. Normally seen behind the wheel of a Speedcar, Ekins has been ped alling the one-off Geoff Murphy cre

UAugust 1998

straight win and 11th of the season. Smith passed Danny Lasoski late in the 13th lap and then held off

as I

points leader Steve Kinser for the $7,000 victory. Dale Blaney’s third place run from outside the fifth row was his sec ond top-five finish of the season and Gary Wright, Craig Dollansky and our own Garry Brazier enjoyed their best runs of the year, finishing fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively. Smith started from pole after winning the Channellock Dash, but dropped to fifth after Lasoski, Kinser, Sammy Swindell and Tyler Walker passed him. Two laps later, Mark Kinser,

It is under

stood pretty much the same deal will be struck between the duo that fin ished second overall in the

Lance

Blevins

and

Jac

Sprintcar

Haudenschild crashed, eliminating the first two from further competi

Association

tion.

points deal

Steve Kinser’s crew replaced a flat rear tyre and the King restart

last summer.

ed from the rear.

WA’s

EKINS AND THE RADICAL MURPHY (Brad Steele pic) “Terry looked after the gear and plans for Cutts to run in the NT we worked well together,” Murphy deal, as work commitments are a

front from the restart.

priority.

said.

- DARREN O’DEA

But, at this stage, there are no

Speedway club moves to promote Bendigo The Bendigo Speedway Club Inc is pleased to amiounce that it has become the promoter of the Bendigo International Speedway for the 1998-99 speedway season. In an agreement signed by Bill Higgins and the executive of the Bendigo Speedway Club, all ASCF-VSC affiliated race meetings will be promoted by the club. Seven race dates are set for the upcoming season, but as yet classes for these dates have not been finalised.

Those race dates are as follows: Nov 7, Nov 28, Dec 26, Jan 23, Feb 27,

Mai- 20, April 5 (Easter Monday). This will be the first time that the club has promoted speedway meet ings, but its members certainly looking forv'ard to the challenge.

Sg Weekend for Jac an'’ Hillenburg maintained second over Mark Kinser, Craig Dollansky, Danny Lasoski, Sammy Swindell, Paul McMahon, Johnny Herrera and Kenny Jacobs. Of the Aussies, Garry Brazier timed 24th and Brooke Tatnell 28th

- Brazier went on for 18th in the A, with Tatnell 19th in the B.

■ The following night was the Historical Big One, with US$100,000 going to the winner, which on this occasion was

Dale Blaney in the Amoco #93 Sprintcar owned by his brother and deposed champion, Dave Blaney and his partner Keith Hylton. Dale Blaney, who is yet to win an Outlaws feature, held off Haudenschild and Sammy Swindell

Max Dumesny Motorsport

ale

Swindell then stopped with a STEVIE SMITH blitzed Joliet. flat tyre and Lasoski forfeited sec ond when he changed a flat tyre during the caution. Smith took an easy win from a charging Steve Kinser, followed by Blaney, Wright, Dollansky, Brazier, Swindell, Frankie Kerr, Walker and Jeff Swindell.

Both Brazier’s and Blaney’s efforts were emphasised by the fact that they had qualified through the B Main, where they had run second and third, respectively. ■ Former Australian visitor Greg Hodnett’s 15th-place finish at Route 66 raceway was his last with the David Hehn-owned #11H Vivarin Eagle, after being replaced by Pennsylvanian Tim Shaffer,

“I’ve done everything I can think of and 1 just felt like I needed to make a change,” said Helm after replacing his driver. Shaffer, a former Lernerville speedway track champion, earned Vivarin Fast-Time Awards in Outlaws competition events at Williams Grove and Lincoln Speedways last May, as well as recording five top-ten finishes, including a third place at Lincoln. Hodnett, the 1993 Outlaws rookie of the year and 1997 Most improved driver, will take over the seat in the #12 Apple Chevrolet Sprintcar vacated by Shaffer. Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup

■ Mark Kinser completed a hat trick of wins in the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup before the largest crowd in the history of LemerviUe Speedway when he beat Lasoski by two car lengths to take the $31,000 first prize.

for the biggest pay day of his career - and set a new record, as Dave and

Dale are the only brothers to have won the event in its short history and the only brothers to win con

secutive Big Ones. Following the top three home were Jacobs, Lasoski, Hillenburg, Jeff Shepard, Herrera, Kevin Gobrecht and Walker.

Sadly, no Aussies made the final and the Kinsers, Mark and Steve were also out of luck, finishing 18th and 23rd, respectively. The next event is the Knoxville

Nationals, starting this Wednesday (August 12), which will feature our own Max Dumesny, Brooke Tatnell, Skip Jackson, Garry Brazier, Peter Murphy and Kerry Madsen. - BRETT SWANSON

Sammy Swindell led the opening 20 laps after beating pole-sitter Lasoski off the line and had opened a handy gap, only to have his advan tage removed by caution periods. On lap 21, Kinser dived under Swindell into tmm 1 and the pair collid ed, Swindell dropping six positions as he almost slid over the bank. Lasoski then took the challenge to Kinser over the dying laps, but pulled up just short. Steve Kinser came from 16th to third, ahead of Johnny Herrera, Jeff

Shepard, Swindell, Haudenschild, Smith, 22nd-starting Kenny Jacobs and Walker,

Brazier finished 11th after timing eighth and then following Lance Dewease and Haudenschild across the line in the B Main. Shaffer fin ished 19th on debut for his new team. Williams Grove

■ Rain forced the cancellation of the preliminary portion of the Outlaws double-header at “The Grove” - the following night,

however, the Pennsylvania Posse proved they are still' up to the task when Kevin Gobrecht took the win after passing race-long

leader Jeff Shepard, whose car ran low on fuel and faltered within 100 feet of the chequered flag. Haudenschild and Steve Kinser were the best of the Outlaws regulars.

Continued on next page

1998 WORLD OF OUTLAWS/SKOAL OUTLAW SERIES

Australian Distributors for

Xoo$ier i

^ ^ RACING TIRE

The changes made to Smith’s car worked and he charged to the

For more information on Hoosier Drag and Speedway Tyres call:

NSW: 02 9679 1990 Fax 02 9679 1187 VIC: 03 9331 6477 Fax 03 9331 7444 SA08 8332 0800 Fax 08 8364 0296

●NIGHT BEFORE THE BIG ONE!' - AUGUST 8TH

POINT STANDINGS TO AUGUST 8TH, 1998 I. 2. 3.

Steve Kinser Mark Kinser Stevie Smith

4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Sammy Swindell Danny Lasoski Andy Hillenburg Johnny Herrera Jac Haudenschild

9. Dale Blaney 10. Jeff Swindell

6,956 6,912 6,891 6,872 6,702 6,605 6,566 6,447 6,425 6,383

II. Tyler Walker 12. Joe Gaerte 13. Donny Schatz 14. Greg Hodnett 15. Craig Dollansky 16. Lance Blevins 17. Dion Hindi 18. Brooke Tatnell

19. Larry Neighbors 20. Daryn Pittman

6,305 6,211 6,055 5,747 4,983 3,596 3,029 2,749 2,478 2,002

ELDORA SPEEDWAY - A-FEATURE (30 LAPS) I. 2.

Jac Haudenschild Andy Hillenburg

Mark Kinser

4. 5. 6. 7.

Craig Dollansky Danny Lasoski Dale Blaney Sammy Swindell

Paul McMahan

9. Johnny Herrera 10. Kenny Jacobs

11. Joey Saldana 12. Joe Gaerte 13. Jeff Swindell 14. Donny Schatz 15. Stevie Smith 16. Tim Shaffer

17. Tyler Walker 18. Garry Brazier 19. Ed Lynch, Jr. 20. Butch Schroeder

42 UkgusI 1998 World of Outlaws

Continued from page 41 finishing third and fourth, with Donny Kreitz fifth. Gobrecht’s win, his first in

Outlaw competition, made him the 12th different winner this

season and earned him $7,000. Shepard started from pole after having won the Dash and hit the lead from the drop of the green flag. He opened up handy gaps, only to have numerous stoppages negate any advantage that he may have earned - but worse was to come, as his car ran low on fuel as he and Gobrecht came out of turn 4 for the final time. “I didn’t know what to think

about the #4J slowing. I was just trying to make it close at the end.

I feel bad for Jeff, but I’m really glad to be standing here,” a jubi lant Gobrecht said.

Completing the top ten were Mark Rinser, Swindell, Blaney, Dewease and Lasoski. Brazier went no further than sixth in the B Main.

Hagerstown ■ With the Historical Big One and the Knoxville Nationals

coming up during the “Month of Money,” Mark Kinser was

starting to hit form, following wins at State Fair, Lernerville

and

now

Hagerstown on August 1. Rinser’s eighth A Feature of the season was worth another

$7,000 to the team after he led

all 30 laps of the race, having passed pole-sitter Haudenschild

at the drop of the green flag. Joe

Gaerte

and

Herrera

crashed on the opening lap, though, which also involved Shepard, Paul McMahon and Steve Kinser.

Rather than give up their top ten position, Rinser’s crew put a tube in Kinser’s flat right front tyre, rather than change the wheel and go to the back for the restart.

Haudenschild and Walker

swapped second place a few times

mid-race,

until

both

slipped back slightly, Walker after having bumped the wall in the closing stages. Swindell moved up to second from Lasoski, ,Smith, Haudenschild, Steve Kinser, Walker, Shepard, Kreitz and Blaney. Brazier timed 20th, ran sev enth in his heat, second in the B

F500 Cup win WA control tyre by Griffiths An announcement could be

made as early as this week on what control tyre will be used by Sprintcar drivers in Western Australia.

State champion Aaron Griffiths never looked back after he started on the front row and took out the Continental

two-lap dash and then took a sec ond and third in his heats, after starting out of 10th both times.

they were close to deciding which company would get the nod to sup

Muir was the fastest in the two-

The deal will apply to open and

Freight Services Formula 500

lap dash, with Venning second in

Cup at Bibra Lake Speedway in Western Australia on July 19.

the 19-car field.

Griffiths started on the front row

with Ken Nielsen, who slipped in behind to finish second from Jeff

Muir (out of four), Craig Walton (out of five), Gary Venning (three) and Graham Higgs (who charged through from 15th). Griffiths, who took out his title on the very same track late last winter, enjoyed a fairly consistent day. He was third-fastest in the

Sprintcar Association of WA President Geoff Murphy said that

The top six qualifiers were pitted against each other in a pole shuffle. Walton defeated Bryan Mullings in the first round, but was bundled out by, who then had his colours

lowered by Venning. Neilson then defeated Venning and Griffiths to earn pole for the feature.

Previous winners of the F500

Cup were Bill Richards, Nathan Ellement, Venning and Walton.

The Club has Gympie released Saloon its race Car dates for N

360ci Sprintcars.

McCreery was the control tyre for Continental Freight Services Formula 500 Cup results; Heat 1; 1st Mullings, 2nd Griffiths, 3rd Brett Rayner. Heat 2:1st Richards,

next couple of weeks.

