Motorsport News Issue 155 - 18 June-1 July 1999 by V8 Sleuth

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Issue 155

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IBJuinm - 1 July1999

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0 NEWS

Webber’s W M Le Maes

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● World Sportscars for Adelaide ● Gratz stars at Wintemats ● All-clear for Bathurst AUSCAR ● McLaren on top in Canada ● Sheil and FTR endurance line-up ● Bikes return to Easter Bathurst

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18 June 1999

Mercedes baffled by le Mans flights

“I had my eyes open dur ing the take-off,” Dumbreck said the following morning, “and I could see the sky, MERCEDES Motorsport but then I just put my arms is stunned and searching to my head, waiting for the for answers following the impact. I had no idea I was triple backflips which flipping upside down, or devastated its Le Mans whatever. challenge and led to the “I don’t have any recol team withdrawing its lection of where I went or remaining race car after how I got there. “The just four and a half impact knocked me out and hours of the Le Mans 24 I woke up in the ambu lance.” Hours on Saturday. (For details of Webber’s 45,000 kms of pre-race incidents see our exclusive testing in the US and France came to naught as interview and coverage the team suffered an starting on page 22) While thankful that the unprecedented series of aerodynamics-related, structure of the CLR had high-flying accidents, two saved his drivers from seri pre-race involving our own ous injury, team boss Norbert Haug admitted to Mark Webber, the third being totally baffled by the taking Scotsman Peter Dumbreck’s car over the seemingly random instan fence, into the trees and taneous loss of front downforce which had afflicted out of the race. the cars. Webber was badly shak en and bruised on both “After all the preparation and testing we have done, occasions, his helmet scrap this problem is a complete ing the road in the second incident. surprise to us,” he said duran Dumbreck was knocked impromptu mg unconscious for some min ‘doorstop’ shortly after Dumbreck’s accident. utes, but otherwise unhurt.

Cartoon by Allan Schofield

By CHRIS LAMBDEN in Paris

MARK WEBBER SAYS THANKS I wish to thank everyone in Australia who took the trou ble to phone, fax and e-mail me following the extraordinary sequence of events at Le Mans last weekend. I know I was very lucky and fortunate (as, of course, was Peter Dumbreck)to escape so lightly from such major incidents as the ones

we experienced and, although the inquest will continue for a good while yet, I have to say that we were able to walk away virtually unscathed thanks to the strength of the Mercedes CLR. Thanks again for the con cern shown by so many people. Kind Regards,

TtiOer

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Driver rumour ofthe week: With Glenn Seton and Neil Crompton already paired for the endures in one Ford Tickford Racing AU,the second car becomes one of the hot seats for the Queensland 500 and Bathurst. Look for the drive to be shared by GeoffBrabham and Neal Bates; nothing is signed and the Usual Suspects won’t com ment,but it looks pretty good ...

■ Mark Adderton has been invited to join the Volvo Dealer Racing team for the rest ofthe BOC Gases Championship. The Sydney driver, who made such a good showing in his debut with the team at Mallala, will drive alongside Jim Richards at Winton this weekend and,hope fully, Oran Park later next month. ■ Apologies to Mike Downard and Paul Stephenson over MN’s MaUala report in Issue 154. Downard took out Class B in the first Porsche Cup race, not Mike Tankard, while Stephenson took out all three Formula 2 races, without losing one to Chas Jacobsen.

“That was a reasonable He also defended the team’s decision to start decision. It wasn’t a gam the race after Webber’s bler’s decision.” The change cost the two crashes, albeit in increased downforce Mercedes cars some 7kph V» trim: in top speed. “When the car did “We looked very care fully at the data again crash this afternoon, we after Webber’s crash this were stunned. We just morning. The drivers don’t know what has wanted to continue in the ^ caused this, race, so we made a deci“We have had no simision to adjust the cars, lar experience during all increasing the downforce our work before the race. by about 25 percent.

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By CHRIS LAMBDEN / GERALD McDORNAN THE streets of Adelaide could reverberate to the sound of Le Mans-style Sportscars and Top Fuellers as early as New Years’ Eve. American billionaire team owner and race nut Don Panoz confirmed at Le Mans last weekend that he

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The Batmobile in Adelaide? Watch out for a Panoz in the City of Churches. (Sunon-images) ly given the honour of starting the classic race and motor sport enthusiast Dean Rainsford. Australian South Premier John Olsen con fi rmed that discussions were well advanced on Monday: “Adelaide proved in April

Brabham, Bates for FTR?

■ On top of Sandown’s V8 Supercar endurance race next May,the Melbourne track may also run a NASCAR race next season. Promoter John Davison has written to Calder Park sug gesting a race for the V8 beasties in September and is awaiting details. Stay tuned.

“We are mostly thank ful that our drivers are okay and we must inves tigate how this occurred.” Critics were suggest ing that Haug would face a tough inquiry into the team’s performance, some suggesting that Fontana in the US and Paul Ricard, where most of the testing took place, hardly emulated the bumps and cambers of the Le Mans layout.

Wild New Years’ Eve in Adelaide

is to promote an 11-round international championship in 2000, with 8 rounds in the US,three in Asia. While the championship is confirmed, venues have not been officially named, but Motorsport News understands that Adelaide is bidding for the Australian round on December 31,1999. Present in Le Mans was a sizeable group representing the Adelaide bid, including SA Sports Minister Joan Hall - who was, surprising-

with the Sensational Adelaide 500 V8 race that we are the premier motorsport venud in Australia,” he said. At the weekend Panoz,

“We could never have a championship to rival Le Mans - it s tradition, it s hiftory, he said_ The program for the 200U series will be made public

present at Le Mans with his two-car team, called the Le Mans race “a unique and

in September, “This agreement provides a stability, uniformity and tremendous marketing

single event.”

platform, as well as hope fully encouraging more dri vers and teams.” On the drag front, it is believed the South Australian major events organisation approached Adelaide-based the Australian National Drag Association Racing (ANDRA). “The subject has been broached, but we haven’t really had a lot of time to think about it,” a reluctant ANDRA CEO Tony Thornton told Motorsport News on Tuesday. “Some amazing things have happened here [in Adelaide] that I never thought would, so I couldn’t say I don’t think it will hap pen.” “Naturally, there would be some concerns about track preparations, but the potential is there for a very successful event and we’re very enthusiastic to talk more about it.”

■ Speaking of Downard,the Victorian makes his first Super Touring appearance ofthe season at Winton this weekend. He will drive the BMW 318i which was raced last year by Rod Wilson. ■ Still no word on the fate, or otherwise, of Audi Sport Australia’s hopes to run A4 quattros for the rest ofthe year. Brad Jones would not comment on the matter on Tuesday and will line up in the FWD A4s this weekend with off-sider Matty Coleman. ■ One ofthe Mitsubishi Mirages which will form the basis of the new one-make series made an appearance at Oran Park last Sunday. Mai Rose, who will han dle the driver training for the series, gave the IGOOcc MIVECengined car a run during the track race meeting. ■ Cadillac has confirmed it will contest the 2000 Le Mans 24 Hours. John F. Smith, VP General Motors and general man ager Cadillac, outlined the , Northstar LMP project and s&d that it would be a minimum three-year commitment culminat ing in the marque’s centenary cel ebrations,in 2002. He said: “TTie Le Mans programme will be an integral part of re-positioning Cadillac as a global marque.” Cadillac’s Le Mans contender is to be built by Riley & Scott. Mcl^ren Engines will bmld and develop the Northstar turbo V8 engine and the car will run on Pirelli tyres. It was also con firmed that Northstar will be equipped with night vision tech nology which is being introduced into the company’s passenger car range.

18 June 1999

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■ Junior Tourers, Future Tourers, New Millenium Auscar... now how about Auscar 2000? That’s the rumour floating around about the new cat egory, although Advantage International’s Craig Fletcher says that, while not denying a name change is on the cars, the group has more pressing concerns in the immediate future.

VALE- BIB STILLWELL n The motor racing commu^ V

most highly respected fig ures, Bib Stillwell, who suffered a fatal heart

■ Doug Herbert, Warren Johnson and Phil Burkhart Jr.(Phil who?) were the vrinners at the NHRA’s Pontiac Excitement Nationals at Columbus, Ohio last weekend. While Herbert and Johnson are well known, Burkhart’s maid en win in his independant Funny Car came as a h\ige surprise. Australian Andrew Cowin faded to qualify in Top Fuel. Look for a full report next issue.

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attack last weekend. Bib began motor racing in 1947 driving an MG,but was to later build his career in a series of Coopers and Repco Brabhams. He was

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admired for his smooth, calculating approach to the

H sport, his high levels of pro^ fessionalism and his good spoi-tsmanship. Stillwell was Australia’s top driver from 1962 until his ‘retirement’in 1965 when,fittingly, he won his last I'ace -the Hordern Trophy at Warwick Farm.

■ We hear that Team Toyota Europe has now decide to concentrate on the design of an all-new VIO FI engine at its design office in Paris. The company had been run ning three parallel pro grammes one in Cologne, Germany and another in Japan,involving the development ofthe Yamaha FI engine, to which Toyota engineers have had access. Rumours in the paddock in Canada suggested that Toyota may decide to use its lux ury brand Lexus when it enters FI.

Drivers’ Championship and the CAMS Gold Star on I four Hesuccessive won the Australian occasions from 1962 to 1965, although he never won an Australian Grand Prix, fin_ ishing second in ’61.

While racing at Le Mans in 1967, where he co-drove with close friend Lex Davison. Stillwell met Gillian Harris, the former competition secretary of Aston Martin, who was later to become his wife. Retiring from motor rac ing to fully concentrate on business, Stillwell estab lished a network of suc cessful Ford dealerships in Australia before going on to become President of Lear Jet in the USA in the late ’70s When he eventually left Lear Bib operated a BMW franchise in Tucson, Arizona until ’89, when he, Gillian and fannly decided to retura to Austrrfa. Although he retired from' serious motor racing compe tition, Bib Stillwell never lost touch with motor sport. In fact, bis son Michael became a successful racer and Bib also sponsored 1970' Australian Formula Ford Champion Richard Knight.

Two other sons, Chi’is and Nicholas are carrying on the Stillwell name through their involvement in Histoi’ic racing. In more recent years Bib Stillwell continued to race in Historic events and three years ago sui'rived a serious crash in his ’65 Repco Brabham at the Geelong Speed Trials. Last year he was one of the invited legends’ who took part in the Australdan Historic Motorfest at Winton, and only recently he ch’ove in the Race of Legends at the Adelaide ‘500’ meet ing. Thi'Onghout bis life Bib' "; Stillwell was an achiever ! and a gentleman, and Ms .i sudden death only a short ■ time before his 72hdbmrthi- i day has robbed the-.com'munity of one of its most ' ' successful and respcted , figures. . : To Gilliah andf^iy -we i extend our deepest’sympathies. .4 BRIAN REED !

Ford buys Stewart Sandown^s

By JOE SAWARD JACKIE Stewart has

spent the last few months denying that he has any intention of selling his Formnla 1 team hnt last Friday it was annoumced that a deal has been struck with the Ford Motor

■ One curious aspect of the Canadian Grand Prix was the reappearance as a steward of^ger Peart. Peart was one ofthe three stewards who created a scandal at Silverstone last year by failing to apply the rules in a proper fash ion. They were called before the FIA World Council and ‘Voluntarily” handed in their interna tional stewards licences. Peart was able to act as the national steward using a national licence. We hear that India’s Nazir Hoosein will be given his international licence back later this year and is scheduled to be a steward at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Company. There has been all man

decision-making processes. It is widely seen as being an important step because of the expected arrival in FI in the next few years of Toyota, Honda and General Motors. Stewart says he decided to sell because another step is necessary to enable the team to challenge Ferrari and McLaren.

There is no doubt at aU that the long-term aim is for the team to become a Jaguar FI operation, Jaguar management already pushing hard for an identity change so they can use attack BMW in the new vehicle marketing battle currently going on. The timing of the switch is still to be decid ed, but it is expected Jaguar will take over as early as next year or 2001.

“Tf we had gone about it ner of speculation about the price which Ford paid in the normal way,” he for the operation, ranging said, “we could not have The question is now from US$100m to $10m, expected.to be competi who wiU actuaUy run the but our sources suggest tive for at least 10 years.” that the deal is worth Stewart, who turned 60 team in the longer term somewhere between $30m last Friday in Canada, and not surprisingly and $40m the price being will stay on as chairman there have been sugges and chief executive of the tions that David Richards much lower than expect ed because of Ford’s team; his son Paul will 'will be involved, This is certainly an investment in the team remain as deputy chairman. option for Ford although over the last two years. It is expected the pair our spies say that it is not Their decision to buy the team underlines the will remain in their cur a foregone cpnclusiop as company’s commitment to rent roles for perhaps a Ford may be willing to wait for another top success in FI and gives year and then be quietly name from a rival team to the firm control over the faded out of the scene.

■ German telephone company D2 Mannesmann which is currently sponsoring the Benetton team is talking to McLaren about a deal for next season. McLaren is one ofthe few teams without a telecommunica tions sponsor and the team’s German links would make a lot ofsense i for both McLaren and D2. ■ There was a large contingent of CART dri vers and team owners at Montreal with Mark Blundell, Greg Moore, Max Papis and Gil de Ferran all being spotted in the paddock. In addi tion team owners CMp Ganassi, Bobby Rahal and Pat Patrick were also there. There were rumours that Dario Franchitti may be looking at a switch to FI in the future, although he is cur rently under contract to Team Green.

nity and the business world are mourning the loss of one of Australia’s

THWART GRANO msix

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3-Hour? By PHIL BRANAGAH SAND OWN may get its endurance V8 Supercar race back next May. Track promoter Jon Davison ha^ joined forces with IMG,to run a major event in the Shell Championship Series in 2000 but it is more likely to be a ‘Melbourne 3-Hour’ than a return to the 500. Davison and IMG’s Martin Jolly met with AVESCO’s Tony Cochrane prior to the Phillip Island round of the Shell ChampionsMp Series to dis cuss what Davison described as “a number of concepts” for the race. “We’re not sure what con cept AVESCO wants, but we would want an endurance event of the same stature (as the Sandown 500),” Davison said. “We’ve had a positive response from Tony Cochrane.” While there is no firm pol icy involved in determining race formats it appears that Adelaide’s Clipsal 500 will exclusively have a Saturday/ Sunday race format and that the Queensland 500 vrill be the sole event of the distance. That leaves Sandown looking at a timed race, most likely of a three hour duration. Davison has no doubt that a 2-driver race is a superior format for the event; “We’ve had both kinds of meeting in the past and I have no doubt in my mind that the longer one is what the public prefers. I already

have a contract for a sprint race but this would be an event of some importance.” Davison is also likely to host a round of AVESCO’s new Development series. He said that the class may run at the usual state series meeting, which means that the race would probably open the Development series at the Melbourne venue next April. TOWNSVILLE is moving towards having its own round of the SCS next year. Meetings have taken place between representa tives of IMG, Townsville’s Council and Townsville Enterprise, a Tourism and Economic Development organisation regarding hav ing a race and, while tMngs are in the early stages, a race for 2000 looks a cer tainty. Speculation suggests a likely time frame for the event is June/July next year, perhaps tying in with a road trip to Darwin’s Hidden Valley. “It’s early days but we are supportive of the concept,” said a spokesman on Tuesday. " “It’s not certain whether it would be on the streets like the Adelaide event, or on d' purpose-built track, but we are working towards a con clusion.” If the race were to happen it would become the second Queensland event, leaving Queensland Raceway at Willowbank only with its Queensland 500 enduro, scheduled for September.

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18 June 1999

■ There is speculation that Olivier Panis, whose contract with Prost runs out at the end of the year, will move on next season. Prost is believed to be very keen on the team’s young test driver Stephane Sarrazin to partner Jamo Trulli. There have been a few rumours suggesting that Trulli might go to Ferrari but it is hard to imagine that he would be willing to agree to accept the same kind ofrestrictions imposed on Eddie Irvine. Panis is rumoured to be talking to Arrows.

AUSCAR

sanctioning for Bathurst By GERALD McDORNAN

race isn’t sanctioned by the FIA and this race * shouldn’t be looked at in

WITH there Tbeing little

any other light. It’s not without precedence.” Long-time Bathurst 1000 Kace Director Ivan Stibbard has also been signed by Advantage International to oversee the running of the event. “We’re excited about Ivan joining with us to run the Bathurst 1000,” Fletcher said. “He has an incredible weatlth of

prospect of a permit being issued by CAMS, this year’s Bathurst 1000 will be run with full sanctiomimg from Bob Jane’s AUSCAR Racing Pty Ltd group. While the race would have been run under CAMS sanctioning had it remained a touring caronly race, the introduc tion of the New Millenium Auscar category - one which they declined to approve - has thrown a major spanner into the works with CAMS and their standard proce dures. “It’s not the ideal world but I see no problem with it [running with AUSCAR sanctioning] at all, Advantage International’s Craig Fletcher told Motorsport News on Tuesday. “We haven’t had a lot of positive indications from CAMS regarding sanc tioning for the race, so we’ve got to take the ini tiative and continue on with the job of promoting it. U We have applied to CAMS for the permit, but if the application is rejected, which we are expecting, we have some where else to go. “Then, if there are any problems [TOCA’s] Kelvin O’ReOly and myself will have to work through them but I don’t think there will be too many. “The Le Mans 24 Hour

experience running the race and, with the Super Tourers and New Millenium Auscars involved, it all makes for an exciting year.” At the same time Fletcher said the response to the New Millenium Auscar catego ry had been exceptional with a meeting of prospective competitors in Melbourne a fortnight ago attracting 65 people. “The meeting was called at the last minute, so the response was excel lent and we’re expecting the same when we hold a similar one in Sydney soon.” After problems encoun with AUSCAR tered Racing officials over the original design of the roll cage, a “mutually accept able” cage has now been approved by the Calder Park-based body, competitiors being notified of the new mandatory design by mail earlier this week. “We should have around 10 brand new cars on the track for the Bathurst 1000, along with many converted cxirrent99 specs AUSCARS.

Catapult to success: Riding his works Marlboro Yamaha, Mick Doohan used the last Easter Bathurst bike meeting as his springboard to five world GP championships.

Bikes return to the mountain “I think this new event for “We have designed the event to be a motorcycle festi- Mount Panorama will pro MOTORCYCLE racing is val with varied and competi- vide a positive stimulus for set to return to Mount racing plus lots of other the local economy,” Bathurst activities and entertainment Mayor Macintosh said. Panorama next Easter which will appeal to everyone Eaton says support from after an absence of more interested in motorcycles and the motorcycle fraternity and than a decade, with the motorsport,” said Mr Eaton. companies involved in the announcement in Sydney The full program will bike industry has been yesterday of the Easter include a wide range of rac- extremely strong. The Festival is scheduled ing categories from the latest Motorcycle Festival. The event is being organ- performance bikes to clas- to run from Thursday April ised by Event Management sics, histories and motocross 20 to Sunday April 23. Specialists, a company born » at the top of the Mountain, Motorcycling NSW general out of the former Bathurst in addition to off track activi manager Mr Rob Madden 1000 Event management ties such as a bike show and said his organisation had company and headed up by tr^e expo. given the Easter festival its Eaton says his company stamp of approval and will Greg Eaton. The last Easter Bathurst EMS has struck a deal vidth /play an active role on the motorcycle meeting was held Bathurst City Council to 'Event race committee as well stage the festival at Mount in 1988, Mick Doohan win as providing assistance with Panorama for four years. ning on his works Yamaha racing issues such as regula Eaton says his organisa Superbike - a performance tions, circuit safety and offi tion has developed a good that catapulted him into the cials. They have already car working relationship with World Championship. ried out safety inspections of the Bathurst City Council, Mount Panorama and were The new meeting will fea Bathurst Police and local ture a 300 kilometre race-“the impressed with what they residents over the years and Bathurst 300” which will be have seen. believes they are weU placed an invitational race with quali “Our track inspector has to stage and manage the fying open to categories up to Motorcycle revival at the looked at the track and was and including Superbikes. impressed with the safety Mountain track. Greg Eaton says the “The Easter Motorcycle improvements which have Festival will rival the Phillip ’Festival brings a major new taken place over the past 10 Island Grand Prix in terms event to the Mountain to years,” said Mr Madden. “The organisers have made of its scale, profile and complement the existing excitement, adding that it motor car races and Council provision for further safety was great to be able to re- expects it to become a. measures including air fencintroduce bikes to a circuit tremendous annual event,” ing, tyre stacks and crash padding, which we are very originally designed for said Bathurst Mayor Ian Macintosh. pleased about,” he said. motorcycle racing. By JON THOMSON

Ellery claims last DJR enduro seat ^

AFTER impressing with his efforts at the wheel of his indf^nendPTit Cheler^ve EL2 Falcon, Lions

Young cast-off

Steven Ellery has been signed by Shell Helix Racing to partner Paul Radisich for this

The Shell be right crew: Steven and Dick Johnson, Steven Ellery and Paul Radisich

year’s long distance V8 Supercar races at Willowbank and Bathurst. “DJR is one of the most professional V8 Supercar teams in the country and I’m thrilled to be given the opportunity to

join them for this his older Falcon, mixyear’s endurance ing it up with some of races,” Ellery said the front running this week. teams and I don t every day think it will take him the too long to get up to , pace in the AU,” he said. padisich’s calibre, “By the time the enduros come around ^e’s unbelieveably quick and I think, we’ll have everything despite the obvious sorted out and I think height differences, Steve and I will do very well together.” we’ll make^ a very The 24 year old good pairing.” Gold Coast resident Pual Radisich believes despite the completes the long physical size differ- distance line-ups for the team with team ences between the owner Dick Johnson two they will be a again sharing the good match-up. Stevens been famous #17 with his son Steven. doing a great job in

■ Three construction workers were injured in the days leading up to the Canadian Grand Prix when the bridge on which they were working was hit by a passing truck. Two of the three suffered were taken to hospital where they were treated for bro ken ribs, cuts and bruises. There was much demand for the Canadian Grand Prix media pack, passes and a poster which featured a silk screen print of Jacques Villeneuve with various different hair colours in the style of Andy Warhol. The design was dreamed up by artists at Formula One Administration in London. ■ Villeneuve was much in the news in Canada because his rumoured new girlfriend Australian singer Dannii Minogue turned up to watch him in action. Prior to the event Villeneuve visited Quebec to be appointed an OfScier ofthe Ordre National du Quebec,the highest hon our available to FrenchCanadians. Jacques was given the award by Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard at a ceremony at the Assemblee Nationale. ■ Indianapolis Motor Speedway boss Tony George is plaiining to hold a celebrity race at the United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis in September 2000. George hopes to attract a field of past World Champions and great American rac ers for the event. The field is hkely to include names such as Phil Hill, Jackie Stewart, Alain Prost and Mario Andretti. A similar event was held at the opening of the new Nurburgring in May 1985 when a field of champions and top FI men of the era battled it out in Mercedes 190Es. The race was won by Ayrton Senna with Niki Lauda second and >. Carlos Reutemann third. ■ Adrian Reynard has been in the news in England in recent days following the launch ofthe Virgin Atlantic airline’s new twin seat, which con verts into a double bed. The seat was desired by Reynard Aviation in co operation with Virgin’s industrial design manager Joe Ferry.

lMs)0®[FSfp®[T9

18 June 1999

■ There has been anoth er shake-up in the man agement ofFord Europe with its president James Donaldson going back to the United States to head the company’s global busi ness development division. He will be replaced as head ofFord Europe by former Jaguar chairman Nick Scheele, who was in charge ofFord Europe’s marketing. His role has been taken by Earl Hesterberg, who has been recruited from Toyota. ■ The Sunday Times in London has reported that the leader ofthe British Labour Party in Europe, Alan Donnelly, has received funding from the FIA. Donnelly was a mem ber ofthe FIA-funded Automobile Users Group which made several trips to visit governments. He declared all the trips. The stories come just before the European elections... ■ Arrows FI team owner Prince Malik ado Ibrahim continues his search for funding for his struggling FI operation. The Nigerian is due to meet a group of potential backers in the US later this week. The team has done well this year but needs a considerable influx of money in order to pre pare a better package for the 2000 season. The team is discussing a possible engine supply deal with Supertec, but will continue with its own engine pro gramme ifit represents a better deal.

Mosley criticises drivers By QUENTIN SPURRING THE proposed Formula 1 crisis meeting, which had been scheduled for Wednesday (2 June), was postponed because not all the team owners were able to make the date. FIA President Max Mosley says that the meeting will go ahead (with a representative from each of the 11 teams) at a later date. Far from being an informal chat to exchange views, the meeting is likely to be a stormy affair. In the face of media crit icism of Formula 1 at a press conference during the Spanish Grand Prix meeting, former World Champions Michael Schumacher and Damon HiU, as well as Patrick Head of WilliamsFl, strongly criticised

the technical changes that have been made by the motorsports governing body over the past two seasons. In 1998, in an attempt to restrict performance and pre vent the cars from outgrowing the circuits, the FIA intro duced a narrower overall chassis dimension and tread ed tyres, and follov/ed up this year with an additional (fourth) circumferential groove for the Bridgdstone ‘control’tyre. The drivers say that it is now too difficult to overtake because the cars become unstable when following another due to turbulence. Consequently it is no longer possible to slipstream even a slower car to gain speed for overtaking manoeuvre. This view is shared by most of the designers. Their opin-

Vent Max Mosley

Opposites attract: FIA President Max Mosley and Vice-President Bernie Ecclestone, ion is that the FIA needs to paid so much, they are not entitled to like or dislike take a fresh look at the regu them. lations, and should drastical “It is not up to the drivers. ly reduce aerodynamic perfor mance, while actually restor They naturally want cars which are easy to drive and ing mechanical grip. Springing to the defence of easy to overtake in, but that the FIA recently, Mosley con might not be the best princi demned the criticism. He ple of Formula 1. 'The ques remarked: tion we have to face is “The drivers are not neces whether it is just too difficult sarily the best to judge how to to overtake. run a world-wide television “The fact is that this season sport. The general feeling is we have had four fascinating that, as long as the cars are races and one [the deeply bor safe, we are not concerned ing Spanish Grand Prix] whether the drivers like the which clearly was not so cars or not. Because they are interesting. But that is no

■ Bernie Ecclestone is to meet with representatives of the Toyota Motor Company shortly to dis cuss the firm’s desire to enter Grand Prix racing. Toyota is already busy recruiting FI personnel for both its engine and chassis programmes but it is not expected to be ready to race until 2001, although a test team may begin work in the course of the 2000 season. The entire opera tion is expected to be based at Team 'Toyota Europe headquarters in Cologne, Germany, where the Toyota rallying and sportscar programmes are cur rently located.

reason to panic. “The cars are difficult to drive, but that is why we are supposed to have the best dri vers in the world in Formula 1. The fact that they are diffi cult to drive is nothing to do with the regulations. It is to do with the aerodynamics. They are very efficient in the air W very difficult to handle in turbulent air. “We do listen to drivers and teams, all the time, but we have to define what the objec tive is for the sport. And that is not necessarily ruled by what drivers say.”

... blit Bernie disagrees

*s. \<r*'

■'The Benetton team is hoping that Renault will decide to return to Formula 1 in an official capacity in the year 2001. Renault is due to consider the idea shortly although there are important groups in the management with consider FI to be irrele vant at a time when the firm is trying to sort out the problems ofits new partner Nissan. If a Renault FI programme is to go ahead in 2001 a deci sion must be taken shortly and a large sum invested in order for a new engine to be prepared. Renault is not thought likely to come up with the money but may agree to build engines if Benetton funds them.

rivers

IN a rare display of dis unity the top men in Formula One have locked horns over the future of FI regula tions. Bernie Ecclestone has given a strong hint that a return to slick tyres might he the answer to make Formula 1 more

I The one that got away: Giancarlo Fisichella leads Michael Schumacher in Germany in 1997, a breakdown late in the race costing Fisi and Eddie their first GP win.

exciting. Speaking in Montreal, at the Canadian Grand Prix meeting, the FIA VP (Promotions) said that he supported the drivers in that the grooved tyres, introduced in 1998, were

one of the reasons why overtaking had become difficult. Ecclestone said: “The theory has been to slow the cars in the comers,for safety. It was Max Mosley’s ambition to achieve this with tyres but I don’t know why. We must get back to wide, slick tyres to get more grip and more overtak ing.” Meanwhile the Formula 1 summit, at which the teams have been invited to submit proposals for the future is still on course to take place later this year.

Is Fisichella going Nurburgring 24hr ‘home’ to Eddie’s? class for Sepang? JORDAN Grand Prix is tipped to be try ing to hire Benetton’s Giancarlo Fisichella to replace Damon Hill next year. The 26-year-old Italian drove for Jordan in 1997 but then moved to Benetton. He has since had a very fhistrating time. Fisichella is believed to have a commitment to Benetton for next season but there is little doubt that if Jordan is willing to pay, Fisichella could be released. There is not much point in Benetton trying to keep Fisichella if he wants to move else where. There remain several question marks over Hill. He says he has no intention of retiring despite the fact that he will be 39 in September. He is not enjoying the current season, finding the cars very difficult to drive and he has not been able to match the perfor¬

mances of his new team-mate Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Hill, however, is an important marketing weapon for Jordan’s principal sponsor Benson & Hedges. Hill has a very high profile around the world and there is no doubt that Fisichella is not currently in the same league in terms of being a recognised public figure. Having said that the company’s desire to con tinue to use Hill will imdoubtedly weaken if he does not produce good results. Jordan also needs to be sure of good results as the 2000 season will be of critical impor tance to Eddie Jordan’s team. The operation will be using the new Honda VIO engine and, being a much more established team, is in a good position to score better results than Honda’s factory team British American Racing. -JOESAWARD

THE new Sepang Race Circuit, in Malaysia, could have a 24 hour race next spring for saloon and sportscars running to regulations on par with the traditional Nvuburgring enduro. The scheme was floated, with success, to potential competi tors at the Nurhurgring last weekend by Max Welti under the umbrella of his company, Merdeka Sports Systems. Situated close to Kuala Lumpur, the 5.5km (3.4m) Sepang venue is preparing to host the first ever Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix, in October. The format for the Nurburgring classic is almost ‘anything goes’, allowing for all classes of cars to compete together. It also attracts entries which are out of the motor racing mainstream. This year the second row of the grid on the Nordschlieffe circuit was filled by an Audi Super Touringbased A4 quattro which was modified to run on natural gas, and one of Volkswagen’s diesel-powered Golfs. The race, in which 196 cars started (!), was won by a Dodge Viper, driven by Peter Zakowski, Hans-Jurgen Tiemann, Marc Duez and sportscar legend Klaus Ludwig. - QUENTIN SPURRING

lW®o®[Fsm®[?o

18 June 1999

Separate'Development'series (in November) there will be 80. “Some Privateers cannot afford the expense of travel ling to all races. To overcome this, all races will be centred on the East coast.” Cochrane said that the series would have a TV pack aged with delayed telecasts, in much the same fashion Formulae Ford and Holden have their races shown on Network 10. The cars, which will be externally identical to V8 Supercars, will feature a number of modifications which win make them cheap er to run. The measures, which are being finalised by a working committed draw ing expertise from the Perkins, Gibson and Rogers teams, include a 6500rpm limit (versus 7500 for Supercars). Both models of cars Holden’s VS and VT Commodore and Ford’s EL and AU Falcon - will be eli gible for the class, and Cochrane also said that at least two Pro teams are look ing at running cars in the new class. All cars will run on

By PH!L BRANAGAN

AVESCO has announced details of its new

Development series, which will start next season. The class, which will fea ture de-tuned V8 Supercars, will run in a five round series, starting in April 2000. All races will be conducted in Eastern states to keep travel costs for competitors as low as possible. Prizemoney has been pegged at a level of around $500,000, provided by a naming rights sponsor to be announced in the next few weeks. The series will run a num ber of‘stand-alone’ events, as well as feature at some of the ‘marquee’ rounds of the Shell Championship. Presumably, this would mean that the cars would race at the Bathurst Australian 1000 Classic, Adelaide 500 and Queensland 500 events and possibly a new feature event, like Townsville. The other rounds wUl take the Development series away from the SCS and allow pro moters with existing events, like a round of the Australian Sports Sedan Championship (for instance)to add the class Bridgestone’s control tyre, as used in the Supercar class. onto the program. Cochrane said that he antici “There are 73 registered VSSupercars at the moment,” pated that a car could he run AVESCO’s Tony Cochrane on between 30 and 40 per budget. said last week. “By Bathurst cent of a V8Supei

Team Capsk

if the racing is this good... The battle in the Privateer ranks in the Shell Championship Series has been fierce, as shown at Danwin by Anthony Tratt and Bob Thorn. Let’s hope the ‘Development’ series is as intense. (Photo by John Oroteffotoworid) However, while most of the Privateer teams are waiting to see final regulations before committing to the series, there have already been some doubters in the paddock. One team owner, who

Team Anorak

VALCAP1 _

would not be named, questioned whether costs would really be cut by the new technical measures: “These engines are designed to run to 7500,” he said. “6500 means changing cams, exhausts and engine

mapping, which will cost $20,000. A second-hand Commodore is $120,000 already. “Travel costs to any given city are the same, the tyres are the same and a crash will mean the same price for

I 1

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Simply fill in your details and send,with payment to: in purring «t»ve you auttkxa* G^try Rogtrg Motorsport 10 ctwqo dw to tfio a«* cord lined etwe. In so Awifl vdo vwreni ihei you tre authonsod t* perGsrr* Rogere Motorsport PO Box 222 Oakleijh Vic 3166 nit sodi use of tho card Goods toft through ih* post *r« not the r*gporwtohfy ot Garry Roger* M«or»port or fax your credit card order to; 03 9564 M)33 ● Simply order merchandise to the value of $20 or more and you will automatically be placed m the draw to win a day at an official testing session whit the Valvoline Cummins Race Team, where you will have a minimum of 2 hot laps with one of our drivers. Every item you purchase will get you an entry in the competition (eg buy five Items and you will (Toul purchasB ●imiwniHii order $20. See pojlage and handling detail) get five choices to win). The test session will be held at the end of the 1999 racing season. If the winner comes from InterM to(lr»« Cars, l-X*!. & i state their imer-capital city airfare will be paid for. The winner will be notified on 16 November 1999. HURitV. THERS « POSTAGE Cawre sngle tam adtftiofiaJiiBm. An^vhere within Awirafe CM orav BE OM WMNn. THE MOIIE YOU BUY, THE MORE CHANCES YOU HAVE TO WIN. f O tfo I i,

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18 June 1999

■ FIA President Max Mosley paid a visit to the Zandvoort circuit in Holland last week to have a look at the recent rebuilding which has taken place at the track in the sand dunes on the North Sea coast. Zandvoort was a popular., FI venue for many years and hopes to get a race again at some point in the future. The Dutch have been aiming to take the end-of-August race week end date from the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa. The revised circuit still needs to be given an FIA FI licence but this is expect ed to be granted by next year. ■ Ginny WiUiams, the wife of FI team owner Sir Frank Williams, was the victim of a nasty robbery in London last week when knife-wielding thugs forced her to hand over jeweUeiy and the keys to her top-of-the-range BMW road car outside her London apartment. Lady Williams was unhurt. ■ In recent days we have heard suggestions that motorcycle racer Max Biaggi may switch to car racing rather earher than he had plaimed. The mul tiple 250cc World Motorcycle Champion had wanted to win the 500cc title before switching to cars but a recent test for Ferrari had increased his enthusiasm for four-wheel racing. In addition his 500cc career has not been as successful as had bpen hoped. He won a race last season with Honda but switched to Yamaha this year unhappy to be in the shadow of Honda’s Mick Doohan. So far this year Max has had a lot of mechanical trouble but recently had an accident at the French GP which left him with a dislocated knuckle. ■ Pay-TV magnate Rupert Murdoch - who is in constant negotiation with FI boss Bemie Ecclestone over the TV rights to Grand Prix rac ing-has finally succeed ed in getting into the European pay-TV market, having bought a majority shareholding in an Italian service called Stream which was previously owned by Telecom Italia. The deal puts Murdoch into competition with Telepiu, an offshoot of i Can^ Plus which current ly owns the rights to FI’s digital signal for the Italian market. ■ There are reports in the City of London that the German bank West LB will have a place on the board of directors of Formula One Holdings. The position is expected to go to the companys head of securitisation, Englishman Robin Saunders, who did much ofthe negotiation work for the company’s recent $1.4bn Eurobond issue. -JOE SAWARD

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Williams leaves sportscar racing as By JOE SAWARD WILLIAMS Grand Prix Engineering won the Le Mans/ 24 Hours last weekend - but that will be the end of the team’s involvement in sportscar racing. The BMW victory means a lot to the manufacturer, espe cially since it came at the expense of rivals Mercedes-Benz and Audi. Our spies at WiUiams tell us that the BMW facility wiO be turned into the team museum, while the current museum will become part of an expanded drawing office. BMW Motorsport boss Gerhard Berger said after the race that no decision has been taken about the future. This is strange as the Williams crew have all been told that the pro gramme is over and 25 of them will transfer to the FI team shortly, including chief engineer John Russell. The two works cars are due to race at the Norisring street race, under the guidance of legendary sportscar and touring car team manager Charlie Lamm and, perhaps, have an out ing in the US ALMS series. This year’s race featured more than just the factory cars. Thomas Bsher’s private team ran BMW’s 1998 cars but, given that the ’99 LMR is a race-winner, it seems too valuable to race in private hands. It’s Full Steam Ahead for their FI programme ...

