Motorsport News Issue 144 - 15-28 January 1999 by V8 Sleuth

Ralt Sehumaeher - is he any good? Issue 144

$4.50 (NZ $5.95 IncI GST)

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15 - 28 January 1999

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The Ultimate In Car Security

15 January 1999

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Missed it by that much Greg Mui-phy was very close to getting a call to drive for Renault’s BTCC team this sea

son. After not being able to agree terms with Laurent Aiello over his wish to drive at Le Mans with

Audi, Sir Frank Williams gave the nod to new driver Jules

Bouillon to join the Laguna team for 1999. But Bouillon was

already committed to a Le Mans steer with a private Ferrari team. Sir Frank caved in at the last

minute; had he stood firm, Murfs name was next on the list...

■ Bouillon’s BTCC drive means that he will not be able to

take the testing role with British American Racing. The gig has now gone to Frenchman Patrick Lemairie who has had close

links with Jacques Villeneuve. Lemairie has been racing in Formula 3000.

Winning form: None of the Ford teams - including the Bathurst-winning Stone Brothers outfit - have signed contracts for the 1999 season yet.

AU Falcons forced to

run with old wings By CHRIS LAMBDEN A MAJOR row between Ford

Motorsport and V8 Supercar teams’ group TEGA, during which Ford threatened to quit V8 Supercar racing, has been settled - for now.

The disagreement, over the homologation procedure for the new AU Falcon, raged until last Friday, when Ford Motorsport’s Greg

While Holden’s introduction of the VT Commodore last June involved a virtual transfer of the

preceding VS model’s aerodynamics

impossible situation. While wishing to support Ford, they are also part of TEGA, whose policy suggests that it would have

(some claim in return for the flexi

preferred the $200,000 to go direct

bility of a mid-year homologation), upwards of $200,000 has been spent by Ford over recent months developing an improved front airdam and rear wing package for the

ly to its Ford teams rather than on a windtunnel program which would, in the end, be subject to par ity handicapping anyway. Throw in Ford’s reported threat at the height of the argu ment to quit — to date no Ford team has a signed deal for 1999 — and you have a number of wor

Harbutt met with TEGA Technical

AU Falcon in a Ford windtunnel in the United States. Ford did so in the belief that the

Manager John Sheppard. A compromise was hammered

homologation rules for an all-new model provided the scope for a fresh

ried teams.

out to allow the AU Falcon homolo

look at the aero kit. Ford therefore

The delays caused by the fracas also mean an AU Falcon is unlikely

gation to proceed in time for the new car to make its planned debut at the Australian Grand Prix meet

ing in March. Parity and aerodynamics were at the centre of the dispute, with Ford claiming that TEGA’s procedures were ad hoc and lacked communica tion and structure.

For its part, TEGA has been unhappy with Ford’s resistance to its “parity” philosophy, part of which seeks to keep new car devel opment costs down.

baulked

TEGA’s request for some pre-sea son back-to-back testing of the new package, to assess whether it affect ed the Holden/Ford parity balance. At the same time, TEGA was also

canvassing an option which would mean adoption of a standard cate gory aero-kit based on the current Holden.

This proposal also failed to find favour with Ford...

Over recent weeks. Ford’s teams have found themselves in an almost

to hit the track until the second

week of February at the earliest, putting the pressure on teams to get their act together before the Grand Prix, in the first week of March.

The compromise agreed by Harbutt and Sheppard means that the Falcon will now sport front airdam and rear wing configurations basically transferred across from the EL.

No pre-season parity testing will

face at Phillip Island’s IRTA test at the end of the month. Kevin

Schwantz may be putting in an appearance on latest Suzuki’s RGV500 as a favour to new team

rider Kenny Roberts Jr. If Schwantz doesn’t gather a full Busch Grand National budget he may take the testing role further this season...

Some of the gains found in the windtunnel will therefore, for now,

■ TEGA is planning an official pre-season test day, at Eastern Creek on February 27, four days before on-track activity starts at the Australian GP meeting. The day will allow all teams to com plete pre-season set-up work on the Bridgestone control tyre but will also be important to teams debuting the new AU Falcon,

be shelved.

which will have had limited test

In the meantime, according to Harbutt, “provisional offers have

ing by then.

be required and the situation will be assessed, as normal, after three races.

been made to the Ford teams in relation to the 1999 season”.

Ford’s motorsport chief told Motorsport News on Monday that “there is now a resolution which

will allow the AU homologation to proceed satisfactorily, although I still have a number of underlying concerns about the whole process”. In the past, homologation of new cars was handled by CAMS, through a Recognition Committee process.

However, the current philosophy of handing over of category man agement to, in this case, TEGA means that, while the governing body is theoretically still the ulti

■ Dick Johnson, Larry Perkins and Russell Ingall have all now completed their first laps on (second-hand) Bridgestone tyres in advance of the introduc tion of the official Control rubber

in February. Comments from the drivers all centre on the excel

lent consistency over many laps of the Japanese rubber.

■ The new Caterpillar V8 Supercar Team is in full swing in Perth, with team manager Les Laidlaw overseeing the set up of a new team workshop while construction of the team’s

first AU Falcon continues apace. John Bowe’s 1999 race car is

mate decision-maker, its involve

expected in the paint shop by the

ment is effectively limited to-a rub ber-stamping of TEGA’s process and proposals.

end of next week and should be close to finished when Ford releases its aero kits in mid-

GTP onto V8 program By PHIL BRANAGAN

race at either Perth, Darwin

THE Australian GT Production series will run

or Symmons Plains. A deci sion regarding that race will be made by the end of this

on the V8 Supercar pro gram this season. Category manager Procar Australia sealed the deal on

month. All rounds will be shown on Network lO’s new

The series will run over

‘Trackside’ program, which will be shown on the Sunday following each championship

eight rounds, starting at

round. The show will feature

Eastern Creek on March 28,

Willowbank, Calder, Winton

up to one hour dedicated to GTP, double the exposure it received in past years. Ten’s General Manager of

and Oran Park. There will be one other

Continued next page

Tuesday. ■gUKKPOWER

■ The rumour mill suggests that there could be a familiar

and will follow the Shell trail

to Phillip Island, Sandown,

February. In the meantime, the team will test with its existing EL Falcon on February 25. ■ Melbourne drag racer Peter Merrigan had his Nationals-winning Modified Altered stolen on Monday night. The Chevrolet-

powered car was taken from his home and, while police have recovered the trailer, the car is

still at large. Call 000 if anyone offers you a cheap Chev engine.

■ Webber goes Formula Ford! After spotting the car in MN’s Classifieds Mark Webber is buy

ing back the Van Diemen RF95 in which he made such an

impression in FF four years ago. The Mercedes-Benz works driver will rebuild the car in Yellow

Pages colours prior to its perma

nent display in MB’s Performance Driving Centre in Queensland.

15 January 1999

not fast enough

■ Cameron McLean’s first drive in his ex-D-JR

Ford Falcon was postponed last Monday. The V8 new boy was due to have a shakedown mn at

Lakeside today (Thui-sday). ■ AVESCO has a new Media and Public

Relations Manager. Gai Reid, formerly of Network 10 Brisbane, will take oyer the role with imme diate effect. Ms Reid

worked on the Indy car event and FAI1000 Classic as a Features Producer.

■ Ooops; we got a date wrong on the Castrol Motorsport Calendar last week. Don’t go to Lakeside on April 11 to see the BOC Gases Super Touring circus, go a week later on April 18. Apologies to all concerned for the typo.

■ The Junior Touring day at Eastern Creek last Tuesday was a success. Bruce Williams had more

than 20 media i-epresentatives and 80 prospective competitors show up for the day. ■ Kmart has extended

its support of Gibson Motorsport. The retail giant has signed a threeyear deal to have its name appear on the two Wynns Commodores of Greg Murphy and Steven Richards. ■ Three-time

Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Unser has had his conviction for snowmobil-

ing in the Wilderness Area in southern Colorado

upheld. Unser, who with a friend became lost in a

blizzard when their snow mobiles broke down in

December 1997, wandered

around for two days before being rescued. He was fined US$75.

■ Peugeot’s Belgian Procar title-winning team appears to have passed over reigning champion Sebastien Ugeux to snare double former champion Thien-y Tassin. But Ugeux has not given up hope of retaining the drive; “I may continue with Peugeot and would enjoy teaming up with Thieriy Tassin,” he said recently. ■ You too can look like

Mick Doohan standing still. The quintuple World Champ now has his own website for merchandise www.doohan-500.com

INDYCAR champion Alessandro Zanardi admits that he is not fast

enough in Formula 1 yet and that the change has not been easy, but is not concerned about his lack

admits Zanardi

flat out and it’s not fast

enough,” he said. “Hopefully I will get there some time

three years and brings yet another major player in

soon.

telecommunications

“Right now I am driving

“It will take a little time to

find my limits. When I first went

America

was

uncompetitive but then I won two championships in a row...”

Sir Frank Williams admits

that winning will not be easy this year. “We never adopt a holding pattern, and we are seeking to be always on the podium

expansion in the pay-TV markets in Europe with deals being discussed to involve the boss of News

ahead with its own allnew Formula 1 team next year.

The announcement brings to an end speculation that the Japanese carmaker might be buying into an existing team, specifically Jordan, which runs Mugendeveloped Honda VIO engines. At a press conference in Tokyo, Honda President Hiroyuki Yoshino said that

into

Grand Prix racing. Nortel had also considered

sponsoring the Olympic Games and World Cup soccer but had concluded that they did not have the same appeal

the Honda FI team would be

as FI.

ready for the 2000 season and that the company planned to build “not only the engine but also the chassis”. As we have been predicting

The deal with Brother is

for one year and will see badging on the Williams dri vers and team personnel but not on the cars. -JOESAWARD

for some months, the Honda

Williams

Not concerned: In typical

UK and we believe that the

Grand Prix Engineering -

candid fashion, Zanardi

which has decided to build

concedes he should be

up a new brand image as

faster, but believes the

operation already employs almost 100 people - many of them refugees from Tyrrell, which was based only 20km

and snatch a win when oth ers stumble.”

MEANWHILE,

“Williams

FI team will be based at

premises in Bracknell in the

has

speed will come.

away.

Courtney’s first FF test

Nielsen. As the new team was in no

position to build any cars, the prototype Honda FI cars were built by Dallara in Italy and, according to Yoshino, one of these tested in Italy on

had his first taste of

Formula Ford - in a private test session at Melbourne’s

Calder Park just weeks before he takes up a plum

December 15. This seems to have been a shakedown test at the little-

drive overseas.

Courtney, 18, drove a 1996 model Van Diemen at

Calder Park on Monday (January 11).

Dallara is based.

Four prototype FI chassis

late January to become a factory driver for the crack

have been built at Dallara and will be used to test in the course of the next few months. The 2000 car will be

Van Diemen FF team in Britain.

Courtney did about 20 laps at Calder on Monday half of them on a wet track

and half in the dry. The youngest of the Australian Grand Prix’s six

ambassadors, Courtney's car carried 1999 Qantas

Raring to go: Kart king James Courtney prepares to hit the track in the Van Diemen,

Australian Grand Prix livery for his low-key Formula

seem to have a lot of time

Ford debut. “It’s so different to kart

from corner to corner,

manager, and long-time family friend and touring car star, Neil Crompton. Courtney said he was

whereas in a kart on a

not even sure whether Gow

smaller track you always

and Crompton ran a stop

seem to be in a corner. “It was a little weird. There was a lot of tar around me. And I hit a few

watch while he circulated.

ripple strips a bit hard." Courtney tested under

said.

ing, it’s incredible,” said Courtney, winner of the World Junior Karting Championship in 1995 and the FIA World Formula A

Karting Championship in 1997.

“I think Iadapted okay, but I’m on a really steep learning curve.

“In a racing car you’re on a much bigger track so you

“It was very much just a learning day - there was no emphasis on times,” he Courtney, from Castlereagh on Sydney’s

the watchful eye of expatri ate Australian entrepreneur

western outskirts, will test

Alan Gow, who is now his

for the Van Diemen factory

GTP on V8 program Continued from Page 3 News, Current Affairs and Sport

ran alongside the Super Touring Championship for four years. During that period the grids have grown from an initial 15 cars to almost 40,

year’s 3-Hour GTP event at Bathurst

cal for Murdoch to make a bid for Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One

to know that the category is a perfect partner for V8 Supercars and able to provide the foundation for some very

allowing competitors five classes to choose from for various budgets. “We’re delighted that the champi onship has grown to the stage where we have been sought to be a major support category for Australia’s most popular form of motorsport - V8 Supercars,” said Bill West, Procar

Holdings - which controls the TV rights of Grand Prix racing - if

exciting viewing for our television audience,” he said.

Australia Chief Executive. GTP will share the

“The close and exciting action and the wide variety of cars on track make for great television.”

Championship Series support bill

The move has come after the series

The GTP move creates a vacancy

Ecclestone fails to float

known Varano circuit, where

He will leave Australia in

Corporation in digital TV services in both Germany and Italy. The deals make it increasingly logi

the company.

The Honda FI team is being led by former Tyrrell chief Dr Harvey Postlethwaite and includes ex-Tyrrell men Rupert Manwaring and Steve

DUAL world karting cham pion James Courtney has

■ Media mogul Rupert Murdoch continues his

HONDA has finally con firmed that it is going

announced sponsorship deals with Nortel Networks and Brother. The multi-million Nortel deal is to last for the next

lustre testing form.

Honda return is official

David White is enthusiastic about

acquiring GTP for the V8 program. ‘You only have to look back to last

Shell

with Formula Holden and Formula Ford.

at various British circuits in

February and March before returning to Melbourne for the 1999 Qantas Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park on March 4-7.

His racing schedule for the year comprises the 13round British Formula Ford

Championship, some races in continental Europe and the Formula Ford Festival -

the category’s annual “world championship" in Britain.

on the support program for the BOC Gases series. Commodore Cup and Porsche Cup are already committed to the series and the G'TP gap could be filled, in part, by Junior Tourers. “We’ll look at what the various

option are,” said TOCA’s Kelvin O’Reilly this week. “TOCA has endeavoured in the

past to nurture categories which have not had the capacity to run alongside for a full series. “GTP, Porsche Cup and Commodore Cup have, in the past, all run in ‘partial’ series. If they

designed and built in Britain, with Honda engineers being posted to Bracknell to learn the skills of composite engi neering. It is expected that Satoru Nakajima - who remains the best-known figure in Japanese motorsport - will be presented as the front man for the Honda FI team.

The move into FI high lights a shift in Honda’s emphasis away from main stream car production to a sportier image with cars such as the S2000 oradster. The first Honda car was the S500 roadster in 1963. -JOE SAWARD

“If I was involved with Junior

Tourers it would be an ideal way to ease competitors into a national championship.” Junior Tourer prime mover Bruce Williams said that Mallala on May 30 was a realistic goal, which would provide a five-round series. “If we had the go-ahead now I would anticipate around 16 cars would be at the first race,” he said on

Calder it would give then a six-round

Tuesday. Another possibility is the Formula Xtreme motorcycle category. Meetings between Xtreme organiser Terry O’Neill and O’Reilly have already been held but there is yet to

series.

be a commitment from either side.

(Junior Tourers) were to start at

INI

MotorSport A

ward for bikers

15Januafyl999

Super Touring waiting control tyre

Car 18; DJR stil

The Shell Helix team is

still deliberating over its choice of second dri

By PHIL BRANAGAN YOKOHAMA has won the

control tyre contract for Super Touring racing in Australia. TOCA

While no times came out of Australia

chief

Kelvin O’Reilly is believed to have approved the deal this week after the manufactur¬

Champ with champers: Will Australian Superbike Champ Marty Craggill get the bubbly on March 2? (Photo by Edward Krause)

AUSTRALIA’S top motor cycle racer will be recog nised for the first time at

this year’s Australian MotorSport Awards. A inaugural Australian Motorcycle Racer of the Year award,

for

domestic

Australian bike racing com petitors, will be awarded at the 1999 awards dinner, at the Melbourne Park Function

Centre on Tuesday March 2. The fifth annual Motor-

Sport Awards Dinner signals the inclusion of the event as

an official part of Grand Prix Week in Melbourne. The Grand

Prix

Corporation is joined by motor sport insurance spe cialists Sedgwick and oil company Pennzoil as associ ate sponsors of the event, which is jointly promoted by Motorsport News and CAMS. Among the major awards up for grabs are the MotorSport Young Achiever of the Year, International Achiever and the top award,

MotorSportsman of the Year. Last year’s major award winner was FI aspirant Mark Webber, whose year in British F3 paved the way for his signing by MercedesBenz, while other previous winners are John Bowe and

Craig Lowndes.

er’s tyres was tested at Oran Park last Friday. As part of the test - which was overseen by Yokohama Australia’s Managing

Sugihara - at least three compounds were tried on the shorter of the Sydney track’s two layouts. Brad Jones and leading Independent Peter Hills con ducted the testing but, in place of his usual Audi A4,

son’s ex-McLean Opel Vectra. The current BOC Gases

Champion completed a 22

Yokohama has continued to

Racing for Life team.

supply Independent teams in the German championship. The

move

has

been

applauded by the competi

available in his Ford Mondeo

tors contacted by Motorsports News but it appears that the control tyre issue represents more than just a competition matter. Yokohama is expected to put a good deal of promotion

formance.

and Motorsport technicians

expected to result in a number of GP celebrities joining the

ver for 1999, although the options looked to be narrowing down to

on the hardest compound and afterwards was report edly satisfied with their per

Keith McCormack and Chris

Jones drove John Hender

the test sources say Jones ran 44 second laps at the start of the run and the ‘drop off by the end was under Is.

the Independent teams did not threaten the leading Michelin outfits, the reports were that the tyres were impressive in their consistency. While they have not been represented locally recently,

Hills also ran a race stint

Director Takaharu Fushimi

The move to GP week is

audience as well as Australia’s

lap race simulation run in the Opel as well as a couple of qualifying attempts and the tyres came up well, according to observers.

The move represents a major change for Yokohama as well as the category. BMW Motorsport won the 1995 title with Yokes before

al weight behind the catego ry, including TV advertising

they moved to Michelins at

during the broadcasts.

the start of the 1997 season. Yokohama has had thin

representation in the class since but made a ‘comeback’ at

Bathurst last year. Mark Adderton and Jim Cornish ran

While a local television

deal is yet to be announced it seems likely that Channel 7 will carry the broadcasts though the details were still

the tyres on their respective

be discussed between the network and TOCA as MN

Honda and Nissan and, while

went to press.

motor sport heroes.

movers and shakers for what

is a fantastic night of motor sport and entertainment. Readers are also invited to

have their voice in selecting the one award voted by the public - the MotorSport Personality of the Year. A voting coupon is on page 11 and you can win a year’s supply of your favourite reading material simply by casting your vote.

Celebrity BMW Z3s BMW will be the official car of the

recently been restricted to women in

Celebrity Race at

Holden Astras.

the Qantas

Former

Australian Grand Prix in March.

The well-known and the lovely will take to the sweeps of Albert Park in 26 BMW Z3s, the first time in the history of

Mans

winner

Geoff

Brabham, who fronts BMW’s driver

training program, is expected to be among the instructors prior to the event

the event that the race will be conduct

to ensure that some of the almost $2.5

ed in open-topped sportscars. And, in keeping with the egalitarian nature of the car, men will again be included in the event, which has most

million worth of Bavaria’s finest coupes return to the shop in some sort of repairable condition.

Is this the end of

- PHIL BRANAGAN

Besnard's Honda

Daytona diame the road for Nigel? DAVID

THERE are conflicting stories that Nigel Mansell has announced his retirement from driving. The former FI and Indycar champion reportedly announced

has

Besnard is at the front of the

returned to his Florida

Besnard

team’s driving list. The car would be highly

base after attending test

ing for the Daytona 24 . competitive with the usually jjgyj.

While the Australian has

not actually secured a irde for the sportscar classic, he seems

last week that he had hung up his helmet for good - unless he received “a meaningful offer where I am guaranteed to be involved at all levels, contributing to engineering, development and association to the project”. But, following a considerable amount of coverage in the British press and a buzz on the world wide web, Mansell’s close confi dante and former Williams manag er Sheridan Thynne denied that Nigel was intending to retire. Mansell, who drove three BTCC races in one of Ford’s generally uncompetitive Mondeos last sea son, said he believed that he had done the best job he could have

dominant Porsches and

Vipers in the category.

Next week Besnard will head to California to attend

the US Media Awards, where

to be in line for one of the best drives in the GT2 class. One of the dominant facto

he has been nominated for

ry-built Honda NSXs will make its first appearance out side Japan in the event and

for a full Formula Atlantic

the ‘All Star Team’.

He expects to settle a deal season shortly after.

Meetings were taking place with that team as we went to press and Shell team manager Wayne Cattach was hopeful of being able to name the Bowe

replacement within a few days. ■ Alain Prost has

denied reports that Bernard Dudot, the tech nical director of Prost

Grand Prix, is to leave the team, following the appointment of technical consultant John Barnard.

It should be noted, howev er, that Dudot will be 60 later this month and may to slip quietly into retire

next few years. ■ Alan Heath, whose ex-Moffat Falcon was

comprehensively damaged in the big Bathurst pileup, has bought the Longhurst 'Team car raced last season by Alan Jones. ■ Paul Weel tested a

new engine radiator and integrated heat exchanger in his I{J Radiator Industries EL Ford Falcon

at Lakeside on Monday. In 35-degree heat, the car reportedly ran without a problem. It is envisaged that KJ Radiator

Industries will be making the units available to all AU Falcon and VT Holden

Commodore campaigners. ■ Jackie Stewart has

spoken out against BAR’S plans to run its two new Fonnula 1 cars in differ ent liveries. Stewart

pointed to the instance of last year’s Australian GP, when David Coulthard let

Mika Hakkinen past to win, saying that if McLaren’s cars were in different liveries the team

could have been open to accusations of fixing the race for purely commer cial reasons. ■ There have been

many rumours in recent weeks about further con solidation within the car

industiy. The big rumours in recent weeks are that

Ford is looking to buy BMW or Honda or both and that Daimler

Chrysler may be on the verge of taking over the troubled Nissan. Volvo

done under circumstances which

has also placed its car

“disappointed” him.

division on the market. If

While he appears to have left

the door open for a properly organised return to racing it seems that, at 45, he may have simply run out of opportunities ...

Steven's commitments or otherwise to the

ment in the course of the

Tickets are now on sale for

motor sport’s glamour night (see page 9 for details). Motorsport enthusiasts are invited to join the sport’s

Steve Johnson or Paul

Radisich, depending on

Ford bought BMW and Honda there would be

very serious implications

Honda: Or, more accurately, Acura. David Besnard is in line Photo by Botirwpi) Phciogr.ipWo

for a Daytona steer in a GT2 class NSX, whatever the badge.

for FI ...

15 January 1999

New Ford VI0 engine and staff revamp gives struggling team new hopes

Stewart claims he is ready to win JACKIE

Stewart

has

New hope: The Stewart

vowed not to repeat the problems of 1998, when his team struggled after being rushed to get its

SF3, which has an all-new

Ford engine, is revealed in Britain last week. (Photo by Sutton Images)

cars to the first race in Melbourne.

The engine weighs only 100kg and has no carry-over parts from the old Zetec-R.

The team hopes to be fully prepared this year and will have three of the new SF3

MEANWHILE,

chassis ready by the end of “I think we are properly prepared for 1999,” team

Prix in recent weeks with the

appointment of a new Managing Director, David

boss Jackie Stewart said at the launch of the car in

Ring. The 36-year-old Briton is experienced in management in the aerospace industry. Ring replaces Paul Stewart, Jackie’s son having

Birmingham last week. “We could win a Grand Prix in 1999 but we would

need a little bit of good luck.” The SF3 is an all-new car

- designed by the now-

been

departed Alan Jenkins -

moved

become

Deputy Chairman.

with Anderson’s influence

'The

limited to parts which did not create delays in the pro duction process. More Anderson develop ments will appear as the sea

moves

come

after

management consultants looked closely at the opera tion of the team.

In addition. Operations Director Andy Miller has been appointed Racing

son progresses.

While the SF2 featured a

Director and will run the

composite gearbox, this year’s car will use a more traditional magnesium unit because of reliability prob

'r;#

^ ^ <-

lems in 1998 and the accent

at the moment is very much on the car being reliable. The big question mark in this is that Cosworth Racing - now a Ford subsidiary -

there

have been some significant changes at Stewart Grand

this month.

has produced a dramatic new VIO engine which is considerably lighter, lower and shorter than the previous unit. The CRl VIO is a big risk

and has been brought out much quicker than previous Cosworth engines. It has been designed by Nick Hayes at Cosworth but

has involved considerable input from Ford engineers in Dearborn, Michigan, The new engine ran for the first time on a test bed on

December 18 and five days later the first CRl ran in the back of the Stewart chassis

during a quick shakedown test at SUverstone.

UPH' Coatings. Inc.

team at events, while logis tics will continue to be han

dled by team manager David Stubbs. There

have

also

been

changes in the technical team at Stewart following the arrival of Gary Anderson. -JOESAWARD

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Villeneuve 3

■

Bkitish Amemic Hac/mc

joins the ‘dream’ team JACQUES Villeneuve predicts that British American Racing will he chal

lenging for race wins from the very start of the year.

“We can definitely be up there challenging for race wins,” said the 1997 world champion at the laimch of British American Racing.

“It’s very difficult to judge from pre season testing but from what I’ve seen

it’s going to be very good because we had nothing to work from. We didn’t have the right things on the car and yet we were competitive.

“The plan is to be competitive at the first race in Melbourne, to quali fy high up on the grid. Once we’ve

done that we can think about the

Confident of success: Villeneuve believes his

new Lucky Strike Reynard can be a contender from the first race at Albert Park.

race but we’U definitely go there thinking we have a small chance of winning. Reynard has won the first race in

each single-seater championship in which it has run cars but even

Adrian Reynard admits that FI is going to be tough. “But that does not mean we are not

going to try to do it,” Reynard said.

BAR goes into batti over 'dual' <olours By JOE SAWARD THE decision of the International Chamber of Commerce’s Inter national Court of Arbitration as to whether or not British

American Racing should be allowed to run cars in two different hveries in the 1999 Formula 1

World Championship despite the FIA’s rules should be handed down

at the end of January. BAR is claiming that the governing body of the sport is restricting its commer cial freedom by insisting that teams run cars with the same colour schemes.

The FIA says that if BAR wants to take part in the World Championship it must accept the rules as they stand. There is no doubt that

the FIA regulations exclude the possibility of twin

liveries

and

that

teams must accept the reg ulations “and the conse

quences resulting there from” if they wish to take

part in the World Championship. The wording of this rule is clearly intended to avoid commercial questions. BAR is arguing that the rules, restrict its commer cial freedom and should be overturned. The FIA

argues that the team is free to race in other cham

pionships if it does not

wish to accept the FI rules. Victory for BAR would create a very dangerous precedent for the sport and would not only result in tumultuous changes in the way sponsorship works but would also open the flood gates to other legal chal lenges to the governing body. By signing the 1998 Concorde Agreement which

both sides

have

done, despite rumours to the contrary - both BAR and the FIA have agreed to be bound by the findings of

there will be three arbitra tors in the FIA-BAR case

Stars and snipes: Trouble with the FIA could mean that the 555 colours seen here could

and they wiU dehver their

yet be seen on the Arrows cars this season.

final decision in Lausanne

on January 30. Up until that time both sides can reach agreement or compromise, but after months of haggling that does not seem very hkely. However, the FIA may be willing to accept that the BAR cars changing colour between events, running in Lucky Strike colours at some races and

in 555 hveiy at others. would

not

unprecedented

This

the

Larrousse team did the same in 1994 when it switched between the

green and gold of Tourtel and the red and white of

Kronenbourg. The FIA’s decision to ban twin liveries came in

September but the princi ple was agreed between FI teams bosses as long ago as

the Paris-based International Court of

1994.

Arbitration, which is staffed by judges from 54

teams should run identical cars to ensure that FI

different coimtries. We understand

looked professional and did not confuse the viewing public.

that

Team wings it at launch The Reynard F1 cars on display at the BAT launch were fitted with wings from the old Tyrrells. The team says (quietly) that the real aerodynamic package will not be seen in action until the first race and Adrian

Reynard reckons that the car will be the third-best aerodynamic package by the time of the first race.

They concluded that

At last week’s launch, BAR revealed two BAR 01

chassis - although these were actually show cars in the different schemes. “I don’t intend to come in and run a team with over

200 people and just step Continued next page

(Photos by Sutton images)

ISJdnudiy 1999

Dud

■ News has emerged about plans to stage a Grand Prix in Russia in 2002. We hear that French architect

Emmanuel Lenys is

behind the project and that he has drawn up plans for a figure-of-eight racing circuit - similar to Suzuka - on a 660-acre

site at Lukhovitsky, close

Ferrari gains tyre advantage

to the Oka River in the

ACCORDING to reports in'

opposition from rival teams,

Tula region 130km south

the

which will argue that it is

of Moscow. We hear that

the Oka oil company has been approached for funding. ■ The head of research

and development at Arrows Grand Prix, Gary Savage, has left the team and is rumoured to be on

his way to a similar role at Sauber. Chief designer Mike Coughlan remains at Arrows - for the

moment - despite rumours that he was on

his way to Honda. ■ Pedro de la Rosa remains the man most

European

press,

Ferrari is to have a big

^^nfair and that Bridgestone

advantage over its FI should treat all teams in the rivals this season - 200

tyres

from

Bridgestone than the opposition will be allowed.

The 50 extra sets will only be used for testing at the Fen-ari test track at Fiorano.

^ there is only one tyre company

the World Championship it

must equip 100 percent of the entered teams, It is unclear whether or not

which has started testing in

preparation for 2000, and the BMW test team, which will begin work within the next few months.

Honda had unlimited sup plies of Bridgestone tyres at a recent test, although the Bridgestone men tried to play down the hnk. The deal is further incentive

stood to be part of a three-year

included in the Concorde

deal which the Japanese tyre company which involves the fitting of Bridgestone tyres as

Agreement or whether Ferrari and Bridgestone have cleverly worked out a way around the

original Ferrari equipment when they leave the factory.

rules, There is also ambiguity over

But the deal - if it is con-

tyre supply to other teams

for FI teams to go out and find an alternative source of tyres. This is exactly what Bridgestone wants as the FI program is likely to be threats ened unless there is competi tion - if only because a tyre war raises the level of expo sure for tyre companies.

finned - will lead to a storm of

such as the Honda FI team.

-JOESAWARD

The extra tyres are under-

likely to join the Arrows

the testing restrictions which

the FIA has imposed are

mate to Mika Salo. De la Rosa was due to test once

again this week but no announcement about dri

for 1999, the cars looked

that dual liveries are nor mal in NASCAR and

surprisingly white at last week’s launch. Judging by the size of the stickers. Ford is putting in consid erably more funding than

car in recent weeks. We

understand that his lap times have been very impressive for a youngster who has virtually no sin gle-seater experience. -JOESAWARD

Indycar racing in North America and that this does not detract from the show. He has received little

Switching Brands? THE Sunday Times in London reported this week that Bernie Ecclestone is

supporting Brands Hatch in its bid to buy Silverstone. Silverstone - the home of the British Grand Prix - is

owned by the membership of the British Racing Drivers’

money if the circuit is sold.

closer to London. It is also a

Brands Hatch - which used to alternate the GP with Silverstone - has not held the

more interesting circuit.

race for nearly 15 years but major rebuilding work is cur rently bringing the circuit up to FI standard once again. Brands Hatch has many advantages over Silverstone.

Silverstone has an FI con tract until 2001 which is rumoured to have been extended until 2006.

If Silverstone is bought the deal would probably have to be renegotiated and Brands Hatch could help Ecclestone

Club and the members stand

It has much easier access,

rid FI of one of its most diffi

to make large amounts of

more accommodation and is

cult weekends of the year.

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Continued from P7

about sporting and techni cal problems. I think it’s for me to worry how I actually pay for my business.” Pollock’s argument is

■ Although Stewart Grand Prix has big hopes

■ Highly-rated Italian kart racer Giorgio Pantani has been testing a Durango Formula 3000

decision on colours

“We believe that other bodies should be worried

put together the 1999 package.

years - is not continuing

BAR waits for legal

are paid by sponsors and we have to protect them.

Walkinshaw and his staff

in FI.

Ricardo Zonta.

can finance the team. We

vers and sponsorship is expected until the start of February as Tom

before while Texaco which has been with the team for the last two

Pressing on regardless: Despite the problems behind the scenes, BAR chief Craig Pollock (centre) poses confidently with his drivers, Jacques Villeneuve and

back on the first day,” said BAR boss Craig Pollock. “If I don’t fight for my commercial rights then I won’t be able to pay my staff. It’s the only way we

Burning rubber: Michael Schumacher could benefit from Ferrari’s switch to Bridgestone.

team next year as team

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support from the other FI teams, however, all of

swing the court in its favour.

BAT are hoping that Bemie Ecclestone will back

down to avoid disruption as he tries to organise his bond issue. But it is hard to see how Ecclestone and the FIA can

back down without losing face and creating a prece dent. BAR

team

members

remain belligerent, one say ing at the Autosport International

show

Birmingham last week the team is going to turn up in Melbourne with the cars in two liveries no matter what

happens.

*Hvhat are they going to

do?r he asked. “Exclude us fi-om the race?”

the FI Commission, the

Although BAR person nel say that there are no contingency plans if they

body which made the deci

lose the battle, the very

which are represented on sion to ban twin liveries.

If he wins the case. Pollock wiU have a full bud

get but will have to over come considerable antipa thy within the sport. Victory could actually do him more harm than good. British

American

Tobacco is putting members of a heavy-hitting legal team on the case, hoping to

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late withdrawal of 555

from the World Rally Championship would seem to suggest that extra money is being kept in hand for .1999 - with the

possibility of BAT kicking in more money to fund bar’s Lucky Strike spon sorship and Arrows being backed by State Express 555.

START YOUR GP WEEK IN STYLE!

The Australian MotorSport Awards Dinner is now an official Grand Prix Week event. Book your seats now for motor sport’s "Academy Awards” Night When: Tuesday 2nd March at 7pm ● Where: Melbourne Park Function Centre i

Come and join the Superstars of Australian motor sport at the 1999 Australian MotorSport Awards. I

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the gala evening also includes the 1998

parade of Australian Champions, a superb dinner and entertainment. Book now to avoid missing out ( ●

seats may soon be limited! Join us for the motorsport gala event of the year!

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The Australian MotorSport Awards Dinner is a co-promotion by

ams

Motorsp^

Harvey’s IB

last chance TWR test

World of Sport

Motor Raiing

TIM Harvey looks close to securing the final BTCC seat

Calendar

with Volvo. The double Bathurst visitor will

Australian

test for the TWR team at Jerez in

Spain in an effort to rejoin the

NASCAR Series* Feb 13

.. .Calder T’dome

Mar 4-7 .. .Melbourne (GP)

team, for which he won two races during 1995.

. .Rd 4

.Rd 5

Harvey, with Kelvin Burt is the only driver other than Rickard Rydell to win for Volvo, is expected to be joined by Jan Nilsson in the

Nascaronly

●Calder T’dome** .Rd6

Apr 3

●● After ofiginafy being scheduled for Afy 3, OieM Thunderdome race's date was ^)en announced that

test but TWR is also rumoured to be

it may be changed and Hated as tba. Tbedatewas

testing another driver for the sea

finaty officiary confmied in a mec£a release by

son.