2nd Walton, 3rd Venning. Heat 3: 1st David Rhodes, 2nd Mullings, 3rd Griffiths. Heat 4; 1st Walton, 2nd Russell Taylor, 3rd Brad

Murphy said the concept had been met positively already by a number of 360ci competitors, but believed some of the open teams

Warwick.

would-oppose any move. -DARREN O’DEA

Sedans,

Modified

Productions and Street Sedans. The season kicks off with a

practice night on September 5, fol lowed by the opening show a week later on September 12. The remaining shows are sched uled for October 10, November 7,

December 12, January 16, February 13, March 13, April 10, May 1 -2, May 29 and June 12.

AMCA Nationals and Modified

nently on the calendar and have been granted an increased num

ber of bookings. Formula 500s, Microsprints, Limited Sprintcars and Stock Rods will also appear regularly through

The association’s hard-working

out the season.

Person of the Year.

weekend to Saturday, November 21.

Further details about the

upcoming season at the Lismore

and Grafton circuits have yet to be released.

Sprintcar

The Burnett forSpeedway ClubSouth is preparing another

Archerfield promoter Bill Goode Speedway has released a preliminary calendar of events for the

season of competition at Kingaroy Speedway and has released its

1998/99 season at the Brisbane

schedule of events for the 1998/99

venue.

campaign.

Another very hectic season of competition is planned, with 50

Championship has been allocated

The Queensland Street Sedan

The Brisbane Speedway Sedan shows between Association held its annual Septemberscheduled and June. Presentation Dinner last morith. The night comprised a five

course meal and entertainment,

Brian Abbott was the bigLimited winner when the Brisbane

-DARREN O’DEA

Produotions also feature promi

Every meeting will feature Super

Ideas put forward include limit ing the amount of grooving that

could be done, or even stamping the tyre at each meeting, restricting the number of types that are used. It must be stressed that they are only ideas as this stage and will be up for plenty of discussion in the

the last 12 months.

secretary/treasurer Tracey Brown was acknowledged as Club

Sedan team on December 12.

According to Murphy, the cost of tyres will increase by 10-20%, see ing a right rear at more than $350. And, naturally, that cost will be passed on to the racer, making it

even more expensive to race.

Championship pointscore, as well as picking up the Best Presented Car trophy. Second in points this year was Ian Brims, with Gary Brown finishing third, despite a limited campaign.

the 1998/99 season at Mothar

Mountain Speedway. Season highlights will be the Queensland Super Sedan Championship over two nights on May 1-2 and an appearance by the John Soares-led United States Super

ply the right rears for 1998/99.

And, while nothing has been

decided, there could even be rule changes to reduce the wear and tear on tyres next year.

most of which was provided by Modified Production driver Mark

to this venue and will be decided

over two nights on January 23-24. The other dates are September 19, October 17, November 14, December 5, January 1-2, February 20, March 20, May 2 and May 15.

After a sensational campaign last summer. Super Sedans domi nate the programming and will make 15 appearances, including a

big dollar two-night show on

Racing

Association held its Annual Presentation

Queensland fans will speedway have yet

Evening at the Durack

another venue to visit next

Tavern last month. Abbott was named Club

season with the opening of a new circuit in Gatton, a

Champion after a domi

town of around 6000 resi dents situated an hour west of Brisbane and 30 minutes east of Toowoomba. The

nant season that also saw him take out the A Grade

pointscore Shane

ahead

Conradi

of and

Richard Atkinson.

The B Grade pointscore was a family affair, with Ray Devers taking the

r * -4.

V.’

circuit, located within the

showgrounds, will host seven meetings. With the existing track fence unsuitable for the

Main and finished 20th in the A

honours ahead of Mark Devers. Rod Wilson fin

Feature.

ished in third spot and was

Solos, Sidecars, Formula

also named Rookie of the

500s and Microsprints.

Orange County ■ Stevie Smith’s luck seems

to be inverse of Sammy Swindell’s, as once again Smith took the win after race

leader Swindell struck prob lems, this time at New York’s

Orange County Speedway. Smith was 15 car-lengths behind Swindell in the August 3 A Feature when the yellow flag flew after Bob Bennett spun for the second time on lap 6. During the ensuing caution, Swindell’s Channellock Eagle

suffered a broken shaft, handing the lead to Smith, who main tained it to the finish, despite pressure from second place fin isher Haudenschild.

Lasoski was a top three finish er again, ahead of Steve Kinser, Herrera, Blaney, Gaerte, Mark Kinser (whose top wing was col lapsing), Andy Hillenburg and Shaffer.

Smith’s 12th A Feature of the

season was worth a cool $10,000.

Year.

larger car divisions, the programming will focus on The season kicks off on

Qther trophy winners October 10, with the MORE GLORY... Club Champion John LesUght also topped pointscore. (Mike Harding pic) were Mark Lowe (Most remaining shows scheduled Ferguson, along with the presen Improved), Shane Conradi (Best for November 14, December 12, January 8-9. Presented Car), David Andrews tation of trophies for the 1997/98 Sprintcars are pencilled in for January 16, February 20. March 6 racing season. (Commitment Award) and the 10 shows, the highlights of which and April 17. Not surprisingly, John Leslight will be round 12 of the World Wotton family (Encouragement Award). was a big winner on the night after Series trail on January 13 and the his phenomenal run of success Steven Thorley, Lorraine champion Todd Wanless is Australian Open over two nights Devers, Sheryl Devers and throughout the last 12 months. on January 15-16. joining forces with John Kelly in a Leslight took out the Super Deeann Brooks were also recog Compact Speedcars will again two-car assault on the upcoming nised for their efforts throughout Sedan Club Championship base themselves at this venue season. the season. pointscore and was also named Wanless, who has only made with fortnightly appearances, The Limited Sprintcars have overall Club Champion. including the Australian sporadic appearances in Sprintcar Fellow veteran Ian Marshall their opening event for the Championship over two nights on competition since switching to the 1998/99 season scheduled tor enjoyed a very consistent season NASCAR ranks last year, will January 1-2. and finished second, ahead of Archerfield Speedway on With the Speedcar Super replace Paul Lindberg in the team. Nick Girdlestone. Saturday, September 19. Series making two visits this sea Kelly and Wanless will be Stealth-mounted for their 1998/99 Second generation driver Craig son on January 2 and February McGeorge was a worthy winner of 27, local midget competitors have campaign and will contest around date for the running of the the Rookie of the Year trophy. 20 meetings throughout been granted extra shows to pre Queensland, as well as a number Super Sedan East Coast Grand Another youngster in Kelvin pare for the onslaught from inter National at Lismore next season. state and overseas. of events in New Zealand. Flamilton picked up the Best Promoter Ben Flail, in an effort Presented Car award, a particular Wanless will also compete at Other season highlights will be to increase the size of the field ly good achievement from a low a visit by David Tapp’s selected interstate events for car buck team. and avoid the wet weather that owner Peter Johnson, but is likely International Solo Masters troupe David Jacobi dominated the on December 30 and the tradition to miss the Australian Title at has plagued the event in recent al Modified Rod Grand Prix at Modified Production portion of the Warrnambool in February due to years, has switched the presti his overseas commitments. gious race from it’s traditional April evening, taking out the Club Easter.

Former Australian Sprintcar

There has been a change in

SPEEDWAY

lUugus11998

Aussies outgunned

the feature, he was run

ning on the top, so I assumed when I passed him the second time that

he would be at the top again. Well, he came down to the inside of the track, I lost my momentum and Gary Wright was able to drive by.

in Test Match series

It was one of those

■ Before anyone realises it, The Nationals are here again. It’s hard to believe that The 1998 Amoco Knoxville Nationals commence on

teams arriving in town - along with a strong contingent of Aussie competitors.

able to master at Knoxville, so this was good.

this week as all other races — and

give it the best we have.

hard and dedicated the #55 Team

We are striving for some very

strong results. We have high goals, but we also keep realistic, which is what you have to do when racing with the Outlaws. Winning would be awesome, but I also know I haven’t done the

time running with the Kinsers (Steve and Mark), Sammy Swindell and Stevie Smith, to

the Australian’s 40 in the Second Test at an Eastbourne

track made tricky by rain earli er in the day. Mark Lemon twice fell heavily and his team-mates, Shane Parker

and Jason Lyons, also took heavy

points between them, during which time they fashioned three 5-1 max

the start and then reinstated. But there was no such luck for

England suffered when Grand

Aussie Leigh Adams a race later and he was disqualified. Three heat victories by Jason Crump provided the highlights for Australia on a disappointing night, but with his colleagues gaining just

imum wins.

Prix star Mark Loram fell in his

first race and damaged a knee, which ruled him out of the rest of

the meeting. The incident happened in a rare tussle with Ryan SuUivan. Loram, in trying to pick up

tumbles.

two heats between them it was a

speed, went wide and crashed into

With ten heats gone and England leading 37-23, Australia looked to be on the end of a real hiding, but they stormed back well. Jason Crump produced back to

poor night for the Aussies and

the safety fence as his front wheel

England were deserved winners.

lifted.

back heat wins in heats 11 and 12

and the gap was, at one time, reduced to just eight points. But then a fine ride by England’s

captain Chris Louis that saw him lead from tapes to flag, with Joe Screen gaining a third place - the front two split by Cramp - decided

There were fine performances as ■ With the series over, it was a

well from Ryan Sullivan and

day too late for the Aussies to produce an inspired display on the big Kings Lynn circuit on August 2 to beat England by a clear 22 points.

Adams and both were rewarded by a ten point return.

The Australian challenge was

sparked by Craig Boyce, who had been out of sorts at Eastbourne just 24 hours earlier.

With Crump and Boyce in part

the meeting.

The starting gate developed a

nership, they gained 25 of the

New venues for

In fact, Austraha provided the indi vidual winners of eleven of the six

teen races - at the end, they were left to wonder where they went wrong at Wolverhampton and Eastbourne, when their efforts gave them little chance of taking the series. Perhaps they were better suited by the bigger track at Kings Lynn, compared with the tight corners of Wolverhampton and Eastbourne. Another Ashes battle is promised for next year and maybe that will

give Neil Street’s team the chance for revenge.

Speedway Masters T The fifth Annual International

Speedway Masters is set to kick off again with a ten round schedule with continued back

Skilled Engineering and Speedway Racing News Magazine.

The International Speedway

ing from its major sponsor.

Masters schedule is as follows:

Series 500 Car Care Products.

Dec 29

The series, which will comprise several of the world’s best Solo rid

Dec 30

ers from seven different nations,

will be headed by the dual and defending champion, Australian Leigh Adams.