Car 17 is close: Williams’ BMW prototype was the carlo beat at Le Mans.(Photobysuttonimages)

Nurburgring gets four more yea By JOE SAWARD THERE vrill be a Grand Prix at the Nurburgring every year imtil the end of2004. A deal was struck recently between Formula 1 boss Bemie Ecclestone and Walter Kafitz, the boss of Nurburgring GmbH, the company which runs the famous track in Germany’s Eifel Mountains. Nurburgring will not, however, get the German Grand Prix as that is stay ing at Hockenheim and it is likely that the event will continue to be known as the European Grand Prix - although other European countries may object to German domination of an event which is supposed to switch between other European tracks. A possible compromise is to have the race at the Nurburgring called the Luxembomg Grand Prix as happened a couple ofyears ago. The only problem for the track is that its September date has gone to Indianapolis and so the Nin-burgring win have to find a new date on the cal endar. That cannot be in the midsummer as; that would create competition with Hockenheim and the Austrian GP and it is unlikely that the race could go later

Four more years: The Dekra-heads in Germany will enjoy the sights of Ft cars filing through the chicanes of the Nurburgring and forests of Hockenheim, above, for at least another four years. (Photo by sutton-images) in the year because of poor weather, so expected to come up for discussion it is most likely that there wiU have to before August, although there may be be a late Spring date, possibly at around ^ an early draft after the next FIA World this time of year. Motor Sport Council. The 2000 Formula 1 calendar is not One thing is for certain. Pressure for

Stewart designer to Benetton ALAN Jenkins, the former technical director of

confirmed it will mark the start of the rumoiu-ed shake-

Stewart Grand Prix, is tipped to be on the verge of joining Benetton Formula. The British engineer has been out of work since the New Year when he was

up at the Enstone team. The team has not performed well this year although Giancarlo Fisiahella’s second place in Canada did no harm at all but a new technical team

dropped by Stewart Grand Prix, but he remained in demand thanks to the com

appears to be necessary, if only to keep the sponsors happy. The arrival of Jenkins would have a dramatic effect on both technical director Pat

petitiveness of the StewartFord SF03 which he designed before leaving the team. In recent months Jenkins has been spotted visiting vari ous FI teams, notably Prost Grand Prix, Sauber and Benetton. We understand that his final decision was between Prost and Benetton. If the move to Benetton is

Symonds and chief designer Nick Wirth. The pair have held their current positions since November 1996 but nei ther the B198 nor the B199 have looked like winning races. -JOE SAWARD

dates will be greater than ever with new races planned in America, China and South Africa. The events thought to be under threat are Belgium, Hungary and Canada.

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18 June 1999

Pukekohe, NZ V8 Sunenar endurE By GRANT NICHOLAS THE latest word from the Land of the Great White

ment with the New Zealanders and all of the team cars will be flown from the East-Coast of Australia to Auckland.

Two flights will depart Cloud pertains to an new Australian shores, with half feature endurance event of the V8 field consisting of next year at the famous Queensland and New South Pukekohe Circuit, just Wales teams departing from South of Auckland, for a 'Sydney on the Wednesday full field of Aussie V8 morning prior to the race meeting. The balance of the Supercars. It is xmderstood that the field with West Australian, Melbourne office of IMG South Australian and have entered into an agree-

Victorian-based cars leaving

from Melbourne later in the day as there is no curfew at that airport. The last time the V8 Supercars competed on the super-fast Pukekohe track was back in 1996 when local hero Greg Murphy took over the reigns of the second Mobil Holden Racing Team car along side lead driver Peter Brock. Murphy took pole and then went onto dominate the day by winning each of the three 20-minute sprints in

IRL lawsuit filed A lawsuit on behalf of the family of Dexter Mobley, one of three spectators killed during a race at Charlotte last month, has been filed against the Indy Racing League, the track owners and presi dent “Humpjf’ Wheeler. The lawsuit, filed last week in the Mecklenburg Superior Court by attorney Robert Beauchamp, claims the defendants contributed to the death of Mobley, 41, by allowing open wheel IRL cars to race on the high-banked oval and by failing to erect higher catch fences around the track. In the wake of the acci dent, Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI), which owns Charlotte along with three other tracks, decided to raise catch fenches at its venues from 15 to 21 feet. The IRL. along with CART, also implemented wheel tethers which are designed to keep wheels and suspension parts attached to the cars in the event of an accident. The lawsuit alleges that SMI and the IRL were negli gent for failing to require the tethers prior to the May 1 race. The suit also claims that SMI, the IRL and Wheeler failed to notify fans of the “potential lethtJ risks” associated with flying debris.

The accident came less than a year after three fans were killed during a CART race at Michigan Speedway. The family of one of those victims filed a lawsuit against that track. Last December, a judge ruled the family could not seek punitive damages against the track.

“I’ve talked to the attorneys in Michigan and we’ve agreed to put the whole industry on trial,” said “Between Beauchamp, Michigan and Charlotte, why didn’t they do anything to improve safety? Six people shouldn’t have' to die to change something.”

Petty into hot seat ASCAR racer Kyle Petty, son of the legendary Richard Petty, visited IRL team Panther Racing last week to discuss the possibilities of racing for the team, according to a television report in the US. Indianapolis TV station WRTV reported that the 39year-old Petty is interested in open wheel racing and had a seat fitting in one of Panter’s G-For^e race cars during his visit.

Petty has won eight Winston Cup races in his career, the last coming in 1995, and finished 30th in points last season. Petty was due to test the car in Atlanta this week and, if all goes well, could race at the Atlanta IRL event on July 17.

front of the 25,000 plus crowd. The two Shell-FAI Ford Falcons of-John Bowe and Dick Johnson earned enough points throughout the day to claim second and third placings respectively. An earlier proposal to con duct a V8 Supercar endurance event through the streets of Auckland in

January 2000, to coincide with the forthcoming Americas Gup Yachting Series next summer has been shelved. It is believed that Auckland Street-Race con sortium may consider an Sensational Adelaide 500 style race in the year 2001. There appears to be a

JOHN Faulkner’s V8 Supercar career is looking the worse for wear following long time sponsor Betta Electrical’s withdraw al last Friday. Betta’s head office, having backed Faulkner’s AUSCAR and V8 racing programmes for the last eight years, notified the team that, fol lowing the withdrawal of joint sponsor Fisher and Paykel earlier this year, it had been unable to unite its 350 retail store owners in its quest to continue fund ing the team. And, with no prospects of gaining a new naming rights sponsor on short notice, the team’s future is unsure. “Our world came tum bling down and that’s a real shame as we’re a dedicated team that’s done incredibly well with what we’ve had,” Faulkner said on Tuesday. “A lot of the diehard [Betta] dealers had just sent / their contributions through but, as a whole, they couldn’t organise what we really needed to operate with ... we’ll just have to send the cheques back.” Faulkner is worried that Betta’s withdrawal is an indication of how tough things may get for the V8 category. “Being involved isn’t just sponsorship, it’s a marketing 1 programme and a company needs to be hands on with its team. We’ve spoken to a number of non-automotive

Betta drops bombshell after eight years

companies who’ve_ expressed, interest in what we’re doing and they’ve all been keen until we tell them how much investment it requires, then they fall over.”

For the immediate future. Faulkner will contest the Sandown round of the SCS, but after that he is unsure whether the team will be able to continue at all.

Faulkner future doubt

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“Tony Cochrane has offered to go in to bat for us with any potential sponsors and that’s a help, but if nothing comes along...” - GERALD McDORNAN

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Indy prepares for Formula 1 By JOE SAWARD IT is only a few months since Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George announced that the world’s most famous racing circuit would host a

Grand Prix in 2000, Now he has a date - September 24, 2000 - and work is welladvanced on the 2.61 mile road cir cuit which will be used by the Grand Prix cars. George is paying for the work himself. He is not saying how much it is all costing - but the track designer Kevin Forbes admits that the work Is costing “tens of millions”. It is certainly impressive. The new eight-storey control tower now dominates the skyline, towering above the speedway’s vast grand stands - with around 300,000 seats, Indianapolis is the world’s largest seating facility. The track will curl through a series of difficult comers before a quick right-hander on to Hulman Boulevard, the road that runs down the centre of the Speedway. This straight ends with a tight left-hander where more overtaking might be possible. It is followed by a further series of twists and turns before the track curls to the right and nms back onto the oval. The cars will be accelerating from here right through the banked Turn 1 and onto the 1000 metre main straight, down which the FI cars will be flat out.

ensure that tradition is main tained the oval races will use exactly the same pitlane as today. The FI pitlane will be between the existing pitwall and the new garages but when the oval races are on this area will disappear under temporary grandstands, the FI garages becoming shops and merchandising outlets for the spec tators. The Indycar and NASCAR teams will continue to use their existing garages in the Gasoline Alley area behind the new pit buildings. The city has a strong tradition of supporting local events and the only drawback with the agreed date is that it falls onto a weekend when the Olympic Games in Sydney will be in full swing. The time difference' should mean that all the Olympic events will be over before the race begins, avoiding a clash of TV timetabling.

Hard at work; Tony George oversees work at Indianapolis. (Suttm images)

Irvine ups the ante

The foundations and a first layer of tarmac are already down in the 224 acre infield area. All the other necessary work, including the constmction of the barriers, laying of cables and so on will be finished in April 2000 and George hopes that the first FI cars will test at the track after the Brazilian Grand Prix next year. Constraction will begin shortly on the new FI garage and Paddock Club facility. This will include a total of 37 garages - 36 for the teams and one for the FIA scratineers. On top of the garages will be 12 VIP suites, each one being divisi ble into three sections. The build ings have been designed for multi ple usage as the garages will not be used for the Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400 events. To

Thinking of more rooola: Who could have given Irvine the idea to up his price? Look closely into his glasses for an answer...(Phoio by sutton-images)

EDDIE Irvine is never very subtle on or off the track and in recent days he has been trying to raise his salary at Ferrari but hinting that he has plenty of other offers for the 2000 season. Irvine hinted to an Italian magazine that there might be a possibility of a drive with McLaren,saying “you know how it is” when asked if he had been having talks with McLaren. The suggestion caused much amusement in the paddock where McLaren boss Ron Dennis views about Irvine are well-known. Dennis rallied to David Coulthard’s defence saying that “David’s position in this team has never been more secure.” Irvine said that he had no intention of going to Jordan as has been rumoured . This was not a surprise as the team says it is not particularly interested in running him again. Irvine also told the magazine that he had had two offers which were $2m more than he is paying paid by Ferrari and that he did not take the drives because “I don’t race for money”. This will be good news to Jean Todt who will, no doubt, ignore Irvine’s attempts to raise his price. We expect Eddie to stay at Ferrari next year. -JOE SAWARD

Germany’s V8 tourer series PLANS for a V8-based touring car category in Germany, similar to our own V8 Supercar category, rest on an imminent decision by BAFW on whether to participate. .Mercede.s sources at Lc .Mans suggested to .Motorsport .\ews that the company, along with Opel, had agreed in principle to take part in a new series, starting in 2000. but that B.MW's agTeement to join in would be the final factor. "They have about three weeks to make a decision, our man told us."and without them it won't happen. We are all agreed that we need three manufacturers to make it work." The ficrman formula is expected to use 4 litre \’8s. limited by revs and other means to approx 400-4.'5(lhp. -CHRIS LAMBDEN

We have the technology: BMW already have a race-developed version of their V8 engine ready to race, this is their still-born Indy Racing League unn

i motorsport fans. Well, as I and I know for sure many oth ers, are rejoicing at the fact that at last someone else is winning races. Isn’t it nice to see some thing else except those blue and white Holdens up the front. Unfortunately it wasn’t the sil ver Holden taking overall victory when I gave it away in the third race. But 1 must say, the team came away from Darwin a lot hap pier having found a lot more form than in previous races this year. Without sounding like a Daryl Somers advertisement for Darwin, again they did nothing less than a magnificent job. The new pit facili ties were second to none, the hospitality was as friendly as ever and the weather goes without saying. It was unfortunate that parts of the new resurfaced circuit started to break up in the third race, but then again, it actually made for better racing with a few cars spear ing off and a lot more passing going on than usual.

be silly enough to run illegally and to show it to thousands of televi sion viewers around Australia. All 1 can say to those people is, for goodness sake get a life. I’ll tell you this right now, the day I need to cheat to win races is the day that I hang my helmet up!

I 'f'

Y The monitoring system that comes over the television is onlyfairly basic(andfarfrom 100 percent accurate)

An interesting point bring up was that during thetodrivers briefing in Darwin, a new overtak ing rule, lead by Larry Perkins, was approved by CAMS,that a driver can no longer change lines while in a straight line and purposely crowd or block a car trying to overtake. Also, if a car is at least half way up the inside of another, then the car being overtaken cannot crowd or move over on the car doing the overtaking. This will have one of the most significant changes to racing and its conduct in years. At last we won’t get the situation of cars being overtaken turning in suddenly to deliberately block the attempt taking themselves out and making the car doing the overtak ing look like the mongrel and cop ping a black flag along the way for something that probably wasn’t his fault.

I have harked on quite a bit about this situation over the years, and I am overjoyed that commonsense has prevailed. For sure you will see many more overtaking manoeuvres and more importantly, these manoeuvres completed suc cessfully without cars spearing off. Well done Larry and well done CAMS! t made me laugh to hear a few comments and also read a couple of letters sent into another publica tion about the in car telemetry from my car in Darwin. When the in car was shown, the rev counter was spiking up to about 8,700 RPM at times and of course we are limited to 7,500. The monitoring system that comes over the television is only fairly basic(and far from 100 percent accurate) and just used as a visual display just to give the home view ers a bit more of an insight. Our official TEGA monitoring system is separate and down loaded after every race by scruti neers to make sure nothing fishy is going on. It amazes me that peo ple write in thinking that we would

One of the races the world hasbiggest just been run in and won, and that is the 24 hours Le Mans. " I am sure many of you saw the unbelievable sight of the Mercedes sports car take off (lit erally) down the main straight, flipping five times and landing in the trees. This was the second time it happened, with Mark Webber being the first. These boys are very lucky to be in one piece and i am sure we are all happy to see it that way. To see such a major team pull out of a race proves that even with an open cheque book and world class technology, they can still get it wrong. Even though it must have been disappointing for Mark for the team to pull out of the race, it was the best decision as it might not have been third time lucky.

t was scary to see the Le Mans coverage - what there was of it. There were two Australians there with a real show of winning the race but, apart from following the race on the Internet from home, there was little information of what was happening in the race. Thank goodness that there is Motorsport News to give us all the news and gossip...

ext round of the championship is the (John Davison presents) Sandown race. This has been a happy hunting ground for the Castro! Perkins team so with our new found speed, we are hoping to continue on from Darwin. Cheers for now!

It all looked so good until... Tngall of the Territory’ leads Jason Bright at Hidden Valley.(Phoioby oirk KiynsmUh)

So long Old Friend: Boutsen, here at Belgium in 1984.(Photo by Nigei snowdon) THIERRY Boutsen is to and sent into the barriers.” “I have been considering retire from racing following everything for some time and his Le Mans crash. have now decided that this The 41-year-old Belgian, who suffered a heavy crash during was my last race,” he stated. “I have now retired from motor the Le Mans 24 Hour last week sport and will focus on my fam end, has been moved to a Paris ily and aviation business.” hospital with a fractured ver Boutsen was a star with the tebrae in/the lower part of his Spirit-Honda Formula 2 team back. Boutsen was in contention to in 1982 before he joined the win the race until a slower car Arrows FI team at the British hit his Toyota GT-One from GP in 1983. He soon moved to Benetton behind. The car hammered into the barriers and it was and, ultimately, Williams almost 30 minutes before before three lacklustre seasons Boutsen was extracted from with Ligier and Jordan. He retired from FI after his home the wreck. Belgian GP in 1993. “I feel a little sore, but gener Since then he has raced in ally okay. I”m thankful to the team and designer Andre de German touring cars and Cortanze that the car was built sportscars, the high point of so strongly and that it did its his career being the 1990 job of protecting me,” he said Hungarian GP when he with stood tremendous race-long later. “It was an enormous acci pressure from his close friend, dent, I was at high speed when Ayrton Senna, to take his final I was hit from the rear corner win for Williams.

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18 June 1999

IN the 250cc category Valentino Rossi scored an incredible

Fighting Harada: Tetsuya Harada’s pole was the first for Aprilia in the 500cc class - the manufacturer also taking pole in the 250s and 125s. Three-peat: Biaggi led early and again passed Creville on the last lap, only to have the Spaniard pass through to take another win. Passing through: Rossi’s 250 win sent the Italians into a frenzy.

the Max SPANIARD Alex Criville has shot well clear in the battle for this year’s 500cc world champi onship with an exciting win at the Italian Grand Prix last week. Despite being passed on the last lap by hometown hero Max Biaggi, Criville took his third win in succes sion, giving the Repsol-Honda rider a 40 point lead in the championship. Aprilia again showed it was becoming a force in the big bike class, with its Japanese rider Tetsuya Harada starting from pole position and finishing fourth — after his third place at the French GP while four makes of bikes were rep-

resented in the top five finishers and five in the top 10. Criville’s 0.283-second triumph at Mugello came after a titanic bat tle with Biaggi who, despite suffer ing severe pain from hand injuries, climbed from a lowly 13th starting position to lead on the first lap on his Marlboro-Yamaha. Criville said it had been “a very, very hard race” because of tyre problems and the constant pressure from Biaggi. “Sure I could have settled for second place, but I think it’s a little too early to start thinking about the championship at this stage, Criville said.

The Italian was “so happy” with second place at Ins home GP.“I was in so much pain during practice that I didn’t even know if I’d be able to do the race,” Biaggi said. “We only pulled the pin out of my left little finger on Friday morning, but in the (Sunday morning) warm-up I rode without pain-killers and it wasn’t so bad. “I got an incredible start and then I saw a gap on the final lap and went for it, but I got a shde out of the last chicane so he was able to pass me easUy into the last turn ... to get 20 points,though is incredible.”

Tadayuki Okada completed the podium finishers on his Honda, while Kenny Roberts Junior fin¬ ished fifth aboard his Suzuki. Sete Gibernau, riding the Mick Doohan’s bike, finished in sixth moving him to equal third in the world championship. Kiwi Simon Crafar, under intense pressure and speculation about his future with the Red Bull Yamaha team,finished in 12th. Veteran Italian rider Luca Cadalora took 10th place at Mugello aboard a Muz Weber bike, although 17 seconds behind the Hondas of American John Kocinski and Spaniard Juan Borja and almost 47 seconds behind winner Criville. Points after five of 16 rounds: Criville 104, Roberts 64, Checa and Gibernau 56, Okada 48, Biaggi 47.

tained his championship lead with a third while Shell Advance Racing Honda team-mate Anthony West failed to finish his first race of the season, retiring on the 10th of 25 laps. Points: Ukawa 101, Nakano 72, Rossi 70, Capirossi 57.

APRILIA’S Roberto LocateUi fol lowed up his French 125cc GP victory by winning a photo fin ish ahead of Honda riders Marco Melandri and Noboru Ueda. Seven riders led the race and the top six at the finish were separated by less than 3.2 seconds. Locatelli had started the final lap in fourth place, well behind Amaud Vincent -who dropped to fifth by the finish.

BOC GASES

ROUMO 4

AUSTRALIAN

SUPER TOURING CHAMPIONSHIP a

hometown victory in a dramapacked race, winning by 2.6 sec onds from Ralf Waldmann, Rossi being pulled from his bike by excited Italian race fans on the parade lap. Drama also erupted at the begin ning of the race when Loris Capirossi rammed polesitter Marcellino Lucchi’s Aprilia. After failing to stop until six laps after he had been black-flagged, Capirossi was suspended for one race - this weekend’s Catalunya GP. Toshihiko Honda’s Honda ploughed into Lucchi in the start-line chaos. Capirossi won the 250cc world championship last year in contro versial circumstances, shunting then Aprilia team-mate and title rival Tetsuya Harada off the track and out of the final race on the last lap in Argentina. Initially disquali fied from the race, Capirossi was later reinstated. Series leader Tohru Ukawa main-

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18 June 1999

Fogarty & Corser do the splits

The Texan returned in the sec ond race on his spare hike and, by after running as low as seventh, DARRYL FLACK fought his way up to fourth, but has surrended his second place in the title chase to Corser. Corser finished a distant third in DUCATI Performance team the first race after opting for a 16.5mates Carl Fogarty and Troy inch rear wheel and seemed des Corser shared a win apiece at tined again to be overshadowed by the German round of the his in-form team-mate. Superbike World Championship Running a more conventional 17inch rear in the second, Corser sat at Nurbnrgring last weekend. After a controversial and dramat in third behind Aaron Slight and leader Fogarty and was in danger ic first 21-lap race, a highly emo Making headway: Aprilia’s Peter Goddard was more than pleased with fifth at the Nurburgring. tional Fogarty dedicated the most of slipping out of the top three after “important” win of his career to an being challenged by Akira T For Slight, it was a matter of infant who tragically drowned in Yanagawa(Kawasaki). But, with just four laps to go, stopping, rather than traction that the pool of his property in Blackburn, England, a week before Fogarty inexplicably slipped off as cost him his first victory of the the event. he headed for his third double vic year. “When Troy came past, I knew a The race appeared to be in the tory of 1999 and, with the three safe keeping of Colin Edwards time champion forced down the couple of passing places where I aboard the Castrol Honda who, field, Corser got a whiff of victory could get back ahead - but, in the along with several other works and turned up the wick in a bid to end, I had no brakes to outbroke him,” said Slight. stars, was unfortunately destined catch Slight. “I’m disappointed not to have On the penultimate lap, Corser to fall on oil dumped by Igor Jerman’s stricken Kawasaki that nipped passed under brakes into won, again. But, in the end, two second places are better than the was left on the approaeh to the firat the final chicane, but Shght desper turn. ately levered his way by at turn one last few rounds I’ve had.” Following the oil-flag debacle in “That first race crash didn’t only at the beginning of the final lap. But the Aussie got by again at race one, Peter Goddard (De Cecco cost me a win then, but I think I the last chicane and held on bril Aprilia) brought the Italian factory could’ve challenged for the win in \ race two,” a furious Edwards said. liantly for his third victory of the its first top five finish of the year. “Getting into the top five for the year. “I picked up a few points, but it’s first time is another step forward “It was fun after I caught Aaron,” been a couple of rounds now since I Corser said after the race. ●for Aprilia and our new bike,” won and I want to get back into the “I had a little rest in the middle habit.” explained Goddard, who later fin ished eighth in the second race. stages, which meant I could use the After quickly regaining his feet, a “Some of the others had bad luck tyres at the end when it really livid Edwards threw gravel in the coimted. in the oil, but even so the bike was direction of marshalls, gesticulated the best it’s ever, been. “It’s great to get a win here, but rudely and yelled abuse long after “The track was slippery in the Carl still has good lead. Still, any the incident that cost him a possi comer where the oil went down, so thing can happen.” ble 25 points. I concentrated on keeping the bike Disenchanted; There were other Homicidal: Edwards was upright and making sure I finished. pressing issues besides racing for “I had a good race with (Gregorio) a tad annoyed with the Fogarty to consider. (Tony Glynn) Lavilla and one of the Suzukis flaggies inability to cope can do better. The new Dunlop with the turn one oildown. (Katsuaki Fujiwara) - there wasn’t much between us. tyres are also helping.” (Tony Glynn pic) Championship Points: 1 Fogarty “In the second race, I lost ground 243, 2 Corser 198, 3 Edwards 175, 4 in the first comer and had to come Slight 155, 5 Yanagawa 142, 6 back through the field. These Haga 105, 7 Chili 96, 8 Fujiwara results show we are improving and, 74, 9 Lavilla 71,10 Goddard 52. with more acceleration, I think we ANTHONY Gobert scored his fifth win and fourth consecutive Report

Caf^nmi banned

REIGNING 250cc World Champion Loris Capirossi was suspend ed for one race as a result of reckless riding at the start of the Itahan Grand Prix. The Italian Honda rider will now miss the Catalan Grand Prix in Barcelona on June 20. Capirossi veered violently across the front row of the grid at the start of the 250 race at the track north of Florence, swerving ba.ck again and into the side of compatriot and pole-setter Marcellino Lucchi. He said afterward that he thought he heard Lucchi’s engine falter and so had moved over to avoid him. Lucchi fell into the path of the oncoming gi'id and was fortunate to his Aprilia, meanwhile, knocked Japan’s avoid serious injury Toshdhiko Honma off his Yamaha. Capirossi then appeared to ipiore a black flag excluding him from the race for six laps before coming in to the pits. _ “It’s a very strange decision.” ANSA news agency quoted the rider as saying angrilv after hearing of his ban. ^ “I didn't see the black fl ag immediately, but that obviously doesnt matter because the race jury says that I didn’t want to stop. IGiowing that the black flag means race over. I returned to the pits when I saw it.

Go on

victory in the 1999 US Superbike Championship aboard his Vance&Hines Ducati at Elkhart Lake’s Road America course last weekend and is in clear striking distance of fellow Aussie and points leader Mat Mladin (Yoshimura Suzuki) '■ with five rounds to go. Pole-sitter Gobert won by over seven seconds from defending champion and team-mate Ben Bostrom, with Mladin struggling home in fi fth, his second consecu tive non-podium finish. “I thought Ben might win today, but we had enough in the end to come away with the win,” an elated Gobert said. “I couldn’t be happier.” Points: Mladin 242, Gobert 234, Bostrom 232, Larry Pegram 188, Aaron Yates 179, Doug Chandler -DABRYL FLACK 177 .

WITH the fuel light still urging him to visit the pits for a splast of fuel after five laps, Paul Tracy drove to victory at the Miller Lite 225 at Milwaukee to claim his first CART win in over two years. The dramatic decision not to visit the pits proved to be more than cor rect and enabled Tracy to take the chequered flag ahead of fellow Canadian Greg Moore. Tracy knew he should go in, but he also knew he was only a few moments from his first victory in the past two years. If he was wrong, he would never make the finish line and would likely end the day without a single championship point. If he was right, his long drought without a victory would at long last be at an

end. The ‘bad boy’ of Champ Car racing, decided the gamble was / worth it. While the other drivers who were challenging for the lead, took to the pits for fuel, Tracy stayed on the track. The gamble paid off. A late yellow gave Tracy the break he needed and he took his 14th Champ Car victory and his first since May, 1997 at Gateway International Raceway. “I was really worried about my fuel, said Tracy. “My fuel pressure warning light came on with five laps to go. When that happens, you’re usually out of fuel within a lap or two. I can’t believe it. We’ve worked so hard.” Team owner, Australian Barry Green was also pleased with the victory. “It’s a big load off to have Paul win a race. He’s taken a lot of

Pole award: Hello Castro-Neves took his first pole ' for Hogan Racing.

HOCAf »Ir-

Go get ’em son: Canadian Greg Moore got the mandatory firm handshake from his father prior to the Milwaukee Mile race.

bad hits from people over the last year or so. But we know what he’s all about. It was his day today.” “We took a big risk, but we had to do that. We needed a win to get back into the championship,” added Green. At the half-way point of the race, it looked as if it was going to be another win for the Target/Chip Ganassi team. Rookie sensation Juan Montoya and his teammate, Jimmy Vasser were running strong and trading the lead position. In the end, both were forced to pit in the final laps for fuel... The fuel shuffle started on Lap 124, during a yellow flag when all of the cars on the lead lap pitted for fuel and tires. Montoya took the lead from Vasser after a quick stop. Both cars were running strong, but it was clear that to make it to the finish without a bit more fuel was going to be a major gamble. Montoya was the first to take to the pits for the precious liquid. He pitted on Lap 209 after Vasser passed him for the lead. Vasser held the lead until lap 213 when Roberto Moreno spun in turn one. Vasser dashed into the pits for his splash of fuel. In the process, he turned over the lead to Tracy. This is where it got veiy interest ing, and tense, for Tracy and his decision to make a stop. The decision was made and victoiy assured when PJ Jones went high on the track, hit the marbles and spun on lap 217. The caution flag waved and Tracy was able to nurse his car to the ftn■ ish line with the remaining fuel. When the checkered flag fell, VaSser crossed the line in fifth place with Montoya right behind. However, for Montoya there was more bad news to come. The CART Chief Stewards ruled that Montoya"' and Patrick Carpentier passed Adrian Fernandez on lap 210 during a cau tion period. Both drivers were penalized one lap for the infraction. As a result of the penalties, Montoya moved from his sixth place finish to 18th. Carpentier, who crossed the finish line in the fourth position was classified ninth. “I cost our guys the race today, no question about it,” Ganassi team manager Tom Anderson said. “With that last yellow, we certainly could have made it to the end.”

MXf-M Time for a Kool change: Paul Tracy enjoyed the spoils of victory following his calculated efforts in Milwaukee.(Photos by Race Access/Sunon images) from the next race at Portland on Moore also benefited from a deci sion not to take on more fuel in the and escaped serious injury. Manseau was taken by ambu final laps. “Today, we had to gamble at the last pit stop, and the guys lance to hospital for X-rays on his neck and a CAT scan. He was later said to m.e ‘OK,it’s time to start sav ing fuel as best we can.’ So I went to released from the hospital. the leanest setting,” he said. Moore, It was nearly two full minutes who was never in serious contention before Andretti was able to leave for the lead, followed Tracy to the the pits. By that time he was a lap down. Race officials assessed him a finish line for second place. Gil de Ferran, who did make the ‘stop-and-go’ penalty which cost final fuel stop, was third. In the him another lap and he eventually early laps of the race, the story cen finished in 15th, three laps down. tred around Michael Andretti who Franchitti also had problems in started in 11th place and carved his the pits on the first stop. The yoimg way through traffic to take the lead Scotsman ran over Tracy’s air hose by lap 50 after passing Tracy’s while exiting the pits. As a penalty, teammate,Dario Franchitti. he was forced to the back of the All was going well for Andretti, pack on the lead lap. Although he until his first pit stop. After taking was running strong, he never recov on tires and fuel, the clutch report ered and finished the day in sev edly slipped and the left rear wheel enth place after all of the penalities of Andretti’s car rolled over crew were assessed. man Ty Manseau. It was a fright Points after the first seven races are: ening moment for everyone. Montoya 78, Franchitti and Greg Moore 69, Fortunately, Manseau was wearing Andretti and Fittipaldi 61, Fernandez 53, de Ferran 50, Tracy and Papis 36, Vasser 33. a helmet - which vfill be mandated

AUi Scott DixoB crasked out of the Milwaukee round of the Indy Lights series, the rookie relinquishing his lead in the series for the first time in three races. DuEon had struggled on the Milwaukee Mile oval, but still qualified his Lola iu eighth, four places Miead of teammate Ben Collins. Having worked his way up to sixth in the race, Dixon

‘Jill

came to grief oB lap 68, tke pressure from Mario Domingnez forcmg into error ! and the concrete wail Dixon ; taking out Dominguez. Derek Diggins won the round, repeatuig his victory at: the track 12 months ago. Casey Mears,son of Ihdy car legend Rick, now leads the series, having finished in the top five in the past four straight races.

18 June 1999

uesenbergs, Gas City Indiana and where The Beatles stayed

was talking to a Formula 1 type the other day about life and such things and he mentioned that he had spent some time out of the sport. You will find a lot of F1 peo ple in the paddock who talk about having burned themselves out with too much travelling, wine, women and song - or a combination of all of them. Ah,for a quiet life, we think. No more airports; no more hotels; no more race tracks. My pal reminded me that recent¬ ly he spent some time out of the sport and he quickly concluded that it really did not agree with him. I’ve done real life,” he said. “I pushed a trolley around the super¬ market on Saturday like everyone else does and, you know what? It was really boring. I could not wait to get back into this unreal world where there is always something happening. Sure, it is hard work and a lot of travelling and all that, but it makes you want to get up in the morning. It Is really living - not just going through life - and it’s great.”

What will they thing of FI in Aroma,Ind? As Indianapolis Motor Speedway prepares for an FI race, Saward is busy combing the best hotels... (Photo by Sunon images) He went back to the United here are many famous cars “No dear. I think we should be a The Speedway Hotel -for it will States and the following year he inside but I always go and see remain that in my mind - has 108 bit wild. Let’s close our eyes and the same one - as an act of decided to fit the Duesenberg with rooms and one of AJ Foyt’s road see what we see when we open a Miller engine. He drove it in the homage. It is a small and not very sters in the lobby and more history them. Oh look. A pony. Pony, Indianapolis 500 and won. Sadly, impressive-looking white Indiana. That’s a good name. Lucky than you can imagine. Just about within a couple of years Murphy Duesenberg but it has a unique every driver who has raced at The we didn’t see a dungpile...” was dead and the car was sold place in the history of motor rac Speedway has stayed there at On the final approach to off. It was raced on dirt ovals here some time or other and one can ing. It is the only car to have won Indianapolis International Airport and there but eventually ended up a Grand Prix and the Indianapolis only guess at the mayhem that has you fly over a suburb called 500. in a film studio in California being ensued. Ah, if only the walls could Speedway, Indiana. And,from the used as a stunt car. It was back in 1921 that the aeroplane, it is not hard to figure out talk... It was driven off cliffs and into Atare thispretty time of yearflat-out. the FI The people from where the place got its name. It has also attracted other Duesenberg Brothers decided to much walls and ended up in a very sorry drivers and the engineers do races ship the car to France for the famous folk, notably The Beatles There below you is the big lazy old state on the back of a film lot. An(i and tests. Their lives are dominat French GP - which was run on a who stayed there when they speedway which made the city of track at Le Mans which was not there it remains for something like ed by FI. There is no time for much Indianapolis famous throughout the played the Indiana State Fair in much different to the circuit used 25 years until an old riding else. I don’t do testing. The races 1963. For Beatles fans they were world. You can go anywhere in the mechanic from the 1920s visited in rooms 228-230-232-234. world and talk to the locals keep me busy enough. It seems today for the 24 Hours. While test the studio and spotted a wheel that these days that there are ing a week before the and every Tuareg or Kalahari sticking out from under a tarpaulin. bushman will react with car always other events between races The French crowd was race Duesenberg driver He recognised it... - an(d there are always invitations. Jimmy Murphy rolled a noises when you mention the When I got to the spot where “Why don’t you come to an word ‘Indianapolis’. hardly gracious. At the car and suffered internal the Duesenberg should have been. Indycar race,” someone will say. It was not there. What had hap Yes, It would be nice but staying Victory banquet they began crushed by the car. He home would be nice too. That is The Speedway really Is the an pened? Where had this great car ., ^ ^ ^, 1 - 1 ^ was as tough as nails and impressive place from what homes are for... gone? Urn, said the museum peo air, with the huge ring of With a toastjor the highest- determined to race and Well. The life of a globetrotter is ple. Well, actually, it’s on the way to grandstands which are filled such that just a few days after get England to take part in the with 350,000 people every placed Frenchman. Murphy beganhecnmbedoutof ting back from Barcelona I was off . j 1 ● 1 rhis hospital bed, was ban- Goodwood Festival of Speed. The year for the Indianapolis 500. again, heading for Canada. On the daged from his neck to his Speedway boss Tony George is It is still the biggest single day put down hlS glass oj down to drive it... way to Montreal I had agreed to go I j tj j u waist, and set off to the sporting event on the planet to Indianapolis. And so I left home champagne and walked out. track. and its only rival is the The race turned into a one bright sunny morning: lunched Brickyard 400 NASCAR race, Festival Speed has devel in Paris, dined in London, lunched “Once the kids found out where oped into a of really remarkable demolition derby as drivers lapped The held at Indianapolis in August. They the next day in New York and even event these days, drawing crowds the track in clouds of impenetrable they were staying,” remembers call it ‘The Brickyard’ because origi tually found myself on a plane of around 80,000 people. They dust, throwing up stones as they hotel manager Dave Cassidy,“our nally the road surface was made of went. At least one driver was come to watch old cars being dri swooping down to Indianapolis as switchboard was literally blown up.' bricks - 3.2 million of them - pro the dusk fell across the plains of the duced by the Wabash Clay Co of ven up the Goodwoo(J hillclimb knocked senseless by a flying Clark Gable stayed there too midwest. and Paul Newman filmed scenes course. This year the entry is rock while others suffered punc Veedersburg, Indiana. tures and holed radiators. After They are the flattest plains you astounding with a vast list of great When you write figures like that ● for the movie “Winning” in Room can imagine and duller than dish 214. four hours of racing Murphy was in cars being driven by great drivers they don’t mean much but when , the lead as the race drew to a water when you are driving across including Sir Jack Brabham, Phil you fly over It and look at the scale I stayed in Room 246 and them. The place Is so dull that the Hill, Stirling Moss, John Surtees, although I listened intently to the close. He was battered and of the place, you wonder how 400 pioneers who stopped felt obliged bruised and with two laps to go his Johnny Rutherford, Pamelli Jones, walls, they told me no great bricklayers managed to lay 50,000 to give their little towns silly names radiator was holed. Then two tyres Jacky Ickx, Emerson Fittipaldi and bricks a day and get the job finished secrets. I was there to look at to alleviate the boredom. And so we in 63 days. so on and so on. were punctured. But he kept on the work being done in prepara I would love to be at Goodwood flew across such strangely-named tion for the United States Grand running to become the first Most impressive of all, however, settlements as Domestic, Leisure, this weekend... but by the time I American to win a European is the fact that all this happened in Prix at Indianapolis, scheduled Petroleum, Hardscabble, Rural, get back from Montreal I will have 1909, which makes it the oldest sur Grand Prix. It was 49 years before to take place in September Prosperity, Pinch, Pony, Aroma, done enough travelling for a week it happened again. 2000, but inevitably the trip viving race track in the world. Economy, Progress and Gas City. turned into a celebration of The or two. I want to go and spend The French crowd was hardly An hour or two after flying over And if you don’t believe me, go and the track I was delivered to the front Speedway itself and for a short some time in the supermarket. To gracious. They had wanted a find an atlas and look them up... time we were let loose to roam see how real people live... French victory and jeered and door of The Speedway Motel, They are all there. Ed’s note: Even if Saward won’t through the magnificent whistled Murphy. The organisers although these days It goes under “Oh, look dear,” said Mrs Pioneer, the decidedly less glamorous name were little better. At the victory Indianapolis Hall of Fame muse make it to Goodwood, rest assured “here’s a jolly nice place. Let’s call it of The Brickyard Crossing Resort & um, which is one of the great banquet they began with a toast MN wiii. Yes. our hard-working Domestic. Domestic, Indiana. What for the highest-placed Frenchman. Chris Lambden is going there, too. Inn. Indianapolis Motor Speedway racing car museums in the a good name. The postman will cer is not only a race track it is also a world. For any real race fan it is Murphy put down his glass of And McLaren, and timer tainly remember that.” major golf course. worth a pilgrimage. champagne and walked out. Engineering, and ...