Calder Park week ending Jan 8.1999.

Nilsson’s inclusion in the test is

seen as a courtesy to Volvo as much

Speedway World Series Sprintcars

as anything as it is unlikely that the BTCC squad would have two

Testing is expected to end this Tuesday and a decision about whether Harvey joins the team is due by the end of the month.

Jan 13

.. .Archerfield

.Rd 12

Jan 15

...Archerfield

Rd 13

Janie

...Archerfield

Jan 23

.. .Parramatta

... .Rd 14

Speedway - Sprintcars ■Borderline Speedway

Jan 28

The 1999 Kings Challenge lor Sprintcars

Jan 29

Borderline Speedway

The 1999 Kings Challenge for Sprintcars Jan 30 .Premier Speedway 1999 Grand Annual Sprinicar Classic inc the

Swedish drivers on the team.

Caged beast: The new Honda Accord sedan looks like being the car to beat in the BTCC. (Photo by sothweii Photographic)

New Accord flies Xmas, just

PRODRIVE promised that they

Honda’s new Accord

1999 Grand Annual Sprinicar Classic inc the

Super Tourer has proven quick out of the box in testing in Italy.

Australian/American Challenge Cup 4 Feb 5 Premier Speedway

The new car (pictured at the Autosport show in

Ausiralian/American Challenge Cup Jan 31 Premier Speedway

1999 Australian Sprinicar Title ■ Heats Feb 6 Premier Speedway 1999 Australian Sprinicar Title - Finals

Australian

Drag Racing Series* Jan 16

.Calder Park Raceway

Rd 2. 98/99 Pro Stock Series/ Rd. 1 Pro Bikes

Jan 23 ... .Adelaide Int. Raceway Rd 4 Top Doorslammer/ Rd 3 Pro Stock

Jan 30

.Willowbank Raceway

Casirol New Year Series ■ Rd 5 Top Doorslammer/Rd 1 Top Alcohol

Feb 13

Adelaide Int. Raceway

the

UK)

down

was

The Italian

Dane Tom Kristensen.

On the final day of run ning at Vallelunga, Tarquini was 0.2s quick-

shaken

Misano

Feb 20 ... .Calder Park Raceway Rd 2 Top Alcohol/Rd 3 Top Bike/ Rd 6 Top Doorslammer

Feb 27/28 .Ravenswood Int. R'way Westernationals - Rd 7 Top Doorslammer

1999 NHRA Winston

Drag Racing Series* Feb 7

Pomona

Rd 1

Feb 28

Phoenix

Rd2

Mar 21

Gainesville

Rd 3

ran the

JAS Engineering along side a 1998 car driven by

Vallelunga by Gabriele Tarquini.

will race the car in Germany and England respectively, which is expected to test the car in the new year with lead driver James Thompson. “The new car is much

would have their new 1999 Ford

reacts well to changes and we have a good feeling about it.” Mariani played down talk that the new Accord is slower in a straight line

than

the

Mondeo Super Tourer on the track before Christmas and they made it - by 15 minutes. The new car was track tested by a Prodrive mechanic for 10 minutes

on Christmas eve at MIRA’s proving ground in the UK, but the outing lasted only 10 minutes before it was called off because it was getting

‘98

JAS and BTCC works

quicker, for sure,” said JAS engineering chief

machine. “I don’t think there will be any differ-

team West Surrey Racing

Alessandro Mariani. “It

ence,” he said.

er.

and

dark.

New signing Anthony Reid roaded the car the following week and was reportedly pleased with the car, even though it was only a shake-

Boullion for Renault IT’S official: former F1

driver Jean-Christophe Boullion is the new team mate to Jason Plato in the Williams-Renault

Touring Car team,

Rd 2 Top Alcohol Series

Ford make

The

decision

was

Jerez for a four day test starting this Saturday.

“Williams is like an old

Boullion beat our own

me to; and the team already had a French guy, even if he

The Frenchman steps in

iar with the car next week when the Prodrive team takes two new cars to

family for me. When I did the test two years ago I missed the seat for two reasons: I

race for Audi in Sweden.

Menu get their chance to get famil

the team,” said Bouiiion.

announced last Thursday at the Autosport show In Birmingham. Greg Murphy and Frederik Ekblom to the drive. Murphy has since joined Wynns Racing while Ekblom will

down run. Reid and fellow new lad Alain

after ’97 British champion Alain Menu late last year left to join Ford. “I’m very pleased to join

JOINING the new Ford will be

three other teams. Volvo will be there with Rickard

wanted to do FI testing and

Rydell, Tim Harvey and Flash Nilsson, while Renault will give new signing Jean-Christophe

Frank Williams didn’t want

Boullion his first drive in the all-

was Swiss.”

new 1999 Laguna. Honda are also having West Surrey Racing’s debut test, with James Thomson and Peter Kox get ting personal with the new Accord.

Ironically, he was beaten out of the drive two seasons

ago when Plato bested him in a testing shoot-out.

Monsieur Bean: Jean-Christophe Boullion.

23 Race Series held around the United States

I Li m ited

Enforcer “r T-shirt

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screening limjes

correct at the time of printing. Piease 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.

TOTAL

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entone Vic 3194

15 January 1999

No more

lonely knights FRANK

Williams

has

received a knighthood in Britain’s New Year’s Day Honoims List.

He becomes only the second man to receive a knighthood

and get a year’s worth of Motorsport News

for services to motor racing the first being Jack Brabham, who became Sir Jack in the New Year’s Honours List in 1979. Williams is 56 and raced in the late 1960s without much

Who will take over

A little chicanery: The Bartels Road to Dequetteville Terrace sweep will be more pronounced with the new kerbing.

money and without success. He decided to move into team

management and ran his first Formula 1 operation in 1969. For the next 10 years the team reappeared in a variety of different guises but there was never much money and success was limited. It was not until Frank

joined forces with engineer

New chicane fer Adelaide A LATE safety change has been made to the Sensational Adelaide 500 cir

Patrick Head that the Williams team took off -

cuit layout.

largely thanks to the remark able FW07 design with which

ened in comparison to its former (5P layout, now sweeps onto the old Dequetteville Terrace straight fi-om

Alan Jones won the 1980

World Championship. This was followed by titles in 1982 (Keke Rosberg), 1987 (Nelson Piquet), 1992 (Nigel ManseU), 1993 (Alain Prost), 1996 (Damon Hill) and 1997

(Jacques Villeneuve).

’

The team has also won a record nine Constructors’

World titles, one more than Ferrari and McLaren. These would have been

impressive achievements enough but Williams has achieved much of his success while confined to a wheel

The ciruit, short

Bartels Road, but the new corner does not have the natm-al run off area that the old

comer (one street fur ther back) used to. The result is that the corner is to be

slowed, with false

kerbs turning the cor ner into a left-right, rather than a pure right-hand sweep. “Our Track Safety group decided to make the entry onto Dequetteville Terrace more pronounced, purely because of con cerns about the lack of run-off when com

pared to the old cor ner,” CAMS Racing Tim Manager Schenken confirmed

on Monday. In the meantime, preparations for the

accident in 1986. The New Year’s Honours List also resulted in a life

Enstone is that Federal

-JOESAWARD

Japanese Silhouette class Go THE Silhouette Class -

previewed in the last Motorsport News - is expected to start competi tion in June.

forced an upward review of grandstand seating from 12,000 to 15,000 seats, while the former GP pit garage complex, originsdly sold to Bob Jane and stored ever since at Adelaide Interna

tional Raceway, has been bought back. The new straight,

this week that “it’s — there’s a bit of a buzz around the

Benetton headquarters in Express may be ending its lucrative relationship with the team - because

head the bill at the

results in 1998 do not jus tify the money being

Formula Ford and a

series of special 60s car races.

same hotmix as the

A fascinating col

rest of the original

lection of cars is set to travel to Australia for this latter drawcard.

asked for 1999. FedEx came into FI in the middle of 1997 and has since

become involved with spon sorship of the CART series. We

are

told

that

the

Nashville-based company

tinue to use the sport to expand world-wide. Rumours suggest that the company will switch to a

MEANWHILE, Benetton

rival FI team but we have

ver in 1999. Redon is the son of Josette

Prodrive Subaru team in the

World Rally Championship. Interestingly, Prodrive boss David Richards was

has announced that Frenchman Laurent Redon will be its test dri

Zannier, who co-founded the

children’s clothing and shoe companies Z and Kickers. Roger Zannier - Redon’s uncle - was involved as a

Benetton sponsor in the

the boss of Benetton and

Flavio Briatore era. Redon was French Formula

can offer a much bigger car - and instant penetration

raced Formula 3000 in 1996

sees motor racing as a per fect marketing profile for its

into

services and wants to con¬

Fl.

the

Asian

markets

where rallying is as big as

500, supported by Formula Holden,

Historic Grand Prix

also heard that it may be leaving FI to take over from 555 as sponsor of the

place...” V8 Supercars will

this week being resurfaced using the

Former GP Media

Motorspor

just like the old days

Bartels Road, was

circuit.

(fotoi'iSfioi't ySei\sotia/H^

Manager and PR man for the 500, Mike Drewer, told Motorsport News

FedEx/Benetton split? THE word on the street at

chairman and chief executive Sir Alex Trotman. This means that he will be able to sit in the House of Lords in the British Parliament.

Ticket sales have

new event are pro¬

chair, having been perma nently paralysed in a road

peerage for Ford’s retiring

ceeding rapidly.

Peter Brock’s mantle as

3 Champion in 1995 and and 1997 before becoming Minardi test driver last year.

(

Peter Brock receives his award from Peter Bartels last year for

ipoi'f ^vrwona/i/i/ p/'tAe p/ca/' Your vote could decide the

^e/s'iona/ihj o/'l/ie at the

1999 Australian MotorSports Awards^

It's the one major award voted by motor sport fans | themselves - thafs you, the readers of Motorsport V; News. Six lucky voters will win a FREE year’s subscription to Motorsport News, simply by voting for their favourites! Just fill out the official voting coupon and mail it/them to us before the counting

Iof votes onFebruary16. Remember,we’re lo king

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^ voting coupon (no photocopies). Coupons will appear in the following two issues of Motorsport News.

Race Car Transporter

My top three nominations are:

S I

Mazda, Subaru and Honda are all showing interest in

Name:

the category, which marries

Address:

a common tube frame chassis

to bodywork supplied by Ph:

individual manufacturers. A

the relevant manufactures.

If the series does gather

support a short season, start ing at Motegi, will begin mid season prior to a full champi onship in 2000.

Super Touring class, is gath ering support from manufac turers and others may soon announce that they are join ing Toyota in the NASCARstyle series.

V6 engine with about 400 horsepower is supplied by

KyfusfjHt/ta/i

-JOESAWARD

The class, which is seen as a long-term replacement to the prohibitively expensive

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ISJanudfy 1999

Honda 5 Yamaha back 4 strokes UNCONFIRMED

reports

from Japan suggest that two of world’s largest and most successful race factories, Honda and Yamaha, have

vowed to pull-out of 500c two stroke GP racing at the end of 2002. No alternate class has been

formulated, however, through out 1998 increasing speculation

of an open four-stroke GP class was keenly expressed by five time World 500cc Champion, Mick Doohan and several lead

ing Grand Prix bike scribes. With Yamaha and Honda committed to the end of the two-strokes (which have

reigned supreme since Giacomo Agostini won the 1975 title on an in-line Yamaha YZR500) Suzuki and minor manufactur

ers including MuZ and the BSL will seemingly follow suit. However, a spokesman from IRTA has poured cold water on the story. “It took something like six years to finally amend the rule on carbon brakes for 250s, so I

think the battle to scrap the 500 two-strokes is far from over.” - DARRYL FLACK

BSL 500, Willis face test By DARRYL FLACK ALTHOUGH the all-new New Zealand BSL 500 GP team has

announced its presence in the 1999 world motorcycle champi onship, the International Road Racing Teams’ Association (IRTA) has yet to accept its entry. Federation the Through Internationale Motorcycliste (FIM), IRTA has recently announced its provisional 500cc entry list without the BSL 500 or its rider, Australian Mark Willis.

To assess its eligibility, IRTA will be closely monitoring the BSL and Willis in the open IRTA test at Phillip Island over January 26-29. It will be the first time the bike will

have run as a complete package. According to BSL team co-ordinator Dave Stewart, “IRTA has made

its position clear, so we must start to prove ourselves at Phillip Island. Although I wouldn’t call it a formal ity, I’m very confident that the BSL and Mark will be able to satisfy IRTA that the bike will be competi tive, which will obviously improve

Kiwi shiner: Mark Willis and the BSL 500 will have to prove themselves in the IRTA test before they race.

500CC GRAND PRIX ENTRY LIST 1999

with more testing. “Our dyno work, the calibre of

people on our team and the light weight of the bike combined with Mark’s knowledge of Phillip Island will go a long way to build faitb with IRTA and race fans,” he added. It’s understood that a decision on

BSL’s entry will not be made straight after the Australian test, with another IRTA test scheduled

for Malaysia in addition to private testing that will doubtless help the

HonCa V-four team is yet to confirm its line up for 1999 following protracted negotiations with Honda Racing Corporation to move away from its Honda V-twin it campaigned in 1998.

Team manager Jeff Hardwick is endeavouring to secure Honda

Another ‘TBA’ on the FIM’s pro visional list has seemingly been resolved with the imminent signing of American SWC and AMA dis

card, Mike Hale, to the second

Roberts-Modenas V-three alongside Jean-Michel Bayle. After two difficult years in SWC with Ducati and Suzuki in 1996-97,

However with Max Biaggi mov ing to Yamaha, there is currently one less Honda V-four on the provi sional entry list. Erv Kanemoto is desperately chasing sponsorship for

Hale suffered an unhappy return to the US Superbike Championship in 1998 when he was dumped by the Fast By Ferracci Ducati team mid season due to poor performances attributed to his incompatibility with Michelin tyres. The Texan was slated to pilot a Muzzy Kawasaki ZX-9R in the 1999 US Formula Xtreme Championship

John Kocinski’s works Honda V-

before he received the call from

four following the American’s stun ning test times at Jerez.

Kenny Roberts.

NSR500 V-fours for team rider

Garry McCoy, although HRC is reluctant, given its commitment of five V-fours to the Repsol and Movistar teams.

-DARRYL FLACK

Email: speedwerx(gdiesel.net.au www.kartsport.com.au/akn/speedwerx.html

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 14. 15. 16.

Repsol Honda HRC Michael Doohan (Australia) Yamaha Racing Team Max Biaggi (Italy) Repsol Honda HRC Alex Criville (Spain) Yamaha Racing Team Carlos Checa (Spain) MoviStar Honda-Pons Alex Barros (Brazil) Antenna 3 Yamaha Norifumi Abe (Japan) Muz Rennsport GmbH Luca Cadalora (Italy) Repsol Honda HRC Tadayuki Okada (Japan) Suzuki Grand Prix Team Nobuatsu Aoki (Japan) Suzuki Grand Prix Team Kenny Roberts Jnr (USA) Red Bull Yamaha Simon Crafar (NZ) Team Roberts Modenas Jean-Michel Bayle (France) MoviStar Honda-Pons Juan Borja (Spain) Repsol Honda HRC Sete Gibernau (Spain) Haruchika Aoki (Japan) Technical Sports Racing Honda

20. 21. 31. 55. 97.

Jose Luis Cardoso (Spain)Technical Sports Racing Honda Honda Britain Michael Rutter (GB) Aprilia Grand Prix Racing Tetsuya Harada (Japan) Red Bull Yamaha Regis Laconi (France) Team Roberts Modenas Mike Hale (USA)

98. 99.

TBA TBA

Kanemoto Honda Kanemoto Honda

uger updates

DAVID Auger is heading to Italy at the end of the month to finalise his plans for the Super Touring season. The Brisbane Independent faces a number of options for racing this year and is looking to arrange, at worst, an update for his current Alfa Romeo 155 from the Italian Nordauto team.

“I looked at a couple of cars at Macau but I couldn’t finalise any thing,” he said before leaving. “The

155s I saw there were

newer than my car and one of those would be great.” Last season Auger worked on try ing to get one of the Italian champi onship-winning 156s into Australia but was defeated by, among other

things, the fall of the Aussie dollar. “A 156 would be brilliant but I believe that all the cars that raced

Nash

bridges gap

withVr V8 Supercar privateer Rod Nash is setting up his own team base this year after oper ating under John Faulkner’s umbrella for his rookie season. The Auto Pro team will retain its links with Faulkner and will take

delivery of a JFR-build VT Commodore mid-year. In the meantime, Nash will con

cuit.

“A newer-spec 155 as was raced do a deal for one of those. I mean, who else is in the market for one?

“Failing that, I expect to be able to get some bits to update the car I already have and that would cer tainly be a help.” Whatever, Auger expects to be able to do a deal quickly. He will only be in Milan for two days before

flying home to prepare for the BOC Gases Series, which starts at Oran Park on March 14. - PHIL BRANAGAN

TOOLS

● Tube notcher

● Porting kits

● Lap timers ● Pit canopies

● Tube bender

● Bore gauges ● Valve sprung testers

● Stagger gauges ● Tyre pyrometers

● Burettes

● Durometers

● Micrometers

● Tyre pressure gauges

● Verniers

Nash said this week.

though and I’m hoping that we can

South America for their series.

OTHER

● Height micrometers ● Ring compressors

“The relationship between John and myself has been great, but having our own identity is what we need for our sponsor Auto Pro to maximise exposure for them,”

overseas in 1997 would be terrific

in Europe last year are heading to

ENGINE

● Oil filter cutters

rent VS Commodore.

“1998 was a steep learning curve, coming from dirt-track speedway, but John is very methodical in his approach to car preparation and has been instru mental in guiding me at each cir

CHASSIS

● Scales

Ph/Fax; 03 5827 1359 Mobile: 014 406 980

Rider

tinue to campaign the team’s cur

● Camber/caster gauges ● Spring rate testers

PO Box 6330 Shepparton 3632

Team/machine

17. Jurgen van der Goorbergh (Holland) Muz Rennsport GmbH Dee Cee Racing Honda 18. Marcus Ober (Germany)

team’s ’99 bid.

McCoy wants THE Shell Advance 500cc GP

IMd{J®[7’S[J)®[?9

“We were able at times to run

with the leading privateers, which was a great boost to our confi dence.”

Faulkner, in the meantime, will

campaign his new VT this year and thus has his well-known Commodore for lease:

“It’s a good car, built for Bridgestones, so I’d like to think this will open the door for a replacement driver, be it Level 1 or Privateer.”

1 if

\N Car^L^

● Exhaust gas temp gauges ● Technical videos

● Drill sharpners ● Go-kart tools

'98 Catalogue now available

Unit features a 32 lap recall memory and includes the trackside transmitter.

ISJanuaiy 1999

Sir Frank, popular culture, Barbie and The Silly Season go out to work.

But not in France ... There they invade unempioyment offices and do nothing untii the government gives in.

If that was not siily enough we then had Christmas, a period dur ing which normaiiy sane people spend hundreds of dollars buying presents for people they don’t like when they couid wait a few days and get everything a iot cheaper in the post-Christmas sales.

For a week nothing much hap pens in the world and so newsmen

have to dream up stories or write boring annuai reviews to keep the newspapers fuli and the airtime fully-slotted. And then we have the

The other day Sir Francis Williams telephoned and

Year, a night of frantic partying, in Latin countries this is the night in

demanded to know where I had been for the last two months. He

said he had been sending out search parties because I had disap

TD 03

peared off the face of the earth.

I was touched. Most F1 team

which they throw fireworks at each other to get the New Year off with a bang. This year Argentina reported 450 serious firework injuries ... in iess volatile parts of the world it is a night of daft hopes and unre

bosses would be quite happy if I

disappeared without trace - some

a reaily siiiy song which no-one in

the world understands. Imean,

might even pay for it to happen. I went on hoiiday, isaid. Frank is not a hoiiday kind of guy and one wili notice that the only Formula 1 team bosses who spend a lot of time on holiday do not spend a lot of time on the podium, it is easy to disappear, I explained. The first thing you do is to have your telephone out of order so that whenever anyone calls it rings forever - but no-one ever answers. Then, just when everyone is figuring out that something must

be wrong with the phone and begin to send faxes saying; “Your phone does not work”, you disconnect the fax machine and jump on an aeropiane and spend Christmas in the United States where they ali stiil think that Formula 1 is a hair tonic.

The tentacles of the sport can slide through US Immigration via EMaii but you don’t have to log on and read the messages if you choose to spend your iife watching

§ tr CO

around and around, comes

To tell you the tmth, I said - and I don’t want you telling Ron this -1 must say that Ifeel a little bit sorry for poor old Mr Dennis down at McLaren. Frank’s team has won 15 Formula 1 World titles since 1980 and he is now Sir Frank Williams. McLaren under Ron has won 14

titles in the same period and not even The Boy Scouts have given Ron a good conduct badge. It really isn’t fair when they are appointing people Members of the Order of the British Empire for long

Mattel for the use of his name. Still,

Klaus Barbie has a certain ring to it le arrival of Formula 1 in the

t: . world of popular culture has had

You could turn the idea on its

some interesting side-effects - and

head, I suppose, and have Ferrari

Iam sure there will be plenty more

look for a strong-jawed racing dri

when drivers switch between teams but I am not so sure.

Nowadays, it seems to me. The Silly Season - as it used to be has ceased to exist. There are

dom to help Mattel sell more dolls.

about the one after that - and are

will not be long before we see the

next motor racing knight. It may

gossip? There was a long pause. Well, said Frank. Nothing really. Ifs a bit boring actually. Everyone has been having Christmas and the New Year. It should pick up a bit this week when people get back

gets a tap on the shoulder with Her

Majesty’s sword.

then all caught out when someone

Pis may absurd,a press but last weekseem Ireceived release from Elf announcing that they have managed to find a Canadian driver called Michael Valiante.

announces that a deal which had

been announced for next year had not actually been agreed and sud denly the dominoes are ail falling in a new direction.

The term Silly Season has If your name happens to . This may mean nothing become irrelevant and I suggest that we start using it only for to you and I but in as there is some 24-carat be Ken Schumacher, the famous cartoon strip January drivel spouted forth at car launch es as everyone looks at their new motor racing hero car - and their new sponsors future is looking up. and says the right thing. This will

££

The logic behind my Motor argument is as follows.

into their offices.

racing is now part of the popular

Frank! Nothing much is happen ing. They just made you a knight of the realm and no-one in the history of motor racing - apart from Sir

culture of Great Britain. Once that

happens politicians think that they will curry favour by doling out hon

Jack Brabham - has ever done that

life.

ours to people in popular walks of The theatre and the cinema are

France there is a

called Michel Vaillant and the link between

chief source of income is the Barbie

Doll - although Iam surprised they don’t call it something else in Australia to avoid problems with phrases like ‘Ihrow another shrimp on the Barbie”. Barbie of course is the ultimate

knights or dames (or both!). There are even a growing number of pop music people with knighthoods. Such is the power of popularity. And so there is no reason why

Bimbo doll, a sort of plastic Valley Girl with long blonde hair and clothes for all those really important jobs like lying on the beach, going on safari and riding horses. I’m told that you can get socially-aware Barbie gear nowadays - including wheelchairs - but Ihave yet to see

we should not see a round table

Barbie the Fireperson or Barbie the

(what is the collective noun for

tattooed Lesbian.

Yes, he said. It’s a bit embar

popular and there are always four

rassing really. And he started to waffle on about Williams being a

or five theatrical luwies who are

ing traditional saying: “What goes

more millions from Ferrari and

as a mere actor.

Ferrari’s new sponsorship deal with the toy company Mattel has led to some interesting speculation because the American company’s

be another 20 before someone else from FI

will remember those who in the 1970s used to call him “Wankeri’ Williams and will now have to call him Sir Frank. To create an instant motor rac

and his management will demand

that the late Lord Olivier started out

services to fishing or hairdressing. However, I have a feeling that it

So,What Isaid.did What’s I miss? happening? What’s the

all the glory - as well as all the pain - and if Frank is a sensible chap he

think that is far-fetched, remember

And that means that we are getting into a really silly season. I know, Iknow, you’re going to start writing in telling me that The Silly Season is in the midsummer

ver called ken to promote to star

Jack but it is unlikely to

but it is the fate of the leader to take

have to be called Klaus because othenwise Michael Schumacher

nalist means that there are a string of car launches to look fowvard to.

of life.

have been 20 years

He was quite right, of course,

who will be the first Life Peer for

services to motor racing. And if you

And it is backFormula to work, 1 which for now the average jour

as FI slides on into the midstream

since Black Jack Brabham became Sir

team.

FI being a competitive busi ness, the race is now on to see

who will say cool things like “Come on Barbie, let’s go party” when you push a button on his back. Unfortunately, he will probably

ally mean?

sen/ice in the Post Office and for

Pebble Beach in Caiifomia...

before.

Income Tax...

out in favour of a Schumacher doll,

what does “Auld Lang Syne” actu

rumours all year round and as soon as the driver line-up is finalised for the next season we start talking

sea-otters diving in the rocks off

Huh, said Sir Frank eioquently.

been very unhappy about decorat ing those who do not pay British

around”.

alistic ideals when everyone sings

Sirs?) of knights in the FI paddock before too long. But a word of warning gentle men before you get too excited. The British Government has long

Still, the Ferrari-Mattel deal will no doubt mean that Barbie will

soon be getting a Ferrari to run around playrooms in, and her plas tic beau Ken may even be booted

the names is enough to guarantee him a future with Elf. So, if your name happens to be

Ken Schumacher and you are a moderately good racing driver, the future is looking up. And if your name is not Ken Schumacher and

you are a quick racing driver, might I suggest you change your name right away. You can call me silly but, in my defence, Iwould argue that this is a very silly time of year. The other day Iwas reading about the French unemployed. They were so upset with the gov ernment that they went on strike demanding more money - and a Christmas bonus. Now any mathe matician will tell you that two nega tives make a positive and so in fact the unemployed going on strike should mean that they will actually

be “the big step forward” or “the breakthrough car”. This will put the team “in a position to win races”. It is lovely - but it is not true.

Some of us may be swept away with the enthusiasm and emotion and actually start to believe that Minardi will soon be

challenging Williams, McLaren or Ferrari. And then - six weeks from

now - we will fly off to Melbourne and find out that McLaren and

Ferrari are still the teams to beat,

that Jordan is quite competitive and that Williams and Benetton

are fighting it out for the other places in the top 10. And all the hot air which will

have irsen over Europe as each new FI car was launched will have

done nothing but added to the problems of global warming ...

■

Mh){}®i7sm®[F{}

15Jdnudry1999

Look Who’s Talking Last issue we brought you the F1 quotes of the year; now DAVID HASSALL casts his net further to recali the things that were said in Australia and elsewhere in the motor sport world: “I could hardly hang up my hel met after a year like this.” -Alan Jones

“Our deal really is close.” - Greg Murphy on his Indy Lights chances ... in January

The wit and wisdom of

Russell Ingall

“I like the car a lot.”

- Al Unser Jr after testing the Penske PC27, arguably the least successful car ever built by the

- On Mark Skaife after some door-banging at Symmons Plains

“I literally picked six companies from the Yellow Pages - and one

“Just in case you think a few wins can change my mind, I still say we need to have a control tyre in V8 racing.”

was, of course. Yellow Pages and we sent them (sponsorship

- After winning the four AGP support races

- Mar!: Webber’s manager,

Ann Neal, on landing his long term deal with Yellow Pages

“Once I finish in the Ironman

then I’ll move into motor racing full time.”

-Triple Ironman champion Guy Andrews

clutch ...”

sort it out on the racetrack.”

managed to finish second

year, but you just don’t have the chance to argue about it.” -... 11 weeks later at Darwin after being pinged

“A control tyre would give everyone the opportunity to race on a level playing field ... Iam pretty sure Oran Park was the

word for it.”

- Rally driver Steve Winwood after being told he would not score points in the ARC because Ford would not contribute to TV

production costs

last nail in the coffin.”

NASCAR debut

Michael Wooldridge on tobacco sponsorship

wet down there in the cockpit. Then Ilost both my mirrors and the

“It is blackmail: there is no other

- Greg Murphy (with mock American accent) on his

- Australian health minister

“When I accelerated into turn

one my drink bottle sprayed water in my face, then it burst and it was

less-than-ideal start to the Long Beach CART race, where he still

‘The consistency with black flags has been quite bad this

our Clarion car off the wall.”

weak.”

gravel on the track

“With 36 cars you are going to get plenty of biff and barge. It was great to see Mr Black Flag stay away and let the drivers

get through the smoke and keep

“The people who are the real ratbags in all of this is the FIA. They have been gutless and

- Dick Johnson at Lakeside

when asked if there was any

- At Winton ...

“Hell, that was great out there. There were guys spinning every where and somehow Imanaged to

fun associated with their racing.” - Greg Murphy

“Only after the HRT cars have been out.”

- Dario Franchitti describes a

proposals).”

extremely open, frank and friendly. That is something that is currently lacking with the V8 Supercars they are not having a good time or

- Old man Tomas Mezera on

his return to racing

“It’s good to see someone else not afraid to have a go.”

team

“The NASCAR drivers were

‘There are so many young kids around Ithought Iwould come out and help the geriatrics.”

- Accurate prediction in August

Eventually I would like to run my own car and team.

“I can’t believe that people can be so immature and carry on like that.”

- Glenn Seton on claims by HRT’s Jeff Grech that the Ford

“If that’s that Frank Williams

bloke, tell him I’ve retired!" - Peter Brock at the

Australian MotorSport Awards when a mobile phone went off “If he thinks every time he

pokes his nose up by my door I’m going to jump out of the way he’s got a surprise coming.” - John Bowe after clashing with Mark Skaife at Sandown

“I’ve been beaten around the ears overseas and now I’ve come back!”

- Craig Lowndes after win ning his comeback race at Sandown

“He was bagging me every time he could because Iwas beating him.”

- Superbike ace Aaron Slight

- Journalist at Albert Park

“I like Jeff; but he must be

smoking something.”

Park

- John Bowe on the sandbag ging ciaims

“It took me 20 years to put all that lot together and it took them 20 months to pull it all to bits.” - Frank Gardner on BMW

“I haven’t really found the limit cess. All the politicians have start ed turning up at it.”

teams were sandbagging during the year

slow start in the Volvo at Albert

on rival Carl Fogarty “You can tell this race is a suc

“It’s as fast as this old girt will go ...” - Dick Johnson (talking about his car)

“I couldn’t see the lights (from pole) so Ijust had to wait and go when everyone else did.” -Jim Richards explains his

because I don’t want to stick it into

the scenery.” - Dick Johnson on his new Falcon at Lakeside

“At school, when Ishould have

been doing English or Maths, I was drawing race cars and putting number 1 on the tail because that was the easiest number to drawl”

- Sprintcar ace Skip Jackson “Skaifey and Bowe mentioned understeer and Ican help them out

The BTCC boys sure have plenty to say “You don’t have to be 19, a for

eigner or have your name end in a vowel to win this championship.” - John Cleland talks up his chances

“Suddenly Iwas on the grass

down the pits with my finger on the rev limiter button with it going ‘bagalarruurr’ like an FI car. I fancy doing that.” - Jason Plato ponders the new pit-stop rules

next to the car wearing all these

championship in the world, and if that means Alan having a pocket full of gravel and throwing it out onto the track to create a safety

“It’s got as much go as a Morris Oxford. There’s a rope on that tree -1 might finish myself off.” - More engine problems for Peugeot’s Paul Radisich

- That man John Cleland

“In ‘93, Ford crushed the car Mansell had crashed and present ed it to him as a coffee table, and

he may be taking away a few more coffee tables this year.” - Paul Radisich predicts the worst

“I’m sure TOGA will eat out at a

nice restaurant tonight. 1just hope they choose a good battle of wine.’ - James Thompson after receiving a £1000 fine

“He (Nigel Mansell) must have a chance, because he is not as old as John Cleland.” - Alain Menu

Tm a bit upset that Ican’t come

“Sometimes it’s a bit much.

Everything is a bit open between the drivers and it can sometimes

seem like a war.” - Derek Warwick

marshals holding up sheets

announced night race

was going on so I thought, 'Uh oh, there’s obviously limbs hanging off

“I am the target because of what Ihave achieved in the past

me here!”’ - John Cleland fears the

and the great drive I had at

dent {

“It would be quite nice to blow Mansell off, and I see no reason’ why Icouldn’t.” - Jody Scheckter contem plates a return to racing

tactics for next season’s newiy

worst after his Snetterton acci

car situation, he’ll do it."

again

- Will Hoy already preparing

neck and back braces with the around me. I couldn’t see what

“Alan Gow is doing what he can to make this the most successful

on our helmets.”

him

impact -1 would expect my foot to - A lucky escape for Tommy

problem is he thinks he can walk on water. - John Cleland (above) hits out at Alain Menu

“Oh dear, how exceptionally sad ... This target thing is paranoia - no one gives a monkey’s about

Rustad

him.”

“The team did a very good job with the car and my wife did a

Mansell’s claims

- Mark Lemmer responds to

((

Swiss clot. His

- Nigel Mansell explains why the other drivers are out to get

‘The clutch pedal broke in the break first.”

He^s an overpaid

Donington.”

good job to repair my body.” - Tommy Rustad now fully

“I’m driving Nigel’s car this weekend - it’s had more hits than

recovered

the Spice Girls.” - Will Hoy gets to drive

“For night racing you need headlights, and the chance of 20 touring cars having more than six headlights left between them at the end of lap two is quite remote. We’ll need to strap miners’ lamps

Mansell’s Mondeo

“He is past it and should go home and stay there." - Alain Menu responding to Cleland’s outburst

lMDO®[70roXD[F9

15 January 1999

Now a dunce.

I gave the races away at the start.

- John Bowe (left) at Sandown

with that - go a little slower. Iam; it’s beautiful!”

- Tomas Mezera at Phillip

it. If I don’t, Iwon’t be happy for the rest of my life.” - James Courtney

Island

“It’s got a blue oval badge on “I’m glad Ididn’t go up and yell like an idiot.”

- Mark Adderton after being shown a video of the start at

Oran Park and agreeing he should have been black-flagged

- Neil Crompton gets techni cal comparing a Ford and a

“It’s good when you look out the

ing his first Super Tourer race “Did I?”

- Dazed superbike rider Damon Buckmaster after hitting the wall during qualifying at

“Getting on the plane in - John Bowe explains his biggest mistake of the Wanneroo weekend

“It feels good to finally have a formal contract signed, but our blood contract has been good for 23 years.” - Dale Earnhardt after signing his son to drive for him

Winton

“If we don’t win there, we never will.’ - Volvo driver Jim Richards

before the Phillip Island race, which he did win

“I was wrong. Just plain wrong.' - Anthony Gobert admitting that he had smoked marijuana.

wacky superstars of FI “In stress situations he stops thinking and is only capable of reacting. He shows his unfiltered personality.” - Jacques Villeneuve on

“Eddie Jordan is completely berserk really.”

Michael Schumacher

have improved most this year!’

“1998 will be, in many ways, more difficult than our first year.”