Jan 1

Jan 2

The six international riders will

he announced shortly, as will the television package. New

the

schedule

are

Speedlink Park Speedway in Mackay, Queensland and Warmambool’s Premier Speedway. The ten-race series is supported hy Series 500 Car Care Products, Champ Oil Filters, Koni Shock Absorbers, Best Western Hotels, O’Brien Aluminium, Villawood Track Sales, Torco Oil, Containers

Packaging, Splitfire Sparkplugs,

Jan 9 Jan 15 Jan 16

Jan 22

Newcastle Speedway Newcastle, NSW Archerfield Speedway Brisbane, QLD Rockhampton Showground Rockhampton, QLD

Speedbnk Park Speedway Mackay, QLD Gosford City Speedway

Jan 30

riders from the

■ We have had some strong results at Knoxville Raceway

after winning the Continental Final at Debrecan in Hungary to gain his automatic place. Jirout, who rides in England for

■ The competition this week will be the best that Sprintcar racing in the world has to offer.

It’s hard to say who wiD capture the victory, but the same guys always seem to be up front; how ever, there are always surprises, so we will just have to wait and see.

front which secures us back to

as well.

■

good news the next time I talk to Motorsport News and the fans. I will be giving my all this week

Well, I am hoping to write some Several weeks ago (on

August 1), we ran second to Craig DoUansky. It was a good run, but we needed to improve on some things. We all worked together during the next week and we managed to improve on our game. ■ At Knoxville last weekend

(August 8), we were able to get to the lead in the A Main and,

on the last lap, Gary Wright passed me for the victory. I came up on a lapped car that I was passing for the second time. I watched this car win the B

Feature, running the top always. The first time I passed him in

By Tony Millarc lot more speedway talent in Canada that is currently untapped.

Todd Wiltshire, racing on his German licence, finished 13th and will not be involved next year,

Former England captain Kelvinin Tatum has resumed a career

here was a boost for Canadian

abandoned to race in Continental

lined up for the World Under-21 Championship Final.

Longtrack and Grasstrack meet ings. Tatum has signed for Poole which, despite boasting Aussie

He rides in the Polish League

is what it takes.

back championships.

Knoxville Point Championship. There are two point shows left, but we are around 700 points in

Peterborough, came secbnd.

for Bydgoszcz because he has dual nationality, as his father,

work to give me a great car. This team is not only compe tent, but they all work in harmony with each other and myself, which

Hopefully, the Aussie guys can produce some good results. I know I will be trying my hard est, and it is hard to say how everyone else will do. We’ll be trying to make Australia proud and, with so many Australian fans here to watch, they will be pulling for us,

the past couple of weekends. Probably the most rewarding accomplishment is that we have captured our second consecutive

need that dispensation next year

Claremont Speedway

-BRE'TT SWANSON

smart as I can and the results will come.

Czech

T speedway when Chris Slabon

Bunbury City Raceway Bunbury, WA Wayville Showground Adelaide, SA

name a few. My aim is to keep up with these guys, drive as hard and

Republic have already quali fied for next year’s World Championship Grand Prix series. Toni Kasper, a permanent wild card in this year’s series, will not

Gosford, NSW Premier Speedway Warrnambool, VIC Borderline Speedway Mt Gambier, SA Perth, WA

Jan 23

-TONY MILLARD

is something I have rarely been We also regained the Knoxville Point Championship, which is a huge honour and reflection of how

The #55 Jensen Construction

fault and it was green light starts for a while - England’s Martin Dugard was excluded for jumping

great.

I also was able to really drive the car above the cushion, which

Team and myself will just take

■ England, having won the first test match at Wolverhampton, opened up a 2-0 series lead on August 1 by scoring 56 points to

get the engine and car working

the Permzoil World of Outlaws

Wednesday (August 12) with all

NOT SO GOOD... Leigh Adams leads Joe Screen at Eastbourne, but the Aussies lost 56-40. (Mike Patrick pic)

things where you have to be 100% right, not 99%. A lot of positive things hap pened during this race, though. The team worked really hard to

British speedway that he had

stars Mark Lemon, Ryan Sullivan

and Craig Boyce, is currently bot tom of the British Elite League.

Robert Slabon, is a former World Finalist from Poland.

BEWDY... Brett Woodiifeld and Glen

Former Canadian speedway official Ian March says there is a

Cunningham celebrate last month’s win for Peterborough. (Mike Patrick)

and I know that Lori and A.J. will

keep me in perspective on things ,as well as making sure I am on top of my game. This will be the first Knoxville Nationals that A.J has ever

watched, so this should be exciting for him - okay, he will probably

fall asleep around 9:00pm at the races, just like every other time I race - or as so Lori tells me.

Anyway, good luck to all the Australians and I will be trying

my hardest. Thanks again for your support. Skip.

KARTING

August m

By SEAN HENSHELWOOD

He’s softly spoken, unas suming and probably a little shy, but hidden behind this quiet facade is the mind of an assassin, cool, calculating and cun ning - the perfect features for a hit-man - yet the only scalps this 15 yearold takes are on the track, at

the

elite

level

Australian karting. Jamie Whincup began karting at the age of eight,

The Assassin:

cool, calculating ^

and cunning

with the assistance of motor-

sport guru Mick Webb, who sold them his son’s Swiss Hutless Rookie kart.

In fact, the Whincup and Webb association had been

formed many years before, when the two Whincup brothers, David (Jamie’s father) and Graeme (of Thundersports fame), were running ski-boats and

hooked up with engine mae stro Webb.

By 1994, Jamie was recog nised as one of the country’s top Rookie drivers, taking

experience, as the conditions

in an incredibly out of control Junior Clubman field.

in 1995 with the Victorian

were cold and definitely not what the kart was set up for - but it did give us a feel for

Country Series (winning

the FMK level classes and

three of four rounds), the

would take victory from

we thoroughly enjoyed it. “From there, we ran at Oceania, using a brand-new CRG Daytona chassis and actually qualified second behind the ultimate victor,

Kane Rose and Jamie.

out

the

NSW

Title

Orange, then following it up

Victorian Star Series (win

ning all five rounds), the City of Melbourne Titles and also

the VKA Trophy as the Rookie of the Year.

By the end of 1995, Jamie was old enough to move to Juniors and raced his first

Junior event in Geelong at the Val Findlay Memorial meet ing, before debuting at a state

level in Junior National Light at the Albury 1996 Victorian Open Championships, where he placed third. Within months of becom

ing a Junior, Jamie began racing in the competitive Junior Clubman class in a PRD chassis sourced from

Superkart Legend Les May. “Dad had bought Giorgio Pantano’s CRG California after the 1996 Oceania at

Oran Park,” Jamie said, “but

James Small.

“Things were looking good for the final, till fate stepped in and we fouled a plug at the start, putting us well behind the eight ball. “We put in a couple of good laps to start making inroads on the leaders, but dropped a

Ultimately, it was the tal ented James

“From there,” Jamie con tinued, “we debuted in the

1997 CIK Championships at Orange and, despite spend ing the year within reach of the leaders, we just couldn’t seem to put it all together well enough to match Caruso

Small

who

the pre-final, which he duly

Grand Prix and walked away with victory in Clubman Light and the highlight of the event, the Portland

unfortunately for the com

Street

for

petitors concerned, there was

The opposition didn’t come

a red flag'due to some major incidents on the opening lap,

prestigious Portland Street

Grand

Prix

Formula 100 karts.

close all weekend and young ((

which saw the race aborted

Ifeel Jamie is extremely

talented,'’ Luciani said. Without doubt, he has the

ability to be the best in Australia.

and Alan Gurr.”

Luciani and his mechanic,

competitive he would be in

multiple Australian champi on Peter Temopolous, the

“We were starting to get

Titles in Junior Clubman at Hamilton in ’96 and third in

Js, then victory again in Junior Clubman at the Vic

Open at Todd Road in April ’97,” Jamie explained. “Prior to all the politics, CRG had sent out a huge

race was actually the Junior Sprint Classic at Todd Road

at the end of 1996, using Paul Kendall’s Tony Kart and old Sirio engines. “It was a real experience, but probably not the best

been

almost

unbeatable.

Their debut came at the

1998 Victorian Open Championships at Hamilton, where Jamie was immediate

ly one of the fastest drivers

unproven before the event, it

off in

Australia. With the introduction for 1998 of national television

Despite Dive’s bid for vic tory early in the race, Jamie was able to pull clear from

exposure, excellent press cov erage throughout 1997 and

the field to record a six sec

the fact that Australia had a

ond victory, setting the fastest lap of the race, much to Luciani’s horror, on lap 37

and the entry list for the ’98

of 39.

●

Wynn’s Championship blos somed from day one. The opening round of the

Jamie said. “I know Remo

Wynn’s series was held at

was having kittens, but I just

Adelaide’s Bolivar circuit on March 1 and from the outset the Intercontinental A class

bad to prove the combination could do it” - Whincup had certainly come of age.

looked as though it would be a Jamie Whincup benefit. He immediately set the fastest time in official prac tice, then toyed with the opposition throughout the

His efforts in 1997 saw lit

tle reward, despite some out standing drives, it was clear

heats to gain some insight as

that his efforts were being discounted by the equipment he was using - to most bystanders last season, it

to how they would run in the finals under pressure.

until he would see victory in

was only a matter of time

Walton.

While he was also one of

the early front-runners in Clubman Light, Jamie, like a number of other well-creden-

tialled drivers, fell foul of the changing conditions. One man who is more than

impressed with Whincup’s progress is mentor Luciani.

“I feel Jamie is extremely talented,” Luciani said. “Without doubt, he has the ability to be the best in Australia.

Tm impressed with his maturity. For a 15 year-old,

he listens intently to what you have to say and then goes out and does it.

“You also need to be fairly lucky and, so far this year, we’ve been relatively lucky. If we can continue in that

vain, Jamie will be very hard to beat for the ICA title.”

sion on the Saturday morn ing as to which tyre we would have impounded in

Asked about his plans with Whincup next season,

Parc Ferme. We chose to

“It’s obviously up to them (Whincups) as to what they want to do, but my advice at this point would be to stick

stick with Dunlop, because our

main

title

threats

drove away from us in the final. It didn’t matter, though, as neither driver

take

tice, with minimal wear.

dent.

Formula

proved very fast during prac

starting

ver/chassis/engine/tyres) were capable of in case at any stage in the future we were put under pressure,”

has

“While the Bridgestone was

wore a little better and Caruso and Clint Cathcart

the fuss in Europe was about

team

ation,” Jamie said afterwards.

tional class competition was

Clubman behind Will Davison.

news of early 1998 was his move to the Tecno team, under the guidance of multi ple Australian and State champion Remo Luciani. Since its inception, the

ond round, Whincup being given the opportunity to run either the Dunlop he utilised so well at Adelaide, or the new, untried and unproven Bridgestone. “It was an interesting situ

chance to rebuild the front-

“I had to see what we (dri

last for the CRG team - the

opening round, Bridgestone had imported a softer com pound ‘open’ tyre for this sec

end of Jamie’s kart, which was badly bent after the inci

had finally witnessed what all

Inter A chassis. CRG had

looked back from there. “Our first international

Whincup,

double World Champion in James Courtney, competitors

Juniors, but it was to be his

cess, he chose us. We haven’t

gave

Closed Championships at Baimsdale in early December, taking second place in Junior Not only was this to be Jamie’s penultimate race in

After a less than favourable result at the

For the first time since its

NSW State Titles at Wagga and, despite setting the early Dino in Junior Clubman. Jamie’s last race as a Junior came at the ’97 Victorian

made with respect to a tyre compound for the meeting.

inception, the FMK interna

Senior competition.

pace, was beaten narrowly by James Farquharson’s

and rescheduled after the Formula A final.

