Motorsport News Issue 157 - 16-29 July 1999

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SHOCK!BaHtursi 1000 under threat Issue 157

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Schumacher out for three races

● Coulthard's British OP win ● Fittipaidi’s breaks CART duck ● Who is America’s greater diwm^ ● Ingail speaks out ● Inside ihnor En^n^itng J M

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The King" heads for Bathurst!

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16 July 1999

Salo set for Ferrari MIKA Salo is on stand-by to replace Michael Schumacher for the next three Grands Prix.

The 32-year-old Finn was due to test Ferrari’s 399 at Monza as Motorsport News closed for press, following Schumacher’s 220kmh crash at Silverstone last Sunday.

The Ferrari suffered an apparent rear brake failure at Stowe Comer and went straight on, just missing team-mate Eddie Irvine. The sand trap barely slowed the car at all and Schumacher hit the wall which was protected by tyres almost head on.

The Ferrari stood up very well to the impact but the double World Champions suffered two broken bones in his lower right leg.

According to Ferrari, the breaks to the tibia and the fibula bones are clean and Michael should have a relatively quick recovery. He under went an operation on Sunday after noon at Northampton General Hospital and this should help speed up the recovery.

It remains to be seen how long it will take Michael to recover but he will aiming to be back in action as soon as possible in order to main tain his World Championship chal lenge.

Schumacher’s crash presents Ferrari with a difficult problem as the Geiman is now second equal in the World Championship with Irvine. Ferrari will want Irvine to score as many points as possible while Schumacher is out of action to maintain the team’s challenge in the Constmctors’ title, but this will mean that Schumacher will be behind Irvine in the Drivers’ title and might need the German to sup port him in the battle with McLaren’s Mika Hakkinen.

n Damon Watch: As we closed for press Damon Hill was still to annoimce his intentions for the rest ofthe season. But,following his stout drive at Silverstone, the British media is speculating that he will continue until the end of the season. team’s test driver and has a lot of experience in the F399. Having said that Badoer has not shown himself to be on the pace of Irvine and Schumacher and Ferrari might prefer to give another more experienced driver a test and run him in the next few races.

If Badoer does switch to Ferrari, he is likely to be replaced at Minardi by Frenchman Stephane Sarrazin, who stood in for Badoer when he was injured earlier in the season.

Salo is highly-rated by Ferrari’s Jean Todt and has been racing this year with British American Racing, standing in for Ricardo Zonta in three races and scoring the team’s first finish of the season.

- JOE SAWARD/STAFF

The Big Hit: Michael Schumacher struggles to get out of his Ferrari 399 after his big off at Stowe last Sunday.

Super Sub: For a bloke who was dumped by Arrows at the start of the spason Mika Salo is doing very nicely - three drives with BAR and now, in ali likelihood. another three with Ferrari. The Mika vs Mika battles should be

worth watching...

(Photos by Sutton-lmages)

Tander takes maiden win

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FORD Tickford Racing has con firmed Geoff Brabham and Neal Bates for their second AU Falcon for the(maybe?)Queensland 500 and FAI1000 Classic. Just like

n While he returned fi-om the UK with good news on the Mark Webber fi-ont, AGP Chairman Ron Walker would not speculate on the fate ofthe date ofthe 2000 event. Butinsiders report that, together with the apparent bad weather affecting the Malaysian date(see Box Seat, pl5),there is a fair degree ofconfidence that Albert Park will have the first race ofthe season... on Marchl2.

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Going better with...? FI authorities have refuted the GP-cocaine stories. (Photoby RaceAccess)

Formula One Cocaine courier ciaims refuted FIA Vice President Bernie Ecclestone has refuted rumours that Grand Prix rac ing is a major source of cocaine traffick ing around the world.

The Sunday Times newspaper in London ran a sensational story at the week end suggesting that Formula 1 racing is being investigated by police because of a tip-off 18 months ago which claimed that

some of the vehicles involved in the sport are being used to smuggle cocaine.

Ecclestone said he discovered about the investigation in the autumn of 1997 and offered his full co-operation.

There have been several searches in recent months of F1 equipment at various ' places around the world but nothing has . been found.

GARTH Tander is keeping his feet on the ground after taking his first win in the eighth round of the Shell Championship Series at Queensland Raceway.

The 22-year-old is keeping things in perspective after his close but convincing win at WiUowbank.

“This proves we can do it,” he said on Tuesday.

‘We’ve run in the top five during the season and it’s really something to win a race and a round. It’s a good feeling.

“To win a race in this category means a lot. It’s the best category in the country with the best drivers. We led the race from the start; it’s not like I won because the top five drivers all fell out.”

Tander didn’t know he’d won the weekend until he stopped his ValvoUne VS Commodore in pit lane.

“It took aU my energy during the race to know when to race and when to conserve. I was rapt to win the race but I wasn’t too concerned about where I was on the day.”

One thing he was sure about was the fate of John Bowe, who slipped past under a yellow flag at turn 6.

‘The yellow was out the lap before he passed me. I could see it clearly at the time and even picked it up when I watched the TV replay.

“The flag point is on the inside of the track, so it’s not like he couldn’t see it. A black flag is a black flag; everyone knows what it means, but it’s not for me to get involved with it.”

He was also sure he had the fast-closing Neil Crompton covered.

“I don’t think Neil could have passed me. He told me later that he’d spent his tyres closing on me. I was pretty confident that I could hold him out.”

Tander certainly led a charmed life on the weekend.

Even after the racing was over, the Valvoline team had a good run, making the traffic-logged trip to the airport in just over an hour...

- PHIL BRANAGAN

n Bring your brains out to Oran Park fo the BOC Gases round this weekend. There will be prizes to be had for the first person to answer some not-toodiflficult questions about the series. The goodies will be given away on Sunday. n Long-time racer and car trade personality Dick Thurston has passed away. He was bestknown for racing a Toyota CoroUa in the 1970s against dri vers like Brian Sampson and actor Leonard Teale, and was the owner ofPitstop Toyota. He was 63. n Some posters that were being signed at Sandown by the VSSupercar drivers were pinched on Saturday. They were to be auctioned for the Make a Wish Foundation and Canteen, which aids teenagers with cancer. If you find them - or have an attack of conscience -they can be returned (no questions asked)to 17 Notting Ave Frankston 3200. n Spies suggest that there has been a performance increase in Super Touring over the past few weeks. Defending Champion Brad Jones and Paul Morris were both under Jim Richards’ May pole time in tyre testing at Oran Park last week. n Speaking of Richo,he and the Volvo Australia team got up close and personal with Queensland Raceway on Monday. The crew were using the session to sort of the gearing for the series-leading S40,but indications are that the pole time for the 2-litre cars will be in the Imlls bracket when the series hit QR on July 31/August 1. n Look for a newer,shinier Peugeot 406 at Oran Park this week. This weekend Tony Newman is running a 1998-spec car, identical to Patrick Watts’, for the first time. n It’s a week oflandmarks at the offices of Motorsport News.

Mid-July marks the start ofYear 7 ofthe magazine, with Lambden,Glynn and Brumby being the ‘survivors’ ofIssue #1.

McDoman has just ticked over three years at tiie coal face, while this issue is the lOOth for Branagan. Maybe we’re just too lazy to find real jobs ...

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16 July 1999

n It looks as though Calder Park and ANDRA will soon come to an agree ment over the 2000 Drag Racing Nationals, although insiders say the contract will be for one year only.

ANDRA put the event up for grabs after this year’s event,the event having been based in Melbourne since 1992. For the long term,the event is still up for grabs... n Champ Car racer Gil de Ferran has made no secret of his desire to race in Formula 1 but following news that Valvoline will cease its involvement wdth Walker Racing at the end ofthis season, the Brazilian said last week he is not ready tojump ship yet.

“It’s too early to make any statements about next year but I would say that I feel I still have some unfin ished business in CART,” de Fen-an said.

“Derrick and I have a good relationship and I think the team has improved by leaps and bounds, so I’d be veiy happy to stay.” n Diane Holl has retak en the role oflead race engineer on Tony Kanaan’s McDonald’s Champ Car. Holl has been working on R&D pro grammes for the Forsythe team recently. HoU has worked for Adrian Fernandez and is the only active woman race engi neer in CART racing.

B Rmnours doing the rounds in the US recently have Jimmy Yasser’s place at Ganassi Racing being taken by Helio CastroNeves, despite Yasser hav ing a long-term contract with the Tai'get team.

Castro-Neves has a oneyear deal with Hogan Racing with an option that must be taken by September.

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Jordan wants Webber

By GERALD McDORNAN EDDIE Jordan has given a to proposition Australian Grand Prix Chief Ron Walker and if it is fulfilled, Mark Webber could soon be lining up on the grid in Formula 1.

Talking to Motorsport News on his return from London on Tuesday, Walker said he had had many “meaningful, productive and fruitful discussions with Eddie Jordan over the last few days.”

While Walker couldn’t divulge the confidential details of what is required, it is understood that Jordan has offered Webber a test driver role, with the possibility of that then leading to a full race position with the team.

“We [Jordan and himself] both understand where we are coming from and there is no doubt that if we can complete the proposition from Eddie Jordan and, knowing that Mark will attack his

King Wally for Bathurst?

WALLY Lewis may be heading for the FAI 1000 Classic in November.

The former Rughy League great is looking at co-driving with fellow Queenslander Shane Cruickshank in the event, but only if he is satis fied with his own progress between now and then.

Lewis is due to have a drive in Cruickshank’s Commodore YS in the next week,“so from there we move ahead.

position with the determination and zeal that he has with the Mercedes-Benz team, then, in no time at all, he will be on the grid...”

While it is believed Webber’s former AMG teammate, BAR driver Ricardo Zonta and Juan Montoya are on Jordan’s “wanted” list to take Damon Hill’s spot at the end of the season, Webber’s attraction to Jordan is that he is not currently contracted to another Grand Prix team - Zonta actually being tied to McLaren and “leased’

by BAR, Montoya contracted to Williams.

Walker also said he’d had a number of discussions with FI supremo Bernie Ecclestone and he had offered support.

“Mr. Ecclestone has enor mous respect for Mark and his abilities and he’s offered his encouragement and sup port,” he said.

ONE possibility avemuie of support witbiia Australia for Mark Webber and Ms attempts to gain a Formula 1 drive could be the Fairfax Publishing empire.

Fairfax CEO Brian Powers attended last weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone as a guest of Walker.

Having not been to a Grand Prix before, it is believed Powers came away impressed by the circus.

“Mr. Powers wasn’t able to attend our race last year due to being in London on busi ness, but I don’t think this will be the last time he will attend a race,” Walker said of his guest’s impressions.

“You would have to talk to Mr. Powers, but it could be possible that he could help promote Mark and his efforts.”

I’ve been in hmited company (i" celebrity races) and that completely different. But if the ability is there and the opportunity, it would be a big chance.”

Appropriately for one of the country’s all-time football legends, Lewis, who has a current CAMS competition licence, says that he would seek coaching before attack ing the race track. The most likely advisor would be Frank Gardner, who was involved with the BMW program when Lewis was a celebrity racer, and vrith whom he has kept touch in the years that followed.

Lewis said that he had not

“I’m happy with what I have done in the past,” said Lewis on Tuesday, “but it’s a big step from the BMWs I have driven in the past to one ofthese things.”

Lewis has raced in three gone as far as looking at celebrity events at Adelaide whether he (a sports presen-and Surfers, winning all ter on the Nine network) three races and impressing onlookers and driving coaches could compete in the Tenwith his consistent and telecast FAI race. i “I’ll leave that to the boss smooth'style. es,” he mused.

Lewis is not underestimat Perhaps a two car team ing the task.

“It (motor racing ) has vrith Sam Newman - beckons always been a magnet for for 2000 ... me,” he says, “but I realise -PHILBRANAGAN

B A member ofthe Royal Naval Air Service was killed on Friday night when an MG sportscar in which he was travelling spun and overturned while he and three friends were taking a joyride around the track. Three of the men were ti-eated for injuries at Northampton General Hospital but the fourth was declared dead at the scene ofthe crash.

One ofthe four- believed to be the driver of the carwas later arrested. All four men were members ofthe rescue helicopter team sent to Silverstone from the RNAS base at Culdrose in Cornwall as part ofthe emergency ser vices for the Grand Prix.

HHF and EJ: Frenzten is re-signed for 2000. is there room for an MW next season?

to join Frentzen

By JOE SAWARD

HEINZ-HARALD Frentzen will stay with Jordan in 2000.

The team had an option on the 32-year-old German and decided to take it up after his magnificent win at the French Grand Prix .

The move would suggest that the team is not going to sign up another top-line star such as Eddie Irvine or David Coulthard despite the fact that the team’s sponsor Benson & Hedges wants a high-profile name in the team.

Bringing in another star could result in the team being destabilised at a time when it needs to do well. It makes more sense to hire a youngster on a cheap contract and build him up, without upsetting Frentzen.

There were rumours at Silverstone that David Coulthard had actually visited the Joi-dan factory at Silverstone and the team’s windtunnel at Brackley but this was denied

by David’s management as vrishful thinking on the part of the team and a lever as it tries

to improve its pohtical position in relation to Honda.

Jordan has a Mugen Honda deal for 2000 and 2001 and the team hopes that if it is suc cessful and British American Racing is not, it could become the Honda factory team in 2002. It is not a stupid policy as BAR is going to struggle to build the team into an effective unit in the time available.

If Damon Hill decides to retire the man thought most likely to join the team for the rest of the 1999 season is McLaren Junior Team member Nick Heidfeld.

Jos Yerstappen has ceased to be the favourite for the drive as he did not greatly impress the team during its recent Silverstone testing. McLaren is keen to get Heidfeld into FI so that he can gam expenence but it has not been easy to find a replacement in Formula 3000.

A competitive driver is needed to win in F3000 to protect Heidfeld’s position and the West Competition team is believed to want an existing F3000 driver to do it.

New angle for WilliamsBMW partnership

BMW’s deal with the Williams Ft team has taken on a new dimension, with the announcement that the German manufac turer will effectively replace Winfield as the team’s naming rights sponsor.

BMW will gain control of the team’s livery when it supplies the team with engines, in a five-year deal which starts next year. The British team will run under the name ‘BMW WilliamsFr.

n There was a dinner in London last week to cele brate the 50th anniversaiy ofthe foundation of BUM. The event at the Dorchester Hotel in London was hosted by Louis Stanley- who is now in his 90s-and was attended by Sir Frank Williams.

Commodore No.6? ‘King’ Wally Lewis. (Photo by Ailsport)

This new agreement will provide Williams with financial stability following last week’s announcement that Rothmans, backers of the team for six years, would not be continu ing its support next year.

The announcement is also seen as the first step for William, which has enjoyed the

support of Rothmans and. before that, Camel, breaking free from tobacco sponsor ship, which is expected to be banned from the sport in the near future.