McLaren’s improved form

- Damon Hill

“Eau Rouge is the corner of all corners. The greatest chal lenge. Motor racing’s Everest.”

“I think it is the drivers who

- Johnny Herbert on the magic of Spa

- Mika Hakkinen on

- Understatement of the

year by Jackie Stewart in January

'There are times when Formula 1 is like a mother that devours her own children.”

-Johnny Herbert

“I tend to do a couple of corners and then crash.”

- Craig Lowndes on computer “My goal in life is not just to get

nd more from those

Holden

Melbourne...”

windscreen and there’s no-one there.” - Cameron McLean after lead

the front.”

games

to F1 but to be a front-runner and

then World Champion. I have to do

More next page...

“I don’t think anybody particu larly enjoys being on trial for manslaughter...”

“If all the teams owned FI

chief Adrian Newey on the

Holdings they would destroy it. They can’t agree on anything, not even on how to share their money

Senna trial

out."

- Former Williams technical

- Bernie Ecclestone “I don’t think Michael

(Schumacher) will be around so much. Ithink he’s got his hands full with Ferrari."

- Damon Hill (before the start of the season ...)

“I drove in 1996 with the sole

intention of winning the World Championship. It was like a round of golf. Rather than go for a birdie, I’d take a par...” - Damon Hill

“As far as I’m concerned, everyone in F1 is second-rate compared with Michael. All those other guys can kid them selves that they’re not but,

“He does not understand any thing of cars and races.” - Jacques Villeneuve on Ferrari chief Luca Montezemolo

believe me, I know.” - Eddie Irvine on teammate Michael Schumacher

‘They should all know by now that I don’t lift off for anybody.” - Eddie Irvine after clashing

“I don’t believe it’s in the spir it of motor racing that pre arrangements should be made by drivers as to who’s going to

with Giancarlo Fisichella in

win.”

- Angry Australian GP chief

“This race has cost me a

goddam fortune ... It would have been cheaper for the company had they both crashed!”

- Eddie Jordan after his

team’s 1-2 at Spa, thinking about the bonus money to be paid to the staff and drivers “I was told on the radio that I was not allowed to overtake him ... I didn’t like it." - Half Schumacher on fin

ishing second to teammate Damon Hill at Spa “You can only lose when you’ve already been the win¬ ner.’

- Finnish logic from Mika Hakkinen

“The way I live now is pretty much the dog’s bollocks.” - Eddie Irvine on his luxu

rious lifestyle “At the time I couldn’t believe that he would do such a

Spain

thing, but with hindsight Ithink I was being a little naive.”

‘I never like to have acci¬ dents.” - Jean Alesi

Schumacher crashing into

- Damon Hill on Michael

him at Adelaide in 1994

Ron Walker on the McLaren

‘Race-fixing’ fiasco at Albert Park

“We are not doing anything that is against the spirit of Grand Prix racing.” - McLaren chief Ron

Dennis in response

^^Fve been accused of cheating my whole life. As long as you don Y get caughty who cares - A.J. Foyt (above)

“Team orders specifying the finishing order of drivers within a team have existed in motor sport since the beginning of the century.

- The FIA in response, just before introducing short-lived rules to prevent the practice

“Unlike him, Ihaven’t slagged off the team in public.” - Johnny Herbert on Sauber teammate Jean Alesi, just before he was sacked

“He was a pain in the arse!" - BAR team manager Craig Pollock on negotiations with Jacques Villeneuve, who is

In my heart I’m still a big kid.

- Jacques Villeneuve “I can’t be arsed to talk

about it any more. After three years of it. I’m fed up.” - Irvine finally tires of talk ing about Michael Schumacher

also his client

“I have invested in the team

“Blaming others is a tactic he often uses when he has made a mistake.” - Damon Hill on Michael Schumacher

... Next year I will find out if that investment is going to be returned.” - David Coulthard on McLaren

JSJanuBfy 1999

Look Who’s

Talking Now Continued from previous page

“If anyone like Tony Cochrane wants to get his nose out of joint about it, too bad.”

“It’s making a mockery of Bathurst and I’d like to see

CAMS knocking heads together to bang some sense into peopie.

- Russell Ingall on signing to drive a Holden Vectra in the 2-litre Bathurst

- BTCC commentator

Charlie Cox on having two “The real race is the V8 race -

Bathurst races

everybody knows that. Ask “If Craig was going to get past he was going to do it the hard way. Iwanted to win that race more than he wanted to win it.”

win

“People sometimes comment that Dick is a bit of a whinger,

- Cochrane in response

but... he’s a decent bloke. It’s

just that sometimes he wears his heart on his sleeve." - Ross Stone on former boss Dick Johnson

things that towed bike trailers to race tracks, but these things are fabulous.” - GP bike racer Simon

“We’ve gone over budget by quite a bit... The prizemoney from Bathurst was basically a

Crafar after testing the Wynns Commodore at Calder

“No, I’m Rick.”

saviour for us.” - Bathurst winner

- Regular comment from rally driver Rick

^7 got sidewaysf then ran out of talent.

Bates, Neal’s twin brother

“Nobody’s heard of me, seen me race or

Jason Bright “It was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. It’s a real wrench to leave the Shell team.” - John Bowe

- Darren Hossack after crashing at Bathurst

knows my driving abili ty. Consider the ele ment of surprise!" - 23 year-old pizza delivery man James Butcher applying for the job of replacing Indycar star Bobby Rahal. He didn’t get the job... "Haven’t you given me the wrong one?” - A crestfallen Jason

Bargwanna being handed the second place trophy at Darwin when he thought he had won

used German driver has been

miles as possible this year with developments of the BMW VI0 engine so that it is sufficiently powerful and reliable for

waiting

Williams to use in 2000.

JORG Muller is to be BMW’s

Russell which race he would rather win ..."

“I used to think that cars were

- Jason Bargwanna after holding out Craig Lowndes for his maiden V8 Supercar

Muller to test Williams-BMW

“I think Mark has helped me enormously this year... more

“After 11 years. I’d have thought he could have said something a little earlier.”

than he’d think he has.”

- Craig Lowndes on team

- Dick Johnson on Bowe’s

mate Mark Skaife

departure “I would be lying if Isaid Iwas not a little disappointed.” -AMP Bathurst 1000 pro moter Greg Eaton on the public support for the race “I told him that what Idid which was hit him off the circuit -

“If all goes to plan. I’d like to think Iwill be very close to enter ing Formula 1 by Melbourne,

was absolutely intentional.”

2000.” - Mark Webber

driver ruined his GT champi onship hopes at Laguna Seca

- Mark Webber on what he told Uwe Alzen after the Porsche

“I’m unbelievably disappoint ed about the US thing.” - Greg Murphy after finally missing out on an Indy Lights drive

test driver this year. The highly-rated but under for

chance

Formula 1 since he won the F3000 title in 1996 for the RSM Marko team.

Under a complex deal which resulted in Craig Lowndes going to the Marko team, Muller spent 1997 as the Arrows test driver before moving to Sauber last year. The BMW development work will begin as soon as BMW has completed an engine to go into the back of a Williams FW20

chassis, which is already wait ing in Munich. The aim is to do as many

Muller is hoping that the deal will result in a chance to drive for Williams in 2001 or 2002

although by then he will be 32 years old. Muller is also thought likely to be a member of the Williams

BMW sportscar team at Le Mans.

Although he is giving up the testing work, Muller will remain Sauber’s reserve driver

- in case something happens to Jean Alesi or Pedro Diniz. -JOESAWARD

Hunting for a Lotus DAVID Hunt, the owner of what remains of Team Lotus, is offering $12,000 for information following the theft of one of the operation’s few remaining assets - a Lotus 102B - from a garage in Norfolk. The car had little value until Mika Hakkinen’s World Championship vic tory but as this was the model in which he first made his mark in FI the

value shot up to around $250,000.

“With a few exceptions, cor porate Australia waits until you’ve made it before they want to help you." - James Courtney’s man ager, Alan Gow

The three other 102B models had already been sold to collectors and police are working on the theory that the robbery was the work of a profes sional gang acting on behalf of a private collector, who was desperate to get his hands on the car.

If this is the case there is little chance of the car being found - until it

comes onto the market again. - JOE SAWARD

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15 January 1999

The people who should know tell ADAM COOPER what they really think of Schumi Jr

RAIF SCHUMACHER is he any good? Afew years ago the prospect

Schumacher driving

for Williams seemed a little

unlikely. But then we never imagined that Nigel Mansell

would one day team up with Ron Dennis... While Alex Zanardi had been in the frame for

months, Ralf Schumacher’s signing last September came as a surprise.

“It’s going to be nearly a works

team

with

BMW

engines from the year 2000 onwards. There are big possi bilities and a big future there. If you get an offer from a team like Williams, you think about it. It was a good and nice offer and therefore we took it.”

CV. Given the relatively late

Ralf and manager Willi Weber have put themselves in a good situation. The string of championship-chal lenging seasons has been broken and expectations have been lowered. It gives Ralf time to find his feet, with less pressure than pre

start to negotiations, there’s no doubt that the 23-year-old

decessor Heinz-Harald Frentzen faced.

German wasn’t the Grove

On the other hand, he’s a young man in a hurry. Is he prepared to ride out a few ‘interim’ years? “It’s going to be ‘99 and 2000 could be a possibUity as well,” he admits. “I have time enough anyway. I just fin ished my second year in FI. Apart from that, whether you go to BAR or stay at

In truth, Frank Williams

and Patrick Head had very few serious options - certain ly in terms of drivers with a GP victory already on their

team’s first choice. But as the months have

passed and we’ve got used to the idea, it has begun to make more sense. Ralf may keep future partners BMW happy, but there’s more to it than that.

There’s a growing suspi cion that the choice was a

masterstroke by the guys who took a punt on the likes of Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Nigel Mansell and Damon HOI when no other top team was rushing to hire them. “At one stage Ralf and

Jordan or whatever, you wouldn’t have any opportuni ties straight away. I think I’d rather come into a grown team like Williams and try to do my best there to finish in a good position one day.”

Zanardi would have been our

dream team,” smiles Jordan commercial

director

Ian

Phillips. “It’s potentially a massively good line-up. I’m terrified that Ralf is going to mature into something very fast and very good!” The same thought has obviously occurred to Sir Frank.

“He’s spent two difficult years learning where the real limit is,” says the

Williams boss, “by finding out where it is not. And that

alfs ambitions for 1999

R are refreshingly modest.

“It’s difficult to say now and we have to wait and see

what the new car and engine are doing. But I hope we can stay in third position, team wise. Maybe with a bit of luck we can sometimes get a good result, but it’s going to

ties money-wise and peoplewise, so it’s a bit unfair to compare those two teams.

The fact is, if you’re short of money, you’re limited.” As we’ve seen in the past, Williams is a team which

expects a lot from its drivers and in recent years some

have not left in totally happy circumstances. You can’t

blame Frank and Patrick; it’s their team and their relent

less pursuit of perfection in all areas is what has kept them at the front.

0 gant, Ralf appears to ften described as arro

have the sort of hard shell

which will protect him from any intra-team aggro. However, it is interesting to note that Frank has found

the German to be “very shy”. This is a description which doesn’t seem to fit in the Grand Prix driver vocabu

lary. But you don’t need to be Frazier to know that what is

perceived as arrogance is often a cover for someone

who is not entirely sure of themselves.

“I think his ‘arrogance’ is just to disguise his shyness,” says former Jordan technical director Gary Anderson. “He’s not a very confident person. Honestly, I believe he just has to brush that off. “He’s living under a bloody big cloud with Michael as a brother. Not many drivers have Michael Schumacher to

live up to. Your teammate you can cope with, it’s easy to dismiss him; if you’ve got to dismiss your brother as well, it’s a pretty difficult thing to

Arrogant?: Those \who know

him well say that Ralf is really shy

happened at somebody else’s expense. The hunch here is that maybe he’s beginning to demonstrate

that

and insecure.

Lost opportunity: Jordan’s Ian Phillips (with Eddie Jordan) says: “I’m terrified that Ralf is going to

career.”

chumacher Jr now has the chance of a lifetime.

mature into

Having said that, Williams hit a major slump last year and

a final

season

something very fast and very good!"

with

Supertec power now follows before the BMW program is launched. Unlike some of his recent

predecessors, Ralf isn’t jump ing into a Williams confident that he will be winning races straight away - it would be silly to think othenvise.

be a pretty difficult season. Anything else wouldn’t be

do. He does need an arm round the shoulder.”

realistic.

He doesn’t always give that impression. “No, but that’s part of fighting it. He does try to put

“The atmosphere is a bit different, but as nice as it was in Jordan. But you can’t

People used to say that he

was arrogant, but nothing was further from the truth.

But he’s still a bit fragile.” If Raff can do the job in the

car - and out-run his new

compare those two teams in a positive way for

this image forward that he’s

teammate - then nothing

a hard man.”

else will matter.

says Raff.

Williams.

Ian Phillips agrees with Gary’s assessment, but says Raff is getting better;

“1 think he’s very good,” says Anderson. “I remember watching him on TV in an F3

“WOhams used to be one of

Jordan. So for me it was

quite easy.

he joined Jordan and in many ways he was a young

“Michael’s just got the con fidence, because he’s done the winning. A couple of wins

“Williams is bigger, Williams has more money. What Eddie and the Jordan

“A lot of that went last sea

team did last year was great and what they are going to

son. In the first year he was veiy, very shy and uncertain of himself That largely dis appeared last year.

do is great I’m sure, but they just don’t have the possibili-

race on one of those German airfield circuits. I think he

was leading and he ended up going off and knocking the nose off I thought, ‘You’ll

21.

Having grown up in the comfy surroundings of the karting world, he hadn’t got much experience of real life. He has learned a lot, on and

off the track, but the process

under his belt and Ralf will

is not over.

find a whole new set of legs.

“Definitely,” he admits. ‘You always learn, don’t you? “Overall you can say that when you come to FI you have to worry about a lot of things. “In the second year you

“There’s a time to kick him in the bollocks whenever he

genuinely has made a mis take, but when things aren’t right, he still needs a bit of an arm round his shoulder to

“The choice was Jordan, BAR, Frost or Williams,”

the top teams and I think it still is. Despite having a dif ficult year, they still man aged to finish in front of

WeRalftendwastojust forget that 21 when

When you see the depth of his ability, he’s got so much natural talent and pure speed. He’s got the talent to be as good as anybody out there.

he’s

beyond that era in his

never be a Schumacher!’ “I have to take that back.

help pull him together. I’m not sure he’ll get that at

don’t need to concentrate on

give Williams back quite a lot. I suspect he’ll be very

before. You get used to it and you just concentrate on the important stuff.” He is now ready to put that knowledge to good use. ■

Williams, but I think he’ll

competitive ”

“He’s still got to be a bit more consistent,” adds

Phillips. “That’s the main thing he lacks. He’s very intelligent in the car and very perceptive about it, too, in terms of feedback and so

on. And as a person he needs

to get a bit more confidence, He still has a bit of growing up to do, to be honest.”

learning the circuits, you don’t have as much media as

ISJanudfy 1999

Face to Face with Russell Ingall had a big year in 1998. He finished second in the Shell Series and at Bathurst, in between winning the Sandown 500 and scaring the Europeans silly in the Bathurst 1000. He spoke to PHIL BRANAGAN about racing, life and just being Russell Ingall... MOTORSPORT NEWS: Look

thing like that, but there were a cou

back at the 1998 season and give yourself a rating out of 100.

ple of incidents there where if things

RUSSELL INGALL: 110.

MN: Why so high? Rl: Thai’s the sort of effort Ifelt I

didn’t happen we could have been comfortable at Oran Park. We could have cruised around and had a

result. But then, HRT could have

said the same thing after Darwin

Rl: Ithink this year you will not be able to have bad results. People

keep saying it’s important to finish races; you do, obviously, but you have to finish them up front. I think Larry proved that in 1998. He got fourth [in the cham pionship] at the end of the day and almost got third, mainly through consistency. Realistically, if you finish every

What will give you a bit more lee way now is having all the points up for grabs in the endurance stuff -

that something you specifically

that could be a saviour if we are

had was in ‘96 when we ran the VP,

struggling a little bit [in the sprints].

which was probably a little bit in desperation. It didn’t exactly work but, every other year, we’ve been

MN: Do you see that as working in your favour? Rl: We worked the points out as if it happened last year. We would have won the championship in ‘98

work on?

Rl; Probably the only hiccup we

first or second.

pul in.

when both their cars didn’t fire up.

I vjas aciuaiiy flicking through the highlight tape over the last few nights and there were a lot of times

It would not have taken much to turn the overall result around. Look

that we should not have got a

there were still no

and even the year

me because he concentrates on

result, through not being right on the pace or whatever, and we came out of it with a pretty decent result. We persevered; that’s why Isay it’s so

HRT cars lined up.

before it would have

those events - that’s been well doc

been the same deal, I think, because we

umented - and Iwork very hard on the championship. Then we team up at Bathurst and it all ties into

high.

To take [the title] up to Oran Park was pretty good; not just myself but the whole team pul in. There’s no doubt there were a couple of meet ings where we were struggling, but

at Darwin; going into the.third race The race starts,

everything’s looking good and we’re lead ing the race. There was a huge crash, a restart, and they got the [HRT] cars going and onto the back of

the grid! If they hadn’t

we turned it around and got a result.

have started that third race I would have

MN: Did you feel like you had to put in that effort all season to get a result against the opposition; specifically Craig Lowndes? Rl: Absolutely. We had a pretty good run all the way through, but... Calder was a disappointment. We had a brake failure and speared off and we lost a lot of points in that one race. Everyone can say some-

won the champi onship. That’s just one of those things.

When you dedicate your whole life to something, which I have ((

won Bathurst.

race in the top five through the year

you’re in with a good chance of win ning the championship every year.

MN: What often decides champi onships is not taking wins when they are available but salvaging points when you’re having a bad

MN: And if Albert

Park was included

in those years you would have walked it! yy

Rl: Absolutely! But even without it we would have won both.

Going on those results it’s looking alright. Especially with Bathurst being double points for each driver.

But it’s easier said than done, with

three races every day. You still have to finish those three races

every weekend. That’s 30 races, plus the endurance races.

run. Will that become more

important this season?

♦

and, beyond that, it works well for

one. That’s what produces a result.

● ●●

it becomes the most important thing in your whole life. It almost gets to the scary point.

It’s one of those things; our com bination works well in those events

MN: Do you work on that or is it accidental? Physically, you’re not dissimilar and that helps. Set up wise, where are you two? Rl: We differ through the champi onship, but at Bathurst we both

pretty well agree on the same thing. That’s important. No matter what happens through the championship, at Bathurst you have to focus on being a team. That means sharing information, being

tent at both Bathurst and

abso/ufa/y certain what you’re talk ing about or shutting up and not saying anything and being spot on

Sandown in the last four years. Is

with a//the information.

MN: As a team, you and Larry have been almost scarily consis

Ithink that’s why we go so well there - we’re logical about the things we do and the whole team has been

there plenty of times before and

they know what they are doing. Probably a lot of people think that when the Perkins

-4t

Roadshow goes to Bathurst everything is absolutely clini cal and pre-set and

■ t

so on. But it’s sur

prisingly not. Everyone knows their spot and knows what to do

and it just flows along. It’s not like Larry’s running around pointing everyone in a cer tain direction. He doesn’t have to -

everyone knows what to do.

You get to Bathurst and it’s

Working Class Hero: Russell at

work in the Castrol VT Commodore in which he went close

to winning the Shell iS^>V '●

Series and Bathurst. (Photos by Graeme Neandcr - Coventry Studios)

15 January 1999

like someone’s hit a switch. They know what to

team was unbelievable. With the funding of

do, which place to be, when to be there and it

the team and the professionalism of the

all falls into place. It’s quite spooky, actually: there’s no one person who’s leading and giving directions. Everyone knows their job. It so well organised and you just cruise along. It’s a big thing to have a stable team with people who’ve been there a long time.

team - they spend it pretty well! It was great to be back in that environment, even though that was not the same level Iwas involved with when Iwas in Europe. [The result] was a shame, especially when we were quicker than their two regu¬ lar drivers out of the box. They’d both been to Bathurst in previous years and they had no excuses. That was a highlight

MN: People assume you guys will finish and finish on the lead lap. I know that sounds like we think not a lot of work goes into it... Rl; Iknow. That adds pressure, too. It adds pressure to Larry, too. Everyone does assume we’ll have reliability and we think, “One day, it will break!"

People assume it’s well-engineered and will stay together but, on the day, it might break. A lot of people in other pit bays are waiting for the day that it does. Touch wood it will never happen...

If everything is done right it shouldn’t hap pen. And everything usually is. We’ve had a phenomenal finishing record, not only at Bathurst but through the champi onship. With both cars, the only mechanical problem we had was the brakes at Calder and that’s as far as Ican remember right the way back (to 1995). MN; Last November at Bathurst, reliability was probably all you had. Obviously you were chasing the car from the start of the meeting. Rl; Isuppose we got caught out a little bit. We thought we’d be right on the money but it was clear we were struggling. Whatever the reasons were, at the time we

probably didn’t know what it was, and that was a first. In the end it was probably a combination of a lot of things, little things which, all tied together, made a bigger thing. It was a little bit tyres, there’s no denying that, and a little other problems. We were suffering a little bit in straight-line speed, which we think we’ve pin pointed down. People were whinging that the VT would be a bullet in a straight line and it didn’t exactly turn out that way. We need a little more work in that area. Bear in mind that was the first time we had the car on a decent

straight and it was shown up a little bit. We struggled but, through perseverance... It was a hard day’s work, probably one of the hardest Bathursts I’ve ever driven

because, when a car

MN: You had a big sort on your car on Friday morning before Murf set provi¬ sional pole. How far did you take the Vectra away from the settings you started with? Rl: We didn’t have much time to do a lot with it but we dedicated a session to it

and, fortunately, we had a very good engineer in Campbell Little, who usually works for the Stone Brothers. It was the first time

I’d ever spoken to him at any length and I got along very well with him. Murf had already qualified it pretty well and we had nothing to lose. We’d already decided Iwas starting the race so we were really looking for a good race set-up. We played with shockers and settings and things and they’d already said they had a prob¬ lem with the rear of the car - keeping it nailed down and settled properly - and that it couldn’t be fixed.

Ifigure everything’s fixable one way or another, and we had plenty of adjustments at the rear. They had every conceivable shocker and part to play with, so we played with it. MN: So a part-time Super Tourer driver and part-time Super Tourer race engineer topped the race team? Rl: Ithink they were quite surprised. Pleasantly su rprised ...

Continued next page

was the first time I haven’t finished at Bathurst and it was really gut-wrenching. I vowed after that that Fm never going to not finish that race again. It absolutely kills your weekend.

is not exactly right, you have to push hard and that makes it a hard working day. In ‘97 it was a lot easier. The car was nice,

we had speed up our sleeve and it was like how the Bright/Richards car was [in 1998]. We know how it feels now! Frustrating ... MN: You played hooky a couple of times last year and drove other cars in other races. The 2-litre race wasn’t a great result for you but it must have been satisfying to be able to sort the car and get some times out of it.

Rl: It was one of the lowlights of the year, to be quite honest - but only because of the way it finished.

I had copped a little bit of flack about it Murf and myself both did - but, as 1 said when we announced the deal, we’re both race drivers

and we’ll race anything. Ihave no regrets about it.

To work in that sort of environment with that

ISJdnuary 1999

MN; I can tell you now ... they were stunned. Rl: Ishould imagine they would be! I know they put our settings on the other car but we were concentrating on our own thing. It was very satisfying. But, as Isaid, it was nice

to work with a responsive car and everything was so well organised. That meant we could get through a lot of

the day while the race is still going ... Ivowed after that

Ididn’t pursue it [a drive in the BTCC] aftenwards, not as

that I’m never, ever going to not finish that race again. It absolutely kills your week

much as Ishould have. I

end.

MN: It can’t have hurt your stock. You were racing with Tim Harvey, who’s in the frame for a fuil-time Volvo BTCC drive. And it

can’t hurt the old ego,

know how the system works over there. Murf pursued it and, unfortunately, didn’t end up with a drive over there, but Ididn’t think that it really would. Iknow how they think over there.

They all want someone who’s been racing in the [BTCC] for two or three years and has proven themselves time and time again. They

they never say, “Bring him in and give him a go”.

get into the touring cars or

Look at Jason Plato. I

they get to the top and won’t drive anything else. They

spent two years with him at Silverstone working in the racing school as an instruc tor. He didn’t race for two

years apart from a couple of TVR Tuscan races. We were

working away while Iwas racing Formula Ford ... and look where Jason is now! He’s the lead driver at

Williams-Renault. They took a punt on him and got the benefits. Not many do ... I thought there would have

work in a short time. That’s what we did - we set down a

either.

logical plan the night before and we followed it. And,

reasons Ireally wanted to do it. It was a golden opportunity

Bang! up it came the next

on a track I know at least

A lot of that attitude is the

been a bit more interest after

day.

pretty well - there was no

budgets required to run the

the Bathurst race, but it was

Rl: That was one of the

won’t take a risk on a new comer.

Formula One, or whatever:

don’t want to know about a

sprintcar or a NASCAR or any other form of the sport. They treat it like a down grade. To me, it doesn’t matter. You can pick up a lot from a NASCAR or a sprintcar and it’s all relative.

At the end of the day, when you compete in other categories you are racing against drivers who are very good in that particular cate gory and you have to put in a top effort if you want to win the race, if not more because

‘It doesn Y matter

how media-friendly

you’re not used to the machinery. You have to excel yourself and Ireckon that makes you a better driver. That’s the reason I went to NASCAR. I wanted to do it

anyway; I’ve been a big fan

you are; you can

of NASCAR in America and,

be great on TV and all that. Buty at the end of the day, you ^ve got to win

crowd attendance over there,

races.

The cars are great to drive. They’re fas,t faster than Ithought. I mean they’ve got 80 more horse power than a touring car and they are super quick. The

looking at the ratings and a few million other people have the same idea.

Unfortunately it seems to be struggling over here at the moment, but Ithink it’s great. It’s entertaining and you can see everything that’s going on.

amount of concentration involved is massive. And it’s hard work. The incar cameras from America

show them just turning the wheel a little now and then,

And it was getting faster

disadvantage on my part.

and faster in the race, too.

And fhe/r drivers knew the

We were stiil playing with tyre compounds during the race and getting the set-up better. It was going great guns. MN: Was this the one that

got away? Rl: Yeah. It was the first time I haven’t finished at

Bathurst. People said, “It was only the 2-litre Bathursf, but it doesn’t matter. Not finish

ing a race like that after the effort we put in was really gut-wrenching. Iwas sitting there on the grassy bank thinking, “I can’t believe this!”. Sitting there for the rest of

track from previous years. It was the first time I could go head to head with them, on a

level footing, in one of their own cars and I was pretty happy. Both Greg and I were just as competitive as their top guys. We proved something. Australian drivers aren’t don

keys like they think. Well, not ’donkeys’ over here, but I don’t think the

English teams think we’re capable of being out and out

front-runners. They’re wrong. We can be. That’s what I

wanted to prove.

r Join

*or$f^

« oor

f'^nYou from HYPen »

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03 9T3P

teams; they are so nervous about putting someone in and having a bad year and losing sponsorship, which does happen.

not to be. It worked out the

way Ithought it would. Unfortunate for us drivers over this side of the world.

have to think about this one.

There’s not a big driver Silly

ing your first acquaintance

Season but there’s a manu

with Mr Wall.

facturers’ Silly Season. They change from year to year! If someone stays with a certain car builder over a long peri

Rl: Everyone was waiting for that! I’ve hit a lot of things lately; hitting the wall was pretty minor, to be honest! I’m a firm believer of trying everything in motor racing. I thought years ago that a lot of people were very narrow minded, especially when they

(Long Pause) Ithink the success of any sports person depends on how they were when they were introduced to that sport. Ihonestly believe that, at a young age, the way you start off determines the path you follow in a particular pursuit,

od, ifs a miracle.

If they ever do change dri vers it’s the same guys chop ping and changing between teams. It seems funny to me;

which I have, and I had to

earn a living out of it, it even tually gets to the stage where you realise that’s a priority. It becomes the most important thing in your whole life. You forget about everything else; socialising, marriage, work ing. That is your work. It almost gets to the scary point. ‘This is it. I’ve made a

of the road.

You’ve had an interesting

build their cars for them!

and kept going. When you dedicate your whole life to something,

decision and this is what I am

first season so far, includ

but then they take a irsk on changing the people who

MN: At the other end of the food chain is NASCAR.

Istarted digging a path. That was it. I built on it from there

but Itell you what, when you’re inside the damn things and you’re into a comer at 240 kays with no brakes and you’re trying to gather it all up, it grabs your attention! MN; After all the racing is over - why you? What makes Russell Ingall good at this motor racing business? Rl: Good question, Phil. I’ll

That’s a fair call as well -

I started kart racing when I was 12. From that first instant

going to do no matter what. I have to succeed at it

because, if Idon’t. I’m bug gered. What else do Ido?”. You could end up on the dole or selling papers on the side But once you dedicate yourself to something it makes you try harder. You have to succeed to be able to live. And it’s the same now.

The motivation now is just as much, if not more, because

as you get older you get more commitments. I’m mar

ried now, so I have other

people to think about. Later on down the road I might have kids - might have - and

whether it’s in business, or

then it becomes even more

sport, or wherever.

important.

15Janudfy 1999

2A0.

L and .^

-itf

-«e “

the ultimate enthusiasts Playing hooky at Bathurst: Russell gets some experience of Super Touring (above) and NASCAR (below): “I’m a firm believer of trying everything in motor racing.” (Photos by Marshall Cass and John Morris)

GP packag -nf- Air travel to and from Melbourne (from nearest capital city) ■ne Accommodation (four nights) ^ Pit Straight Grandstand seats -m- Officiaf event polo shirts and caps

t V

Pit Lane Walk

PLUS a personally guided tour of the Formula

Paddock

and the Jordan team garage!

llie QoMtoA AuitiuiSUw Gimtd PfuK and

tUobmpMl Hem i» oUeiimg teadew th DppMimiiy uiik duo (uiu|ue pni^. But that can’t be the only reason. Money cannot be the driving force. I don’t think it had opportunities, especially just recently, to go with situa tions that, financially, would

I’ve seen a lot of people come into motor racing, per haps with their parents hav ing been involved in motor racing without being all that successful and they carry out their ambitions through their

have made me better off. But

kid. To be honest I haven’t

Iended up sticking with the situation which gave me the best opportunity of winning

seen too many success sto

has been for me because I’ve

races.

ries like that. You’ve got to be dedicated to it very young. And you have to be brought into it the right way.

MN: Do you see a better long-term future for your self by winning races and championships now? Rl: Ithink so, yes. I’ve seen people go the other way

Someone like Jim Richards, for instance; Ithink Steven

and that might be all right for

doors for Steven. But he didn’t - he made Steven do it himself. That’s the same situation I was in. I had no outside assistance and I had to do

the short term. But overall, to

be successful you’ve got to win. It doesn’t matter how

media-friendly you are; you can be great on TV and all that. But, at the end of the

day, you’ve got to win races. So you need the happy medium where you’re earn ing a living but your priorities still have to be winning races. The rest will come later. You

have to be patient, I suppose. I’ve seen too many people divert early in their careers and they suffer for it later on. I’ve got a good 10 years competitiveness in me, going on what’s happened to other drivers. I’ve got plenty of time. It’s not like I’m going to go downhill next year. Ifeel like I’m still getting better every year, especially since I’ve been in touring cars.

was intro’d into it the right way. Jim has been very suc cessful and he could have

quite easily opened a lot of

everything on my own. Ithink that toughens you up and make you more street-wise rather than having everything handed to you on a platter. If you don’t have to worry about money or sucking up to Joe Bloggs because it’s all there in front of you, you don’t try as hard. If you don’t succeed it doesn’t matter.

You still get paid and it all still flows along. But when you don’t have that and you have to fight for it, you try damn hard. MN: So in a few years time when you and Juiia have twin boys, Larry and Dick

ingaii, when they turn 12 and want to race karts,

what will Daddy do? Rl: Oh hell, we had this

talk the other night! Julia says the first thing

Simply collect four of the distinctive "Formula 1 with the LOT" logos (there will be one in the editorial pages of each issue of Motorsport News until February 11 - this issue's logo is on page 17) as per the sample below, attach them to an official entry form and get it to us before the closing date. You may collect any four coupons from any issues. That's all.

she will do will be to stick a

tennis racquet or a golf stick in their hand as soon as they can walk! But I want to stick a

You will then be in the draw to win our

Ultimate Qantas Australian Grand Prix Enthusiast's Package for two as outlined above.

steering wheel in their hand and go that route. MN: But you are a profes sional racing driver and you’ve taken a lot of hits. You’ve had tough, tough times and now you are successful. Are you going to steer them into being doctors and iawyers? Rl: I would like it because I could steer them in a direc tion and miss all the mistakes that I made. That’s one of the

downfalls of doing it yourself - you make a lot of mistakes. You do learn from your mistakes but sometimes you make critical ones. Because

of my mistakes Imissed out on some pretty good opportu nities. It would be great to pass that knowledge onto someone and your own son would be the perfect person. But you never know. Everyone has their own indi vidual personality and Iwould never force my kid into doing something they would not like

Too easy! That really is Formula 1 with THE LOT OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM: (Med THE LOT ohA U1(H Competition NAME:

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abfine travel and accommodation lor two (lour ni(^). grandstand seats, pdo sNrts and cape, Pit Walk. Fommla I Paddock end Team Jordan pit garage tour. 5 The ^rdges dedskm s final. 6, iWnner wd bo nolifiod by phono and/or mal, and the rosull wi be pubished m the February 25 edition ol Motorsport Nows. 7. Stall of ‘Molotsporl News’, the Qantas Austraian Grand Prix Corporation, their commercial partners and famiioo are inefi^ to enter. B. The promoter of the competition b Australasian Motorsport News Ply Ltd.

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I5Jenuary 1999

CART Champion Alex Zanardi defended his 1997 title in the best

pif

way possible - by adding a second title to his CV. But behind the Italian

was some of the best

ever racing ever seen. PHIL MORRIS picks his 10 favourite things from

'-1 V

the 1998 FedEx Series. THINK back a few months to the 1998 FedEx

CART Championship Series and what do you

think of?

Wheel-to-wheel racing. Yes. Charges from behind? Sure. Donuts? Certainly! The ’98 season was a vintage one for North

M I I

America’s premier open-wheel series but the over-riding impression that the year kicked into the memory

I I

Target/Chip Ganassi Racing.

banks was the utter dominance of Alex Zanardi and

"nJ*

●t

[A-

The Italian added a second title to his 1997 effort in

spectacular and dominant fashion and his post-race celebrations was just as watchable, tearing up Firestone’s finest for the entertainment of his growing legions of fans.