This

when a decision had to be

Brendan May and Brendan Dive were also going to run Dunlop. “But the Bridgestones

outright behind Australian Champion Caruso and Gurr. In between rounds, Jamie campaigned the CRG in the

shipment of karts for the event, including a Junior

asked Les May to nominate a driver and, through our suc

FMK Intercontinental A field

scenarios became evident at the second round of the

“We had to make a deci

which would show just how

good results with the PRD and then the CRG, with vic tory in the Victorian Closed

think

Wynn’s series at Ipswich in Queensland on June 21,

Oran Park and third at Todd Road to end the series third

lure towards Jamie’s future.

dent prior to the start of the

Jamie was ecstatic, but it was the super-competitive

of racing that would be the

ability

final, he was eliminated after coming together with Dive as they entered the front straight for a start. Fortunately for him, but

Despite this, Jamie man

it was the international class

His

Two weeks later, Jamie

aged fourth in Orange, third at Ipswich, a disappointing eighth at Raleigh, third at

Clubman success came, as did results in Js - however,

Champion David Clark and Queensland sensation Kris

debuted as a Senior at the

we didn’t want to run it in

was likely to be a fair bit of pranging and we didn’t want to damage the good chassis.”

Australian

national classes.

through and discuss racing

our early races in Clubman, because we knew that there

the highly competitive inter

won from Brendan Dive and Matt Wall. In a freak roll-around acci

chain and finished our run then and there.

'Two wins from three heats

saw him line up on pole for

was in the title hunt after the first round.

“Hindsight shows that we may have done better on Bridgestone, but what if we hadn’t - we may well not be leading the series now.” Between the two rounds of

the Wynn’s Championship, Jamie competed in the 1998 Australian

Nationals

Geelong over the Easter weekend, against the com bined forces of all Australia’s best drivers in Clubman

Luciani was non-committal.

with ICA and not to rush into

Formula A,” Luciani said. ‘Jack of all trades, master

of none’ was something I always ran by and I think Jamie could do well by con tinuing to learn this class and etke it to the Europeans, or the Japanese, before mov ing on. “We had every intention of racing at Suzuka in the World Cup this year, but sponsorship didn’t allow we’d have liked to have

taken Jamie to the European Championships for Inter A, but suffered the same prob lem. We’ll try and work on that for next year.” And where to from here?

“Formula One,” is Jamie’s

Light and the open-engined

reply. “Well, that’s the long term goal, but in the short

Formula 100 class.

term Fd like to stick with karts

Continuing on from his debut win in FMK, Whincup took pole in Formula 100,

and race in Europe against the best guys in the world.

ahead of ’97 Intercontinental

“I’ve also been on at uncle Graeme for a while to let me

A champion Troy Hunt. Jamie ran strongly all weekend, eventually finish ing a solid third behind 1997

have a go in his Camaro Thundersport - 111 keep nag ging him; hell give in even tually...”

KARTING

UAugusl1998

Whin€up tops City of Melbourne Davison holds out Medwin in Junior Clubman A good entry for the annual City of Melbourne

The numbers of drivers

Davidson, Geoff Bertram,

to go, Medwin slotted into

dropped as they tangled with

Remo Luciani and George

second behind Davison, a position he held till the end, dropping Walker back to

with a fair margin back to the rest - with Kilsby off the front row for the final, he was always going to be hard

third.

to beat.

Formula 100 Heavy Malcolm Kilsby won the pre-final from John Gleeson,

his best shot and came home

titles held on August 2 at the Todd Road track pro duced some very close

each other and left the track. the only race occurring

Sera next in line,

between Matthew Evans and

Morrison

racing at an interesting

Peter Temopoulas for third

dropped out with about

meeting.

and fourth.

Saturday was reserved for qualifying and one round of heats - but, when Sunday

It was reported to me that Sera was outed at post-race scrutineering and Karavas

Duvoisin took the lead off and

Adams

dawned with ominous weath

was elevated to first, with

twelve laps to go, while Luciani was starting to carve his way through and was up to fifth with 10 laps to go. At about the half-way

er predicted, officials decided to drop the second round of

Evans and Temopoulas next.

point,

heats and extend the length

Jimior Pro National

of the pre-final and the (final only counts) final. Pro Spec 100 - won by Jamie Whincup - was the

Steve Kwiatkowski pulled away from the field, setting up a nice little gap from Christopher Uhlhorn, who in turn had a gap from the battling pack of Phillip

feature class and the sched

ule was arranged so this class got the two heats prior to the finals.

Pro Spec 100 As it was the feature class

of the weekend. Pro Spec 100 ran all its heats and finals.

After a couple of laps in the final, a few drops of rain started falling, making it very greasy as the drivers all had dry set-ups. Jamie Whincup pulled away from the start and got a gap on Clint Cathcart, Steve Owen, Ben Savage and Lee Uhlhorn, with the rest of the field streaming along behind. When the track became

greasy, Uhlhorn closed up onto the back of Whincup but, try as he might, couldn’t get past - but the pair drove away from the rest of the field.

Savage was under pressure from Craig Domaschenz, with Tony Pugliese waiting to pounce if a gap occurred. When the flag dropped, Whincup and Uhlhorn were the length of the straight ahead of Savage and Domaschenz.

RESA

Peter Temopoulas was too strong and opened up a gap in the final. Tim Weitzel and Matthew

Evans both came through from mid-field and, when Nick Stray and Dwayne Dolling faltered, they pounced and finished second and third,

Formula 100 Light

Over the last few laps. Uhlhorn closed in on Kwiatkowski and tried for a passing move, which he did get on the line when the flag

Unfortunately, David Clarke tangled with Craig Manning and played piggy backs, while Danny Richert looked set for the win right

fell to finish the race, with

from the start, with Matthew

Redmond coming third.

Wall, Gary Dann, Mark Domaschenz

Spec 100 Over 40s The final was similar, with Bernie Kelly got the start,

and

Mark

bunch behind him.

but Greg Savage came through again to take the lead off him, although he

By half-distance, Clark was up to about ninth and moving through the field, while at the front Richert

couldn’t get clear. Eddie Lapianis,

John

was opening up a gap from Domaschenz, who had a gap

Pringle and Kym Pearce were battling away next, until Pringle departed and Lapianis got passed by

from Hester - and they stayed in that order to the end, with Clark up to fourth and closing at the finish.

Pearce late in the race to

miss a podium finish Savage, Kelly and Pearce fin ished in that order.

Clubman Light A strong field entered, with Clint Cathcart winning the pro final from Kevin Stray and Lee Uhlhorn. Clint Cathcart led Grant Anderson into the first comer. with Kevin Stray, Travis Badcock and Lee Uhlhorn

Clubman Super Heavy Andre Sutej and Stuart Morrison had a great time at the front, continually chang ing places for several laps and, with 11 laps to go, Macri was up to third, with

At about half-distance, Stray took over second place from Anderson, but couldn’t catch leader Cathcart, while

es of Andrew Baker. With three laps to go, Macri had a small gap from Morrison, but Stania was

Uhlhorn was struggling to stay in touch.

climbing all over Sutej, looking for a way around which

Cathcart took the win from Stray and Anderson.

he found next lap, putting

McCashney got past Pringle and, on the last lap, Medwin left the circuit, ele vating this pair to second

Carter went past Rintoul for the lead - on the last lap, Bullas got past Rintoul to

ond and Ashley Rintoul third.

and third.

take second off him.

Junior Clubman Gavin Walker followed Will Davison for much of the race with Travis Medwin

Kevin Stray left the circuit on lap one, Paul Sera taking over at the front by a fair margin from John Karavas.

Clubman Heavy Stuart Morrison got the best at the start, with Marc Duvoisin, Greg Woodrow, Matthew Adams, Brett

Open Meeting Warrnambool Kart Club

Enquiries 03 5384 024§ Junior Sprint Classic

Sept 6

Eastern Lions Kart Chib

Enquiries 03 9876 538^

behind him, while the rest of the field dropped back. With only a handful of laps

Eastern Region Series Round 5

Sept 13

Rookies

final, The final result was Ben Small first, Shane Price sec-

Senior Piston Port

Enquiries 03 9876 5385

Hug 23

laps ran out.

start down the back for the

Michael Court.

Eastern Lions Kart Club

Edgar was also looking for a way past Sutej, but the

D’Alberto dropped out with about five laps remaining and, on the second last lap.

JaiTod Medwin up front, with a gap back to Rick Pringle, Benjamin McCashncy and

Star Round 4

Dug 16

him in third.

sat on Carter’s tail.

The final was a race between David Sera and

Rider on his tail.

in KARTING

through. With five laps to go, Macri was in front with Morrison hot on his heels, while Sutej

was dropping into the clutch-

Jamie Carter, our national champion, led off when the lights turned green with the rest of the field in hot pursuit. Aaron Rintoul slotted into second, with Adam Bullas,

^J^ING EVENTS

Jason Stania and Murray Edgar starting to move

behind him.

Tony D’Alberto and Kane Midgets

RACKING ’EM UP... Another good outing for Jamie Whincup. (Sean Henshelwood pic)

Hester swapping places in a

Rintoul got past Carter after a few laps, but could not pull away, while Bullas

third.

- GRAEME BURJVS

Bateman, Cam Farr, Troy

The pre-final was a disaster for Jason Pringle and Ashley Rintoul when, on the last lap and running one and two, they locked together at the last corner and stopped, handing the win to Shane Price - the pair then had to

the final and went on to win, with Craig Arnett finishing

with - the City of Adelaide titles, which will be run at Bolivar on September 5-6.

couple of laps later, Luciani dropped Woodrow back to fourth and then swept past Duvoisin and Morrison and was never headed again for the win - Morrison was second and Duvoisin third.

Woolston and Ben Redmond.

Junior Piston Port strong for Dale Carpenter in

passed

second, with Simon Wedd making the trip across the

Melbourne titles are to tie in with - but not run as a series

Duvoisin for the lead and, a

respectively. Pro Senior National Glenn Riddell was too

Morrison

Dominic Albanese gave it

Nullarbor worthwhile by coming third. This year, the City of

Baimsdale Kart Club

Enquiries 03 5144 2382

Sept 13

Western Region Series Round 5

l|teiilton Kart Club

Kuiries 03 5572^831

(tut vnone

Ph 03 5449 6362 or 03 9362 1144

Our Web site is: www.kartguide.com.au/vka/vka.htm Our Email address is: vka(gb 140.aone.net.au Victorian Karting Association Inc Registered Nm_A13837D_

46 14Augusl1998

Briefly Historic ■ An important historic meeting coming up next month in South Australia is

tradition will be the

Australian Mille, to be held from September 17 to 18,

the Mallala Masters, to be run on September 12 and

1998.