“This partnership provides a sound com mercial foundation for our activities and will allow us to work in conjunction with BMW for the global marketing of the team.” said team boss Sir Frank Williams. “Additionally this provides an attractive proposition for signifi cant new investors and the integration of our existing sponsorship base.”

BMW’s motorsport boss Gerhard Berger added, Formula One represents a major challenge, which at the same time has a major communicative function for the com pany as a whole as well as for its products ”

WJuly 1999

Bathurst 1000 V8s knocked back by CAMS Festival to replace 1000?

ment. In part it committed to issuing a THE 1999,Bathurst 1000 was dealt a permit for the race for “Super Touring, NZ severe blow on Monday, with the Schedule S and Group 3E” (these latter Board of CAMS declining to issue a two are Production categories). race permit to include the proposed It continued: “The participation of these Holden/Ford V8 category. categories at the 1999 Bathurst 1000 is Without the new “local’ category to boost subject to the approval of the relevant cat interest and support for the race, insiders egory manager for each of these cate believe there is every'possibility that the gories. The Board has not approved the Seven Network will simply abandon the proposed “Bathurst 1000(V8)’ category.” event along with its current commitment Group 3E currently goes under the to motor sport programming.

‘GTP’ baimer and, with its position on the However, as we closed for press.

V8 Supercar programme, its FAI 1000Advantage International revealed contin supporting 3 Hour race and Ten Network gency plans to turn the weekend into “a broadcasts to protect, GTP boss Bill West motor sport festival, with up to 10 cate could be expected to come under pressure gories of cars competing, involving poten to in fact not allow his teams to take part tially over 500 competitors.” in the Bathurst 1000. ' Heading the schedule is a proposed On Tuesday, there was little on-the400km Super Touring race and a separate record reaction or comment from anyone 300km race for the new V8 category, as the implications of the decision were “rhe other option is a lengthy legal chal being digested. lenge to the CAMS decision, but with lead Acting CAMS CEO Tim Schenken could time for the 1999 race already short, an only offer a “can’t speak about that” - the unlikely one. There has also been sugges tions that the ACCC may become governing body is understandably fearful ofthe legal ramifications. involved.

Late on Tuesday evening. Advantage’s Efforts over the past three weeks to Steve Frazer spoke to Motorsport News: revisit negotiations with CAMS concern “Right now we’re going through the ing sanctioning of the race, along with the V8 category,(with TOCA’s Kelvin O’Reilly revised option with Seven,and their initial acting as a go-between between reaction is,I must say, positive.

“That’s our view - but Seven may decide Advantage International and CAMS), looked to be bearing fruit and, as late as it’s all too hard.

“Australian motor sport has two major last Friday, Advantage was quietly confi free-to-air networks currently covering dent that its cause was looking positive: ‘We’re getting the message that CAMS motor sport, and we just can’t believe that wiU issue a pei-mit - they have come back CAMS imderstands that it is doing its best to us with a revised set of tech regs for the to force one ofthem to walk away.

“It seems that if you are part of the elite V8 category,” Advantage’s Craig Fletcher said at the time, although expressing dis V8 Supercar show (which CAMS of comse has a financial interest in), and its sup appointment that “every time we submit a revised proposal, it seems to be passed porting categories, you are okay, otherwise straight to AVESCO for their comment you can forget it.” and input...”

Certainly, if Seven pubs the pin. Super That confidence was shattered on Touring and its support categories face a Tuesday when, after a Board hook-up the diffcicult time.

- CHRIS LAMBDEN previous evening, CAMS issued its state-

Memories are made of this: The days of the October 1000km race could be short after CAMS’ latest decision. (Photo by Darren House)

queues stretching for nearly 20kms at one stage meant that many spectators and corpo rate guests were taking three hours to get into the single access road into the Raceway,

By Tuesday, several V8 teams - while keen to praise the positive aspects of the new track and the enormous works completed in such a short time - were suggesting that it needs another year and some work before the cir cuit should host a long distance race.

The matter is expected to come up for dis cussion at AVESCO level shortly, with Sandown and Sydney’s Eastern Creek both being touted as venues with long-standing and suitable facilities to take on a 500km race.

Acting CAMS CEO Tim Schenken said on Tuesday that he had not heard of the rumoured move to switch the 500km race: “There are certainly a couple of things that they have to work on at Queensland Raceway and they can be addressed,” he said, “but in an operational race sense the circuit is, as far 99 as I am concerned,fine.

Motorsport Queensland CEO Dennis Brown was tied up in meetings late on Tuesday and couldn't be contacted for comment.

V8teams

... and officials cop it, too RACE Stewards and Scrutineers were also in the spotlight at last weekend’s Queensland round of the Shell series, with a main race red flag and a pre-race tyre dispute topping the agenda.

A number of drivers criti cised the decision to halt the V8 Supercar’s second heat when rain swept across Queensland Raceway, suggest ing that the red flag ruined the spectacle when team tactics and speed in switching to wets could have provided much interest. Or even a Safety Car period.

Certainly, there appeared little danger on-circuit at the time and a number of teams had already called their cars in for wets.

Front-runner Russell Ingall was scathing: “I was amazed. There was stiU plenty of grip and then the team called me in. We’re pre pared for this kind of moment.

It was an absolutely bad call.

n There were sugges tions during the British Grand Prix weekend that members of the Silverstone management are imder the impression that they have an agree ment with FI boss Bemie Ecclestone for the race to continue imtil 2006.

Brands Hatch has a writ ten contract with Ecclestone to hold the race between 2002 and 2006. The unconfirmed rumoms of a deal between Silverstone and Ecclestone may be a clum sy attempt by Silverstone to try to suggest that Ecclestone is breaking an agreement with them.

Ecclestone denies that there was ever an agree ment with Silverstone. n Honda Motor Company president Hiro3mki Yoshino was in England last week for the laying of a foundation stone at a new Honda fac tory. Yoshino said that Honda is not planning any mergers and intends to survive the current ratio nalisation ofthe automo tive industry by a policy of aggressive expansion. It is worth noting last week that there were sugges tions that DaimlerChiysler might be bidding for Fiat. That would have interesting effects on FI as DaimlerChrysler is cur rently represented by McLaren and Fiat is rep resented by Ferrari...

ueensland 500 query

PROBLEMS, particularly with circuit access, have led some teams to suggest that Queensland Raceway should wait until 2000 to host its first planned 500km V8 race.

While a huge crowd of nearly 28,000 turned out for the first big race at the new venue last Sunday, it could have been more - a number turned back when it became clear that

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not only for me, but for the spectacle of the event.

Race Director 'Tim Schenken this week offered an explana tion: “In long distance races, all the teams are prepared for pos sible wet conditions. In the shorter races, many are not they haven’t got the tyres on hand or the personnel and equipment and in some cases the pit spacing isn’t sufficient to cope - and so we agreed a little while back that wet races would be red flagged.

“It’s a matter of policy. If someone wants to change it, that’s okay, but in my view in the shorter races you’re better off to stop it.”

A request to TEGA Technical Manager John Sheppard from HRT to be able to scrub in their two sets (per car) of new race tyres during Thursday’s “Corporate rides” produced an interesting out come.

Originally okayed, a submis sion to the Stewards from Larry Perkins pointing out

that the rules clearly state that the new tyres mustn’t be used prior to Official Qualifying, resulted in HRT’s tyres being repossessed and the team being issued with fresh tyres on Saturday. (A Bulletin was later issued, apparently now allowing early use of the race rubber.)

A similar situation arose with some teams using more than the allowed two sets of used tyres in practice.

“I’m not having a go at HRT,” Perkins told Motorsport News. “They simply asked the question and were given the wrong answer.

“It’s just that administration of the technical side of this rac ing at the moment is a joke.

“If these relatively minor errors are getting through, what else is?

“The show looks good, all the signs are in the right place and so on, but the sporting side of the operation, the technical overseeing, is being let down at the moment and I think we need to address that.”

n Among the many VIP guests at Silverstone was Wolfgang Reitzle, the boss of Jaguar. Reitzle is push ing hard for Ford to rebrand the Stewart team as Jaguar to support the company’s sales drive into the luxury car markets, where the primary opposi tion is coming from BMW and Mercedes. Ford sources say that the team will become a Jaguar operation but that the timescale has yet to be agreed. n Rubens Barrichello said at Silverstone that he is talking with Ferrari about a possible deal. This may be an attempt by Barrichello to raise his retainer with Ford -the new owner ofStewartbut it is unlikely that he will move as he is better off m the Ford factory team than he is as munber two at Ferrari. Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo denied any talks with Barrichello. n There has been some more restructuring work at British American Racing with Adrian Reynard remaining as Vice-President oftechni cal matters but giving up his title oftechnical direc tor. Thatjob has gone to Reynard employee Malcolm Oastler. Reynard shrugged oflf criticism from BAR driver Jacques Vdleneuve saying that he has a lot of commitments.

Reynard said that the dis pute had been settled.

-JOESAWARD

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16 July 1999

Walker and Valvoline part

n The Bel^an Grand Prix could still be in dan ger ifthe law passed last year by the local authori ties at Spa to allow tobac co advertising is over turned by the Belgian supreme court. FIA President Max Mosley said that it would be more sensible if Belgium agreed to observe the European plan to end all tobacco sponsorship by 2006 rather thati try to push ahead with its own legis lation. The Zandvoort cir cuit is hoping that ifthe Belgians fall out with the FI authorities the end of August date could be used for a Dutch Grand Pnx. n In a move which could have a dramatic effect on Prost’s budget in the future, the team’s sponsor Totalfina has launched a $42bn take over bid for rival oil com pany Elf. If successful the deal would create the fourth largest oil company in the world .As the deal will involve share swaps rather than money would create a much larger advertising budget which Prost might be able to exploit. n Williams’s lawyer Peter Goodman is leaving the Grove team to take up a new job with the recent ly-formed CSS Stellar sports agency,formed in a merger between CSS Promotions and Stellar Management. The compa ny aims to expand activi ties in Grand Prix racing and on other sports. CSS and Stellar are involved with several different teams, notably Prost Grand Prix and Williams.

AFTER six years togeth er, Derrick Walker and Valvoline will split follow ing the conclusion of the 1999 Champ Car season.

In announcing the split, the company cited business reasons for the decision and a reallocation of marketing resources toward its SynPower and Eagle One brands in the United States.

“It’s been one of the

Bowe's Queensland results up in the air

By CHRIS LAMBDEN

CAT Racing’s John Bowe is to appeal his disqualifi cation (having crossed the line first) from the third race at last Sunday’s Queensland round of the Shell series.

“I’m appealing to CAMS over the severity of the pun ishment and if that is unsuc cessful I’ll take it to the high est court in the land,” Bowe said on Tuesday.

“I can’t understand how, a few weeks back Mark Noske does the identical thing (at Phillip Island) and cops a

fine, but I’m disqualified.

“And in the very same race, 30 seconds later, Todd Kelly passed Mark Larkham in exactly the same spot and there was nothing done! pVhat’s the difference?

I only saw the black flag once and, taking into account those recent prede^

Championship following the departure of wealthy Frenchman Boris de Richebourg. Other F3000 operations are expected to run into similar problems as they fight for the 14 slots available next year. n Rocco Benetton has admitted that he is not very confident about Renault deciding to return to FI with a factory engine. Alan Jenkins had long talks with Benetton but decided not to join the team because of the lack of an engine. We have heard suggestions in recent days that Stewart’s Gary Anderson has been contacted by the Enstone team.

“My view, and I think it’s

BSas already instructed a solicitor on the matter AVESCO, is that blatant and, anticipating a hearing ignoring of the black flag as Motorsport News closed reflects very badly on the for press on Tuesday whole race fraternity. It’s evening, was hoping to have' ^ike sticking your finger up the matter adjourned in and saying T don’t care who order to be present himself: you are. I’m not stopping...”

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n Sir Jack Brabham and FI insurer Tim Clowes are shortly to go to court in a dispute which dates back to 1994 when Brabham is alleged to have guaranteed a loan by Clowes to the Simtek team to pay the FIA entry fee of$500,000.

Brabham was involved in the team as his son David was one ofthe dri vers. Clowes says that the money was never paid back after Simtek went out of business. n The Arrows junior team in Formula 3000Portman Arrows- has withdrawn from the International

'I’m stuck in Queensland on business on Tuesday,” he said, “and would like to be present myself” CAMS Motorsport Manager and Race Director on the day, Tim Schenken, ^old Motorsport News that he was comfortable with the

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business plans don’t include primary team sponsorship in CAET in 2000, or any other form of major open wheel racing,for that matter.”

Walker Racing has four CART victories, one by Scott Goodyear, two by Robby Gordon and one by current driver Gil de Ferran. de Ferran finished second

in the CART standings in his first year with Walker in ’97 and is currently second in the FedEx Series.

longest-running, most pro ductive sponsorships in Walker is actively seeking motorsports,” said Walker.

“Unfortunately, Valvoline’s a replacement for Valvoline.

Last look: Derrick Walker is left looking for a new sponsor.

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CART’S AfricanAmerican search CART CEO Andrew Craig has annmmced the introduction of a programme to identify and evaluate African-American drivers with ambitions of open-wheel racing.

The programme, which is being run by the Miller Racing Group,is being sponsored by Toyota.

Arciero-Wells will perform initial evaluations in the team’s Formula Atlantic cars while drivers showing potential will be tested in one of Barry Green’s Team KOOL Indy Lights cars.

Miller Racing Group’s supremo Leonard Miller ran an F5000 for black driver Benny Scott and the Black American Racing Team in the early 1970s.

rendered IRL Open-wheelers?

Benz buys in

DaimlerChrysler has announced that it is buying a 40 percent shareholding in the TAG McLaren group of companies.

The deal is believed to be worth around $200m and will see the automobile giant becoming the biggest shareholder in the group.

It will, however, continue to be run as an independent operation with Ron Dennis acting as chairman and chief executive.

“This element of our long-term strategy is designed to further enhance our products and differentiate the Mercedes-Benz brand in an increasingly competitive market,” said DaimlerChrysler chairman Jurgen Schrempp.

McLaren intends to design and build the new Mercedes-Benz SLR supercar(above) for DaimlerChrysler. This will begin to be marketed in the year 2003 and is intended to be a competitor to Ferrari in the supercar market.

The TAG McLaren Group currently con¬

sists of six major companies including McLaren International (the Formula 1 team), McLaren Cars - which will build the road cars, TAG Electronic Systems, TAG McLaren Marketing Services and TAG McLaren Audio. The group employs around 750 people.

With the TAG Group having sold half of its 60 percent shareholding and Ron Dennis’s family having agreed to part with one quarter of its 40 percent holding, the new share structure will see DaimlerChrysler controlling 40 percent, TAG 30 percent and Dennis 30 percent.