18June 1999

Darwin’s theory «Ingall, Bright break through for first non-Holden Racing Team wins ● Bright wins overall for Pirtek Racing and Ford ● Last-Jap engine failure costs Ingall win ● HRT’s disaster; Skaife 5th, Lowndes 9th ● Chaotic Race 3 leaves cars damaged ● Another Sunday charge from Radisich ● Reed avoids drama to dominate Privateers Report by PHIL BRANAGAN

AKWIN is a fimny place. It is thou sands of kilometres from the population cen tres of Australia; it has 81,000 local residents (about two suburbs in Melbourne or Sydney) but, unlike Mosman or Moonee Ponds, it has an interna tional airport. You can buy beer in bottles you can hardly jump over. It has few or no local profession al racers and almost no-one goes to Hidden Valley except to race once a year. But no-one really expected that the Mobil-HRT jugger naut would crash to eairth the way they did. After Craig Lowndes and Mark Skaife qualified seventh and 16th respectively it was left to Russell Ingall to break through for the first non-HRT vrins ofthe season. But disaster struck The Enforcer on the veiy last lap of the weekend. While strug gling around in a weekendclinching fifth place Ingall had an accident-prompted engine failure, fell to 13th and hand ed the spoils to Bright, who won race three for Stone Brothers, Ford, king and country. Garth Tander took second on a coimtback from Rusty, while team-mate Jason Bargwarma brought home a straight and steady Valvoline VT fourth overall from Skaife, who survived a couple of inci dents and off-track excur sions. Elsewhere, chaos. Pole man Glenn Seton and Lowndes pirouetted off at the first cor ner, ruining their weekend. Paul Radisich put a race one diff failure behind him with another scintillating Sunday charge before a black flag over an incident with Skaife, while a dozen cars ended the meet ing with panel damage. Fortunately, after the big acci dents of Phillip Island, this time the carnage was light. In the Privateer ranks Steve Reed drove with his head and heart to overcome the opposition. After another brilliant qualifying showing Cameron McLean was caught up in the wars, while Rodney Forbes also ended up with a

damaged Supercar. And, despite many improve ments over the last twelve months, the track itself broke up badly, leaving drivers frus trated at a low-grip-induced single file race track.

Qualifying leven months after a

wildly successful Shell Series debut appearance the SCS circus made the long trek north to Hidden Valley. Despite the fact that more than a dozen of the class of

1998 were missing - Jones, Pate, Hossack to name just three - 33 cars arrived for practice. Darwin

closer

Malaysia than it is to Sydney and Melbourne; it’s a long v^ay to the Northern Territory capital. Just ask Craig Lowndes; he drove there in a Holden Suburban It seemed a good idea, and was. But if driving interstate was out of the ordinary for a leading racing driver, so was the idea of Lowndes no being on the front row ofthe grid. The signs were out early that all was not perfect in HRT’s pit. In practice Skaife had had a collision with Mark Noske, the Holden Young Lions car exiting the pits at the same time as Skaife was leaving. The door of the Mobil car was banged in; the team was not too con cerned, as Skaife was unhap py with the car anyway and ordered a rear spring change. When it came time to go fast the familiar Commodores

mmfe

Nowhere to hide: the single-lane racetrack meant that racing was often like this, Glenn Seton pushing John Bowe hard were just not there. While while himself being pressured from behind by Lowndes.(Photo by Marshall cass) Seton, Ingall and Bright got “The heat here suits us,” he ‘We’ve gone fairly radical - with a dirty track which was on with setting fast times on lurching into corners on said later. “Cooler conditions well, different - to last year breaking up, costing him any the dusty track, Lowndes was understeer and oversteering cause us to lose front end (when he won at the Valley chance of a decent time. Both mired back in seventh. out. on Dunlops),” he said. “We had a big ask for raceday, “I don’t think we own a grip.” Worse, Skaife was oversteer haven’t tested it so we’re Perkins going in with a fresh All was not quite perfect; ing around in 15th, which spring that hasn’t been on it,” more surprised than anyone.” engine after a practice mis both Seton and Crompton would become one slot worse he said. , Ingall reported that the car fire, which put him in the (also going strongly in eighth) when Perkins(running in the If HRT was unhappy, slower group but which was a ‘slower’ group) bumped him , Seton was not. The FTR reported a graining right rear felt “sloppy - well, more com little better for qualifying. pliant” than it had been and Falcon had been near the top tyre but, apart from that, the down a spot. was confident for the race. Lowndes put his time down of the sheets all session long FTRs were pleased. Perkins was back in 15th So was Ingall. He had to not getting any gain on and, aft.er two days’ testing at Back at the d. Bright waspointy third. en The after going out with the slow new rubber (the car was Calder since he went close at made some major changes in Pirtek car was very cons is stuck in the 9.7s regardless of the Island, did the deed for his set-up to get the best er group. That gave him no tent, setting its times on the age of the tyres) while the first time in 1999 with a from his Bridgestone tyres hope of going faster; both he either new or used rubber and other Level 1 ‘refugee’ and was delighted with the Skaife was just suffering lm09.20s lap, 0.02s quicker and, after the car was towed results. Tony Longhurst were faced from a lack of grip, the car that pole a year ago.

18 June 1999

Cumraiins

fighting to overcome Garth Tander’s Valvoline VS/which was second on the day. (Photos by Dirk Ktynsmith and Marshall Cass)

youngsters barely a tenth apart through the practice sessions only for the older car to gain four tenths when the clocks were running for real. As usual the drivers didn’t make too much of it but fifth is a much nicer place to be than 11th, where Bargs was. McLean did another out standing job. The Greenfield Mowers EL was in the top half dozen for much of prac tice and, on fresh rubber, the Queenslander just missed out on the nines with run ning a ImlO.OSs. He had out-qualified Greg Murphy (14th) and Wynns team-mate Steven Richards (20th and struggling), Ellery (who went the wrong way in set-up after losing half a ses sion) and Noske, smarting from $3000 in fines from PI. in from the Saturday morn ing session after a gearbox problem (again, no elabora tion from the driver) he was happy. So long as he didn’t repeat his disastrous 1998 start, from pole. Radisich was fourth. Now, this was something. The team was not especially mys tified as to why, as they knew that the car and driver was capable of doing a job and, as almost everyone else was racing in Darwin for only the second time, Radisich WAS at less df a disadvantage that he had been in the recent past. Explanation? None was forthcoming though the American chassis man who had been at the last few races was noticeably absent, having been either a prophet or a failure. Johnson was 10th. Okay, 10th is 10th but, by recent standards, this was not a bad spot to be starting from. It was. for instance, much bet ter than 17th, which has been a common result so far in 1999. It was the first time that both Shell cars had qualified in the top 10 since Lakeside last year. Tander was fifth. The Valvoline VS continues to show up its newer Bargwanna sibling, the two

Race 1 (17 laps), After the tropical weather of Friday and Saturday Sunday was a shock; it dawned cloudy and cool (well, mid-20s) and one report had the track temper ature in single figures. There was no sun - none - under the cloud cover and the track looked like being fast. Understatement. Saturday pole; 9.2. Sunday morning warm-up; 8.5. Tander was going like a blur, 0.26s clear of Seton, Bright and Ingall,, and another 14 drivers were in the nines. Trap speeds were up marginally, and dri vers said there was more grip. That was the good news; the track was breaking up at the edges and the ensu ing debris was making it a one-lane trip. That was bad. There was also controver sy. Ingall and Lowndes clashed at the ‘elbow’ before the final corner and Russell, who had been bedding in pads, was well cheesed off. He pitted for a check before smoking back out, leaving two neat tyre marks through HRT’s pit box. He didn’t say too much about it later; “I have a memory like an elephant. Stay tuneft” The start was going to be

important but Radisich didn’t even get that far. His practice start on the warm up lap snapped a driveshaft and the Helix AU was a non starter. At ifhe start Ingall was away quickly but Seton was not. Bright, Tander and Bowe tried to find a way past but the FTR car just held second. Bowe held out Bright (until the first corner of lap two) then came Lowndes, Larkham, Tander, Bargwanna, Crompton, Faulkner, Skaife (a great start), McLean, Ellery and Murphy. Wliile the front two broke away from the pack the mover was Lowndes. Despite a squeeze he was past Bowe at turn one to start lap three and set off after the front runners. Bowe and Larkham tangled on lap seven, making Lowndes’job a little simpler, and Tander was the next man on his list. While the chaos had been happening behind the Fords were getting strong. While Seton started to push Ingall, Bright started to close on both of them and, by lap nine, the three were running in a line at the head of the

field. But the track was starting to dictate proceedings. There was no venturing off the line and Ingall had enough horse power to make sure there were no hints of a gap. The two leaders eased away and Ingall held on to end the HRT winning streak by 0.5s. Bright lost all his advan tage in two lapS. At Wynns on laps 11 and 12 the Pirtek car almost stopped as Jason wandered off-line and fought for grip. Lowndes was on him in a flash, giving him an unintentional tap before storming through into third, a threatening position from which to start the second race. Tander was fifth ahead of Crompton and Skaife, who both jumped Bargwanna when he locked his rears at turn one on lap 14, from the old form o^f Johnson and Perkins and Bowe, Longhurst. Behind, more toll from the track conditions. Faulkner lost his rear end at turn one and hit Weel with his boot,

causing the JFR car to retire. Wakefield got a rock jammed in his brake calliper, machining the wheel in half and flattening a tyre.

Race 2(17 laps)

ith Radisich, Faulkner . , and McLean starting at the back there were as many eyes on the rear of the grid almost. as th'e front Lowndes was the threat but Ingall got it all right again, Seton got it all wrong. The FTR Ford was swamped by Bright, Tander, Lowndes and the outside running Bowe, and just held out Skaife, Bargwanna, Johnson, Longhurst, Reed and Richards, Crompton. Seton had been biffed in the back and was dragging a bumper as well. Then came the leader of the ‘rear of the grid’ bunch but not Radisich, who was 21sti or even Faulkner, who was 27th. It was McLean. The yellow EL had catapult ed away from 31st to pass 12 cars before the first corner and 17 in the first lap after one of the most amazing starts of the season. “I got if perfect,” he said later. “I went right up against the pit wall and passed the Mitre 10 car with 40 kays on hand, thinking, ‘please don’t go right’.”

Sh€i Championshfp Sarias Round 5- Hidden Valley NT Qualifying 1m09.2081 1 Glenn Seton Ford Tickford Racing Falcon 1m09.4592 Castrol SLX Commodore 2 Russell Ingall 1m09.5197 Pirtek Falcon i 3 Jason Bright 1m09.6169 Shell Helix Falcon 4 Paul Radisich 1m09.6289 Valvoline/Cummins Commodore 5 Garth Tander 1m09.6633 6 John Bowe CAT Racing Falcon 7 Craig Lowndes Mobil Holden Racing Team Commodore 1 m09.7974 1m09.8221 8 Neil Crompton Ford Tickford Racing Falcon 1m09.8659 9 Mark Larkham Mitre 10 Racing Falcon 1m09.9484 10 Dick Johnson Shell Helix Racing Falcon 1 ml 0.0346 11 Jason Bargwanna Valvoline/Cummins Commodore 1m10.0581 12 Cameron McLean Greenfield Mowers Racing Falcon 1m10.1074 Betta Electrical Commodore 13 John Faulkner 1 ml0.2843 14 Greg Murphy Wynns Racing Commodore 1 ml0.3237 Castrol Commodore 15 Larry Perkins 16 Mark Skaife Mobil Holden Racing Team Commodore 1 ml0.3553 1 ml0.7042 17 Steven Ellery Chelgrave Contracting Falcon 1m10.9119 18 Mark Noske Holden Young Lions Commodore 1m11.0517 19 Tony Longhurst Castrol Commodore 1 ml 1.4892 20 Steven Richards Wynns Racing Commodore 1 ml 1.5159 K&J Thermal Products Falcon 21 Paul Weel 1 ml 1.7321 22 MickDonaher Ultra Tune Commodore 1 ml 1.9070 23 Wayne Wakefield Metro Central Falcon 24 Steve Reed Lansvale Smash Repairs Commodore 1 ml 1.9310 1 ml2.3048 25 David Parsons Challenge Recruitment Commodore 1 ml2.7692 26 Anthony Tratt Toll Express Falcon 1m12.8754 27 John Briggs Superoheap Auto Falcon 1 ml3.2496 Kendrick Commodore 28 Geoff Kendrick 29 Rodney Forbes Bob Forbes Corporation Commodore 1 ml3.2596 1m13.7721 30 Rod Nash Auto Pro/Bud Racing Commodore 1 ml5.0546 SAABWreok Commodore 31 Mike Imrie 1 ml5.0823 32 Bob Thom SuperCheap Auto Falcon 1 ml5.4870 33 D'arcy Russell Playboy Commodore 1 ml5.5784 Team South Australia Falcon 34 Alan Heath 1 ml 8.5258 35 Daniel Miller Miller Racing Commodore

Again, Ingall and a blue Ford did a runner, but this time it was Bright in second. They had to (and did) build a gap; once in clean air Lowndes was as fast as they were, running mid-9s though it was actually Bargwanna

who set the fastest lap of the race in the VT. An then a Safety Car looked a possibility. Back in the Privateers battle D’arcy Russell was suddenly

Continued on page 19

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Congratulations to Jason Bright and his Pirtek XR Falcon team for taking out round 5 of the V8 Supercar Shell ATCC Series at Hidden Valley.

Live it.

baulked coming onto the straight and couldn’t help clipping the tail of the car in front. He spun across the track into the inside wall and front and reared the car badly. The leaders picked their way through the debris, but there was a casualty. Richards had a front tyre go ‘bang’ at turn one on lap eight and they flying rubber took out the front brakes. The race continued. Seton was pushing Bowe for fourth, getting by on lap 11, while a lap later Lowndes pressured enough room at Wynns to get inside Tander. Garth picked up some debris on his tyres and ran wide at the next comer, allow ing Seton and Bowe through

and leaving him sixth, barely

Raoe 3(17 laps)

infrontofSkaife. Lowndes got onto the lead behaviour wasaton thehis start best of ers’ tail by the end by Ingall Bright had enough in hand to get race three; everyone was. home by 0.8s. Hidden Valley The track was worse; on the was starting to look like his warm-up lap most of the drivers found the track to be playground... Radisich was having another like ice, even when they were of his Sunday charges. Despite just warming up their tyres a biff on the nose from the start lock-to-lock at 40kmh. he moved though to 13th withIngall was on a roll and in four laps and kept going, get- Jason knew that his only ting up to ninth behind chance was to hope that the Bargwanna. If he had started SLX got a bad start. He got foui-th in the first race Radisich his wish - and more. While could have been a contender for Ingall was bogging down Lowndes got a ripper get the outright win... Faulkner, who had been away,leaving Ingall to Bowe. An even,better starter was running outside the top dozen, got hooked up with Tander. He was running Forbes and both spun, down the inside of everyone. prompting a black flag for Continued on page 20 the VT pilot.

The Year my Nose Broke: Turn 1, Race 3 decided the whole weekend. Seton and ! Lowndes spun (top) and Ingall biffed the rear of the Mobil #1 car. Bowe damaged his nose (bottom) but made it to the end of the race. Ingall didn’t, his Chev blowing on the final lap. (Photo sequence by John Morris/Mpix)

Close, but no cigar; Russell Ingall had the start and the finish of the first two races but missing the start of the third ultimately cost him his second Darwin win. (Photo by oitx Kiynsmirni

HIDDEN IflllEY PRDMiniDNS would like to thank the compefltors and the motor pacing fans for making the 5th Round of the

Shell V8 Super Gar Championship Series such a great success. Thanks also to our sponsors ● The Northern Territory Government "Bring The Action To Darwin" ● TiO ● Ansett ● Carlton & United Breweries ● Power & Water Authority ● Darwin Bus Services ● Port Darwin Motors ● NT Poiice ● Darwin City Council ● Avis ● MGM Grand Casino ● Fusion ● Coca-Coia Bottiers ● James Hardie Buiiding Services

We look forward to seeing everyone again next year.

IMo)0(o)[?8[JXo)[FO

18 June 1999

STEVE Reed drove with his head to take home the Privateer honours from Hidden Valley. After he and McLean set Friday after noon practice times equai to the 10/1000th Big Bird started 24th in the first race, 12 spots behind the Greenfield Mowers car. Donaher was in 22nd,just ciear of Wayne Wakefieid (driving Charies Ryman’s Faicon for the first time), whiie David Parsons’ Hciden-engined Commodore was next from John Briggs Faicon in 27th. Donaher out-jumped McLean at the start of the Dash but McLean beat him to the first corner, Reed following him through into second. Donaher was under pressure from Forbes, which eventuaiiy caused a spin for the Ultra Tune car. Parsons copped a stop/go for a jumped start, and had to repeat it again when work was done during his first stop. Wakefield’s good run in fourth ended with damage to the exhaust and, suddeniy, Forbes went missing, siowing to a crawi and falling to a iapped eighth by the end of the race. At the start of Sunday’s race one McLean speared off into the iead oniy to go off and spiit a splitter avoiding Murphy at the start of lap three. Donaher took over from

Forbes and Reed but, when some of the ‘big guys’ came through Reed went with them to pick up the win from Donaher and Parsons, in the second race McLean’s phenomenai start took him into the iead of the class

by iap three but, when he gqt hooked up with another car and shredded a tyre. Reed took over ahead of a brewing Donaher/Forbes stoush. Mick puiled away to second, whiie Wakefieid was third from Kendrick. Any hope Forbes had of salvaging any thing from the weekend ended when he got mixed up in the opening crush and busted his steering. McLean’s hopes of a win were dashed' at the start of the third race. He had two dents in the right hand doors when he pit ted after shredding a tyre, losing two laps. Reed took the pace in 14th, four cars ciear of Donaher, Hendrick and Imrie, and picked up the pieces when some of the faster cars had problems in front. Reed raced Perkins for position for a while until team manager Wally Storey suggested he leave to Pros to their own probiems, so Big Bird got home 11th from Donaher (16th), Parsons and Wakefieid. Steve Lead: Steve Reed’s PPG Commodore mixed it with the big guys at Hidden Valley.(Photo by Di* Kiynsraiih)

An idiot and a photographer ■ Who’s the idiot now? Sam Newman took MN pho tographer Dirk Klynsmith for a ride in Holden’s Vectra on Fyday and,just before the oil, a fan appeared and requested an autograph from the race-suited Klynsmith, not Sam. Despite telling the local that he was not a driver the kid was insistent, and Dirk had to sign...

■ Tander managed his career-best second placing for the weekend despite no training before the race. The youngster was wearing a brace on his right knee, a legacy of his Phillip Island accident. The joint was get ting better during the course ofthe weekend but Tander was feeling the pace, heat-wise, after a 45 minute practice session.

■ Moving the Hidden Valley race to Jime was generally well accepted from both the locals and the visiting teams and offi cials. And it is weatherfiiendly as well; according to locals the last June rain was in 1991 and records say that the average monthly rainfall is 0.47mm,about 10 hailstones in Sydney lan guage.

■ Garth has become the latest convert to Driving Force shoes. The tall Waussie made the switch on Saturday night at Wanneroo and is feeling much better with them on, especially with the crook knee.

■ Hidden Valley is through to the final round of the ‘Dumbest sign of’99’ after a strong entry last week. The ‘Don’t you wishie you had a Mitsubishi?’ sig nage did the trick for the northerners. ■ Even though the ambi ent temperatures were down in the upper 20s on raceday the heat inside the cars was still pretty intense. Readings of60s were common and a low-70 was the high. How long „before someone fits an air conditioner in a race car? ■ After an estimated 3000 people showed up on Friday 7912 spectators made the trip out for qualifying, fol lowed up by 26,694 for raceday, slightly down on 1998’s crowd. ■ John Bowe has made a personal switch -in seat belts.'The CAR racing AU is the first V8 Supercar to feature the new harness marketed by local vendor Klippan, whose previous motor racing sponsorships have been in AUSCAR racmg.

Follow that Big Bird

■ Among discussion about the facilities at Hidden Valley there were some dark comments about the timing system. Because of glitches. Network lO’s Mark Oastler and Leigh Diffey were apparently unaware that the Supercars were on the last lap in one race and the system also went south for three laps during one ofthe GT Production races.

I ■ Still no sign of AVESCO’s new mobile headquarters. The boom in new pantechs has meant that the administrators of the category have to wait in line for their new unit. By the end of this month there will be 11 new pantechs in the paddock that have been built since the end of the ’98 season. ■ Gambling is legal in the Northern Territory and the betting shops were out in. force at the track. Pre-race odds, understandably, had HRT’s drivers as favourites, but they also had Tony Longhurst well up, based on his 1998 results. Bright was 15-1 before qualifying; word is that some members of the Pirtek team cleaned up on Sunday night... -PHIL BRANAGAN

He was past Lowndes and alongside Bright at the apex. Four wide into a narrow cor ner means trouble... Seton and Lowndes came together alid spun, resuming 25th and 29th. In the melee Ingall got his nose punched in but recovered in third, but the leaders were gone, 1.5s clear in three comers. Which was just as well. “The track was like ice for the first three laps,” said Bright later. At Wynns it was at its worst; Bright and Tander almost stopped their cars to get around the comer on-line. Tander was pushing Bright hard up front, from Ingall. Skaife, Bowe and Bargwanna while the carnage continued behind. Noske spun in front of Murphy while Radisich, right behind, got his bonnet crumpled. Larkham followed from Johnson and Perkins. Bright was worried. He felt like his car was losing pace on the treacherous surface and it was only constant talk from team manager Ross

Stone that convinced him that everyone else was in the same boat, though the track did get better. Most of the field, for instance, set their fastest lap after lap seven. By which time Lowndes was gone with an undrivable car and Ingall was watching his temperatures. A front bar had been pushed into the radiator in the first corner and, while the engine was okay, it was just a matter of whole long... Skaife found a way past at turn one. Despite his own steering being somewhat deranged he quickly left Ingall to Bowe and Radisich. The sums started; Ingall could afford four more spots and still win the day, so long as he finished. On lap six Russell was slow out of Wynns and Radisich, who had moved past Bowe two laps earlier, and Bowe were fourth and fifth. He was hanging on by his fingernails. It got worse when he fell back to ninth with a half-lose

at turn three. The car was Longhurst, Larkham, Perkins, Faulkner, Ellery, struggling for speed. Radisich had caught Skaife Reed, Johnson and Radisich. and attacked at turn one - Ingall lurched to the line in too hard. While the Mobil car 14th. turned around Radisich and Bright had no idea. It was Bowe fired by, until Paul was only when he was half-way around the final lap he got black-flagged over the con tact. When he pitted. Ingall the news from the team. He was back in contention and had won the race and the picking up a position from day. Tander, second, tied for Murphy a few laps later second with Ingall initially, helped enormously. until the scoring screw-up The gaps up front were gave him the spot ‘properly. Bowe took third (and stretching. Bright was pick ing his way through traffic fourth overall for the day) carefully and, with continued from Bargwanna (sixth over coaching from Stone, went on all), Skaife (fifth) and to his and Ford’s first win of Longhurst. Seton was 21st the season by 4.35s. Equally (after a tyre went at turn secure Tander took second by one) and other spinners dur 6.5s from Bowe and ing the race were Johnson Bargwanna and Skaife, who (who came back on prompt had had a small lose and lost ing avoiding action from Richards and Weel) and a spot to Ingall with a few laps left... Murphy. There were an awful lot of No RusseU. Going into the bent front ends to fix before final lap the Chev engine had had enough; the water temp Sandown - not to mention had gone to 125iC then Bright’s Monday morning dropped - no more water. As hangover. the car came out of the third Sandown is HRT country corner everyone filed past - but they’ve been warned ...

Shell Championship Series Round 5- Hidden Valley NT Results Race 1(17laps)

Race 2(17laps)

Pos Driver Race time F/Lap On 19:54.0388 1:09.2213 12 1 Russell Ingall 2 Glenn Seton 19:54.5969 1:09.2938 12 19:57.4455 1:09.3082 10 3 Craig Lowndes . 19:59.6443 1:09.0149 4 4 Jason Bright 5 Garth Tander 20:04.6797 1:09.1473 8 20:03.8153 1:09.8557 10 6 Neil Crompton 7 Mark Skaife 20:10.8796 1:09,9054 10 8 Jason Bargwanna 20:12.1208 1:09.9297 7 9 Dick Johnson 20:13.9390 1:10.0503 5 10 John Bowe 20:14.1292 1:09.7608 16 20:20.0558 1:10.1320 8 11 Larry Perkins 20:20.2655 1:10.2387. 5 12 Tony Longhurst 13 Steve Reed 20:25.8604 1:10.7459 12 14 Mark Noske 20:28.1364 1:10.0336 8 20:28.4403 1:10.1299 5 15 Greg Murphy 16 Mick Donaher 20:36.1977 1:11.0110 8 17 Steve Richards 20:45.8231 1:10.1860 12 18 Paul Weel 20:47.6087 1:10.7922 11 19 David Parsons 20:49.8106 1:11.4178 16 20:55.9038 1:11.6906 5 20 Anthony Tratt 21 Geoff Kendrick 21:02.7062 1:12.2309 6 22 Rod Nash 16 laps 1:12.2603 10 23 Mike Imrie 16 laps 1:13.5882 7 24 D'arcy Russell 16 laps 1:13,2154 11 25 Rodney Forbes 16 laps 1:10.7865 16 26 Mark Larkham 16 laps 1:10.1525 13 27 Sfeven Ellery 16 laps 1:10.1868 13 DNF Wayne Wakefield 14 laps 1:11,5042 9 DNF John Briggs 13 laps 1:11.5886 5 DNF John Faulkner 9 laps 1:10.0248 9 DNF Cameron McLean 4 laps 1:11.6919 2 DNF Bob Thorn 4 laps 1:12.9306 3 DNS Paul Radisich DNS Daniel Miller DNS Alan Heafh

Pos Driver 1 Russell Ingall 2 Jason Bright 3 Craig Lowndes 4 , Glenn Seton 5 John Bowe 6 Garth Tander 7 Mark Skaife 8 Jason Bargwanna 9 Paul Radisich 10 Greg Murphy 11 Larry Perkins 12 Mark Noske 13 Dick Johnson 14 Steven Ellery 15 Tony Longhurst 16 Mark Larkham 17 Steve Reed 18 Paul Weel 19 Cameron McLean 20 Mick Donaher 21 Rodney Forbes 22 Wayne Wakefield 23 John Faulkner 24 Neil Crompton 25 Geoff Kendrick 26 Bob Thom 27 Mike Imrie N/C David Parsons DNF Rod Nash DNF Steve Richards DNF Anthony Tratt DNF D'arcy Russell DNS John Briggs DNS Daniel Miller DNS Alan Heath

Race 3(17laps) Race time F/Lap On 19:59.6084 1:09,5252 8 20:00.4665 1:09.3685 8 20:00.8416 1:09.3748 6 20:06.5345 1:09.7525 7 20:08.7366 1:09.7584 7 20:10.2197 1:09.4786 4 20:10.8231 1:09.9435 6 20:15,9107 1:09.3086 4 20:18.4561 1:09.9244 9 20:21,6228 1:10.1456 6 20:26.8878 1:10,3532 8 20:27.1602 1:10.2344 10 20:29.0880 1:10.4420 8 20:31.0157 1:10.2253 13 20:40.9617 1:10.0369 14 20:43.4788 1:10,1178 11 20:44.0103 1:11.1814 9 20:48.3446 1:11.0502 10 20:57.0526 1:10.1394 6 20:58.2871 1:11,7135 7 21:04.6960 1:10.9829 10 21:07.8373 1:12.3625 4 21:08.8819 1:10.3314 10 21:11.6150 1:11.4361 7 16 laps 1:12,2598 10 16 laps 1:13.8630 9 16 laps 1:14.6990 12 4 laps 1:24.0012 3 9 laps 1:14.0992 6 Slaps 1:10.5274 4 6 laps 1:13.8966 5 Slaps 1:13.7554 5

Pos Driver 1 Jason Bright 2 Garth Tander 3 John Bowe 4 Jason Bargwanna 5 Mark Skaife 6 Tony Longhurst 7 Mark Larkham 8 Larry Perkins 9 John Faulkner 10 Steven Ellery 11 Steve Reed 12 Paul Radisich 13 Dick Johnson 14 Russell Ingali 15 Mark Noske 16 Mick Donaher 17 David Parsons 18 Wayne Wakefield 19 Greg Murphy 20 Rod Nash 21 Glenn Seton 22 Mike Imrie 23 Paul Weel 24 Cameron McLean DNF Geoff Kendrick DNF Anfhony Tratt DNF Bob Thom DNF Steve Richards DNF Craig Lowndes DNF Neil Crompton DNF Rodney Forbes DNS D'arcy Russell DNS John Briggs DNS Daniel Miller DNS Alan Heath

Race time F/Lap On 20:11.0979 1:09.4917 9 20:15,4494 1:09.8571 5 20:21.9569 1:09.9996 7 20:23.5189 1:10.1814 8 20:27,3608 1:10.3687 10 20:28.7465 1:09.9301 8 20:28.9075 1:10.2244 10 20:32.3989 1:10.5149 10 20:33,1765 1:10.1219 9 20:37,7473 1:10.6364 9 20:42,0364 1:10.9726 9 20:44.2649 1:09.7886 7 20:49.8933 1:10.4795 9 20:56.8580 1:10.2985 9 20:58.4712 1:10.4028 15 20:58.6993 1:11.4089 14 21:07.7466 1:11.9109 9 21:24.9804 1:12.6562 14 16 laps 1:10,4752 10 16 laps 1:12.2332 8 16 laps 1:09.5965 5 16 laps 1:13.7908 6 16 laps 1:11.6372 5 15 laps 1:10.4480 8 14 laps 1:12,1971 12 12 laps 1:12.4792 9 10 laps 1:13.2845 8 9 laps 1:10.7600 5 7 laps 1:13.2375 5 1 lap 1:37.2975 1 0 laps

Drivers'Championship points: Lowndes 820, Seton 700, Ingall 670, Bright 668, Skaife 560, Murphy 496, Tander 480, Richards 466, Bowe 456, Noske 438, Longhurst 406, Perkins 398, Bargwanna 392, Johnson 388, McLean 342, Radisich 266, Donaher 262, Larkham 254, Crompton 243, Faulkner 242, Romano 178, Reed 176, Parsons 161, Forbes 159, Ellery 154, McDougail 128, Ashby 102, Mezera 100. Privateers points: McLean 186, Donaher 178, Forbes 172, Reed 132, Russell 108, Parsons and Thom 98, Imrie 80, Nash 64, Doulman/Ashby/Pretty 42.

18 June 1999

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Richards rules the territory IRELLI and Falken tyres took one win each, but Dom Beninca which waswon a disaster for Fitzgerald the start, was disqualified from the Richards. The yellow CAT car first race, leaving Jim Richards with wins in both jumped away well but was pushed wide in the first cor Hidden Valley races in the Century Batteries GT ner, just recovering to keep fourth from Aitken. Production Championship. Fitzy pulled away, chaCsed Beninca took race one after a controversial incident by Beninca, Park/and with Peter Fitzgerald, while Richards, while Aitken was Richards took the second left to fend off the Supra of Jamie Cartwright. after passing Wayne Park’s As the leaders got into traf Ferrari in a great turn one fic on lap eight Beninca, who manoeuvre. had been pushing Fitzgerald’s Richards was the one to Falkens hard, was caught by beat in qualifying, the CAT Richards. The three ran nosePorsche cracking lml6s in to-tail for four laps until the first session and backing entering ttim one to start lap it up with a lml7.02s in Q2, nine, Fitzgerald spun and just edging out Beninca. speared off. Horn and Fitzgerald A tyre had rolled off the swapped places in the two rim after Fitzy had felt con¬ sessions ahead of Aitken, tact in the rear, presumably while Wayne Park (Ferrari from Beninca. 355 Challenge) was fourth “If that is the only way peoahead of the Victorian in the pie need to drive to win races. second session. In the other classes it was then there is a problem,” he said. “If the officials don’t do double poles all around; in anything about it, I will. Class B Geoff Full took two Beninca took over still with poles in his Subaru, Mark Richo on his tail, pushing Cohen (Commodore SS) hard from there but Beninca’s repeated the trick in Class C, Phil Kirkham(Mazda 626)in D, Nathan Thomas (Suzuki) in E and Ric Shaw (Toyota MR2)inS.

Pirellis were too much for Jim’s Falken and, despite the gap varying a httle in traffic, they went to the line separated by0'.25s. Park came home third

You’ve got a funny hat, mate: The locals were, as usual, enthusiastic and welldressed... Stung by the Stang? Craig Dean had some good battles with Geoff Morgan’s Porsche (right) and the Cartwright Toyota Supra.

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(Photo by John Morris/Mprix and Dirk

ahead of Aitken Cartwright. Further back, Geoff Morgan’s hopes were dashed after contact with Craig Dean’s Saleen Mustang.

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Full has a steady run to Class B honours from Peter Boylan’s WRX and King, Paula Elstrek’s run ending after contact irom King on the first lap. Cohen led all the way to win C from Peter Phelan (VT V8), Kirkham took his class, Shaw won his while Kosi Kalaitzidis took the tiddler category after Thomas’ lead ing Suzuki ate a gearbox seal.

Park out-jumped at the lights Richards but the Porsche again found itself shoved wide on turn one as Beninca came through. Fitzgerald wasted no time grabbing third which immedi ately became second Beninca had run off at turn two, resuming in sixth. Pari held the lead from Fitzgerald, but Richards soon came back, passing the Falken Tyres car and setting off after the Ferrari. Three laps later he had caught the 355, probing around for a few laps until one of the great moves ofthe season ... Park saw Richards coming and took the defensive posi tion. Richo feinted left and then flicked right, sweeping aroimd the outside of the red car. All he had to do was get the car stopped - which he did and that was that.

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Jim and Dom in Danwin: Richards and Beninca were well-matched and put on two great battles. {Photo by Dirk Klynsmith)

Richards dropped the ham mer, pulled a lead and left Park to Fitzgerald, easing off to win by 1.5s. Even nmning an extra lap didn’t phase him. Fitzy got it all wrong a few laps later. He and Park were baulked by the Vectra of Sam Newman,driving 10-tenths to get by Sue Hughes’ Suzuki. Park went inside safely at the final comer, Fitzgerald went outside and spun. He was fourth when the regained the track, behind Beninca who just failed to catch the Ferrari. Newman spun all by himselftwo comers later. Morgan and Aitken battled to the flag next ahead of Cartwright (who lost an entertaining battle when Craig Dean’s ’Stang was meatbaUed for dragging body work) and Full, who took B honours again despite a clos ing Elstrek. Points: Richards 71.5, Beninca 62,Fitzgerald 41, Cartwright 31, Aitken 30, Bosnjak 27. Class Leaders:Richards 71.5 (A),Pull 82.5(B),Phelan 58 (C),M Kirkham/P Kirkham 30 (D),Hughes 52(E),Shaw 74

COs, you can’t say no DUCATI was too much for the Superbike opposition in Darwin, Crag Connell and Steve Martin taking a close but hardfought 1-2 for the Itahan Stallions. 'The 996s were well matched on the Hidden

Duck, duck, R1: Connell leads Martin and Curtain. {Photo by Marshall Cass)

Valley track, leading home Kevin Curtain’s Yamaha Production Superbike in both races. After taking two pole positions Connell took the jump in race one and led Curtain, Shawn Giles, Martin and Andrew Pitt (who found the going tough, his Kawasaki eating the track twice on Saturday) into the first comer, while Fergusson and Vermuelen followed. By lap three V-twin power was starting to tell, Martin spearing past Giles’ Suzuki into second and closing on Curtain, passing on the straight to start lap severf. Martin twice looked outside Connell at Wynns but had to settle for second, while Curtain held on for third, well clear of Pitt, the Giles/Fergusson battle and Paul Free

(Suzuki). Because the program was running late the second race was shortened to 10 laps and, again, Connell took the start. Curtain beat Martin away but, at turn one, Pitt and Fergusson tumbled into each other, both eat ing dirt. It took the Martin 996 only three laps to hammer past Curtain and clamp onto the tail of Connell. All the way aroimd the track the two red bikes were locked together by Connell never looked like making an error, and the former South Australian had to con tent himself with two seconds and a narrower lead in the Shell Superbike series. Curtain was a comfortable third from Giles, Free and Vermuelen, showing enor mous class for a teenager. Points: Martin 181, Connell 175, Pitt 146, Curtain 141. Next round: Queensland Raceway July 21. -PHIL.BRANAGAN

18 June 1999

By CHiftlS LAMBDEN In France ESPITE the late fail ure of its lead car, BMW completed a stunning win in a dramatic Le Mans 24 Hours last Sunday.