13.

annual running of the

Feature event for Groups J, K, L, M, 0 and Q Historic

Australian Mille which has

cars will be the Carrie

lines of the famous Mille

Cooper Memorial, but there

Miglia - acknowledged as one of the greatest tests of

will be lots of races for other

categories as well. These will include Superkarts, Formula Vees, Club Cars, HQs and Classic and Post Classic Motorcycles. Other attractions ■will be

steam engine displays, parade laps for Vintage,

This will be the second

been designed along the

man and machine.

The original Mille Miglia was run through Italy from 1927 until 1957 when traf

fic density made it impossi ble for all-out competition to take place on public roads. However, a re-run of

Veteran and Classic Cars

the event was instigated by

and a trophy for the best presented Elfin.

a group of enthusiasts in Modena during the early

For further details and

entiy forms phone/fax the Competition Secretary Tony Morgan on 08 8264 7179. ■ The next orund of the Victorian Hillclimb

Championship for 1998 (Round 5) will be held at the

pwpular Gippsland venue at Morwell this weekend, August 16. The meeting caters for Historic Cau^s - if

you haven’t tried hiUclimb-

1980s, and since then requests to participate

have come jfrom all parts of the world. The new Mille

Miglia is no longer a test of speed but a reliability chal lenge for the pre-1957 cars that take part. The Mille Miglia tradition has extended to in the USA, Argentina and Japan, and last year a similar event was successfully staged in

ing, how about going along this Sunday to see what it is

Australia. The 1998 Australian Mille will be a 1000-mile

all about, then enter the next one. It’s lots of fun, and

(lOOOkms) non-competitive

what’s more you can pack all your motor sport into one

up to and including 1957, provided they are of the type that ran in the original

day. Easy! ■ A new event designed to cater for the motoring and gastronomic delights of participants will be held from October 4 to 9,1998. Known as the Grand

Automobile Tour of Victoria, the six-day event is organ ised by the Vintage Sports Car Club of Victoria and the

Canterbuiy Rotary Club. Directors of the grand tour are Nick Langford and Mike Dodds - two of the

most experienced organisers

run for cars manufactured

events.

Apart from traversing some of Australia’s finest dri

their cars as well as a good

states. New Zealand, the UK

time. Their aim is to make the event the best of its

and the USA.

ber of rallies that have come

to the fore in recent years ■with the emphasis on high performance modem vehi cles and hectic competition schedules, Langford and Dodds see a need for an

event for pre-war motoring enthusiasts and their cars enter the Grand Automobile Tour of Victoria. ’The tour will cater exclu

sively for pre-war cars “with a major focus on socialising and exceptional gastronomic activities”. All navigation is clear and simple (where have I heard that before?), with realistic and unde

manding distances to be covered in all stages. The Grand Automobile Tour of Victoria will be

administered by the Canter bury Rotary Club to assist

throughout the remainder of the year. Donald Mitchell Healey was bom in Cornwall in 1898, and he will be long remem bered for his contribution to

the motoring world of some of the most handsome mass pro duced sports cars ever seen. The ‘big’ Healeys ranging from the 100/4s, S and Ms to the Six and 3000 are especial ly valuable - an ex-works rally car driven by Paddy Hopkirk and Time Makinen fetched $283,590 at the end of last year at Christie’s auction in England. But the little Sprites are also collectable and equally well loved, especially the first ones known affectionately as the ‘Bugeye’ (or ‘Frogeye’ in the UK).

STERLING EFFORT... Stirling Moss in the Austin Healey 100S at Sebring in 1955. As

One Sprite in particular that Australia is proud to

usual he won his class and was in sixth overall

have is ‘GWS 211’ - it was the

first ‘Bugeye’ to arrive in this country, but more important

ly it was once raced by Stirling Moss. The car now resides in Melbourne.

Not only did Healeys look good, but they also distin guished themselves in inter national rallies and on race

tracks around the world, including Sebring, the Mille Miglia, Le Mans and the Targa Florio. A number of attempts were made on speed records in Austin Healeys, and Donald Healey himself broke the magic 200-mile per hour

in 1954 driving a streamlined 100 Six.

The legacy lives on, and the ‘big’ Healeys and the Sprites will be out in force at Mt.

Panorama when they will take part in support races at the Bathurst 1000 meeting in October to commemorate the

(320km/h) barrier on the

100th anniversary of the

Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah

birth of their founder.

Humble

by name FORMER fighter pilot racing driver George Humble was guest speaker at the ACM of the VHRR recently and gave an interesting account of his in-the-air

and off-the-air experi ences over the years. Humble was one of the

Spitfire fliers known as ‘the Brylcream Boys’. His war service continued with

‘the Bimna Bus Company flying Dakotas over the front lines and, after some time in Hong Kong, he returned to Britain when hostihties ceased.

Like so many other pilots. Humble looked for some excitement after the war and turned his hand

to motor racing. His first car was a Riley 1.5 (or Morris Major as they were known here), and then

■ The Geelong Speed

after a stint with 'TVRs in

Eastern Beach since 1956, will this year be held on a

circuit races and major ral

substantially revamped track. The Geelong Steampacket Development has given a major facelift to the entire waterfront area in an effort to make it more

aesthetically pleasing and more attractive to tourists,

and after considerable nego tiations the popular Speed

lies such as the Monte

Elfin returns By BRIAN REED

Trials have been scheduled for November 21-22.

WELL known car restorer Nick Kovatch

It is proposed that Saturday will feature supercars including Porsche, Lamborghini and

Their first priority is to re-launch the Elfin

Maserati as well as the re-introduction of thor

traditional Historic

Interested? 'Then contact 03 9877 0666 for a tele

sports, touring and racing

mac event, but in the Italian

celebrations will continue

Trials which have run along

other Rotaiy projects.

■ A more competitive tar

Donald

event should contact John Blanden on 08 8370 2000 or mobile 0418 840 420.

oughbred motorcycles. Sunday will include the

Blackburn 3130.

sary of the birth of Donald Healey on July 3 - and the

Anyone interested in find ing out more about the

the Bone Marrow Bank and

phone answering service or write to 7/11 Mary St.,

around the world cele brated the 100th anniver

litre, and a rare split-screen 1951 Porsche 356. Their own ers come from all Australian

type, with the emphasis on

By BRIAN REED AUSTIN Healey fans

ving orads in coastal and cen tral Victoria, the event is also described as “navigator friendly.” 'This year’s field is limited to 80 cars, and notable entiles already received include a bevy of vintage Bentleys, a vintage Riley, several rare Austin Healey lOOS models, a post war Riley two-and-a-half

in the business who love

relaxation. Given the enormous num

lOOth

classifications.

For entry forms fax 03 5222 6157, and for informa tion on where to stay con tact the Accommodation Information Line on 1800 620 888.

and fellow Historic racer Bill Hemming have taken over Elfin Sports Cars.

Clubman (above) using a modern-day proto type commenced by Murray Richards which used much of the original Carrie Cooper design. Richards purchased all Elfin parts, plans, jigs, moulds and naming rights several years ago. He has now passed these on the new own ers in the knowledge they are in good hands. Kovatch has owned several businesses spe cialising in the repair, restoration and race preparation of Jaguars and Aston Martins,

and Hemming, who was the European Marketing Manager for British Leyland, has operated a successful marketing communica tions company for the past 15 years.

Bill Hemming is also a demon driver in his own right, having won the ‘Driver of the Meeting’ trophy at last year’s Historic Sandown meeting for some heroic efforts in his brutish Jaguar XK150. He and Kovatch plan to run Elfin as a pro fessionally managed company and to protect Elfin’s illustrious past by supplying genuine parts for the correct maintenance of the 200 or so Elfins still being campaigned in open and Historic events or used on the open roads.

There will also be an exciting future with a new range of Elfin cars designed around the dictionary description and philosophy of Elfin - “a small spritely creature possessing magi cal powers.” For further information call Nick Kovatch

at Elfin Sports Cars (03) 9563 7811, or Bill Hemming (03) 9690 6933.

Carlo and the Tulip Rally, he raced a Jaguar E-iype. His next step up was to drive a lightweight E-Type for Phil Scragg before moving into the ex-Jackie Oliver Lotus Elan in which

he won “quite a number of races.” Humble’s ultimate race car was a Ford GT40

(#P/1005) which was origi nally supplied to Shelby American Inc. in 1965. He described it as “a hand some beast” and “tremen

dously forgiving” - a car capable of being “throttled out of the most disgusting situations,” with powerful performance and a top speed of 328km/h. He later drove a works

GT40 for John Wyer, and also contested 73 interna

tional rallies during his career, a number in a fac tory Healey 3000. -BRIAN REED

UAugust t998

Porsche Cup Car. C2 RSR body, 911 3.5 It, can run either A

Sedans/Sports Cars

(X B class. Pole position and race win in only Porsche Cup race, 19/7/98. $65,000. Ph; 08 8410 5099.

Datsun 1600 sedan, in excellent rust-free condition. Ideal

rally, race or road car. All slrxtk standard features. $1,600. Ph: Joseph 03 9460 2583 (AH), 0417 052 258 (BH). 134 Porsche Cup Bargain. Huge torque 3.6 litre turbo, ideal engine lor Porsche Cup. First meeting with engine (mallala 19/7) 2nd & 3rd. Chassis rebuilt by K&A Engineering, special atten

tion to weight dist. Penske triple adj rear shocks, Bilstein front. Dog box. Perfect for Bathurst and 1999 Porsche Cup. $120,000ono. Ph; Roger Paterson 08 8362 7788, fax 08 8362 0071. 134

Celica GT RA35, 1977. /\s competed in Targa Tasmania. 1996 class winner, 1997 category prologue winner. 1998 class winner. Ground-up rebuild and race preparation, very quick car. Includes rcdlcage, 2 race seats, harness etc. Road reg, ready to compete. $19,500. Ph: Greg 03 9842 0183,0419 361 908. 134 Commodore Sports Sedan, immaculate condition, full space frame, alloy cage, polished interkx alloy panels, fully adjustable

Porsche 944 Coupe, 2.5 litre. 5 speed, 53KL, Old rego, rarely driven, always maintained. Need larger new toy, would trade Ftxd EL XR6 or XR8 plus cash difference. $27,000. Ph: 0418882 030. m

Maserati 425i Bitiabo, Shamal upgrade, immaculate paint work, leather suede interky, Zender skirts, Sirrmons wheels, tinted windows, Kenwood 10 CD stack, excellent cond & extremely

quick Rego AEE 52Z $37,500, Ph: Jim Cornish 02 9893 0023. 133

suspension. Less mechanicals, full set of moulds. Quick sale 1981 TF Cortina 4 door auto, one cwner since new. Fun service

MGB GT V8, 1968, white. Hall roll cage, full harness seat

belts, racing seats. Many performance extras. Reg 2/99. $15,800. Ph: 02 9525 4439. .34

Thunderdome HQ, all new log books, new sealed motor (as new), sealed box. Can be test driven before sale. $7,200ono. Ph: 03 9563 7072. 134

of factory magnesium race wheels. Heaps of spares. $5,200ono.Ph: 03 5422 7474,0419 334 786. m Ford Mondeo. 1996 model, red LX sedan, 40,000kms, in per

fect condition, full service history. /\ir con, central locking. One owner. $18,500. Ph: Phil 03 9527 7744,0418 519 681. m Mini race car. Complete rebuild with all new components -

required, $10,000ono. Ph: 03 63301881. 134

Datsun 1600 Sports Sedan. Unfinished project, full space frame, fibreglass body, a-arm suspension, Spax shocks, 2 sets

history. Reg until December. $1,800ono. Ph: 03 9802 5705. 134 Peugeot 405 Super Tourer. Extensive engine/gearbox rebuild just crxnpleted. Ready to race with good inventory of spare vrfieels, tyres etc. Bargain of the Year at $28,500. Ph: 02

seat, steering, wheel, harness, engine, gearbox, Toyota brakes, suspension, fuel pump, ccxjlers, gauges, log book. Needs tyres to go racing. $7,000ono. Ph: 02 9896 5543

4628 8322 (AH). .3.