The move means that TAG will recoup its investment in the group - probably with a considerable profit as well and that all parties can look forward to further profits if DaimlerChrysler decides to increase its involvement in the future - which is quite possible.

-JOESAWARD

ONE of America’s most powerful and influential Bruton individuals.

Smith, has said the Indy Racing League won’t return to Charlotte Speedway unless major changes are made to the formula, one of his sug gestions being fenders ...

Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports Incorporated which owns six major racing facilities in the US, has said he believes that open-wheel cars should now be full-bodied.

SMI Inc.’s contracts with the IRL at their Charlotte and Texas Motor Speedway venues expire at the end of this season.

“I don’t know where it’s written that you have to have open-wheel racing. It may be that open-wheel racing is obsolete,” Smith said.

“Maybe after 80 or 90 years we ought to say,‘OK, we’ve had that for awhile, now we need to enclose the wheels.”

Smith said last week he had made his feelings know to IRL boss Tony George.

“I’m convinced they’re working on some things [to make the cars safer],” he said.

“I’ve been a strong advo cate of going to a full-bod ied car for quite sometime,” he said. “The car then w ould be larger and we race fans, and I’m one of them, would be able to see the car better.”

TMS president Eddie Gossage, who had been previously quoted as say ing he was sure that IRL would return to the track, was quoted last week as saying that he was now unsure of that happening.

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8

16 July 1999

No 12th HRD’

team THERE is not going to be a twelfth Formula 1 team based around the Honda

Senna trial to re-open

MORE than five years after Ayrton Senna died, the Italian legal machine will re open the enquiry into his death in November.

Italian authorities announced last week that an appeal against the 1997 decisions in the fatal injuries to the three-time world champion has been set down for November 19 in Bologna.

The first trial ended with the acquittal of Williams-Renault team owner Sir Frank Williams, Williams technical director Patrick Head and former team designer Adrian Newey after Senna died of head injuries in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola when his car smashed head-on into a concrete barrier after failing to take the Tamburello curve.

But the prosecution has appealed the acquit tals of Head and Newey, though not the acquit tal of Williams himself

r

Racing Developments.

Our sources in Japan tell us that the Honda Motor Company has decided not to A let go of the facility in Bracknell and now intends to use it as an engine-building and development centre to the forthcoming Formula 1 project with British American Racing.

A few of the HRD stalf will be retained - if they can be At the first trial the prosecution claimed a convinced to stay - but the poorly modified steering column broke as rest are expected to go to Senna entered the curve at SOOkmh and the other teams. At the moment, Brazilian driver lost control of his car. however, eveiydne is waiting Head still is with the Williams team; Newey is now with the McLaren-Mercedes team. to see how much compensa tion Honda is willing to pay Although his acquittal was not appealed, and that has delayed the Williams has asked the Bologna court to be break-up. included in the new trial.

The news is going to have a His lawyer, Oreste Dominioni said Williams Here we go again: Adrian Newey (left) and Patrick Head are about to be dragged through the whole serious effect on the number is seeking exoneration “for the entire team.” sorry, silly Senna mess again - but is there any chance that some good will come of the whole thing? of groups bidding to run the twelfth FI team as there are only a few organisations capa ble of producing a Formula 1 car in time for the start of the 2000 season in Malaysia in Februaiy next year.

Dallara in Italy, Britain’s Lola and possibly Paul Stoddart’s European Formula Racing operation in Ledbmy, Herefordshire, are the only organisations which might be able to pull it off Stoddart OiNiE ofthe equalities is said to be very keen to remains a player because he rretum and win the race. of the latest Bathurst owns all the old Tyrrell FI f^mamics spokesman | news(see page# equipment which he bought eould he a Canton Bili Richard Tait-Bands said.9 1 when the team was closed '^her Fermula €)ne for Bathursf story. down at the end of last sea J, stanx^j such as Nigel D on’t believe everyson. His 60,000sq ft facility ' > .ar 1 liansCU and Derek thing you read,though win soon have its own seven there is some tahi that Warwick,have raced post rig and work will begin the former world cham^ British Tourhag Cars shortly on the construction of pion Could be headii^ £dter leavuig FI. a state-of-the-art windtunnel. intO' British Touring ‘W Damon wants to Our sources say that Lola is Cars with top privateer race on after Ft,he not likely to be a player as it outfit. Team Dynamics. is currently heavily involved would bring thousands I The 1996 world chamin building up its market in ofnew fans to touring pion has reportedly been CART racing in the United ears.

In a holding pattern: There will be a delay in the release of the V8 Supercar calendar for contacted by the team States. Dallara has been next season, with the newdates now due in September. (Photo by oirk Kiynsmith) ‘IBis talent is unques offering bim the oppor involved in the production of tioned and would cer^ tunity to test Matt Neal’s the prototype Honda FI test tainly lead to wins, Nissan Primera. Neal car but shows little interested and Steven Richard fin indeed the champiin getting fiuther involved. ished second in the 1998 onshipi ifhe was to j Stoddart says that he has mjiter.”

Bathm^t 1900 and Neal no plans to enter FI by him self The most likely scenario, therefore, is that one of the groups with money available will now try to get together with a technical organisation to form the new team. We have heard that David Himtthe man trying to revive Lotus - has been spotted at the European Formula Racing Improve your (driving skill an(d lap times headquarters but no-one will RELEIASE of the 2000 schedule for teams’ organisation TEGA next year. confiiin that contact has been V8 Supercars has been delayed Confirming a CEO role for current with a Defensive Roa(dcraft Drive Day until September. made. Any new team would AVESCO CEO Garry Craft, he suggest Initially slated for this month, the be expected to use Supertec Observed Licence Test avaiiabie VIO engines- as these are the programme for next year has been ed that a new General Manager’s posi tion for the combined organisation only ones available. delayed, according to AVESCO chief would be created.

Among others who have Tony Cochrane, “because one of the An interesting rumour at the week been linked to plans for a 12th new venues for 2000 has asked us for an end is suggesting that AVESCO/TEGA team are Zakspeed - which additional four weeks for it to finalise Braidwood Rd @oylbunt NSW tried to buy Arrows last win its contract with us. also proposes to take over the judicial ter - Toyota, Prodrive and side of its competition.

“It’s an exciting venue, so we’ve John Macdonald. The former agreed.”

FFiday 30 July - SatuT(day 31 July Given the widely held view that the RAM FI boss turned up in THEORY AND PRACITICAT Cochrane declined to elaborate on _ current AVESCO/TEGA structure is, Franec last weekend in the the venue, but as we have reported in while kicking goals for V8 Supercars in company of ex-BAR team l Level 1 (Fri)-$120 l Level 2(Sat)-$200 recent weeks, both Canberra and a commercial sense,falling short on the manager Greg Field, creating Townsville have projects on the table l CAMS OLT (LI & L2)-$320 detail of some race administration further speculation that he is for street V8 races.

For details, the rumour is alarming some planning to make a move.

Tel: 02 4822 2811 Fax: 02 4821 9305 At the same time, Cochrane condetaiis E-mail: gofast@goulburn.net.au competitors (see Russell Ingall’s view, -JOESAWARD firmed plans to merge AVESCO and V8 page 11). contact , www.goulburn.net.au/~gofast PROMOTIONS

V8 calendar CAMS- O.L.T. in September

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INI

16 July 1999

McLeod angry over QR DQ

Gobert’s heading back to the SWC ANTHONY Gobert may be head ing back to the world stage and World the Superbike Championship.

The Australian’s starring perfor mance in the Laguna Seca round of the SBK series has placed the 23year-old Australian and team-mate Ben Bostrom in prime position to move from the USA series to the big league in 2000.

The pair split the wins in California on their Vance&Hines Ducatis and suggestions were being made in the USA that the duo would form half of Ducati’s assault defence?- on the 2000 title.

V&H has asked to take a greater role in the SBK program and it is believed that it will run an SBK team alongside the existing Ducati outfit.

European Performance,for 2000.

However, the riders for the DP team are yet to be finalised. There are suggestions that, should Briton Carl Fogarty win a fourth world title as current form indicates, he may retire. On the other hand, Ducati is said to be concerned about the form of Australia Troy Corser, to the point that there were discussions in Germany about Corser’s future with the team.

This report seems a little odd as, while Fogarty currently appears to have Corser’s measure, Corser is capable of beating everyone else in the series and, should Ducati release him, he would have no trouble get ting another competitive ride.

SBK insiders were impressed with Gobert in the USA. ^^ile his speed has never been questioned, it was his professional manner and new-found maturity that were noticeable in his winning perfor mance.

There is also the matter that, with V&H taking a greater role in the world series, they do not want Gobert going to another SBK team perhaps even Aprilia, whose own Vtwin is developing in leaps and bounds. Peter Goddard qualified the latest RSIOOOV fifth fastest in the USA. The Show,it seems, will go on ...

-PHILBRANAGAN

RYAN McLeod has spoke out about his disquahfication from the Century Batteries GT Production

The Show is coming back: After his brilliant showing in the USA last week Anthony Gobert looks like getting a well-deserved second bite at the WSC.

Renault FI comeback?

RENAULT has been

reshaping its man agement in recent days - which could mean that a change in attitude towards Formula 1 racing.

In recent months Renault’s decisions about Formula 1 have been taken by Executive Vice-President Carlos Ghosn. He becomes chief executive of the Nissan Motor Company later this week with the aim of returning the

company - which is effectively controlled by Renault - to profit as soon as possible. Nissan departing bosses say that they would like to buy an equal sharehold ing in Renault as agreed but Ghosn says this will have to wait until Nissan has more money available.

Even without Nissan money, Renaidt is doing well at the moment but it remain to be seen whether or not there is enough money about for

an estimated $100m investment in a new Formula 1 engine.

Renault chairman Louis Schweitzer says the company will only return to FI if it thinks it will enjoy the kind off success it enjoyed between 1993 and 1997.

The Renault Sport team has been weak ened in recent months by the departure of a number of key engi neers and Toyota,BMW and others are trying hard to recruit others.

I

i

'SBi

i

Mi

With Ghosn having moved on, much will depend on the attitude of his replacement Belgian Pierre-Alain de Smeldt, who moves to Renault from his cur rent position as boss of the Volkswagen-owned Seat company.

The board of directors at Renault have, inci dentally, agreed that Schweitzer will stay on as chairman of the com pany for the next six years.

-JOESAWARD

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races at Queensland.

McLeod was excluded from the results after his Ascot Car Rentals/Primus Falcon XR8 was found to be 5kg underweight after race one.

This is despite the fact that the event organisers were themselves charged over not having correct scales at the track, but using a set of borrowed corner weight scales. That charge was later dismissed.

“I don’t understand it,” said an amazed McLeod after the race “They were in the wrong with their scales and I was the only one who was weighed twice. They didn’t weigh and record the Formula Fords and then they did this to me.”

McLeod is now debating whether or not to complete the series. Three engine blow-ups cost him during the weekend and, to add insult to injury, he was pinged for exceeding the 60kmh pitlane speed limit by 4kmh during the weekend. He was charged but not fined for the offence.

“They took all my points off me and now I can’t win the championship.”

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World of Sport

Motor Raring Calendar Shell Championship Series V8 Supercars* July 25 ...Calder

Rd 8

Aug 8 Symmons Plains .Rd 9 ,Rd 10 Aug 22 ...Winton .. , .Rd 11 Sept 5 Oran Park FIA Formula One World Championship ,Rd9 July 25 .. .Austria .. .Rd 10 Aug 1 Germany .Rd 11 Aug 15 ...Hungary . .Rd 12 Aug 29 ...Belgium .

Sep 12 .. .Italy

.Rd 13

FedEx CART Championship Series* Jui 18 Toronto .. .Rd 11 .Rd 12 Jul 27 Michigan .

Aug 15 .. .Lexington .

Aug 22 ...Chicago ..

Sep 5 Vancouver

.Rd13 .Rd 14 ,Rd15

SOOcc World Grand Prix Motorcycle C'Ship* Rd9 July 18 ...Germany . .Rd 10 Aug 8 Portugal .. ,Rd11 Aug 22 ...Czech Rep. Sep 5 ....San Narino Sep 19 ...Valencia

Rd 12 Rd13

THE Arrows team has announced plans to use Supertec VIO engines in 2000.

The deal - which the team had denied it was planning - will mean that team boss Tom Walkinshaw is giving up his own engine pro gramme. This will result in a number of wellknown engine designers becoming available in the weeks ahead.

Walkinshaw said that he felt it was necessary to switch engines because to be competitive a team needs to have an engine which “has been developed by a major manufacturer”.

The Supertec VIO engine was designed by Renault Sport three years ago and is - in theory being developed by Renault Sport engineer on com mercial terms. The money for development is com ing from Flavio Briatore’s Supertec company although there has been little evidence that much has been done this year. The engines are not very competitive and have not been reliable.

The 2000 engine is being called the FB02 but it is not expected to be very new.

One rumour we heard at Silverstone is that Minardi - which is likely to be a Supertec customer - may be trying to negotiate an engine deal with Ferrari.

-JOESAWARD

Shake on it: Arrows’ Tom Walkinshaw and Supertec’s Flavio Briatore shake on the deal.

Ferrari and Sauber agree for 2000-Toyota/Sauber in 2001?

SAUBER has agreed an exten sion to its current engine supply deal with Ferrari with the

World Superbike Series* Aug 1 Europe Rd 9 ..Rd 1 0 Aug 29 .. .Austria .. . ..Rdll Sep 5 ... .Oran Park . .Rd12 Sep 26 ...TBA

Italians expected to supply the Swiss team with Sauber Petronas-badged VIO engines for a fourth season.

The deal is believed to be worth around $18.5m to Ferrari. Sauber had been hoping to build its own FI engines in the year 2000 but Petronas decided to cancel that programme when Malaysia suffered economic problems at the end oflast year.

A Sauber Petronas-designed fam ily of road car engines whl go into production in Malaysia in 2001, and these are expected to be sup plied to the government-controlled

FIA Formuol 3000 International C'ship July 24 ...Austria Rd 6 July 31 ...Germany Aug 14 ...Hungary ..

Aug 28 .. .Belgium ..

Rd 7 ,Rd8 ,Rd9

Sep 26 ...Germany

Rd 10

1999 NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series Jul 18 ....Denver. .Rd 11 Aug 1 Seattle .

Aug 8 ....Sonoma

,Rd 12

car company Proton.

The Ferrari engine deal is a financial strain on Sauber - which is why the team hired Pedro Diniz this year with his rumoured S12m of sponsorship - and there ai’e wor ries at Flinwil that Petronas may split with the team at the end of the current contract, ^hich runs out at the end of the 2000 season.

Sauber is talking vaguely to Toyota about some form, of a deal for the 2001 season. The Ferrari deal could probably be extended indefinitely - Ferrari is happy to receive the money - but if the team wants to make progress it needs to find a motor manufacturer which is not demanding money.