Zanardi dominated the season as no-one had done

in years. Not only did he take the title by over 100 points irom Vasser (285 to 169) he topped the series statistics in wins (seven), laps led and laps completed. His points went a long way to securing the engine title for Honda, the chassis for Reynard and almost won the Nations Cup for Italy! Another 19 points and he

● ●»

-Wi

[■T

9-^

would have out-scored the Americans in the series ... The combination of Zanardi and his team was irre

sistible. Often it was his overtaking that was the fac

tor, like at Long Beach where he came back almost from the dead to snatch a dazzling win. Or his team

’ I? _

work; when Zanardi couldn’t pass Dario Franchitti on the Surfers’ Paradise streets, his team did it for him,

giving him the lead in the pits. And he was no bum on the ovals, either. Third, sec ond and first at Nazareth, Rio and St Louis respec tively set up his mid-season charge to the title and he was within a second of winning both 500 milers at Michigan and Fontana. But, in the big picture, there were other winners as well; in fact, six other drivers took wins during the season.

Jimmy Vasser took second overall in the points, backing up his team-mate superbly by taking wins at Nazareth, Gateway and California. He was a consis tent factor at the superspeedways but was simply out gunned by Zanardi on the road courses; while Alex was building his mid-season record to six wins, three seconds and a third from 12 races Vasser could only manage two wins, a second and a third. From then on he was in catch-up mode but he never gave up. Nor, thankfully, did Dario Franchitti. The Scot had a dreadful start to the year, scoring pole positions and leading races only to see a winning position traded for a DNF, often through no fault of his own (like at Toronto, where fading brakes cost him a certain win). Then the cyclone hit. After scoring only 67 points in the first 13 races Franchitti went on a tear; he won from the pole at Road America, took another win in the next race at Vancouver and dominated Houston

despite the weather and a hit from team-mate Paul Tracy. Over the final races he looked like the only man capable of beating Zanardi in a straight fight. It was a season of great racing and emerging tales. There were some terrific moments for all to admire

...

' The man in Red and his horse:

Alex Zanardi made sure that he got the silver lining

abV' ● his second opposition got the black clouds by taking title with him to Williams and Formula 1. Dario Franchitti (below) looks like the man to take his mantle in 1999. (photos by Pascat Rondeau & Jamle Squira/Allspor t)

/ffis)g®gg/p®yg

15 January 1999

2. Zanardi wins by the beach

1. Andretti opens up at Homestead Michael Andretti started the

year looking like a winner, taking his almost traditional Homestead victory in fine style. But that was to be the high

point of the

year for

the

American; crashes at Road America and Mid-Ohio seriously blunted his hopes of a title.

While the chaos was

flying at Long Beach Zanardi was dead in

the water, a lap down and sinking fast. A hopeless posi

But the damage was done else where. He was truly competitive

at Long Beach before he walled his Swift-Ford while trying to nurse a fading front tyre to his

tion? Not for Alex...

firftronr-

Does this guy ever quit? He got his lap back, drove like a demon to make posi

fuel window, and at Toronto he couldn’t nurse his fading brakes as well as Zanardi. Mikey went home to Nazareth, Pen with only one win; worse, so too did Goodyear.

tions in traffic and

then jumped Bryan Herta at a ‘no pass’ comer to take the win.

He’d had a bad day at the office, by his stan dards, but Zanardi still won

the

race.

The

donuts that day were huge...

On Target: Zanardi was the man to beat at Long Beach, no matter what. (Photo by RaceAccess)

3.1000 miles is a looong way The two 500 milers, at Michigan and California, had the same guys

on the podium - Zanardi, Jimmy Vasser and Greg Moore. While the latter two took home the

wins Zanardi’s points finishes were | what drove the stake into his oppo- | nents’ hearts as far as wining the title. Hell, at Fontana he even nursed

home a wheel bearing - at 230 mph. They were two of the best races of the season, with dozens of passing moves, aided by the implementation of the car-

Good guys wear black: Michael Andretti won at Homestead but that

III 1^1

slowing “Handford Device’ rear wing. Zanardi went within a second of

was his only victory of the year. Fast guys wear Firestones: Mikey’s win was the only one for Goodyear in 1998.

winning the two fastest and Americanest oval races of the season. That

shows how quickly he adapts to new cars, track, and situations. If Hakkinen and Schumacher say they aren’t worried about the Italian’s return to Formula One, they’re lying.

(Photos by RaceAccess and Darrell Ingham/Allsporl)

Old times: Some people never got over the CART/IRL split. What atmosphere?: Michigan had a good-i^ crowd and great racing - but it’s still not Indianapolis. Photos by Darrttl Ingham, Ailsport and RaceAccM*

4. Will the real Al

come out and play? ?.■

WlXJIt)

■f"

5. It's it's it's Herta!!

|C>

Download

the

trial

version

Microsoft’s ‘CART Racing’. Reds and whites with the blues: Al Unser (in car) had a slightly better year that team-mate Andre Ribeiro (left) but at least the

(

American heads into 1999 with a drive. (Photo by Oarrell Ingham/Allsport) Al Unser Jr finished second at

Motegi in Japan and that, allied with the three Penske

oval wins for 1997, augered well for the Huck Finn of open wheeler racing. But that was it for the red and

whites; Al was hardly seen again, the car was tough to set up and Mercedes’s engines sulked away from the ovals.

Has time passed Albert Junior by? In years gone by the lack of qualifying speed could be masked by intelligent driving, slick pitwork as savvy, but half a second on Saturday can mean 15 spots on Sunday and Penske’s pit guys, while good, aren’t any better than, say, Ganassi’s. Al; prove us \vrong. We’d hate to see you go. But time is running out.

Choose to drive as ‘Bryan Herta’ and lead into the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca on the final lap of the race, guess what hap pens? Yep, Zanardi passes you on the dirt and takes the win, every time. So it was somewhat just than Herta took his first career win at the California track, with the red Target #1 Reynard right imder his rear win. Two years after Zanardi driUed him on the final lap to steal a win and five months after doing it to him again at Long Beach - justice was done. Bryan can now sleep easy, unless he has nightmares about a red Williams terroris ing him in his mirrors. Relax Bryan, tell yourself it’s just Half

Go Well...: Guess who broke through to win at Laguna? (Photo b> Darret) tnghanVAttsport)

\AI

TKo^

7. Er, there's a if

Toyota on pole Okay, it was wet at Toronto on Friday. That miti gated against the top-end horsepower of the Hondas, Benzes and Fords and left anyone on Goodyears feeling a little bit dizzy. But a Toyota, fastest? Max Papis gave the MCI Team a lot to cheer about at the very track where they had Scot with the lot: Franchitti sped to the $ at Road America, Photo by Pascal Rondeau/Ailsport

6. Dario's dollars

their darkest moment in 1996. The Italian underlined not only his prodigious .talent behind the wheel but the great strides that Toyota had made during the course of the season.

From there on Mad Max qualified in the top half of the field whenever there were some decent comers to drive around.

Dario Franchitti had been,

threatening to win for some time but his breakthrough at Road America came in a big ger and richer manner than even he could have dreamt of.

By taking the pole and his first win in emphatic fashion Franchitti cleaned up; rumours

suggest there was much partying

At year’s end Toyota signed Scott Pruett for the next two seasons. With his noted development skills, don’t

expect them to be tail-end Charlies for much longer.

in certain bars in Scotland that

night. And it wasn’t a flash in the pan,

With Zanardi winning most of the races up till then, but failing mysteriously to get a pole posi tion, Marlboro’s pole bonus money had jackpotted to a staggering $330,000 by the time the series

either. Dario dominated the next race at Vancouver and was the

headed to Wisconsin.

could be the Man in ’99.

only man to threaten Zanardi over the rest of the season.

If he can clean up his oval game over the winter, Dario ‘Speedwagon’

8. Moore and more If Franchitti’s championship hopes died on the speedways, Greg Moore’s floundered on the road coiu-ses.

It’s not that the Canadian can-

not drive around right-handers’ indeed, he pretty handy on road race tracks.

But Ilmor Engineering’s latest 108C engine, tiny and powerful that it is, didn’t want to know

about mid-range torque and Greg, PacWest and Penske found

the going tough where there was more to going fast than top end speed. Players, Special:

9. Bobby signs off

Canadian

Greg Moore was electrify ing on the

It was called ‘Rahal’s last Ride’ and, in typical fashion, Bobby Rahal did aU that could be expected of him in his final season -

ovals but less so on the streets due to a lack of

and more.

Sure, he didn’t win a race but the old stager was feisty and competi tive tin the end.

And, despite aU the adulation and plaudits, he didn’t let it go to his head - the sight of the Miller Reynard returning to pit lane after the warm-up at Fontana, greeted by the entire CART circus in false noses, glasses and moustaches summed up the affection felt for the veteran by all. May Herta and Papis bring him much joy - and victories - as a ‘non racing team owner.

torque from Mercedes’

new engine. As Moore and Franchitti’s stars

are rising, their respective cmmtryman and team-mate’s is

10. Oh! Canada

●●●

going the other way. Paul Tracy had a pig of a year.

After winning three straight with g

Penske in 1997 Reynard, Honda, -<1 Firestone and Team Green should g have made him a ‘go to’ guy for the

series. ^ Er, no. At Long Beach he flipped I Christian Fittipaldi out; in Houston S he drove into his own team-mate; in M

Australia, he brake-tested Andretti " (in the race!) and at Fontana he spun himself out of the lead on a restart.

But a miracle; he kept his ride for this season.

Redemption time, Paul. Prove us wrong - win a race this year. Or,

When Art imitates Wife: Bobby Rahal and wife Debi get all emotional -- and moustachioed - at Fontana. (Photo by jamie squire/Aiisport)

better yet, a series. But please, please stop hitting things. r~ Photo by Jamie Squite/Allsport

You’re invited to be

part of Austraiia’s fastest growing motor sport Why not see what it's all about for yourself? Attend a race meeting at your local club and talk to the drivers and crew. There are classes to suit

almost everyone from 7 years to 77 +. Midgets 7-11 years Rookies 10-12 years Juniors* 12 - 16 years in TWO weight divisions

Seniors* Over 10 classes of varying power & driver weights to choose from.

* Other more powerful classes available for experienced racers.

The AustraSiao

Karting Association Inc For information about karting & how to get started call NSW 02 9834 3860 VIC

03 9362 1144

www.kartguitlc.vka.com.au

QLD 07 3844 8507

wvvw.akaqld.asn.au TAS

03 6272 6848

08 8242 3513

08 9409 4441

www.kartsport.com.au NT

08 8978 2916

National AKA Web Site

www.aka.asn.au

15 January 1999

Subaru star Cody Crocker handed the keys of his 1998 national championship-winning Group N Impreza WRX all wheel drive pocket rocket to Herald Sun motoring editor PAUL GOVER, who literally got his rocks off in a memorable turbocharged National Capital Rally outing. am-raiders aren’t the only peo

R ple who know the Subaru Impreza WRX is ideal for a bit of frantic action.

It’s perfect for illegal after-hours activities, but the real reason the WRX came into the world was for

competition work. Crime came

Aussie enthusiasts queue for factory copy colours and fire-breathing booster kits, German speedsters use WRX power to punish Porsches and Japanese joy riders can even make a full body double with sticker kits to build a Colin McRae copy for downtown Tokyo.

around the world, One of the newest Group N champions is Cody Crocker, Possum Bourne’s young Victorian sidekick, While his Kiwi boss was claiming his Super Series hat trick in 1998, Crocker rode shotgun and picked

which runs at the front of Subaru Australia’s assault.

The National Capital Rally was the last round of the 1998 NSW

But Crocker’s car is still fast -

championship series and a spot was

really fast - and more than good enough for an inside view at the

booked for a test driving guest in Canberra on December 5.

sharp end of rallying in Australia

This was my real thing: a full fac tory car with a full factory team and a full factory co-driver for a

today.

Subaru promised the chance for

much later.

The WRX was spawned as Subaru’s high-calibre weapon for the World Rally Championship and has also battled to the front of a

bunch of other forest fights, includ ing the Australian title series. It’s been a winner, too, claiming the world title with Colin McRae, three Aussie crowns under Possum

Bourne, this year’s NSW title with Miles Sandy and a series of show room class successes - most recent

ly in Australia and New Zealand with Group N aces Michael Guest and Cody Crocker. The recipe is simple and familiar - turbo engine, four-wheel drive, big brakes and solid suspension but Subaru’s unique contribution is its compact and effective flat-four engine and an all-wheel drive sys tem which is ideally matched to its compact Impreza body. The WRX - some people say the name is a Japanese remix and mixup of Works, like Starion from Stallion - was designed and devel oped to give Subaru something spe cial as a carmaker.

It was looking for an ultimate high-performance hook on which to hang its hat after the earlier suc cess of the Liberty Turbo and even before that - the ugly, but effective, RX Turbo, which took a couple of Australian rally titles in the mid-80s. Subaru decided to built the

potent pocket rocket as its interna tional rally raider, stepping up as a genuine world title fighter with a Group A version of the car which has single-handedly welded the words turbo and all-wheel-drive to

the Japanese brand. These days there are dozens hundreds, thousands, tens of thou sands - of WRX-wheeling speed merchants around the globe.

Busy boy: An acknowledged dab hand in the dirt, scribe Gover wrings the neck of Crocker’s potent 240 horsepower production class Subaru Impreza WRX. Subaru’s new powerhouse is a showroom winner that has also

become popular with a bunch of for est fighters who want to copy McRae’s rally championship victo ries in the world title arena, but don’t have the skill, commitment or cash to claim a Prodrive-built world

championship replica for the job. They’re the ones who have turned the WRX into a production class contender in Group N contests

up his first national championship with a string of showroom class successes.

Bourne’s blaster is a genuine Prodrive-made McRae copy - with some extra New Zealand tweaks but Crocker’s car is much closer to showroom condition.

It has the obvious rollcage, rally t3Tes and suspension, but the rest of the deal is more like a street car

than the $500,000-plus exotic

an up-close-and-personal look at the Impreza WRX during 1998 and Saint Nick - that’s Nick Senior, the Subaru marketing guru - came good with an early Xmas present.

one-day run at the front. Factory teams have a seat fitting, so we had a seat fitting; factory teams have a shakedown, so we had a shakedown; factory teams

his race in the driver’s seat - and Michael Guest had claimed the

have a professional service crew, so we had a professional service crew; factory teams win, so we ... Crocker’s Impreza was trucked

Group N crown in Rally Australia

north from its Melbourne base to

with a sisister Subaru - but there was still time for one last look.

run from position eight in the 93-

The Australian title series was

over by the time Crocker had run

strong field with Glenn MacNeall -

ISJdnuary 1999 one of Australia’s most-experienced left-side stars, including seat time alongside Suzuki speedster Monster Tajima and a season with Greg Graham in a SubaruOz WRX - handling the navigation duties. But things began - in proper style - well before the rally began.

The car was cleaned after every run, the tyres were checked after every run and MacNeall ran down every lead in the search for a story. “Don’t hold back,” the gorgeous reporter from Channel 10 said as we set off for her nm over the four-

Rally day brought a borrowed pair of MacNeall’s Subaru overalls and an early start, even though the

It wasn’t a speed match for the outright contenders with more-

event didn’t start until noon.

modified cars built to Group A reg ulations, but a balanced package

The team had rolled straight through scrutineering, despite the car’s noisy anti-lag exhaust and

meant it was well matched, with brakes, suspension and chassis equal to the engine.

and evenly, without pitching or bucking, even if it was giving away a little time to Sandy’s car over every kilometre.

Bourne’s boys had hardly any work to do all day, apart from one cracked disc after a water splash.

Possum Bourne doesn’t do any thing by halves, which is why he’s been a consistent winner.

He requested - demanded - the seat fitting and a quick trip around and over the car to learn about its

safety equipment, settings, spare parts, tools and the all-important jack and spare tyre. It was simple and easy, with lit tle to see in the near-standard cock

pit - apart from the rollcage, car bon buckets and three extra gauges - or the 60mm Drummond rally suspension, gas-discharge Hella driving lights, Pirelli rally tyres and Pagid-padded brakes. It all seemed surprisingly stan dard, but the attention to detail was

far beyond any club competitor: the car even got a new gearbox, front driveshafts, discs and rubber, just to ensure the my guest drive wouldn’t run into any mechanical troubles. The pre-event bonus was a crack up the road - and it was a cracker in Bourne’s new ex-McRae Impreza WRC coupe. The two-door road burner was

into sixth with a couple of flicks on the close-ratio lever and running harder than a V8 Supercar up Mountain Straight, before the boss decided too much was more than

enough in an industrial suburb on a Wednesday afternoon. “I’ll wait until I get it back to New Zealand before I give it a real try-out. Don’t want to chip the paint yet,” Possum joked. There was no joking the next time I met the Subaru Australia

team - Barry, Richard, the service truck and Crocker’s car - in the Canberra forests.

It was Friday morning and, like all factoiy teams, time for the pre

Dusty Dynamic Duo: Glenn MacNeall obligingly handled the navigating chores, leaving Gover to get on with it and claim a worthwhile fourth place in the rally, kilometre test stage, but she didn’t hang around afterwards to explain. Something about lunch. Perhaps it’s time for a confession. The National Capital Rally wasn’t my first in a rally car, or in Canberra.

It had been two years since I’d competed for real in a rally and 10 years since my first “blind” rally without pacenotes, but the Canberra forests were fairly famil iar - in an unfamiliar way. I

had

won

there

before

event test and shakedown. The car was clean and fresh on

Datsuns and driven a range of other rally beasts over the same

new rubber, MacNeall was ready to

roads.

rock and the team had claimed the

My last start was in the Rally of Canberra, in a Neal Bates’ Celica GT-4 which was good enough to get

key spot for the media preview. It was the first lesson in the irght way to go rallying. Team Subaru dominated the

day’s events, from the first quiet recce run to the essential television

interviews, despite a nobody guest driver in a regional title rally. The reason? They look good, they think and plan ahead and they do the job.

me up to fourth before two punc tures - and only one spare - put me out.

But back to the Subaru.

The car was definitely quick and competent and so was the team, after a fiery night of Thai food com plete with native-style ordering by team boss Barry.

were ready to go with the fullyequipped service truck and a Liberty chase car. Stage 1 came and went quickly: it was fast in places, with some nasty jumps and gutters, but the Crocker car was quick from the time

Sandy’s WRX, which put us back to the fourth place we’d hold to the

MacNeall sounded the start.

finish.

The only incidents were a couple of too-late braking bits, one with a nasty slide towards the trees as a

with the car.

reminder for mistakes, but the car

ver’s seat, where the commitment

had plenty of punch and only a

to make the best of a car with excel

touch too much understeer.

lent power, brilliant traction and road-car handling was missing. It takes time to get used to any car, even one as good as Crocker’s, especially when you’re running

The result was a huge shock the fastest time ahead of the state title hotshots.

It was a great way to start, espe cially when the WRX also ran through the second stage in secondquickest time, despite some nasty frights on roads with too many lumps and bumps to see far ahead. The car was doing it easily, with great grip from the Pirelli rubber and more than enough power Possum says around 240 - to con quer short straights and uphill runs.

The serious contenders woke up on the third stage, when John Mitchell put his Mitsuishi Lancer into the lead ahead of local Karl Willett in a Galant VR4 and

But there was nothing wrong The only problem was in the dri

blind.

You never know exactly where the road is going, or what the sur face will be like and Canberra’s

crests just make it worse. Still, the WRX rode easily over the acne-ridden roads, turned easi ly and confidently and recovered quickly from the driver’s occasional mistakes.

It also jumped incredily smoothly

so they resorted to washing work, handing out posters - and even a full-scale wheel alignment - to keep themselves busy. They also kept Sandy in the title hunt at one stage - providing a replacement balljoint - and still had enough time for tyre changes and refuelling. The rally was hot and fast, even just back from the front and that exposed one of the flaws in Group N cars: no roof vents for cooling air. With the windows up to keep dust out, it’s easy to overheat the driver on a twisty stage. But every kilometre meant more familiarity and more fun, combin ing left-foot braking on the twisty stuff with trips up and down the five-speed on roads where the WRX was regularly over lOOkmh and sometimes as quick as 180. The end of the day was coming, with the longest 33 kilometre stage and some after-dark running, with the chance to make back some time,

or capitalise if one of the top trio but not Sandy in the sister WRX made a mistake.

But a wandering spectator meant one stage was cancelled and then, after a dust-powder dash, the final stage was over as well. The car had run hard, fast and

trouble-free - apart from the disc and a loose connector in the bril

liant Hella driving lights - and cleaned up fourth place. It wasn’t first, which is where Crocker would have been, but it wasn’t bad either.

And it proved that the WRX, even one as quick as the Team Subaru star, is easy to drive and even easier to drive briskly. It also showed me what Team

Subaru can do when they invite a guest driver into their world. The WRX outing was totally pro fessional, totally committed and totally successful. It was made even better when

Sandy and Michelle Murphy, who finished the day 27 seconds ahead of the Crocker car, claimed the NSW title for Subaru.

■

Back at base; Ace Gover

ponders the food issue as his well-orchestrated crew fettles the

now-dormant and dirty Cody Crocker Impreza WRX.

M](o)0®[?sm)[F0

15 January 1999

Subaru shoots for the stars Same colours, revised internals

for WRC 99 model WITH Subaru losing its

Triple 5 livery to the BAR FI team, the company has announced it will retain

the blue and yellow livery it has used since 1993. With the same basic colour

scheme retained, the WRC99 Subarus will now feature the six star constellation at the

heart of Subaru’s corporate logo. The stars, according to Subaru, are the Pielades cluster in the Taurus constel lation and each of the small

stars, according to legend, represents one of Atlas’ five daughters. Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries adopt ed the logo to represent the company when it was formed by the merging of five small er companies in 1953.

FORD DEBUTS IN MARTINI COLOURS: Ford laimched its new Focus World Rally Car at the Autosport International show in Britain last week and, as predicted, it was carrying one of the most famous liveries in Rallying history. Colin McRae and co-driver Nicky Grist were on hand to unveil the car in its new Martini colours, harking back to the Group B Lancias of the eighties. The Focus makes its first race appearance in the Monte Carlo Rally next week and Ford hopes history repeats itself - last -JON THOMSON

year, the Toyota Corolla WRC won the first rally of the year in its first major year of competition.

While the look of the car

changes a little, the new

WRC 99 has an all-new semi-automatic transmission

which is fully hydraulic. As well, the car has revised engine internals and a new turbo, aimed perhaps at reversing some of the unreliability which the ’98 car suffered this year. Another interesting inno vation will bethe

new elec

tronic throttle control, a sys tem which will be phased in

over the year, along with other new electronic systems

aimed at giving the Subaru team the chance to get back on an even footing with Mitsubishi and Toyota, which edged ahead in 1998. The WRC 99 Subaru will

also feature a strengthened, stiffened and Ughtened body sheU. The car makes its debut at

Monte Carlo next week. - JON THOMSON

Pointscoring changes sh ck the WRC I

THE FIA has radically altered the pointscoring

system for the 1999 World Championship. The sport’s governing body issued a communique after the World Council meeting in December, saying under the “Television heading Coverage” that the council had introduced revisions to

the existing system. It stated that an extra 3, 2 and 1 points were to be issued for the three fastest

drivers in the final special stage of the rally. This is the most extraordi

nary announcement to be issued by the FIA in memo ry, not only because of the disguise under which it was issued.

Delegrates at the World Council never agreed for the changes to be made and spe cialist committees never consulted.

were

It was also a notably unconstitutional way to break up the cherished basis of motorsport regulation sta bility. At the October 1998 Motor

Sport Council meeting, a committee was set up to con sider future opportunities,

particularly through the media of television, to devel op the sport. At the December meeting there was a discussion about

the sport, with President Max Mosley issuing (as dele gates believed) some person al ideas of what might be possible. This was the first time

specific ideas were men tioned in public. It was agreed to set up a seven person working group to consider the idea of a ‘com

petition within a rally.’ The members were three

manufacturers (Cowan for

Mitsubishi, Richards for

The meeting suggested

Prodrive/Subaru and Nicolas

that Sweden, Corsica and

for Peugeot), three organis ers (New Zealand, Catalunya and Sweden) and reigning World Champion Tommi

Finland would be the three events which would run

Makinen.

then said there was to be a

The first time the group

these ‘second competitions’ in 1999, but the communique possibility of a fourth event

would be able to meet would

as well.

be in January. There were many concepts among the ideas suggested by Mosley.

The ideas had flowed, but the consequences were not evaluated and, in any case, registrations for the 1999 Championship had already been accepted based on the existing rules. This is a nightmare!

Cars which had retired earlier in the event could be allowed to run this final

stage - this immediately raised the spectre of cars being built solely to run one special stage, not under the compromise design principles required for existing champi onship use.

Members of the working group have privately sug gested that nothing at this time could affect the 1999

championship. The FIA had therefore annoimced a situation which

could never happen. So why did this chaos ever happen? There was pressure among delegates, led by the President, to take advantage of the current wave of inter est from the Promotions Vice

President, Bemie Ecclestone,

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rounds

four-

wheel

drive

car,”

to Monte Carlo

Editor-Australian Rallyspor^ws Former Toyota Mitsubishi, and Ford hile he is contracted to

for a 10-event program in the World Championship for 1999, Alister McRae may drive a Subaru Impreza World Rally Car in two World Championship events that Hyundai does not enter.

It Is believed the younger of the McRae brothers is keen to contest both the

Corsican and Argentinian events in a Subaru, after a

promising showing in the Rally of Great Britain last

Panic measures for unique situations? At this time the commu

nique is being regarded as a joke. The teams are happy to assume that no unannounced revolution is about to take

place. But how can you be sure?

French Championship win ning Xsara. The 220bhp Formula 2 Saxos will be used by Philippe Bugalski and Jesus Puras, because the Xsara has not yet been developed for snowy conditions.

By Peter WhittA^

W Hyundai Motor Sport

sidered essential before the interest died down.

hopefully. I can find the budget to take in at least a couple of

All roads lead

link

Some regulation respond ing to this situation was con

- PETER WHI’TTEN

McRae said.

Alister’s Subaru

arena.

to bring television further

Cars (or drivers - that was not defined) could become

World Rally Champions with no intention of actually fin ishing a rally.

into the central motorsport

driver Armin Schwarz

is hopeful of a top 10 finish in the Monte Carlo Rally on the debut of the new Skoda

Octavia World Rally Car during the Jan 20 event. After testing the new car in the French alps, Schwarz

Delecour’s big statement

Contracted Peugeot dri

ver Francois Delecour will drive an Escort World

Rally Car on the Monte Carlo and has predicted that he’ll beat the new Focus. “I am sure I will be in

concluded that the car had

front of the Focus, that I

shown plenty of promise, despite encountering some niggling problems.

know very well,” the outspo

“We’re at the start of a

three year program and we still have a long way to go before we can think about

winning rallies,” he said. “I’d be delighted with a top ten result.” Czech

driver

Pavel

ken Frenchman said. The former Ford works driver won the 1994 Monte

in an Escort, but was later

sacked by Ford when he took some time to get over a broken leg suffered in a road accident.

He has been given per mission to drive another car

Ph: (09) 293 3500

November - in that event,

Sibera will be Schwarz’s

in the event by Peugeot,

Fax: (09)293 1355

McRae held second place

team-mate in Monte Carlo,

whose other driver, Gilles

TAS: Bob's Speed Shop

in a works Subaru, until

while Emil Triner will drive the second Octavia WRCar

Panizzi, will drive a Group

Ph: (03) 6273 7555 Fax: (03) 6273 7666

Find us on internet:

http://www.stuckey.com.au

electrical failure caused him

to go off the road on the final morning. “I’m looking forward to working with Hyundai and.

N Subaru in the event.

Delecour initially intend

in Portugal. Meanwhile, Citroen will

drive

Corolla

contest the event with their

WRCar on the event, but

Saxo

could not raise the budget.

kit

cars,

not the

ISJdnuary 1999

Goads bag rare Aston Briefly Historic ■ There could be a relax

ing of the rules to allow adjustable shock absorbers in Groups L, M, 0, Q and S due to the impending diffi culty in sourcing replace ment or repaired compo

By BRIAN REED

FOR Cathy Coad, the acquisition of a rare Aston Martin DB6 GT Mk2 by Glenn Coad Racing is a case of history repeating

nents. However this could be

itself.

some way down the track -

She was first introduced ot

the Commission believes we

a DB owned by her father, the

have not yet reached the stage where a change to the rules is necessary. Also from the Commission, a slight dilemma regarding the carrying of signage on

late Lex Davison when she

was only two years old. In fact she still has vivid recol

lections of travelling in the DB at more than the magic ton (160+km/h) with her mother Diana. The 1970 DB6 Mk2 as weU as a 1961 Le Mans DB4 GT

were recently acquired from a deceased estate by Glenn Coad Racing. The DB4 is to find a new home, while the DB6 (the only other one to come ot Australia returned ot

the UK seven years ago), will

Bond, James Bond? Goad’s Aston Martin DBS GT(right) sits alongside a mortal cousin at Frank Gardner’s hideaway on the Gold Coast. Twin plug engine (below) is a thing of beauty. Silverstone. The DBS GT was

then purchased by Duncan Bray who brought it to

Tate (03) 9802 4739 for

entry forms and further information.

■ It appears America also

has those “lovers of pain” who worship and race air cooled cars! Sydney’s Peter Johnson has recently sold the 'Tighe Vincent “a gentle man in California who loves

air-cooled cars (he has two SOOcc models) and has

always lusted after a lOOOcc.”

Historic cars. The current

The Tighe Vincent was raced by Ivan Tighe back in

position is quite clear - a pol icy review in 1998 reafiBrmed

the ’60s and won the Australian Hillclimb

there was not a place for advertising on cars in the Historic category.

Championship at Silverdale, NSW in 1964. Although it’s sad to see racing cars leaving our

A three-man task force has been estabhshed ot

shores for new homes over

revisit the event sponsor sig

seas, in this case it will now

nage issue, although it could

allow Peter to complete

Australia and raced it at

be argued the precedent has already been set. For

Amaroo, Oran Park, Surfers

instance, at the 1994

Paradise and Sandown.

Australian Grand Prix meet

The immediate past owner acquired the car in 1978 and

ing in Adelaide the cars tak ing part in an all-Elfin

different from the standard

it underwent a total restora

■ For a change i didn’t score any motor racing books

tion - rebuilt engine, gearbox, differential and front end, and was even painted in the original colour of the 1959 Le Mans winning team cars. In August 1982, its first outing since the rebuild saw it win the 10-lap handicap John Hogbin Shield at

Challenge were required ot cany signage of a well

for Christmas this time

DB4, having a considerably shorter wheelbase, a 12-plug head, two distributors, higher compression ratio, Weber car

remain in Melbomme and will be used in international ral lies and local races. The Aston Martin DB6 GT

is one of only 70 built and is

burettors

and

SOOlbs.

lighter. The car

was owned in

England by J. Fogetter who drove it at Aston Martin

Owners Club meetings, hav ing success at Wiscombe, Brands

Hatch

and

Amaroo Park.

According to Glenn Coad, attempts were made recently

known soft drink manufac turer - and the drivers didn’t

even get a

their involvement.

to buy back the original family DM “for old time’s sake ... but this has worked out bet-

birthday present, and small daughter Alberta is already saying “Mum, nice Aston”

ter.”

from her favourite seat in the

For Cathy, it’s her 40th

back.

Oran Park ready By BRIAN REED

THE 1999 Historic racing season will be off to a flying start when the

Cars from the ’20s to the ’80s

will contest the meeting, the oldest being the immaculate yellow 1923

builders of the PRAD cars of the ’50s. Several of their old cars will

be competing including Jeff Welsh (Vic) in the PRAD Holden Clubman, Howard Tucker with the aluminium-bodied PRAD MG and

Ian Cummins in the pretty PRAD Holden sports car. Originally fitted with an Alta engine similar to the Connaught Grand Prix cars of 1954-55, the PRAD Holden sports was at one

vant at this stage. With the rapid growth of Historic motor sport around the world and greater interna tional participation, the Chairman has put forward a proposal to the FIA

ther at the January meeting.

in Australia.

ing at Oran Park on February 5-7. received, many from interstate, and extra marquees are to be provided to cater for the high demand for undercover parking - a must in the present weather conditions. Special guests at the meeting will be Jack Prior and Clive Adams,

■ Another item from the Historic Commission is rele

Historic Cars Commission to ease restrictions of the FIA Historic International Drivers’ Licence. This will be discussed fur

stage raced successfully by Spencer Martin. It is one of the most attractive ‘specials’ ever built

HSRCA hosts its all-Historic meet Around 270 entries have been

sample for

Amilcar of John Trezise. At the

Steve Hawkin will drive in the

Regularity. Another very desirable car in the Regularity is the exMary Seed AC Ace Bristol now owned by Keith Stammers. (Keith parted with his Bentley to acquire

1999 marks the 40th anniversary oF Elfin, Australia’s most prolific and suc cessful racing marque and plans are

the AC in a Chinese deal with Paul

underway to celebrate the landmark.

Samuels.)

The organisers of the inaugural Sensational Adelaide 500 program (April 911) have indicated they are interested in offering an area for a static display of Elfins and a 15-minute timeslot on the program for

Victorian John Benson’s recently acquired 1980 Elfin Aero FF, and the

1954

Bristol Arnolt which

For further information contact

Robyn Snape (02) 6945 3199.

By BRIAN REED

an all-Elfin demonstration run.

The Sporting Car Club of SA is keen to co ordinate a week-long program of activities to celebrate the occasion - and where better

than Adelaide for this ot take place. Other activities being considered include a dinner at the Sporting Car Club of SA on Wednesday April 14, a hillclimb at Collingrove the following day, a barbeque at the home of Garrie Cooper’s widow, Lorraine (just like old Grand Prix times!) and then an all-Elfin race at the Mallala Historic Meeting on April 17-18. There would also be several other races at Mallala that would cater for Elfins.

Late in 1999 (November 6-7), Elfin will be

one of the chosen marques at the second Australian Historic Motorfest - no doubt Aero-head? John Benson will head to Oran Park in his neat Elfin Aero FF. Photo by Brian Reed

there will be other opportunities throughout the year to pay tribute to the late Garrie Cooper (above) and Elfin Sports Cars.

around but, as a consolation prize, I received ‘200 Seasons of Australian Cricket.’ As a

motor sports historian of sorts, I can only marvel at

the ball-by-ball description and the detailed analysis that occurs in cricket com

pared with what happens in much of motor racing. In cricket for instance, it is possible ot document every time a player adjusts his box or picks his nose, whereas in motor racing both these activ ities are well nigh impossible (especially since the introduc tion of 5-point harnesses and full-face helmets).

When writing about Historic motor sport it is frus trating ot find so many gaps in documentation, even in

Historic Formula Ford

which means there is a irsk

EUgibility Officer and Rian

of substituting fiction for fact. Bloemker was appointed Publicity Officer at the famous ‘brickyard’ immedi ately after World War 2, a position he held until his

Group N Eligibility Officer.

Elfin-fest for Adelaide 500

New cars on the scene include

on the drawing boards and plans ot race this year.

■ Andy Hanwright has been appointed NSW Nott is the new Victorian

other end of the Historic spectrum Tony Simmons will run his 1986 Ralt RT4 Group R Formula Atlantic.

another Historic car he has

■ 'The Victorian Historic

Racing Register is gearing up for major celebrations during the Australian Grand Prix carnival, a high light being a dinner for members and guests at the Tower Hotel, 686 Burwood Road, Hawthorn East on

relatively recent events,

retirement in 1987. His book

describes how the Speedway was conceived as a etst

Guest speaker will be one of Australia’s greatest and

venue for the fledgling American motor industry as well as a race track and gives a comprehensive description of all racing there into the mid-fifties, starting \vith some pioneer races prior ot

most versatile drivers,

the first “500” in 1911.