Le Mans specialist Yannick Dalmas (4 wins in 4 separate cars) shared the win with Jo Winkelhock and Pierluigi Martini, the V12 LMR coming home a lap clear of Toyota’s third car crewed by Katayama,Suzuki and Tsuchiya. A late challenge from the Japanese evaporated with a punc tured rear tyre, in a race full of drama from well before the start. Audi recovered from a number of gearbox gremlins for third and fourth. Of the Australians, David Brabham’s Panoz rumbled to a well-earned seventh, while Mark Webber played an involuntary role in a weekend Mercedes will want to forget. His CLR didn’t start after two violent high-speed backflips, the second in the race morning warm-up, and after Scotsman Peter Dumbreck did the same in the race, the team withdrew its remaining car. Both Toyota’s lead cars were potential winners, both sidelined by accidents in the end, ex-GP star Thierry Boutsen hurt in a particu larly nasty after-dark shunt.

Qualifying

Zero Hour: After a relatively quiet build-up BMW did everything right at Le Mans, taking a fabulous win in the Williams-built V12 LMR

BMW’S dramatic le Mans

Bearing mind the speed in shown by blistering the turboch.crged Toyotas during the Prequalifying weekend in May, there was little doubt the Japanese the air, crashing down from a Mercedes at 40,000 km-plus) this would have the satisfaction of pole height of a couple of metres onto its was a great effort, but David position for the 1999 Le Mans 24 left side, briefly onto its roof, then wasn’t expecting the Panoz to be Hours. back onto its wheels before slevraig able to run at the front come race The question was how close to to a halt along the barriers. day: the Toyotas the best of the normal Webber emerged thankfully , “We can’t stay with the race pace ly-aspirated Mercedes (V8), BMW intact if badly shaken and bruised of the Toyotas or Mercedes, so the (V12) and possibly Panoz (V8) cars and set about a personal battle to race will have to come to us. Well would be and which of them would regain sufficient fitness to start run at our race pace and see how it present the strongest challenge. Saturday’s race in what would have goes,” he said. And while second driver Bernard There was also the question of to be a completely rebuilt race car. the Audis, like the Toyotas in 3.6 The two leading Toyota GT One was setting good times, American litre turbo trim. At the same time cars dominated the times after Leitzinger definitely needed some as the pole contest, indications of Wednesday evening’s sessions (7- more miles in the car. JJ Lehto was fourth in the BMW race trim speed were also crucial - 9pm, then 10pm-12am), Martin the turbo cars clearly unlikely to Brundle setting what would be an with a 3:34.109, generally happy maintain qualifying boost and unchallenged pole time, 3:29.930, with his quick lap, “although I speed if they were to last for 24 nearly a second quicker than the didn’t warm the qualifiers on the hours. second car with Thieny Boutsen on out lap as well as I could have.” And while Toyota would grab the hoard. The Toyota team settled for Frenchman Christophe Bouchut pre-race headlines with some ease, these times and didn’t run in quali was, surprisingly, the best of the our own Mark Webber would join fying trim at all on Thursday Mercedes, just shading Schneider, the newsmakers thanks to a poten evening, a good five seconds slower with Webber a second away as all in what was assumed to be race concentrated on race set-up and tially devastating high-speed acci dent, when his CLR Mercedes trim. laps for their co-drivers. Indeed, became airborne at over 300kph. Big news on Wednesday night the ‘night’ part of the sessions, During the Thursday evening ses where all teams tend to run race was the great time put in by David sion, Webber’s car lost front end Brabham, third quickest, with a set-ups showed just how close it downforce as he closed on one of the 3:33.71 in the lead Panoz. With its could be - the leading Toyotas, Audis and, at 304kph, the front lift relatively limited testing mileage BMWs and Mercs all within a sec ed and the car literally flew up into (compared with Toyota and ond.

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Shaken, not stirred; Outstanding driving \was a hallmark of BMW's two factory cars. This is race winner Pierluigi Martini. (Photos by sutton-images) Apart from Webber’s dramatic exit just half an hour into Thiusday’s sessions, the excitement was what turned out to be a duel for third grid spot between Lehto’s BMW and Schneider’s Mercedes, both leap-frogging Brabham’s Wednesday time as they traded improved times, Lehto taking the spot late in the first session with a 3:31.209. Schneider had one more go early in the 10pm session, as dusk fell. He was up seven-tenths and looking good before traffic late in the lap, at Indianapohs, put paid to the lap. “At that point it was good enough for the front row,” Schneider shrugged. “Still, it’s good to know we were quick enough for the front row.”

Close, but still no cigar: The ‘Japanese’ GT-ONE was second after Brundle and Boutsen (above) retired.

Most importantly, in terms of race trim, the Mercs were getting as many laps on 90 litres offuel as they had done 12 months earher with a 100 litre tank. Reading between the lines suggested a very close race-day contest b'otween Toyota, BMW and Mercedes, with Brabham’s Panoz something of a dark horse.

Race Day If Thursday hadn’t been dramatic enough, race morning was to throw up a knockout blow for Webber. Everyone had done their job. The team had built up a virtually allnew CLR, the physio had the youngster in remarkably good shape and he flew through the medical, prior to the 9.30am morn ing warm-up. By 9:32 his weekend was in tat ters. Put simply, he drove out of the pits aroxmd a few comers, out onto the Mulsanne, up to speed, and between the first and second chi canes, over a hump,#4 flipped over backwards again. This time there were no other cars close. No serious air distur bance. It just took off. And this time it was at well over 300kmh... Toyota’s Thierry Boutsen was fol lowing in his Toyota and described how the car arced up into the air, came down and pirouetted on its roof, coming to rest at the chicane itself.

18 June 1999

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Inevitable winner: The Chryslers viped the floor with the Porsches to win the GT2 category. This is the winning Beretta/Wendlinger/Dupuy car. No cause to Panic: The Panozes were only a force in qualifying, with David Brabham leading Jan Mugnussen (pictured). After a few moments, a disbeliev ing Webber tumbled out of the car and scurried for the armco. What was it about car 4? Inside the Mercedes enclave there was some serious talk once Webber got back. His car was clearly out of the race, but what of the other two? Was there some risk? Merc team PR man Wolfgang Schattling was the first to emerge and issued a brief statement, out lining the team’s shock and confu sion at the turn of events: “We are comparing the set-up detail between car four and the oth ers,” he said, “but at this stage, the drivers of the other cars want to race and will race... “ Tne remaining cars completed the warm-up without drama, and attention turned to the 4pm start. When the Mercedes rolled out for the parade lap, the team had fitted little winglets on either side at the front. There had also, according to team boss Norbert Haug, been a ride height adjustment. Insurance. It was, according to Webber, a test ed ‘wet weather’ set-up, with some thing like a 25 percent increase in downforce.

Race (Hours 1-3) The couplefor of ahours up the first potential real set threeway contest among Toyota, Mercedes and the big surprise, BMW. The two Mercedes jumped the Kristensen BMW at the start and filed through the first chicane behind the two Toyotas, Brundle leading Boutsen, Schneider, Bouchut, Kristensen, Brabham’s Panoz, Dalmas in the second BMW, Katayama (Toyota), Alboreto (Audi) and the first Nissan. The front three ran line astern as they eased away over the opening laps, Schneider hustling the Mercedes along behind the two Toyotas. The first poignant moment would be the first stops, which started to come surprisingly early, headed by the Toyotas. The third 'Toyota came in after just 30 minutes (9 laps), the two leading cars two laps later, along with the Bouchut Merc. Both v,Toyotas were a tad slow out of the pits, blamed on heat affecting the fuel injection system, something which would slow their stops each time. The leading Schneider Mercedes was in a lap later, leaving the two BMWs in front until they too stopped two laps later. With all the first stops completed (no driver changes), Schneider led the two Toyotas by mere metres, Boutsen ahead of Brundle. Kristensen’s BMW was some seconds away but about to narrow that gap, from Bouchut and Dalmas. Schneider was really pushing the Mercedes along to keep the Toyotas at bay and very nearly came

undone lapping an errant backmarker, before Boutsen slipped by at the end of Mulsaime. The second series of stops would illustrate just how it was going to be. Driver changes all round this time, but when it/was all done, the lead BMW (courtesy of a quick stop) led, with Jorg Muller now at the wheel, from Lamy (Mercedes #6), McNish (Toyota #2) and Collard (Toyota #1). McNish slipped past Lamy after a few laps and began 'to eat away at the 10 second gap to the lead BMW. By the two hour mark he was nearly there. Lamy was holding off Collard some 20 seconds back, with another 13 seconds to Heidfeld in the second Merc, then the second BMW, with the lead Panoz only five seconds away after an impressive early run. Lamy lost 30 seconds at his next stop, the Merc difficult to start and dropping behind its sister car, but overall a pattern was already emerging: ● The BMWs were proving almost as fast as the Toyotas, gaining some seconds to make up the difference on each pit stop, which left the lead BMW and Toyota virtually neck and neck after three hours, the Toyota having just sneaked to the lead thanks to some valiant driving by McNish. Collard had lost some ground to the lead pair, with Heidfeld gaining valuable ground in the Mercedes. So, after three hours it was BMW leading Toyota (car 2) by just seven seconds, over a minute then back to another Toyota (1) about to be caught by Mercedes (5), Schneider about to get back into his Mercedes (6) to try and get it back in the game, the second BMW, the lead Panoz, Audi R8R, the third Toyota and Nissan R391 (Motoyama/ Krumm/Comas).

Drama looms The next4 decisive came at the hours 38moment minute mark - the number 1 Toyota drove into its garage. But even as this was being digested came the images that would flash aroimd the world. At almost the identical spot as Webber’s Thursday evening shunt , the number 5 Mercedes, with Dumbreck aboard, flew high in the ; air, spiraUing over backwards. This time luck wasn’t with the driver quite so much. Well over ten metres in the air, the car’s trajectory veered left, well clear of the armco, dropping DOWN into the trees beyond and disappearing from sight. The car eventually ended up in a clearing, some 30 metres from the track Dumbreck was knocked out, but eventually extricated from the car, amazingly otherwise unhurt, while a lengthy Pace Car period ensued. Mercedes reacted immediately, bringing in its remaining car into

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instant retirement, This left a very clear two-way the lead BMW contest (Kristensen, Lehto, Muller)) and the Boutsen/McNish/Kelleners Toyota, with the second BMW an increasingly distant (over a lap down) third, clear of the slower, but consistent, third Toyota. This is how they would race into the night, JJ Lehto putting in a strong double stint to ease the lead BMW away to a 60 second lead as midnight (the eight hour mark) approached. By then the number 1 Toyota was out. Having rejoined down in 17th place (after losing 9 laps with a gearbox problem), it clattered into the armco going into one of the Mulsanne chicanes at the six and a half hour mark after a rear puncture. Although he tried to get the car back to the pits, Brundle’s race was over, On into the night: BMW, Toyota, BMW, Toyota (the Japanese crewed car), all running like clockwork, Fifth (and closing on the Toyota) was the Pirro/Biela/Theys Audi, from the C52 Nissan (Cottaz/ Goosens/Ekbloem) which had taken over the challenge after the retire¬ ment of the R391 a httle after midnight. The Panoz followed, with last year’s BMW, the second Audi and Caffi’s Courage into the top 10. Just after the 11 hour mark, at 3:09am, Boutsen’s Toyota joined the Spectacular Exit Club at the rapid turn one Dunlop Curve, Appearing to chp a lapped Porsche, the Toyota flew off the road at undi minished speed, headlong into the tyres. An extensive Pace Car period ensued while Thierry was dehcately removed fi'om the car and taken to hospital with what was suspected to be a cracked vertebrae in his lower back. This left the two BMWs at the front, p Both looked incredibly strong and made use of the Pace Car peri od to change front brake discs and pads. Half way and the BMW steamroller rolled on: The Kristensen car now led by a clear laps the second car a lap up Audi, temporarily ahead of remaining Toyota in the pit shuffle, Completing the BMW rout, last year’s car was now fifth a further three laps down, from the second Audi, the C52 Nissan, the Panoz, Courage, and then the first Class 2 into the top ten - the Archer/Bell/Duez Chrysler Viper. By dawn little had changed. By Sam, two-thirds distance, still no real change, although the Panoz had worked its way back up to sixth. ’The teams set in to grind out the remaining eight hours.

Sunday - more drama The two ously onBMWs throughcruised Sundayimperi morn ing and, on the face of it, only mechanical problems seemed hkely to halt them. The Panoz was delayed again with a gearbox prob lem, but the big news came on the stroke of midday. Four hours to go and the leading BMW was in the fence on the straight, JJ Lehto hobbling away from a car that was obviously going nowhere. Suspension failure was suggested. This left the Winkelhock/ Martini/Dahnas BMW with, at this stage, about 50 seconds on the remaining Toyota. The Toyota, depending upon who was at the wheel, looked capable of reducing the margin, but as the time ticked by, the BMW in fact eased out the margin. If this went to the wire, it would depend upon where the fuel stops fell. This went on for three hours, with Ukyo Katayama back in the

car and setting a superb new out right lap record in his pursuit until, at 3:04, the Toyota exploded the left rear tyre as it headed for Amage. Katayama did a great job of slow ing the car and got back to the pits, but by the time some body damage was lashed together, the Toyota had lost a good lap. All over. The fact that Katayama had had a ‘moment’ the previous lap with the fifth-placed BMW, driven at the time % Bscher, during which there had been contact, angered some in the Toyota pit... C’est la vie. 'The BMW, with the experienced Pierluigi Martini at the wheel, reeled off the remaining hour with out incident, while the Toyota too cruised to the finish, slower than it had been running, but well clear (4 laps) of the first Audi, another four laps to the second Audi - both great recoveries after early prob lems.

See page 23 for Mark Webber’s dramatic insight into Le Mans W

Final resutts 1999 Le Mans 24 Hours Pos No 1 15 2 3 3 8 4 7 5 18 6 13 7 12 B 21 9 14 10 51 11 11 12 52 13 81 14 56 15 50 16 55 17 54 18 64 19 80 20 62 21 84 22 57 23 65

Drivers Winkelhock/MartiniVDalmas Katayama*/T suchiya/Suzuki Pirro/Bieia'/Theys Alboreto/CapelioVAiello Bscher/Auberlen/Soper* Caffi/MonterminiVSchiattarella BrabhamVBemard/Leitzinger Cottaz*/Goossens/Ekblom Pescarolo/FerteVGay Beretta'/Wendlinger/Dupuy O'Connell/MagnussenVAngelelli Archer/Bell/Duez' AlzenVHuisman/Riccitelii Manthey AmorimVHugenholtz/Seiler BreynerVBreyner/Breyner ClericoVLagniez/Martinolle Belmondo/MonteiroVRostan KonradVKitchak/Slater Muller*A/Vollek/Maylander HurtgenVAhrleA/osse PerrierVRicci/Nourry Erdos*A/ann/Glasel Chereau/Gouselard'/Yver

Car laps 365 BMW V12LMR 364 Toyota GT-One 360 Audi R8R Audi R8R 346 BMWV12LM98 345 342 Courage C52 Panoz LMP Roadster S 336 Nissan C52 334 327 Courage C50 325 Viper Team ORECA (GT2) Panoz LMP Roadster S 323 318 Viper Team ORECA 317 Porsche 996GT3 (GT3) 314 Chamberlain Viper Cica Team ORECA 312 309 Belmondo Viper 299 Belmondo Viper 293 Konrad Porsche 911GT2 292 Porsche 996GT3 290 Roock Porsche 993GT2 Perspective Porsche 993RSR 288 270 Chamberlain Viper 240 Chereau Porsche 911GT2

Retirements 17 BMW V12LMR 304 Kristensen/LehtoVMuller 25 271 Donohue/BellocVAyari Chrysler viper 63 Roock Porsche 993GT2 232 HauplVRobinson/Price 19 BMW V12LM98 223 Matushita/Kato'/Nakaya 26 Lammers'/Kox/Coronel Konrad Lola B98/10 213 10 WeaverWVallaceVMcCarthy Audi R8C 198 2 BoutsenVKelleners/McNish 173 Toyota GT-One 61 157 Palmberger/KaufmannVLigonnet Freisinger Porsche 911GT2 27 Saldana/Orbell/Deradigues* Kremer Lola 146 67 JarierVBourdais/Detoisy 134 Larbre Porsche 911GT2 66 Monteiro/Monteiro'/Maisonneuve Estoril Porsche 911GT2 123 22 Nissan R391 110 Motoyama'/Krumm/Comas 1 90 BrundleVCollardySospiri Toyota GT-One 25 Tinseau*/Montagny/T errien LolaT98/10 77 6 Mercedes CLR 76 SchneiderVLamy/Lagorce 5 Bouchut’/Heidfeld/Dumbreck Mercedes CLR 75 24 T eradaVFreon/Donovan Autoexe LMP99 74 29 PolicandVBaldi/Pescatori Ferrari 333SP 71 32 ApicellaVRosenblad/Lewis 67 Riley&Scott 9- Johansson/OrtelliVAbt Audi R8C 55 31 GacheVFormato/Thevenin 25 Ritey&Scott 60 LlntottVJurasz/lketai Porsche 911GT2 24 4 Webber'/Gounon/Tiemann Mercedes CLR DNS Drivers listed in driving order. Driver with * set Qualifying time. Australians in bold type.

24 ‘●18 June 1999

Webber’s Wild Wee Le Mans didn’t provide the sort of weekend Mark Webber had hoped for CHRIS LAMBDEN was there with our leading international.

ARK Webber coped with the most

bizarre, dramatic few days of his motor racing career at Le Mans last week end. Two potentially lethal backflips in his CLR Mercedes left the 22year-old battered, bruised and out of the 24 Hours before it had even started. 45,000kms of testing, 15,000 by Mark himself, came unravelled for Mercedes in moments. Behind a brave facade, one of the world’s Superteams was baffled. Webber himself remained remark ably (outwardly) composed under obvious stress. If after the first shunt there was the slightest sug gestion of driver error, after the second he could have been excused for exhibiting some anger. There was none. And then when, four hours into the race, Peter Dumbreck mirrored Webber’s Thursday flight, but this time in the full glare of television, the conclusion was obvious - there was a fundamental car problem. With the remaining Mercedes with drawn Webber could at least leave Le Mans with reputation fully intact. ’t wasn’t the start Mark Webber .wanted. After walking away from a 330kph suspension failure four weeks earlier during prequalifying, the Australian again found himself at the centre of drama with an aerodynamically-induced crash of the largest proportions, just half an hour into Thursday’s critical final qualifying sessions. Some three hours later, after a preliminary check-up at Le Mans Hospital and back in the care of Mercedes team physio Tony Matthas at the circuit, Webber was quite lucid and clear as to most of what had happened. The CLR was in race trim, race engine installed and on full tanks as it honed in bn Frank Biela in one of the opentopped Audis as the pair raced out of the Mulsanne hairpin toward Indianapolis. “I ran up behind him, pulled , , right to get by, and the front came off the ground. “I braked, but it was too late. It was up almost vertical and it flew. It went all quiet. It was like a piece of paper in the wind... “ According to the telemetry, Webber was doing 304kph at the time. Clearly the car lost front downforce. Whether he had simply run too close into disturbed air behind the Audi or whether some thing had gone amiss (Martin Brundle radioed in to his team to say he had seen the underbody dif fuser and rear wing of the Mercedes 300 metres back up the road from where the car came to rest) is unclear. The result, either way, was the same. Eyewitness reports were confus-

ing, but it seems the car came back down, having flown a good two metres into the air, on its left rear and then front, and eventually ended up on its wheels, 300 metres fruther down the road against the left-hand bander. There’s some disagreement as to whether it rolled. Webber him self is unsure, but damage to the roof and roof-mounted £ur box suggests it did, lightly skimniing the roof (the windscreen was undamaged) before reverting to its wheels. “I was concerned about the trees,” Webber recalled. “I knew/ they were close on both sides, and even while it was up in the air, I was thinking about opening the door to get out. I didn’t want to be in there if it caught fire... “ Webber did vacate the stationary car quickly and ran to the nearby marshalls before collapsing against the armco. Apart from bruised knees, his greatest concern was the degi’ee of pain between his shoulder blades. Accompanied by physio Matthas to hospital, x-rays showed no addi tional damage and Mark was deliv ered back to the team, via ambu lance at 10.30pm looking a little pale and definitely stiff. As he recovered, ate a little for the first time in the Merc area, the mood was clear. The car could be fixed and Webber would, as far as he was concerned, start the race. The next 36 hours would, obviously, be crucial and very much in the hands of Matthas. The deadline would be Saturday morning. Mark flew through Saturday morning’s medical and strapped in for the 9.30am warm-up. Minutes later he flew again. Literally on the warm-up lap, down the Mulsanne,

Let me out of here. Webber’s qualifying flip (bottom right) was a surprise but this one, ’ on race day morning, shocked the motorsport community to its very core. As a result of his second blowover’ in three days the remaining Mercedes-Benz CLRs of Bernd Schneider (right) and Peter Dumbreck carried 25 per¬ cent more downforce into the race but even that was not enough.

They’re switching to basically a wet-weather set-up, which we’ve tested, which should mean some¬ thing like 25 percent more downforce,” Webber confirmed, sitting down with the Aussie contingent for a chat, just 90 minutes after his second close shave (see separate stoiy). The cars sprouted front winglets and changes in ride height. It all looked okay until. four hours and 47 minutes in. Dumbreck’s car took off. He was less lucky than Mark; the car veering off into the trees. metres clear of the armco. Still Thierry Boutsen lu6ky, though. Basically unhurt... towards the second chicane, the Webber, watching on a monitor, brand new CLR looped backwards was probably more shocked by see-

Jesus Christ, I thought as I saw it head up into the sky. It was still spinning on its roof when I wentpast...’\

Toyota’s Thierry Boutsen was a hundred metres back; “Jesus Christ, I thought as I saw it head up into the sky. It was still spin ning on its roof when I went past...” rphis time there was no car in X front. Just a crest in the road, Mark eventually tumbled out of the upturned wrecks relatively unhurt, returning to a stunned Mercedes team. What to do? There were only two options: pull out of the race completely, or make some substantial changes to the remaining two cars in the expectation of at least making them safe, even if outright speed would be com promised. The drivers wanted to continue, so they went for the latter.

ing this than experiencing his own double act. It suggested that his down-played flight-height assessments were probably a bit on the conservative side, but it brought home - to the team, the manage ment, the family, the friends, the Austrahan media group on hand the ferocity of what Mark had experienced - twice! The team closed ranks. As Mark himself said, the biggest disappointment was for the team, the effort. all the work. Haug made a brief statement, having withdrawn the remaining (Schneider) car and, one by one, the drivers drifted away, Webber hung around, spent time with the physio (the knees were still quite sore), then left the cir cuit. A lucky, lucky young man...

18 June 1999

(end {

II 1

. -jW*-’

ust 90 minutes after his second extraordi nary escape, while his shocked team searched for answers, Mark Webber sat down with the small group of Australian media at Le Mans and candidly reflected on a character-building couple of days:

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Q: What happened this time? MW;Different part of the drcuit-over the hump at Mulsanne — but pretty similar. Same feeling. It got light in the front, then ... it’s too late you know. Over it goes, no warning at all. The car felt really good,on the out lap, getting everything warmed up. This time it landed on its roof, I think, it doesn’t really matter, it wasn’t part of the plan. Q;It landed on the roof this time? MW;I think so, initially on the front of the car, I think. But what happened after it took off doesn’t really matter-it’s how it got up there to start with. Q: Were you near any other cars? MW; Nowhere near as close as the other day -a long way behind a GT2. which isn’t a ‘downforce’ car really. Q: What were you thinking when it all started' to happen? MW;I was probably more relaxed than the first one- I’d been there before! I was a bit worried about my neck as it was still a bit tender from the last one. I was concerned about the landing... Q: Was there any thought of what had hap pened on Thursday as you went out for the warm-up?

MW; No. I just followed Bemd and Christophe out and the car felt good... They had built up the car around a new monocoque and it was 100 percent. Q:Do you feel fortunate not to have been hurt more seriously between the two incidents? MW; For sure, when I got out of the car the second time ... but you think about the team, all the effort that everyone has gone to. The months of testing. I’ve trained hard. So many people, so much effort since December and now we don’t even start the race. u

this. Q: Is the problem peculiar to your car or are they now worried about the other two? MW;Sure, there’s a concern. We’ve just got to check everything, the data. We’re really puz zled. The set-up of my car compared to the other two. especially this morning, is very, very simitar Q: Does this affect your confidence the next time you get into one of these cars? MW;Oh ... no, I’m big enough (downstairs!) to get over that. I’m okay...

Uust another hot day, Q; What about the remaining six drivershave you spoken to them? What are they Mark feeling? ^nOthOT ullStSf. Are they concerned? MW; Oh I’m 22. but Bernd [Schneider] Webber has got twosure. kids you know ... Okay, we’re rac f)

Q:Your neck was very sore after the first one. How are you this time? MW; My neck is okay, but I banged my knees again, in the same spot. They’re a bit tender. My helmet was on the road for a bit, so it’s finished. The guy upstairs was with me again this morning. I’m lucky to be here-in this condition anyway. Q: You were in the bus with [team manager] Norbert Haug for a long time afterwards. How are they reacting? MW; Like me. Very, very shocked. After 45,000 kms [of testing] with three cars ... I haven’t scratched a car in the last six months and now

ing drivers but when things happen like that two days in a row... they both happened to me, but... Q; What are you thinking about now -the Norisring race [in four weeks]? MW; No. It’s difficult to know what I’m think ing about right now — because I’m the only person wfio went through it, you know. That’s what I told Bernd. You don’t walk away from those ones every day of the week... Q: What do you want to do now,this week end? MW; I’d like to leave fairly soon, get out of Le Mans, back to England, relax a bit. Q: Coming after last year[Webber didn’t get a race lap following the early retirement of the lead car], what’s your disappointment level like? MW;The two are completely different, because what happened last year was uncon trollable by us. This one is more of a shock than anything. The first shunt[Thursday] 1 was quite close to another car and maybe I could take 2030 percent of that as my fault. But I’m not out there cruising around. I’m doing a job. But today's one was a real surprise... Q:So nobody’s looking at all this as being your fault at all? MW; No. Mercedes didn’t pick me because I can’t drive in a straight line! I don’t have experi ence at Le Mans, but it’s only another race track after all.

The body language says is all: Webber is led away by French marshalls after his warm-up shunt. Webber was relatively unhurt but he was one p....ed off little camper.(Crash photos by Suilon/Pascal Rondeau)

Q;So Mercedes are backing you -looking for a problem with the car? MW; Yes. To be on your head twice within a tew kms suggests exceptional circumstances. And looking further along, any effect on your (FI) plans? MW; No. Just another hot day, another blister...

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Back on top: Hakkinen took back top spot in the Drivers’ Championship when Schumacher hit the Montreal wall. A payback for Imdia, perhaps? Looks like another winning start: Schuey took the start and looked

pretty good for the first 29 laps, until he ran off the track and hit the wall. (Photos by RaceAccess)

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year was no exception. The Safety Car was in and out like an Italian government and four former World Champions aU had identical crashes at the final corner: Michael Schumacher (from the lead), Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve and World Sportscar Champ Ricardo Zonta (not from the lead). Schumacher’s self-inflicted retirement gave Hakkinen a serene run td the flag while behind him everyone else tripped and traipsed. Star of the show was Eddie Irvine who used his usual

buHy his way up to third uncompromising style to David Coulthard. When the FI circus arrived in Canada everyone was talk ing about the racing being boring. There was no such talk on Sunday night...

Qualifying Once a time there wereupon only two Villeneuves: Jacques and Gilles. They were brothers. Gilles was the fastest, crazi est, most entertaining and charismatic man in Formula 1 racing and Jacques was in his shadow. Jacques tried to qualify an Arrows for two Grands Prix in 1981 but failed. In 1982 Gilles was WUed in a qualifying accident at Zolder. A year later Jacques tried to qualify a RAM March for the Canadian Grand Prix but that was the end of his FI career although he popped up in 1985, winning a CART race at Elkhart Lake. And then things went quiet for the Villeneuve Family. The Canadian Grand Prix was run at the track which bore Gilles’s name. A bespectacled kid called Villeneuve started racing in Italy. He made little impact. He was Gilles’s boy and noone rated him much. Sons of famous fathers rarely get much respect. They have to earn it. Like many a racing driver who is struggling he ended up in Japan. But you cannot keep a good gene down and as the kid grew up he devel oped into a very useful racing driver. He nearly won the Formula Atlantic title (to add to the family’s six previous titles; three for Gilles and three for Uncle Jacques) and then he went south and won

the Indianapolis 500 and the CAET title. Not content with that, he landed a drive with Wilhams and won the Formula 1 World Championship - something neither his father nor uncle ever achieved. Suddenly he was more famous (and used more hair colouring) than any Canadian other than Celine Dion. Ever since Jacques com mitted career duicide in exchange for a massive sum of money from British American Racing the fervour in Quebec has died down a little. He isn’t winning and he’s not going to win for a while yet - if ever - and the bubbling Jacques-o-mania has subsided.

They their blue and still whitewave Quebecois sep¬ aratist flags and cheer his every move but the excite ment in the air is not as exciting as once it was. And by the end of qualifying at the Circuit Gilles VOleneuve they really had veiy little to cheer about. Jacques was a miserable 16th on the grid. “Un choc” (a shock) screamed the local paper. “Un desastre” (no translation needed) would have been closer to the truth. “We didn’t have any mechanical problems,” said Jacques “We just didn’t get it right.” The worrying thing was that no-one in the team had the faintest idea what the problem was. Ricardo Zonta was 17th and neither driver could blame anything other than a lack of grip. BAR team boss Craig Pollock was very definitely confused, judging by his pubhc statements. ‘We do have a fast car,” he told the press on Thursday. “The car is much too slow,” he said on Saturday. Here today, gone tomorrow.

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18 June 1999 0.

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CLKto control: Mercedes-Benz’s Safety Car was seemingly heading for a championship point on distance covered the way it w6nt on the weekend ... DC in PQ: Coulthard had another fruitless weekend, which will no doubt restart the ‘Irvine for McLaren’ speculation. (Photos by Sutton/RaceAccess) ● :¥ V -

: **s

●1

But how could it be? For the last few races BAR has looked great. Jacques ran third at Barcelona. The Honda deal came along and was grabbed. The whole BAR adventm-e was beginning to look half-decent. The chorus of paddock cyn ics knew the answer, of course. It was simple. So far this year the team has con centrated on making an impression rather than get ting results. At all races they have used soft tjrres in quali fying, thus guaranteeing a good showing on the grid. Thus even if things went wrong in the race (which they have on every occasion so far) the team will still look promising. Montreal was the first place where the whole field went for soft tyres... Well, that was the theory. Who knows? The Canadian fans scratched their heads and the pressmen began to concen trate on something more interesting - in the dramatic form of Jacques’ new girl friend, Australian Dannii Minogue. The Canadian flags were

replaced by Ferrari flags. And there was good reason for the Prancing Horse to be prancing. The latest version of the Ferrari VIO engine has given the drivers a lot more power and a lot less weight. The result was that Michael Schumacher knocked Mika H2ikkinen off pole position for the fi rst time this year. It was close - there was only 0.029s between them - but Schumacher would start 8m ahead of Hakkinen on the road. “The car has worked well aU weekend,” said Michael. “I did my quickest time on my first run and could not improve on the last two runs. On the first I pushed too hard and made a mistake on the second there were yellow flags.” The leap in performance from Ferrari was mirrored by the showing of Eddie Irvine who threatened to grab the second place on the grid imtil Hakkinen finally delivered the goods in the final minutes of the session. Eddie had to settle for third place. So the two Ferraris were split by Hakkinen’s McLaren. Mika’s progress was not

helped by the fact that he went off on Saturday morn ing, backing his MP4-14 into a wall after a wild ride across a sandtrap. The team was trying out a new diffuser and it caught him out. “We have worked very hard to get the right race set up,” Mika said, “and now I feel confident with the car.” For most of practice it looked as though David Coulthard would overshadow Hakkinen but in qualifying when it really matters Mika was ahead again. David was a little confused. “I couldn’t attack the cor ners with the same confi dence,” he admitted, before heading off to buiy himself in data, looking for the problem. With the front four much the same as always the crumbs from the table were left to Rubens Barrichello who put his Ford-owned Stewart-Ford fifth on the grid. Rubens reckoned he would have gone a little faster but had to lift off because of yellow flags. Johnny Herbert’s perfor mance was a lot better than it has been at some races this year, the Englishman lining

up tenth on the grid. “I’m definitely getting there,” said the ever-optimistic Johnny.

Sixth on the grid went to Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who was once again the faster of the two Jordan dri vers - he has been at all but one race so far this year . Frentzen had some trouble with an oil leak and com plained of traffic. Damon Hill was a miserable 14th after suffering an engine failure. This meant he had to switch to the spare car, which was set up for Frentzen. “1 actually quite liked the set-up,” said Damon, “but it was difficult to adapt to it because the gear ratios and brakes were different. When I pressed the brakes nothing happened which was quite an alarming moment.” Seventh on the grid was a pretty good effort from Giancarlo Fisichella - the first of the Supertec VIO users and, it should be added, the only one in the top 10. Fisichella did not have it easy, crashing his car into a wall and having to go back to the pits to get the spare car.

Giancarlo felt he could have gone quicker with fewer dis ruptions. Alexander Wurz was 11th - the second fastest Supertec user - and he too said he would have gone better if it had not been for yellow flags. He lost both his second and third runs. It was nonetheless a sohd performance from Benetton which was much needed after a series of less than impres sive results. There was also a good solid performance from Sauber’s Jean Alesi. The car still looks as skittery as someone roller skating on ice but there is noone in the paddock better qualified to juggle the car than Jean of the lightning reflexes. Jean stuck the car eighth on the grid but on his last run stopped out on the track because of a vibration problem caused by a loose floor - after a kerb-bashing moment. He was not unhap py however and in his jubila tion ^decided to throw his hel met into the crowd. There were no reports of fans being taken to hospital having been hit on the head by the flying helmet and so everyone was

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happy - except the Sauber team which - being rather duJi - complained that they wanted the radio fittings back. Pedro Diniz spent most of the weekend trying to catch up having wiped his car into a wall on Friday morning. “It was a pretty frightening experience,” he admitted. His neck was still hurting on Saturday which helped to explain his rather disappoint ing 18th place on the grid. Ninth on the grid was a disappointment for Jarno Trulli who is still trying to recapture his Monaco form, where he qualified seventh. The Prost is getting better although Olivier Panis con tinues to struggle to master his car. This time he quali fied 15th, 0.7s slower than Trulli. ‘T have had a difficult time using my car fully in qualify ing,” he admitted. “It is very nervous at the rear under braking. In race trim it is much better.” The problem, of course, is that starting 15th on the grid makes scoring points a pretty difficult task. It was not a good day for Prix Grand Williams Engineering, although at Le Mans the Williams-built BMW sportscar was in the process of winning the French classic - giving the team something to be cheer ful about. Ralf Schumacher should have done better but he seemed to lose his cool after falling off at the final comer of his first flying lap. he ran back to the garage and climbed into the T-car and set off again only to col lide with Ricardo Zonta’s BAR on his first lap out of the pits. He did a slow lap and came into the pits to have the rear of the car checked over. Then it was out again for a last frantic dash which netted him a disap pointing 13th on the grid. Alessandro Zanardi was 14th, trying to catch up after a string of technical problems on Friday. Zanardi, to his credit, is not bad-mouthing the team for not giving him a very reliable car this year but at the same time he really needs to start delivering the goods in order to keep the team’s confidence.

Continued over page

I ;

18 June.1999

Down at the back as usual we had the Arrows and the Minardis with Tora Takagi winning the battle of the tailenders on this occasion, outpacing Pedro de la Rosa, Luca Badoer and Marc Giene. Takagi’s achievement was noteworthy as he had to over come a major engine failure and go out in the spare to get his time. A good effort. De la Rosa admitted that he was overdriving and did not manage to put together a clear lap. The Minardi boys had nothing much to report. Gene broke his suspension running over a kerb. This was repaired but he could not beat his earlier times.