- JOl SAWAED

,Rd 13

Aust Formula Holden Championship* Jul 25 ....Calder ,Rd5 Aug 22 .. .Winton Sep 5

Oran Park

,Rd6 Rd7

Australian Roily Championship* Aug 14-15 Melbourne ,Rd5 Sep 18-19 Tasmania ,Rd6 Nov 4-7...Rally Australia ...Rd 7 FIA World Rally Championship* Jul 18 ....NZ ... ,Rd9 Aug 22 .. .Finland Sep 19 ...China .

.RdIO .Rdll

Oct 13 ... .Italy ..

.Rd12

Baird heads to US Trans AM

r

ten1

Categories marked * are telecast by the Ten Network.

Check your local guides for screening times All event dates in this calendar were correct at the time of printing. Please consult any individual tracks and/or associations for date changes.

Series or events telecast on Network Ten are marked with an asterix.

Check your local guides for screening details.

Seen at Silverstone: Celebs were thick asflies at the Fosters British GP last weekend, with popsters(Simon Le Bon), sportster (golfer Nick Faldo)and telly celebs lined up to say silly things to the drivers. But, as usual, when the Poms wanted glamour, they imported itfrom the colonies. Mimi MacPherson, well-known whale watcher and sister to thefamous, was the officialface ofthe race.

And the rest of her was there, too ...

KIWI racer Craig Baird, now resident on Queensland's Gold Coast,^ is planning to contest four US Trans Am Championship series rounds beginning next month.

Baird will race the same Chevrolet Camaro he raced in the New Zealand TraNZam series for team-ovmer Alan Fergiasson.

The New Zealand-based team will take in the D»etroit CART Grand Prix meeting in early August before heading onto the Grand Rapids round in Michigan.

The Vancouver and Houston races will be the final two events Baird will contest before returning to home for his stint at the Queensland 500 on September 19 with Jason Bright and the Stone Brothers’Pirtek team.

Baird is hoping to return to the US for the Pikes Peak round of the US Trans Am series before the ear is freighted back to New Zealand prior to the local championship series.

- GRAiSiT NICHOLAS

16 July 1999

T)Co_

11

B

eing my fourth year in V8 Supercars it was a refresh ing change to go to a new venue for a round of the champi onship and a facility that looks after the huge Queensland V8 fans that love their motor racing or so we thought...

A

fter first viewing the track live, I had reservations on how pro cessional the racing might be because of the basic layout of the circuit. But as it turned out, it was excellent viewing both live (thanks to the raised viewing areas) and the television coverage was excel lent. To have three different win ners was a huge bonus, especially considering how predictable the results have been of late.

u

nfortunately that is where my praise finishes. I saw things like the 15-20 km queues of traffic trying to get into the circuit as well as exit on Sunday night, and reports of people spending up to five hours in traffic and eventually turning around and going home.

This was one of the major rea sons why Lakeside was taken off the calendar yet a new circuit hadn’t thought of the potential problem that would arise and did nothing to rectify it. Other reports of families not being allowed to bring eskys or picnic hampers into the circuit and of being confiscat ed so as to obviously make people buy from facilities inside the circuit.

If these reports are true I find this absolutely disgusting. It becomes an expensive day out if a family not only has to pay to get in the gate, but food and drinks throughout the day, not to mention the queues to try and buy these

items is unreasonable to ask.

Some might say I am being harsh with my criticism, but the excuse of “being our first time, we expect a few hiccups” doesn’t wash any more. Just look at Darwin. It was unanimously agreed amongst competitors that their first year was the best meet ing of the year. That is because they did their homework, visited other circuits throughout the year, avoided others’ downfalls and made their own success.

From many other V8 competi tors and myself, to anyone that didn’t get to the races or were unhappy with the day; I hope it hasn’t put you off V8 Supercar racing. If Larry and myself have anything to do with it, we will cer tainly try to make sure it doesn’t happen again. The most important part of our show is the spectators and should be looked after accordingly.

Maybe Sandown isn’t that bad; Davo, all is forgiven ...

On thegood. upside, the racing was very Plenty of excitement. The track did lend itself to overtaking and, with the track being very hard on tyres, it ulti mately changed the outcome of each race. Even though I was on the receiving end of those tyre

New tradition? It seems that every new circuit has to have at least one race won by our man Ingall.(Phoio by Dirk Kiyn.smiih)

problems in the third race, it made it interesting right throughout the field.

In the second race when the rain started to come down and we made the decision to come in for wets, I was staggered that the race was stopped and restarted.

When that rain started falling, it would have been a dream come true for the promoters and Channel 10. Cars slipping and sliding everywhere, the pits would have sprung into action, wet tyres going on, people in and out of the pits; it would have been like watching pit stops in a Formula One race. But no, we had to have someone pull the pin and spoil potentially one of the best races of the year.

There is no excuse for it, all the teams would have had wet tyres ready in their pit areas and every one is geared up to do pit stops

during a race. It’s just a shame.

N

ow that I have fired a shot across at CAMS (the ones that stopped the race) they have had a bit of criticism thrown their way of late.

But I seriously believe that no matter what, there still should be an independent body monitoring what happens with our category. I have heard rumours that there is a swirl to remove them out of the cir cle so they would have less con trol of what goes on internally in V8 Supercars. But as a whole, we need a second body to make sure the category doesn’t make deci sions on the minority instead of the majority.

I have been very disillusioned of things that I have found out of late within our category, some which will probably be exposed in this issue. People will probably

say I shouldn’t be airing our dirty laundry to the public, but to me sometimes it is the only way you can get action if it doesn’t happen anywhere else.

Don’t getlike theaimpression sound whinger in that this I article. After all, I am back winning races so I really should be happy as a pig in ...

But at the end of day I am in it for the long haul and like many of us I am concerned where my future (and that of the sport) lies.

So stay tuned for more because I won’t hesitate, as soon as I clarify a few things, in telling you exactly what has been going on behind the scenes.

Next race Calder. Be there! I guarantee it is easy to get in to thatcircuitllll!

Bye for now.

Photo by SuUon-Images

'v

X ..

Size counts: Jenson Button's British F3 DaltaraRenault has a 26mm restrictor but. it seems, Aussie drivers can’t.

A BATTLE is brewing over the engine regulations in Formula 2.

Several competitors in the category are upset by an apparent reversal by CAMS over the use of air restrictors in the class. “●■We are pissed off and angry and we are investigating legal action,” said F2 Association spokesman Chas Jacobsen dur ing the week.

The conflict had arisen over what the competitors see as a reneging on an agree ment with CAMS.The cars wliich use 2-litre Formula Three class engines come with 26mm air inlets, but the Association and CAMS agi'eed that, to ensure some sort of parity with the existing 1600cc engines, 24mm restrictors would be used, Jacobsen says that the move was made

with the understanding that, once there was a viable number of newer cars in the coun try, 26mm would be adopted.

But despite the fact that there are 12 cars and engines currently competing and anoth er six on their way down under, CAMS has refused to allow 26mra restrictors from Januaiy 1 next year.

CAMS’s Tim Schenken says that the deci¬

sion was made to ensure continued parity with the older cars; “The Motor Racing Committee takes the view that the 24ram restrictor will be closer to the performance level of the older cars,” he said.

In the meantime meetings have been scheduled to try and sort out the matter.

-PHILBRANAGAN

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12

16 July 1999

This GP’s for you

By JOE SAWARD

THERE are suggestions in Europe that the huge US brewing company Anheuser Busch is negoti ating for a five-year spon sorship deal for the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis with its Budweiser beer brand.

The company admits that it is looking at Formula 1 but has given no indication as to whether it might sponsor a team or a race. The St Louisbased company is the world’s largest brewing firm and controls the Budweiser, Busch and Michelob brands.

It also owns the St Louis Cardinals baseball teams and a couple of theme parks.

Budweiser is currently involved as a sponsor in NASCAR and CART, American drag racing but is now trying to raise its profile in Europe and sees FI at the best way of doing that.

The United States race has been looking for a title spon sor for some weeks but it is restricted in that the deal with Bernie Ecclestone includes a list of companies which Indianapolis caimot do a deal with.

FI -yet GENERAL Motors says that it has no plans to enter Formula 1 in the foreseeable future.

But the company's execu tive director of motorsports Herb Fischel admits that the company aspires to Grand Prix racing.

"We would need to see a five to 10 year guarantee of stability in the regulations before we would think of committing to such a big pro gramme," Fischel said.

If GM were to come to FI it would do so with a team and thus is looking for long term stability in the engine regulations. This already exists as the FIA World Motor Sport Council announced as long ago as December 1996 that the 3litre engine formula would continue until the end of the 2006 season.

But a new formula with a five or 10 year stability agreement might actually attract newcomers as they everyone would be starting with a clean sheet of paper and so newcomers would be at less of a disadvantage than normal.

- JOE SAWARD

V 7

Wine and cheese head: Fittipaldi deserved to win in Wisconsin, taking his Swift-Ford to a strong win.

(Photos by RaceAccess)

IT’S about time Christian Fittipaldi had some luck.

In 71 CART starts the Brazilian has had races stolen from him by mechani cal problems - like at Road America two years ago - and had some big crashes(hke at Surfers). But finally - finally — some fortune went his way..

The race looked like anoth er chapter in the story of rookie sensation Juan Montoya, who came to Road America as the favourite, and dominated most of the race. But JPM’s day came to an abrupt end when he was leading the race and his gearbox gave out with just six laps to go.

As he slowed to a stop, Fittipaldi took the lead and held on from poleman Michael Andi'etti, who rolled to a second place finish right behind him.

“We have all had those misfortunes in racing,” said a happy Fittipaldi after the win. “This time it was his misfortune and it was my turn to have the good for tune.”

Luck may have been a part of the story for Fittipaldi, but there was also a lot of hard work that went into the win.

“At the start of the race, Juan [Montoyal ran very, very strong. I was running third and said, ‘It’s going to

be tough today if nothing happens to him.’ But it was pretty tough out there for everybody.”

After taking the number one spot, Fittipaldi protected his lead for the final seven laps against team-mate Michael Andretti and went

Finally!

At last Christian Fittipaldi broke his CART duck at Road America. PHIL MORRIS was there.

on to post a 1.060s victory in 'Tm-n 5 instead ofsecond, and the 55-lap event on the spun-zip-right around.

4.048-mile permanent road Finally, all the rest of the course.

N gears went too, and we were Fittipaldi, whose previous done.” career-best finish was second Andretti spent much of the at Indianapolis in 1995 and day in second place until the Detroit in 1996, earned his second pit stop of the day, first competitive victory since when Fittipaldi emerged winning two races en route from the pits ahead of his to his 1991 Formula 3000 n team-mate. On the third and championship. He also final pit stop, Greg Moore became the seventh different proved to be the spoiler. winner in 10 FedEx Moore, who had not yet Championship Series races. made his last stop, got in Montoya’s mechanical between Fittipaldi and problem cost him valuable Andretti. For Andretti, that championship points. He fin made the difference between ished the day in 13th spot. winning and finishing sec Montoya’s lead over Andretti ond. was trimmed to 113-95 and a “Obviously, it’s nice for me mere 16 points separate because he took advantage of Andretti from seventh-place a few of my misfortunes so Adrian Fernandez. far this year,” Andretti said.

“I lost third gear after the “It was nice that we were first pit stop,” explained able to take advantage of one Montoya.“For a while, it was of his misfortunes. It’s good. okay. I figured out a way to I mean, you hate to see any downshift quickly from body in that position, but fourth to second, skipping after you were in that posi over third with just a blip. tion a few times, you feel like One time, though, I did it too it’s just evening the score a fast and caught first gear in little bit.”

Uinn'r?!

Montoya was brilliant, as usual. But for once, the Ganassi ReynardHonda let the team down, JPM stopping late in the race with gearbox trouble. ^

Andretti’s runner-up effort, which moved him fi-om fourth to second in the cham pionship, was his fourth podium of the season and seventh finish among the top seven. It also marked the first time team-mates fin ished 1-2 in FedEx Championship Series compe tition since Patrick Racing’s Fernandez and Scott Pruett accomplished the feat, respectively, last season at Mid-Ohio.

Adrian Fernandez over came early contact with Andretti to finish third. It was his second podium of the season - the other was his victory at Japan - and sixth top-five performance.

“Right fi*om the beginning, the race was very fast,” said Fernandez. “I had my own incident with Christian early on when we were coming out of Turn 2. I hit him pretty hard. But the car was work ing pretty well. It was a very good day for us. My guys did a tremendous job for us after a disappointing qualifying.

I’m very happy to be back on the pocfixim.”

Greg Moore was happy to finish fourth around the twisting, 14-tum road course.

“This is my best result here at Road America,” Moore said.

“It was a good race and I finished up in front where I needed to be. One more lap and I could have reached Adrian and maybe gained a position. Towards the end of the race, we were one of the fastest cars on the track. We stiU have ten more races to go this season and this fourth position is very important for our Players team’s momen tum, especially with Toronto next week.”

The race started on a

strange nbte with two sepa rate multi-car accidents which put six cars out of com petition. For the first time since the U.S. 500 in 1996, drivers involved in the acci dents were allowed to switch to backup cars and rejoin the competition. After about a half-hour delay, the race was restarted.

Among those involved in the accident was Max Papis, whose car was literally runover by that of Memo Gidley.

A second car was pulled from the Team Rahal transporter and Papis was soon back in action. The effort paid off as Papis finished the day in fifth place.

“I felt like I had a good start, but I got hit from behind and I got a big hit to my head,” said Papis. “I saw a car fly over my car and actu ally hit my hands.I pulled my hands back and the steering wheel got bent pretty badly.

It was lucky, I laughed at first. Then, I was disappoint ed but I saw the red flag and I ran back to the pits.'The team did a great job getting the back-up car ready. The car was up in the trailer. Ten minutes later, it car was on the race track.”

All of the top three finish ers were running Ford engines. Ford’s sweep of the podium was its first since last year at Mid-Ohio when Fernandez, Scott Pruett and Bobby Rahal finished first through third, respectively.

Only 12 cars were still run ning at the finish of the 55lap race. The Champ Cars move to Toronto for the Molson Indy next weekend.

Points after 10 rounds: Montoya 113, Andretti 95, de Ferran 87, Franchitti 85, Fittipaldi 82, Moore 81.

16 July 1999

ffIk)0®[PSm(D[?0

The Show stars in SBK ANTHONY Gobert has put the controversial parts of his international career behind him with a brilliant display in the eighth round of the World Superbike Championship at Laguna Seca.

Gobert and Vance&Hines Ducati team-mate Ben Bostrom shared the wins in California on June, the ‘Go Show; losing the chance at a double victory after falling on oil in race 2.