Frank Gardner. Frank has a

My first visit ot the Indianapolis 500 was in 1987

March 2.

wealth of knowledge on motor sport and a wry sense

and it was Bloemker who ini

worth hearing around

tially handled my media accreditation application. By

Grand Prix time.

the time of the race on

For further details, con tact Roger James (03) 9830

Memorial Day weekend in May, Bloemker had retired, leaving me a few problems ot

of humour. He’ll be well

1573.

sort out in the administra

■ Prior to that, the VHRR

has two important events starting with its Calder Practice Day on Februaiy 14. Brian Simpson is the

tion office. Finally, with some help from veteran Canadian

raio broadcaster Wayne

Miller, my accreditation was approved. As I said previously,

contact on (03) 9744 7309. Then it will be Victoria’s

Americans celebrate their

first big meeting for the year, the Historic Phillip

heroes and on 23 May 1987 the Speedway management

Island which will be held on the last weekend in

February. Practice will be available on Friday February 26. Contact Ian

recognised 41 years of loyal service when it dedicated the Media Centre in the name of Albert W Bloemker. -BRIAN REED

Du,d

/ 5 January 1999

Current NASCAR pointscore leader Terry Wyhoon has his sights firmly set upon another super speedway championship. With an AUSCAR title already under his belt, the popular BP Car care Thunderbird punter is confident of achieving his next goal in life. GRANT NICHOLAS has the story.

After spending several seasons scraping the walls and learning to run at close to break-neck speeds around

the

Calder

Park

Thunderdome, the Korumburrabased team of Terry and Sue Wyhoon is currently leading the 1998/99

Australian

NASCAR

Championship in their BP Car care Ford 'Thunderbird - and they have their sights set on winning the series title.

Having experienced considerable success on the dirt track speedway scene over many years, Wyhoon decided to move across to join his asphalt compadres in the AUSCAR ranks nearly a decade ago at the wheel of a VK Holden Commodore.

“The next three years proved to be a steep learning curve on the banked tri-oval, after being used to throwing cars around short four hundred metre dirt tracks,” com mented a smiling Wyhoon.

“The higher speeds, combined with the narrow tyres on the AUSCARs, took some getting used too, plus all of us in the team had no super speedway experience - we certainly tore some equipment up in that time.”

At the end of the ’93/94 season, Wyhoon finished sixteen points behind five-time series winner Brad Jones on the overall AUSCAR

points tally.

After a fiery 260 kmh wall-bang-

Terry Wyhoon

ing crash destroyed their Commodore during that season’s third round and any chance of winning the championship, the Wyhoon team, unfortunately, had

(left) and at Bathurst (top). Race pic by Dirk Klynsmith, head shot by Thunder-Pics.

to wait until the ’95/96 season to t

collect their first super speedway

engaged race car engineer Tom

title.

Smith to construct a brand-new

“We secured financial support

Thunderbird locally. It incorporated a lot of our own ideas and was per fectly legal to run in any of the

from BP Car care in ’95 and then

went on to win the championship, which was the longest that the

Winston NASCAR races, if funds

AUSCAR teams have ever contest

ever came available for us to take the car to the US.”

ed, with extra rounds thrown in on the flat-tracks, as well as at the Thunderdome - it was a long, hard

Wyhoon and Smith had their new steed on the pace straight out of the box, collecting a victory on the Thunderdome, plus five top three results, a pole position and Rookie

series and to win it was most sat

isfying for all of us,” Wyhoon hap pily recalled. 'The following season, the South Gipps-land team purchased a 1993

of the Year Award.

“Winning the final round of the season certainly boosted all of our spirits and it made us more deter mined to do well in the forthcoming series - we just had to ensure that we kept advancing technically with the other leading teams,” he said. This season’s opening round at Bathurst in early October saw Wyhoon leave Mount Panorama with a fourth placing in the support

Ford Thunder-bird from a Winston

West NASCAR team, Wyhoon spending several months in the USA learning the ropes on high speed stock car racing. “That first season in the T-Bird

was a bit of an eye opener for me,” explained Wyhoon, “as these cars are great to drive when they are handling well, but if they’re not right, you’re well of the pace.

road race.

“I led four of the five races that

He then shared the day’s honours

we competed in and finished in the top six at each of the events, with three strong finishes with the leading bunch. “During the off-season, I

at the Thunderdome’s two-race for

mat in November and, at last Continued on page 32

1998/99 AUSTRALIAN SUPERSPEEDWAY SERIES NASCAR I. Z 3. 4. 5. 6.

.670 Terry Wytnon,#25 BP Car FotU Thrd Kim Jane, #27 Bob Jane T-marts/Goodyear Chev 64S MatdBl Btwer,#8 Pet»TzoiCigwekiF®Oad< Oiev. jM RuBellngal,#34VBiortAlanTis(Rev«otteKb^ Neville Lance, #14 Autopro Ford Thunderbird ..606 .553 Terry Byers, #26 Byers Motorsport Chev

Bob Middleton, #95 Whiteline Transport Chev ..531

ns Chev 530 Rodiey Jane, #3 Bob Jane Tefecorrmiji GeneCook,#41 Shell Helix FordThunderbird..444 .443 Ken James, #01 ReveliyWet Paint Cliev

10.

/mcjis 1

SPORTSMAN

AUSCAR I. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Leigh Waddns, #47 Watkins Racing Falcon 520 MdlhevvVVl>tE,#28Ma»ObdFtefJitErCdore 505 Nathan Pretty,#2Dewalt/GcKxlyearCdore ....495 TonyMalley,#l6TramstopGardenCtrC’dore .470 Darren McDonald, Christian Holden Cdore 454 Anthony Latth,#66ALBt Heavy Haiiage Cdore...435 Nicole Pretty, #3 Dewah/Goodyear Cdore 422 Shane Floulahan,HoulahanRadng Cdore J94 Leigh Moran, Sheen Panel Service blastings .... J9I

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398

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ISJanudry 1999

DU.d

Tough luck: Having damaged his clutch beyond redemption, #25 Wyhoon is unable to stave off the challenge from Neville Lance and #8 Marshall J Brewrer, the December 20 victor, Carlo of multiple champion Kim Jane is fast in qualify ing set-up, the BP Car care T-Bird is consistent in per

month’s round, he managed to scrape together a third place finish after clutch prob lems in the closing stage of the event when he was poised

formance

to contest the race lead.

event.

“Tearing the centre out of the two clutch plates was so disappointing for us, as that is an area that normally doesn’t give any problems

“The hardest thing about racing a NASCAR is getting

for

the

entire

to know the intricacies of the

an eighth of an inch adjust ment on the panhard bar between races at the second

round of the series, was the difference between coming second and winning the next one; they were the only

changes we made to the car.” Wyhoon is wheeling out his

car,” Wyhoon elaborated. “In AUSCAR, you can get away with a lot. If it is not working quite right, a compe

older 1993-model T-Bird for

“In addition to that, I

tent driver can drive around

hadn’t had a good night’s sleep for over a week, as I was suffering from bronchitis and that hampered my progress slightly. “But, despite all that, peo ple ask me what is the secret

the problem, or change the racing line to suit the car’s handling quirks - but with these monsters, everything has to be spot-on if you want to go fast for an entire race.

round of the series in March, as his later machine is fully

to our success this season.

is not 99.9% right, you are in

“Well, I believe that it is the racing knowledge and

a lot of trouble. Even the best drivers out there come unstuck if their car is not

and we had checked it before

the event,” said Wyhoon.

confidence that our team has

displayed as a tight-knit group - the majority of our crew have been with

since day one at the Thunderdome and, as a result, they combine well to allow me to get good results. “We also have an extreme

ly good car that is stiffer than some of the others out there. I feel comfortable in it

and my driving at this stage of my career is better than any time in the past - but a few victones certainly sparks everyone up and we all seem to move forward now with a

the support race at the forth coming Qantas Australian Formula One Grand Prix

set up for the Calder Park tri-oval while the second car

is a fully-fledged road race machine. “Our newer car would be a

a bit of time with Jim Richards and he told me that

the NASCARs were every bit as good as a touring car on the big circuits. “We’re concentrating on

preparing for the February 13

round

the

Thunderdome, which is a

Gold Coast IndyCar Grand

Saturday night meeting and I love racing under lights in front of a crowd. “After that, we go to Albert

Prix events.

Park and then the final

“I suppose that every time I go to Melbourne during the

on transmission and brake

round, which is tentatively scheduled for April 3 at Calder Park - and we’re hop ing that the April date, if it is confirmed, will mark the day we won our second super speedway championship title, as an AUSCAE and a NASCAR trophy on display at home would provide Sue

components to be there. “In the meantime, we’re

and I with an enormous amoimt of satisfaction.”

hard as what it was at the

next two months I’ll be dri

ving around the Albert Park track to learn which way it goes - on a serious note, though, I’m looking forward to the event, even though we have to spend more money

handling correctly and those concrete walls are not forgiv ing if you are unfortunate enough to come in contact wth one.

“We’ve learnt heaps about downforce, tyre pressures and other small things that enhance the performance of our total package - and that takes time.

“I remember several years ago John Sidney telling me to alter the tyre pressure a minute amount to make a

significant difference to the car’s handling. I walked away wondering if he was

right - but, after making the pressure change that he sug gested, I immediately noted

the Thunderdome races where the Chevrolet Monte

“A two pound tyre pres sures change, combined with

that the car was better.

Cornin’ through: Wyhoon’s #25 BP Car care T-Bird gobbles up the #26 Chevy Monte Carlo of Terry Byers at the Thunderdome. Bathurst: Russell Ingall (below) is first out of the pits, ahead of Kim Jane - Wyhoon is still up on the jack.

iv/th Tfye

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getting the steering geome try right and having the braking system tweaked for the three races, as I believe the braking will not be as

“I find that if the NASCAR

greater spring in our step.” Wyhoon’s car is obviously working extremely well and it seems to be looking after its tyres in the later stages of

better aerodynamic package at the road race courses, but we’d have to change the ped als, seating and weight bias and we’re not really interest ed in changing our successful Dome package before the final round in April. “I’m really looking forward to racing at the Grand Prix meeting, as these cars are a delight to race on the road courses, as they slip and slide everywhere. I’ve spent

97-6} pioUon^ontj 9t,

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15 January 1999

MO,

Golden Gordon

triumphs again MARTIN D CLARK reviews the 1998 NASCAR season.

Atisjust 27 yearsup old, Jeffamazing Gordon stacking some

fering engine trouble.

statistics - no driver has won more

Rockingham the following week, he

his rear panel and spoiler after con tact from Terry Labonte, finishing fifth after many front runners were

than one championship during their first six years of racing, but

looked set for another mimdane fin ish. But his Hendrick crew worked

eliminated. Martin’s Roush team mate Jeff

Gordon has now amassed three and

magic in the pits, making changes on each stop and Gordon came away with his first win of the year.

ond and third, the former leading

Burton won twice, at New Hampshire in July and Richmond in September, which saw a humdinger of a battle with Gordon, Burton finishing just feet ahead

the points, thanks to some early, but all so rare, consistency. Martin took the inaugural Las Vegas event in March, Gordon falling back to finish 17th behind a slew of Fords that took 13 of the top

when the chequered flag dropped. Bobby Hamilton in the Morgan McClure Kodak Chevy won his only race at Martinsville in April, Gordon finishing eighth and halt ing four straight top five finishes.

istered 11 victories.

14 spots, with all five of the Jack

Gordon collected a championship check for US$2,922,272 and totalled in excess of US$9,000,000 for the year.

Roush Tauruses in the top ten.

In May at Charlotte, Gordon gave up certain victory in the all star non-points Winston, running

with it 42 victories in just 186

starts for $26 miUion in winnings. To put Gordon’s success in per spective, Ned Jarrett is next on the win list with 37 in 266 starts, fol lowed by Richard Petty at 36 wins in 265.

If you think Earnhardt was good during his first six years, think again - in 179 starts, he ‘only’ reg

Yes, 1998 was all about Gordon and rightly so - Gordon and his Ray Evernham-led Hendrick Motorsports crew equalled a record set by Richard Petty in 1975 with 13 wins in a season, which was quite an accomplishment, albeit in 33 and not 30 races. The success of the #24 DuPont Monte Carlo has to be attributed to

the chemistry between Evemham and the still comparatively young Gordon.

Gordon’s only real challenge came from Mark Martin, but even his season best seven wins and 22

When

the

series

moved

Wallace and Martin finished sec

Gordon followed that the next

week with 19th in a rain-delayed Atlanta, where again a Chevrolet was not to been seen in the top 11 and Bobby Labonte’s Pontiac came

out of fuel on the final lap and handing the first time victory to a surprised, but obviously elated

up trumps.

The following week, Gordon missed a practice session for the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, either by oversleeping, or following an argument with Evernham - the truth will probably not surface for many years, but the event sparked something in the team.

B Labonte foimd victory lane for a second and final time from the

pole at Talladega in April. After the first four events, Gordon was seventh in points, but the tide was about to change. NASCAR implemented an aero rule change aimed at slowing the Taurus and Gordon began to show some steam, finishing the closest of seconds to Jarrett in Darlington, the Taurus Penske pairing of Wallace and Mayfield third and

top finishes, which in previous years would have been enough to win the championship, could not cut down Gordon - his $946,136 in earnings sums his season up. The Da3Ttona 500 went down as one of the more exciting events of a

fourth. Jarrett’s second win came at the first Dover race when dominator

rather ho-hum 1998 season.

his second victory in a wreck-fest at Texas after track problems, fol lowed by team-mate Chad Little and Robert Pressley.

In NASCAR’s 50th anniversary year, Dale Earnhardt won his first Daytona 500 in 20 attempts, a fit ting start to the season. The 46 year-old also ended a 59race losing streak, but has not returned to victory lane since. Gordon came away fi-om Daytona with a 16th place result, after dam aging his front spoiler and then suf¬

Gordon had to make an extra stop for fuel. Gordon then won number two at Bristol in March and Martin took

Martin’s other five wins came at

California, Michigan and the sec ond races at Bristol, Dover and

Martin.

The remainder of the season was

a complete turnaround and, by tak ing a late four-tyre stop with others in the top five taking two, including leader Wallace, Gordon whipped past for the win in the 600. The Charlotte victory also vault ed Gordon into the points lead for the first time in 1998, then points leader Mayfield finishing Charlotte on fumes in 19th place. Gordon didn’t finish worse than

seventh after June 6, when he was dumped in the wall by Rusty Wallace at Richmond, thus falling to third in points with a 37th place. “Somebody can’t stand to get passed I guess,” remarked a hot under the collar Gordon. “He drove

into the side of me and spun me

Charlotte. The latter turned out to be a turn

out; that’s about it.”

two demolition derby and Gordon was lucky to escape with damage to

stop there, though, as a rare NASCAR red flag was called to end

The drama of that race didn’t

Another glorious result: ’98 NASCAR Champ Gordon. (Manin d ciark pic) the race under green and T Labonte pushed Jarrett aside for a contro versial win, Wallace racing him to the chequered flag even though the

Spencer, Gordon saying he saw the latter throwing objects from his car, but NASCAR finding no evidence.

caution was out.

Jarrett second and Gordon a disap pointing, for him, third.

“I got into the 88 (Jarrett) at the end,” said Labonte. “I know he’s

mad at me; I hate it” - and, yes, Jarrett was mad at Labonte and

also at NASCAR for throwing a red flag when usually the race would end under caution.

After the Richmond fracas, the season came together for the Rainbow Warriors, Gordon posting 17 straight top fives, one short of a record held by David Pearson prior to the start of the ‘modem era’ in 1972.

Gordon

dominated

the

first

Michigan event, but someone threw a tailpipe-looking piece of wrapped roll bar padding out of their car to cause a caution, erasing Gordon’s healthy lead and certain chance of victory. Three strong cars were about to get lapped by Gordon when the incident occurred - Bobby Labonte, Darrell Waltrip and Jimmy

Martin won the event, with

Mayfield took his maiden career win at Pocono in June, Gordon fin ished second - but Mayfield contin ued to head the points at that time. Gordon left Sears Point in June

with his fourth win after a spirited race with Bobby Hamilton and with only four tracks left on the circuit to conquer. At that same race, J Burton was

involved in contact with points rival Jarrett, leaving the former with heavy damage. ‘You run side by side there and you’ve gotta have respect for each other,” remarked Burton. “It’s not the first time he’s wrecked me.”

On the second visit to Pocono, Gordon kept charge for the win over Martin and J Burton.

Gordon, who won the first stock Coutimied on page 35

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15 Idnuary 1999

M^ray .{Daniel Wilkins picj

Battle of world's best Doorslammers WORLD records are up for grabs when two of drag racing’s biggest stars go head to head in a “winner take all” three round match race at Calder Park next Saturday night, January 16. Legendary Queensland tomato farmer Victor Bray will pit his 3,000 horsepower 1957 Castrol Chevy Top Doorslammer, the world’s fastest sedan, against the brand-new 1953 Pennzoil Studebaker of Melbourne’s own Peter Kapiris in a 220 mile per hour quarter-mile shootout.

“Victor Bray is the benchmark for the Top Doorslammer class and he’s got the world’s fastest doorslammer, but I know that I’ve got the best crew, and the best equipment and we

are capable of knocking him off, both on the track and in the record books,” Kapiris said. Bray has become accustomed to be being at the top of every Top Doorslammer racer’s hit list and he says that he’s ready for the challenge from Kapiris at Calder Park. “We’ve done a fair bit of work to the Castrol Chevy,” Bray said “and the early tests show

WHIT Bazemore’s 1999 Funny Car career has risen from the

ashes - following his enforced, short-term retirement due to

the withdrawal of sponsor Winston - with the announce ment that he will take over the reins of Chuck Etchells’ Kendall

Camaro for this year. Etchells vacated the drivers seat

of his fuel coupe when Bazemore

it’s even better than before, so I say “bring them all on.’ Peter [Kapiris] is confident at the moment as his new car is looking the goods, but we’re coming to Calder Park to knock a httle wind out of his sails.

“I also believe that the Castrol Chevy will be able to better our current world speed record and claim back the world’s quickest pass for a sedan,” he said. Bray holds the speed record at over 228 mph, while six-time World doorslammer champion Scotty Cannon currently holds the record for the quickest quarter-mile pass by a sedan at 6.200 seconds.

Both Bray and Cannon’s cars, along with Kapiris’ were built by Melbourne race car builder Murray Anderson. The event will also feature the second round of the Austrahan Pro Stock Series and the

first roumd of the Pro Stock Motorcycle Series, with full fields expected for both categories. - GERALD McDORNAN

Etchells chucks in Bazemore Winston withdrawal sees Whit sign with Etchells for Funny Car drive - but that doesn’t mean Chuck’s hanging up his driving suit approached the first four second Funny Car pilot with a reputed

US$300,000 in associate sponsor-

though, that his driving days were

which will enhance our efforts in

ship, much needed by the Etchells camp following the sale and consequent withdrawal of their own major associate sponsor, MaMa

far from over and he was working on putting together a two-car team for the following season, “The reahty is that money drives this extremely competitive sport and Whit brings some very valuable associate sponsorship with him

1999,” Etchells said. “With Whit in the seat, we Won’t miss a beat and this, in turn, will allow me to concentrate on building our overall program and chase our goal of having a two-car program beginning in -McDORNAN the year 2000.”

Rosa Pizzas.

At the announcement, Etchells wanted to make it well known.

New ride: Whit Bazemore (left) will steer Etchell’s stunning Chevy Funny this year. (David Ostaszewski pic) A' it

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ISJdnuary 1999

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Willowbank washout WILLOWBANK Raceway’s first Castrol New Year Series event for 1999, scheduled for January 2, was cancelled due to major rain falls.

The event failed to get off the ground, with management wisely mak ing to the call to cancel before racers began arriving at the venue. With the cancellation of this round and the January 28 round in Adelaide, the next round of the Top Fuel series now won’t take place - GERALD McDORNAN until early March at Willowbank.

Lookm good: Our Dave will have a new Madman T/F. (Dave O) Nothing dramatic, mind you, as drag racing isn’t about setting the world record on every pass.

Funnies bum I T at Ravensw tm

two weeks back home in

There arethat plenty tracks on the tour just of can't handle all the horsepower and, to that end, we have ordered a new car he 1998 NMRA season has now drawn to a close and it’s

with no false modesty that my congratulations go to Gary Sceizi

THE second biggest crowd in three years witnessed the Boxing Day show at Western Australia’s

Ravenswood

International Raceway. The highlight of the night - and again proving to be the major drawcard at the Ravenswood track - were

the nitro-burning Funny Cars of locals Allan Dobson and Lloyd Jones. With the pressure on the teams at their one and only event booking for the season (gee, doesn’t that give you the confidence to invest in drag racing!), both fuel coupes recorded straight and true 5.59-second elapsed times, although in their second of three scheduled

rounds both cars literally lit the place up. Dobson’s Allan Greene-owned

Thankfully, both drivers emerged from their respective infernos and, naturally, after such a spectacular round, neither was able to front for

the final run - although the huge crowd on hand had seen an incredi

bly spectacular show that they will never forget. Grant O’Rourke and Trevor Morrison continued their two-man

battle in Top Competition, with O’Rourke taking the final and going

Ian Johns won Super Comp with a 7.86-second pass - Johns has con sistently run at this mark, winning his second meeting in a row. Ravenswood Boxing Day

our final two events of the season as test sessions.

Top Comp G. O’Rourke 7.52 d T.

Super Street N. Scott 11.35 d E.

Super Comp I. Johns 7.83 d G. Simms 9.17.

Comp Bike S. Arthur 9.29 d M. Sargent 10.21. Super Sedan G. Smith 10.85 d C. Mortimore 9.48. Wroe 11.21.

out and caught fire.

- DARREN O’DEA/STAFF

with it his second million dollar bonus from Winston.

If history could be rewritten, Jarrett also could have chalked up his second Brickyard win, coming back from four laps down after run ning out of fuel. The following week, he completed a sweep of the two circuit races with a win at Watkins Glen, for the third race in succession, while

Martin was the runner-up.

They have set the benchmark for Top Fuel teams for the past two seasons and this year won’t be any different.

Synergyn Oils, we decided to use

the finish line when the Glenn Mikres-tuned car kicked some rods

car race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, made history again by taking the spoils at the famed Brickyard for the second time and

end of the season showed what a class act that team is.

the national record.

Morrison 7.64.

Golden Gordon triumphs again

beat and their incredible record

setting performances towards the

After consulting our goodat friends and with sponsors

Beretta banged itself early in the run, crossing the centreline and just missing Jones, while Jones himself, who pedalled the Southside Engine Centre Daytona like a seasoned pro after it hazed the tyres, had his hands full past

Continued from page 33

and the Johnson family. As I predicted several months ago, they were be the team to

within one hundredth of a second of

Results

Consequently, those that follow our performances would have noted that our results at Topeka and Memphis were less than spectacular. Fortunately, though, we gained a lot of data on using a five clutch disc, four floater set-up. It shows enormous promise and, once we get the power/clutch curve sorted out past half-track, we’ll have a real quick hot rod. One of our goals next season is to find some speed and get into the 320 mph zone.

at Willowbank for Round One of the Castrol New Year’s Series on

new car is his best-ever.

January 2, but it seems that the rain that plagued the start of the NMRA tour last year managed to follow me across the big pond. The event was postponed, which was disappointing. I was looking forward to pre senting the Australian winner of the Synergyn-sponsored drawing competition with a new Bell hel met. This year. I’ve made the

It has been specifically built for “slick" tracks and will hopefully give us an advantage, as we will be running two different cars dur ing the season. Maving two cars race-ready is a pretty big ask and, since our sea son finished, we’ve been working non-stop.

We’ve built nine engines and have another nine blocks ready for assembly, so we’ll be ready to rock and roll in testing come early January, at either Phoenix, or t’s great news to hear that Graeme Cowin will be racing in the US again. Me’s decided that the time is

The response to the contest and the quality of entries was excellent and Ithought that Daniel did a great job with his design. The very talented Glen

right to step out of the seat and

Atholwood assisted with an awe

hand

some job of painting helmets for both Daniel and myself. The time in Australia passed way too quickly and now I’m back in Montana, getting ready to test

over

the

reins

son

Andrew, which will allow him to

dedicate his time to managing the team and tuning the car. GO has,been in touch and I’ve

been helping him out as much as possible.

in a week’s time.

Cheers,

The whole crew is 100% dedi

cated and it’ll be great to have

“You can talk about it all you want, it ain’t good racing,” said Earnhardt, who received minor facial burns from the rolling Bill Elliott’s Ford through his side win dow.

and lower posterior in extreme heat and a cool suit that was failing to work - he had a standby driver in his pit, but did not want to give up on such a good car, which was a

Gordon all but wrapped up the title in the restrictor plate races with a win in the wild fire-delayed Daytona event following Talladega. At Daytona and Talladega, his finishes of 16th, fifth, second and first gained 358 points over Martin’s 38th, 23rd, 34th and 16th

smart move.

place results, something that Roush

Talladega, with Gordon second as

Guglielmucci from Bell Motorsports was kind enough to supply an extra helmet for the contest winner, Daniel Bennett.

with a win in Darlington, after beating race dominator J Burton. Ricky Rudd continued his win ning streak with a victory at Martinsville in September, record ing at least one victory in 16 con secutive years. Rudd’s win was not easy, though,

Jarrett took win number three at

switch to Bell Melmets and Mike

Tucson.

into an 11-car wreck.

Gordon summed up 1998: “The final win in Atlanta was the icing on the cake; it was a year that doesn’t come round very often.” For Gordon it was a great year, but his domination stank up NASCAR’s usuallya competitive ‘show,’ with little fighting for the lead and most of the racing for posi tions back in the pack, which is exactly the way the points race panned out. NASCAR’s 50th anniversary year will be remembered for controversy

and, sadly, not for racing - but, with aero rule changes in 1999, you

will no doubt be working on over

can expect a turnaround, that’s if anyone has anything to answer

the winter.

Golden Gordon.

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Another controversial race came

allegations that Gordon was using some form of tyre softening additive to gain ground late in races. “Air, air. Jack. That what’s in the tyres,” Evemham was seen holler ing at Roush. Although the tests carried out on the tyres proved negative, Gordon had to live through three weeks of controversy and bickering from Roush while awaiting test results. Gordon grabbed another million

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ISJdnuary 1999

Story by KEITH BURGAN

Recently, Motorsport News wasto privileged to be invited accompany Whit Bazemore’s team when they and several other partic ipants spent the better part of a day in the General Motors wind tunnel in Warren, Michigan, just north of Detroit.

Although the now formerly Winston-backed team was at the

point of dissolution - due to a lack of sponsorship for the upcoming 1999 season - crew chief Rob Flynn and most of the key members of the crew were planning to stay together next year and felt that there was much to be learned from the experi ence.

Due to General Motors’ corporate policy that prevents exclusive sto ries by individual journalists involved in such an exercise, Motorsport News cannot quote spe cific results from the test - but we

can teU you what is involved in the testing proceedure and the type of results obtained.

To be strictly correct, the GM tunnel is officially known as the Engineering Staff Aerodynamics Laboratory, or ESAL in acronym speak.

car is scanned and digitized to pro vide a basis for the generation of the Cd, or coefficient of drag num The vehicle to be tested is placed on the 5.5-metre diameter main

turntable,

after

the

When it was commissioned and

eccentrics controlling the location of the contact plates are adjusted to

calibrated in August of 1980, the facility was the first full-size auto

the correct wheelbase and track dimensions.

motive wind America.

In our case, risers were placed under the rear tyres to simulate the vehicle attitude due to tyre growth at the 250 kmh maximum air speed

tunnel in

North

The test section of the tunnel is

5.4 metres high and 10.4 metres wide, for a cross sectional area of 56.16 square metres and the maxi mum air speed that can be generat ed is 250 kmh, sustainable for 15 minutes if necessary. That air flow is produced by a six-blade fixed pitch fan driven by a variable speed DC electric motor rated at a maximum of 2984 kW for the 15 minute maximum test dura tion - the fan blades themselves are made from laminated sitka

spruce and weigh 1270 kg each. Prior to placing the vehicle in the tunnel itself, the frontal area of the

move back nearly an inch as the air flow came up to speed. When the car shuddered and

bers.

balance

the initial run saw the Camaro

attainable. The car is then locked in that

location by applying a clamping device to the front brake rotor -

and, for additional insurance, the brake lever was tied back in the

applied position using the car’s safety harness. Once the vehicle is located, a laser beam is aimed at the side of

the body and a small strip of tape is applied at that point to provide an indication of any vehicle movement on the turntable.

As can be seen from the photo.

A question of balance: The chassis (actually that of Al Hofmann’s GM Performance Parts Pontiac) is placed on the balance platform, which has been rotated to make maneuvering that car out of the holding area easier. The GM technician by the right front wheel is securing the clamping device on the brake rotor. (Burgan pics)

shpped back, the control room oper ator quickly shut down the fan. A quick investigation once the fan had spooled down and the air flow through the tunnel had slowed to a soft breeze revealed that the

neither the rotor clamp nor the brake lever were sufficently tight so, after a quick adjustment, the test resumed.

In as-constructed form, the

Camaro produced rear downforce numbers in the 3850 pound range, but the front load number was just over 200 pounds and that explained why the car had been reluctant to respond to steering inputs at some

required to allow the driver to com pensate for the effect of side winds, bumpy track surfaces, or dropped cylinders on one bank, the latter problem the one that causes most directional instability due to the loss of downforce once that cylin der’s header ceases providing downthrust.

The next step was to open up the hinged tail light panels that had been locked in the closed position, following some pit scuttlebut that resulted from other teams’ trips to the tunnel.

'That simple change added more than 100 pounds to the rear num

bers and, su^risingly, also helped

the front downforce numbers by nearly. 50 pounds. Although this modification had

tracks.

an obvious effect in the confines of

During the US Nationals, the lack of steering response had seen the Winston team add spill plates to the front wheel openings prior to the third qualifying session in an attempt to allow Bazemore to make directional corrections - but, unfor tunately, the body used in the GM test was the “virgin” spare shell that was not used by the team this year and it had not been fitted with

the tunnel, many of the front run ning teams, including Bazemore’s, have closed off the hinged panels after real world track testing did not indicate smy benefit.

the modifications.

StiU, the numbers generated did confirm that front downforce was

lacking and that some remedy was

Most of those teams have also added sheet metal under the rear of

the body in an attempt to channel air trapped under the rear deck surface out imder the rear bumper. Bazemore’s primary Camaro shell has that modification, but it also had suffered from the rigours of six races in the final eight weeks of the season and was looking

Field mods: Chassis builder J. Ed Horton works on attaching a hinge to the tail light panel that was sawn out of the rear of Hofmann’s Pontiac after the gains witnessed on Bazemore’s Camaro. The “staging area” for the tunnel itself contains a well equipped fabrication facility, with everything from brakes and shears to an english wheel, so that virtually any modifications can be performed on site. (Keith Burgan pic)

15 January 1999

decidedly second-hand, both cosmetically and structurally, with many fractures in the shell - thus the decision to use the brand-new body for the test.

panels, but the success of that test on Bazemore’s car had Andy Nerring and Willie Nelson of Hofmann’s crew sawing out that

Ajiother variable that cannot be

that the rotation of the rear tyres has on the airflow under the rear portion of the body. The turbulence generated by a slick that has grown to some 40plus inches in diameter is a factor that cannot be duplicated in the

Ermalovich scrounged around in the trailer and managed to find two short lengths of piano hinge to allow attending chassis shop owner J Ed Horton to complete the job. Opening the tail lamps had the same effect as it did on the Camaro and produced more front downforce, although the rear number did not

confines of the wind tunnel.

increase as much.

The second major unknown is the effect that the column of hot gas being expelled out of the headers has on the airflow down the side of

A taller rear spoiler fitted for the next run predictably added more at the rear, while the added leverage that it applied also reduced the

the car.

front numbers.

Although the header outets are angled away from the body, the fact that the exhaust gas is expanding rapidly once it leaves the pipes means that some of the boundary layer flow down the sides of the car is possibly being disrupted. At this point, the Camaro body was replaced by A1 Hofmann’s Pontiac and, again, the first test

Adding spill plates to the front wheel openings also had a predictable result with more front downforce - but, as an added bonus, the rear numbers came up as well, While these runs were being

quantified in the tunnel is the effect

was in as-raced condition.

Although the Cd number for the GM Performance Parts Firebird was considerably lower than that for the Camaro, so too were the critical downforce numbers.

The front component was more than double that of the Chew -

area, while crew chief Jimbo

made, Horton was at work in the

tunnel’s fab shop, making a curved transition panel to soften the radius from the deck area to the vertical portion of the rear spoiler at the same time, Ermalovich was back in the trailer, digging out a spare set of side plates for the spoiler so that a modified configuration could be tried there as well. Hofmann has run a short and somewhat

-off side

First blow: The first baseline run for the Whit Bazemore Winston Chevy Camaro Funny Car. (Keith Burgan)

sports entities, the test ended with the Pontiac on top of the downforce charts.

As mentioned earlier, the real world effect of some of these modifi

cations may be diluted by some of the unquantifiable factors that can not be duplicated in the tunnel environment. Also in the grey area

is the effect of increased speed on the airflow over and around the car and it may be that higher airflow rates negate some of the changes,

results. The Lockheed facility in Georgia does have a moving ground plane and can also accomodate speeds in the vicinity of 400 kph

due to increased turbulence. The fact that the tunnel does not

with its 6700Kw fan motor, but

have a moving ground plane, as do most of the facilities used by Formula 1 teams, also affects the

and also very expensive, even more so than the $1800 per hour for the MN GM facility.

access to race teams is restricted

Aerodynamic gain: Hofmann crew member Willie Nelson shows off the newly hinged tail lamp panel (note the controversial 1999 Ford Mustang body - banned from running in '98 - behind Nelson). (Keith Burgan pic)

1998/99 ANDRA CHAMPIONSHIP DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS STANDINGS.