Race(69 laps)

unday morning ‘s warm up saw David Coulthard setting the pace while Mika Hakkinen suffered a blocked radiator and was only fourth quickest. Rubens Barrichello was second fastest for Stewart-Ford with Johnny Herbert right behind him. The temperature rose and the crowds flocked in, the organisers reckoning that there were 104,000 paying spectators on the island. Michael Schumacher had made t.' very average start and to stop Hakkinen getting ahead he swerved across the road. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there. The result of this was that he stayed ahead with Mika second and Irvine third. A fast-starting Giancarlo Fisichella came around the outside and bounced Coulthard backed to

fifth. Further back Jamo Trulli dropped the ball in fairly convincing fashion. He was taken unawares when Frentzen bralced earlier than expected and lost control. He spun on the grass on the inside of the corner. This caused him to spin and he went smack into the side of Barrichello. The two cars then thumped into poor Jean Alesi. Tmlli was not a popular boy. You may recall that last year Alesi and Trulli collided at the start and then again at the restart, this was their third meeting at the same

Is this the end of Formula 1 as we know it? Irvine and Fisichella raced hard and fair and, afterwards, even shook hands after a great battle, y(Photos by RacsAccess)

comer and Jean was a little upset. “What can 1 say?” he raved. “I don’t know what happened to Trulli before he hit me, and I don’t particu larly care, but every start it seems he does something like this. There are people whose job it is to judge dri vers like this and it is time that they gave them some really heavy sentences.” Trulli was honest. “I am truly sorry to have hit the other cars who were there,” he said. Everyone was busy avoid ing the crash and there were a few bumps and scrapes. At the end of the lap Alexander Wurz came trailing into the pits to retire with a driveshaft fail ure. He did not think it had been caused in the accident. Whatever the case he was out. Barrichello also pitted for repairs and rejoined a lap behind. The high jinks at the first corner meant a Safety Car but that lasted only until the end of lap three and the race was on again - albeit briefly because moments

later Ricardo Zonta’s come back ended up in the wall in the final corner. “The car got sideways and I hit the wall,” he explained. It was time for the Safety Car again. The caution peri od lasted until the end of the seventh lap and then the race was on again. Schumacher tried to eke out an advantage, setting six fastest laps jn seven laps but Mika was never far behind and the gap was only three seconds by lap 19. Then the pendulum swung back and Hakkinen set three fastest laps and closed the gap to 2.5s. And then Michael responded and the gap went up to just over four seconds. And then something real ly strange happened. Michael Schumacher screwed up. In a flash the Ferrari was hard into the wall at the final corner. “I went off the racing line and got on the dirt,” Michael explained. “I ended up in the wall. It was clear ly my mistake. “I apologise to the team. It was a shame because the

car was working perfectly. I everyone headed into the went across the grass.” Once ahead Eddie left usually make one mistake a pits. When they all sorted year so I hope this incident themselves out Eddie was Herbert behind, and set off was the last for the season.” two cars behind Mika. Eddie after his next target: the The shunt left Hakkinen never got the chance to have Benetton of Fisichella out on his own seven sec a crack at Mika because at which was running third. He onds clear of Irvine, who the restart Coulthard got might have caught the was three seconds ahead of the jump on him and tried to Italian but it’s doubtful he Coulthard. Eddie began to drive around the outside of would have passed him. charge for a few laps but he the Ferrari at the first cor 29When the second-placed clipped only tenths from the ner. It looked as though Jordan of Heinz-Harold gap. But luck was on the David had done it. Frentzen crashed, however He was ahead but Eddie and the Safety Car came out side of the Irish (as usual) and when Jacques juggled dramatically and again, Eddie found himself followed somehow David found Eddie third - a good result after an Villeneuve Schumacher to the wall - a was ahead of him again. In eventful, and uncompromis pretty big impact - the order to get around the sec ing, day. Fisichella was ecstatic Safety Car popped out ond part of the comer Eddie again. With pitstops due squeezed the McLaren. about his second place. In the f.-V-"--.' _ David had nowhere to go - middle of the race he was not 1-^ at least not if he was going so happy when he was badly to stay on the road - and held up behind Panis and the two cars collided. Who Badoer - who were battling a was to blame? No-one real lap down. At one point he ly. It was just one of those had to lift off and Frentzen ^ , = % things. was able to pass him. ●'Both cars spun but both “I not only lost the place. I rejoined. David had to pit. lost the concentration too He rejoined and began a because I was very angiy,” he >. charge but he was then admitted. ●— given a stop-go penalty for Frentzen’s opportunism driving through a red light should have rewarded him I during the pit stops and with second place but with that was it. He would finish three laps to go a brake disc the race in seventh place. on the Jordan exploded as HH was holding of Fisichella. The car slewed off the track Eddie going and at the fast chicane at the began kept a charge through the field. He passed Alex back of the track and hit the Zanardi, then Pedro Diniz wall heavily. He was moving and then he chased after in the car but made no Herbert. For four laps they attempt to get out. The tussled but eventually Eddie Safety Car was sent out. HH managed to get alongside was taken away to hospital Johnny as they hurtled into for a check up. He had a the braking area at the last bruised left leg and right comer. shoulder but nothing was “When he went down the broken. It was the second Jordan inside he was going in too quickly to make the chicane,” shunt of the day, Damon Hill said Johnny. “I had to steer having ended his race in I’m heading for more points not. Frentzen looked solid until he emulated Schuey and belted the concrete. (RaceAccess) away to avoid him we both lacklustre fashion when he

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18 June 1999 ojUCq.

Hell street blues: It was not a good weekend to wear blue in Montreal. Alesi (top, left) was caught up in a Lap 1 accident with Barrichello, who was busy getting nailed by Trulli, whose Prost-Peugeot spun off and was craned away. Alesi was also out for the day. (Photos by Sutton Images).

What’s all the fuss about? Michael Schumacher looked to be heading for another red win until he made a mistake and crashed all by himself.Yes Virginia, it does happen ...

Montreal, Canada, June 13- Results 69 Laps/305.049km

(Photo by RacoAccess).

smacked into the wall at the final corner (a la Schumacher-Villeneuve etc) on lap 14. “I made a mistake,” he admitted. “I should not have lost control of the car. I wish I could blame the wall, but I can’t!” Frentzen’s demise enabled Herbert to finish fifth and he was delighted to finally finish a race - and to score points for his new masters at Ford. Barrichello would have liked to have done the same but after the shunt his car was behaving like a banana. In the end Rubens decided to call it a day as the car had become undriveable. Sixth place went to Pedro Diniz which was a good result given the fact that his weekend had started with a hefty shunt into a walk It £dso did no harm at all to his credibihty... Marc Gene was eighth behind Coulthard, having .

Rrmlshing position: Hakkinen was in front when it counted and now takes a 4 point chanpiQBShip lead to France. tmD

kept out of the way of trouble throughout the race. The same could not be said for Luca Badoer who made life difficult for just about eveiyone and ended up with a stop-go penalty for ignoring waved blue. He deserved it. Tenth place was his reward for this uncompromising behaviour, Ohvier Panis did httle better and he too ended up with a 10-second stop-go penalty. He had a very frustrating start when his anti-stall system cut in during the first corner melee and he was left chug ging along as the field went past him. Frustration is no excuse for annoying everyone else for the rest ofthe day. Arrows failed to get a car to finish, both de la Rosa and Takagi retiring with transmission trouble. The team’s problems remain the same as before. No money, no glory. British American Racing had a day which will not make a big chapter when (and iD the history of the team is ever written. Zonta crashed at the final corner. Villeneuve did the same only faster. End of story.

Pos Driver

Team

1 M. Hakkinen McLaren-Mercedes 2 G. Fisichella Benetfon-Supertec Marlboro-Ferrari 3 E. Irvine 4 R. Schumacher Williams-Superfec Stewart-Ford 5 J.Herbert Sauber-Petronas 6 P. Diniz McLaren-Mercedes 7 D. Coulthard Minardi-Ford 8 M. Gene 9 O. Panis Prost-Peugeot Minardi-Ford 10 L. Badoer 11 H.H. Frentzen Jordan-Mugen-Honda

Time/Laps

1h 41m 35.727s 1h 41m 36.509 kph 1h 41m 37.524 kph 1h41m38.119secs 1h 41m 38.532 secs 1h 41m 39.438 secs 1h 41m 40.731 secs 68 laps 68 laps 67 laps 65 laps(DNF)

Fastest Lap Irvine lap 62,1m 20,382 secs, 197.999 kph Lap Leaders: Lap 1-29 Schumacher Lap 30-69, Hakkinen. Retirements: transmission Benetton-Supertec Lap 0 A. Wurz Prost-Peugeot crashed into Barrichello Lap 0 J. Trulli Sauber-Petronas hit by Barrichello Lap 0 J.Alesi hit wall BAR-Supertec Lap 2 R. Zonta hit wall Jordan-Mugen Honda Lap 14 D.Hill collision damage Lap 14 R. Barrichello Stewart-Ford Lap 22 P. de la Rosa Arrows gearbox hit wall Lap 29 M. Schumacher Marlboro-Ferrari hit wall Lap 34 J. Villeneuve BAR-Supertec Arrows Lap 41 T.Takagi gearbox brakes Lap 50 A. Zanardi Williams-Supertec Lap 65 H.H.Frentzen Jordan-Mugen-Honda brakes/crashed Drivers World Championship points: M.Hakkinen 34, M.Schutnacher 30, E.lrvine;25, H.H.Frentzen 13, G. Fisichella 13, D, Coulthard 12, R.Schumacher 8, R.Barrichello 6, D.Hill 3, J. Herbert 2, De la Rosa 0.Panis J. Herbert J.AIesi J.Trulli and A.Wurz 1. Constructors' points: Scuderia Ferrari- Marlboro 55, McLaren-Mercedes 46, Jordan-MugenHonda 16, Benetton-Supertec 14, Williams- Supertec 12, Stewart-Ford 8, Prost-Peugeot and Sauber- Petronas 2, Arrows 1.

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18 June 1999

■ This year’s Wintemats produced the biggest ever entiy bst for an Australian drag racing event, topping last year’s Winters’520 and maxing out at a whopping 533! Total numbers for the specific brackets prior to the beginning of qualifying were: Top Fuel 9,Top Doorslammer 17,Top A’cohol 10,Pro Stock 13, Top Bike 15,Pro Bike 10, Comp 16,Super Stock 30, Comp Bike 17, Modified 49, Super Sedan 94,Super Street 84, Junior Dragster 49, Mod Bike 68,Super Gas 31 and Top Comp (demo bracket)21. ■ American drag racing IHEA commentator Bill Pratt, better known for his world-famous “Drag Racing List” which lists all of the best runs for racers in most categories aroimd the world, was a guest of Victor Bray for the week end. Pratt imparted a fair amount of his knowledge on the track PA,and drew rave reviews. You can find his list on the net at www.dragbst.com. ■ Friday night’s qualifyfing session certainly wasn’t one ofthe most memorable ever, with veiy few cars in any bracket actually being able to get the down the dew3’track under power. Aroucd a dozen cars head ed across the centrebne, a number ofthem taking out the timing fights .... The only brackets which showed any resemblance of competitive times were Pro Stock and Top Bike. B How tough was it to get down the track in Top Fuel? Well,it took until the second session before any cars actually went down track in any shape or form - Romeo Capitanio and Steve Read’s 5.36 and 5.60 runs really not anything close to what the team’s would find acceptable. Jim Read finally top qualified the Gregory’s Automotive Publications fueller on top with a tyre-rattling 5.32/263. In fact, over the whole weekend, there wasn’t one really true side by side race, with the nitro burners being most effected by the super air/cold track conditions. ■ Apparently the oilsponsor^ Top Fuel cars have also attracted the attention ofsome ofthe country’s biggest auto parts retailers with Rachelle Splatfs Valvofine-backed car and Kirby’s Peimzoil digger carrying new signage at the event. Splatt’s car was wearing the signage of former Peter Russo sponsor Autopro, Kirbys carrying Autobam markings. ■ Sydney’s irmovative Sainty Top Fuel team introduced another new product to Australian drag racing-the five disc clutch. The clutch appar ently helped the team regain some ofthe form the team had shown in the past, a couple of mid-five second times again show ing some of the potential the team is known to have.

Wings of prey: Robin Kirby’s Pennzoil fuellerflj^.W:into the winner’s circle, Kirby also claiming the Australian TopFuel Championship. (Marshallcaea>

The Pain & the Glory Record 533 entries Gratz runs world record with 229.24 mph ’slammer run! Kirby claims ’99 Wintemats & Top Fuel Series crowns Peter Ridgeway & ‘Pommie Pete’ successfully return

Report by GERALD McDORNAN 11 the best inten tions and expecta tions in the world don’t necessarily mean that what’s been careful ly planned will come to fruition and you can quickly become disap pointed ... and that was the 1999 Konica Winternationals down to aT!

With 533 entries being received for the event - 13 up on ‘98 - and full fields in all Group One brackets, you couldn’t help but think this was going to be one brain-

bottler of a meeting. But, with over 12 hours of the meeting lost to delays resulting from huge amounts of oil being dumped on the track from all classes and a number of serious crashes, this year’s Wintemats was far from it, turning into a bit of a chore at some points. The track conditions were a worry right from the start, many racers not happy with traction (a meeting being organised by the Group One competitors Saturday morn ing to discuss their options before approaching track management) available - an extremely narrow groove

not helping, along with the Gratz’s claiming of Victor perfect weather during the Bray’s world doorslammer day that then brought about speed record, the Valvoline/ extremely cool nights. Cummins Daytona running Many blamed the brand of 229.24 mph in qualifying, traction compound being Andrew Searle’s win in the used, but a good dosing of the same class, Peter Ridgeway’s track on Saturday morning sensational return to Pro and then better conditions on Stock with his high-flying Sunday did bring the track Olds Cutlass, Pro Stock itself around considerably from with the factory hotrods rev what it was originally. elling in the conditions. Top All the concerns aside,' Bike’s championship fightout one couldn’t help but feel between eventual winner sorry and thankful to the Craig McPhee and Brett track crews who absolutely Stevens, ‘Pommie Pete’ worked their backsides off Allen’s retmm to the seat of a trying their best to continu fuel bike and, in Super ally clean up the oil and Stock, the sensational battle crash scenes - they were of the G/Gassers with Trevor getting slower by the end of Maas and Nick Xerakias the event but, boy, had they trading blows with 8.6 sec worked hard! ond nms in quafifyang prior Still, the outcomes of a to facing offin a great final. number of championships went right down to the wire and, when race day finally In Top Fuel in good were scarce, factruns just came around, and with con three full passes were ditions considerably better recorded in all of qualifying and officials still enthusias and eliminations with all tic to get it all back on teams battling. track, some lost ground was ,, Jim Read’s return full time to the track with new made up. sponsor Gregory’s number of the absolute Automotive Publications tandout highlights of Formerly always the the weekend were Peter bridesmaid, Robin Kirby

overcame a 15 point deficit to Darren DiFilippo in the series to claim the title. Kirby’s run to the title was helped by two extremes, his quickest ever run (5.003s) in his first round win over Romeo Capitanio and his semi-final and final round opponents Terry Sainty and Jim Read - both experiencing difficul ties and not making it to the startline (Sainty was there for appearance-sakes, but was never going to make a run). DiFilippo, on the other hand, had things start out OK in the first round, Steve Read having continual prob lems, but it all turned sour in the semi-final against Jim Read when the clutch in the Redback Performance Exhausts fueller cried enough and the champi onship went begging. For Jim, his solid 5.09 in the semi-finals was the secJust running down the drag strip’s his idea of having fun: Andrew Searie cleaned Top Doorslammer up again... (Photo by Marshall Cass)

18 June 1999

DUCMFSI

E Q

■ After kicking four rods out of their only engine in qualifying, the Motorsport Trailers team of Andrew Cowan and Dwayne Riley purchased one of Charlie DiFilippo’s short engines to try and make it for the first round. With very little time to fit up their own top-half to the engine, DiFilippo, thinking of the seeding and championship consequences if Cowan and Riley had pulled out, loaned them everything -including heads, blower, manifold, etc.- required to make the call. Unfortunately for both teams, they both fell in the first round.

■o

See any fear in his eyes? Peter Ridgeway had no problems climbing back into his “new” Olds to take his second Winternats in suc cession - Ridgeway also running a 7.70s best to lead the show after qualifying.

ond quickest of the event and gave them the allimportant lane choice for the final but a leaking rear main, discovered after the warm-up, meant that Kirby was to be sent down the track alone. “I suppose this just shows if you keep plugging away at your goals, you can achieve whatever you want,” a delighted Kirby said after DiFilippo bowed out. “In the early years we did it tough but we stuck together, had some great support from our sponsors - like Keatings Transport and Pennzoil and the results have now come... it’s terrific.”

Top Alcohol produced surprise first-time wina North ner with Paul Queensland’s Shackleton bringing a fresh face to the victory presenta tions. Like their fuel cousins. Top Alcohol was hit by the tyre-shake blues in the con ditions and no super quick runs were recorded. although favourite Gary Phillips was quick (as usual) and Mark Brew was showing solid form with the small block-powered drag ster. Phillips went out in a shock loss to runner-up Wayne Newby in the semis, the Lucas Oils machine shaking the chutes loose at 200 feet and struggling down track - that said, Newby’s 5.87/237 would have been tough to beat. ■

■ Former Top Alky racer Jeff Burnett is making con siderable progress with his new “Rhino” carbon-fibre injector hats. Both Pennzoil cars of Robin Kirby and Peter Kapiris wore the new, perhaps a bttle more con ventional-looking, but still vastly-improved units, Kirby going on to win the event and Kapiris making the semi-finals. Melbourne alky altered racer Tommy Easton was impressed with the units, taking possession of the “hat” on Kirby’s car after the event. A new JBR unit is expect to retail for up to $3,000, almost half the cost of the European-made injectors currently the rage

In the final it appeared to be all Newby’s race; a per fect .400 light had the Sydneysider well /but in front, but troubles' slowed him and Shackleton snuck by to take a refreshing 6.10/227 to 6.32/172 win. Steve Harker, having run a brilliant 5.72 at the Nationals in March, was again expected to put his face forward but, like the Nationals, he was out in the first round - the engine’s internals apparently finding their way into the diaper. at could be said about . . Pro Stock and the Winternationals? Well, the two just seem to go hand in hand and while the higher horsepowered, blown cars had problems, the Pro Stockers, while still skating around, almost revelled in the mineshaft-like atmos phere. The bracket also produced considerable drama with Craig Hastead and Bruno Cugnetto fighting out the championship. To add drama to the excitement, Hastead failed to qualify (8.08) and waited with bated breath for Cugnetto to falter - the Victorian, who only just qualified on the last run himself (7.75/174) needing to make it to the final round to claim the championship. Ridgeway, defending champion of the event having won at the wheel of Cugnetto’s spare VPW Mail Order Olds in ‘98 - was brilliant all weekend with his

Tlie Melbourne racer has replaced Graeme Cowin as No Featr’s Australian drag racing face and will be used by the company in its advertising. ■ Dual Nationals Pro Stock winner Tony Wedlock reappeared after a 12 month break with his Pontiac Trans Am at this year’s Winters. After getting “stiffed” on an engine deal, Wedlock took time out to rethink bis racing career. Needing to be heavily pursuaded to spend the cash required to come back, Wedlock purchased a new “top hair for his engine - the new goods producing the goods with constant mid 7.7s and sending the big fella to the semi-finals. ■ Legends never forget apparently, that was the impression after watching Tommie Pete’ Allen’s return to the seat of John Hoskins’ fuel bike during Friday night’s qualifying session. After not having been on a bike for 18 months, and not having ridden “Fat Cat’s” bike for four years, the “Pom” ran an easy, nerve-calming 7.32 just to get the feel of what was to come.

■ Melbourne’s Michael Trahar is believed to be in the midst of organising ■ Defending Winternats legal action following the Pro Stock champion Peter “bouncing” of his Gold Ridgeway returned to racing Eagle nitrous Top with his own Don Ness Olds Doorslammer on the Cutlass Pro Stocker, rebuilt Monday prior to the after its wall catapulting Winternats. crash early last season. Trahar had entered but Ridgeway, who won last was told not to turn up at the event as his new year’s event at the wheel of Bruno Cugnetto’s spare Studebaker’s chassis, which was constructed in VPW Cutlass, topped the qualifying sheets at the end mild steel, didn’t meet the of the first day, the red, blue regs and wouldn’t have and white Olds running an been given special com early shutoff 7.72. pensation to run. Trahar believes he’d already received the go■ Ridgeway’s amazing ahead to race months ability to rebound from after the Nationals and adversity, having not only survived last season’s 'wasn’t impressed. Having huge accident and a leg already paid for plane tickets and accomodation destroying wheel rim explosion a few years back, for the trip north, he was at the Winternats and has helped him attract the support of clothing manu talking of meeting with facturer No Fear. solicitors early this week.

in the US.

5 TJ

5 <D

The sign of things to ceiine: Just two weeks after telling Motorsport News he’d love to set a world record one day, Top Doorslammer racer Peter Gratz did just that, running a world’s best 229.24 mph in his Vaivoline/Cummins Dodge - surpassing arch-rival Victor ©ray’s 228 mph previous best. “new” Don Ness Cutlass ... the car looking even better than what it did new following its rebuild. No Fear’s new boy stormed to the top of the

qualifying sheets with a 7.70/175 and then ran 7.85, 7.75 and 7.77 in downing Kym Petterwood, Bruce Continued on page 35

Race Crew Wanted Have you ever wanted to work on a Top Fuel Dragster? Well this Sydney based Top Fuel Team require the services of two enthusiastic individuals who love drag racing and who have spare time on their hands. Experience would be an advantage but not necessary as full training will be provided. These ^re serious positions and we require dedicated people to make this team. The positions in question are a Top End guy and a Clutch guy. We are also seeking a driver for our Transporter. For further details contact Steve Berry on 0414 433 1529

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■ After crashing at the Nightfire Championships a couple of months back, Top Doorslammer racers Lucky Belleri and Steve Stanic front ed at the Winternats, although it was with a “rentaslammer”- Victor Bray’s spare Castrol Customline. Although not qualifying, Belleri and Stanic were happy to be back out on the track while their former VP Commodore is being repaired and updated to a new VT Commodore coupe.

Jumping for joy: North Queensland’s Paul Shackleton was a fresh face in the Top Alcohol winners circle, outlasting Wayne Newby in the finai. (Phoio by Marshall cass) I’ll give it a little touch up here, just like the old days:‘Pommie Pete’ Allen and John “Fat Caf Hoskins were reunited at the Winternats,(Photo by oeraw Mcooman) Continuedfrom page 33 Leake'and Joe Polito to claim his second Winternats victory - Polito’s Dynomax Probe again coming home second in the

final.

Qualifying 1 Jim Read, NSW, Gregory’s Automotive (Uyehara/511) 5.326 263.93 2 Romeo Capitanio, Vic , Capitanio Bros.(Hadman/496) 5.366 192.06 3 Terry Sainty, NSW, Eagle Ignition Leads (Sainty/498) .5.534 248.07 4 Steve Read, NSW, Santo's Cranes (MoKinney/498). . .5.607 206.14 5 Darren DiFilippo, Vic, Redback Perf Ex.(Hadman/496) . .5.777 163.70 6 Andrew Cowan, Vic, Motorsport Trailers(Andrews/496)..6.326 166.17 7 Robin Kirby, Vic, Pennzoil/Keatings Trans(Swindahl/496) ..6,636 131.46 8 Rachelle Splatt, Vic, Valvoline/Cummins (Hansen/496) 10.619 79,80

Eliminations - First round W

Jim Read Rachelle Splatt Robin Kirby Romeo Capitanio Terry Sainty Andrew Cowan Darren DiFilippo Steve Read

W W W

.516 .575 .500 ,636 .535 .831 .494 .520

5.149 6.183 5.003 11.245 5.547 13.498 5.478 8.617

279.33 148.22 266.43 66.35 255.53 59.84 189.63 87.31

Semi-Finals W

Robin Kirby ... Terry Sainty ... Jim Read Darren DiFilippo

.536 1.694 .518 .521

11.051 23.633 5.099 5.593

87.12 57.57 288.27 183.23.

.674 .Broke

5.560

262.09

Final W

Robin Kirby Jim Read ...

It was a dominant win, which was con siderable considering the tightness of the field - the top six having qualified in the 7.7s range! “We were fairly confident we had a good package for this event but we were also pretty nervous not having had a chance to run the car beforehand,” Ridgeway.said at the end of the event. “The car ran beautifully, though, and aside from having just one run where the shift light didn’t work, it was pretty much perfect... I couldn’t have asked for more.” “My crew did a tremendous job with the rebuild of the car and preparing it for a return like this and the win is a great reward for us all.”

Like two other blown brackets. Top the Doorslammer produced some massive-sized headaches for many a crew chief and drive alike - tyre shake being the order of the event, especially early on. Andrew Searle’s dream jun of late in the class continued, Searle going on to claim the Nationals/Wintemationals dou ble in what has been an amazing year. The “budget racer” has taken on all before him all year and the Winternats

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was no different, “Searley” even surpris ing himself with a top qualifying 6.31/217. With the humble backing of ACME fibreglass (thanks to some coyote buying up plenty of stuff for some mission he’s on ...), Searle escaped in the first round, Les Winter’s quicker Chevy going down on a holeshot 6.77/211 to 6.71/213, while in the remaining two rounds he fought hard to down Peter Kapiris’s Pennzoil Studebaker and Bray’s Chev - both passes running right to the wire.

Another huge shock stunning in the category was Peter Gratz’s world his m speed record pass Valvoline/Cummins Dodge. Gratz’s 229.24 mph pass surpassed Bray’s 228 mph best with the Castrol Chevy, the pair actually running side-by-side on the record-setting pass. While some at the track originally missed the significance of the pass, once Gratz’s huge top end charge became apparent, the house came down. “I couldn’t believe it happened,” Gratz said with a huge smile following the run. “I still had to pedal it quickly early on, and it was skating around a fair bit on the top end but it seemed to be a reason able run and the I got the time card!” “It’s been a long time coming and we always knew we had the ability ... “ For Bray to reach the final it was a

■ Being interviewed at the bottom end followinghis selfproclaimed “half hour under the index” run, Xerakias, who’s always good for a quote, in his best Guido Hatsis-style said “It’s was always going to hap pen. You get il the G/Gassers in the country together in the one place at the one time, they run under the same conditions, with the same air and on the same track, only one wdl ever come out on top.” ■ Victorian Super Gas racer Robert Azzopardi had a coming together with the concrete wall early on the first day of the Winternats. While the Mazda RX7 is repairable, Azzopardi’s event and championship hopes weren’t.

Continued on page 36

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■ The shootout for the quick est G/Gas Super Stocker in the country was a ripper during qualifying with nine cars lining up to, firstly, try and qualify for the field and then gain the hon ours of being quickest. Melbourne’s Nick Xerakias lifted the standards for the class on Friday with a quickest ever 8.72, but things got a lot quicker on Saturday. Xerakias and Brisbane’s IVevor Maas went head to head twice on Saturday, Maas producing an even quicker 8.67 to Xerakias’ 8.70 on the first pairing. But Xerakias came back later in the evening, his Northern Dynamics Ford Probe belting out an incredible 8.62/157 0.48 under the national class index!

WIIMT

18 June 1999

■ Jason Bonney lost control of his G/Gas Commodorejust past the finish line during Friday night’s first Super Stock qualifying session, hitting the concrete safety wall before being deflected across the track and into the front of Morrie Wilkie’s Shane Bowden-driven Trans Am. A hard-braking Bowden was unable to avoid the now upside-down and engineless Commodore, Wdke’s car suffering severe frontal damage while Bonneys was understand ably a write-off. ■ Top Doorslammer dri ver Dave Koop also got in amongst the action, scrap ping the wall on his only qualifier. Koop appeared to suffer severe tyre-shake, the resulting contact with the wall then, apparently, cracking the rear housing and ending his weekend.

The bigger they are: With the championship contenders out early and opponent Gavin Spann broken, Ian Ashelford cruised to the Top Bike title. Sell out: Over 40,000 attended this year’s Konica Winternationals. (Photos by Marshall cass)

■ Friday’s quahfying was finally called to an end when Sydney Super Stock racer Mario Carona lost control of his B/Gas Falcon in 'he traps. The Falcon turned hard left at the fin ish line, then rolled a num ber oftimes, Carona emerging unhurt, although the car was a write-off. ■ Comp bike racer Mick Murray, appearing at the Winters with his new P/CB Harley, had a gut wrenching ride along the wall during qualify ing, Murray’s legs strad dling the concrete! After one leg snapped off a PA speaker mounted to the back of the wall which resulted in a bro ken leg - MuiTay walked away and,thankfully, still had his most trea sured possessions still in place.

Instruction manual; Veteran Jim Read showed how it was done, top qualifying and advancing to the final.(Oeraw Mcooman) shows that if he again becomes interested in win ning, massaging the car between rounds, and not looking for world-record runs every run, watch out!

Continuedfrom page 35 good return to form for the loveable tomato farmer, having seriously struggled with major tyre-shaking

dramas of late. After just scraping in in qualifying and seeing his world record fall, Bray backed massive amounts of

power out of his Castrol car and then drove it down the track with a lot more ease and comfort, A final round 6.45/224

Like Pro Stock, thein cham pionship battle Top Bike was a tense one with Craig McPhee and Brett Stevens fighting it out. McPhee, leading the series by just five points into the coming Winternats, thought he’d blown his chances by losing in the first round, but the Townsville rider watched his fellow Queenslander have troubles just two pairs later and the championship was secured.

Tommie Pete’ Allen and John “Fat Cat” Hoskins were reunited for the first time in three years and they immediately picked up where they left off - at the top of the sheets, the “Pom top qualifying with a great 7-teen at 198 on the Warlock Kawasaki. As usually with anything nitro, the good runs didn’t last for the pair, banging the engine in the semis against Gavin Spann, Spann win ning but also destroying the bottom end in his nitrous equipped Suzuki. This left Perth’s Ian Ashelford to solo for the gloiy in Top Bike, a stout 7.51 aboard the Harley more than enough to take the gold.

Top Doorslammer QuaUfying 5.856 1 Gary Phillips, Qld, Lucas Oils (Uyehara/482) 5.918 2 Mark Brew, Qld, Proformance (Lowe/388) . 3 Paul Shackleton, Qld, Castrol Racing (Meyer/470) 6.116 4 Wayne Newby, NSW, Newby Superchargers(Meyer/469)..6.171 5 Steve Marker, Qld, Spectra-Thermo King(97 Avenger/526).6.246 6 Steve Reed, Qld, Reed Transport (94 Cutlass/540) ...6.341 7 Dean Oakey, NSW,American Aulo Parts(Uyehara/470) ..6.362 8 Frank Intini, SA, F&M Cylinder Heads(Meyer/375) ...6.911

238.73 227.62 228.31 203.53 236.59 199.47 215.00 166.85

Qualifying

1 Andrew Searie, Old,ACME Fglass(56 Customline/511) .6.313 217.08 2 Shane Elcoate, Qld, Thunder Road (41 Willys/526) ...6.405 203.71 3 Peter Gratz, Qld, Valvoline/Cummins(69 Daytona/511)6.426 229.24 4 Robin Judd, WA,Studbaker Racing(53 Studebaker/511) 6.502 220.05 5 PeterKapiris, Vic,PennzoilA/PW(53Studebaker/518) .6.566 213.57 6 Michael King, Qld,-Thunder Road (94 CorTtniodorB/526) ..6.794 186.03 6.879 216.97 7 Victor Bray, Qld, Castrol Racing,(57 Chevy/511) 8 Les Winter, Qld, Winter's Smash Repairs(55 Chevy/504) ..7.013 209.79 DNQ: Raschella (7.456/139.62), Chambers(7.934/114.56), Slanic (8.380/126.44), Simpson (8,817/142.13), Sorbello (10.260/115.83)

7.707 175.30 1 Peter Ridgeway, Vic, No Fear(99 Cutlass/347) 7.727 174.62 2 Joe Polito, NSW, Dynomax (92 Probe/343) . . 3 Tony Wedlock, Qld, Ultimate Rnancial(94 Firebird/353) .7.746 173.41 4 Bruno Cugnetto, Vic, VPW Mail Order(98 Cut)ass/331) .7.754 174.08 5 Bruce Leake, NSW,ThuemaS Leake(96 Cutlass/331) .7.754 170.26 7.786 175.71 6 Robert Quattrochi, SA, Valvoline (Beretta/352) ,. 7.833 173.01 7 Rob Tucker, Qld, Tucker Racing (97 Cutlass/348) 8 Kym Petterwood, Qld, Lifestyle Aust.(97 Rrebird/329) .7.883 169.88 DNQ: Andriopoulos (7,888/168.60), Hastead (8.087/166.54), Shore (8.117/166.11), Moutsos (8.207/160,94)

Eliminations - First round W W t

W W

Gary Phillips Frank Intini Mark Brew Dean Oakey Wayne Newby Steve Marker Paul Shackleton Steve Reed

.503 .485 .446 .677 .507 .000 .552 .478

5.805 7.142 5.940 6.231 9.778 Broke 5.973 6.185

232.32 224.33

.443 ,531 .490 .527

5.879 6.576 5.955 5.956

237.22 144.23 231.13 227.27

..573 .400

6.101 6.332

224.44 172.94

240.00 186.41 228.08 218.24 85.05

Wayne Newby . Gary Phillips ... Paul Shackleton Mark Brew

Final W

Paul Shackleton Wayne Newby..

W W

Semi-Finals W

Eliminations - First round W

Andrew Searie Les Winter Michael King Peter Gratz Peter Kapiris Robin Judd Victor Bray Lui Raschella

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Tony Wedlock Robert Quattrochi Joe Polito Rob Tucker Bruce Leake Bruno Cugnetto Peter Ridgeway Kym Petterwood

.461 .487 .435 .454 .437 .471 .496 .325

7.751 7.812 7.845 7.873 7.810 7.808 7.852 7.919

173.54 175.23 171.95 171.36 173.14 172.68 174.02 170.00

Joe Polito Tony Wedlock .. Peter Ridgeway Bruce Leake ...

,501 .449 .488 .502

7.849 7.902 7.750 7.859

171.30 173.88 174.22 172.68

.463 .466

7.775 7.855

174.08 169.81

Final

Andrew Searie Victor Bray ...

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Eliminations- First round

.446 .:..677 ..562 .545 523 .883 .550 .025

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18 June m

■ South Australia’s Les “the Snake” Kennewell’s appearance in Mod Bike may have just been his last in the bracket, “the Snake” getting ready to step up to Top Fuel bike in the very near future.

Top Bike W

..830 Broke

7.591

162.87

.453 .429

7.945 8.021

166.24 165.20

0.746 .444

10.900 110.21 Broke

8.94 8.94

.457 .476

8.724/ 153.43 8.735 154.22

8.91 9.14

.522 .579

8.843 9.501

144.00 150.00

.8.95 .8.80

.454 .452

9.001 8.876

146.53 148.03

.9.95 .9.40

.413 .741

10.160 127.59 9.595 134.65

.12.53 .12.33

.424 .435

12.557 108.49 12.311 102.16

.9.00 10.60

.474 .559

9.069 10.617

Ian Asheltord, WA (Harley) .. Gavin Spann, Qld (Suzuki) ...

Pro Stock Motorcycle W

Sam ScerrI, SA (Suzuki1320) Jason Lee, SA (Suzuki 1320).

Piston and broke: Sainty pistons were going cheap „.

Competition Eliminator

C. Van Ysseldyk, NSW (B/D)...7.71 .7.70 Greg Leahy, Qld (B/A)

Super Stock W

Trevor Maas, Qld (G/G) Nick Xerakias, Vic(G/G )

Competition Bike W

Perry Mackie, SA (P/CB) Joe Marshall, Qld (A/SB)

Modified W

Alan White, NSW ... Richard Vergelius, Qld

Super Sedan W

Juan Kudnig, Old .. Wayne Braund, Qld ..

Super Street W

Steve Sander, Old Paul Doeblien, Qld

Junior Dragster W

Leigh Hartill-Law, NSW Uchlan Bell, NSW

69.89 58.11

Modified Bike W

Geoffrey Roos, Qld . Terry Emery, Vic ....

Super Gas W

Adrian McGrotty, Vic Mark Calus, NSW ...

And don’t you forget it: Nick Xerakias’ G/Gas Probe ran a brilliant 8.62/157 to top qualify in Super Stock. Xerakias went to the final, falling to Trevor Maas in a fantastic race.

.9.60 .8.70

.609 .620

9.753 8.934

123.12 144.05

.9.90 .9.90

.430 .427

9.927 9.964

131.66 134.41

Smoking win: Charles Van Ysseldyk sun/ived three Top Fuel-like tyre-smoking runs to win Comp,the final being a wild race against favourite Greg Leahy.(Photos by Marshall cass) Jason dominated Lee had Prototally Stock Bike in 99 and at the Winternats the story had remained the same ... until the final round that was. Running Dale Gilbert’s bike alongside Trevor Birrell’s Sam Scerri machine - the two teams work together - Lee could only watch in amazement as Scerri just pipped him on the line to take the gold, the event being the only one this season the Lee/Gilbert duo had not won.

n conclusion, while this Konica year's Winternationals had its problems, come race day it wasn’t all that bad and a record three day crowd in

champions, provisionals, etc.), and the deletion of non-championship brackets at this championship event, the event will be able to unleash the beast it was trying to this year.

■ How expensive can Junior Dragster be? Well, it is rumoured that one two-car team had two engines believed to have cost around $9,000 each - in their cars, along with four clutches (having a spare for each car) which cost $2,500 each! Couple that with the chassis’ and trailer and the whisper is that around $40,000 has been spent on the class by one team alone!