Mk 1 Cortina 4 door, good body. No motor, gearbox. $100ono.Ph: 019960228. .34

AUSCAR VS, never crashed, Dencar-built shell and cage.

Fuel chum, spares etc. $18,000. /\lso. Dome - circuil car, apre motor and panels. $5,500. Ph; 03 9432 9482 (AH). 134 De Tomaso Pantera 74 GTS. 490hp, Canllos, Cosworth pis tons, Motec inj, Chev crank, Simmons wheels 17x11 rear 17x9 front. Large Harrop brakes all round, roll cage. Cobra seats etc. This Black Beast is ready for Targa a club days or touring inn A1cond.POA.Ph: Tony Jory 0418 130 133,0363 265 555. .34 Rare, rare, rare: Peter Brock signature series HDTVL turbo. No 1 of 38, build no. 3195. This car features HDT V6 turbo

engine. SAAS seats. Simmons mags, cruise control, power steering. Kenwood sound system. /Ml in original condition, with Nissan Pulsar G"nR, 1991. 18,500kms. Intercoded 2 litre

books. $20,000. Ph: 02 6925 2811 after 6pm. .34

Ford Motorsport Rally Team offers fa sale its last EL XR Falcon, an XR8 (230kW) but can be sold in XR6 (180kW) form. Excellent Super Series "Aussie" car (quickest out there this year). Ideal entry for Round O2 Trial, both other team cars already sold fa this purpose. Professionally built with six years and five class titles experience with Safety, Strength, Reliability &

Competitiveness in mind. Easy to maintain and cost-effective. Built from a stitch welded bodyshell fitted with C/\MS app. 12 point chrome moly cage. Information, knowledge and support

given to future owna. XR8 $34,000orx3, in XR6 form $28,000ono. Ph: Steve Winwood 08 8322 0804,0417 445 920. .35

tabo. 16valve, quad-throttle bodies, 4WD & LSDs, 3" mandrel

Cortina Sports Sedan, body only with interior aluminium and windows. Very light, includes moulds. Best offer, will arrange freight. Ph: 0412 521 810. 133 Mazda RX4 rolling shell, full steel cage, seam welded,

fresh paint, new seat, harness, s/wheel, 4 wheel discs. Suit 2 litre Sports Sedan. Club Car a Hillclimbs. Offers. Ph: Barry 0413 973 478. m

exhausi, K&N intake. Full harness, belts and removable roll

Holden HR. Full restoration. Premia interia, strong 192, five

cage. 17" wheels, ready for race or street. Fantastic cond, black. \WRX-killer. 10 months reg/RVtfC. $28,000ono. Ph: 0418

speed. Premium staeo, Dragways and much mae. Personally signed by Peta Brock. $8,750neg. Ph: 03 5968 3059 a 0417

304 787,0394703659. .34

577129. .33

Escort Twin Cam, fresh duco, genuine CK49 shell, std

engine, new gearbox, clutch, shockers, bushes, radiala. All aiginal trim. Brake boosta, air box. Well maintained. $10,750 inci spares. Ph; 08 8278 5988 evenings. 134 Bathurst 12 Hour Group E Falcon EAS-pack. Fully adjustable Koni suspension, LSD, 5 speed, race computer, roll cage, tinted windows, 2 sets of mags. Many more extras, $8,500. Urgent sale. Ph: 02 4774 1621,0418 455168

Porsche Cup cars. 2 Class A race winners. 911 RSR as raced by Wayne Park to many race wins, lap recads &1994 championship. 911C2 as raced by Julian Harburg to two race wins -I- Lakeside lap record 1998. Both cars have had full rebuilds fa 1998 season. V reliable and well sorted, both come

with restrictors and dyno sheets for 98 season. Both cats must sell. /Assistance negotiable and so is pric«! Ph: Julian Harburg 0411667 799. .33

XR8 1991 EB, red Falcon sedan. 58,000kms, 5 speed, a/c, AUSCAR Sportsman Falcon. Built 1996, 9 meetings old, never bent. Sell as roller, near complete, less running gear. Includes window net. Iront & rear spoilers, radiator, seat, fuel bladder. Grant steering wheel & quick release hub. All exc cond. Considaallolfers. Ph:Tony0418 830 465. 134

cruise, central locking, excellent condition, always garaged. $21,500neg. Located nr Mt Gambia. SA. Ph: 08 8733 2347. 133

Falcon GT XB. Immaculate condition. 1 owna. 2 alarms, air, sunroof, low kms, otha extras. $25,000. Ph: 02 4655 6266,0412 233143. .33

Bathurst 12 Hour Group E Falcon EA S-pack Fully

adjustable Koni suspension, L^, 5speed, race computa, rt^l cage, tinted windows, 2 sets of mags, many more extras. Urgent sale. $8,950. Ph: 02 47741621,0418 455 168. m Thunderdome HQ, all log books, new sealed motor (as new), sealed box. Can be test driven befae sale. $7,200. Ph: 03 95637072. .a

AUSCAR, VS, immaculate. Complete roller less engine. Yellow

light, fire bomb, fuel cell and churn, harness, complete Autometer instrument oanel, turbo brakes and M21 hearbox.

New gears and bearings in dilf, CR & P cage, all new panels. Needs engine & minor assembly. /Asking $12,000. Ph; 0419155 635. .34

Porsche. 1990 Carera 4. black in colour with matching full leather interior. 8 way power seats and climate control. This street vehicle is in immaculate condition with very low kms. $90,000. Ph: 0411 700303. .34

Ford Capri 1970. Show, Drag, Street. Fully worked 302. 5 speed. 9'LSD disc rear end. 15" Simmons wheels. Fully engi-

Datsun 1600, 2 litre Club Car, fast, all the good bits, looks

rfeed. Roll ba. Immaculate 2-pack black. Consida p/payment

great, $9,500. Also, Datsun 1600, complete shell with all panels, engines, transmissions, diffs etc, $800. Will separate. Ph: 02

panelvan. $12,000. Ph: 02 6687 5131. 13.

66283265. .34

Alfa Romeo Guilia Sprint 65.2 litre engine, nrnhing gear -r brakes. Many performance parts, superb condition. Have owned 16 years. No mst, immaculate. $12,000. Ph: Paul 02

Datsun 260Z, 2-I-2 auto. Good condition, new tyres and

mags. Some spares. 99 rego. $4,700ono. Ph: Ken Kaen 0414 434 246, (AH) 02 4369 3170.

99580402,0418415129. .33

12}

continued over page

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ADDRESS:

CATEGORY; Cars:

□ Sedans □ Open Wheelers

General: □ Parts

□ Speedway □ Drag

□ Engines □ Trailers □ Wanted

□ Photographs □ Other

48 UAu01998 Alfa Romeo Alfetta, 4 door sedan, 1978. Clean original car. 2 owners. Engine tired. Make good Club or Rally car. Reg no. TM777. $2.500ono. Ph: 03 9469 5162 (AH). 133

Kart - 1995 Speed chassis complete ready to race with

Two 700hp Rodeck engines. Brodix heads, Kinsler injection, Barnes dry sump, roller cam, Jessel rockers,

Yamaha KT100J motor. Suitable National or Clubman class.

Plenty ol spares. Excellent condition. $1,650ono. Ph: 03 5334

Crower crank, Carillo rods. Super magnetos. Only $25,000. Ph/fax: David 02 6021 3962 (or 02 6025 5561 AH). Toyota Supra 3-litre six. Genuine complete Group A

3104. 133

Open Wheelers h.

133

Formula Holden, 91D Reynard, ex Kevin Weeks car, recent ly undergone near complete rebuild. Fully rebuilt John Sidney

TRD factory engine. Ex John Smith. Last raced Bathurst 1989.

engine (zero race miles), new carbon clutch. Spares package includes full set suspension arms, ratios, springs, front & rear virings, floor and more. No expense spared. Priced fro prompt

ITS?

sale. $68,000. Ph: Rod Wilson 03 9872 4522,0417 511 911 . 133 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, ono. Ring Greg Paynter on

c~ —

0413 877 774 or 07 3375 6000.

li-:

enclosed trailer. Urgent sale, $8,000 includes free air ticket to look at car and freight to Melbourne. Ph; 017 875 426 (TAS). ib

3 ■M

>«-

pi?.

--a-.

Formula Holden Ralt RT21. Well presented, ready to race, not run since recent completion ol no expense-spared profes sional restoration to gearbox, brakes, suspension etc. Includes 2 sets rims, new rubber, gear ratios, spares package.

to race, many spares, urgent sale. $10,5000n0. Ph: Jason Bishop 0418 861 224, 02 4733 6885. ,3.

Walsh Motorsport offers for sale: 23 degree al^ Brodix Track 1 cylinder heads complete, prepared by Hussey Performance; 23 degree steel Dart cylinder heads, complete with big valves, prepared by Hussey; 23/163 piece Hilborn fuel inj, 2 seasons old, 18AS nozzle; GM 1182 steel crank, 3.48 stroke 010M 010B; set 10 JE pistons, 8 used 2 new, 035 up, suit 5.7 rod; set 8 s/h TRW pistons, 030, suit 6 rod; set roller lifters and rev kit; Summers Bros gear drive complete; set steel splayed main caps & studs; High Energy wet sump and h/v pump with pick-up; new Sprintcar fibreglass panels and F500 panels; Gambler 3 piece bonnet, Maxim 1 piece bonnet and arm guard, J&J arm guard, F500 bonnet and tail cone. Ph: 03

L .--it.