PENNID"‘ar

98/99 ANDRA Top Fuel Championship I. Darren DiFilippo, True Flow Exhausts .150 Romeo Capitanio, Sidchrome Proto .. .150 3. Rachelle Splatt, Valvoline/Cummins ... .140 4. Steve Read, Santos Cranes/Hi-Tec Oils 100 .80 5. Terry Sainty, Eagle Products Robin Kirby, Pennzoil/Keatings Trans. .. .80

98/99 ANDRA Top Doorslammer C’ship ,215 I. Victor Bray, Castrol '57 Chevy 2. David Simpson, Simpson Racing Falcon .160 3. David Koop, KoopDeVille ’55 Chevy . .130 Lindsay Murray, ‘97 VS Commodore Ute90 5. Michael King, Castrol ’57 Customline .. .60

Gary Phillips, ‘98 Holden Statesman ... .60 Robin Judd, ’53 Studebaker 8. Shane Bcoate, Thunder Road Race Cars

.60 .40

Peter Kapiris, Pennzoil/VPW ‘53 Stude .40 Next round - Willowbank Raceway Jan 2nd

Next round - Willowbank Raceway Jan 30th

lKI®9(D[7Slp(D[?9

l5Jdnudry1999

Four straight by Hannagan WHEN American Randy “Hurricane” Hannagan com

menced the southern swing of the World Series Sprintcars Championship at Horsham’s Blue Ribbon Raceway on December 27, he was sitting in second place, a fair way adrift of Wild ride: Sprintcar punter Chas Calandro unfortunately changed the complexion of his Warrnambool WSS outing on New Year’s Day with a car-crushing rollover during heats. (Photo sequence by Brett Swanson)

With just another lap down, Phil Gressman and Calandro were dic

Past

Series

and

Australian

string of four consecutive victories. Incredibly, in the only race he didn’t win, it was because he didn’t

Champions Dumesny and Brazier had tough nights, with both drop ping heats and Brazier, in fact, being forced to qualify through the B-main, which he won, followed by Masters champion Green. In the feature race following a false start, Darren Jensen spun and was hit by Dumesny, as Hannagan led Jackson, Tatnell and March. On lap 4, Jensen spun and was again t-boned by Dumesny, whose front nerf bar tore off, causing a

even make the main event.

caution to retrieve it.

the ever-consistent and defend

ing champion, Skip Jackson. But, when the seven day, five race, speedweek was over, Hannagan had taken a slender

points lead after putting together a

Adelaide’s Phil “Quick” March, joined the series at Horsham and made it a great debut by winning that round as reported in the last issue of Motorsport News. From there the circus headed

west to Adelaide where Hannagan’s brilliant

run

the

Oztrac

Equipment/Icore Hurricane com menced.

Adelaide (Round 7) The San Jose star enjoyed a stel lar night on December 28 by setting fast time, gaining sufficient points from preliminary qualifying to be highest qualifier, winning the Goodyear Dash and then leading all thirty laps of the A-Feature. Hannagan’s only hiccup was when a brake line came adrift in his second heat.

Aiding Hannagan’s situation was the fact that points leader and defending champion Skip Jackson had his worst finish to date by run ning fifth behind Hannagan, local hero Trevor Green, Brooke Tatnell and March.

Albury’s David Anderson again charged through from 12th-starting spot to finish sixth, profiting from the demise of national champion Max Dumesny, whose Valvoline J&J lost its water during a caution. Rounding out the top ten were Robbie Farr (O’Brien Aluminium

Avenger), Mark Reuter, Mike Van Bremen, and local Tony Bartlett. In addition to those who with

drew from crash damage, Chas Calandro and Drew Kruck also were forced onto the infield.

Kruck had earlier qualified for the feature by winning the BFeature, despite jettisoning the right front torsion arm and bar from the suspension of his Titan Garages & Carports Maxim. Former WSS champion Garry Brazier had seemed set to transfer T

drew an inverted six for the Dash

which saw Hannagan and Jackson wage a torrid duel around the tight, tacky Nyora bullring.

into the main event, until steering box problems spun his Maxim into retirement.

Nyora (Round 8) Hannagan won his second straight A-Feature event, his fourth in eight rounds, when he held off concerted attacks from Tatnell and

ing when Gressman was pushed high into the wall. On lap 22, Hannagan lapped Kruck and was once again looking to lap Dumesny. Milling was still in between Hannagan and Brazier, who was vocal about it later, claim

ing that Milling was playing team tactics, although over the closing laps Milling actually pulled away from Brazier.

Tatnell crossed the line third, ahead of March, Peter Smith,

Danny Smith, Nathan MacDonald, Jackson (his worst finish to date), Calandro, Jensen, Green (driving

with a broken rib and chipped bone

By this stage, Rob Rankin had been hit and suffered a flat front

left tyre but worse was to come on the restart when he was squeezed into the front straight wall and careened down track into the path of Green, who rode Rankin’s wheel and then took a wild ride before a more sedate one in the back of the ambulance.

With still 26 laps to go, the action at the front was getting hot as Hannagan was controlling the race. Tatnell managed to pass Jackson, but Jackson retook the

position soon after.

in his leg), Dumesny, liruck and Milling.

Mt Gambier (Round 10) In contrast to last night’s race at Warrnambool, the feature at Mt Gambier on January 2 was fantas

tic, with a couple of guys looking likely to win before Harmagan capi talized on a rare mistake by Jackson to snatch the lead just two laps from home. The look on Jackson’s face after

receiving his runner-up trophy said it all - not only had they let a win slip out of their hands, but the

Andrew Scheuerle and Calandro

Pennzoil/Sldlled team had lost the

spun on lapis, just after March had grabbed third from Tatnell. Pete Smith spun away a fine fifth place on lap 15 and from here it got really intense. For lap after lap Jackson and Tatnell battled each other, with Tatnell running two-wide through the turns, something that is rarely

series points lead as well. March shared the podium after a Hannagan had set fast time, but once again it was Tatnell who had top qualified. Tatnell brought his sister, Gail, out to draw the inversion (four), which put Hannagan back onto pole

seen here.

for the dash - Brooke himself

Once ahead of Jackson, he closed on Hannagan, but the professional American was too smart and just

checked his choice, which turned

torrid dice with Robbie Farr.

out to be the dreaded six.

Adelaide’s Darryl Downing went no further than hot laps, while Dumesny had engine trouble also, changing a magneto cap.

protected the pole line as Tatnell tried to hustle a way past. On the last lap, Tatnell left the door ajar and Jackson dived in, but there wasn’t enough room and the light contact put Jackson into a full spin which allowed March and McComb to move up a place.

get the jump on Hannagan and lead away and then Tatnell worked his way into second. Tatnell was clearly on fire and

Jackson recovered to be fifth, as

determined to break his duck, but it

Hannagan just beat Tatnell across the line. Robert Farr, Dumesny, David Anderson, Danny Smith,

aU came to a frustrating end on lap

Brazier, Scheuerle, Darren Jensen, Calandro and Peter Smith complet ed the finishers.

The Hurricane continued to blow

the

troupe

24. Gressman hit a rut in turn 2

and the car jumped - he struggled to recover and Dumesny slowed to avoid hitting the American. Jackson

Warrnambool (Round 9) when

The feature event saw Jackson

landed

Warrnambool for the traditional

New Year’s Day show. Hannagan’s luck continued when the top four cars were inverted for the dash, putting Hannagan on pole once again after he won the dash from Brazier and Tatnell, which is the way they finished the feature on a surface

Jackson

described as “a fast, but one-lane

came

around

with

Tatnell right on his tail, Jackson lifting off the throttle to avoid hit ting Dumesny - but Tatnell couldn’t and drove up the back of Jackson. The car pitched, turned right and rolled - sadly, there was too much damage to repair Brooke’s car in time.

On the restart. Brazier smote the

wall and half spun. From here, Jackson led away until two laps from home. “Right in the middle of turn 2, I ran across a bump the wrong way,”

Jackson in a thrilling meeting at Gippsland’s Nyora Raceway on

goat track.” At the drop of the green for the feature, Hannagan jumped to the

Hannagan immediately took the only opportimity that had been pre

December 30.

lead and held it. ■

sented to him and hit the lead.

The spectacular record-breaking night began with an all-time record

He lapped team-mate Scott Milling and was on Dumesny’s tail trying to lap him when, on lap 13, a steering failure saw Farr’s Avenger head straight into the turn 2 wall, “tweaking” the chassis before com ing to rest on its side.

crowd, which saw Tatnell’s Shell

Helix Schnee set a new one-lap track record in time trials.

As highest qualifier following the preliminary heat races, Tatnell

admitted Jackson.

March and Farr had a race-long battle for third, which fell to the Les March Auto’s OSl, ahead of the

O’Brien Aluminium Avenger, MacDonald, Jensen, Dumesny, Green and Danny Smith, who com pleted the top ten.

SIM

TSJdnudry 1999

T.M

Brazier fops

Brooke Tatnell

5705

Garry Brazier

5160

Trevor Green

4035

Robert Farr

3600

Phil March

3530

8. 9.

Max Dumesny Kerry Madsen

3115

10.

Dean McComb

2810

11.

Darren Jensen

2590

12.

Peter Smith

2350

13. 14.

Danny Smith Ryan Farrell

2210

15.

Drew Kruck

2110

16.

Andrew Scheuerle 2065

field.

17.

ChasCalandro

1750

Yet another caution delayed pro ceedings two laps later, when B-

18.

David Anderson

1705

19.

Nathan MacDonaid 1510

Feature winner Nathan MacDonald

20.

Phil Gressman

1. 2. 3.

Randy Hannagan Garry Brazier Skip Jackson

Phil March

1. 2. 3.

A-Feature Lap Leaders 116 Skip Jackson Randy Hannagan 109 54 Garry Brazier

Phil March

Ron Krikke

Brooke Tatnell

Ryan Farrell

Phil Gressman

1. =2.

Randy Hannagan Skip Jackson

=2.

Phil Gressman

=4.

Trevor Green

=4.

Marty Perovich

=4.

Brooke Tatnell

=4.

Peter Smith

Randy Hannagan

Brooke Tatneli

=3. =3.

Skip Jackson Ryan Farrell

=3.

Peter Smith

=3.

Phii March

=3.

Phii Gressman

=3.

Garry Brazier

dropped ten spots in his Castrol

Sprintcars Championship was perhaps his most emphatic, the Sydneysider winning the WSS Round 12 30-lap feature event of the two-night O’Brien

On the second lap, the previous night’s Invitational Feature winner

Nationals

Parramatta City Raceway on January 9. Close encounter: #6 Mick Van Bremen solidly contacts Phil Johnson,

driving Roy Wright’s Sprintcar at Premier for Round 9 of the WSS tour. (Photo sequence by Geoff Gracie)

Having won the dash, Brazier sprinted away from the start and won handily, ahead of Kerry Madsen (Ashley Anthony Gambler) and championship rivals Skip Jackson (Pennzoil/Skilled Jackson)

and Randy Hannagan (Oztrac Equipmentlcore Hurricane). The quartet of visiting Americans figured prominently, with Todd Shaffer (Bob Jane T-Marts J&J)

topping preliminary qualifying, only to draw a six inversion of the dash field and finish fifth ahead of Ohio’s Phil Gressman.

To Gressman’s credit, the previ ous night’s highest qualifier had to pass his DC Motorsports Gambler through the C and B-Feature races to even make the top 16 line-up, after arriving after the usual WSS cut-off of 5.00 pm. Without the requisite bonus points, Gressman dropped to 29th qualifier, but put on a passing show for the big crowd to finish an even tual sixth.

Rounding out the top 10 were Brooke

Tatnell

(Shell

Helix

Schnee), Trevor Green (Adrad Radiators J&J), fourth US competi

tor Danny Smith (Mildura Crane Hire J&J) and David Anderson

(Wagga Mobile Cranes Foster). At the start of the feature, Brazier jumped to an immediate lead ahead of Jackson, as surprise front row starter Garry Rush Jr jumped the cushion in turn 3 and

Pointscore

1. 2.

GARRY Brazier’s third win of the current World Series

Aluminium

World Series Sprintcars (After Round 12 of 15) 8320 Skip Jackson Randy Hannagan 8070

afKRWSS Maxim.

Robbie Farr came into contact with

Tatnell and spun to the rear of the

broke a right rear wheel centre and luckily came to rest without major damage. By this stage, Madsen had over taken Jackson, who now had his hands full keeping Shaffer and Hannagan at bay, while a strug gling Tatnell, suffering a broken torsion stop from the Farr incident, battled to keep Green, Anderson, Drew Kruck (Titan Garages & Carports Maxim) behind. Gressman was on a charge from 13th starting position and soon raced up to duel with Tatnell for sixth spot. By half race distance. Brazier was into lapped traffic and was fol lowed by Madsen, Shaffer, Hannagan, Tatnell and Gressman. As the laps wound down, Shaffer began to slip backwards, but Gressman continued his impressive charge and was dicing with Hannagan for fourth when Brazier took the chequered flag. “We tried something in the dash which worked and, once I got into the lead, I only had to worry about myself and lapped traffic,” said Brazier.

“Some of those lapped cars made it hard, as a few guys you expect to cooperate didn’t.” Results: 1. Brazier, 2. Madsen, 3. Skip Jackson, 4. Hannagan, 5. Shafi'er, 6. Gressman, 7. Tatnell, 8. Trevor Green, 9. Danny Smith, 10. David Anderson. The WSS teams now head for

2935

2160

1485

A-Feature Winners

6 2

Fast Time Winners

Dash Winners

Brisbane for two rounds on Jan 13 and Jan 15 and the Australian

Sprintcar Open on Jan 15-16 - the Grand Final is at Parramatta in

Sydney on Jan 23.

Skip regains WSS lead pressing Gressman for second. When Shaffer spun his ill-han dling car, the subsequent restart gave Hannagan the opportunity to pass his fellow American and set

COMING into Round 11 of the ■v.Sr-v-'>

World Series Sprintcars at Wynn’s Newcastle Speedway on January 6, all the momentum had swung in favour of Randy Hannagan, with four wins in the succession taking Californian to the top of the

out after his championship irval.

Hannagan snatched the lead, only for the caution to negate his efforts, the remaining non-stop laps allowing the flying yellow and black

point standings, ahead of defending dual champion Skip

Pennzoil/Skilled Jackson to ulti

mately accumulate a winning 12car advantage. Gressman followed Hannagan home in third, ahead of Tatnell (Shell Helix Schnee), the fourth US driver Danny Smith (Mildura Crane Hire J&J), Kerry Madsen

Jackson.

The ‘King of California’ swept Me KEEVER

around the outside of Jackson’s

Pennzoil car on lap 7, looking set to

equal Brooke Tatnell’s all-time record of five consecutive wins

when the entire complexion of the race and the championship changed with a yellow flag. Jackson regained the lead with Hannagan’s pass negated and duly went on to win and regain the lead in the points battle. At the start of the 30-lap feature that had appeared unlikely, with Ohio’s Phil Gressman and local

Robert Farr off the front row, with

Skip Jackson. (Tony Loxley pic)

Aluminium

Darren Jensen (Serco Maxim), Shaffer and Nathan MacDonald (Fraser Shores Maxim). Smith’s team leased a Kendrick

Avenger was out on the spot, while

engine to good effect, gaining the

Farr spun and was struck by another American, Pennsylvanian Todd Shaffer. Farr’s O’Brien

the Bob Jane T-Marts J&J of

Shaffer struggled to complete the journey with a bent torsion tube.

The two front row occupants

From the complete restart Gressman took the lead, followed

Jackson on the outside of row three.

(PPG Gambler), Max Dumesny (Valvoline J&J), first reserve

raced each other hard around the

by Jackson, who profited from the

first lap, going deep into turns 3-4, at which time Farr got sideways and was unavoidably tapped by the

demise of the two ahead of him.

American.

the front running, with Hannagan

On lap 2, Skip snuck beneath the DC Motorsports Gambler and took

last transfer spot from the BFeature then moving from 16th to fifth.

Madsen also put on a passing show for the crowd, moving up the

order only to twice spin away places he gained. Also out of luck was Trevor

Green, whose Adrad Radiators J&J lost a magneto and withdrew.

15 January 1999

Perfect TH City for logue ALTHOUGH the Tri City became the Bi City after Round

Borderline

Speedway

December 27-28.

One at Wairnambool’s Premier

A class interstate field of 31 nom

Speedway was washed out, the 28th anniversary running of this Super Sedan event contin

inated for the event, however it was

ued at Hamilton’s Western-

Speedway and Mt Gambler’s

reigning Victorian champion Peter Logue - piloting the Repco Motorsports 362ci Chev-powered Camaro - who triumphed over both

rounds, taking out his fourth over all win of the prominent sedan

Trans Am, with Logue coming in

series

third in a time of 15:94. Two heat wins went to the

Sponsored by Penrite Oils, Cheap Tyres Morwell and U-Pick Car

Dave

Wreckers, the Camaro took the vic tory over both nights, Logue stamp ing his authority by setting a new one- lap record at Hamilton of 15:31 and a new six-lap record at Mt Gambler of 1:30:55.

Casparini Transport Pontiac of Gartner

and

the

West

Torrens Dyno entry of Steve Stewart, with other heat winners including Lionel West (driving the

Stewart kissed Bryans, starting a

spin and pushing him down the track, leaving Trewin with no rac ing room - Trewin hit Bryans, Bryans becoming airborne and tak ing a dramatic and expensive rollover coming out of turn 2.

VR Commodore of Les Faulkhead)

Trewin was handed a six month

and Paul Tindal in the Motion Autobam EL Falcon.

suspension after the rollover - how

Unfortunately, some very ques

Hamilton Time Trials saw reigning Australian Champion Mick Nicola

ing through underneath.

tionable steward decisions over the

night saw some drivers take out

set the fastest time of 15:39 in the

their fioistrations on the track, heat two seeing the first of two spectacu

Traralgon Car City Chev-powered

lar rollovers.

niOC Camaro. Gavin South Australia’s McEachern clocked second fastest

was the race leader, with Stewart

in the Trident Tyre Centres Pontiac

Geoff Trewin (Western Autos) corn-

Gary Bryans (BRH Enterprises) attempting a high line pass and

ever, after a lengthy appeal hear ing, all charges were dismissed. Heat three was just as volatile. Logue was making a move around the outside of Peter Drew in

the back straight when Drew’s right rear rode over Logue’s left front wheel.

This kicked Drew back up in the air and he was the next casualty, airborne and over - unfortunately.

Up ’n over; #26 Commodore Super Sedan of Gary Bryans spectacularly comes to grief at Hamilton in a triple rollover during the Tri City. #47 Steve Stewart contacted Bryans, the latter coming down in front of #27 Geoff Trewin, whose Toyota Soarer drilled the Commodore and tipped it over. (Photo sequence by Geoff Gracie)

15 January 1999

Leslight wins despite chaos JOHN Leslight collected his second Super Sedan feature race win for the season when he

took out a drama-charged Round

of the

Coastline

Vehicle Ti'ansport Super Series at

Toowoomba’s

Charlton

Raceway on December 26. On a night plagued by atrocious stewarding and a massive accident involving local pedaller Graeme Lehmann, Leslight enjoyed a Winners ’n Grinners; Hamilton podium, with Tri City round.runner-up SA #47 Steve Stewart (left), dominant race winner VIC #6 Peter Logue and third-placed VIC #78 Tony Grinstead. (Photo by Geoff Grade) he too sustained some major dam age, taking no further part in the series.

The Trophy Dash saw Nicola (as top pointscorer) draw a two car inversion, putting John Rodda (K & J Rodda) on pole for the six-lap event - Nicola, however, drove a strong race to take the chequered flag and retain pole position for the 25-lap feature event. A great race was run in the BMain Final, the Northern Territory entry of Terry Reichstein (Tennant Taxi Trucks) crossing the line just in front of Robby Merchant. Andrew Keen took third, with Steve Reddecliffe

(M&J Auto

Wreckers) taking fourth. When the green flag fell in the feature, Nicola took the lead, Logue coming under Rodda to take over second place. Logue immediately went on to power down the back straight under Nicola and take over the

lead, which he held until the che quered flag. Nicola was maintaining second, with Stewart holding down third.

Nine laps into the race, the first caution occurred, after the right

Marchant, Debbie Reddecliffe (M&J

With 18 laps remaining, Grinstead looped the Ford coming out of turn 4, triggering a caution and Grinstead going to the rear.

Wreckers).

Logue was leading the points after the first night of racing, fol lowed by Stewart, Grinstead and Rodda, with Gartner rounding out the top five.

McEachern retired from the

event, after experiencing engine problems. Nicola continued to make his

Mt Gambler

presence felt behind Logue and, with 14 laps remaining, put his

Logue again showed his top style by setting the fastest time trial for the night, clocking 14:35.

nose down the inside on the back

straight, but was unable to make the pass. Grinstead was again showing his quiet achiever style, moving slowly but steadily through the field to

Trewin and McEachern were

equal second-fastest, both clocking 14:76 (with their slower times both

being 15:15) - but, unfortunately for Gartner, his time trial run revealed a blown head gasket. Logue took two wins from two starts in his heats, with the other heat winners being Stewart, West, Grinstead and McEachern, the lat ter setting a new two-lap record in

take over fifth from Miller with

seven laps remaining. West and Tindal were still hav

ing a fantastic race together, Tindal still holding down third, although about a quarter lap behind Nicola in second.

Courtot, while being put a lap down, kissed Logue alter the uni versal joint on his power steering broke. The touch with Logue turned him infield, where Kamilowicz was coming through. leaving Kamilowicz with no racing room. Logue sustained no damage, but

a time of 29:93.

The Trophy Dash saw Logue draw a four car inversion that put Tindal on pole for the six-lap event. West and Tindal played leapfrog for the lead, Tindal taking the posi tion and Logue moving through to put the challenge up to Tindal with two laps remaining.

Camaro

Tindal drove a clean fine to hold

Kamilowicz needed some front-end work carried out.

(Macquarie Homes) rode the left

off the challenge, Logue taking the position as the two crossed the fin ish line side by side.

The restart pulled the field back together and, one lap down after the restart, 'Tindal, West and Grinstead

front

Steve

Ellis’

rear of Marchant - Tindal was the

loser, being left with no racing room, a cut down left rear seeing him retire for the night. The restart saw Nicola make a

dive down the inside of Logue up the back straight, Logue holding off the challenge to maintain the lead. Tony Grinstead (Gas/Kyneton Car Parts), driving the Stonehouse Racing EF Falcon, was the quiet achiever, moving through the field to pass both Steven Murphy (Murphy’s Crash and Towing) and Gartner to take over fourth place. Nicola spun himself in turn 2, causing the yellow to fly again and

Scott

were three-wide down the back

Whittle (IPTA Fibreglass), who drove a tidy line on a very demand ing track. Marchant, who was holding down the front position, spun in turn 1, giving the lead to Whittle, who

straight, with Logue and Nicola having their own race up front, The remained positions unchanged until the last lap, when Grinstead passed West on the back straight. Final placings were: Logue, Nicola, Tindal, Grinstead, West, Miller, Murphy, Rodda, Whittle,

The

B-Main

went

crossed the line ahead of John

Kamilowicz, with George Courtot (Daylesford Truck Sales) in third.

\^en racing began in the feature

Reichstein and Keen. Pointscore 1. 2306 Logue 2. 1451 Grinstead 3. Nicola 1394 4. Rodda 1110 5. 1089 Stewart 988 6. MiUer 7. West 930 821 Tindal 8. 918 9. Murphy Gartner 654 10. 531 Marchant 11. 450 D. Reddecliffe 12. 445 13. Reichstein - SUE HOBSON

event, Logue took and held the lead from flag to flag. Tindal and Nicola were racing for second, Nicola making the move

being rewarded with rear of field

underneath in turn 3 to take the

for the restart. This moved Stewart into second

position. Unfortunately for Trewin, who

place, with Grinstead making a brilliant move up the inside of Rodda in the front straight to take over third.

was follovring Nicola, a tap together saw Trewin spin, Trewin being rewarded rear of field for causing the stoppage.

Final placings were Logue, Stewart, Grinstead, Rodda,

When resumed. racing McEachern took over third from

Gartner, Bill Miller (Blair Athol Auto Parts), Murphy, Nicola, West,

Tindal, with West and Tindal having a great race for fourth.

Max Dumesny Motorsport

his American Truck Parts Camaro.

The night started positively enough with 19 cars fronting for the event, including the debut of newcomer Shane Milbum.

Unfortunately, things deteriorat ed very rapidly with a series of ontrack incidents producing a range of puzzling and inconsistent deci sions from race officials that had

tempers flaring and resulted in extensive delays to the program that tested the patience of the big crowd in attendance. The nonsense commenced in the

opening heat when Rod Gough (American Truck Parts Pontiac) slammed

into

Michael

Gee

(Weatherall Prestige Autobody Falcon) while dicing for the lead, leaving Gee with a broken rack and a frantic repair job to make the feature. The incident went unpunished, with Gough collecting the win ahead of Gee, Bob Domjohn, Brian Missen (AutoOne Pontiac) and Kelvin Hamilton (Shell Murwillumbah Camaro).

Heat two started in spectacular fashion when Lehmann (Wynn’s Commodore) and Leslight contact ed, sending the former into a fright ening series of end for end flips through turn 2, before coming to rest atop the concrete wall. The second attempt to start also failed, as Jamie McHugh (Miami Smash Repairs Camaro) was initial ly banished to the rear after getting out of shape in front of the field. Yet another stoppage occurred at the next attempted restart when A1 Starling (Byron Towing Pontiac) spun after being slammed hard by Leslight. Two laps were completed before the next-interruption came when Starling and Richard Kay (Fraser’s Bodyworks Falcon) tan gled and spun. Leslight took the race, ahead of Blair Granger (Retravision Pontiac), McHugh, Paul Geary (Infinity Commodore) and Shane Paulger (Breaka Pontiac). Thankfully, heat three was fairly straightforward, with Wayne Randall (Ian Boettcher Motors

Mazda RX7) downing Missen, Domjohn, Hamilton and Chris Stacey (Beaurepaires Camaro). The final qualifier comprised a depleted field, with Leslight finish ing ahead of Paulger, McHugh, Starling and Kay.

order for the feature event. While the format of the shuffle

still requires some fine-tuning, it is certainly a much fairer and more entertaining way to detemine the starting order. Hamilton was the big mover in the early rounds, disposing of Starling, Gee, Gough and Granger before losing to Paulger. Paulger was then beaten by Randall, who was subsequently dis qualified for allegedly jumping the start in another dubious call.

Paulger took full advantage, downing Missen, McHugh and Domjohn before losing to Leslight in the final clash. An oversubscribed field of 17 cars

faced the green in the feature, with Leslight immediately slotting into the lead when the race got underway. McHugh slipped into third behind Paulger, but ahead of Domjohn, with Randall also moving quickly into fifth, ahead of Missen. The first stoppage came on lap 6, when Gee and Granger collided in turn 4 and were collected by Ross Brims, putting all three on the infield. Domjohn’s excellent showing came to an end on lap 11 when he took his supercharged six cylinder Commodore to the infield while

fourth, at the same moment that Gough and Randall tangled and spun in turn 3. Leslight maintained his lead ahead of Paulger and McHugh

through the next restart, resulting from another Gough spin on lap 13. Paulger made a crucial mistake on lap 23 when he drifted wide in turn 2 and allowed McHugh and Randall, who was mounting a vig orous challenge, to move ahead. The next restart came with just six laps to run when Leslight can noned

into

the

Xoo$irr j i

For more information on Hoosier Drag and Speedway Tyres call:

NSW: 02 9679 1990 Fax 02 9679 1187 03 9331 6477 Fax 03 9331 7444 WC 08 8332 0800 Fax 08 8364 0296 SA*

AVALON RESULTS - DEC I9TH.

POINTS STANDINGS TO JAN 1ST. I.

David Anderson

.723

Tim McCubbin

3. 4. 5.

Stephen Bell .... Phil Johnson JeffJudd

Mike Van Bremen

7. 8.

Tony Bartlett ... Daryn Maggs ....

.597 .533 .531 .529 .500 .486 .477 .464 .445

9. Colin Bulmer .... 10. Ian Thomsen ....

I. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

David Anderson

Stephen Bell Tim McCubbin

Todd Shaffer (USA) Ian Thomsen Gerard Boult Mike Van Bremen

Jeff Judd Wayne Milbum Charies Walter Hunter

side

John

Sheehan (Ace House Restumping Camaro), causing the experienced low-budget steerer into a spin. With the stewards opting to ban ish Sheehan to the back, Leslight was untroubled in leading McHugh

and Randall to the chequer, despite two more stoppages.

Paulger was fourth, ahead of Starling, Missen and Sheehan who finished well in seventh spot as the last car on the lead lap - and the improving Kay.

Gough, who somehow avoided disqualification despite three spins and a restart infringement, was next in line, followed by Stacey, Geoff O’Keeffe (Caloundra Exhaust Falcon) and Milbum.

The supporting 250 Speedcar fea-. ture event was taken out by Mark Giersbergen, ahead of Des Carsburg, Colin Reuter, Peter Mullen and Noddy McGrath. - CHRIS METCALF

1998/99 VICTORIAN SRA SPRINTCAR SERIES

Australian Distributors for

^ ^ RACING TIRE

charmed run through qualifying and the 30-lap feature event aboard

One of the few highlights of the night was the inclusion of a pole shuffle to determine the starting

lljtk)0®[?s[p®i70

15 January 1999

Another for Bell WARRNAMBOOL

charger Stephen Bell doubled his tally of career Sprintcar wins when he took out round four of the

SRA Series after a thrilling 19lap tussle with Camperdown’s Jeff Judd at Premier Speedway on January 9. But the titanic struggles weren’t only for the lead, as third place also went down to the wire after new

points leader Tim McCubbin charged from eighth to third, mar ginally ahead of Mike Van Bremen. Phil Johnson was the Pro-Shocks

top pointscorer and inverted the top six cars for the feature, which

Tough night: PCR claims Farr’s once-pristine Sprintcar. (Loxley)

espite experiencing a bit of a rough patch on the World

Series Sprintcar trail over the Christmas and New Year period,

amount of time and money into the series and nobody wants a silly decision to cost them prize-

our O’Brien Aluminium/Castrol team is sixth on the points tally as we head into the final three rounds of the extremely demand-

money, series points, or television exposure, as the investment in the sport by the participants is huge these days and it is related to strong perfromances on and off

ing series.

the track.

I failed to finish in three of the

rounds through a bit of bad luck and several other things. We had an engine problem which put us out of one event, then a steering failure prevented me from finishing the

Wethehave no chance winning series, so my ofgoal now

Warrnambool Feature and I was crashed out at Newcastle - that’s

23, before we head back to

okay, as everyone goes through little tough spots like that. To be leading the race before getting spun out by Ohio racer Phil Gressman was disappointing

Sprintcar Classic at the end of the

for all of the team, as the car has

had plenty of speed during the previous rounds. You just can't afford not to be gaining series points in all of the races, especially when defending champion Skip Jackson and visit ing American Randy Hannagan are finishing in the top five at the majority of the shows.

month

and

the

me at several of the rounds and

said that I copped it a little hard from the series race officials - I have been sent to the back of the field for an incident that I wasn’t involved in and some of the folk

watching the television coverage on SBS and FOX Sports haven’t

Judd was further delayed, allow ing bell to open a small gap as he sped to the finish from Judd, McCubbin, Van Bremen, Forbes, Rankin, Steve Knight, Boult, Enderl, Shane Stephenson, Scott, Ron Dalton and Peter Knight.

- he

was content to run around

Judd’s tail and then commenced a

and collect some points, until the fuel pump fell off, stranding him on

fantastic duel, the two drivers run

the track.

That was the last stoppage and after the restart both McCubbin and Van Bremen demoted Forbes to

around the outside into the lead.

-BRETT SWANSON

■fh ricrl

years ago, when local hotshot Todd Wanless took home the vic

tor’s spoils. I’ve always put in reasonably strong performances up there, so we’re looking toward a change in our luck during the forthcoming

were

fortunate

enough to take out that particular event.

This seasoncurve has forbeenour a new big learning team and hitting the road and rac ing against fully-established teams has made our crew work that little bit harder - we’re kind of

serving our apprenticeship this season - but next year we’ll all have that twelve months of tour

ing experience under our belts and I’m certain that we’re all gain ing heaps for the future. Past champions Max Dumesny and Garry Brazier haven’t been as consistent as in previous years - they have had good and bad nights like the most of the others. Hey, we’re happy to be ahead a

lot

Sprintcar

other

seasoned

campaigners and I’m

certain that our team is about to

have some strong performances in the very near future.

OnBobthe Woods, Speedcarthesidecarof owner, things. hasn’t put his Fontana-powered Stealth together yet, so I don’t

been able to understand what has

know when I’ll be able to get a couple of races under my belt

been happening trackside with

before the Australian Speedcar

the officials.

Title later in the season.

The team owners, plus the var ious corporate sponors and the racers are putting a tremendous

the top wing, allowing it to lay back

since the Australian Title several

A low number of spectators drivers have comeandup felto

when Judd was baulked. Bell swept

I’m looking forward to the three nights of racing at Archerfield, even though Ihaven’t raced there

so that would be a real

table.

Bell was in the box seat and,

Johnson’s race was also doomed, as the car blew a hydraulic line to

end.

eleventh position, allowing me to move into sixth spot on the points

As the pair started to encounter lapped traffic, the status quo remained the same until they hit a gaggle of slower cars.

Australian

bonus

was forced to cruise around in the A-Feature to finish back in

race was doomed, as his right rear tyre was going flat, eventually blowing and causing the next cau tion on lap 7.

Sprintcar Title the following week

winner,

our Avenger chassis, bending all the front-end components, so I

the race with Bell, Johnson and McCubbin using the high line to round up some cars. Bell quickly worked his way onto

From the restart Butch Hunter’s

for the Annual

lap Invitational feature on the Friday night of the O’Brien Aluminium Nationals - winning that event certainly put the step back in the crews shoes, as they have all worked hard learning the

Tatnell climbed over the front of

Judd took the lead at the start of

Forbes was third from Johnson

This Saturday night’s Sprintcar Open pays $15,000 to the race

points race, but that’s the way things go at times, so we pre pared for another strong perfor mance on the following evening. On Saturday night, Brooke

lead from Bell.

Behind them came Steve Knight, Bell, Van Bremen, Johnson, Rob Rankin, McCubbin, Ray Scott, Gerard Boult, Karl Enderl, Peter Knight and the B-Mainers.

facility, or at the Series Grand Final at Parramatta on January

A City Raceway, we won the 30-

cars and the various tracks around Australia as we contested our first WSS series. It was a shame that it wasn’t a

fifth, with Judd maintaining the

his mount in turn 2.

ning different lines but always close together.

races.

t the next round at Parramatta

and then Ron Donaldson upended

the front row.

is to win some WSS races this week at Brisbane’s Archerfield

Warrnambool

Take two: SRA Warrnambool victor, Stephen Bell. (Brett Swanson pic)

brought Judd and Bob Forbes in the KL Modular Systems Stealth to

See you round the tracks.

BEWDY: Bill Knight’s Super Sedan on its way to victory at Latrobe in Tasmania. (Allan Roark pic)

Knight King of Latmbe COASTAL driver Bill Knight timed his run to perfection win ning an action-packed Tas Sedan King of Latrobe 20-lap feature in his Camaro from Southem driver Garry Latham

started to pull away in the run to the chequered flag, taking a strong win from Latham and Francombe.

The Devonport Suzuki Sizzler for Super Sedans was no less fran-

tic, as many of the contenders

Jarrod Harper pulled away by half distance as Mick Bagorski had his hands full fending off a strong challenge from Anthony Manion, who was attempting to drive around Bagorski.

and Dion Francombe.

failed to finish - but the depth of

However the order remained

With four laps remaining, Knight passed Latham out of turn 4 and never looked in danger as he

quality in the Super Sedan ranks

unchanged, with Harper taking his

still ensured a fast close race for

first win of the season in only his second outing. -ALLAN ROARK

the final.

First feature win for Chilcott PHIL

Chilcott

East

Devonport broke through at Tasmania’s Premier Speedway

the order remained unchanged. In the second final run over ten

laps, Chilcott was on pole position -

in the state’s south for his first

but at the start it was Luttrel from

feature win, taking out the sec

the second row that powered into the lead in turn 1, ahead of Chilcott

ond of the two finals in the Jan

& Albies Sprintcar Shoot-out. In the first final, Launceston’s

Robin Dawkins powered away from

Geoff Lette of Scottsdale and Launceston driver Garry Luttrel,

who was fighting an evil-handling car.