■

IHLUl MERCH&NDISE

“Peter Gratz t€ y

excess of 40,000 pays testament to just that. Perhaps if number restrictions are looked at for such an important, seasonending event (only previous ADRS pointscorers, former

■ A first round defeat for out-going Australian Junior Dragster Champion Kelly Bettes meant that it was the first time since the class’ first appearance at the Winters six years ago that a member of the Bettes family hadn’t made it to the final round. Kelly’s brother Scott won the first three Winternats, was runner-up at the fourth while Kelly won the event, at the same time securing the first ever JD championship, last year.

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18 June 1999

returning, but again we didn’t qualify. We’re working hard trying to run consis tent 4.50s and it’s tak ing a while for us to hit on a combination. There’s not much shame in not qualify ing, especially when the big dollar boys like Amato, SceUi and Vandegriff amongst others, have all sat out eliminations at some stage this year. The next two events were the back to back races in Texas. We quali fied in the low 4.6s at both events and managed to take a round win over Doug Herbert at the Motorplex. On one of our runs in Texas, we ran 3.02/270 to half track while Dixon ran 3.01/272 to the same point,. on his 4.486, so the poten tial is there for all to see./

Davfa clfcUiiNl Like column our racing, is off tothis a slow years start. Prior to the season opening Winternationals, we headed to Phoenix to do some testing. We’d made changes to our fuel system had some ideas to try with the 5 disk clutch. We only made a handful of passes, but we felt confident going into Pomona. Unfortunately, los ing a session to rain there bit us pretty hard, and with tyre shake our main foe, an un representative best of 4.82/304 didn’t make the cut. u

1could only watch as *Super Shoe’ hauled arse alongside me with a 4.54/330.23- thefastest run ever

Our trip to Phoenix somewhat happierwas a event and a solid 4.67/305 saw us in the field, one spot in vront of Andrew Cowin. Tony Schumacher was our opponent in the first round and a clutch mal function meant that I could only watch as “Super Shoe” hauled arse alongside me with a4.54/330.23-the fastest run ever. His crew chief Dan Olson is certainly onto something as they are consistently running top' speed at most events.

On the sponsorship front, Synergyn were funding their involvement in our team via a corporate restructure. Unfortunately that restructure didn’t occur, so we are still an independent team running out of John’s pocket. I think that we have a lot to offer as a team and I have been fortunate enough to pick up some personal sponsor ship from Redback Beer. We’re hoping that may translate to something more substantial a little fur ther down the track.

y congratulations go to Andrew Cowin on tak ing his first round win of his budding NHRA career over Larry Dixon at Phoenix. Dixon’s car ran quicker, but Andrew did his job on the starting line. Our oid crew chief Richard Hogan has given them some assistance, but regardiess, everyone over here is impressed with their attitude and perfor mance. After running a 4.57 at Gainesville last year, we were looking forward to

We’d skipped a few races, our last stop being at Chicago’s Route 66 event last week. Despite being away from a few races, though, that didn’t mean that life slowed down much. We’ve been working on a web page, negotiating an merchandising deal and assembled 18 short blocks during our down time! Cheers,

m m fJ

Wilker Report by DAVE OSTASZEWSKl TIM Wilkerson’s perfor mance over the past year or so have had quite a few people saying that this guy is a “win looking for a place to happen”. In Joliet at the Route 66 Nationals, Wilkerson and his JCIT Pontiac made good on that thought and in front of his home-state crowd, scored a final round victo ry over John Force in a wild, tire smoking, ped alling contest, 5.97/239 to 7.35/178 - bring to a tem porary end Force’s domi nation of the 1999 season. “I saw him fade off and my car started to shudder right,” said Wilkerson. “My car started hauling on down there and it got out of the groove. Then it started smok ing the tires but I got it back in the groove and it started going straight.” “That’s when I knew I had won the race. John’s been dominating the class all year, so for a Pontiac to beat him and for me to get my first win against him is pret ty special. We’re going to cel ebrate this while we can because I don’t think we’re going to keep John down for very long.” Wilkerson’s march to his first career victory wasn’t easy with the former alky flopper pilot having to down some of the sport’s best with strong 4.9-5.0 second runs.

Virgin victory: Tim Wilkerson’s Chicago win was his first in Funny Car. (Photo by Dave ostaszewski) Coughlin, 6.98/198 to including Whit Bazemore Dunn at a 4.919/277.83. 7.11/196, overcoming a huge and Dean Skuza - Skuza, in “We got lucky because we put out a cylinder against holeshotr'to grab his fourth fact, smoking the tyres and win of’99. nailing the wall against Grubnic,” Duim said. “For the “I don’t think we had any Wilkerson. final, Ken Veney just tuned the car right for the final ... kind of dominating perfor Force, as usual, was domi nant early, but tyre-smoke that just shows you what mance this weekend but it kind of tuner he is.” ended his team’s 8-0 record was good enough to win,” said for the season. Warren Johnson got his Johnson. “If you do a decent GM Goodwrench Service job driving the car and don’t Top Fuel points leader Mike Dunn took his third Pontiac back on track by shoot yourself in the foot with winning a close Pro Stock the set-up, you should at least win of the year, stopping a be competitive.”’ Kenny final round against Troy tyre-smoking Bernstein in the final round with a 4.70/316. It was the first win for Dunn’s Darrell Gwynn’s Mopar Parts drag ster since March. GRAEME Cowin quickly sion — impressing those s “This win means so much decided the K&N watching as it was the sec-| to this team,” said Dunn. Filters/Auto Meter team ond quickest for the session and run in far less than j “We’ve been struggling a little would be headinig to favourable eonditioBs. ! bit during the last few races. : Columbus following son This is a big lift and it puts us Unfortunately a first' Andrew’s best showing - round redlight against Larry ; in a great position heading performance wise-to date Dixon’s Miller Lite dragster ■ into the long summer months. on the NHRA tour, negated what would have : I’m looking forward to Columbus this weekend, I I; extending their sdhedkie been a wirming 4.73/297. ^ think we can do it again.” “We ran a ”73’ and a ‘72’ by, at least,one more race. Dunn enjoyed some luck Cowin Junior qualified in the heat and humidity on Sunday as his first round right off the trailer with a and they say that’s what ; opponent, Australian David short-career best fun of Columbus is like, so I’ve i Grubnic, appeared to have 4.66s and then ran a solid decided that’s where we’re :i him covered only to slow to a 4.72/303 in the third ses- heading,” said Graeme. 5.17/197 which advanced

Cmmn qukkki

Leong departs Snake camp LONG-TIME friends Don Prudhomme and Roland

Leong’s depature has been good news for Australian

Leong have parted compa- Garry Kennedy, “Skippy” ny with the “Snake”- moving to the team as clutch releasing the “Hawaiian” specialist. Kennedy will from his job as crew cMef on Prudhomme s Ron Capps-driven Funny Car last week. The Leong-led Cope team have struggled this season, winning just one round of racing in nine events, despite having run around 60 runs in testing trying to sort out their problems. “I didn’t think we were making the progress we needed” Prudhomme said after making the move. “We’ve lost almost half the season, now we must look toward turning things around the-rest of the way.” “Replacing Roland brought tears to my eyes,” Prudhomme added. “It was very, very tough. I love Roland.”

Leong’s assistant, m turning the team’s fortunes around, Leong joined the team under similar circumstances in 1997, then crew chief Tom Anderson departing after a poor start to the season, .. . Hawaiian vacation: Leong.

... while Johnson Jnr arrives at Gibbs TOMMY Johnson Jr has been named as the full-time replacement driver for Cruz Pedregon in Joe Gibbs’ Interstate Batteries Funny Car. Johnson, who drove alcohol Funny Cars in the late ’80s, licensed in the Wes Cerny-tuned Pontiac in Chicago early last week, running 5.07 and 5.04 second ets on two of his four runs prior to heading to Columbus, Ohio for last weekend’s event. “I gained a new respect for the Funny Car dri vers,” Johnson said after his first drives. “Driving one of these cars isn’t as easy as it

looks. I found out you really have to steer these cars. It’s not like driving a Top Fuel car.” “Driving the Funny Car is a lot more fun than dri ving the dragster.” “I’m definitely looking forward to racing the car,” he added. “I know I have a contending car.” Johnson has two NHRA Top Fuel event wins, along with four IHRA wins. He is also one of only five Top Fuel dri vers who are members of both the 4-Second Club and 300-mph Club - the other four being Joe Amato, Kenny Bernstein, Eddie Hill and Don Prudhomme. - GERALD McDORNAN

1999 WINSTON DRAG RACING SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS AT JUNE 1 1999 1999 Winston Top Fuel Championship .751 1. Mike Dunn, Team Mopar .690 2. Doug Herbert, Snap-On Tools .643 3. Kenny Bernstein, Budweiser King . 596 4. Larry Dixon, Miller Lite .577 5. Tony Schumacher, Exide Batteries .573 6. Gary Sceizi,Team Winston 7. Joe Amato, Tenneco Automotive ... .547 ,529 8. Bob Vandergriff, Jerzee's ,528 9. Cory McClenathan, MBNA .513 10. Doug Kalitta, Kitty Hawk

1999 Winston Funny Car Championship 1052 1. John Force, Castrol Ford Mustang 2. Tony Pedregon, Castrol Ford Mustang ....789 3. Whit Bazemore, Kendall Chev Camaro ....611 4. Cruz Pedregon, I’state Batteries Pontiac ,.542 .525 5. Tim Wilkerson, JCIT Pontiac Firebird 6. Dean Skuza, Mateo Tools Dodge Avenger495 .461 7. Frank Pedregon, Penthouse Pontiac 8. Del Worsham, CSK Pontiac Firebird .423 .418 9. Cory Lee, Pioneer Dodge Avenger,... .364 10.Jim Epier, Easycare Corvette

1999 Winston Pro Stock Championship 1. Warren Johnson, Goodwrench Pontiac ....878 2. Kurt Johnson, AC Delco Chev Camaro ....693 3. Richie Stevens, Valspar Pontiac Firebird ..569 4. Jim Yates. Splitfire/Peak Pontiac Firebird 532 5. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Jeg’s Mail Crder Clds....528l 6. Mike Edwards, Dewco Chev Camaro. .485 7. Troy Coughlin, Jeg's Mail Crder Olds. .474 8. Allen Johnson, Amoco Dodge Avenger ...467 .418 9. Mark Pawuk, Summit Racing Pontiac 10.Mark Trumble Dick Sherman Racing. .402

PEHUZOIL

Peiinzoil truckin' on Pennzoil ace secures first Top Fuel Title Rob fiuss&tf^hcl the Pennzoil Super Truck Tehm dominate in the series opener pEHtaoit

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The Pennzoil Super Truck Racing Team thundered irjto the lead of the 1999 Continental Tyres Australian Super Truck Racing Championship after dominating the action packed Colder Park series opener on May 23. The Pennzoil Multi-Vis 15V/ 50 semi synthetic oil lubricated 14 litre, six cylinder, twin turbo charged Cummins power unit in this awesome racing truck develops in excess of 1000 horsepower with unbelievable (and confidential) torque levels. Rob Russell won the first race, and took third in the red flag interrupted reverse grid formatted second heat. Co-driver Mike took outstanding victories in both of his races following two action packed duels. The Russell brothers have now claimed the early Super Truck series lead but it's a very close fight that's looming this season. The 1999 Continental Tyres Super Truck Championship will continue over four rounds with the second hotly contested round held last weekend at Sydney's Oran Park, then heading to Adelaide's Mallala Motorsport Park on August 22, and Victoria's Winton Raceway on October 10. The popular series finale will see the Super Trucks back at Oran Park on October 24. Pennzoil Super Truck drivers Rob and Mike Russell and Team Owner / Engineer Rod Neven believe that 1999 will be their season and that this early success is just a taste of things to come.

"I was very happy to win the opening round despite losing the points from the second race," Rob Russell said. "This has created an incredibly close Championship fight going into the 1999 season. The racing this year will continue to be fierce and I'm looking forward to having a close Super Truck Championship." I^ussell added. Rod Neven qhd the team have also been imprj^ssed with the quality of Pennzoil's Multi-Vis 15W 50 semi synthetic oil for his 14 litre twin turbo power unit,citing the enormous reduction in engine and bearing wear since they started using Pennzoil from the mid point of last season. Neven tested the Pennzoil

After 10 years competing in the gruelling Australian Top Fuel Championship ranks, 43 year old Bendigo driver Robin Kirby has finally broken through to win his first title at the 1999 Konica Winternotionals after being a five time championship runner-up and three time third place finisher during his highly successful drag racing career,

Pennzoil drag racing team exposure at 1999 Winternationals was the best e^er All Pennzoil Drag Racing Team members did the company proud at the most prestigious I*. 1 J

Pennzoil was represented well by Victorian Top Fuel ace and Championship challenger Robin Kirby, Pennzoi product supported

racing has been successful in J more consumer ■ generating awareness ot the quality ot Pennzoil s premium lubricant range,

ast weekend s 1999 Komca Winternationals at Brisbane s

Studehaker Top poorslammer driver Peter Kapiris

Willow-bank Raceway.

along

like last weekend's Winternationals, we remain excited about the future of our drag racing sponsorships in ; Australia. We can correlate a ' definite flow on from the exposure that Pennzoil gains from these drag I racing sponsorships to increased both in the brand awareness L. consumer and trade market places." Wilson said, "Pennzoil were also delighted to . have provided nationol automotive: retailer Autobarn with prominent signage on our drag racing team cars at the Winternationals. A gesture in return for their great support of our brand." Wilson i

Easily Australia's largest domestic motor racing event, the 1999 Konica Winter-nationals was a drag racing festival that provided

with Pennzoil product supported Top Fuel Bike stars Pommy Pete Allen and R & J Batteries sponsored Peter Pierce, further to tnese teams, hundreds of competitors sported Pennzoil contingency sponsorship signage at fhis premier event. Pennzoil-Quaker State Australia

engine in, and again during a two the fastest drag racing action in the day Winton test session. country in a spectacle that few After the Colder Park round we I venues can match. Located at the nulled down the motor and found no i mmaculately prepared and rearing wear. Previously we would maintained Willowbank Raceway, Motorsport Manager, Neville have to change the bearings after the final deciding eliminators of Wilson has been suit^ly impressed several ANDRA Drag Racing with the brand awareness that these every two races on average, considering the mileage completed brackets at the event made it the drag racing sponsorships have most anticipated and the most generated both with consumers and during the test and at Colder Park, exciting drag racing event of the the automotive trade. that's a very significant season. Our involvement with drag improvement." Neven added.

Rod Meven EViechanic of the Month The June Pennzoil Mechanic of the Month is Rod Neven, owner and chief mechanic of the opening 1999 Continental Tyres Snper Truck round conquering Pennzoil Super Truck team. Neven, 52, has been a constructor and owner of several racing cars, a highlight of his career was in 1985 when Danny Smith ventured down under to race his World of Outlaws Sprintcar. Neven and Smith were virtually unbeatable, taking 21 wins from 25 starts, and gaining 8 victories from 10 feature event starts. Neven was talked into building a racing truck engine around five years ago and it caught on. It wasn't long before he owned and maintained his own Super Truck leading to the success that his

£Amss

Kirby won the title after the only Top Fuel title threat remaining at this final round, Melbourne driver Darren Di Fillipo (who won the first round eliminator against the third Top Fuel title threat,'Steve Read) was eliminated by Jim Read in the Well done! Robin Kirby, pictured here with Pennzoil's Neville Wilson semi final. Kirby's family team and potential." Kirby said. "It has been experienced on Friday and proud major sponsors Pennzoil and 10 long years in Top Fuel and so Saturday so we could be super fast Keatings Transport were thrilled for their driver who had well and truly a finishes but now we We can for for today. 1 have to l ong thank the term team /near say that the title is ours. their paid his dues and waited patiently knew that in order to beat Romeo dedication.Winning back to back for this victory, which was Capitanio in the first round that we Winternationals titles made it just confirmed prior to the running of had to do times in the four second perfect." The new ANDRA the Winternationals Top Fuel final. Australian Top Fuel Champion said. bracket and we worked solidly "This is so satisfying as we were A full Pennzoil Drag Racing Team Saturday night to ensure that not in a good position coming into Winternationals report will appear in everything was right. We ironed out this event and our qualifying speed next month's Pennzoil page. all of the problems that we wasn't anywhere near our

product supplied and was delighted with the results. "The Pennzoil product that we are using is second to none." Neven said. "We have had many problems in the past with excessive bearing wear due to the high torque that we get out of these engines," Fie said. "Pennzoil's engineers discussed the problem with us and provided their Multi-Vis 15 W 50 semi synthetic oil in which we tested on the dyno at Cummins when we ran this season's

PENNZOIL A-

J Pennzoil sponsored team is now enjoying. Pennzoil team driver Rob Russell cannot speak highly enough of Neven's major input into making the Pennzoil team a major force in Australian Super Truck racing. "Rod's enthusiasm is infectious. He has an incredible amount of knowledge and drive to to make our team as strong as it currently is. Without a doubt he is the backbone of our entire operation - it wouldn't function without his expertise. All Mike and I do is point it in the right direction at each race! Russell said. "All involved in the Pennzoil Super Truck

racing team have known eachother for a long time so it is relatively easy for us to work together to find the best set up for each race. Finding more ways to get the truck and handling performing better is a constant challenge that j f^j-id very rewarding when you finish in front." Neven said, When not developing more torque from his six cylinder, 14 litre twin turbo Cummins engine which powers the Pennzoil Super Truck, Neven owns and operates the Truck Performance Centre in the Melbourne suburb of CampbeUfield. As his satisfied many customers wUl tell you. the same dedication devoted to the racing team is reflected behind every service that the Truck Performance Centre provides.

added.

Pennzoil Ride of Your Life & Toolbox winners drawn! PeimzoO-aiuiaker State Australia Company lias drawn the winners of two major national competitions con ducted with automotive retailers Auto One and Repco Auto Parts. The Pennzoil Ride of Y our Life Competition was a national product based competition, with entry forms attached to five litre containers of Pennzoil automotive lubricants and placed in stock at Auto One stores nationwide. Ten Pennzoil Nascar rides with driver Marshall Brewer formed the exhilarating grand prizes for the Auto One competition. The ten lucky winners who will he heading for a wild 250 kph plus ride in Brewer's Pennzoil Chevrolet Monte Carlo Nascar at Melbourne's Calder Park Thunderdome are: A. Hannah, C. Te-Chung, R. Shannon, A. Parker, S. Sams, M.

% N

Hilder, B. Jackson, K. Larkins, C. Leach, G. Johnson, In a second concurrent national competition conducted with Repco Auto Parts retailers nationwide, 100 Pennzoil toolboxes have also been given away, These massive Pennzoil yellow toolboxes are of sturdy and long wearing construction, while also being hghtweight and practical, Both competitions resulted in an impressive increase in sales of Pennzoil lubricant products for both national retailers, rewarding a number of their customers with fantastic prizes simply for selecting any one of the premium range of Pennzoil lubricant products. Pennzoil-Quaker State Australia Company National Sales Manager, MichaelChamberlain was delighted with the number of entries received for the Pennzoil Ride of Your Life and Win a Toolbox retailer competitions. " These promotions are part of our innovative approach to ensuring the consumer enjoys purchasing Pennzoil products. We have known all along that the consumer enjoys the benefits associated with using our products, so it is great to take the enjoyment one step further" Mr Chamberlain said.

lAi®9®l7Sfp®[F0

18 June 1999

DAVE Holdforth’s win ning streak continued in the N§W Superkart Club Championships with vic tory over reigning cham pion Michael Crossland in the 250cc National catego ry at Oran park Raceway on May 23. Also significant was the victorious return ofCharlie Lambous to 250cc International, while Sam Zavaglia’s sudden rise to prominence endedjust as quickly with a huge accident. Holdforth and Crossland have staged some of the best racing seen in the club championships this year, the pair clearly the benchmark for the 250cc National class in NSW. Holdforth continued his recent good form by again heading Crossland in the first two races. Crossland gaining some staisfaction from a victory in the final race.

Dominator Dave Afterwards, Holdforth was quick to give credit to a new supply of Dunlop tyres for his success, remarking that they were only just starting to go off after being used in the two previous meetings (a total of ten races, plus prac tice sessions). Final placings were Holdforth first. Crossland second and Norman Clarke third, the latter after a lonely day’s racing - Bill Wilson, Phillip Taylor and Tim Britten had a geat time deciding fourth through to sixth, the trio finishing in that order. The long-awaited return of Lambous appeared to have been well-timed, the #44

Mpil^TING mourns the loss of one oflife’s gentlemen Tony Morris had a fatal heart attack while in the roll ●round lap in the Over 40s at the Geelong Winter Cup. . 7, As a mark of respect, the meeting was abandoned and, at 'a gathering of the drivers, it was moved unanimously that . all entry monies be donated to Tony’s family. Tony was involved in karting for some nine years, seven of which were with Oakleigh and the last two with Geelong - always ready to help others, he was well-respected in both the karting world and the motor trade, where he worked. Tony placed third in the club championship in his class , last year and, loving a laugh, he was always one to stay j^a^nd for a chat after a meeting. : - Sjncere condolences are extended to Tony’s family from vail those who knew him in karting. ~ GRAEME BURNS

PNC Automotive machine claiming overall victory in 250cc International from Team Pelli. A superb entry of 12 com petitive Inters started the first practice, though Denis Pana would be an early scratching. Race one commenced with John Pellicano gaining a quick lead from Eric Hayes, ROUND three

the

Country Series (eastern region) incorporating the Ken Stanley Memorial attracted an entry of over 200 to the Numurkah Raceway - unfortunately, the weather turned very wet towards the end of „ ® j ’ . ,, fading dramatically, the decision was made to hold the Ken Stanley over until the annual kart titles in September. Junior National Heavy saw Nick Parker take the win to keep his series points tally growing, while Bryce Godfrey came in second and William Nicholson made it an all-Oakleigh club result. Clubman Light was split into two divisions, Kane Rose holding off challenges from several drivers to win division one, ahead of Robert Morton and Greg Hemy.

COMING EVENTS

in KARTING ¥

June 20

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June 27

Club Day

July 4

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Lambous and Viv Coady, who is starting to find some of his early season form. Coady was lucky to survive an incident with lapped traf fic on the exit of the esses. Not so lucky was Zavaglia, who broke a front-end mount exiting the flip-flop and was a helpless passenger as his kart ploughed head first into the Momo Recaro wall.

Race two was a rerun of the first, until Pelli was slowed with an intermittent electrical fault which enabled Lambous, Anton Stevens (in a brand-new kart) and Mcllveen to close and pass, Lambous leading the pack home while Pelli fought in an unaccustomed midfield for seventh place. The final developed into a

straight dogfight between Pellicano and Lambous, both drivers exchanging positions after Charlie had chased down Pelli’s early lead. A decisive move by Lambous at turn 1 proved to be the last change as he established a small gap, Lambous winning from Pelli and Stevens - however, Stevens’ fine third wasn’t enough to displace Hayes from claiming the overall third for the day. Peter Young took out lOOcc NGB, Sharyn Battle 80cc and Dave Smith the 125cc category. -JOHN MORRIS

Wet Numurkah Division two saw John Ippolito win the day, while Aaron Dowers made his trip Gippsland worthwhile ^ith o goofi second from Shaun Van Den Broek, who drove well in the wet. Herman Van Ree was able to pull away from the field in Senior National Pro and took the win comfortably James Reynolds survived some close racing with Nugget Campbell and Adrian Kent to finish second, ahead ofKent. Clubman Super Heavy produced good, close racing up front, Trent Broomfield taking a narrow win from John Stahic and Darren Rae recovering from a bad race two for third. Glen Powles showed the way in Junior National Light, Taz Douglas emerging in second spot from the close-following pack, with Rhys Archer third. Graeme Monds set up his

win in heat one of Clubman a good finish and help him Over 40 by pulling away take the win with good dri ves in his other races - Brian from the field, Harley Milkins was up there and Maxell recovering and commanaged second place, ahead mg through to win race three to give him second on the day of Peter Vogt. Nick Parker made it a dou and Neville Lowe scoring ble for the weekend when he enough for third, The second race of also won Junior Clubman, Rookies was the best to Michael Bantick following for watch, Craig Todd, Justin second and Taz Douglas Carter and Paul Marini havadding to his tally for third. ing a great race-long close As they lined up for heat two of 200cc Clubman, the encounter - Todd went on to rain started' but Graeme win the class, while Marini finished third and Matt Monds - coming back from a Chambers, with a consistent rollover at Bendigo - was not drive all day, slotted into sec- to be outdone by Parker and ond. also scored a double by win Danny Buzadzic stole the ning this class. Jeff Seaholme was second and win in Clubman Heavy Chris Randall third in what diUsion one by always being in the front few - with a win was described by Monds as a in race one, Jess Douglas lottery in the wet. came home second, while Last up were the Midgets, local driver John Pearce was Andrew McFarlane scoring third, also with one win. the most points for the win, In division two, Marcus ahead of Troy Siemens and Zucanovic survived a melee Albury’s David Sammartino. - GRAEME BURNS on lap one in heat two to get hi

. *● : < f.y » ■

Vic/SA Challenge Swan Hill Enquiries 03 5032 1968

VVC\ORV^UK^TOHO I^SSQCVMVOH Ph 03 5449 6362 or 03 9362 1144 Our Web site is: www.kartguide.com.au/vka.htm Our Email address is: vka@bl40.aone.net.au Victorian Karting Association Inc Registered No: A13837D

KART Champion David Sera was recognised by his community, the City of Casey' in Melbourne, for his achievements, a special school assembly being held for him to receive the Edwai’d Flack medal for sporting excellence from the Mayor. Flack, Australia’s first Olympic champion, lived in Berwick in the City of Casey and' young David is the second of only two people to receive the prestigious medal. A member of the Oakleigh Go-Kart Club, David three state titles to his name, a club championship, a driver of the year award, a most improved and many others - he started ■ racing at the age of seven in a Midget and is cuirently in Rookies, but soon to go to Juniors. Cousin James Sera, a five-time state champion, has taken David under his wing and devoted this year to the youngster’s racing career - David enjoys support finm DP Karts. DPE and Southside X Racing.

18 June 1999

■ Proving even the best are not perfect, Tony Stewart wrecked at Pocono on June 8 during a test at the flat track. Stewart was uninjured follow ing contact with the turn 2 walla back-up car was unloaded and Stewart completed the test.

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■ Winston will not return to spon sor the Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter-owned team in 2000, Winston stating they wanted to concentrate their efforts on the overall sponsorship of the series. ■ SBIII Motorsports has released driver Ricky Craven, who failed to qualify for their first race at Charlotte and followed this with a DNQ at Dover. 1994 Daytona 500 pole winner Loy AUen Jr has replaced Craven at the currently unsponsored team,siiice the recent demotion of Holljnvood Video to associate sta tus - Turbine Solutions will appear on the car, this company owned by team owner Scott Barbour. Jarrett was as strong as ever fol Ernie Irvan led the early laps from lowing the second round of stops, the outside pole before being passed Winston Cup race at the twocontinuing to lap cars in wholesale by Mark Martin and then a surpris mile Michigan Speedway in fashion and seemingly able to move ing effort from Bill Elliott Gordon 1991 and last weekend (June took the helm on lap 25 for two anywhere on the track to pass the 13) chalked up career victory laps, Elliott mounting a charge and slower cars. number 20 at the track in the Lap 152 saw the final stop for the then taking thp' top spot for a few Irish Hills under a threat of tours, before Gordon and then Jeff race dominator, while Gordon, W rain. Burton, J Burton and Bobby Burton had spells up front. Jarrett didn’t just beat the com JaiTett pitted for the first time on Labonte were the only cars remain petition - he blitzed them in the tour 50 and found himself with ing on the lead circuit - some caution-free event, so much so only Gordon, Ward Burton and Elliott in excitement was spawned from the five cars remained on the lead cir Burtons as they raced each other, his tyre tracks once stops were com Jeff eventually gaining the upper cuit in the ho-hum 200-lapper. plete. hand and third place from his older Jarrett led two laps under the He held the advantage through his second stop on lap 102, the brother on lap 158. first pit stop sequence and then Gordon gained over four seconds order the same, but Gordon was headed the way on lap 53 for the remainder of the event. some eight plus seconds in arrears on the final pit stop, most nf this on his entry and exit from pit road “That was probably the best race following the stops. car I’ve ever driven,” remarked Defending race winner Martin and, as the laps wound down, he Jarrett, who took his second win of took himself from contention and a began to reel in Jarrett’s four sec ond advantage. seventh place position when he pit the year and set a new race record Jarrett’s car was visibly tighten of 173 mph in a sprint of just two ted for a vibration and the Roush ing up, Martin holding his line and hours and 18 minutes, further guys changed left side tyres to rem edy the problem - this left just' slowing the leader some as Gordon padding his points advantage. Jeff Gordon beat his own track eight cars on the lead lap at lap closed in to a .505-second margin at the chequers. record with a 186.945 mph run, but 118. “I’m not real thrilled about the type of second place we had today,” said Gordon. “It just kills me when we’re out there getting slam beat every single lap from the time you pull off pit road. B'QBBY Labonte won his first race of 1999 and first career victo “It was a pretty boring day for me ry at the concrete one-nnle Dover Downs speedway on June 6 in today, actually - it’s not.the type of [the;joe Gibbs Pontiac, race you like to have, or the fans i . The win came following a late stop for a top-off of fuel in the final caulike to see. ; fioh-period on lap 293 of 400 that saw Labonte run the final 107 miles “I couldn’t see him (Jarrett); the ; onone tank offuel. only time I saw him was there at Labonte also won the pole wdth a record 159.320 mph, 35 cars eclipsthe end when he was letting off to ' ing the old track record on a re-etched surface. make it look good.” “We led the most important laps - the first one, the middle one and Perhaps Gordon can now under j the last one,” remarked Labonte. “I never look at fuel gauges, but I had stand what it’s like for his competi ; to look at that one - it was down a little bit! Jimmy (Makar, crew chief) tors when he stinks up NASCAR’s : made a great call. We were able to conserve fuel at the end, but we had a show on a regular basis. 'great race car- all day long and that was the key.” Final result: Jarrett (Ford) Only Labonte and Jeff Gordon finished on the lead lap, Gordon stop 173.mph, Gordon (Chevy), J Burton ping five laps shy of the 400-lap distance under the gi-een flag for a two(Ford), W Burton (Pontiac), B second dump of fuel that handed the point to Labonte - for Gordon, it Labonte (Pontiac), Park (Chevy) was the second Dover race in succession that he lost the race under fuel 199 laps, Irvan (Pontiac), Andretti mileage strategy. (Pontiac), Stewart(Pontiac), Martin Final result: B Labonte (Pontiac) 120.603 mph, Gordon (Chevy), (Ford). Martin (Ford) 399 laps, Stewart (Pontiac), Jarrett (Ford), R Wallace Points standings: Jarrett 2169, J (Ford), Benson (Ford), Burton (Ford), Mayfield (Ford) 398 laps, Irwin Burton 2103, B Labonte 2075, (Ford). Martin 1993, Stewart 1838, Gordon Points standings: Jarrett 1984, J Burton 1933, B Labonte 1915, 1820, W Burton 1738, Earnhardt Martin 1854, Stewart 1700, Gordon 1645, Earnhardt 1608, R Wallace 1723, R Wallace 1719, T Labonte - MARTIN D CLARK 1592, W Burton 1578, T Labonte 1549 - MARTIN D CLARK 1643. DALE Jarrett won his first

Dover

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■ Waddell Wilson has resigned from Gale Yarborough Motorsports. Days later, crew chief Jerry Htts also departed. Yarborough announced a new sponsor for the team driven by Rick MastWoody Woodpecker and Universal Studios. ■ Jeff Buice has been promoted to team manager at Melhng Racing Newt Moore, who joined the team recently, has taken Buice’s former position of crew chief ■ Hut Stricklin, Dave Marcis and Buckshot Jones were the three who missed the Michigan line upLoy Allen, Terry Labonte, Bobby Hamilton, Kyle Petty, Brett Bodine, Rich Bickle and John Andretti were the provisional starters. ■ Following further examination, Kevin Schwantz did not in fact break his pelvis during a recent Busch Grand National event at Charlotte - he dislocated the joint, the break turning out to be a pre vious motorcycle war wound. Schwantz also received bruising to his brain in the rough wreck, apparently caused by a blown tyre exiting turn 2 that saw the Texan pound both the outer and inner concrete walls extremely hard. Schwantz was hospitalised for two days and released after fur ther observation. He was due to drive selective races during the season for the Mklll Motorsports team, but future plans remain uncertain with Schwantz. ■ A comparison of the rookie year performances ofJeff Gordon and Tony Stewart through the first 12 events post-Dover reveals similar munbers between the two NASCAR hotshots. Both drivers posted three top five finishes and five top ten results, Gordon leading four

events, Stei 'art five. Gordon posted four DNFs, which has not happened once to Stewart so far this season. Gordon held tenth place in the points standings, while Stewart was fifth in this his first year of Winston Cup competition. ■ Although nothing has been announced officially, NASCAR has apparently approved the new 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo and body templates have been given the OK to be fabricated. ■ NASCAR pulled some of the top finishers post-Chai’lotte for rolling dyno testing. Unofficially, Tony Stewart had the most horsepower at the wheels with 674 bhp,followed by Dale Jarrett(665 bhp). Dale Earnhardt (664 bhp), B Labonte(663 bhp) and race winner Jeff Burton at 658 bhp. ■ Apparently International Speedway Corporation, chaired by Bill France Jr, is close to a deal in the purchase ofthe one-mile Richmond D-shaped track. ISC recently merged with Penske Motorsports to own 11 of the 21 Winston Cup tracks. ■ Sterling Marlin’s former SABCO crew chief has joined Bahari Racing as its team manag er for driver Derrike Cope. Scott Eggleston is Marlin’s new head wrench, moving from Joe Nemechek’s SABCO effort- Tony Glover becomes Nemechek’s inter im chief “Neither team is running to Fehx’s(owner, Sabates)expecta tions; we decided to make a change to help the performance of both cars,” remarked Glover. ■ Jeff Burton, Terry Labonte, Jimmy Spencer, Rich Bickle, Dave Marcis, Ricky Craven and Robert Pressley used provisional slots to make the Dover field. Ernie Irvan wrecked in happy hour, being forced to a back-up car and started shotgun in the field. Hut Stricklin in the Junie Donlavey Ford, Buckshot Jones and Darrell Waltrip were the non qualifiers. For Waltrip,it was only the sec ond race of his career he has not qualified for, the last being Charlotte in October, 1997. ■ Two crew chiefs were fined fol lowing Charlotte. James Ince from Rich Bickle’s Tyler Jet team and Jeff Buice from the MeUing Racing Jerry Nadeau effort were both fined $2,500 a piece for holes drilled in the frame rails of the cars.

1999 WINSTON CUP SERIES RESULTS Points to 84 June, 1999

Michigan Speedway |4 June, 1999

1. Dale Jarrett

.1984

2. JeffBurlcn

.1933

.Ford

12. Rusty Wallace . . 13. Ken Schrader .. . ,

.Ford .Chevrolet

.Pontiac

14. Wally Dallenbach

.Chevrolet

3. Bobby Labonto 4. Mark Martin

.1854

.Pontiac

15. Michael Waltrip , 16. Dale Earnhardt .

.Chevrolet

5. Tony SJswart . . . 6. Jen Gordon . . . .

,1700

.Chevrolet .Ford

7. Dale Hamhatdt Sr.

.1606

I. Dale Jarrett.,.

.Ford

2. JefT Gordon ...

.Chevrolet

3. JefT Burton ... 4. Ward Burton . 5. Bobby Labonte 6. Steve Park ...

11. Kenny Irwin ....

.Ford

7. Ernie Irvan ...

.Chevrolet .Pontiac

8. John Andretti .

.Pontiac

17. Jeremy Mayfield 18, Mike Skinner

.Chevrolet

8 Rusty WQttac^‘■

9. Tony Stewart . lO. Mark Martin ..

●Pontiac

19. Johnny Benson ..

.Ford

9. Ward Buflon

Ford

20. Geoffrey Bodine

.Chevrolet

1915

...

.1645

1ST8 .1549

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18 June 1999

Fig and Ron Kiikke tops Madsen-Skip

h2in Iowa thriller AUSSIE raiders Kerry Madsen and Skip Jackson flew the flag high for Australia when they took a thrilling one-two result in the Danny Young Memorial at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on May 30. In an exciting finish, Madsen snatched the lead from Jackson on the final turn of the feature and raced to the line, winning by inches over Jackson and Jeff Mitrisin the win was worth US$4,000 to the talented, but under-funded, Twister team driver. Jaymie Moyle held off local hotshot and event promoter Terry McCarl in the opening heat and then Mitrisin defeated Jackson in heat two. Dennis Moore Jr and Madsen were the fastest cars in heat three and finished in the top two spots. Moyle and Moore Jr started on the front row for the feature, with ■ The competition in the World of Outlaws has heated up recently, with one of the highlights being Brooke Tatnell’s best-ever Outlaws finish - sixth at the famed Eldora Raceway - and the first win for Tirx Shaffer, along with the resimgenie of Stevie Smith. Despite all this, Mark Kinser continues to open out the margin he has over Danny Lasoski and Steve Kinser in the championship points chase after recording a cou ple more wins.