It was Gobert’s first SWC win since his famous double victory at Phillip Island in 1996, and despite being the reigning US Superbike Champion, it was Bostrom’s firstever Superbike win.

Starting from pole position, Gobert dispatched Bostrom and Akira Yanagawa (Kaw) in the first 28-lap leg on the way to recording a three-second victo ry. The flamboyant Australian, who was banned from the US SWC round last year after test ing positive for cannabis, was on target for a double victory until he lost the front-end under brakes on lap 12 while leading race two.

Show me the money: The V&H Ducatis ate the works bikes at Laguna.

Yanagawa also fell at the same corner while lying in fourth, but remounted to finish 12th.

After Gobert’s demise, Bostrom led from Pierfrancesco Chili (Suzuki) with Troy Corser (Performance Ducati) threaten-

ing in third. The 1996 world champion levered by Chili on the start of the final lap to claim second, after finishing a disap pointing sixth in the first leg.

Never a fan of American cir cuits, dominant championship leader Carl Fogarty picked up a 5-4 finish, and now enjoys a 49 point lead over Corser.

De Cecco Aprilia works rider Peter Goddard qualified impres sively in fifth position but crashed out of race one at the Corkscrew before finishing ninth in race two.

In the previous round at Misano in Italy, Fogarty was in irresistible form, winning the double from Corser.

“It’s been a bit frustrating today,” Corser said. “Normally two second places would be good, but not when they are two seconds behind Carl’s two firsts.

It just means that the gap between Carl and me has grown when I wanted it to shrink.”

Points: Fogarty 317, Corser 268, Edwards 218, Yanagawa 193, Chili 144.

- DARRYL FLACK

13

Honda four for Gibernau REPSOL Honda star Sete Gibernau says he will riding a Honda V-four in the 2000 World SOOcc Championship.

HRC is already scaling back its commit ment to its V-twin NSR500V project and is unlikely to include in its works program.

Gibernau,who impressed on a Yamaha YZR500 for Team Bainey in 1997,is pleased to be filling in on Mick Doohaifs Honda NSR500 while the Australian recovers from multiple injuries sustained in Spain on May 8.

“It’s very nice to have this bike, I didn’t expect to get it so soon though,” an excited , Gibernau said. “It’s a very different bike.

With the twin, we had to really spend a lot oftime developing the bike, whereas the Vfour is a winning bike already- all we have to do is change the settings. Eveiy rider is different, so I have to learn about the bike, and try to get it suit me.”

Finishing a steady sixth in his Honda Vfour debut at MugeUo, Gibernau claimed two fine third placings at the Catalxmya and Dutch Grands Prix, setting the fastest lap of . the race at Barcelona. At the last GP at Bonington,the Spaniard dislocated his shoulder when he crashed in Sunday warm up after qualifying ninth.

-DARRYL FLACK

Criville bounces back in England

ONLY a week and a day after his high Harada pushed his machine to the level and speed crash at the Grand Prix of Holland was getting into tire problems when Okada that looked, fortunately for the Spaniard, pushed his way back into second and, finding much worse than it was, Alex Criville his second wind, closed right back up on Criville. The two are team mates but there are bounced back to win the British 500 GP. no team orders in the squad and that was As in Holland he started poorly again but kept his cool and slowly picked off, one at a apparent. It looked like Okada’s best spot for time, Juan Boija,(Movistar Honda Pons), Max trying to pass Criville would be the penulti Biaggi (Marlboro Yamaha) and Regis Laconi mate corner, a slow first gear Melbourne loop, (Red Bull Yamaha), pulling himself up to third. or the entiy to the final Goddard’s hairpin.

Criville had been running a tight defensive The early leader was Criville’s team mate Tadayuki Okada from American Kenny fine at Melbourne and Goddard’s. The last lap Roberts (Suzuki), who hoped to win on started with Criville narrowly leading Okada, American Independence Day, but on lap 10 (of but at the Melbourne Loop he left enough room ;.^30) Criville was through into second and a lap on the inside to invite the Japanese rider to later the Spaniard was in the lead while the have a go. Okada managed to get past, but he American had faded to fourth. Roberts would was hopelessly late on the brakes and shot across Criville’s fine, running wide. That decid eventually drop back to eighth with tire, sus ed the race. pension and handhng problems.

For Criville it was his 13th GP victory in the Criville edged past Okada into the lead on 500 and it came in his 100th start. lap 11, but the excitement was happening far ther back down the field as former 250 world Only 11 of 23 starters finished. Carlos Checa champion Tetsuya Harada on his hghtweight (Marlboro Yamaha) crashed at Melbourne on (100 kilogram) twin cylinder Aprilia was lap one after getting such a dismal start that storming through the field. Harada, eighth on he was running dead last at the end of the first the first lap, was third by lap 19 and then lap. Other crashers were Regis Laconi and made his move on Okada and brought the Garry McCoy, both on Red Bull Yamahas.

Bonington fans to their feet by going after Nobuatsu Aoki was knocked down on the open Criville. ing lap on the braking for Goddard’s. He He managed to show the Spaniard a wheel, remounted but retired with a bent handlebar but Criville realised that Harada’s fighter but and sticking throttles. less powerful twin would only be able to pass Probably the most disappointed rider was on the brakes. He rode a defensive fine, know Roberts, who dropped back from a fighting sec ing that the twin needed to maintain high cor ond on the early laps, to a dismal eighth and Vlfhile the cat’s away: The field takes off at the British GP, with Abe (6) making a flier ner speed but could not match the Honda V4 in now falls to third in the points table, 52 points alongside Biaggi (2), Criville (3) and Okada.(Photo by Nigei snowdon) acceleration. back of Criville.

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16 July 1999

ssan beaten twice at Croft

Trr

IN front of a record crowd at Croft James

i

British Touring Car Championship Croft

Thompson and reigning champion Rickard Rydell secured victories for Honda and Volvo respectively in the British Touring Car Championship.

Thompson’s third success of the season. coupled with second place in the Feature race, narrowed the gap at the top of the drivers’ championship to just 23 points and puts the 25-year-old finniy in contention for the title.

A first win of the campaign for Rydell was also an e.'ctremely popular result after the run of bad luck endured by Ihe Volvo driver this term. Seven drivers finm five manufacturers have now won races this season.

As the lights turned green for the Sprint race, it was Volvo’s Rickard Rydell who made the best start of all. The reigning champion blasted off the line from fourth position, but found his route to the front blocked by second placed Darid Leslie. Peter Kox took advan tage of Rydell’s troubles to slide up the inside and reclaim the third position in which he had started. Meanwhile James Thompson

Round 13(IS laps) 1. James Thompson GB 2. David Leslie GB 3. Peter Kox NL 4. Rickard Rydell SWE 5. Laurent Aiello FRA 6. Jason Plato GB 7. Vincent RadermeckerB 8. Yvan Muller FRA 9. John Cleland GB 10. Matt Neal' GB

Sweet Swede: Volvo’s Rydell and Honda’s Thompson (above) finally vanquished Nissan (main pic) at Croft S BTCC round.(Plralos by Sulton-tmages and Bothwell Photographic)

Round 14(30 laps) Drivers points: 42m 09.303s 1. Rydell Aieiio 141, 2. James Thompson +0.458S 3. Aiello +8.711s Leslie 107, PtSo" 4. Leslie +9.289S 82, Neal/Rydell 5. Neal* +13.7908 77, Muller 72, Kox 55, 6. Plato +21.897s Radermecker 51, 7. Radermecker +22.248S Bouillon 49.

8. Muller +32.693S 9. Kox +36.Q54S 10. Anthony Reid GB Ford Mondeo +40.151s Fastest lap: Leslie 1:22.459s

his race car sprung a fiiel ™°re concerned by the sight of

opened and precipitated a period of frenetic activity as teams tried to make their

sailed serenely down to the first comer and - was on his way to a carbon copy of his pole-toflag success in the first race at Bonington two

La^nt Aiello filling his mirrore.

The Frenchman, aware that his main championship rivals were piling up the points

n weeks ago.

As at Bonington, Bavid Leslie probed and pressured the Honda ace for the entii-e duration ofthe race, hoping to force a mistake that would allow his Primera through without putting either car at risk. The Nissan closed regularly in the latter stages of the lap, but the Accord’s power enabled Thompson to keep the Scot at bay.

Thompson’s drive to the chequered flag was faultless, restricting Leslie to just one daring look down the inside into the final comer, but James confidently shut the door to claim his thh-d win ofthe season.

Behind the leaders, a fierce four way battle was underway for the final podium place.

Haring eventually lost out at the start, Rydell was deterniined to get back past Peter Kox during the race, but the Swede, diiving the

out m front ^d eveo-thii^ he co^d to pass Volvo, but was himself conscious of the presence of Jason Plato’s Renaultjust behind, Each lap AieUo seemed to be slow on the exit ol"the final haii-pin and it was here that Plato served notice of his intent with a hefty nudge °n the Nissan’s bumper, but it was not sufficient to distract the championship leader.

Rydell’s maiden win of 1999 was a combinaof tactical astuteness by the TWR team and some class driving by the champion, James Thompson had led the field away from Pole position for the second time today, withstanding pressure from Rydell in second place to lead the early laps.

The Nissans held a safe third and fourth, imable to attack Rydell’s Volvo, but protected to the rear by Matt Neal's Independent Primera in fifth. Then the pit stop window

moves in the pit lane.

Aiello, obviously being slowed by Rydell, came in very early on lap seven. The Frenchman emerged to find the hoped-for clear track ahead ofhim and set about posting a couple of flying laps. It was not enough, however, as Rydell pitted two laps later, rejoining just ahead of the Frenchman after slick work by the TWR crew. James Thompson and Bavid Leslie, now running one and two, crucially waited another two laps before coming in.

Both enjoyed quick turn arounds from their teams, but Thompson only just made it out ahead of the charging Aiello and Leslie once again had ot take up station behind his team mate.

After the race order had settled down again, the field split into a number oftwo-way battles. Thompson quickly reeled in Rydell, but try as he might, the faster Honda driver could not find a way past. His only hope was a

mss

f

Honda Accord20m 54.199s Nissan Primera +0.689S Honda Accord +10.555s Volvo S40 +11.062s Nissan Primera +11.516s Renault Laguna +12.470s Volvo S40 +13.828s Vauxhali Vectra +14.575s Vauxhali Vectra +15.301s Nissan Primera +15.805s

mistake by the leader, but Rydell showed why he was a'worthy champion in 1998 with a magnificent display of defensive driving to take the chequered flag Nissan’s pairing continued to dice with one another. Leslie was clearly the quicker of the two but with Aiello holdin°- the racing line there was little the Scot^could do about claiming a podium finish without ieonardi*! ing both his and his team mate’s rars Neal in fifth knew better"than to have a ai his works coUeamie and enioved a ft-eA run to the "finish securin'^ his second Michelin Cup for Independents victory- of the afternoon. ' ^ Jason Plato and Vincent Rademecker kept each other entertained by trading paintwoik and body panels in the closing stages. The Belgian muscled his way through to claim sixth position on the penultimate lap. only to see Plato repeat the lunge at the same comer a lap later to retake the place just yards before the chequered flag.

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0

The Di cuddly going i

I

keep bumping into people at Orly Airport in Paris. A few months ago it was the remains of the Arrows test team. On the next trip there were two sets of people I knew on the same plane.

On the next trip there were not one but three or maybe even four test teams on the way somewhere or other and the next time I passed through I bumped into all the girls from the Benetton mar keting department. I am beginning to wonder it I need to go to races at all. If I sat in Orly eventually everyone in FI would come to me.

The only problem is that Orly is a horrible airport. While waiting for planes I have prowled every corri dor and every shop. I know all the places to eat, all the newsagents.

There are chapels and mosques and even an art gallery (although it is never open).

The other day I was so bored that I agreed to help fill in a vast 70,000 question survey about the need to improve the place... As I was doing this I looked up and saw a figure I recognised. He was a little greyer than I remembered but there was no doubting that there was The Duke’.

No, it was not some irrelevant member of the aristocracy on the way to open a flower show. Nor a man with a trumpet. It was Gerard ●Ducarouge, a larger than life engi neer who was an important figure in F1 in the 1970s and ’80s and for many years was the undisputed top French FI designer. It was Ducarouge who designed the pow der-blue Ligiers which won races in 1979 and 1980 in the hands of Jacques Laffite and others. When winning became more difficult Guy Ligier - an man with an explosive temper - began to get frustrated and eventually Ducarouge was sent spinning through the door marked ‘Sortie’ (That’s ‘Exit’ for us Aussies: Ed). A big mistake.

After a couple of years collect ing money at Alfa Romeo, Ducarouge became - for a brief period - a British national hero when he arrived at Team Lotus and galvanised the demoralised crew into action (within a few weeks) with a brand new car.

Within two years the team was winning again and much of the credit went, deservedly, to Ducarouge.

As the years ticked by he began to pine for France and eventually went home to work for the Larrousse team and finally ended up back where he had started with Ligier.

By then he had ceased to be an active designer and had become a brilliant technical manager, his extraordinary ability to motivate people with his enthusiasm never failing to shake up a tired and grumpy team. The Duke was never without a smile, rarely with out a coffee and always had a cig arette burning somewhere on his person. A great character.

We got talking. He watched the races of course but had no desire to be back in FI. Often he would doze off watching them.

Something needed to be done about the lack of overtaking. It was a familiar conversation...

The Duke s 4 Gerard Ducarouge’sT^esi work was at Ligier, wiW Patrick Depailler aticl Jacques Lafllte haviijg an all-blue season in 1979, Here Depailler leads liaffite Sit his way to winning in Spain in * 79. (Pbou’hySuuun-hm

:s)

i

What was he up to? 1 asked.

Off on holiday with his English partner Sally, he said. Going to Bali. The tickets were free.

Why? I asked. Well, frequent flyer miles, he said. I have trav elled 425,000 miles in the first six months of the year.

I spluttered. I’m sorry!? How many?

Four ’undred and twenty-five zousand miles, he said. I am the international development director of Matra Automobiles.

And I thought / did a lot of travs elling...

I

t was a fun start to the Silverstone weekend.

The British Grand Prix is always a race at which one sees a lot of old faces and this year was no exception. One always goes homes with a pocketful of business cards, outlining the latest new ideas in the sport. There are an ever-increasing number of financial and business types wandering around the paddock, looking for ‘business opportunities’. The body of FI ‘consultants’ is growing faster than a rabbit colony and venture capitalists are more com mon than pitlane popsies.

There was a time when the Silverstone paddock was full of family members of team personnel - but they have been banished these days.

My favourite business card this year came from a company offer ing ‘reputation creation, manage ment and protection’.

Now that, I grumbled, is a diffi cult job. It is not easy to build palaces out of breeze blocks. If I had a dollar for every person in FI with a dodgy reputation who has told me a lie in FI at some point, I would now be as rich as Bernard Ecclestone.