Luttrell spun in turn 4, bringing the field around for a complete restart.

At the restart, Dawkins again powered away and headed^ to victo ry, ahead of Lette and Luttrell, who had his hands full fighting off Tony Smith of Devonport. Halfway through the 15-lap race. Smith passed Luttrell for third and

and Smith.

Chilcott did not give in and fought back, passing Luttrell, whose car was lifting the inside wheels and causing him to slow in the pit turn area. Two laps into the journey and Dawkins was on a charge forward with some spirited driving and strong decisive moves, passing Smith and Lette and then setting out after Luttrell.

Dawkins caught and passed him with still six laps to go and, although he was able to catch Chilcott, he could not get past. Back behind these two, Luttrell

and Smith were fighting it out for third.

With just over a lap to run. Smith and Luttrell had a huge com ing together on the front straight, ending both their night’s racing an elated Phil Chilcott declared the winner.

was

The Metro Mufflers Super Sedan Christmas Cup provided action that was every bit as intense, with Hobart’s Darren Kane leading the field home to continue his strong run as the man to beat this season

- however, he came under intense

pressure from current State Champion Jarrod Harper of the North West Coast, Deloraine’s Kevin Patton, Coastal veteran Peter Aylett and Hobart’s Mick Bagorski. Kane won from Patton and -ALLAN ROARK

Bagorski.

Hji]®0®[F8rD(S>l70

ISJanudry 1999

quickest behind touring American drivers

Phil

Gressman

and

Hannagan. In Saturday night’s final, Istart ed in fourth, with eventual race

winner Garry Brazier starting on pole. Kerry Madsen and I had a

good dice until he got the better of me - we didn’t read the track as

well as we wanted to, so we fin ished third behind Brazier and

Madsen, with Hannagan right behind me to keep us honest in the points chase.

I wish that we had a bigger

CfL:

r J

Well, our Pennzoil/Skilled Engineering team has had a busy few weeks while the majori ty of you enjoyed the traditional Christmas-New Year break away from the rigours of work - and the

good news is we’re still leading the series over Californian Randy

Tough opponent: Donny Schatz showed no mercy at round 3 of Claremont Speedweek. (Daniel Wilkins pic)

AMERICAN Donny Schatz was the big winner in round three of the 18th Annual USA v WA

Sprintcar Speedweek Claremont on January 8.

Schatz, driving the U3 Maxim, originally started in position three for the 25-lap feature race, but was elevated to the front row after polesitter Ryan Farrell was forced to

change a flat right rear before the race had started. The American won the race from

Ron Krikke and Mark Wells, mak ing it the third night in a row these

But Schatz was showing blister ing speed, reeling off a series of laps

#95 WA Auto Auctions Maxim to

buffer.

the lead in the first lap, followed by

The orange lights came on with 14 to go and, by this stage, Gavin Migro and Danny Plecas had made

Pino Priolo.

Three laps down and the biggest charge of the night was from Farrell, who had moved up from the back to tenth in just three laps and had known.

made

his

intentions

With 20 laps to go. Wells came up on the slower Darren Mewett and

the two clashed. Wells slipping underneath and Mewett losing his steering and belting the turn 1 fence. On the restart, it was Krikke momentarily, until the crowd

erupted when Schatz put his nose in front and shut the gate. All eyes were on Farrell, who shot up two places from ninth to seventh in the #92 PMFM Murphy.

Series Sprintcars Championship: hopefully, we can make it three series titles in a row.

At Mount Gambler, I qualified late, but still managed to put in a

WA winner just above the 14-second mark and starting to open up a worthwhile

Schatz, Wells, Keith Kauffman and

World

Schatz big

three drivers stood on the podium. Krikke was the first to jump out of the blocks when he powered his

their way infield.

turns 1-2. But the young charger from Kendrick Racing, who earlier took out the six-lap pole dash, had run out of time and had to settle for fourth.

Schatz, who collected his second successive WA win, admitted he was on the best spot with one round remaining and paid full tribute to spanner man Keith Giles and the

Speedway Masters, following his victory in a thrilling fifth round staged at the Gosford City Speedway on January 9. For Crump (O’Brien Aluminium/ Speedway Racing News GM), the victory represented his fifth career win in the Masters Series. Other rider to contest the A-Final

were Norway’s Rune Holta (Containers Packaging Jawa), Newcastle’s

Todd

Wiltshire

(Skilled/Champ Oil Filters Jawa) and the Czech Republic’s Antonin Kasper (Villawood Truck Sales Jawa).

Holta, who was the top qualifier, finished second to Crump, while Todd Wiltshire was third.

to win the race and I ran second. It has been real hard for us at

times, as Randy won four succes sive A-Features - the Adelaide, Nyora, Warrnambool and Mount Gamier rounds - before I

man

rest of the crew for putting together a good race car.

with Brooke Tatnell in third.

after originally starting in seventh. Farrell’s aggressive driving pushed him up another spot, to six

in the last lap to claim an exciting 20-lap Speedcar race on the night -

on the restart and it was a case of

anyone in front was cannon fodder

as he pushed back Maiolo a peg with nine to go. Schatz continued to pull away from Krikke, who, with three laps to go, was being attacked by Wells,

■ Mick Goode held out Joe Little

third

place

was

Mark

Glazebrook, who finished ahead of Tony Tucknott.

H Brad Chapman and Ken Sartori were the dominant two dri vers in a smaller than usual field of

while at the same time Farrell was

Formula 500s and they finished first and second, respectively, in the

all over the back of Kauffman, who

feature race, ahead of Jeff Hancock.

“I’m very happy to have won here tonight,” said (Jrump. “The meeting was an absolute thriller, with so many riders miss ing out on an A-Final start by just

south for a doubleheader next

one point.

weekend - round six will be staged

“I’m now leading the series by eight points, but with six rounds still remaining in the tournament. I’m not getting over-confident.

“This track at Gosford has been

very good to me, really.

and subsequently still maintains second place overall in the series pointscore. The travelling troupe now moves

Warrnambool’s

Premier

Speedway on January 15 for the first time and then, the following evening, round seven will be con

ducted at Borderline Speedway in Mount Gambier.

“I won the Masters Series round

here last year, plus I won the Australian Championship here in 1995.

“This series is going to be very close. The foreign riders are all starting to ride really well and the Aussie riders are obviously particu larly good on their own turf.” Leigh Adams won the B-Final

That result put us back in the points lead after the disappoint ment at the Mount, so we were

looking forward to running at our home track at Parramatta, where we launched our new Pennzoil-liveried car to the media last month. ran second to Robbie Farr in the

I 30-lap preliminary event on the

Friday night at PCR - Robbie did a good job, as there were 45 cars

field, as there are some hard WSS races ahead of us in the

next couple of weeks.

We’re at preparing our race shop currently in Sydney, the car for the Brisbane rounds.

Some folk are saying that the competition is stronger in this season’s

series - well, I can tell

you that the competition at the

front of the field is tight in every series battle and it is just the way things work out for different peo ple; we all race to win, as there is

nothing better than a victory. ur new car is certainly attract

o ing plenty of attention from the race fans and the photogra phers at each of the rounds that it has attended.

We just need to adapt it a little bit better to the varying track con ditions that we are being present ed with - we have no complaints about anything, as we are pro gressively moving forward with everything. opefully, by the time I write

H my next column, we will have wrapped up our third straight World Series Sprintcars title and we’ll be heading south to contest the King of Wings at Mount Gambler, before spending a week in Warrnambool for the Annual Classic and the ’99 Australian

Sprintcar Titles. All the best for ’99 from Lori,

A.J, myself and everyone that assists our Sprintcar team - and, if you want to be updated elec tronically on our progress throughout the year, you can con tact us on our new Internet site:

www.skipjackson.com.

in the time trials and I was third

- DARREN O’DEA

he literally shoved out of the way in

in Series 5 iih 4^

first two laps side by side before I got in front for the next 26 laps. On the second last lap, I hit a bump the wrong way that put me out of shape and that allowed him to pounce and captilise on my mistake - Hannagan went on to

impression on Schatz, who remained in front, with fellow American Kauffman into fourth,

Crump takes lea'* QUEENSLAND’S Jason Crump

quick time to be sixth overall, then had some good races to be sec ond in the Trophy Dash behind Hannagan. In the A-Feature, we raced the

aged to swing the momentum back our way by winning the Newcastle 30-lapper from him,

Krikke was unable to make an

has taken a narrow lead in the Series 500 International

Hannagan as we enter the final three rounds of the 1998/99

break over him and the rest of the

Series 500

International Speedway Masters Pointscore After 5 rounds

J. Crump 90, L. Adams 82, T. Wiltshire 70, J. Screen 67, R. Holta 59, C. Boyce 51, J. Jorgensen 51, M. Loram 45, R. Correy 41, A. Kasper 37, C. Watson 33, S. Davies 25, M. Poole 19, D. Watt 15.

Looking good: Jason Crump is the man to beat. (Barry Marshall pic)

Hjj](DO®[?SfJ)®[FO

15Jdnuaiy 1999

TODD Wanless raced to an

effortless victory in round six of the BXI Sprintcar Series at Archerfield Speedway on December 26.

In only the third round to be com pleted due to a series of washouts and cancellations, Wanless started his Truckmasters/Partfinder Stealth from the outside front row

and was unchallenged throughout the 25-lap feature event. With so many drivers absent on World Series duty, a very mediocre field of just 13 cars, including new comer Len Hutchinson, fronted to do battle in front of the biggest crowd of the season - 11 starters

Wanless easily The first attempted start was aborted when officials deemed that

Wanless had jumped the start. The next effort was also halted

when Darren Vine (Mike Vine Turbo’s Maxim) executed a series of

spins and gyrations through turns 3-4 before retiring. Once underway, Wanless simply cleared away from his pursuers to record his third feature race win for

the season.

The only interruption to proceed ings came on lap 12, when Tony Bridge stopped his Aussie

took part in the feature, with John Kelly (Partfinder Stealth) occupy ing pole, alongside Wanless. Kelly finished a distant second,

Trackwear Stealth in turn 2.

ahead of Matthew Sutherland

Andrew

(Betta Electrical Tognotti), Bob Kyle (NQ Engine Reconditining Gerhardt) and Kathy Kelly (Border Smash Repairs Tognotti), in her first outing for the season.

Homes Gambler), Darrell Hodges (Hoosier Maxim), David Grose

Following the top five home were Pezzutti

(Craftsman

(Crazies/BXI J&J) and former tin

top pilot George Galea. Compact Speedcars were out in

force in preparation for the upcom ing Australian Championship meet ing at this venue. The two qualifying heats were taken out by Steve Swingler and Julie Vine, with a very busy Darren Vine winning the B-Main. Brad Sloan proved too strong in the Stars Dash, finishing ahead of Steve Swingler and Brad Hilder. Swingler outpaced his rivals to take the feature event, downing Brad Hilder, Darren Bamier, Julie Vine and Robin Hilder.

Stock Rods produced their biggest field for the season and were rewarded with an extra race.

The three heats went to Craig Burgess, Bob Burgess and Greg Hope, before Don Simpson took out the feature event ahead of Craig Burgess, Hope, Reg Merton and Ray Cannon. - CHRIS METCALF

Brad Doty Down Under Outlaw star's dream tour now a reality WORLD of Outlaw Sprintcar star Brad Doty is coming to Australia.

The likeable former racer, now an American television commenta

tor, is very excited about his upcoming trip to Sydney, where he’ll be involved in a variety of pub lic appearances and official duties during his eleven day stay. Doty, who lives in Apple Creek, Ohio, was critically injured at Eldora Speedway in 1988 when another driver lost control in front of him and Brad’s machine was

struck by a following car.

Tragically, Brad was paralysed in the accident, ending his career as a race car driver, right at the time when he was reaching the top of the World of Outlaws competition. Only the year before the accident, Doty had run second to Steve Kinser overall in the 1987 World of

Outlaw series, after leading the trail for the first half of the year. It has now been ten years since that fateful crash and just recently Brad climbed back behind the

wheel of his old car (that had been

restored and was now equipped with hand controls) to lead the field

in the Kings Royal at Eldora.

Valei William “Bill” Rounds BILL Rounds, former Premier Speedway competitor and father of Motorsport News contributor Geoff Roimds, passed away recently at age 62 after a two-year battle with cancer. Rounds joined Premier Speedway in the early 70s, raced FJ and EH Holdens in the Standard Saloon division at local tracks and rated both Warrnambool and Simpson speedways as his favoured venues. . Rounds built all but one of the cars he raced, tinkering away in the machinery sheds on his farms around the Timboon area and racing in such events as the Traders Derby, Wills Woodbine 1000 and a number of state championships, gaining places in the Simpson 400 and the Lewis Robb Memorial. Rounds was a gi'eat friend to many in the speedway community and he took a particular interest in the , eareers'of Phil Johnson, Ian Anderson and, more recently, Jeff Judd and Stephen Bell. Johnson paid a special tribute to Rounds with a farewell message adorning the wing of his Sprintcar (see pic above) as he competed in the World Series rounds over the New Year period. Rounds is survived by his wife, Brenda, children Geoff and Andrea, son-in-law Anthony and grandson Luke. -BRE’TT SWANSON Motorsport News extends its condolences to all his family and friends.

this season in the World Series

for speedway fans Australia-wide has been the non-appearance of former OZ champ Craig Brady. Although he competed in the tri

Sprintcars championship and has led the gi'uelling tournament after a humiliating (for the Aussies) four

ly, no firm plans have been set to compete at home in the near

That man, Jackson American Okay^ Randy Hannagan is doing a mighty job

wins on the trot and a second in as

test series in New Zealand recent

By Tony Loxley

many races.

strong crowd to the now annual

Yet somehow I get the feeling that Skip Jackson’s amazing con sistency may well win him this year’s title, making it three in a

event.

row for the dual Knoxville Track

Champion. Skip turned the tide on Hannagan’s four in a row at Newcastle on January 6 and, with only a handful of rounds left to run, the sprint to the line is going to be veiy close indeed between the

Several changes were made to this season’s show as opposed to that of last season, including increasing car numbers in the sedan division from 14 to 23 and

adding the same 20, 15 and 10-lap

future.

However, Craig, if you are read ing this, I can only quote to you the immortal words of the famous

Scottish bagpiper and part time haggis ham, Hamish McGreggor, who uttered: “Will yee no come back, ya wee laddie?”

racing formats for both the Speedcar and V8 Dirt Modified

It’s a knockout

divisions.

currently competing on the WSS trail have vented their concern

A big pat on the back for David

The fans seemed to enjoy the for mat (no heats) and enjoyed some spectacular races and perfor mances, although due to the sear ing heat of late in NSW, the track hindered some races, particularly the final Super Sedan feature over 10 laps, which was ruined by a spate of spins and crashes, blunt ing the enthusiasm of all present.

Lander’s concept of introducing dirt track racing’s version of

Select will be bigger and better

If a competitor’s lights go out these days for whatever reason in any other sport, administrators,

NASCAR’s Winston Select event.

next season.

coaches and officials will not let

two.

But then again, look out for Brooke Tatnell, Garry Brazier, Trevor Green, Danny Smith, Phil March...

Teterin Select success

While obviously lacking the same publicity, razzamatazz, dol lars and hype, the PCR version at least this season - pulled a

Still, the word is the Teterin

Where are you, Craig? A major disappointment for the Speedcar division this season and

Several car owners and drivers

over the fact that a fellow competi tor, KO’ed recently for several min utes following a nasty incident, was given the go-ahead to compete again the following night, regard less of the fact that it took a good 20 minutes to remove him from the car.

that sportsman return to competi tion until a full medical is produced which gives that individual the all clear. Food for thought, NASR?

It was an emotional moment for all and hardened race fans said

there wasn’t a diy eye in the place when the #18 machine around in front of the field.

rolled

eventuate, private sponsors funded the trip - among the growing list of contributors to Doty’s visit are Garry Rush, Max Dumesny, Bob Tunks, Trevor Shields and Rod Bowen, just to name a few.

One of the prime movers behind the “Doty Down Under” project is Sydney Sprintcar owner Brian

Linigen, who has coordinated the majority of the fund-raising. Doty will arrive in Sydney next Friday, January 15. The following night, he will act as team manager/captain for the Teterin Engines USA Super Sedan Team at Wynns Newcastle Speedway, the event featuring Shane Yoder, Dan Schlieper and Rodney Combs. January 17 sees a Harbour Cruise with Doty and fellow Americans Todd Shaffer, Schlieper, Yoder and Combs, together with the Aussie stars.

Brad will take in some uniquely Sydney and Australian sight-seeing during the next week, before Brad acts as Grand Marshal for the

World Series Sprintcars finale at Parramatta City Raceway. During that week before PCR, he will also be attending a BBQ in his honour at the Linigen Speedway Museum property on the Tuesday afternoon (January 19) for the peo ple who sponsored his trip. The following night (after the

Though his racing days were

PCR World Series Race), he is the

ended after the crash, his life cer tainly didm't stop - these days.

Series Presentation Dinner, before

Brad is a hot commodity in the tele vision broadcasting game, announc ing US Sprintcar racing all over the country.

During a Wade Aunger interview with Doty last July, it transpired that Brad had always wanted to come Down Under.

Realising that Doty’s dream of coming to Australia may never

What a Rookie I know I shouldn’t be so brash,

but if Warren Ferguson doesn’t win Rookie of The Year in this year’s National Sprintcar Poll, there’s something seriously wrong with the voting system. With one feature win in the bag from only a handful of starts already this season, owner Ivan Palmer is over the moon with his

young charger and, along with many others, is adamant that this likeable and highly talented Speedcar standout will rattle some of the

big-time runners in years to come.

Brownie points

guest of honour for the World leaving the next day to return to Ohio.

This is truly a unique opportuni ty to meet one of the nicest guys in American Sprintcar Racing. Fans, or companies, wishing to become a sponsor of the unique “Doty Down Under” visit should contact Wade Aunger by phone on (02) 9873 4488, or 018 187 850.

Then, if that’s not a big enough boast. Brown and Combs then

backed up their comments 100% when they both started on the front row for the final and then went on to finish one-two in the

race! Guys, Nostradamus has got nothing on you!

Singin’ up a storm Congratulations to former Perth Quarter Midget racer, now Sydney resident and all-round speedway fan Adam Brand, who was recently nominated for no less than five Golden Guitar awards for the

upcoming Australian country music awards at Tamworth.

Newcastle’s John Brown is cur

Brand, Australia’s answer to

rently enjo}dng one of his best sea

Garth Brooks (well, give him some time), is praying these nominations (and hopefully five acceptance

sons ever at the wheel of the #6 G-

Force Engines Super Sedan. In fact, American sedan legend Rodney Combs believes he is one of the real finds in Australia’s sedan

ranks - and, following Brown’s win in the Teterin Select, there would be few who doubt Rodney’s words. Amazingly, while interviewing both drivers together at the Teterin event, both played the ‘Mutual Admiration Society’ bit to the max, with both predicting they

speeches at the awards ceremony) will be the lever he needs to propel him into the big-time of country music - and that means recording contracts in the USA.

His Sprintcar-oriented hit and speedway anthem - Dirt Track Cowboys - has given him a huge name within the speedway commu

nity throughout Australia and, if the success of his debut album is

would be the ones to beat come

anything to go by, he’ll make it to

final time (with tongue firmly in cheek, I think).

the top of the charts in two huge country music continents.

JXK

THE major race on the Australian karting calendar is about to roar into hfe at the end of this month when the 1999

Oceania Championships will be held at Australia’s premier karting circuit - Sydne/s multi

15 January 1999

QQO

Australia vs The World The internationals are gearing up for their assault on the 1999 Oceania Championships at Eastern Creek. SEAN HENSHELWOOD has the story.

million dollar Eastern Creek

International Karting Raceway - over the weekend of January 30-31.

The Oceania Championships date back to 1993, when the event was

held at the picturesque Raleigh International Raceway outside Coffs Harbour.

This inaugural event helped to put Australia on the international

Great expectations: Promising Junior Inter A driver Marcus La Delle will be hoping to be front runner at the Oceania Championships with the move of some of the category's top drivers to Inter A. He will campaign his Tony Kart chassis with Vortex engines against a field of top Australian and New Zealand drivers. (Sean Henshelwood pic)

karting map, with that race beamed all over Europe via the Eurosport television network. The race was won by Italian Paulo Moro, one of a handful of international drivers competing. The following year, the interna tional line-up was equal to any European event, with the Formula A class including both the reigning world karting champions, Nicola Gianniberti and current Formula 3000 driver David Terrien.

A year later and the European contingent was so strong that the Formula Super A class was raced for the first time - the race won by

● flfnww

current Prost Formula One driver Jamo Trulli.

In 1996, the race moved to Oran Park, the home of the Australian International Kart Prix in the

1980s. Now with experience in Formula 3, Allessandro Manetti won Super A when his main rival,

Trulli, suffered engine failure. That race was Trulli’s last kart

race and a year later he was in Formula One.

The following year and the Oceania Championships found a new home in Melbourne, a success fully run event - but it was the last Oceania race run in Australia until

now, the visiting European drivers not impressed with the lack of facil

four round season progressed. contested during the Wynn’s Australian Karting Championships

Also lining up is 1997 Oceania Intercontinental A champion Chris Cox and multiple Australian Yamaha champion Mark

- Formula A, Intercontinental A

Winterbottom.

and Junior Intercontinental A - are

Heading the line-up from over seas is Englishman Luke Hines. The British teenager won the third round of the European Formula A Championships, last year held on the Imola Formula

The three international classes

the very same classes which will be contested at Eastern Creek during the Oceania meeting. Supporting these classes will be the 1998 Wynn’s Championship support class, the PCR Resa Piston Port category. So strong has this level of karting become in Australia

ities at the circuit.

that the Australian drivers alone will outnumber the number of total entries at the 1997 event.

Without a promoter in 1998, the event was not run, making this

In the elite Formula A category, it will not only be Australia vs The

month’s event at Eastern Creek the first international kart race held in

Australia for two years. Since the 1997 Melbourne race, international-level karting has gone from strength to strength in

Rest of the World, but Australian champion versus Australian cham pion - reigning Wynn’s series champion Ryan Wlodzinski will

take on 1997 champion David

One Grand Prix circuit.

He is racing for his father’s ZIP Kart team, his father being none other than multiple world superkart champion and sometime McLaren Formula One test driver Martin Hines. Italian Bruno Vroomen won the

second round of the Euro Champs last year in Formula A and makes the trip as Top Kart’s European Formula A driver, alongside their Australian Formula A driver, Troy

Allessandro Piccolo.

Along with a sprinkle of Japanese drivers, the New Zealand line-up is as impressive as ever. Ten Kiwi drivers are crossing the Tasman to battle with the Aussies in the Junior and Intercontinental

A classes. 'The entry is impressive, too - reigning New Zealand Pro Champion Wade Cunningham will race a CRG in Sydney, with series runner-up Joshua Franklin back for more after competing at the final round of the 1998 Wynn’s Series at Eastern Creek.

Former New Zealand champion Tim Edgell has raced in Australia before and is fresh from a win in the recent New Zealand Grand Prix. Fellow Kiwi Bevan Hare finished third in the New Zealand series in

1998, while Matthew Hamilton

million and it is easily the finest karting facility in Australia and one of the best in the world. The circuit features 27 different

variations, with the track to be used

for

the

Oceania

Championships 1205 metres in length - it is slightly different from the track used for the final round of

the 1998 Wynn’s Series, with a revised infield section and longer main straight, which will see karts touch 140km/h. The karts hit the track for the

first time on Wednesday, January 27, for practice, before qualifying on Friday, heats on Saturday with finals to be held on Sunday after noon.

The meeting will also be televised nationally and internationally. Channel 10 will televise a 30

minute package in the weeks fol lowing the event, with a one hour show to screen on SBS Speedweek. In addition to this, approximately

Clark, 1997 Intercontinental A champion Troy Hunt and 1997

Hunt.

of television and the corporate sup port of Wynn’s Australia saw the

Australian and North American

Schneider continues with the PCR

raced in the 1997 Oceania in Melbourne in Juniors - this will be his first race in seniors. Eastern Creek International

Junior Intercontinental A champi

team in Formula A, alongside

event through Eurosport and ESPN

fields swell to record levels as the

Karting Raceway was opened in

on Michael Caruso.

Mexican Carlo Avila and Italian

late 1997 at a cost approaching $4

in the USA.

Australia. The introduction in 1998

AT the invitation of Pete Carter

and with the co-operation of the Victorian Superkart Club, I had the opportimity to do some laps of Calder in a 125cc Superkart. Carter’s Kart is no slouch, having won the National championship, the Victorian championship and also the Victorian club champi onship, all in a year. The first thing I noticed was that, in the six years since last I raced (a 250 cc kart), my leathers had strangely shrunk a bit around the

Austrian glamour girl Victoria

riving Pete's weapon

Hot laps in the Carter Honda RS125-powered Superkart

them at the end of the straight (just under 200kph), while I explored how deep I could go without damag ing the nose cone on the ripple strip. The laps seemed to go quickly and, pleasant as it all was, the lap

Also, with Carter being a bit taller than me, the pedals were a trifle uncomfortable to manipulate and the toggle gear shift was differ ent to the familiar lever from my

times showed I needed another few

sessions to get somewhere near the race pace.

Reluctantly, I climbed out of the superb kart - which is supported by Lyness Steel, Colac Windscreens and Larry Beaton signs - and

past. After some brief instructions -

like ‘keep the revs up, it’s a bit dead with a top limit of 13,000 RPM’ and ‘you’ve been around here before, good luck’ - 1 was push-started

handed it back to its waiting owner. Pete Carter had about twelve

away.

Calder Park circuit, I started to

of quick downshifts on the six-speed gearbox soon had the engine singing again. The whole thing works on a power band from around 10,000-13,000 rpm to keep it on the Rod 'Tingate-built pipe. The Kellgate brakes were excel lent and I had full confidence in

mid-section!

A slow lap to settle in and the modified Benson sprint kart chassis felt good, with the superb bodywork completing the package and instill ing a feeling of confidence. Stepping up the pace on the long

300 million viewers will see the

Perfect match: Aerodynamic efficiency and aesthetics are typified by the Carter Superkart. (Graeme Burns) The revs were critical and, if they out of the RS125 Honda engine the race lines started to become dropped down, there was absolutely modified by Southern Cross sports familiar again. no response from the throttle at all with a bit over 40HP - but a couple find and remember the bumps and

years racing sprint karts, before taking to the 125cc Superkarts about four years ago and his atten tion to detail has paid off with a championship-winning package thanks go to Pete and the Victorian Superkart club for making this drive possible. - GRAEME BURNS

15 January 1999

Story by BEN WHITEHOUSE

Passionate, methodical, ourable, competitive - thesehon are all words you would use to describe John Pellicano. or “Pelli,” as he is known to his mates. A mad keen rev-head from a

young age, Pelli first got the taste for speed racing minibikes around his backyard in Sydney’s Western suburbs as a thirteen year-old. After finishing school in 1976, John took up a jewellery appren ticeship, enabling him to purchase his first Superkart, an air-cooled

Suzuki RM250 on a home-made chassis.

$1200 poorer, he entered his first race at Amaroo Park in 1979, pro ducing forgettable results. He was to soon learn that racing is a relentlessly expensive sport and, after twelve months of driving his heart out in second-rate equip ment, he had to concede that buy

ing a superkart and running one are two different things. John simply couldn’t afford to continue.

Results didn’t come easily and the only way he could match it with the front runners was in wet condi tions.

Unknowingly, however, he had sown the seeds for what was to become a brilliant career.

With a year of karting under his belt and his apprenticeship com pleted, Pelli decided to further his skills as a jeweller and move to Italy, temporarily shelving racing.

\^ile in Italy, John worked with

some of the best jewellers in the world and it was under their guid ance that Pelli learned to be passion ate about his work and life - and to maintain a balance between the two.

For a year his skills flourished, but life wasn’t quite the same. Pelli loved Italy, but longed to return to Australia and, one day, he decided to pack his bags and return

day, but it was still tremendous

for his finest hour in motor racing. By that time, Brian Stockman’s development program had started getting the better of Pelli and he was getting sick of watching Stockman’s kart disappear into the distance - it was only through dogged determination that he was

fun”.

able to hold on and win the title.

because Brian (Stockman) and me

were always at it hammer and tongs. For example, one time at Eastern Creek we were one-two in

qualifying, had won two races each and took turns breaking the lap record. Brian won overall on the

NSW State title and finished third

in this year’s Nationals at Phillip Island, as well as taking out his club pointscore. He also recently set a new lap record for 250 Internationals at Winton.

Apart from being almost unbeat able in wet conditions, Pelli also

than aU the others, but he actually set a faster time than Alan himself

- and this was after just twelve months’ racing experience. Due to formalities, Pelli wasn’t able to continue in the competition, but it demonstrated to some of

Australia’s top drivers that this was a man to watch.

According to Pelli, the secret of his longevity and consistent success (he is now in his tenth year of superkarting) is the fact that he prepares the karts himself - he con

Down Under.

“I was still enjoying it there (Italy), but minus four degrees every day in winter didn’t allow for many hobbies. I wanted to race again and this was just not possible where I was in

trols it all.

Between races, the preparation is -

■ ■

methodical; his karts aren’t rebuilt,

they are reborn, while at the track he is able to find his optimum set up because of his technical know how - he’s the Larry Perkins of superkarting.

Italia, so I decided to come back to

Australia, to God’s Country. On his return, Pelli started work ing for himself and, with his increased skills, his jewellery was in high demand and the money was now coming in. It took some time, but, when he knew he could afford to race proper ly, he purchased his second superkart, a Zip Eagle 250cc

Asked about his achievements so far and his ambitions for the

future, Pelli stated: “Next year, I want to win the Australian titles; I’m really hungry for it. “I have a lot of good memories, especially those times racing against Stockman and, of course, my National title - but the thing I

National.

want to be remembered for most is

“When I bought the kart off a

being a good ambassador for the sport I love, superkarting.” I think that sums up John Pellicano - passionate, methodical, honorable and competitve.

bloke in South Australia it had won

a championship, but it was a com plete wreck,” he recalled. In 1989, after countless hours

spent rebuilding the Zip, it took to the track a brand-new kart.

John Pellicano

Results were still not coming eas ily and it took twelve months of development work and a change in engine brand to bring the victories he so longed for.

Quick Fact File

“We were the first ones in Australia to use the new KX250

National engine. I had to buy the motocross bike and pull the motor out,” he said. Pelli was now consistently run ning at the front and soon started

dicing with Brian Stockman, who at the time was the man to beat in the 250 National class. Race after race these two would

swap the lead, always miles ahead of the other competitors. When asked about which he

thought was his greatest race, Pelli replied: “No one race stands out.

Bom: Resides:

fi-'V -Si

First Race:

All his own work: Every aspect of race preparation is carried out by Pelli himself. (Ben Whitehouse pic) Pelli won countless club races, rounds of the state title series, set lap records and between himself and Brian Stockman generally raised the profile of 250 National racing, increasing grids to unheard

An offer to race in the 250 International class in 1996 became

Then, in 1995, came his first Australian championship.

too good to refuse and once again he had a new challenge. Pelli had a character-buildipg time to begin with in the International class, following a split with a sponsor and development work aplenty needed.

This was run over three races at

The answer to the latter issue

of levels.

Mallala,

Eastern

Creek

and

Wanneroo, Pelli just taking out the pointscore for the 250 National class and picking up a large trophy

came along when Alan Rose started assisting in the development of their Yamaha motors, to the point now where Pelli has won the 1998

excels in long distance racing and, in the last two superkart endures at Lakeside, he has won convinc ingly. To give an idea of his level of tal ent, at a test day at Eastern Creek in 1990, he and sixty other aspiring racing car drivers lapped in V6

team.

Pelli not only lapped quicker

Amaroo Park, 1979

Favourite Circuits:

Toughest Competitor: Hobbies: Ambition:

Mallala and Eastern Creek Brian Stockman

Flying helicopters To be a good ambassador for

superkarting

Commodores to demonstrate their

skills to a closely watching Allan Grice, with the prize at stake a touring car drive with Gricey’s

2/12/58

Annangrove, Sydney

Major Titles:

1995 Australian 250 National

Champion, 1998 NSW

State Champion

sXo,

15 January 1999

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ISJanudiy 1999

CLASSIFIEDS Sedans/Sports Cars

- at - -

VK HDT 3 Group A Commodore. Ex Peter Brock ro. 5,

HDT facoty built, as raced. Rebuilt motor, new Harrop brakes. 9" diff, VL body kit. Air jacks, fuel chum, spare motor. Restore to original and double your money. $30,000ono. Ph: 0418 951 072 (WA). RX-4 Sedan Hillclimb car. 13B J pod, ready to race, new

rollcage, gearbox o/h, 2 diffs plus trailer (unreg). Too many spares tolist.$10.000.Ph:Peter029484 3340.0411540576. i«

Escort Sports Sedan, 730kgs, 114kW, 2 litre dry sump. Coswodh pistons, Holbay rods, 48 DCOE Webers, stainless exhaust, LSD, 80% slicks, 5 speed box, top 3 car Vic last 2 years. Ready to race, $12,500. Ph: 03 9763 7898 (BH), 0413 128 287 (AH). i«

AUSCAR. Immaculate VS Commodore, complete roller less engine. Yellow light, fire bomb, fuel cell & chum, harness, com plete Autometer instrument panel, turbo brakes & M21 gearbox. New gears & bearings in diff; C, R and P cage. All new panels. Engine can be supplied. $9,000. Ph: 03 9781 2377, 0419 155

Space frame VH Commodore Sports Sedan, Immacu late condition, this vehicle is priced for a quick sale and must go due to new car. Complete or will sp[lit Ph: Danny 03 6331 2624 (BH), 03 63301881 (AH), m HQ Holden, OLD No & Plenty of spares: bonnets, doors etc. Must sell, urgent. $4,200. Ph: 07 5593 6368 (AH), 07 5530 3111 (BH) 143

635. .«

Ford GS Fairmont wagon. V8, XC, auto, p/steer, a/c. Sell complete, no reco, best offer over $500. Must sell. Ph: 02 9788

)

0450. i«

Toyota Mkil Sedan, efi turbocharged, 5 speed box, 2 litre 6 c/g, mag wheels, goes good. Club Car. $1,800ono. Ph: 03 5447

f' ^

7530.

144

Escort Sports Sedan, 2-litre. Winner of Old Formula Junior series. 2nd outright State Championship. Lakeside 59 sec laps. Easy to drive & reliable. Ideal for 99 2 Litre series. $10,500ono. Ph: John English 0418 736 619,

‘84 Mitsubishi Starion JA. Five speed. 2 litre turbo, a/c.

Torana SL/R 5000 Club Car. 308 (VL Group A), T5, 9 inch, 4x11 inch vented discs with bias, front 4 spot calipers, alloy fuel tank, log book, excellent condition. Ready to race.

Mazda RX3. Top running car at Lakeside. Fully maintained with fresh engine for 1999 season. 13B B/P 300hp, Konis all round. Series IV front brakes and gearbox, 8 point stell cage, 4.8 Mazda diff, 51mm Webers, new paint, ROH wheels with Falken tyres. For sale $12,500 or able to lease for 1999 season. Car also available less nnotor. Ph: Tony Dunn 07 3210 0244

0294502100.