Hagerstown ■ A day after Ingersoll-Rand agreed to extend its sponsorship for a further two years of Stevie Smith’s Black Bandit Team, he thanked them by winning the pre liminary Feature on May 29. Smith took the lead on lap 8 and held it till the end, leading home Lasoski, Vivarin Fast timer Greg Hodnett, Jeff Shepard and Donny Schatz. Tatnell did it hard,timing 25th from 30 cars, then finishing ninth in his heat and sixth in the B-Main -fortunately, this was the final transfer position and he recorded a 20th place finish in the Feature. After being denied the win the night before, Lasoski made amends in the most vicious way, by snatch ing the lead from Smith on the last turn of the 30-lap A-Feature on May 30. Smith had a handy gap late in the running, but lapped traffic diminished the gap and then Lasoski brought the crowd alive as

Jackson and Mitrisin next McCarl was out of position five, with Madsen coming from seventh. On the first start. Bill Robertson and Dean Chadd collided, ending their races. With Moore Jr leading, Madsen came to a stop on lap 3 - McCarl, too, hit trouble, spinning on lap 7 and restarting from the rear. Moyle’s race ended on another restart when he hit the wall hard. Moore Jr was still leading from Jackson, but Madsen was flying through the pack. Five laps from the end, Jackson passed Moore for the lead, but Madsen was clearly the fastest car. Madsen continued to charge and, when Jackson had to slow behind a lapped car in the last turn, Madsen pounced - seizing-the opportunity, Madsen outmotored Jackson in the run to the line to record his first Ameiican victory this season. -BRETT SWANSON

SOLO rider Ross Townson was the guest of honour at the 1999 John Day Motorsports Ball at WA’s Burswood Resort Casino on June 12 Towson, who has worked with speedway Solo racing over more than 20 years, was recognised for his commitment to the sport, both as a rider and an official. Reigning state Super Sedan Champion Tony Giancola won the John Day award for that ffivision, with recently acclaimed Solo Champion

KERRY Madsen came up just short of his first career victory at the famed Knoxville Raceway when he ran a close second to

Elbridge

he caught Smith in turn 3, dived under him and slid out in front of him in turn 4- Lasoski then head ed Smith across the line by a mat ter of inches. Tyler Walker was third, with Hodnett and Shepard next. Tatnell had a better night, tim ing 18th then finishing sixth in the heat. This put him in the B-Main, where he finished in the last trans fer position again (fifth)-in the main, he recorded a 14th place finish.

West Lebanon ■ Mark Kinser hit back from his ordinary run with an all the way victory in the New York tour open er on May 31. Kinser ran around the outside of Sammy Swindell to take the lead as the green flag waved and was never headed. Cousin Steve Kinser had an uncharacteristic roll after hitting the wall. The gap between the lead pair yo-yoed, but Mark Kinser eventual ly took a comfortable win over Swindell, with Smith next, ahead of Jeff Swindell and Darryn Pittman. i Tatnell’s time of 18.757 seconds was less than a second slower than

Max Dumesny Motorsport

■ Steve Kinser and rain both con¬ spired to halt Mark Kinser’s win ning run, but neither could do so as Mark took his ninth A-Feature for the year on June 2. Mark actually won the start, but when George Suprick rolled it meant nothing, Steve Kinser lead ing away the restart. Clearly Mark was the quicker of the Kinser cousins and on lap 10 he assumed the lead. Schatz took second from Steve Kinser late in the race, with Walker finishing fourth from Kevin Gobrecht- Tatnell’s results were 17th fastest time, sixth in the heat and then 15th in the feature.

Canandaigua ■ Smith finally burst through to record his first A-Feature victory of the season on June 3,in stark con trast to last year where he had won six by this stage. Dale Blaney, who was sacked from the Amoco #93 and returned to the Hughes #94, surprised by setting fast time - Smith was ninth fastest and Tatnell 18th. Sammy Swindell led away and Lasoski spun and then later Gobrecht rolled after hitting the wall. Smith was working hard, regain ing secdnd place from Shaffer and

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Moofre Jr, coming off pole, led from the start, but a stoppage on lap 15 allowed Madsen to chal lenge. In the showdown between these two as they ran to the flag, Moore Jr held off Madsen with a slide job on the last lap. then losing it to Shepard - he retook second on lap 12,then hauled in Swindell when the leader hit lapped traffic. On lap 17, Smith used the high line to take the lead and was then never headed, as the flying Schatz assumed second place from Swindell, Shepard and Mark Kinser- Tatnell was gaining lots of experience, running second in the B-Main before finishing 13th in the Feature.

Eldora ■ Back to more familiar territory and Tatnell shone on Jime 5, but Shaffer took the big money and his first Outlaws victory after leading all 30 laps at the daimting, highbanked Eldora speedway. Tatnell’s time was less than half a second off Mark Kinser’s new track record, but was still only 19th fastest. Bob Jackson was the other Aussie in action, timing 37th - in their heats, Jackson finished tenth and Tatnell ran sixth. Finishing third in the B-Main ahead of Schatz, Lance Blevins, Dean Jacobs, Gobrecht and Danny Smith put Tatnell into the AFeature, where he passed 13 cars on the way to a sixth place finish Jackson finished last in the BMain. Mark Kinser finished second in the Feature, with Jeff and Sammy Swindell next, ahead of Johnny Herrera and Tatnell - Steve Kinser was third, until he slowed on the last lap.

The fiery Sydneysider was not too appreciative of the move and gave Moore Jr a hard tag after the race to indicate his obvious displea sure. Third-placed Skip, of course, fol lowed the pair across the line. -BRETT SWANSON

Hales Corner ■ Despite feeling the effects ofthe flu on June 9, Mark Kinser con served his energy long enough to record yet another win,taking his 15th fast time award along the way after setting a new track record in qualifying. Kinser won his heat, but Pittman won his second consecu tive dash and actually led the first nine laps before Smith worked past and took over the nmning. Smith’s lead was brief, though, as Kinser took the lead away on the very next lap and was never headed. A flat tyre later claimed Smith, allowing Walker into second from Blevins, Schatz and Sammy Swindell. TatneU’s run ended after win ning the B-Main, rear-end failure stopping his A-Feature run just three laps from the end. Lasoski was dicing with Walker for second on the last lap when he collided and flipped - Kinser, though, had just taken the che quered flag and so Lasoski was credited with 17th and Tatnell 19th.

Route 66 ■ Heavj' rain caused the cancella tion of the preliminaiy night’s pro gram at Route 66 raceway on June 11 after approximately three inch es of rain fell within two hours. Continuing rain on June 12 caused the indefinite postpone ment of the Rumble at Route 66 event.

1999 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SERIES POINTS SCORE

Australian Distributors for

POINTS STANDING TO MAY 30, 1999

J(oo$xrr i

^^ RACING TIRE

and Kerry outguns Skit on<e

big winner Dennis Moore Jr who, fresh from claiming the O’Reilly 360 Nationals, doubled up to take Knoxville’s 410 fea ture last Sunday. Skip Jackson came home a solid third, with points leader Terry McCarl back in ninth. ,, Madsen set fifth fastest time and then blasted from position seven to win the second heat. Jackson scored the victory in heat three, while McCarl only man aged sixth in his heat. The feature got off to a rough start when Skip spun, sending cars scrambling around him. Bob Weuve spun and Travis Cram rolled - McCarl damaged his top wing in the melee and restarted from the rear. Kinser’s time, but was still only 19th fastest- he finished ninth in his heat and, with no B-Main, he then just missed the top ten, fin ishing 11th.

Guy Wikon taking out the bike trophy, Mike Figliomeni took the honours in the 360 Sprintcar division and there were no si^nses when Ron Krikke stepped onto the podium to receive the open dhnkion Sprintcar award, Darren Nash and Peter Teale were victorious in Sidecars, while Frsmk Does was the top man in Modified Sedans, Brad Chapman the stand out in Formula 500s and Tony Tucknott the win ner in Speedcars. - DARKEN OT)EA

For more information on Hoosier Drag and Speedway Tyres cail:

NSW: 02 9679 1990 Fax 02 9679 1187 VIC: 03 9331 6477 Fax 03 9331 7444 SA: 08 8332 0800 Fax 08 8364 0296

I. Mark Kinser 2. Danny Lasoski 3. Steve Kinser 4. Donny Schatz 5. Stevie Smith 6. Sammy Swindell 7. Johnny Herrera 8. Tyler Walker 9. Jeff Swindell 10. Andy Hillenburg

4529 4359 4334 4256 4246 4212 4205 4076 4046 3924

I I. Tim Shaffer 12. Daryn Pittman 13.joe Gaerte 14. Travis Whitney 15. Brooke Tatnell 16. Craig Dollansky 17. Jimmy Carr 18. Kevin Gobrecht 19. Frankie Kerr 20. Dale Blaney

HALES CORNERS SPEEDWAY, JUNE 9 3840 3792 3648 3344 3280 2916 2708 2286 2245 2229

I. Mark Kinser 2. Tyler Walker 3. Lance Blevins 4. Donny Schatz S. Sammy Swindell 6. Jeff Swindell 7. Travis Whitney 8. Johnny Herrera 9. Joey Saldana 10. Steve Kinser

, II.JoeGaerte 12. Tim Shaffer 13. Kevin Gobrecht 14. Craig Dollansky 15. Dave Hanna 16. Stevie Smith 17. Danny Lasoski 18. Todd Daun 19. Brooke Tatnell 20. Frankie Kerr

SOS by Roberts & Shore BILL Roberts and John Shore, the highly successful NSW Sprintcar championship-win ning duo, have teamed up in another partnership. The pair have just returned from a six week jaunt through the United States setting up supply contracts for their new business venture. Spot On Spares (S.O.S). S.O.S is a high performance ori ented service and repair business located on the Central Coast at Bateau Bay, which will cater for all facets of race car preparation, maintenance, development, service, repairs and engine building. S.O.S is the official Australian distributor of Jerry Russell’s Eagle Chassis, Weld Wheels and Weld Components and is also the suppli er of Pro-Shocks. Part of the S.O.S inventory is a Roehrig Shock Dyno, as used by many of the CAR'T teams for test ing shock absorbers. “Teams will be able to send us their shocks and, for a nominal fee, we’ll test them and give them a written report,” explained Roberts. “If they think they’ve got a shock going sour, we’ll test it and, if it is, we can then exchange it, or repair it, according to the team’s wishes. “The philosophy at S.O.S is sim ple,” continued Roberts. “We aim to give competitors the best piece for the best price, once our doors open on July 1.” As well as maintaining the suc cessful Caltex/Ampol/Airbus Eagles for Shore, Roberts is currently building three new Grizzly chassis - two of them will be standard con figuration cars, while the third will be a “new generation” car. At this stage, Sydney speedster Kerry Madsen will team with the Craft Brothers, Peter and Richard, to campaign two of the Grizzlys on his return to Australia, while another driver rumoured to be in line for a Craft-based Grizzly is Warmambool dynamo Stephen Bell - the backing for Bell’s deal is sug gested to be coming from a high profile team owner in Western Australia. Kevin Burton will once again run his Grizzly from the Craft team’s base and Lisa O’Brien, Ron O’Brien’s niece, will also cut some laps in the team’s hire car. -BRETT SWANSON

Currently, we’re second on dri the points table behind local ver Terry McCarl, though our Jensen Construction team has not been strong in qualifying this sea son - we’re either lacking grip, or not carrying enough speed to be / ■'.jr at the front of the pack by the time the heats commence. We heve a new JB Enterprises car sitting in the race shop, but at the moment I want to continue working and developing our cur rent car, as we have strung together some good results in it in recent times. We can’t put our finger on what the problem is, but no doubt we’ll be working hard on getting a good package together before the qualifying third, then struggle with Pennzoii Worid of Outlaws teams speed in the opening heat. return next month. We started the engine and it Last month, we struggled sounded nice and crisp, but would against them when they ran at not start as I was being pushed Knoxville Raceway. out to the main event - it turns out 1 qualified in 32nd spot in a 44- that a brand-new fuel pump car field, won the C-Main, then straight out of the box failed, finished 10th in the B-Main, We were all gutted to think that before being placed as a provi a new part had let us down after sional starter for the A-Main. the whole crew had worked so The competition is so strong hard to ensure we would be in the now and those guys are racing on show. something like 90 to 100 nights, providing the weather remains fine for them. Last Saturday night, from I started the Knoxville A-Main eighth This year, we have had a con- place after winning a heat and siderable number of missed qualifying ninth, only to have a shows due to tornadoes and rain- 360 degree spin in turn one outs - the weather is acting real immediately after the starter had strange at times, either raining waved the green flag, during a meet, or right at the end. Several drivers behind me Nobody wants to miss the main touched the wall as they attemptrace of the night, so we’re striving ed to miss the chaos ahead, to improve our overall perforJust after half race distance, 1 mance, as I want to run against was second behind Dennis Moore the world’s finest Sprintcar drivers Jr and, with only a couple of laps and gain more experience with to go, 1 went to take the lead and them. Moore moved up in front of me, forcing me to brake heavily and wash off momentum. ItBrooke was great catching with Tatnell and my up Aussie This allowed Madsen to get by race engineer Tim McCubbin, and set off after Moore - he hit who is crewing for Brooke on the the rear nerf bar on Moore’s WoO trail this year. machine during the final lap and crashed into him after the race, n recent weeks, I finished secMoore wasn’t too happy about ond to Knoxville Series leader the incident, but I didn’t think it McCarl after an extremely close was too bad, as he had been runtussle in the closing stages of the ning a defending line for the entire race. race. I actually got ahead white lap These guys are so good on all ping slower traffic, but he was car types of racing surfaces - at the rying more momentum and got to last meet on a slick track, they the chequered flag before me - I were able to dial their cars in as wasn’t able to get the advantage the night progressed, plus run while passing the others when it hard and fast for the entire meet. was required. The next night at Des Moines far. wins I’ve managed to rack three at Knoxville, plusup a for The Danny Moore Memorial SO Race, fellow Sydneysider Kerry victory each at Two Falls and Madsen won the feature after get- Terre Haute, so we’re on track to ting past only a couple of metres hopefully clinch three Knoxville from the finish line. Titles in a row. The main focus at the moment It was raining at the time, so It was either finish second, or try to is to get our gear together for block him and end out of the ball when the Outlaws return for the park with a wrecked car - at least running of the Amoco Knoxville it was great to have two Aussie Nationals, as I don’t want my butt drivers on the top podium posi kicked again. tions, ahead of the local US The previous Outlaws meet stars. was my most disappointing for the The next race at Knoxville saw year and none of us want to expeus change an engine, despite rience that again.

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In demand: Legendary Outlaws star Danny Lasoski. (Martin d Clark pic)

Lasoski for OZ tour? THE Queensland-based Titan Garages team is setting up for another big season and, con trary to rumours, is not pulling out of the speedway scene. Dean McComb has just been re signed to the team for another 12 months and will once again part ner Drew Kruck. The team is also looking to bring

out Knoxville Nationals Champion Danny “The Dude” Lasoski for an Australian campaign. The problem is that a Sydneybased team has already had dis cussions with Lasoski and has an agreement in principle in place that will see him tour here if the right support from the promoters is forthcoming. -BRETT SWANSON

Brooke whiteanted BROOKE Tatnell is in danger of losing his Kele and Associates/Roger Johnson support for his World of Outlaws cam paign. 1997 Outlaws champion Sammy Swindell, whose brother Jeff is part of the Kele gang, was overheard putting the hard word on Johnson to transfer his financial support to Sammy’s efforts - Swindell’s race shop is only down the road from Tatnell’s base in Memphis. Lets hope for Brooke’s sake that this doesn’t happen. While on the subject of Tatnell, his crew chief - and also dual WSSwinning crew chief for Skip Jackson - Tim “Moth” Gleeson has been in a bit of bother with a broken jaw. Must be killing him to not be able to talk so much - get well soon, Moth. -BRETT SWANSON

Kart Kinser an I Hurricane Hannagan Pete’s Silver Crown ride Stanton split re-equips KK wants to do it in-house and build own Mopar powerpiants

'4,

ON the World of Outlaws trail, it seems that the highly suc cessful partnership between Karl Kinser and Gary Stanton is starting to fracture. Inside information suggests that Kinser, who until taking on the Mopar engines and sponsorship deal built his own powerpiants, is trjing to convince Mopar to let him build the motors himself Stanton is one of the best engine builders in America and has sup¬

port within Mopar, as well as a his tory with Mopar going back some years to his Champ Car team, which was driven by Jimmy Sills and which ultimately led to Mopar’s involvement in Sprintcar racing. A logical compromise might see Kinser take over his own engine program, leaving Stanton to contin ue with Mopar’s Silver Crown and NASCAR truck program. - BRETT SWANSON

AMERICA’S Randy “Hurricane” Hannagan, the runner-up to Skip Jackson in Last season’s World Series Sprintcars Championship, was seen and heard recently at Eagle Chassis trying to purchase some frames for his Australian campaign, which is rumoured to be with the BC Motorsport team. BC Motorsport was responsible for bringing out Ohio’s Phil Gressman last summer and also supplied cars for Garry Rush Jnr’s use. - BRETT SWANSON

AUSTRALIAN NARC racer Peter Murphy is rumoured to have been offered a Silver Crown Champ Car ride. Open Wheel magazine contributor Bill Sessa’s partner owns the car and is keen to put Murphy in the seat, not just for his speed and skill, but also for the increased publicity that can be generated by having an Aussie as the pilot. Mmphy, when he finally returns to his homeland next season, will team up with car owner Barry Lewis. Lewis has purchased an ex-John Shore engine to go in the Maxim pur chased from Cahfomia’s 'Tim Kaeding. Murphy will also be bringing home one of the Morrie Wilhams Maxims he’s been campaigning recently. On the subject of American imports, we hear that David Lander, head of PGR and Newcastle Motordrome, is looking to bring out multiple All Star Circuit of Champions champ Kenny Jacobs, who has toured the west coast of Australia a couple of times, running with Sean Carren. -BRETT SWANSON

18 June 1999

ell, it seems I ruffled a few W feathers with my first article for Motorsport News, so it will be interesting to see what happens this time! Honestly, I wasn’t trying to cre ate any enemies in the first place. It seems the driver in question didn’t see my point of view in the manner I intended and he got pretty upset - and even com mented about it in another maga zine and quoted me! ! remember reading an article on West Australian Super Sedan driver Bert Vosbergen, who once who said “I don’t care what you write about me, as long as you write something” when referring to the perils of gaining exposure Bert’s comments obviously aren’t for everyone.

dam Clarke and Steven Graham are suffering mixed fortunes in the USA - both Steven and Adam are representing Australia with pride. Steven is juggling time between racing Sprintcars and Speedcars in two different parts of the country - he’s racing 360ci Sprintcars in North Carolina and Speedcars in Wisconsin, so I bet he and his dad, Barry, are clock ing up the miles on those US Interstates. Steven was really unlucky a couple of weeks ago at Sun Prairie in Wisconsin. He was look ing realiy fast, until a slower car stopped in front of him and he did a lot of damage to the Fox Sports Stealth. Clarkie finished fifth in a recent USAC race at 16th Street Speedway in Indianapolis from a field of 63 cars qualifying. I guess Steven will be coming home soon for the Aussie title in Darwin. He’ll be joined by Dave Lambert, Ron Liddell and Mark Co'.'oer, but neither myself, nor my brother Darren, will be going; unfortunately, it’s just too far away. At this stage, the talk is that Robbie Farr won’t even be going and he’s the defending champion.

here’s a lot of talk about the 2000 Aussie Speedcar title at the moment. Originally, we all thought that Parramatta City Raceway would conduct the event to coincide with the 2000 celebrations in Sydney, but now it seems Claremont may also be in the running. NASR have taken the rotation system away from the title, which I have to admit is a good thing for the sport. I guess I have to wait now and see if I drive 30 minutes, or three

fe- Jl days, to get to the track. To be honest, I think either venue would do a good job and I would like to race at Claremont Speedway with my car owner, Terry King, before it closes at the end of the season.

heard that Sydney Speedcar dri ver Les Porter is updating his KHP Fontana to a Stealth/Brayton combination, after a brief transac tion with Rod Bowen recently. I wonder if Les will find time to race, though - he’s a roofing con tractor and, after Sydney’s recent hailstorms, there aren’t enough hours in the day for anyone in the roofing trade. Adam Brand took my car for a few laps around PCR recently and he did a pretty good job. Considering he plays guitar more than he plays race cars, he was right on the pace on the very slick track - Adam’s single, “Dirt Track Cowboys,” is out iri stores now, so everyone should grab a copy, if you haven’t already. Car owner Terry King was asked to do a couple of rolling laps in the car, but they turned into hot laps before he was out there too long - he looked like he' was having a great time.

le Litre Cars were scheduled to run at Parramatta on the June long weekend, using a World Series Sprintcars format for their racing. That meant time tri alling and I guess too many of the drivers wouldn’t be used to doing that. We were lucky this year, as the $100,000 Speedcar Super Series used a time trial system in every round so we learnt to polish up our skills in that field - there’s an art to it, thaf s for sure.

Skip Jackson is on fireI think in theI States at the moment. heard someone say he’s won five feature races already - that’s pretty impressive. The word around town is that Brooke Tatnell is pretty homesick at the moment, which is hardly surprising. He’s racing against the toughest cars in the world and there would be a lot of miles on the road - who said that racing was a glamorous game?

Tubemakers support for Speedcar Nats TUBEMAKERS Metaland was announced as naming rights sponsor of this year's Australian Speedcar Championship when the July 9-10 event was officially launched in Darwin. The Northern Territory Goveimment. through its Major Events Unit, has ai-o contributed fi nancially towards the race, which wiil be called "The 1999 Nationals.' The festival will kick . fi w;ih a two-night program at Northline on July 2 and then the yet to be con. firmed Saturday ni-gh' July -3 at Katherine Speedway - this i^ the home track of veteran Bob Holt, whose histoiw- goe- back to the halycon day> of the Sydney Showgrounds from 1958 to 1963. To keep people eme.rtained in the ensuing week, fishing charters and tourist trips have been organised, until the tempo starts to ri se with a full-on pi-actice on Wednesdav nisht. alonz with scrutineeiing Thui'sday.

which will be a more relaxed, inforaial gathering, fol- ! lowed by the two big niglits of action to crown a new ■ champion. i At the time of writing. onl\ -o nominations had! been received and Claire Ekins. Warrenes mother, i ad\ised that the club was taking late entries without! any penalty in an effort to build the numbers. Xorthline Speedway is part of the Hidden ValleyMotorsport precinct and the garages recently complet-: ed for the visiting V8 Supercar teams will be made i available for any of the tra\'elling teams. ! The track, which is just 1-5 minutes dri^●e from the ■ CBD. IS 400 metres on the pole. 17 metres wide and ’ features a clav sand surface. McCrear>- nres will be available from McNaughton Tyre.' and methanol will also be available at the superbly illuminated track. - BEETT SWANSON

Adelaide calendar ADELAIDE promoters Bob Sincock and Wendy Turner have returned from last month’s in Conference ASPA

Trevor Green scooped the pool at the recent SA Sprintcar Action Club’s awards night.

Queensland determined to make their fourth season at the helm of their Speedway City racetrack a success. 'They have already mapped out the major dates for 1999/2000, with the calendar’s most significant event being the national Sprintcar titles on February 3-5 - extra office personnel are being appointed to handle marketing arrangements for the Australian titles, this being only the third time that Australia #1 in Sprintcars will have been decided at this venue. Other dates officially released are; Practice - November 6; ■ Australian Sprintcar Masters — Nov 13; World Series - December 4 and Dec 27; local Sprintcar show — January 22; SA Sprintcar Title February 26; Sprintcar Gold Cup March 11; Australian Sprintcar Stampede - March 26. “We are also finalising arrange ments to form a Speedway City Racing Association,” revealed Turner - this has been under con sideration for several months and will be designed to provide cost sav ings for competitors and crews, among other advantages.

(Brett Swanson pic)

'There is also the prospect of this new Racing Association being able to issue drivers licences. From the fi rst week in June, Speedway City’s own website has been up and running, after many hours work in the initial set-up by computer whiz Steve Green, broth er of Trevor Green - the address is

Bartle tt walked off with the SASA No. 1 trophy, plus Statewide Most Points and the Club Champion jacket. Best Presented Car & Crew went to Trev or Green, who finished run ner-up to Bartlett in the Statewide Points tally and also snared Most Feature Points honours. Chris

www.speedwaycity.com.au and the site will be regularly updated with data on upcoming events, as well as race results, track history and other infonnation. ■ South Australia’s Sprintcar Action Club’s annual Presentation Dinner was held during May at the Lakes Resort Hotel. A surprised, but pleased, Tony

Evans scored the Encouragement Award, while the unluckiest driver award went to Wayne Bunker, ■ Club Secretary Peter Tucker reports that Modified Rod veteran Danyl Wright has bought the Peter Cox #5 Maxim formerly run by Mark Gilbert and could be an addition to SA’s ranks next season. - DAVID McNABB

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WJune 1999

Lowndes heads west ■ Spencer Lowndes’team have said they will be in Perth for the next round ofthe Australian Rally Championship, despite the young Victorian’s major accident at the R^ly of Queensland. Lowndes went offthe road flatout in fourth gear on the first stage ofthe second heat-the Group N Lancer Evolution 5 travelled for 20 metres before hitting a tree and shortening the Mitsubishi back to the strut towers. Thankfully, neither Lowndes nor co-driver Claire Parker were too badly hurt and the sick and sorry Lancer was trucked straight from Queensland to Rob Herridge’s workshop in Western Australia to be repaired before the June 26-27 event. Lowndes finished the first heat of Rally Queensland third in Group N and had set out to attack in heat two - he is looking forward to the Perth event, a rally he has done well at in the past.

Ten year deal signed B The Australian Motor Sport Commission has signed a 10-year deal with RallyCorp(headed by the Project Groups’John Smailes) to take over the promotion ofthe Australian Rally Championship until 2009. RallyCorp’s major aim over the next few months is to secure a major naming rights sponsor for next year’s championship - the Australian Rally Championship hasn’t had a naming rights spon sor since BP fimded the champi onship back in the early 1990s. Among other promotional activi ties, the Project Group produces the Network 10 programs report ing on the Australian RaUy Championship,

^ Citroen WRCar tests B Citroen started the initial test ing after the Tour de Corse of a prototype Xsara with tur bocharged engine and fom wheel drive. The car has been built to comply with the World Rally Car techni cal regulations, but there is no current indication whether Citroen will be allowed to homolo gate the car, or whether the whole project will become an expensive white elephant. The bodywork of the car, com pared with that of the extra-wide Xsara Kit Car,has been narrowed by the 85mm necessary for compliance with the WRCar limit of 1770mm. It is stated that the car has a new model engine and active dif ferential systems,like other World Rally Cars. The basis ofthe controversy is that Citroen want to make a World Rally Car not for competi tion in the World Championship, but for competition in their French national series. Ori^nally, World Rally Cars were intended by the FIA for use only in the World Championship itself, but progressive pressure from national interests p6rsuaded the FIA to allow them to be used, firstly, for other championship events and later on national events if the federations involved approved. To Citroen’s embarrassment, a privately run Subaru tur bocharged four wheel drive car very nearly beat their official Formula 2 team entry to the French title last year. The Xsara Turbo 4x4 is the concept which Citroen has chosen to overcome its problems, but is fast becoming a car designed not for engineering but for political purposes.

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The basis ofthe problem is that the FIA cannot give homologation of a World Rally Car unless this is aligned with a corporate promise to enter the World Rally Championship. The FIA has a soft line on new companies coming into the championship. A progression of the number ofevents required to be entered is increased year by year until the fourth season, when the team must take part in eveiy event-for the first season,the number ofevents to be entered is. four,for the second the number is five, with seven on the third. The events Citroen Sport wants to enter in 2000,in addition to the French championship, are Monte Carlo, Catalunya, Corsica and Sanremo, all events they already know well and which will prevent them undertaking a program of gravel road testing at this time. The difficulty comes in that PSA,the parent pompany control ling Peugeot and Citroen, has pub licly annoimced that Citroen shall not be officially represented in the World Championship, because Peugeot are already there- broth er shall not fight brother. Nevertheless, Citroen’s French Championship drivers Philippe Bugalski and Patrick Magaud tested the car for three days in France and completed around 350 miles - but the car had completed a thousand miles ofsecret testing before being released to the public. It is hoped that Citroen will debut the car(if homologated)on the Monte Carlo Rally next January.

Japan for WRC?

■ Senior FIA Rallies Commission member Derek Ledger has con firmed that proposed international rallies in Japan and the United States of America are at the top of the FlA’s list ofevents planned for future inclusion in the World Rally Championship. Speaking prior to the Jordan Rally, where he was working as a Steward, Ledger(FIA Observer on the Tour de Corse).suggested that the Japanese event was virtually in place. “It would be a natural step to include this event in the calendar, bearing in mind that most ofthe manufacturers are based in Japan,” Ledger said. “The event in America has been bubbling for a while, but we need to get over the lack oflocal inter est with this one and see some firm plans put into action.” Ledger confirmed that events such as Corsica,Portugal, Acropolis and even the Safari Rally may struggle to maintain their status. “Both Corsica and Portugal have struggled with spectator problems and the cancellation of stages,” he said “and one of the organisers of the Acropolis Rally has a terminal illness. The Safari Rally is never guaranteed a place either”- he refused to comment on growing rumours in the Middle East that the Rally ofLebanon and the Dubai International Rally have also been converted to WRC formats thus year in a bid for future inclusion in the World Championship.

Sian# Bourne took another two seconds off the Corolla on the penultimate Report by stage, but it was looking like too JON THOMSON little too late with just the Noosa Hillclimb to go. Bates’ wndscreeen fc^ed and he NEAL Bates finally broke through to grab a heat win in dropped another four seconds to the Super Series hy taking the Bourne, but that was enough for the Corolla driver to capture his opening day’s battle in the first heat win of the year by seven Falken Tyres Rally of seconds. Queensland - but, while Bates Bourne was taking the loss in his was ecstatic with the win, his stride, but clearly plotting to get elation was shorthved, Possiun back on top the next day. Bourne coming back to win a Simon Evans led the F2 class tightly contested second heat on home in the VW Golf Kit Car, ahead of Brett Middleton’s Honda Simday,Jime 6. Chvic VTi-R. It was an intense battle between Defending Group N Champion the two as they fought out the sec Cody Crocker (Subaru Impreza) ond round of this year’s title and only served to emphasise just how survived a mid-moming spin to reg closely matched the two drivers ister a heat win ahead of John Goasdoue, who limped home with really are. In wet and difficult conditions engine trouble - and veteran Ed similar to the opening round in Mulligan triumphed in an older Cofls Harboiu- a month earher, the vintage Commodore, beating home Queensland event proved a tough Steve Winwood’s XR8 Falcon in the test for the 75 starters as they set Aussie Car class. off to challenge the 15 stages ahead. Heat Two With just seven seconds separat Heat One ing them the day before, Sunday The muddy conditions meant was going to be crunch day for Bates and Bourne, who equalled on slippery going and Bates selected exactly the right Michelins for the the opening stage ofthe second day, indicating it was back on again. job. Crocker took the immediate edge Bates easily stamped his authori ty on the rally on special stage in Group N, with Goasdoue not three, grabbing a nine second restarting, his engine too badly advantage over Bourne to be ahead damaged to continue after day one. The seesaw battle rolled into spe by 12. Bourne was struggling with the cial stage two, with Bates one sec t3nre choice and clearly finding it ond faster than Bourne and hard to match the pace of the Crocker 14 seconds back in third, Corolla - Bourne’s lack of headway equal with John Long. The rain was poming down heav in the Subaru brou^t on a rushed suspension change to try and stay ier than ever as the cars went into on par with Bates, the Subaru sim special stage 12, Bates taking ply not handling well enough to another second off Bourne, while challenge up until now. Long was third and Crocker fourth, Bates had taken the Corolla to fending off the hard-charging another ihree second win in special Evans. Veteran MuUigan, with an equal stage five and was now 15 seconds ahead - but Bourne had picked the ly veteran co-driver, Mike Batten, right tyres for special stage six, was leading the Aussie Car Class, sponsored (some believed) by equalli^ with Bates. The weather caused organisers to Austrahan Pensioners Insurance! Rick Bates retired on special shorten special stage seven. Bourne finding two seconds fiom Bates and stage 12 and that meant Middleton starting to get things together, was elevated to second, despite his despite fiunt diff problems. problems in F2. ■ l^GCUS FOR LEBANON:Mohanune^ bin Sulayem is still planning to mn a Ford Focus Worid Rally Car in July’s Rally ofLebanon,the third round ofthe Middle East Rally Championship. The Id-times r^onalchampion confirmed that discussions have taken place with M-Sport and Ford and a final decision is expected short-

ly“At the present time,it is purely down to money,”confirmed Ford’s Middle East on-event team manager ian Davies.“The car needs to be built around the hectic Wmdd Championship schedule,but once the finances are in place then the car wUl be ready.” This wiU mark the first appearance ofthe

Bates and Bourne equalled again on special stage 13, the Toyota dri ver holding a slender two second advantage after four stages. But then Bates started to have gearbox problems on the final two stages of the day. Bourne taking five seconds off him on the penulti mate stage to be ahead by three seconds - it would come down to the final test. Crocker made up for his appalling form in Coffs Harbour to win Group N, ahead of a surprise second-placed David Hills in his Evo HI Lancer. Evans secured E2 easily in the Golf, after Rick Bates went out with problems and Middleton dam aged his sump guard on the final stage, bumping him back to 24th. Mulligan took the Aussie Car Class for the second day to give him top points. With two rounds complete. Bourne now holds a lead of just four points over Bates heading to the third round in Perth on June 26-27. Results Heat One 1. Bates/Taylor Toyota Corolla WRC 2. BoumelVinvent SubaruImpreza WRC 3. Crocker/Foletta(Gp N) Subaru Impreza WRX 4. Goasdoue/Weston(Gp N) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo HI 5. Evans/Evans(F^) VW Golf GTi Kit Car 6 Lowndes/Parker(Gp N) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V Heat Two Boume/Vincent Bates/Taylor Crocker/Foletta Evans/Evans Hills/Handley(GpN) Mitsubishi L^mcer Evo HI 6. Buckmanis/Ahem Subaru Legacy RS-R Points for Rally: Bourne 36, Bates 36, Crocker 28, Evans 22, Goasdoue 12, Hills 1099 Buckmanis 10. Championship pointscore: Bourne 56, Bates 52, Crocker 28, Evans 22, Reid 14, R Bates 12, Middleton 12, Goasdoue 12.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Focus outside the WRC and the first for a priva teer. ■ DOM FOR RALLY OZ;Scotland’s Dom Buckley, who lit up the FAI RaUy of Canberra last month in his Group A Subaru Impreza WRX,says he’s a chance to compete in Rally Australia in November. “The car’s for sale now,but if we don’t sell it, then I would consider having a go at RaUy Australia,” Buckley said. According to the RaUy of Csmberra’s Glenn Macneall,Buckley’s performance in the event has increased the profile of the raUy in the UK and it is hoped that more Brits may make the trek to Canberra next year. -PETER WBOTTEN

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18 June 1999 i ‘'s

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Mechanical woes effectively ended the Peugeot 206 WRC challenge. (Sutton Images)

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Miibaru’s young Flying Scot enwhes Ms "^^"^sition Jh gruelling Acropolis Rally Report by JOM THOMSON ALMOST as if it was pre ordained, Subaru has joined Mitsubishi, Ford and Citroen in each winning two consecutive rallies so far this year after vic tory for Richard Burns and co-dri ver Robert Reid in the 46th Rally Acropolis on June 6-8, the young Brit’s third world championship raUy victory coming after he domi nated the event virtually from the stare in his Subaru Impreza WRC. So strong was Burns’ perfor mance that he could afford to delib erately drop a 30-second time penalty in order to get a better seeding on Leg Two. Second place went to Spaniard Carlos Sainz in his Corolla WRC, the Toyota team becoming perpetu al placegetters on WRC events and seemingly unable to secure a win, while Finn Tommi Makinen grabbed third place in the very final stage when his team-mate, Mitsubishi’s Freddy Loix, slowed to allow Makinen to claim the maxi mum points. Bums was eating the others for breakfast on Leg One, continuing to reel off strong stage times and build his lead, which after the first seven special stages was up to 17 seconds by special stage eight, when he took

deliberate road penalties for book ing out of the final^ service three minutes late and dropped 30 sec onds to be in fourth place. McRae went to the overnight halt with the lead, 8.7 seconds ahead of Makinen, with Sainz a further 4.8 seconds back in third and Bums just 0.1 secs behind him - Loix was fifth, Kankkunen sixth and Liatti in the SEAT seventh, ahead of Delecour in the sole remaining Peugeot, while Armin Schwarz had the Skoda Octavia in the top ten. Bums dominated the day’s stages on Leg Two, winning five of the day’s eight stages and regaining the lead and powering ahead. But it wasn’t all plain sailing for Burns, who almost rolled, had a temporary gearbox failure after going through a water spash and also punctured. McRae was nursing a gearbox problem from close to the start of the leg, the problem finally causing major concerns on stage 15 and the Scot was forced to retire the Focus, meaning the Ford team would score no points. The fi nal stage of the leg saw Burns problem-free and taking fastest ahead of Sainz to go to the overnight halt with a 17.2-seond advantage over Sainz. Burns won another three stages on Leg Three, taking fastest on ss

17, 18 and 19 in his successful attempt to maintain the lead and relaxed only when challengers Makinen and Sainz were delayed. Hamed A1 'Wahaibi of Oman won the Group N category in a Mitsubishi and reduced his gap to series leader Gustavo Trelles to only four points after the Umguyan retired - Hyimdai’s Swedish driver Kenneth Eriksson took first place in the 2-Litre category, while Renault, thank to privateers’ points, maintains the lead in the FIA 2-Litre World Cup for Manufacturers. Results Richard. Bums/ Robert Reid SubamWRC 2. Carlos Sainz/ Luis Moya Toyota Corolla WRC 3. Tommi Makinen/ Risto Mannisamaki Mitsubishi Evo VI 4. Freddy Loix/ Sven Smeets Mitsubishi Evo VI FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers pointscore: Makinen 36, Auriol 32, Sainz 29, McRae 23, Burns 23, Bugalski 20, Kankkunen 18. FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers pointscore: Toyota 73, Mitsubishi 48, Subaru 46, Ford 35, Seat 8, Skoda 3, Peugeot 0. 1.

t happened in Cofts Ha'tM^jr and « repeated itsett in Queensland - B testing was sjrifi r a .-d dry dnd the H rally was wet and slippery " Hence, we've decided the only -V. way to get some wet weathar test- ^ ing under our belt is to down tools ^ in the workshop at the first sign of rain and head out immediately to the closest available piece of forest! Our test venue tor Rally Queensland was a private cattle property near Jimna, inland from the Sunshine Coast. Apart from the diffenng weattier conditions between test and rally, the test venue was actually and his run of 1 min 45 secs was : quite representative of the completed in light drizzling ram ’ Queensland roads - a tricky, And then, just as we sat on the : cresty and slippery (even in the start line, the heavens opened. dry) two kilometre section of road. Vision dwindled instantly to| We achieved some significant about a car length in front of us. gains, particularly with suspension Spectators on the top of the hill i and diff maps and I was also real commented that they heard a ly pleased to have the Super Shift noise and thought it was our car : connected once again. approaching, only to realise it was ; It was exciting to also match the shock absorber and diff actually the noise of the rain sud-1 denly dumping on the stage. improvements to the tyre package (Compounding the lack of exter- i and, with the changes to the car, I nal vision was a togging wind- ; believe we’re really starting make screen on the inside and, conse use of the potential of the Michelin quently, it was a very difficuiproduct. stage. By the end of testing, I felt Luckily, we had a decent lead extremely happy with the and could afford to play it safe improvements to the car and feel we won the heat by seven sec that we have moved the ARC onds. pace up a peg - and that showed in our ability to control the event from the front on Day One. Day close Two battle was and anPossum incredibly and We onbuilt and up were a lead able to very corisoliearly date during the afternoon. Weather conditions varied dur ing the day ar>d even varied dur ing the stages as well. Halfway through one stage, we drove into a seemingly mini-sfonn and drove out again the other side - for a couple of kilometres, it was bucketing down. The road surface also varies greatly in Queensland and usually we were choosing tyres to suit groupings of three stages between service parks. The difference between the surfaces of these stage combina tions always means a compro mise on tyre choice. And then there are times when the elements have total control and no amount of forward plan ning can predict the circum stances. The final stage of Day One was an innovative 2.36km tarmac stage up the Noosa Hillclimb in the dark.

ourselves equalled on the open ing stage. We won by one second on each of the next two stages and equalled again on the fourth. With only two remaining stages of the event, we led by two sec onds - these two stages turned out to be the slipperiest of the rally and, due to our lack of wet weather tyre testing, we chose the wrong wet tyre for the stages. Of course, this is very easy in hindsight. Nevertheless, a win in the firs^ heat and a second in Heat 2 gave ourselves and Possum an equal win for the event - you can’t get much closer than that. It’s ironic that the same stage that won us the rally on Day One, Forest Drive, was also the stage that won the rally for Possum on Day Two - and by the very same margin! It's going to be a very tight championship. Cheers,

Possum was first into the stage IN a continuation of a rela tionship that began in 1993, Isuzu-GM has confirmed its factory support for Garland Rally Team’s 1999 program and is providing Bruce Garland with a 3.5 litre quadcam Holden Jackaroo to attack the 1999 Australian Safari in the Northern Territory in August. Garland’s newly-liveried Jackaroo competed in last weekend’s Finke Desert Race as a warm-up event for the Australian Safari. Garland has competed in the Safari on many occasions and won the event in 1996 in a Jackaroo - he also won the PlayStation Rally Round Australia ’98 in a Jackaroo and prepared the runner-up Peter Brock Jackairoo. The Sydneysider is currently working hard to get the budget to make a return to the presti gious Paris Dakar in 2000.