One is often reminded of FI’s mendacious tendencies at Silverstone because it is where a lot of teams make important

Sparring with Mosley is something of a sport within the Press Room. He is a dangerous adversary and many - myself included - have crashed and burned while trying to outsmart him. announcements and the folk involved, amid clouds of false bon homie, deny that they ever denied anything. At times I feel the need to buy an M60 machine-gun and slice them half with streams of hot lead... but I never do. That would involve going to prison (which is actually what the other folk need).

And so I have a saner reaction.

I throw the people into the ‘not to be trusted’ dustbin of FI and I don’t waste my time on them. If you only talk to people you can trust, you know where you are. If you talk to the liars, you merely become confused.

When people ask me what it is like to be a Formula 1 journal ist, 1 always say that I have a nice life. A little too much travel per haps, but you cannot have every thing. When it comes to work how ever, it is like being in quicksand.

You are flailing about trying to sur vive and you grab out at anything that might be solid. Those that give way are worthless and you don’t try them twice. You find a solid handhold and then you hold on.

There are still - and I hope there will always be - people in FI who like to tell the truth. I don’t mind people who say “I cannot tell you”.

Ah, but there are - the British Racing Drivers Club will be glad to hear - one or two good things about the Silverstone weekend.

The traffic is so bad that one gets to get up very early and whizz through the leafy lanes, dodging

dear and nice little fluffy bunny rab bits which one can aim for.

Which brings me in a round about way to Tan Sri Basir Ismail, Chairman of the Sepang racing cir cuit in Malaysia. He turned up at Silverstone to talk about the race later this year and - for a man who has directed one after another of the country’s big businesses - he displayed not the tiniest bit of killer instinct. He was a happy, cuddlesome, avuncular figure with a white beard, a jovial laugh and the eyes of a tinker.

What did he think of the February date for a race next year? Surely it would be hard to sell tickets. He laughed. Well, yes, but they would have to talk with Mr Ecclestone. Yes, but what about the monsoon? He laughed again.

Yes, well, they would have to talk to Mr Ecclestone...

How much rain is there usually at that time of year? we asked.

“About 22 inches,” he smiled.

Yes, well, they would have to talk to Mr Ecclestone.

Perhaps, I thought, Bernie will issue the teams with scuba diving gear for the event.

Which is why wepopped asked Max Mosley - who up at Silverstone like a magician’s rabbit - was it necessary to have a Grand Prix undenwater in Malaysia?

Max was brilliant - as he always is - and launched into a lovely speech about the impor tance of the timing of Grands Prix

and how everything needed to be organised so that the biggest mar ket - Europe - was properly catered for. Urn... Max... Didn’t you say last year that Europe was not that important and that the majority of FI TV viewers were in Asia?

The vulpine grin on the face of the FIA president froze, cracked, and fell to the floor with a large gulping noise - just like in Tom & Jerry cartoons.

Get out of that one Mr Mosley, we giggled. The thing about Max is that he does and in doing so makes Houdini look like an amateur. Even when he is clearly fighting a losing battle Max argues all the way down, smoke trailing behind him as he goes but with his guns blazing. This time the effort was rewarded by laughter but, to give him credit, he did try to defend himself...

Sparring Mosley some thing of with a sport withinis the Press Room. He is a dangerous adversary and many - myself included - have crashed and burned while trying to outsmart him. A few years ago I tried to suggest that the automobile world must watch out for legal actions because eventually some US lawyer will work out that cars kill people and, as no-one is responsi ble for their own actions, the car manufacturers will be held to blame.

On Friday at Silverstone news came from the US that General Motors had been fined $4.9bn by a Los Angeles court for injuries incurred when a Chevrolet was hit by another car and caught fire. The lawyers argued that GM had known the car to be dangerous...

Funnily enough it sounded just like the arguments which were used against the tobacco compa nies. Mosley told me - in a charm ing way - not to be silly, such a thing would never happen.

“Well,” Max would say. “You’re absolutely right but there are just a couple of points...”

F.

f

!>

16

IL.IVIOR

16 July 1999

The power behind the Glory

Central to the current McLaren-Mercedes domination of Formula 1 is Ilmor Engineering, the Northamptonshirebased company which produces what is widely assumed to be the best engine in Grand Prix racing today.

Ilmor also manufactures and provides Mercedes engines to seven cars in the current CART series. The TU in Ilmor is Mario Ilien, the designer who, along with manufacturing director Paul Morgan, left CoswoHh 15 years ago to go it alone and create what is today described as thefinest race-engine business in the world.

CHRIS LAMBDEN recently sat down with the ‘IL’in Ilmor, Mario Ilien, to learn something ofthe man behind the Mercedes engine.

THE little village of Brixworth, an hour’s drive north of London, on the outskirts of Northampton, is hardly the place you’d expect to find a world leader at anything but, yes, hidden away on a small industrial estate is Ilmor Engineering.

It’s there because that’s where Ilien was living when he and Morgan, with Penske’s backing, decided to go it alone.

It started with couple of sheds on an empty paddock.

Now it’s a collection of pur pose-built buildings, allied with a purpose-built facility in Plymouth, Michigan which assembles and ser vices the CAET engines.

Ilmor employs 388 person nel, some 340 of them in this UK base, the balance in the US. Ilien has come a long way and there was no silver spoon start for the Austrianborn engineer, a youthfullooking late 40-something who joins us in a typically functional office/board room on the first floor of Ilmor’s

admin building.

Morgan and, in 1984; frus Ilien is casually dressed, trated with aspects of the as are his admin staff. No organisation, the pair put suits. “Weddings and funer their proposal to Penske to als only,” he quips. establish Ilmor Engineering.

He came from a poor fami The first Ilmor engine, the ly. The story goes that when Chevrolet Indy V8/A he was old enough to get a appeared that year, the V8/B driver’s licence, there was no and C derivatives following money for lessons, so he sat as the company grew in a chair in his room, through to 1993. rehearsed the moves, and got Keen to have a go at FI, the licence...

Ilmor produced its first He was a late starter, engine in 1991, running with beginning an engineering a series of “B’ teams such as degree at 22. However, he’d Leyton House, Tyrrell, already taken a number of March and Sauber, before practical steps into what Mercedes came along with would be his career by then - the big breakthrough deal in working as a mechanic for Jo November 1993.

Bonnier and then actually Daimler-Chrysler became designing an F2 engine (the a 25 percent shareholder in ROC Chrysler Simca) at the Ilmor, along with the origi age of 21, which went on to nal three founders, their first finish sixth at Le Mans in project being the controver the back of a Lola. sial and successful Mercedes After graduating from Biel Benz 5001 engine, which took University in 1976 as an pole and won the 1994 Indy engineer and spending the 500. following three years design Ilien and his team had ing diesel engines, he noticed that the IndyCar secured a job at Cosworth rules that year, while requir Engineering where he ing a push-rod engine, had worked on the DFY FI and inadvertently allowed the Sierra Cosworth engines. block to be ‘free’while the It was here he' also met other Indy engines were

stock block-based, Ilmor built a custom-made push-rod engine and it was a winner.

‘Tt had to be done in total secrecy,” Mario recalls, “oth erwise they’d have changed the rules again at the last minute to block it! It wasjust 26 weeks from the first draw ing to running on the dyno...”

Since then, Ilmor has pro duced its series of Mercedes VIO FI engines for McLaren.

After the early developmen tal ups and downs, the Merc is now, along with the McLaren, the hot set-up and Ilien has evolved a strong working relationship with Mercedes and McLaren, par ticularly the latter’s new design chief Adrian Newey: “The partnership with McLaren has been great.

There were a few hard years, but the great thing about McLaren is that when things

were going wrong, there was no finger pointing.

Everything was resolved in a positive wav.

“For example. at Melboume this year, we had two failures. The 1999 engine is completely new and what most people did not know was that it hadn’t done a full GP distance prior to Melbourne. But we, with McLaren, decided it was best to go with the new engine anyway, from a development point of view. Despite the failures it was the best deci sion and everyone was happy with that.”

Ilien’s own role is primarily that of creative engineer, He enjoys the R&D (and there are a high number of the staff devoted to it). These days he can come up with concept sketches, basic ideas and pass them on to one of

his team of design staff to commit to computer.

Among the three dynos at Brixworth is one pretty much committed to running a single cylinder engine on which many of the creative ideas are first tried.

But he’s also realistic enough to understand that, at the end of the day, the product has to deliver: “In this business, it’s still necessary to have the racing blood in you. It takes an awful lot of time and you need to enjoy it but at the end of the day, the product has to prove itself and do the job.

“We have a certain budget and with that, plus Mercedes’ mput, particularly in the area of new materials, we have to produce a competitive engine which fits in with the overall car package.”

Photo by Sutton-lmages

It seems likely that Messrs Hakkinen and Coulthard have access to Mercedes engines tailored to a small degree to suit their individual needs...

Super Mario: Mario Ilien (below) is responsible for much of the collaborative process with people like McLaren’s Mika Hakkinen and Adrian Newey (above). n PMWo fay Chris

t , >

^ IE Ten of the best: Work in llmor’s UK headquarters is meticulous, as you would expect from the builders of the best engines in FI. They were also security-conscious; this is an ilmor press picture, as no-one with a camera was allowed anywhere near the engine room ...

k

1'-

Is the Mercedes the most powerful engine? Is Ferrari’s rumoured a V12 viable option?

“It’s hard to judge the best engine, because the engine is just part of a package. (It’s a little easier in CART, because some makes of car use two or more of the differ ent makes of engine).

“There’s not as much dif ference between the top four engines in FI as many would have you believe, but I would say we have a competitive package and that we are def initely the best at the moment in terms of fuel con sumption.

“That means that McLaren can make shorter fuel stops and it opens up wider options for the team in terms of tac tics.

“No doubt you can get bet ter power out of a V12 engine

than a VIO, but again it’s how the engine fits into the complete package that really matters - torque, torque band, size, weight, cooling, fuel consumption...”

According to Ilien, there are few revolutionary gains to be had with the current breed of engines, but there are always small gains to be made: “The main source of progress is probably that made possible by new mate rials and coatings. And that’s generally because it allows you to run ever higher rpm.

“If we can gain one to two percent in performance over the year, then that’s progress.

“You can try 10 little things in a row as you look for gains, and none will work, then two or three and all will work - it’s that

sort of process.”

The arms-length relation ship with Mercedes also helps: “While they are a share holder, they just let us get on with it. In order for it to work, you have to be inde pendent from management and lengthy decision-making.

They allow us to do that, while still allowing us access to their materials research development.

“So the Mercedes engine isn’t just a label - they are involved with us in the tech nology - but we still retain the ability to react and change quickly.

“We have four staff in Stuttgart, primarily using their transient dyno.” [It is capable of simulating the demands placed on an engine at any track in the world].

Ilien seems to place a great

importance on mental approach to most things - be it selection of his staff, or even his dealings with dri vers. Getting a job at Ilmor isn’t that easy and Ilien requires all new staff to undergo a test to ascertain their basic aptitude and enthusiasm for what they do: “If they’ve got some quali fications and education and a track record that’s a start, and intelligence plus talent equals a chance, but I need to find out as well whether n they really know physics...”

Getting inside drivers’ heads is also important: “We need driver insight into the driveability of our engines. You can have aU the data you like, but an individ ual driver’s input is still important.

“Some drivers can adapt their style to suit the engine characteristics, but we are also able to some degree to adjust the engine to suit a particular driver’s style.”

Ilien didn’t say as much, but it seems likely that Messrs Hakkinen and Coulthard have access to Mercedes engines tailored to a small degree to suit their individual needs...

“Alain Prost never raced for us, although he tested, and he was undoubtedly the best I’ve worked with in terms of driver feed-back. A very analytical person.

“A good driver has to be ... sympathetic. The combina tion of loading the car side ways [through the corners]

and trying to put as much power on the ground is the critical thing and some dri vers achieve that in a differ ent way to others.”

Ilien is not interested in supplying a second FI team, or for that matter consider ing any expansion into FI team ownership or car design: “A second team makes it hard to work well with either. There will always be some element of mistrust with regard to one team get ting access to the other team’s information.

“We won’t build a car. It’s such a big thing to run a team and it would mean me becoming a people manager.

I don’t want that. I enjoy being an engineer...”

There’s no doubt that FI is where Ilien’s heart is. CART is fine, and it got them start ed, but FI is the main game.

Compared with the FI engine, the CART unit isn’t proving as dominant as it was and it’s in this area that Ilien has some concerns: “There’s been some sugges tion that some other engines are being mapped to provide a type of traction control. We won’t do that and it’s a frus tration.'The rules say no, but they don’t have the means to pohce it properly. It’s a diffi cult situation, because the series is otherwise policed well...

“There’s a second issue which is affecting our perfor mance, I think. There’s something of a ‘generational

change’ happening with the over there. drivers Currently, there are some young ex-F3000 drivers showing the ‘old men’ how it could be done.

“Unfortunately, if you look at our teams, not a lot of that generational change has hap pened with them just yet...”

It’s been over an hour, sit ting, chatting, in Ilien’s office. Here’s a guy who loves his work, enthuses over the design challenge, is well organised and successful, but still has time for a chat with a bunch of enthusiasts. For someone playing a key part in the rarefied air of FI, it’s quite a revelation.

Perhaps it’s the country air in Brixworth, Northamptonshire, but you’d like to think that this ‘feet-on-the-ground’ engi neering pragmatism is part of what has taken Ilien and Ilmor to the top of motor sport’s tree.

But there’s also the compa ny’s desire to control just about every aspect of what it produces - the only bits of Ilmor’s engines not manufac tured or finished at Brixworth are seals, piston rings, some bolts and ball bearings. That’s called keep ing it in-house...

Right now, the spec for next year’s engine is almost finalised. Adrian Newey is constantly in touch as the 2000 McLaren comes to its design climax at the same time. Expect another totally integrated package...

18

l6JulyW99

THE ST^RMAKER

Garry Rogers has put his faith in young drivers and Garth Tander and Jason Bargwanna have rewarded him handsomeiy.

CHRiS LAMBDEN spoke to him after his first round win as a team owner.

Motorsport News: Is there a degree of personal buzz now that the Valvoline Cummins team has its first big Shell round win?

Garry Rogers: I’ve been involved in car racing since I was 17 that’s a long time - and to be able to achieve something like this is very satisfying.

People will laugh at me, but there’s probably more satisfaction for me in building up this team and this win than when I was driving and winning the odd races myself.

MN: What effect does it have on your sponsors - are you on any performance bonus deals?

GR: We’re not on a performance bonus of any kind because we’ve been extremely fortunate in having the support of Valvoline and Cummins, and in more recent times Holden, because they’re people we’ve been able to have a trust relationship with.