5848 (AH). Std Saloon XD Falcon V8. Powersteer, 2 seat and seatbelts. Complete, ready to race. Spare rolling shell, many panels, tyres and rims. $2,500the ott. Ph: Kevin or Donna03 5174 1831. 134

AMCA NSW48, LHD 253 methanol. Best of everything, ready

t33

Eifin Crusader 1987, top 10 car, complete with spares and

1991 Reynard, ex-factory car, low kms, fully rebuild Benson RED engine, good assortment of spares. POA. Ph: Jeff 9570 3683,0418172889. w

Complete, assembled, less turbo. Replacement cost $60,000, sacrifice $4,000. Ph: Dennis 02 9683 1444 (BH), 02 9629

Kart - very fast, winner of 6 meetings in a row 97/98 season, with winning JK tuning Clubman. Best of all parts, with race suit. Italian frame. $2,200ono. Must sell. Ph: 08 8337 2092.

133

134

extras. $16,600ono. Ph: 02 9604 0208.

GP Midget, roller, competitive car. Torsion bar, knock-on

Porsche 930 trans, Saco steering, Fox-Bilstein shocks Centreline wheels, intercom, spares, done little work. $16,000. Ri: 08 8633 2300,08 8633 2232 (AH). .3.

134

Sprintcar, 1985 Gambler lobar in top condition. New Maxim bonnet, tail tank and bladder, new seat + spares. Urgent sale $5,500ono. Ph: Jason Bishop 0418 861 224,02 4733 6885. 134 TE Cortina Modified Production - Super Production. Strong 250 methanol engine, 2 parts powerglide, adj Konis, aluminium seat + tank -r radiator. Power steering. Currently ACT/NSW #2. Has won at Canberra. Cowra, Goulbum & griffith. $6,000ono. Ph: 0414 253 174. ,33

3 Litre Saloon/Production Sedan. VSC/ASCF reg. LH Torana, 2 yrs old, maintained as new, ready to race

Elfin Catalina, 1962, restored original Group M. Mag wheels. twin Webers, discs, 1558cc, new Dunlops, battery, radiator. Fast and easily maintained. $31,000. Ph: 02 9211 2854.

Pistons & Conrods: LA Kryptonite rods with Carr bolts, L/6.535, set of 10. JE pistons, 12.5;1, set of 10, all brand new, still in boxes. Sell lot $3,500. Ph: 0418 101 414. 134 Escort 8“ big axle LSD, with tailshaft, brakes, $750; RS2000 Group 1 inlet manifold (IDFX2) $375; dual tract headers $375;

Tranx sc/cr 4 speed gearbox, new kit $1,600ono. Ph; 08 8278 5988 (evenings). 134 Simmons Mamba wheels, 2 sets - 13'x10‘ offset 5‘,

13"x12' offset 4‘, 4'PCD, 4 stud, 3' mounting flange, 3 spare front outer rims. $1,800 plus freight. Ph; Don 07 5499 9745. 134 Harrop 4 spot caliper, 11/4-1 1/2 lug mount. Ph: 0412120 720. 133

T/AD motor & parts: 3 complete WAR motors. Whipplecharger, Crower clutch, complete heads, manifolds, fuel pumps, mags etc. Everything but a chassis. Ph: Mario, Spaghetti Bender/Lenco Racing (US), 00 11 1 408 484 1269, e-mail jerry.kumre@autodesk.com

133

with spares. Trailer and additional Hoosiers & wheels

arranged anywhere. Ph: Daryl 018149 592.

(AH). 03 9348 9500 (BH).

Brodix 18 degree heads, Jessel rockers, 3 piece Hilborn

133

Super Sedan. Ready to race, spare wheels and panels. I

$5,000. Ph: Mark014617716

133

manifold. Ph: 0412 120 720. 133

Weber carburettors: 48mm side draught, in good cond, $600 the pair; 48mm downdraught, in gorxl cond. $600 the pair. Ph: 03 9237 4502, (BH), 03 9878 9515 (AH). 133 3 BBS 19 inch Snake Tongue touring car irms, centre lock nut style, with Michelin slicks. Worth $6,000, sell for $2,500. Ph: 02

Tomas Mezera’s RF85 championship-winning Formula Ford Reynard, to be offered at auction at Mid City Motor Auctions, 165 Richmons St. Richmond, SA, 1.30pm. August 20.

66555715,019125965. 133 Brand new 2 litre Kombi heads, 48x38 titanium stainless valves. Chev double springs. These are the best heads. $1,800. Ph: 02 6655 5715,019 125 965. 133 Wheels, 3 piece 16x12 and 16x11, suit Sports Sedan, Ph:

V'f

:ab J

134

The Tighe Vincent, famous T958 Group Lb car. Restored, fresh motor, spares, jigs. All oilers considered. Ph: 02 9211 2854.

er set g/c $7,500. Ph; 07 3878 2740. 134

available. $5,650. Ph: Neale or Kevin 03 9744 3424

Super Seilan, Pontiac, ex Aust #1. 350 Chev, 4 bolt, magne

Ph: 08 8234 1988.

Ford Yates heads, R Yates factory CNC ported, DelWest titanium valves, retainers, 10 degree sper locks, 1.65 shaft rock

Celica GT4 1988 3SGE, turbo, 5 speed, a/c, p/s, front half only complete. All mechanical & panels $2,500. Delivery

to, methanol carby and fuel pump, quick change diff, coil-over shockers etc. $12,000. Ph: 08 8262 4663 (BH). 133

MOti

Recaro racing seat, black, gc, $300; Longacre digital pyrometer, deluxe model, $200; Autometer shift light, BOOOrpm, 97534435.015338763. i3<

axle, Halibrand diff, power steering, Carrera coil over shocks on front, torsion bar rears, adj Carrera on rear. Kirkey seat, otts of

hubs, current Vicl. Ph: Lester 02 6040 5936 (AH). 134

Parts Motorola two-way radios. Two crew, one driver. Car har ness with aerial, chargers, two headsets, one helmet kit. As new. $2,900. Ph: 02 4628 8322 (AH). 134 Longacre computer scales, model no. 72634. Cost in excess of $4,000, will accept $3,500, no offers. New, never used. Ph: 02 4628 8322 (AH), w

$160; Mazda llOpsi oil pressure regulator. $50, Ph; Steve 03

Speedcar, NSW36. Stealth chassis. 166ci Mitsubishi, /Vgo rods, /Vies pistons, dry sump, braided oil lines, alum splined

Off Road Buggy, Class 1, Southern Cross. Buick V6 turbo,

13B peripheral port motor, just been run in on dyno. Genuine 320hp. Cost $9,700 to build, sell $5.500ono. Genuine enquiries only. Ph: 03 5422 7474, 0419 334 786. 133

Pontiac Firebird S/Sedan. Gomer chassis, new 350 Chev, 4 bolt main. McLeod clutch. Dart 2 heads. Winters Wide 5 tVchange, heaps of spares: wheels, panels, on trailer. Must sell,

0419388192.

exhaust, flywheel and injection. Requires top end overhaul. $2,500. Ph: 03 9469 5162 (AH). ,33

55951182,015801016. m

shifting camp. Ph: 03 9431 1459 after 6pm. Modified Production TE Cortina, strong 250 xflow methanol motor, 4 speed, adj suspension. Very competitive car, plenty of spares, ready to race. $7,500ono. Ph: 03 5978 7679,

$30,000ono. Ph: 0419 748 261 (Adelaide). 134

133

Porsche 911 2.7 engine. Totally complete, including

0412521 810. 133

Getrag 5 speed (dogleg pattern), direct top gearbox, from Torana Super Production LX hatchback. Roller, Cortina rack, NASCAR bar work, new seat, new net and harness, Holden & Hilux rear diff. Spare wheels & panels. $1,200ono. Ph:

134

0263522773. 131

325i BMW, $1,000. Ph: 014 803 859. m

AVS 17 inch polished irms, made by Yokohama, with 245x45x8 P7 new series tyres. Good for road or racing, suit Porsche or VW Porsche stud pattern. $2,500. Ph: 02 6655 5715, 019125965. 133

Alach NZ 1995 Deluxe Midget kit. 4130 chassis, body / tUf.

panels, brake plumbing, 2 sets of radius rods & arms, nerf bars, rear bumpers, torsion bars & arms, throttle, brake pedal. 2 front axles, Pontiac engine plate. $5,000ono. Ph: 02 9624 6428. ™

Fender Bender, VC Valiant, 1 meeting since engine rebuild. Many quality wheels & tyres, heaps spares. Sealed motor, com 1997 Spectrum 06, ex Christian Jones 1997, prepared by

Borland Racing. Brand new Lamer engine. One meeting since last rebuild. Includes sets of ratios, 2 sets wheels. Dorian. Car raced very little this year. Ready to race. $37,500. Ph: 02 6056

plete ready to race and win. Must be sold. $1,100. Ph: 02 9525 3430,0418970646. 13.

3100. Ill

Swift SC93, ex Steven White, currently raced by Christian Jory. Top Lamer engine, one meeting on rebuild, blueprinted gearbox, many spares, updated b/w. Ideal first car, good record Nat series. Nothing to spend, complete package. $28,000, would consider lease. Ph: Tony Jory 0418 130 133,

Wii-N ( /

0363 265555.

134

Latest design Redline chassis, fully lightened Holden diff, new arms, radius rods etc, Schroeder steering box, new alum seat, Simpson belts. Suzuki 1140multi-valve engine with GSX-R head, new pistons etc, one show since rebuild. Race winner, ready to race. $10,000 firm (will sell without engine). Ph: Russell 134

Historic EHin Catalina, Group M. Lap records Lakeside, Eastern Creek. 2 meetings since engine rebuild. Race prepared John MoLean Motors. Tilt trailer. Realistic price, $27,500. Ph: AlanSmart07 33786507. 134

FF93 Van Diemen, comp State series car. Fresh engine, ratios. Spares include wishbones, nosebox, bodywork. Trailer with annex. $32,000ono. Ph: Ben 02 6282 3925 (BH), 02 6258

07 3841 2358 or Glen 0414 752 482.

133

Engines BIB Chev LS7 Drag bracket engine. Makes 540hp. In perfect condition. Carillos, Crane, Fluidamper K Motion. Runs

8.6ET / 154mph in current car. Asking $13,900. Ph: 02 9715 3343.

134

Crower fuel injection, suit SB Chev, complete, ex-con, $1,500. Kevin Sessions, 145 Vincent Rd, Wangaratta, Vic. 134 Gemini turbocharged 1600cc race engine. Garrett turbo blowing into twin 45mm Del Ortos on methanol.

Superflow head, o-ringed block, knife edge crank, shot peened rods, modified sump, locked dist, Tilton 5" clutch, blow off valve. EFUl fuel pump, Elpasie regulator. Makes 300hp at 6500rpm, with only 12 psi boost. Dyno sheets avail able. $3,600ono. Ph: Paul Quinn 02 6296 1774 (BH), 02 6242 6638(AH), 0412 273 113 (mob). 134 Holden 202 race engine. Fully rebuilt, balanced, blue printed, fully worked head, roller rcxikers, ACL racing pistons, Starfire rods. Crow cam, straight cut gears. Hi Energy sump. $2,200ono. Ph: 03 5978 7679, 0419 388 192. 134

TE Cortina Street Stock. Current reg VORA 18, Bilstein shocks, rated springs, Autometer gauges, brand new engine, fibreglass seat, 3" belts. Spare tyres and parts. Best money can buy. 250 xflow, p/s. $5,500ono. Ph: 03 5962 2888, 0418 102 370.