18 June 1999

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Falcon XR6 PRC rally car. Big horsepower motor, BTR hydraulic fidd, V8TG gearbox, multi point cage. Many spares. $16,000 ono. Ph 03 5447 9302 157

155

Honda Civic Club Car; rear-mounted Integra 1600 twin cam, DelOrto carbs, Kevlar comp seat, 6pt harness, alloy fuel tank, Holley red pump. Ready to race. $3,000. Ph: 03 52531105 Geelong (AH). 155

Ex Super Sedan ASX. Very strong fresh 308. P/steer, alloy tank, Rayburn leaf rear end, Carrera coil-overs, 5th arm. Adjustable brakes, drilled & ventilated rotors. New Mcrearys, heaps spares. Race ready. $9,500. Ph: 07 5449 0045,0408 730 704. 155 Modified Production - V8 Commodore, 202, 3 spd, 3.55 locked rear end, mags and spares, well built cage, looks good, ready to race. $2,500. Ph;029584 3484. IS Sprintcar and parts as used by Skip Jackson: 1 x com plete rolling chassis, 1998 Jackson; 2 x Shaver engines, both 372 cubic inch; plus many spares. POA.\Will separate. Ph: Paul 02 9829 7229(AH)IS

Open Wheelers Austin Healey Sprite. Mkl. English 1958. Dark green, bare metal restoration to original condition 500 miles. Second on concours. Nothing to spend. Haggling starts $20,000. Dl 5832. Ph 0 4392 8896 157 Brock Mobil OS Sierra in original condition. As raced spec 1988. Very well maintained. Car with spares. Mint condition: Collectors item. $35,000 Ph 0418 144 783 157 Commodore sports sedan. Total space frame, all sus pension points, trailing arms, pedal assembly, steering, 9' rear, fuel tank, aluminium seat, aluminium radiator, sway bars, watts link, body work complete, rear wing, fitted twin turbo and much more. Uncompleted project. Will take Chev. $16,000. Would not cover labour 0418 144 783 157 Mini sports sedan 1440 MK1 SCCR, LSD 13 x 10 front, 10x8 rear. Full history since 1972. immac condition. Spares available. $5000 ono. Ph 02 4352 1411 or 0413 947

Statesman 1974 Caprice. Motor &trans rebuilt, 308 Sturbo 400, King springs, Monroe gas shocks. New power steering & vinyl roof. Reg to Nov 99. $6,000. Ph: 03 6265 Mazda RX7 Club Car, 13B, 5 spd, LSD, cage, race har ness. Ready to race, very good car, owner retiring from racing. Ph:03 5721 9313, 0418 578 970. 155

8900. 155

210 778 157

553 157

HQ Holden NSW Div 1 car, 8 times top 10 or top 5 Bathurst. Ultra reliable and last. C&B motor. Autometers and lost more. Professionally built car. $6200 ono Ph 02 4577 2615 157

Lease or sale Formula Ford. Leade from $1000. Vertor MG 98 $23,000 Laner engine $450. Will consider part trade on car or van. Ph 039587 6909 or 0418 358 055 157 Superfcart 250 nationa, zip eagle chassis, as new 257 rotax engine, s sets mounted slicks, 1 set mounted wets, full set ratios, purpose built registered trailer and spaer parts. Ready to race. $13,000. Ph 039435 9308. 157 Foimuia ¥ee Nimbus ideal 1st car. Spare wheels, tyres, good trailer with tyre rack.$3800 obo. Ph 0407 229 778 157 Formula Vee Elliot 01 Totally rebuilt top Elliot Bond engine. New paint, new nose cone. Comes with PI gear box, spares and trailer. $10,000. Ph 03 9308 7663 or 0416

Commodore Cup #44, 99 spec, new front end, reco g/box and, diff. Needs short motor. Heaps of spares, with heavy duty car trailer. $21,000 neg. Ph: 02 9528 8392 0416 166 843. 155

Toyota L/Cruiser SWB. 6 cyl, 4 spd, soft top. New paint, new sports seats, race harness, extractors & dual exhaust, fibreglass guards & bonnet, new shocks, new wheels & tyres, 12/99 rego. Ph: 0416 007 609. 1SS

1998 Tibi Kart 3-4 chassis, new powder coating, Tibi race suit c/w spare steering column, stub axles, rear axle plus more. All new $2800 or $3500 with J motor. Ph Steve 03 9704 8123 157 Tony Kart Espirit with fresh Merlin Reed motor, 2 jet Baroni carby and new set of wets & heaps or spares. Ready to race. $2900. Ph 019 160 574 or 035265 1073. 157

18 June 1999 0

TKo.

l3?

one run on dyno only. Original bore with pipes and engine 1S5 mounts. $1,750 each. Various carbies. Ph: 014 911 156.' Engine Building Service. Have your Club Car, Targa, Hillclimb etc engines built professionally and honestly. Very reasonable rates, 4 cyl and 6 cyl Jap, normally aspirated or turbo Ph: Tony Leslie 02 4261 7009, email lesliec@fishinternet.com.au iss

for $2200 p/mth. For appointment to Inspect ph 0418 33 77 55,03 9775 2299 ah or fax 039775 2399 M7 Truck for sale Isuzu 85 FSR update, 6 speed turbo with 160,000 genuine k's. 22' custom pan suit super sedan, sprintcar etc. Simply too much to list. First to see. Will buy. $68,000. Ph 026280 6581 or 0147 511 296 is?

Parts

250CC International Superkart, complete, $9,500, Separate comprehensive spares package inci PC, Pi, data logger, engine $4,500. Will consider all serious offers or swap for top Formula Vee. Ph: 03 9792 0887. ik Reynard 92D Formula Holden. Ex Macrow, two third places at Eastern Creek in March. Fresh engine, ready to race. Tons of spares incI gearbox ratios, wings, nose etc. $75k the lot, or $60k car + $15k spares. Ph: Adam 03 9563 8283(BH),018 532 094. IK Wan Diemen Multisport, 1989 model. Ford 1600cc XR3i; engine, Bosch K-Jetronic inj. Extremely rare and unique, build no 21, excellent cond, never raced in Australia. $15,000. Ph:02 4228 0659. ik Formula Vee: 1998 Mantis MV1-001 chassis & body, new car with most parts, needs engine/gearbox, wheels & tyres etc. $5,500. Ph: Mark 0418 531 797 (BH), 03 9720 7249(AH). IK Elfin 600E F2., Historic Group Q log book. C/N 7126. 1600 Ford twin cam, Hewland Mk9. Immaculate. The best 600 available. Complete with spares, jigs, moulds and fully enclosed tandem trailer. $45,000ono. Ph: Ivan Clencie 03 9726 7166(BH),03 9762 1732(AH), ik Superkart: 250 International Anderson Mirage lightweight factory chassis. Rotax powered. Complete Kelgate spec, with all Kelgate running gear. 3 sets wheels, mounted wets & other spares. As new unit, set up ready to go. $18,000 neg. Ph: Ivor 039437 1239,0419 236 233 ik Formula Libre. Cooper Honda, 1998 NSW Hillclimb championship class winner. Bulletproof Honda CBR1000 engine. Avon slicks 3 meetings old, excellent cond. Also, fully end trailer, 11 months rego, excellent order. Bargain at $6,900 the lot. Must sell. Ph: 0410 544 629. ik

Prag Racing Drag car Cortina 64 mdl tube chassis f/glass front, Lexan windows, 302 Windsor, CIO auto, 4.5 fullspool, MSD ign, NOS plate, CG32211C. $13,000 ono. Ph 0411 806 728 or 03 9758 0621 is?

HQ GTS Monaro Super Stock D/MP or F/Gas. Current tech inspection, four link, full cage 312ci Chev. Runs in the 10s @134mph. $26,000 or less engine & box $13,000. Ph: jim Rowley 02 9637 3435. 154

Engines Kart JICA 99 Parilla 98 Rotax with clutch & pipe & regis tered with papers, plus winning Yamaha J motor. Price neg. Ph 07 3888 4646 bh or 0418 882 030 ah is? Turbo 202, T04 'O’ ring and studded block, 12 port head, cam crank, 5‘ stainless steel exhaust and manifolds, 650 dp holley manifolds, all dials, braided lines, disassembled $1500. Second turbo engine HP block, heads,crank, brand new pistons and brand new rods still in box. All machined ready to assemble. $1500.Ph 0418 144 783 15? Bow Tie engine (engine not started from rebuild), Brodix 10 X heads, 2 Hilbom injector. New -r.040 JE pistons. 35f Callies crank. Carrillo rods. Vertex magneto. $16,000. Ph 0408 823699 is? Rodeck engine 1977 built by PM engines. Brodix 10 x heads, 2!^' Kinsler injection, Callies 3 %’ crank, Carrillo rods, +.020'' JE pistons (10 shows from new). Vertex mag neto. $35,000. Ph 0408 823699 is? Cosworth Sierra modified head, o/size valves, Ivan Tighe hard faced cams. Vernier cam gears. Burton dry sump sys tem, Burton inlet manifold suit 48mm Webers blue printed balanced. Modified distributor. $12,000 ono. Ph 66 540 438 ah (Woolgoolga) 15? Ford 367 stoked Cleveland Venolia 13.5:1 pistons 4mab Crower billet steel rods, 4V heads extensive porting titani um valves retainers, Yella Terra rockers, crane girdle, active inlet, 750 methanol, $9500 short $5500 top $4000. Ph 07 3878 2740 or 0412 202 733 is? Chev SB, high perf 355ci, manifold to sump. 12.5 to 1 comp, roller valve train, 4 bolt bottom end, 420-450hp. Can supply thicker head gaskets to make more streetable. Ph: 02 9604 8910,0417 253 324. ik Roller 202, Bath 9000 head. Billet YT rockers. Ceramic pistons, new 500 dm Holley, extractors, alloy valve cover, forged push rods, alloy flywheel, RPM clutch. $4,000. Ph: 07 4786 1088 bh. ik Kart engines: Ital System rotaries, one 4 meetings old.

Chev SB high performance 355ci manifold to sump 12.5 to 1 comp, roller valve train, 4 bolt bottom end, approx 420450hp, can supply thicker head gaskets to make more streetable. Only quality brand names used inside engine. Ph for details. Will separate heads and manifold from bot tom end. $6000 ono. Ph Alan 02 9604 8910 or 0417 253 324 157

New super T-10 $2300. Ph 0418 144 783 157 Centre look hubs group A Commodore, Pointac Alum heads flow 637 hp $3500, 4 bolt Nigel Block Chev $1200. Alum rods $400. Pelortos 4 x 48 wutg 3" wedges all link ages, braided hoses, rumpets, fluid fuel pressure gauge, regulator, set up for injection to lower part of wedges on Chev S/B manifold. $1860. Ph 0418 144 783 is? System 1 oil filter suit Chev or Holden $200. Kinsler 6 inline fuel filter $200. Assorted 6 & 12 braided lines & fit tings $150. Accel super coil $70. Snapon leakdown tester in case $200. Carter electric fuel pump $70. Lifeline Racing powerboat lifejacket w/c Ballistic pants and carry bag $1000. Ph 0408 322 096 is? Chev 6“ Carrillo rods 3 sets. 1 new, 2 used. New $2200. used $900 & $1100 plus singles new and used. Ph 07 5441 7700 bh or 07 5448 5569 bh is? RS5000 Cosworth, crank, head, pistons, rods, flywheel injectors 'sump'(alloy)$1500 no. Ph 07 5441 7700 bh or 07 5448 5569 ah is? Brakes suit Commodore 14" vented front rotors with modi fied 4 pot calipers 12J^‘ vented rear rotors with single pot calipers master cylinder and hoses. $2500 ono. Ph 039726 9461 or 0418 130 523 is? Coil over springs Many length and rates $100 pr. Pit scooter as new motorised cost $1400 fits in car boot. Light & fast. Easy to ride $450. Ph 07 5441 7700 or 07 5448 5569 15?

Super Flow SF600 Re advertised sale fell through. You can get the bargain. As new with manual, port plates & micrometer, $7500. Ph 07 5441 7700 bh 07 5448 5569 ah

Ford Trader dual cab, 1984m trabsoirterm 3.5 litre diesel, very economical (approx $10/100km), 5 speed, full aero kit, immac condition, suit most forms or motorsport. $10,500 ono. Ph John 08 8725 7341. is? Transporter 46 foot custom built trailer 10 ft in height from ground up. On 16" Toyota fore runner wheels, 6 ton rocker suspension, 6 wheel electric brakes system, sleeps 8, work shop, tyre rack, stereo, cupboards, skylights, low banana back, bull tail gate and more $28,000. Ph 0418 144 783 15?

Transporters/Trailers fully enclosed and registered go kart trailer will take 3 karts or 2 karts with heaps of room for spares. $2000. Ph Steve 03 9704 8123 15?

Transporter/caravan 40ft aluminium luxury accommodationj 4 bunks plus separate double bedroom, dining area, gas hot water, shower, stove, 240/12v power, annex. Hydraulic tailgate, loads of storage space. $70,000. Also available twin cab Isuzu prime mover to suit with loads of extras. Ph 07 4666 3538 is?

Ikansporters/lkailers Transporter Jayco racing 25' hinofitt full tail lift, split level, tyreracks a/con, p/steer, 10-speed, s/roller. Will con sider road car/van part trade. $29,000. Ph 03 9775 0775 or 039587 6909 15? Mercedes Benz 1424 Lucar custom built Pantech 2 car transporter, front spower lounge-living area, fully equipped, large storage area work bench ets. $110,000 or will finance

157

Borg Warner diff, 4 pinion centre, LSD (clutch pack) to suit LX Hatchback, 3.08 ratio or close. Plus chassis kit to suit as well. Ph:03 9330 1172. is6 Looking for a drive - new to Aust, 97, 98 Nissan M'sport South Africa Production car driver. Vast sprint & endurance experience. Ph: Steve 0414 542 612. ik Escort parts - twin side draught manifold to suit Escort 2 litre engine, alloy drop tank, anti-dive kit. Ph: Geoff 0417 369 996, or 03 9705 2791 (AH), ik Motorsport books; The Great Race - 1990 (No. 10), 1991 (No. 11), 1993 (No. 13). Other Bathurst memorabilia also considered. Good prices paid, private collector. Ph: David 02 49681407(AH). 155 Race mechanic, Formula Ford. Preferably with open wheeler experience to ice engineer our second car (RF95 Van Diemen) at select^ I National and State race meetings. Fax resume to 03 9899 2399, or Ph: Michael Ritter 03 9899 3183,0418 306 313. IK Brewer Racing is looking to lease a Suzuki Swift to race in the new millenium. Any teams available with a competi tive vehicle looking for a driver who has ambitions, phone David 08 8255 4142. ik Experience as a volunteer race car engineer/mechanic. Currently employed as a Project Engineer with a burning passion to work within the motorsport industry. Any formula, in Victoria, Melbourne. Ph: 03 9852 8910 (AH), 03 9460 6844(BH). IK Sports Sedan rolling chassis, short wheelbase, suit hillclimb. To take Chev. Monza or Gemini pref. Also, dual axle trailer. Ph/fax: 02 6646 0158. ih Weber carfays, 2 off, model 45DCOE side draft. Right hand rod linkage preferred. Ph: Ken 02 9604 8088(BH), 02 9622 0699(AH),fax 02 9725 4759. IK Expressions of interest for the purchase of Australian Fuel Bladder Supplies Pty Ltd, Manufacturers of Custom & Controlled Fuel Cells and Fuel Systems. Ph: 0412 651 1368 (BH), 07 5530 2578(AH), ik Co-drive for GTP Bathurst race by current Old F/Ford champion with budget. 25 years various race and rallying including previous F/Ford Bathurst. Ph: Peter 0418 184 456. IK

BMW E2t John Player Special, racing pics,car specs, video footage, parts, any information at all about car. Ph: Laurence Gleeson 03 9702 1063. ik

is?

Ford Escort MK1 or MK2- Quiffe super close ratio gear box,4 speed, $2000. Fuel injection complete $800. Haltech ECU model F-7 $400, Diff assembly complete with 2 looked centres $450. Ph Mark 02 9634 1299 bh, 02 9686 8596 ah or 0417 475 409 is? Toyota Celica GT4 1988 ST165 front half cut only, to repair damaged car or suit conversion, all complete. 3SG-T engine, turbo, intercooler, 5sp, 4WD, p/s, a/c. $2,000. Ph: 0412 146 555. IK / Brownfield 227 23 degree heads, brand new, complete with 2.08 - 1.65 valves, ex US professional race team, $4,700. Bowtie 18 degree Wilson intake manifold, had 675 bhp,$550. Ph: 07 5441 7700. 155 Lotus Cortina SPV racing clutch and special balanced steel flywheel, new ring gear. Cost $1,800 to set up, will sell complete for $1,100ono. Ph:03 5244 1339. 155 Shocks - Spax coil over, adj. Six off, new units, suit Jag or Cobra replica, or similar. $160 ea neg. Ph: Ivor 03 9437 1239,0419 236 233. ik Datsun A series option 1 gearbox, in excellent cond. Suit A12-A15 or Sports 1300. Great competition box. Ph: 07 3288 9027. ik 3 BBS 19” Snake Tongue touring car rims, centre lock nut style, with Michelin slicks. Worth $6,000, sell for $1,000ono. Ph:02 6655 5715,0409 125 965. ik Brand new VW 2 litre heads, 48x38 titanium stainless valves, Chev double springs. Suit motor with 105mm pis tons and 105 barrels to suit. $1,000. Plus other VW perfor mance goodies. Ph:02 6655 5715,0409 125 965. IK 9” Ford full floater, brand new, 31 spline axles, hubs, no centre. Suit Grp C, Nb, Sports Sedan or road car. $1,900. Ph:07 5441 7700. ik Chev small block: 5/8 Cola crank, just been reground, $1,500; alloy Childs & Albert 5.7 con rods, still in box, $700; alloy air flow Research heads, complete, still in boxes, flow 590hp, $3,200; Gaerte/Brodix dash II heads complete with match ported manifold & Pacemaker exhausts, 630hp, $3,500 the lot. Ph:07 3888 5934,0417 789 053. ik Bond roll cage (6 pt) to suit Commodore to VL, $375; Walkinshaw VL Group A camshaft, as new, $85. Ph; Ken 02 9604 8088(BH),02 9622 0699(AH). IK Mini race parts off race-winning Club Car (ex Group N). Ph: Bob Page 07 5448 1266(BH),07 5474 9578(AH). IK VN Group A twin throttle bodies, camshaft, litters, double valve springs, injectors, rocker covers, hoses, aVr box. Complete kit for conversion. $3,650ono. Ph: 03 9551 1684 (AH),0413 420 953. IK

Hewland FT200 gearbox. Weber carbs four x IDA 48. Rover 3.5 litre competition motor. Ph 029997 3610 or fax 02 9997 5764 ,sr All EF & EF Ford Faclon parts. Ph Travis 07 4162 4629

Other

Transporter/camper; Converted 1982 Bedford bus, Perkins diesel, long range tanks etc. Lots of goodies. Ideal safe Classic Car transport or Around Aust. $50,000 $63,000 depending on equipment level. Ph: 08 9647 1101.

Ford FIDO XLT 1986, 460 V8, C6 auto, ideal towing vehicle, dual fuel, tray liner, canopy, electric brakes, Hayman Reeses tow pack. $22,500. Ph; Gavin 0419 474 140,08 8725 6355(BH). ik Isuzu pantech: air cond, long range tanks, tyre racks, bull bar, work bench, elec winch. Nothing to spend. $28,500. Ph: 029428 4188,0411 359 990. ik Commodore with fifth wheel trailer. Long wheel base, dual fuel, auto, p/steer, a/c. Trailer 28ft long, 20ft floor space, 6'6" wide x 5'10" tall, tailgate, ramp, side door, annex, electric brakes, cupboards, workbench. Economical, practical transporter, $27,500. Ph: 02 9715 1735(AH),029709 5884(BH),0418 403 744. IK

Wanted Position in motorsport or race team wanted. Prefer media PR or promotion but very versatile. Contacts and truck licence. All positions considered. Full time or retainer only. Ph 0407 143 426 Melb. 15? Wanted Toyota 1600 twin cam cage conversion parts: twin Webers, manifold, distributor ec. Will consider whole engine. Ph Derek 03 9889 1149 157 Brabham BT21 prefer rolling chassis or else complete oar, any condition. Ph 026625 1522 ah or 0412 215 490 15? Video tapes of 1980 and 1981 Bathurst 1000. Good money paid. Ph Mike 07 3285 2244 or 07 3408 4025 ah. 157 One Dorian data 1 transmitter and sedan mount if avail able. Ph.0414 842 662 15?

Category: □ Sedans □ Open wheelers □ Speedway □ Drag □ Parts □ Engines □ Trailers □ Wanted □ Photographs □ Other

Tralee International, Fraser park, Pepsi Powerdome pro grams from day one to day gone, excellent condition, many with results, great collectors's memorabilia. Ph Michael 0410 423 243 or fax for info 02 6258 2425 is? Motorsport magazines (English) 1970-1996. Essentially complete in very good condition. Also ‘Automotive Year' volumes 16-32. All serious offers considered. Ph Greg 02 4237 7503 or 0411 244 175 is? FM frequency adaptors to suit Jap imports. $65. Trade enquiries welcome. Ph Mark 018 535 245(Vic) 157 Vidoes grand prix. Indy, Touring Cars, etc. Motorsport News, AA mags. All have to go. Moving to smaller house. Ph Brendon 02 43920404 is?

Chevrolet Dually 5th wheel tow unit. Chev 454 pet/gas, a/c, Alcoa wheels, 3001 gas Silverado interior, trailer as new. Sleeps 6, a/c, TV, stereo, fridge, sink, length 42ft. $85,000 ono. Ph 08 9304 1551 is? Lola the illustrated history 1957-1977 10 x 8 hardbound 192 page book. Cost $105. Sell $75. Received 2nd book for birthday gift. Ph 03 9799 1683 157 Double layer nomex driving suit. Excellent condition. Manufactured by Pyrotect in USA. Has FIA approval tag. Best offer of $300. Ph Phil 08 8365 0356 ah or 0418 804 077 157

Model car kits - John Day & Grand prix models from 1970s.6 kits in all. $50 ea. Ph Martin 07 3205 5723 is? Magazines from early 1970s to current day. Inc Wheels, Modern Motor, Racing Car News, Motorsport News, Chequered Flag, AA. $500 the lot or will sep. EC. Ph 03 5593 1709 or 0413 024 413 15? Videos - GP, Indy, tourers etc. Motorsport News & AA mags. All have to go. Ph: Brendon 0243920404. ik Rally intercom "Terra Phone', only used once, $150. Ph: 0417 515 927. ik Drive available for V8 Bathurst. Successful & experi enced V8 Supercar team has a position for right driver with budget. No dreamers. Ph:029817 5558. ik Driving suit, RPM triple layer, medium, white over black. Used once. Size 5 driving boots, pair small gloves, /Vai hel met medium, carry bag. Over $1,500 worth $750 the lot. Ph:03 9432 4994. ik Autosport magazines, four complete years, 92-95. Too good to throw out. $120. Ph:02 9417 4558. ik

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18 June 1999 /

Curoouser and curiouser NEWS

Editorial Edator Phil fSranagan TecSasnseaS E«aator Tony SSyimi ' Assistant Editor Gerald McDornan Qrapliics Co-or«8iniat@r Viv Braamby

Advertising Adwertising Manager Brendon Sheridan

When Lowndes hit Osborne in

Dear Sir, Do my eyes deceive me, watching the Darwin meeting of the V8 Supercars on Channell 10? In the last race, it was showing the telemetry of Russell Ingall’s VT and on more than one occasion the tacho went over 8,000 revs. I thought there was a rev limit of 7,500 rpm on these cars. No wonder he was leading the pack - his Holden was pulling 70,0 revs more than anyone else. Can someone please explain? Well done to Jason Bright and all the Ford people.

I ■

Cnrivprrp I

Talk

I Ingall). I Why wasn’t Bright black-flagged, " fined, or disqualified? I Is it because he doesn’t drive for HRT? It sure seems that way! Or is it the officials feel sorry for Ford because they haven’t won a race yet? To me, it’s another example of how one rule applies to HRT and one rule for everyone else.

Peter Brauman E-mail

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CompuServe: ooo237,m«s

Contributors

Vanessa Livermore Woollongong, NSW

Dear Sir, As I am a huge Ford supporter, I was very pleased to see Jason Bright in his Rrtek Falcon win the fifth round of the V8 Supercar Series at Hidden Valley. Gotta love those burnouts!

While I was watching, I noticed

General: Mike Kable, Jon Thomson. Brian Reed, Grant Nicholas, Darryl Flack, David Flassall, Aaron Noonan, FI: Joe Saward, Adam Cooper Europe: Quentin Spurring US: Phil Morris NZ: John Hawkins Speedway: Brett Swanson, Dennis Newlyn, Sue Hobson, Geoff Rounds, Tony Millard (UK), 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) Karts: Sean Henshelwood, Graeme Burns, Allan Roark, Franl Viola, John Morris Photographers: Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsmith, Bothwell Photographic, Neil Hammond, Nigel Snowdon & Diana Burnett, 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, Peter French Artist: Bernie Walsh Cartoonist: Allan Schofield KOTORSPORT NEWS is published by Australasian Motorsport News Pty Ltd ACN No 060 179 928 Directors; C Lambden (Managing). A Glynn

Adelaide, he was fined, blackflagged, disquahfied and had points taken off him (initially) for taking out one person. Bright was responsible for dam aging six cars, two of which couldn’t finish the race (Lowndes and

that while they had the telemetry on screen of Russell Ingall’s Castrol Commodore, I observed the revs go to 8300. I THOUGHT THEY WERE REV LIMITED TO 7500 RPM - are they, or are they not, or is Holden getting away with it? Great mag! Keep it up! William Huge-Ford-Fan E-mail Dear Sir, 1 noticed during the Hidden Valley telecast (race 3) that the on screen display regularly showed Russell Ingall’s Commodore revving beyond 8,000rpm under accelera tion. The maximum was 8600, so little wonder the engine ended up a smoking wreck! Given that the mandatory rev limit is 7500, is this the reason that he has returned to the head of the pack? Mark Larkham did not go beyond 7500, so little wonder he is not win ning! Chi-is Bond E-mail

GP Legends above board Dear Sir, I am writing in response to a let ter in the last issue of your opposi Seeing is believing: What exactly is the upper limit, Rusty? (Dirk Klynsmith) tion’s magazine by “An Observer.” shown, Mark got on the gas the As “Mr Observer” states, he is not a Evolvino language ® ® same as everyone else. competitor in the “Australian GP It wasn’t that he jumped the Legends” Championship, Dear Sir, i am one of the drivers competing Please don’t refer to Michael start -4ie somehow let it roll, but Schumacher as the ‘winningest’ there was no doubt (being there) in the Championship and would Ferrari driver ever. The same that his car was moving before the lite to make it quite clear that’this is a legitimate “open” drivers comapplies to Juha Kankkunen as the green. It’s just a pity Channel 10 only petion.' ‘winningest’ WRC driver. had one camera angle. That word does not exist. Yes, the “Hyperstimulator” There, that’s my two cents - oh, owner is competing and leading the I have heard it before from drivers points. American commentators, then and Titan Sprintcars rule. However, the name of the game Darryl Eastlake used it and now Drew Kruck is to crown the “best” simulator driI’m disappointed to see it used E-mail ver in Australia. twice in my favourite motoring As a competing driver, I would mag. Not so bright find it a very hollow victory, indeed, How about using ‘the most suc cessful’ to describe their achieveto win a championship knowing full well that I have not beaten the ments, but don’t forget Michael’s Dear Sir, After watching the last V8 round “best of the best.” flaws, at Hidden Valley, I’m wondering Perhaps Mr Observer would have how Jason Bright got away with it. had it that Jack Brabham could not David Baker, E-mail After watching the tape several compete in a car of his own design times, it is clear to me that Bright and construction? caused the accident in race three, As for the statement “there’s litRed ’n rollin’ turn'one. tie chance of an outsider winning Bright turned in on Tender, who any dosh” - well, three wins does Dear Sir, not make a championship and I for ■ I was on the pit wall directly hit the brakes, which made beside Mark Skaife’s car at Lowndes run into Tender and one will be up the front of the field Wanneroo. Ingall into Lowndes (through no trading paint with the best of them! It was clear Mark’s car rolled for¬ fault of their own). Crompton, Seton and Skaife were ward about eight inches as the red also caught up in it. Steve Ryan light was on. It was Tender’s corner; he had GP Legends driver Later that day, I saw the TV cov E-mail erage and from the camera angle the inside line.

Publisher. C Lambden

0KAi(5 tlEWe diMSpLF tlFhgKe To (?aKvV'.i4'S Mi(Vpi4VaH-PY CcvlToUe ViSIr's OtlfeATeK!

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AS!70 AS 180 AS 190 AS200 AS2I0

Bankcard, VISA Mastercard, Amex accepted

ADVERTISING WORKS. IT’S THAT SIMPLE! Cali Brendon Sheridan on

03 9527 7744

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Collector’s Prints

v'S SUPERCJARS AUSTRALIA

1998 V8BATHURST Limited Edition of 1000 only (Actual size 1000mm x 340mm)

Only $69 each (plus postage & handling) -

1999 ADELAIDE 500 I I

Limited Edition of 1000 only (Actual size 1000mm x 320mm)

Only $69 each (plus postage & handling)

TO ORDER.,. Simply complete the order form and send with payment to: WIDEVIEW AUSTRALIA, RO. BOX 5158, MIDDLE PARK,VIC 3206 OR...For fast credit card orders just FAX the completed order form to us on:

(Free call from anywhere within Australia) Allow 21 days delivery

* PRODUCED ON GRADE QUALITY ART PAPER AND SEALED WITH A U¥ WARNISH FOR A PHOTOQUALITY FINISH

YES! Please send the following V8 Supercars Collector's Prints: Oty Product Descriotion Price Total 1998 V8 Bathurst" Limited Edition Print $69°° each $ 1999 Adelaide 500" Limited Edition Print $69 ““ each $ $ 6 .00 Plus Postage and Handling $ TOTAL AMOUNT DUE Deliver to... Name:. Address: City/Suburb: State: Post Codei. Contact Phone No.'.-

Payment Method (please tick!... □ Cheque or Money Order payable to Wideview Australia' □ Bankcard □ Mastercard □ Visa Cardholder Name: Card No.: Card Expiry Date: Signature:

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FTR PATCHES FTR logo embroidered on a handy size badge. Available in navy blue & white.

CHAMBRAY SHIRT $59 i Pure cotton chambray shirt with embroidered FTR logo. Available in long & short sleeve. Sizes S-XXL.

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; FTR COMPUTER UV MOUSE MAT F ■■■ , Action illustrabon ofRRAU Falcon screenprinted on mouse

pockets. Embroidery front & back and all sponsors embroidered on sleeves. Sizes S-XXL DRILL SHIRT

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on FTR logo on back. Sizes S-XXXL. KIDS T SHIRT $25 As adults. Sizes 4-14. RAIN/SPRAY JACKET $89 Lightweight, crease resistant, water repellent, micro fibre spray jacket'Navy/royal combo with FTR logos screenprinted front & back. Sizes S-XXL.

SCREENPRINTED POLO $55 Ciassic fit polycotton polo shirt with FTR iogo on front and sponsors on sleeves. Available in white/royal blue. Sizes S-XXXL.

TEAM UMBRELU $39 Blue & white 8 panel golf umbrella with "SET0N5”, “CROMPTONS" and RR logos screenprinted on 4 panels. n.,,.- - —■ . r

TEAM POSTER

BABIES DENIM JACKET Hooded, flannelette lined denim jacket with RR logo screenprinted front and back. Sizes 00-4. BABIES ROMPER SUIT $39 Navy denim romper suit/overalls with FTR logo screenprinted on front. Sizes 00-4.

TEAM FLAG $50 Huge polyester flag with screenprinted RR logo. 6ft X 3ft.

BEANIE $20 100% acrylic "blizzard beater” beanie embroidered with RR logo. Available in navy blue & royal blue.

L COLLECTABLE MODEL RACE CARS N0.5 & 6

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FTR STICKER $1.50

KIDS WINDCHEATER $49 As adult windcheater. Sizes 2-14.

FTR COOLER PACK $15 (12 stubbies) FTR iogo screenprinted on royal blue vinyl cooler pack plus carry handle. r

TEAM CAP $20 Fuliy embroidered with principal team sponsors. Avaiiable in red and blue versions.

ADULT WINDCHEATER $59 Royal blue Polycotton fleece with sponsor logos screenprinted front & sleeves. Sizes S-XXL.

$29

POLAR FLEECE SWEAT $95 Zippered neck polar fleece sweat top in navy with royal blue collar trim. RR logo embroidered on front. Sizes S-XXL.

FORD TICKFORD RAC;;^G

To order, phone Freecall 1800 819 910 or visit our retaii showroom at 371 Ciarendon St., S. Meiboume, VIC 3205. Open 10am-4pm Ikies, Wed, Tliur, Sat Phone: 03 9690 3888.