And while from time to time the results haven’t gone the way we :Would have liked them to I think they would be the first to agree that in the last few years they’ve had pretty good value for their money.

In earlier times, when things weren’t going as glossy as you’d hope, they weren’t ringing up every second minute of the day, because they had the trust and belief in me that we’d organise things well enough to achieve results and thus the exposure that they need.

The Holden relationship, albeit a minor relationship, as a confi dence booster even is a big help to your team.

MN; You’ve gone with a pair of reiatively inexperienced young drivers and are now presumabiy totaily comfortabie with that?

GR; My policy has always been to encourage the younger people

■■■■I rnmmm

and, if we’re referring to Garth, people shouldn’t lose sight of what he was doing 17 months ago.

I know that last year he did a few things that we would hope he wouldn’t do again - but continued to do so. Garth’s always had the skill to win races and drive the cars well. You have to understand that, at his age, being brought into a fairly high profile team, while we didn’t place any pressure or expectations on him, competitive people place expectations upon themselves.

Because of that, I think he made some manoeuvres that you probably wouldn’t do, but I think he’s reassessed that and realised that to win races and champi onships, you’ve got to get over the finish line.

But, as Garth himself said on the podium, last weekend’s result was for the team. Guys don’t mind fixing cars for a winner - they do mind fixing cars for a dud...

MN: The weekend in particular suggests that the old VS is every bit as quick as the new VTs. You’ve got another VT on the way for Garth - are you tempted to take your time or has there been any pressure (from other teams) to get the new car out there?

GR: We’ve had no pressure either way. No pressure to finish the VT or no pressure to get rid of the VS. Our whole process was to get j one VT built for the start of this year, which we did do, then to run the VS until such time as we had the second VT ready.

We had some pretty heavy body repair work to do after both the GP and Phillip Island, which set us back. We’re a small team (6 people altogether) and doing that amount of repair work means that we’re not working on the new car _ and it also slows up development

Good things come to those who wait: Rogers got to see another of his drivers. Garth Tander, take his first win at Queensland Raceway.

Is the stress too much?

There’s time to laugh as well. Rogers takes a different set of characters onto the grid at eveiy race; here he plays Doctors and Nurses after an apparent heart attack on the grid. In the best possible taste, of course ...

(Photos by John Morris/Mpix and Dirk Klynsmilh)

;' HOt-OEN

i work on the existing VT. At Winton, our test track, we’ve had both cars out recently, and the VT is every bit as competitive as the VS. in fairness to Bargs ... he’s a fantastic driver. He’s proven it. He beat HRT’s car long before most others did. What’s happened this year has just been a bit unlucky.

We tested [ the VT] at Winton before Phillip Island, and I’m sure that if Phillip Island had been dry, the results there and since would have been a lot different.

He qualified in the top ten at this last weekend, went from tenth to seventh in race one with lap times as competitive as the other VTs. He was just very unfortunate that Radisich chose to do what he did in race two and because of that had to start basically last yet finished eighth, I think, in the last race.

So I think it would be fair to say that both Bargwanna and the car are going well.

MN: Your team is reputedly operating on a modest budget compared with some, What are the important areas for expenditure under those circumstances?

GR: You’ve just got to spend the money wisely, no matter where you spend it. It doesn’t matter whether you’re talking engines, brakes, or whatever, you’ve got to look at the end benefit for what you have to spend.

We do everything in house. We don’t send anything, except panel work, out. It’d be nice to have more equipment and to sharpen it up a little bit, but until we get more funding, we’ll use what we have.

MN: Your grid flag-bearers [ED: GRM comes up with a different theme at each venue - last weekend saw a ‘Doctor and Nurse’...] have raised eyebrows.

Whose idea was that?

GR: Everybody’s had grid girls since Adam was a pup and I just decided that while it’s nice to have some colour and pizzaz attached to the start of each race, you could do something that was a little bit different and not offend anyone.

It’s all about the team, and the sponsors, getting noticed, but also adding a bit of fun.

I get people ringing up during the week asking what we’re going to be doing at the next meeting!

I see nothing wrong with it, as long as it’s done in good taste MN: We can’t wait to see what the climax will be at Bathurst....

GR: I’ve had some ideas ... but as I said I have to make sure it’s in good taste .... (laughs).

*1 "■h''

1

20 16July 1999

lKl(o)0®[FSfJXD[?0

Fitzy gives'em the old 1-2

PETER Fitzgerald collect ed a win and a second in the GT-Production races

to try and close the gap to series leaders Jim Richards and Domenic Beninca, . although Richards extended his lead over Beninca with another solid result.

Following Sandown’s big hit, Beninca went into dam age control and fronted dri ving the Ross Palmer Ferrari - his own Porsche not repaired in time.

Qualifying saw Fitzgerald collect two points for two pole positions. Richards took the other front row spots for both races with Ed Aitken within hundredths of Richards.

Geoff Morgan completed Porsche dominance in the first session ahead of the battered John Teulan Nissan GT-R however a blown motor put Teulan out for the weekend.

Paula Elstrek impressed all with sixth and fourth in the Maserati. Beninca col lected ninth and sixth respectively.

Bob Hughes in the APR Canberra Mazda RX7 was over the moon to pole in ses sion one with Full on Pole for session two. Ryan McLeod and David Ratcliff shared Class C, while Phil Kirkham (Class D), Nathan Thomas (Class E) and Ric Shaw (Class S) poled in their classes.

Richards won the start in race one but Fitzgerald defended the line into turn one ahead of Aitken, Morgan, Elstrek and the fast -starting Beric Lynton.

Peter Phelan and Shaw went off at turn one, leaving Shaw bent and Phelan bogged - the Safety Car being sent out, with Elstrek also out with a blown turbo.

At the restart the four Porsches pulled away from the Lynton/Beninca battle.

Fitzgerald pulled a small gap on Richards who had Aitken aU over him.

Richards suddenly slowed with four laps to go, an elec trical problem causing the car to cut out and finally dropping him to fourth.

Fitzgerald in the end won by two seconds over a very happy Aitken, Morgan,

A second and a win gave Valvoline Spectrum racer

Steve Owen top points for the weekend. Greg Ritter’s Aloe Quench Mygale had been the fastest car in qualifying, but a massive accident in Race one seen below - seemingly put paid his chances.

Qualifying was all Ritter, the Mygale a tenth faster in both ses sions and leaving Ritter with a 1:15.4721 for pole position. Owen was a tenth away in second ahead of Justin Cotter, Christian Murchison, Stuart Kostera Jr, Owen Kelly, Alex Davison, Leanne Ferrier, Phil Hellebrekers & Ty Hanger. The top 12 all within a second of Ritter’s time.

Under rapidly skies, race one sawdarkening Justin Cotter bumped to the rear of the grid after receiving a push start on the

Richards, Beninca and Lynton.

Full won Class B after a close battle with Hughes, Peter Boylan and Mark King. Michael Simpson cruised to Class S, while Ratcliff triumphed over McLeod and Mark Cohen in Class C in a great battle.

Kirkham won Class D and Kosi Kalaitzidis beat Thomas for Class E. For the second race Elstrek sat down in her grid spot, suited up, and clowned revving the engine for the TV cameras...

Richards won the start again and Beninca boomed down the outside to be third behind Richards and Fitzgerald at turn one.

Morgan was next ahead of Aitken, Salmon, Lynton, Full, King and Carter Richards and Fitzgerald quickly prdled out a gap, the Ferrari holding up Morgan and Aitken. Lynton spun into retirement on lap four.

On lap nine Boylan took turn five a little wider, clipped the outside kerb, spinning and rolling the Subaru spectacularly. The Safety Car was again sent

Owns

grid before the warm-up lap after a starter motor failed. Ritter got the . best start to lead the field into turn 1. Stuart McColl spun in turn 1 without hitting anyone. Over the line on lap 1 Murchison led Ritter, Owen, Kelly, Kostera, Ferrier, Davison, Mecklem, Leroy Stevenson and Ashley Seward.

On lap 2 Mecklem ran over the back of Kostera’s car under brakes at turn 6, bringing out the pace car for the first time in Formula Ford. Ritter, Murchison and Owen fought for the lead with Kelly and Ferrier just behind on the resumption. Hellebrekers speared off at turn 3 trying to outbrake Davison. Coming into the last lap Murchison led Owen and Ritter but by turn 5 Ritter was leading. Coming down the straight to turn 6 Murchison touched Owen who turned into Ritter. Ritter climbed over Owen’s wheel into a

/■ktiarw

1

●

i

5

i,

■

■— ....

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!

Porsche Cup? Richards, Fitzgerald, Aitken and Morgan lead the GTP field. (Photo by Mpix) out and Boylan emerged from the wreck and stood atop the arins arms out stretched.

Late in the race McLeod had a differential failure and Hughes spun across the infield. Into turn three on the last lap Fitzgerald snuck under Richards under brakes but Richards regained the lead just one

turn later and held on to win.

Morgan and Aitken finally got past Beninca on the last lap for third and fourth respectively.

Fuff kept his perfect Class B record intact , Michael Simpson won a great dice with Ric Shaw for Class S after Shaw spun on McLeod’s oil and Phelan

beat home Ratcliff in anoth er close class battle.

Kirkham won comfortably, while Kalaitzidis just beat Craig Dontas home. McLeod was later excluded for being underweight.

Richards now has a 17.5 point lead over Beninca with nine points back to Fitzgerald.

-MARK JONES

Keeping it all in the family; Steve Owen joined VCRT team-mate Garth Tander on the winner’s podium, (Marshall Cass)

cartwheel and roll, cascading sparks from the roll over hoop.

Ferrier ducked down the inside to lead briefly until collected by Owen. The race was red flagged one lap short, leaving the order Murchison, Owen, Ritter, Kelly, Ferrier, Davison, the recovering Cotter, Seward, Stevenson & Hanger.

Although missedup theforwarm up, Ritterhegridded race two in the Mygale, covered in scratches and race tape. There was a dramatic scooter dash as

Comeback of the Year: Greg Ritter survived this amazing race one incident with the Aloe Quench Mygale, then fronted

some of the parts were trapped in the traffic jam outside the circuit.

Murchison won the race 2 start and led Owen and the fast starting Cotter into turn 1. Half a lap later Cotter had a huge lose into the infield. By the end of lap 1 Ritter led Murchison, Owen, Ferrier, Davison, Kelly, Seward, William Power, Hanger and Steven Grocl.

Problems soon struck Murchison.

Owen started building a gap over Ritter. Ferrier and Davison were having a close battle. Kostera, coming from the back of the field climbed as sixth to be part of a

great dice with Kelly and Power, before being forced wide between turns 4 and 5 by Kelly. Kostera recovered but pitted immediately.

Ferrier got through Davison on the second last lap but a determined Davison snatched third back at the final comer. Owen claimed the win over Ritter, who lost his rear wheel on the cool down lap, and Davison. Ferrier’s fourth complet ed her best ever meeting. Kelly was fifth from Power, Seward, Mecklem, Ceveri & Hanger.

Ritter now leads the series 148 points to Davison’s 96.

for race two and proceeded to carve his way through the field, finishing second.

DL/C^

IM

0.

16 July 1999

Race 1 19 laps amsey undid his ■pa -LVgood work with a slightly sluggtish start, allowing Wills to make a strong getaway,from which point he would be imchallenged.

Staff, Leahy, Ramsey, Asai and Dumbrell filed through at the end of the opener, although Leahy was about to join Macrow in pit lane, slowing on the sec ond lap.

A single lap Safety Car now intervened (?) and on the resumption Wills raced away again, from Staff, Asai getting the jump on Ramsey, Dumbrell, Digby and Brede chasing.

After a close ‘moment’ with Asai, Ramsey looked to be a little rattled and

E

b

Q.

Different day, same view.i Simon Wills came within one point of securing this year’s Australian Driver’s Championship.

hmtk of Wills... again!

KIWI Simon Wills came

within a solitary point of wrapping up the 1999 Holden Australian Drivers Championship on Sunday, with another exemplary performance at Queensland Raceway.

Despite just being shaded by team-mate Brenton Ramsey for pole, Wills domi nated both races.

Ramsey and the fast maturing Chris Staff shared

the second and third spots, with youngster Paul Dumbrell also putting in his most consistent run to date with a fourth and fifth.

Qualifying

A

dam Macrow’s weekend started as it was to continue. The former F/F champ rotated his Reynard into the turn two sand on the second lap, bringing out a red and while the car

was returned to the pits, it ran raggedly thereafter and didn’t put in a repre sentative time.

On the resumption,.

Wills was quickly up to speed, into the 1:14s on his first serious lap.

By mid-session, Asai’s 1:05.63 was good enough for second, but there would be several improvers, par ticularly in the dying moments of the session.

Ramsey moved to second, just a tenth away from

team-mate Wills and then on the final lap found a further three tenths to snatch pole (1:04.75).

Staff was best of the rest in the Challenge Recruitment car and shared row two with Leahy, Asai retained fifth, with Paul Dumbrell on the outside of row three, Matthew Halliday, Peter Hill, Les Crampton and Dale Brede making up the top ten.

was passed by Dumbrell on lap five, who then put his own pressure on Asai, slipping through at turn four on lap nine.

Ramsey meanwhile had gathered everything together and would spend the second half of the race picking his way back through for an eventual second spot.

Dumbrell looked a possi bility for a podium, closing in on Staff with a couple to go, but a quick spin at turn two ended that challenge, although the youngster was able to retain fourth.

WUls? Oh yes. By the end of the 19 laps he was 30 sec onds clear. A bit one-sided.

Race 2-24 laps (inci Safety Car)

21

Wills againmaking away well,was Dumbrell a boomer to emerge in third, behind Staff, as Asai and Johansson collided into turn one and speared into the sand.

Out came the Safety Car, but a nasty moment occured as the leaders came round to greet the Safety Car sign. Macrow had stalled on the line and was being attended by three marshalls, who froze as the three leaders poured down the straight, diving either side of the stationary Reynard...

“A bit ordinary,” leader Wills would later say.

Macrow was push-started a lap down and rejoined the queue for the restart, which came on lap five.

Ramsey jumped Dumhrell for third, while Halliday (from the rear) was already up to Brede, then Hill, on lap seven, in a drive which would eventually nett him a well-earned fourth.

Leahy too was on the move, passing Brede him self a couple of laps later, only to frustratingly retire again on lap 10.

Halliday got to his fourth outbraking by spot Dumbrell a couple of laps later, but that was as far as he would get, unable to match the pace of the front three.

Ramsey closed on Staff later in the race, but there would be no change.

Wills again unchallenged, and breaking his own lap record for the fourth time on the very last lap to relieve the boredom!