Roberto 0412 435 500. 133

sonably priced. Ph: 0411 700303. 134 Pontiac Formula Nitro Flopper, Atholwood Bros, com plete operation with enclosed trailer. Weldwell chassis. Strange live axle rear, Cragar/Weld wheels. Complete car is 2100lbs, suitable also Top Alcohol. Most beautifully presented, profes sionally built car in the country. Phone for full details. Replacement cost $180,000+, Give away at $110,000. Ph: Jeff

Speedway moton 250 Falcon, fully worked, never started. Comes with modified 350 Holley and modified electronic igni tion. Cost $4,500 parts only, sell $3,000. Ph: John 0418 362

9358 (AH),

Van Diemen RF92. Strong engine, one race old, well main tained, many spares, race winner. Complete, $26,000. Ph:

engine, plus spare pumps, mags, pushrods, wheels etc. Sell complete or will separate. Everything well maintained and rea

Speedcar (rolling chassis), trailer and spares. Includes Pro and Carrera shocks, wheels, tyres, radius rods, arms, bars, stops and much nxire. Complete or separate. POA. Ph: Warren

0417 771 915, Bob 07 3816 0220.

Alcohol dragster, can be sold with either Wh ipple or Roots blower. Meyer chassis, shorty Lenco and spare fresh short

'IT

0418680 800,015880604.

Drag Racing

134

Speedcar engine, Volvo overhead cam, dry sumped, stroker. Forged pistons, alum oil tank, braided oil lines, fuel injection. K&N filters, Hilborn fuel pump, magneto, exhaust system. Resh, ready to race. $4,800ono. Ph: 02 9604 0208. 134

F2 parts: F2 Cheetah Mk7/8 wheels, 2 front, 2 rear, in vgc.

$1,100 the lot; Ralt RT3 rear legs, also partially built tub and vari ous mounting brackets, $350; Golf F2 - new alloy adapter plate $250, new alloy sump $250, s/h inlet and exhaust $250, s/h side-mounted Cosworth oil pmp $350. Ph: 03 9237 4502 (BH), 03 9878 9515 (AH). 133 Gaerte Chev engine parts: /\ir Research heads, matched manifold, Crower rocker's stud, Gurdle roll followers, push rods, complete top. As run by USA Ronnie Adams. $4,500. Ph: 03 64262262,018144404. m

l^ansporters/Trailers Tandem trailer, up and over style, plenty storage under neath, used for Super Sedan & Modified Production. $2,500. Ph: 03 5978 7679,0419388192.U4 Fully enclosed tandem axle trailer, suitable for open wheelers. 4.1 x 2.45. Unique collapsible roof for streamline tow ing. Tyre rack, storage, annex, shelving, reg. $4,300. Ph: 02 9997 4182. 134

FIDO, 82 model, ex Ambulance. 351 V8, auto, dual fuel. 150tt

gas tank Tow bar. with a without 12 mths reg/RVC. $8,500ono. Ph: 03 5978 7679,0419 388 192.

134

Enclosed trailer, suit Speedcar, Litre or race car. 12'9' long, 6'9‘ wide, ST high, override brakes, dual axle, tyre rack, shock and radius rod racks, spares shelf. 12 months rego, exc cond. $2,850ono. Ph: 02 9604 0208. 134 International ACCO 2030 2 car transporter. Pantec

with annex, quicklift hoist, fridge, generator, compressor. Reg S RWC., Bargain. Ph: Julian Harburg 0411 667 799. 133

Wanted HQ Thunderdome, current fuel tank wanted. Also,

timing box and 3‘ harness from wrecked car, or maybe you're not racing your car any more. Ph: 03 5629 2369.

134

Video 1996 Sandown Tattersalls Historic meeting.

332,039748 4225 (AH).

Brabham tribute wanted. Ph: Robert 02 9831 1534.

Go Kart engine: KT100S, freshly, fully rebuilt by Powermac

Hot Wires 15x10, 14x9.5 or 9 HQ stud pattern. Ph:

Racing. Blueprinted and crank has been chromed. Comes

08 8271 4055.

with electrics. Very hot engine, still on original bore. $900ono.

Enclosed trailer required for average sized sedan. Must be NSW reg. Ph: 02 6297 2920. 133 Endurance co-drive sought by experienced NASCAR driver with excellent circuit racing results. Super Tourer or V8. Interested teams please phone

Ph: David 03 5593 2222 134

Mazda 13B pip, Rotomotion housings, 51mm IDA Weber, tooth belt drive, baffled sump, modified dissy, fully rebuilt, 300+hp, new twin plate clutch, close ratio Holinger g/box. $5,000neg, Ph: 02 9579 6382,015 468 166. 133

0417 014 383.

134

133

UAugusn998 Speedcar rims and tyres s/h or new. Also, used

Other

part steering, shocks etc. Ph: 02 6242 6638, 02 6296 1774, 0412 273 113.

Old car badges, eg: 1956 Olympk: games. Western District Car Club, Herald Touring, MG Club. All in excellent condition. Sell tobestoffer. Ringforfulllist.Ph:0363943541,015312918. ™ Flamecrusher overalls, 2 pair. Underwear, balaclavas, socks, long gtoves. Nomex boots. Bell full face helmet, 7 1/8. Suit 5'10". Carry bag. $400 the lot. Ph: Gary 0415 751 359 (Gold Coast). 133 Historic racing book, the Book of Australian Motor Racing, by Bill Tuckey. /Autographed by author & Jim Clark at point of sale.

134

Lancer 1974 factory comp parts. Anything, any condition, especially oil separator, sump or pul

ley for alternator and water pump. Rebuilding Southern Cross car. Ph: Roger 02 6280 5540 (BH), 02 6297 9446 (AH). 133 Crew member for North Brisbane based Super Sedan team. For a chance at this rare and exciting opportunity, phone 0417 789 053. os Sponsorship for 1999 Victorian HQ Holden rounds. I have the car but my budget is limited. Experienced motor sport competitor. Ring Joe, 0414 842 662 any time.

133

Adjustable shock absorbers to suit Torana. Ph.

OMP race seat, black, fixed back. Never used. EC. $350. Ph: 0412323941. m

Grartd Prix, bikes etc. For details write to: P Baker, PC Box 8114, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450. 134

133

OMP suit, red, size 52. Brand new, never worn. $650. Simpson race boots, high type, blue, size 43, $100. Ph: 0412 323 941. ISJ

Offers. Ph: Ian 07 32671620. m

Motor sport Art Original and prints. V8, tourers, drag racers,

0412 521 810.

Two open face helmets, with inbuiH earphones and boom microphones. Both used once. $150 each. Ph: 03 9237 4502 (BH), 03 9878 9515 (AH). 133

Historic photos: 70s, 80s. Brock, Johnson etc. Majority unpub lished, b&w and colour. Tourers, sports cars, F5000, F2 etc. Search service also available. Fax for details, 02 9960 6552. 133

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50 M August 19S8

COM MENT

Editorial Editor

Bargs says “Congrats

Jeff Krosnoff (who, I’m sorry to have to remind you, took a marshal

Dear Sir, Congratulations to Michael

with him)? Hadn’t they been count

Borland on winning the Australian Formula Ford Championship with

Marcelo and Brayton both passed away after their respective acci dents at Indianapolis (which has always been a AAA/USAC-administered event, as far as I know, even when it was part of the (TART

ed in Morris’ research?

Adam Macrow.

David Hassall

No-one really understands the amount of hard work he’s put in to get the Spectrum cars on otp of the Formula Ford grid. Isn’t it good ot see an Australian

Technical Editor

Tony Glynn Assistant Editor

Phil Branagan

Send :e::e,'s to Talk

■ :o PO Box 10 i0 Moan

■:

V'lc 3161. our E-mai! address, or rax :o 03 9527 7766

Toe sraf o‘ Votorspor: .\'ews does not necessarily agree xviti opi.nions exp-ess ty .-eaders

car win the title after a decade?

Graphics Co-ordinator Vlv Brumby

Advertising

Special congratulations to Adam’s race engineer Warwick Long and George and Liz Stockman, who had a lot of faith in

the project in the early days. Oh yes - and Adam on winning

Advertising Manager Gerald McDornan

the title!

Administration Jason Bargwanna Garry Rogers Motorsport Glen Waverley, VIC

Managing Director Chns Lambden

Contacts

Shell Australian Tyre Control Championship

89 Orrong Cresceni Caulfield No.Th VIC 3161

(PO Box 1010 Noith Caulfield 3161)

The SATCC has been run and

Phone 03 9527 7744 Fax 03 9527 7766

won.

Email inxnewx@corpllnk.cofn.au Coinfjuserve: iooz37,ii6s

Lowndes and bad luck Russell

Contributors

Congratulations

Craig

However, not everyone would udices), I feel that it is his profes sional standards that are flawed.

By allowing his opinions of Schumacher’s character to colour

his writing, Saward fails to fulfil the journalist’s prime function as an unbiased reporter of fact.

On a related topic, in response to the question of Schumacher’s per ceived inability to withstand pres sure from the likes of Frost, Senna, Mansell, Piquet, Patrese and other past heroes, it is worth noting that of the German’s 31 victories (equal winners list), eight were scored competing against fields that con tained at least one of these drivers

Nevertheless, he, again like Senna, is the leading driver of his era.

I for one am prepared ot forgive Schumacher his humanity in exchange for the kind of on-track performances that have demon strated that he is the only driver in the current field capable of consis tently challenging the dominance of

the number one team in any given season, whether it be Williams, or McLaren. Grand Prix racing would be a dull affair without him.

Perhaps it is better to recognise, as Dennis Jenkinson put it, that ‘these are the good old days’ (Motorsport, May 1998, p. 13.) and

Ingall. I’ve been reflecting over the sea

General- Mike Kable. Jon Thomson,

that each track is not dominated by one car or one make of car, but one

US Bruce Smith, Phil Morris

As far as I can see, the parity between Ford and Holden is spot on

bear that in mind when first read

ing the article and would make the assumption (as I did) that they had been omitted from the research lists.

I’m also sure there would be some NASCAR aficionados out there who would be able to tell us if

there have been any fatalities in their favourite class in recent years, as well.

I’m sure you can see the point I’m trying to make here - that state ment in Morris’ article as printed was too broad.

If Morris had been more specific that the Michigan fatalities were the first spectator deaths since Indianapolis 1987, he would have

made his point without people thinking he had forgotten these

son thus far and it seems to me

Brian Reed, Darryl l-lai.k !FI Joe Saward, Adam Cooper Europe Ouentiri Spurring,

dent took place in Toronto, a CART street race.

third with Mansell on the all-time

Dear Sir,

championship) and KrosnofTs acci

most