Scheel interior, new tinted windscreen and rubbers. Globe

mags. Many spares. $4,000. Ph: Frank 03 5792 1109

RWC. $7,500. Ph: 03 5256 1195. .«

$12,000ono. Ph: 03 5975 6396. lo

Porsche RSCS 1995, LHD, suitable for GT-P and/or Porsche Cup categories. All set-up information and spare wheels included. Price $185,000ono. Ph: Bob or Rodney Forbes Ford Escort Chib Car. New 2 litre motor, alloy roll cage, new harness, 13x7" mags, new suspension, good tyres. Ready to race with log book. $5,500. Ph: 03 5126 2822 anytime. »s Datsun 1600, 2 litre, 5 speed, big brakes, rear discs, R180 diff, competition suspension, nolothane bushes. Cibie lights,

p/s, power windows. Cobra car alarm, leather seats, silver duco. 2nd owner, 160,000 kms, full senrice history. Excellent cond.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III Groiv N car. Ex Stewart reid, done only 9,000kms, no accidents. Fully prepared, mint condi tion. Renty of spares, ready to race. $45,000 or will trade pres tige car.Ph: Mick 0418 751 585. 144

(BH), 07 3848 6489 (AH). ,o

HQ race car. Professionally built, straight car. Only used rarely. Registered tandem trailer and spares. Must sell before Christmas.$5,800ono. Ph: 0414641 802,0247543175. 143

Ford Escort Lotus twiivcam, ex-race car. Baeham arch 144

, , -

Ford Mustang GT Sports Sedan. 351 Ford dry simp, top loader, Harrop 9" floater. Big 4 spot brakes all round. Bilsteins, BBS wheels, Zakspeed suspension, Sabelt harness, wets on rims. Plenty spares. Oran Park 44.2. $32,000ono. Ph: Kevin 02 47821145,0414822 427. «

es, adjustable Bilsteins, 12 pt cage. /VI steel Lotus motor. Ideal Targa car. Must sell. Ph: 03 5168 1371,018 513 928.

[rmap—

E-type Jaguar. Highly developed. Great value, $38,000. Ph: Aaron 02 49901699.

2 Cortina Md GT two-door. Group N /Appendix J. with red Historic log book. Body good, interior excellent, motor not run ning. Lots of spares. $9,000. Ph: Don 07 5462 2415 (AH). i« HQ race car (NSW), good condition, very straight car, ROH wheels, lots of new gear, comes with new suspension set still in box.$5,200ono.Ph:Mark 0417 461 421. t«

t- ^

'dr-?-'' (

Mazda Sports Sedan (R100 style). 13B monster port, 51mm

Weber, close ratio Selectmaz gearbox, 4.8 locker diff, Avon slicks. Run 55sec Amaroo, 1:10s Wakefield Park. $4,000. Ph:

018 493102 (Newcastle). Brock Coiranodore VH Group 3, red, 5 litre, 138,000kms, build no. 1114. Good original condition. $10,900ono. Ph: 07 55341397,014879810. m 144

Mustang race car, Group N /Appendix J. This log book car has all the right bits & potential to win races. Will sell with unraced new motor sep to car. 289 Windsor motor, 48 IDA Webers etc. May trade. Ph: 03 6334 3433,0418 590 318. 143 De Tomaso 74 GTS, A1 condition. Fuel injected, 490hp,Carillos, Cosworth pistons, Chev crank, Simmons 17” wheels. Large Harrop brakes, roll cage. Cobra seats. Ideal road/club car, Targa car. Road reg. A real beast, drive to appre ciate. $ 70,000ono. Ph: Tony Joy, 0418 130 133, 03 6328 1506 (AH), 03 6326 5555 (BH). i«

Marcos 3000GT, 1970, Essex V6 engine, very original condi tion. extremely rare. Ideal for Historic racing or Targa. Terrific handling and vert reliable. $27,000. Ph: 03 9533 5535, 0413 832528. ,43

Ford Escort Club Car. Recaro and Scheel interior, Bilstein

suspension, lull race big valve motor, twin 48s, RS extractors, stainless mufflers. Must sell. $4,000. Ph: 03 5168 1371,018 513 928. ,44

Subaru Liberty RS turbo, 1990 sedan, 555blue, road car. Full

BMW 323i 1981 Club Car. New 2.5 engine, electronic injection conversion etc. 4,000km, 5 speed, power steer, air, Bilsteins, 15 inch alloys. Momo seat. Owes $12,000, accept $9,000ono.Ph: Vince 08 9354 5858 (AH). ,45 VR va 5 litre Corrmodae Sports Sedan. Professionally built, touring car spec. Priced to sell due to new car. Well looked after, top condition. Deliver Aust. $35,000. Ph: Gary 08 9397 0317, 0418 927643. ,45

Old rego no. 388ENP. $16,500. Ph: 0418 731 115 (Bris). 144 Ford Escort Lotus twin cam, 9/1970, white/black trim, never raced or rallied. Good honest car. $8,000ono. Must be sold - no tyre kickers. Ph: 03 9499 3088,018 367 004. ,44 Suzuki Swift Gti, 1987, 1300dohc 16v efi. Hi performance exhaust system, hi-flow air induction, alloy wheels, Kenwood sound system, electric mirrors. Never raced. Factory air. Tidy

car. $7,990. Ph: 07 4691 5833 anytime.

144

2 X Ford Mondeos -1 x 94 chassis as raced by Radisich to win World Cup, 1 x 95 chassis as raced by Kelvin Burt in BTCC. Both cars with MoTeC ems, x-trac sequential etc. 94 chassis $43,000 firm, 95 chassis $48,000 firm. Spares packages avail able. Ph: 02 9597 6393,018117 070. ,43

Suzidu GTi, current shape. NSW Superspnnt Champion, main tained by Croydon Autosports. Dry break fuel system, factory LSD, 16 wheels/tyres, springs. Ready for 1999 GTP. Road reg. (SEC 677). $13,000ono. Ph: Edward Gavin 02 9872 5134. 143

usyourdassified and FREE Classifieds Send we'll run them for FREE (maximum 30 words)

Category: □ Sedans □ Open wheelers □ SpeerJwoy □ Drag □ Parts □ Engines □ Trailers □ Wanted □ Photographs □ Other Description:

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Post to: Motorsport News Free Classifieds PO Box 1010 Caulfield North VIC 3161 or Fax to 03 9527 7766

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NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS Please use the form provided and print clearly. Please note we are unable to return photographs used in classified ads. Ads will appear as soon as possible after receipt. FREE Classifieds are for the sale of private goods and vehicles only, not business advertising. Classifieds close last mail Thursday prior to on sale date. Photos marked "proof* will not be used.

15 January 1999 Thunderdome HQ. Ali log books, new sealed mota (as new),

Transporfers/Trailers

sealed box. Can be test driven before sale. $7,200ono. Ph: 03 9563 7072. lo

EVO 3 Gp N arlly car. Fresh engine and gearbox, LSD & Ralliart viscous, Drumnnond suspension, underbody protection, 6pt harnesses, alurranium sump guard, headgasket. Super com petitive car. $32,OOOofX). Ph: Robert OgiMe 02 6241 3011. 143 Brock VH Gip-3. Build no. HOT 900. Excellent paint, detailed undercarriage, stainless steel exhaust, new Bridgestone tyres, spare (new) cloth seat fabric, alarm. Personally autographed by Peter Brock. $19,950, Ph: Mike 08 8270 5420 (AH). 143 Thunderdome HQ rollers x 2. Both almost complete, one needs re-shell. Includes almost new cage, harness, fuel cell, chambered diff etc. $2,700 the lot ono. Ph: 0418 320 673, 03

9743 0083 (AH). io

Datsun 1600, 1972. Fresh 2.1 engine. 2 x 45mm Webers. Datrally manifold, ceramic-coated extractors. Veto seat, fully stripped Interior, custom radiator. Good body & paint. Also, 71

-Br- - .-I

Escort RS2000 Modified Production, 2100cc avgas

Tumham Fonnula Vee. May be eligible for historic Vees. Winner NSW Hillclimb series 1998. Strong engine, good tyres. Includes trailer, body moulds etc. $5,800. Ph: 02 4982 9955. 144 Kart: 96 Rookie Speed Cadet. Unused 98, exc condition, blue printed motor and some spares. $2,200ono. Ph: Sean 03 9379

engine, power steering, Wilwood brakes, quicksteer, all fibreglass panels. Ready to race. ASCF& Board rego. $4,700ono.

3497.

Ph: 02 9548 2227,0418 424 689. m

spent. $40,000ono. Ph: 02 9712 3177. ,45

144

Race Team Pantech: tri-axle, accom 3 cars, hydraulic back lift, front lounge, as-new tyres, fully equipped cupboards and drawers. Stainless bench tops, lOkVA generator/compressor. Comes with full annex. Built by Pumpers. Vic reg. Ph: 07 5594

Dat^ 1600 stock, some njsl $6,000 Ph: Jason 0416 160 021,

0296222960 u3

Sportsman XF Falcon #5. This is not a worn-out AUSCAR.

Walker roll cage and seat. Brand new engine, dyno time only, full Autometer dash, Harrop full floater, latest fuel tank. Car is completely ready to race. Car can/has run 33s. Genuine reason for sale. $11.OOOono. Ph: Tony Ross 08 82501903 (AH).

9711. .45

Super Sedan, Commodore, Dave Best chassis, quick change diff, 4 aluminium bead lock rims. Ready to race less engine and gearbox. Plenty spare parts, too much to mention. Car $11,500. Spares $2,500. Ph: 03 5176 1352.

Open Wheelers

Mondiale M87 Formula Ford converted for hillclimbing. Lotus twin cam 1876cc, 220hp on methanol, 200hp on avgas. Steel crank, forged pistons, 45mm Webers. Mandei extractors, twin plate clutch, Quaiff diff. Mk 9 Hewland. $15,000ono. or $5,000forengine.Ph: 0249964129. 143 Go Karts: 1995 Tony Kart Esprit + 1994 Sirio Rugel Port Reed engine. 1997 Geelong Club Champion, 1998 runner up. Unbeatable Sportsman kart, c/w many spares Support provid ed. $3,000ono. Dino 295 chassis -r 2 v/fast KTIOOJ engines. 1997 Geelong Club Champion, 1998 mnner up. Suit Jnr a Snr National Classes, c/w many spares. Support provided, $3,500ono. Whole set-up (2 karts + 3 engines + trailer + many spares) $8,000ono. Ph: 03 9570 7589. .43

Historic Renmax Paliser, Group 0 log book. 1598cc twin cam Novamotof Ford, Mk5 Hewland gearbox. Needs a few bits to complete (1 wheel, exhaust, windscreen). $25,000. Ph: Laurie Knight 02 6925 3257,02 6920 5449. 145 Van Diemen RF92, complete 10:31 CWP, spares, call 0412

r ^

Superkart. 250cc National, Dino Kawasaki. Ready to race. Quick, reliable, two meetings since rebore, bottom end rebuilt, receipts, extensive spares, set-up help provided. $3,950. Ph:

$11,500. Ph: 02 4889 4340. 143 Drive available, 1999 Qld Formula Ford series, with champi onship-winning team. $950 per day all inclusive. Ph: 07 5446 7611,0418797 038, fax 07 5446 7480. 145

Engines

07 3273 8400 (AH).

145

Mazda 20B full arce motor, PER ported, high comp, light weight rotors, carbon apex seals, oil system mod. Comes com plete with Hilborn in], Mictotech ign, oil cooler, remote filter, braided lines, extractors. Rebuilt Sept 98 by Rotomotion. Featured in Fast Fours & Rotaries mag. $15,000. Ph: 08 9447 7479,0418 947 403 (AH). 144 Chev 6 litre race car engine, built USA by Ryan Falconer, genuine 600hp, 4 bolt, Butler dry sump, 6" Caiillos, JE pistons, steel crank, roller rockers + cam, rev kit, alloy heads, Falooner fuel injection inc race injectors, loom. MoTeC ecu, carbon fibre air boxes. Only 2 races old. Ex Sports Sedan $12,500. Ph: Mike

372 Rodeck Sprintcar engine. Cola crank. Eagle rods. Wiseco pistons, Peterson dry sump, 27/16 Hilborn injection,

Ford BDA alloy block, new sleeves, pistons, 1800cc,

Formula Ford RF95. One of the best in Aust, maintained

regardless of cost. Ex Webber, Bargwanna, top 10 finishes in 1998. Lamer engine, one meeting old, spares inc wheels, tyres, shockers, body panels, stands etc. Ph: 0417 335 965. 143

Speedway

Ph: 0414 393 242,03 9729 8662.

145

Ford D Series 3 ton, Beavertail, pink slip required in October. Good cond, drive away. Rus spare tnxJ< for parts. Six cylinder. petrol.$1,200ono.Ph:029585 1817,0418423 007. 145

Wanted Transporter for V8 Supercar, 45’ trailer, professionally fit ted out or well-appointed 30' rigid vehicle. Must have hydraulic 1971 edition Australian Competition Yearbook. /Vso 1968 Hardie Ferodo 500 programme. Must be in good condi

Left front guard to suit XW-XY Ford sedan or wagon, vgc,

(AH). 145

$150. Ph:Alf 03 5795 2276. 145

Motorsport Books: good prices paid, private collector. Great Race 1990 (No. 10), Great Race 1991 (No. 11), Great Race 1993 (No. 13). Ph: David 02 4968 1407 (AH). 145 Video of September Eastern Creek Histaic meeting, in particu lar the Lotus parade and display. Ph: 03 9799 1683. 145

9788 0450. 145

Superkart: Peter Worrall’s 125cc Australian championship winning kart. '97 Stockman chassis with full bodywork, '94 RS 125 Honda engine, just rebuilt. $6,500. Ph: 02 9824 7350. 143

1232or0417 106 711. 145

Fully enclosed trailer, Alko, tandem suspension, electric brakes, 20'x8' aluminium sides, fully lined inside, cupboards, bench seats, 240v light/power, tailgate/ramp, side door. $7,600.

tion. Ph: Scon 03 5025 7293. 145

rim, as new, $210 each. Ph: 07 4635 8976. 145

data. Best Van Diemen for sale in Australia. $29,500. Ph: 0419 895 692,03 5457 2224. 145

tric brakes, nose cone, electric door winch, 12v lights, lull lined work bench. New condition. 8 months old. $15,000. Ph 03 5447

$8,000. Ford BDG steel Cosworth conrods $1,000. Ford BDA. steel crankshaft $2,000. Ford Lotus twin cam 'L' block $650. Weber 48 DCOE carby $450. Ph: 018 082 256, 08 8370 8595 (AH). 145

XW-XY Falcon parts, some GT, must sell urgently. Ph: 02

Van Diemen RF95, immaculate condition. Fresh Lamer

Motorsport 24ft enclosed trailer. Tri Alko torsion axles, elec

tail-loader. Ph: 0417 526 446. 145

Parts

Tyres: 2 x MH Racemaster street tyres. G60x15, suit 7-10 inch

Mildren-Waggott TC4V. The Max Stewart car. Fully restored & fresh. History includes Japanese GP(2nd 1970), Singapore GP, Kuala Lumpur GP. Australian GP (3 times). Winner of F2 Championship (Silver Star) 1969, 1970; winner FI Championship (Gold Star) 1971 against the F5000s. Ideal for Adelaide FI Festival or any Tasman or FI retrospectives. Ph: Greg Smith 03 9596 8851. 145

$4,200. Ph: 0412435500.

Alloy 372ci Rodeck Sprint Car engine, dry sump. Kryptonite crank, rods, Hilborn injection. Vertex Brownfield heads, KSE, Crane DSR pump. $22,500ono. Ph: 0412 738 604,

Brodix heads etc. $18,000ono plus Sprintcar spares. Ph: 02 6297 2818,0418 630 408 (AH). .43

F/Vee Kestrel, front running oar. Raced three successful seasons NSW, writh loads of spares plus motors, g/boxes and spare body. Enclosed trailer with annex, plus Dorian timer.

Trailway trailer, single axle, custom-made for FF, F Vee,

143

Imrie0418551 170. 143

435500. 145

engine, Penske shock, proven chassis, many spares, set-up

Mitsubishi FK41S dual cab, 6 tonne, 18'x6' alloy pan, 6.5 litre diesel (brand new with factory warranty), 5sp, p/s, t/bar, b/bar, tyre rack, tool boxes, otng range tanks. Over $30,000

Borg Warner Super T10 4-speed gearbox, as new, fea tures balarx«d steel flywheel, alloy bell housing (suit small block Chev), comp clutch, pressure plate, clutch fork and throw-out. M/T performance shifter. Reluctant sale, $1,500. Ph: 07 3390 7277 (AH), 07 3212 7554 (BH). 145 Tow bar, suit Volvo 244 series sedan or s/wagon, vgc, will fit if reqd $75. /Vso to suit Fairlane ZH series, genuine Ford tow-bar, vgc. $50. Ph: Frank 03 5792 1109. 145 Ford C302 aluminium heads complete $3,700. Yates heads. CNC ported, titanium valves shaft rockers 1.65, $8,000. JE pistons, Yates, max dome $700. Windsor, Crane roller cam and lifters 252 @ 0.050 420 on lobe: 264@0.050 420 on lobe, $650. Ph: 07 3878 2740,015 673 707. 145 Quick-change gears, V8 and Model A, $75 a set. Morris Cowley steering boxes $250-350. New Vintage 4 spoke steering wheel, $280. Ph: 03 5821 0341. 145

Victorian 30 y.o. male seeks to join Group A touring car team. 15 years mechanical exp, previous Speedway exp. Willing to travel for promising position. Ph: Stuart 03 9704 2121

Motorsport News Nos 1 - 72. Also 1997 Primus 1000 beer tankard or bazza glass. Ph: 02 6236 8267. 144

Navigator for Grand Prix Rally. Experienced navigator with mini cockpit usage wanted by Porsche 993RS driver from 27/2/99 to 3/3/99. All expenses paid. Contact Ian Ross 0412 351 403,03 9530 6095,03 9614 1155. 144 Isuzu G200 motor, complete. Any condition consid

ered and/or cylinder head in working order, G180 crank shaft any condition considered, Gemini Lynx inlet manifold and/or side draught Webers or Del Ortos. Ph: 07 4691 5833 anytime. 144 Schroeder manual steering box out of Compact Speed Car. Ph: 03 9796 8696.

144

QuickKThange diff, wide 5 hubs, brake to brake, front wide 5 hubs and steering rack. Ph: Andrew 08 8391 2225 after 5pm. 144

Other

Two-ways, complete set: Car, open helmet, mike & relay; scanner, chargers, Dorian timer. As new in own carry case. $4,500. Chev dash 10 heads and Pontiac heads. Ph: 02 9636 4447.0418637454. w

Mercedes Benz 190E 2.3-16 fuel injection complete $1,500. Complete body kit $4,000, exhaust manifold $500 or offers. Ph: 03 6334 1385 (AH) or 03 6331 2849 (BH). 144 Ford Sierra Cosworth cylinder head, ex Peter Brock.

Superkart SOcc: Troy Byron's dual National title vanning kart. Winner of major races all over Australia HR Engines prepared Yamaha, ready to race and win. $7,500ono. Ph: Gary Hart 0418 269498. 145

$1,500. Ph: 03 51681371,018 513 928.

144

BDG con rods, resized, ready to use. $1,000ono. Ph: 08 9295 4031 after 6pm VIST. 144 VH Sedan. 6 cyl 3 speed on methanol, 500 Holley, superftow head, blue crank, Starfire rods, HQ race pistons, Hoosier tyres, 13/15" irm and spare. Winning car from last season in its Div 3.

^'7 o CyJMPr.

\Will sell the lot $5,500ono. Ph: 02 6881 8879. l:

For Lease: /Vex Davison Van Diemen RF95. Fully prepared drive for 1999 season, includes: all preparation (by Michael Ritter), transport, pit crew and equipment; dedicated snr race engineer at all meetings; 10 races plus ample testing; engines (optional), tyres and all consumables; championship-winning (ex Tander) car, best RF95 in country. Genuine enquiries with suitable budgets only. Ph: Richard Davison 03 9427 8224,0417 313 652 or MichaelRitter 03 9899 3183,0418306 313. 144 Kart engines: two 95 Vortex KAJ piston port engines, with clutches. Garbles and muffler. All set-up info supplied. Fast and reliable engines, ready for 99 season. $1,900 each, $3,500 the pair, Ph: 03 5275 2305 (BH). 145 Off Road racing buggy. Class Two Buggy, 1600cc, com puterized injection, twin overhead cam Toyota (4AGE). 4 brand new Bilstein shockers, fully adjustable front & rear suspension. $9,000ono.Ph:03 5572 5850(AH). 145 Birel Torsion factory kart, from Italy, raced once Australian Champs (changed teams)m $3,750 (normally 5,650 new). Or with brand new Ital System piston port engine, in box, $4,950, Othenvise suit any class with open tyres. Ph: 03 5275 2305 (BH), 03 5250 2994 (AH). 1.4

145

VK Commodore Modified Sedan, methanol engine, alloy flywheel, good rubber. Very competitive car, 2 meetings, must sell. $7,500, with spares $8,500. Ph: 02 4821 6763 after 6pm (Goulburn). 145 Sigier Sedan: three meetings old, has everything, including 18 degree motor, heads by Weld Tech, C&C ported. Titanium valves,latest C&S carb. Winters diff, ultra light crank, 3D rods. $28,000. Ph: Frank 02 4572 5949.

Vintage Speeifway cars: Speedcar NSW62, injected Grey Holden, q/change rear end, fresh paint, chrome, interior etc.

Ready to run, $20,000. Speedcar. pre-war, all alloy body, not complete, had V twin Jap engine originally. History known, ex Weldon Radio Special. $2,000. Speedcar, Beasley chassis, injected Grey motor, q/c diff, restoration 95% complete (will complete if necessary(, $10,000 as is. TQ Midget, front engined, Austin Seven chassis and mechanicals, no motor, professionally built, $3,000. Ph: 03 5821 0341. 145

Valiant AP6 Super Sedan. Full chassis, fibreglass panels. Methanol, injected 360. 727 auto. Video available. Complete car on trailer $15,000. Will negotiate to sell separately. Ph: John 07 5535 6266, or 07 5525 2178 (AH). 144

BBS rims, 16" and 17". 8 - 8.5" viride, some centres. Rims $50 each. Also, selection of 16" and 17" slicks, wets and intermedi ates, second hand, $50 each. Ph: 03 6331 2849 (BH), 03 6334 1385 (AH). 144

Tyres: new Dunlop D03 &D15 - 8 of 290x690x18, 8 of 290x675x18; new Dunlop W01 wets - 2 of 290x690x18, 2 of 290x675x18. $350 each ono. Large quantity good used as above, $50-150 each ono. Ph: 07 4691 5833 anytime. 144 Intercomp comer scales, 2 complete sets of pads. $1.900. 4 X wet weather wheels & tyres (Dunlop), 8" and 10", $400. Ph: Ken Hastings 03 9480 4040. 143

Ford 351C 4 bolt block, 302Wefi system, complete $(,200. Carillo rods 351C $1,200; 4MAB crank $450; /\ccel race dist, 351 Ford, $480; BBS rim sections, 16", various offsets, from $50. Ph: Kevin 02 47821145,0414 822 427 (AH). 10 Hewland Mk 9 transaxle, with spare ratios, $4,000ono. Ph: 0885524000,0419777229.w Datsun 1600 parts: 3 x diffs R180; 1 x bootlid; numerous inte rior items; 1 x Datsun 1600 ohc rocker; rare Datsun 1600 badges. Heaps more. Ph: Jason 029622 2960,0416 160021. 143 Hewland Transaxle LGSOO, complete rear end, Inc uprights, CVs, axles, drive flanges, hubs, discs, Harrop calipers, Chev bell housing. 30 ratios, spares, c/w pinion. This unit is ex USA Can-Am and will handle up to 700hp. Ph: Mike imrie 0418

NASCAR, quarter scale radio-controlled, 48 inches long, 23.5CC engine, new Earnhardt Monte Carlo lexan body. Includes lots of spares, ratios, wheels and tyres. $2,200ono. Ph: 03 9801 7709. i«

400 piece Kinchrome tool kit. Three roller bearing tool chests on wheels. Perfect for motorsport use. Brand new, still in boxes. Cost $5,200, sell 3,500ono. Can deliver in Vic. Ph: 03 5984 0929. 145

1976 Ford F250 factory Crew Cab XLT 460, C6, power steer

ing, air cond, lull compliance, long rego, good cond^_$16,500, Ph: Bryan 07 3282 5053, 145 12ft alum boat and trailer, 2 motors, 1 x 4.5hp Mercury and 1 X 9.9hp Johnson, life lackets, oars & anchors, vgc. $1,100. Ph: Bruce 03 5822 2483.

145

Biante XY Falcon GTHO(red). 1:18 scale rrxxlel $450ono. Ph: 03 5634 2544. 145

Hard cover books: 400 in collection, from 1950s to 1980s -

Ferrari, Automobile Year, MG, Lotus, Le Mans 1172 Specials, Motorcycles, plus SCN set -r RCN. $2,000 firm Ph: 08 9593 2511. 145

HRT and Ayrton Senna fan is looking lor other fans to cor respond with. Guys & girls welcome. Write to: Danielle Clements, P.O. Box 205, Newstead, Tas 7250. 144

551 170. i«

Snap-On tool chest, 7 drawer rdlcab, model Kra 3027, tam

Twin 45 DCOE Weber carbs, vrith bellmouths, $400 each. Ph: 07 3207 9410,0418 717 929. m

029888 6982.

per free lock. Brand new, still in box. Cost $2,000, sell $1,500. Ph: 144

Mi(D0®[FsrP®[f’9

ISJanuBiy 1999

Motgrrsuort ■

NEWS

Editorial

Just WHO is going to struggle?

Twin Cam letters Dear Sir,

I read with alarm in the last

Dear Sir,

issue (142) of Motorsport News that Cameron McLean is contemplating leaving 2L entering V8 Supercar. I have one piece of advice for the youngster. Don’t do it! You won’t do well in V8s. It is too competitive for a privateer, and besides that your

Editor David Hassall Technical Editor

Tony Glynn Assistant Editor

I am writing to you regarding Jason Whittaker’s comments about

JB leaving DJR to head a new Ford team. Send Iettef3 to Talk Converter to PO Box 1010 North Caulfield

Vic 3161, our E-mail address, or fax to 03 9527 7766.

The staff of Motorsport Nevis does not necessarily agree with

car will be too outdated.

Phil Branagan

Graphics Co-ordinator Viv Brumby

Advertising Advertising Manager Gerald McDornan

Administration

You have the ability, there is no doubt about it. If you were put in a HRT car you would kick Lowndes’ backside, given time. But you won’t be in a HRT car, and that’s why you shouldn’t go V8. In 2L you are a genuine champi onship contender. If you can’t afford a BMW why not buy a Vectra or a

Contacts

German Peugeot. They go fast and you don’t have to spend anything on paint because they are already yellow! Cameron, please stay in 2-litre!

89 Orrong Crescent

John Simpson

Managing Director Chris Lambden

Caulfield North VIC 3161

(PO Box 1010 North Caulfield 3161) Phone 03 9527 7744 Fax 03 9527 7766

Email. msnewi@corpIlnk.com.au

CompuServe: 100237.116S

General: Mike Kable, Jon Thomson,

Brian Reed, Darryl Flack FI: Joe Saward, Adam Cooper Europe: Quentin Spurring,

claimed that ‘real race fans’ only want a V8 Bathurst, and cited some perfectly rational reasons. However I would like to qualify one point. ‘Real race fans’ cannot possibly

and the sheer white-knuckled

to the McLean issue. And McLean Fan Club members are

expression of race driving. Motorsport enthusiasts generally aren’t interested in other sports, and also understand that good motorsport is not reserved for cars with V8 engines. ’Then there are the ‘traditional Aussie V8 fans’, many of whom probably only watch the one race a year plus AFL, cricket etc. Do genuine motorsport enthusiasts out

the same subject, at least be smart enough to not use the same printer!

number all-round sports fans in this

Dear Sir, It’s always exciting when some thing new and fresh comes into the

countiy? Of course not. Ergo, it’s no real surprise that the V8s draw

Rounds, David Lamont, Chris Metcalf,

motorsport scene.

more crowds.

Sue Hobson, Michael Attwell,

Reading the articles in recent issues about the Junior Touring concept I couldn’t help feeling that

One-eyed V8 supporters can proudly boast about crowd support. Big deal. I cannot imagine that manufacturers like Volvo, Nissan, Honda, Audi, BMW etc really give a toss whether or not they get 120,000 Ocker sports fans thu-ough the gates when at least they have a

NZ: John Hawkins

Speedway: Dennis Newlyn, David McNabb, Wade Aunger, Geoff

Tony Millard (UK), Darren O'Dea Rally: Peter Whitten, Jon Thomson Drag Racing: Gerald McDornan, Greg Ward, Jon Asher (USA), Dave Ostaszewski (USA), Nick Nicholas, Steven White,

Ken Ferguson, Scott Jug Super Speedway: Martin Clark (USA), Brett Swanson, Grant Nicholas Karts: Ian Salvestrin, Allan Roark, Graeme Burns, Sean Henshelwood

Photographers: Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsmith, Neil Hammond, Nigel Snowdon & Diana Burnett, Brad Steele, Tony Glynn, Thunder-Pics, Marshall Cass,

Mike Harding, Brisbane Motorsport, Frank Midgley, John Bosher, Phil Williams, Mike Patrick (UK) Tony Loxley, Daniel Wilkins, Wayne Nugent MOTORSPORT NEWS IS published by AustMlasion Moiorsporl News Pty Ltd ACN No 060 I79 928

Dircctofs C Lambden [Managing). D Hassall. A Glynn Publisher: C Lambden

Printed by:

Wilke Color 37-49 Browns Rd Clayton 3168 Distributed by: NDD Ltd

Material published by MOTORSPORT NEWS is copyright and may not be reproduced in full or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Freelance contributions are welcome,

this is an idea whose time has come.

I have closely followed the progress of Bruce Williams’ vision for a V8 feeder category for some time.

Like many motorsport competi tors I would ideally like to drive in a V8 Holden vs Ford competi tion.

However

the

financial

demands in running or even get ting a drive in a Supercar make it impossible to move up from the other ‘Tin Top’ categories in this country.

Although not designed as a bud get class, the category would offer participants the opportunity to compete in relatively current equip ment for a reasonable outlay. It would also open new doors of opportunity for corporate sponsor ship and dealer involvement. It’s obvious that support for the class is growing, judging by the numbers of interested people who attended the prototype’s unveiling in Melbourne and, with a high pro file personality like Peter Brock supporting the idea, it will be des tined for success.

and while all care will be taken. Australasian

Russell White

Motorsport News Pty Ltd does not accept responsibility for damage or loss of material

Mt Cotton QLD

that slide stopping, whereas with JB’s team it can only get better as time progresses. As for JB not having another three or four years in him, I think you need to look at JB’s form for the past 15 years.

Glenn Milne (MS News 142)

ASST ED: Interesting response

Go Junior...

US: Bruce Smith, Phil Morris

Dear Sir,

Mt Pleasant NSW

reminded; if you’re going to

team competitive but I disagree with you that Bowe would have been better off staying with DJR. Since the Stone brothers left DJR I believe that the team has been on a downward slide and I don’t see

The Real Thing?

mean ‘motorsport enthusiasts’. Motorsport enthusiasts follow all forms of motorsport; FI, Sportscars, International touring cars. Rally, Champ Cars, V8s, etc... they enjoy the technical aspects, the glamour,

send us more than one letter on

Contributors

readers.

Well Jason, as you stated it is going to be a mission to get a new

chance to show their wares in an

international category of motor sport, rather than a category that is custom designed to make Falcons and Commodores look good. Don’t get me wrong, I am a motorsport enthusiast, therefore I like the V8s. It is a good ‘controlled’ category of racing that is fast and close. But then I don’t kid myself that they’re real Falcons and Commodores out there either...

Then there’s the drivers. They don’t seem to have any problems switching categories (e.g. Ingall, Brock, Richards...) Gee, they must be motorsport enthusiasts too. The rivalry between the two cate gories is a sick joke. For a start, the 2 Litres didn’t ‘steal’ any race, the V8 brigade voluntarily relinquished the ‘traditional’ Bathurst date. 'The

He has been and still is the most

consistent front-running Ford dri ver this decade and to say that he is at his used-by date is a little pre mature isn’t it?

I think the major issue here is where is the DJR Shell Hehx team

going from here? Their cars’ perfor Home alone: reader Taylor says Bowe has made a good move Charlie Cox is right - one Bathurst race is a domestic grand final and the other is an interna tional event. What the hell is the

problem with having them both? If we are so one-eyed and (essentially) racist towards other categories then let’s thank this mentality for the fact that Australia may never have a top-line driver in FI, or any other high profile International motor sport. But hey, who cares about that, we’ve got V8s... This is what makes Motorsport News such a good relaxing read, compared to other publications. MSN must be an ‘enthusiasts’ mag azine!! Keep up the good work. Patrick Atherton

cans other categories of motorsport to generate a fierce parochial loyal ty to the V8s because, let’s face it, us Aussies love to knock things.

beheve he did a valiant effort earli

er in the season (prior to his few mishaps) driving a facelift VP on a shoe string budget? To all the staff and readers of

Motorsport news, I hope you had a safe and happy Christmas and New Year. Go Seton and Ford in ’99.

Warren Taylor katana@sunshine.net.au

Fulham Gardens, S.A.

Tasmania is NEAR New

Don’t abandon the 1000

Zealand ...

Dear Sir,

Dear Sir, I think you mag is the best. I look forward to getting it every fortnight. I am a huge Greg Murphy fan and I am writing concerning (issue

143), I think that it is great to see him back where he belongs behind the wheel of a Holden

To CAMS, the governing body of motor sport. If you are. Is it true what I read in the Saturday paper of November 14? Is it true you are abandoning the October long week end race for the 2Ls? I was at the 97/98 Bathurst

1000s. They were the best races for years. Have your forgotten the 2

I was wondering if you have the address for Gibson Motorsport, so as I can write to Murphy and wish him Good Luck. PLEASE can you help me. (I am probably not the only one who is asking for it!)

litre cars raced at Bathurst in the

Danielle Clements Newstead TAS ASST ED: Write to Murf at

motor sport fan, I want to see the best from both categories.

Gibson Motorsport, 1/13 Kitchen Road, Dandenong Vic 3174.

Colin Addison

sledging originates mainly from AVESCO and it’s leader who shit-

mance has been on the decline and

unfortunately DJ is no longer a front-runner at a majority of the country’s tracks. Maybe he should give Little Dick a run and see if he can improve their performance, or give another Queenslander, namely Wayne Wakefield a run. As for your ’98 top ten drivers, don’t you think that Paul Romano deserved a special mention? I

late 60s and 70s up against the big cars.

Hopefully some common sense from both sides involved in touring cars, be it 2L or V8, will sit down and talk this mess out because, as a

Engadine NSW

submitted.

Opinions expressed in Motorsport News are not necessarily those of Australasian Motorspon News Pty Ltd or its staff.

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