Points after round five; Wills 175; Staff 96; Halliday 83; Macrow 70; Dumbrell 54; Ramsay 50: Kelly 40; Asai 37; Brede 29: Astuti 22. Silver Star: Crampton 127; Digby

Learning experience: With a chance of reaching the podium in the first race, rookie Paul Dumbrell had a spin in the Wynn’s/Kmart Reynard. (Photo by oirk Kiynsmith) Mountains and Hills to climb: Adam Macrow’s weekend started off bad and got worse.

He’s seen here trying to pass Peter Hills. (Photo by Marshall cass) S:■/*

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New Kid, New Trackf Old Car, New Result

9Taoder takes first race and round win l Ingall, Lowndes take race wins l Amazing comebacks by Bowe, Crompton » Queensiand Raceway surface kilis tyres ® Huge crowd - despite 20km entry queue ® Wakefield wins Privateer war

5*

Report by CHRIS LAMBDEN

Shell

VT vs VS: Tander had too much grip for Ingall and had his first win just waiting for him.

UlH and an older car came out on top after frenetic Shell series round at Australia’s newest race track, Queensland Raceway, last weekend.

Garth Tander, in the Valvoline Cummins VS Commodore, coped with the same new-track tyre problems as his rivals and some varying weather to illustrate his increasingly mature approach, show ing some blistering speed and stay-out-of-trouble sense to take his, and his team’s, first ever outright roxind win.

T5rres were the topic at QR, the smooth, constant radius layout playing havoc with Bridgestone’s Control rubber, virtually every team having to work hard to keep grip under their cars- with varying success.

Championship leader Craig Lowndes increased his points lead thanks to a blistering comeback drive in the final heat after a turn one escapade, while locals Jason Bright and Paul Radisich shared the rest of the spoils. Bright moving to second in the points as Glenn Seton endured a tough weekend - start ing with a Friday roll-over...

Russell Ingall looked a winning con tender until his tyres gave out in race three, while pole man John Bowe came on strong after a bad opening heat to cross the line first in heat three, only tol be disqualified.

The new venue, struggling to cope with the huge 27,000+ crowd which turned up, may be a little bland in lay out, but there were sparks fl3dng...-

Keep digging, the hole’s not deep enough: Seton’s weekend started with a Friday rollover and he never caught up from there. But team-mate Crompton saved the cause; another lap and Neil would probably have won his first race.

(Photos by Dirk Klynsmith and John Morris/Mpix)

Praefloe &

As with any newallowed circuit, the V8s were three sessions on Friday, particularly important for the non-locals who had not had the opportunity to run on the track before.

At the same time, the more rubber that could be laid on the still fresh surface would be a big plus, although intermittent showers would compheate the day.

Locals Bright and Radisich looked to be the early pace setters, but any hopes that HRT would be out of the action on the new, sUck cir cuit were dashed, Lowndes third quickest oh Mday.

The big news this day, was Seton’s spectacular exit dur ing the third session, when

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the FTR Falcon ended up on its roof in the sand trap at the end of the front straight.

It was what, at first, seemed a harmless spin, Seton just a foot or two off line, the Falcon rotating, but tripping up over the loose turf as it went sideways into the sand.

It took a few minutes to release Glenn, as the top few inches of the door was buried in the sand, but he emerged unscathed, the car fortunate ly repairable for the follow ing morning...

Bright and Radisich con tinued to set the pace on Saturday morning, both in the 1:10.4s, Lowndes in the 1:10.8s, then Ingall, getting the Castrol car sorted nicely (1:11.0), Ellery again very Bowe, impressive Longhurst, Skaife, Larkham and - big surprise - John Briggs in the Supercheap Falcon...

All the likely contenders, bar Seton, were in the fastest 50% of the field which would contest the first of the 14 minute qualifying sessions.

And despite a greying sky, it remained dry.

With Bright and Radisich’s 1:10.4s during practice, fresh rubber was expected to see 1:09s, but the end result was fascinating.

Tander in the older VS Valvoline Commodore briefly held fastest, before Lowndes was the first to dip into the 9s (1:09.83) on his first set, Tander then joining him with a 1:09.98.

Bowe eased Crompton out of third with a low 1:10 as the session reached half way

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They love their V8s in Queensland: A huge crowd flooded in, despite the queues, to watch Tander take his first win.

Black cats are supposedly unlucky; Bowe is now quaiifying consistently quickly. His pole lap was one of the best of the season.

(Photos by John Morris/Mpix and Marshall Cass)

and as McLean pulled the Greenfield Falcon onto the grass with a blown engine.

Bright was now out on his second set, putting in a string of three l;09s, the best a 1:09.85, which would cement fourth.

Ingall had improved to a 1:10.35 on his first set and felt that there was more to come with a good run. He was right.

Continued on page 24

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16 July 1999

Shell Championship Series Rd 8- Queensland Raceway

Qualifying Team/Car Pos Driver Lap time 1:09.2594 1 John Bowe Cat Racing Falcon AU Castrol Perkins Rcing Commodore VT1:09.7035 2 Russell Ingall Mobil Racing Team Commodore VT 1:09.8343 3 Craig Lowndes 1:09.8527 Pirlek Racing Falcon AU 4 Jason Bright n Valvoline/Cummins Commodore VS 1:09,9360 5 Garth Tander 6 Mark Skaife Mobil Racing Team Commodore VT 1:09.9639 1:10.1349 7 Paul Radisich Shell Helix Racing Falcon AU 1:10.2436 Ford Tickford Racing Falcon AU 8 Neil Crompton 1:10.3308 9 Glenn Seton Ford Tickford Racing Falcon AU 10 Jason Bargwanna Valvoline/Cummins Commodore VT 1:10.4885 1:10.5015 11 Paul Romano Romano Racing Commodore VS 1:10.6416 Steve Ellery Racing Falcon EL 12 Steve Ellery 1:10.6481 13 Dick Johnson Shell Helix Racing Falcon AU 1:10.6972 14 Steven Richards Wynn’s Racing Commodore VT 1:10.7724 Mark Larkham Falcon AU 15 Mark Larkham 1:10.8496 Castrol Longhurst Ford Falcon AU 16 Tony Longhurst 17 Cameron McLean Greenfield Mowers Racing Falcon EL 1:10.9536 1:11.0561 Bob Forbes Commodore VS 18 Rodney Forbes 1:11.0821 Wynn's Racing Commodore VT 19 Greg Murphy Noske/Young Lions Commodore VS 1:11.1243 20 Todd Kelly 1:11.1969 21 Cameron McConvilleWarwick/Ecko Commodore VS 22 MarkNoske Noske/Young Lions Commodore VS 1:11.2496 1:11.2645 Cummins Commodore VT 23 John Faulkner 1:11.3063 Castrol Perkins Commodore VT 24 Larry Perkins 25 Dugal McDougall Perkins Engineering Commodore VT 1:11.3112 1:11.3793 David Parsons Commodore VS 26 David Parsons 1:11.5097 27 Thomas Mezera Densitron Commodore VT K & J Thermal Products Falcon AU 1:11.6242 28 PaulWeel 1:11.6272 29 Wayne Wakefield Metro Central Falcon EL 1:11.7338 30 John Briggs Supercheap Auto Falcon AU 1 ;11.8067 Lansvale Smash Commodore VS 31 Trevor Ashby 32 Mick Donaher Ultra Tune Racing Comm odore VS 1:12.0064 1:12.6997 33 Bob Thorn Supercheap Auto Falcon AU 34 Rod Nash Autopro/Bud Racing Commodore VS 1:12i7774 35 Chris Smerdon Chris Smerdon Commodore VS 1:12.9084 36 Simon Emerzidis Simon’s Earthworks Falcon EL 1:12.9586 1:13.3326 37 Danny Osborne Colourscan Motorsport Falcon EL 1:13.5442 Harris Racing Falcon EF 38 Craig Harris 39 Phil Ward Pro Duct Motorsport Commodore VS 1 ;13.9710 1:14.4336 40 Mike Conway Michael Conway Falcon EL 41 Alan Heath West Terrace 4WD Falcon EL 1:14.5036 42 John Cotter Team Gatorade Commodore VS 1:14.6572 1:37.5013 43 Barry Morcom Barry Morcom Commodore VS

Continued from page 23 1:09.70 flashed up on the timing screens (and Ingall’s dashboard) and he thought he’d got pole (there was a minute and a half to go).

Lowndes had not improved on his second shot and that seemed to be it - until Bowe just blew them all away.

Not by a tenth or two either. His first run 1:10.10 was sliced by nine-tenths, to produce an amazing 1:09.25, nearly half a second better than Ingall. What a headshaker...

“The car was really well balanced,” Bowe would say later,“and we made a couple more changes for the session and fluked it. I’d swung from understeer to oversteer in practice, but we got it just right.

The AU is much finer to adjust than the EL, but it works very well when it’s balanced. You always have to compensate for some thing, but not on this lap!

“I’m not sure how we’ll go in the races,” he said a little prophetically. “I’m getting a bit of graining, particularly the left rear - and people like Bright who have done a race distance or two in test ing will know much more what to expect.”

Bowe wasn’t the only one to be experiencing ‘cold graining’ on the slick, new surface, Bridgestone’s Graeme Brown reporting a number of teams in that position: “There’s no wear problem here at all, but the graining

pXo.

is certainly affecting a few of haven’t quite got a handle on the best qualifying set up them,” he said.

Bowe’s pole run ended for the Bridgestones just yet. Still, the kiwi would be rather ignominiously, press ing on for what he said was another likely to show better an equally good second lap, in race trim.

Crompton was eighth, a JB was caught out by a 1:10.24 enough to retain the ‘long’ pedal going into turn 6, locked the rears, and spot at the expense of his beached the CAT car back team boss, who ended up wards in the sand... next, running in the second Ingall, who really thought 14 minute session, a tenth slower. Considering his he’d had pole, was philo start to the weekend, that sophical: “We’ve been mak ing little bits of progress wasn’t too shabby.

Bargwanna completed the each meeting and I was quite confident we’d do a top 10, at last getting some good time. I thought it was where with the set-up on his my first pole, but then Valvoline VT (“I wouldn’t ‘Boom Boom’stuck one in...” mind the old VS back,” he’d Lowndes too was satisfied laughingly explained once or with progress, while twice as his young team Bright’s boss Ross Stone mate ran with the eagles...)

Queensland’s two young was quick to point out that his man had been the only chargers, Romano and one to string three 1:09s Ellery were next, the latter together - “he didn’t just jag just shading his long-dis one in. I think we’ll be in tance employer, Dick Johnson. good shape in the races.”

Dick admitted to a less Tander’s excellent effort secured fifth, while Skaife than perfect best lap, “but it’s still the quickest I’ve quietly chopped half a sec ond off his first run to take been around here ; there’s sixth with a 1:09.96. not much in it these days and it’s great to still be so Radisich was next, proba bly looking, or hoping, for competitive in my final more than the three-tenths year.”

Richards, Larkham and he gained over his practice times - he was delayed for Longhurst were next, head some minutes by a dash ing the two leading priva problem in the #18 Shell teers, McLean and Forbes car, but the Shell boys again locked into their per¬

sonal duel, the Falcon just a tenth quicker than the Commodore on this occasion - although McLean had of course only completed one run before the engine exploded.

Murphy and Kelly com pleted the top 20.

Of the rest notable were Perkins (24th)- apparently stuck with the ‘old’ set-up while Ingall evaluates a new direction with one set of parts ... Wayne Wakefield subbing for car owner Charles Ryman 29th; and Craig Harris, debuting the ex-Bright Bathurst winner, 38th and in the field.

Race 1-20 Saps (ind Safety Car laps) Dick’s day at his going new home track wasn’t to be a great one. With Johnson having done his lap of honour, the Shell Falcon promptly broke a tail shaft on the parade lap and was wheeled away.

Ingall, now using the revlimiter starting technique, made the best start and carved across in front of Bowe as they turned into turn one.

Lowndes, Bright, Skaife, Tander, Radisich,

We miss Peter too: No, I called you a Brock-head.

The locals certainly know how to dress for the big occasion.

Privateer wars: Forbes got caught up in the race 1 firstcorner ruckus in the immaculate Diet Shake Commodore.

(Photos by Dirk Klynsmith)

/

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Tale of two Falcons: Wakefield led a charmed life, taking Charles Ryman’s EL to Privateer honours. McLean had one of those weekends when everything that could go wrong did ...

www.waynewakefield.wins.com

RODNEY Forbes closed to within two points of Privateer Championship leader Cameron McLean after their Saturday sprint, but it was iocai hero and relative newcomer Wayne Wakefield who came out on top over Sunday’s three races in a day punctuated by DNFs. Despite a shabby start, Forbes forced his way to the front of Queensland Raceway’s first ever V8 race, Saturday’s 12 lapper for privateer series points.

The opportunity to close on McLean was presented after the Greenfield Falcon blew up during qualifying and there simply wasn’t time to change the engine. The pole spot remained empty.

Wakefield initially led, from David Parsons(who was adjudged to have ‘crept’ at the start and copped a Stop Go), Ashby, Forbes and Donaher, but caught the dirt on the outside of turn two on the second lap, handing Parsons the lead until he pitted for his penalty.

This simply handed the race to Forbes, who’d slipped by Wakefield’s Falcon (the nose slightly askew) on lap three.

Ashby started to come on strong and closed in on Wakefield, going by on lap eight, only to throw it all into the sand at turn one on the last lap!

As Donaher fell away a little, so Bob Thorn emerged in one of his best efforts to date, to grab third, from Emerzidis, debu tant Craig Harris, Nash and Donaher, clear ly in trouble.

Points after round 6: McLean 236; Forbes 234; Donaher 220; Parsons 176; Thorn 142; Reed 132; Russell 108; Imrie 104; Nash 100.

The turn one incident in Sunday’s open ing Shell race, which accounted for McLean and Forbes, set the precedent for a day of ups and downs, with virtually every priva teer copping at least one DNF. In the end it was Wakefield, who also DNF’d race one, who emerged with the points to take the cake on Sunday, with a third and a second in class in his next two starts accumulating 24 points, just one more than McLean,two more than Parsons.

It was a lean points day for the priva teers...

The day saw a series of battles involving, at various times, McLean, Forbes, Ashby (who pulled off a great outside pass on three cars mid-way around the opening lap of race two), Donaher. Parsons and the aggressive Phil Ward -at the centre of a lot of the action in Bob Pearson’s Pro Duct car...

- CHRIS LAMBDEN

16 July 1999

IE\®0®[F8[JXD[F0 Bargwanna, Crompton, ner of the race when, purely Seton and Richards followed hanging on for points, Glenn through, but back in the locked the rears and beached the car one turn midfield there was mayhem.

Privateer pace-setters from home. Queensland conForbes and McLean collided tinues to be Seton’s bogie.

Lap 15 and up front IngaU and spun right in the middle of the pack and cars went was still clear, but Lowndes (his rubber also starting to everywhere. Perkins, follow ing next (?), lifted but was protest) now had the Valvoline VS all over him. hit from behind and Bright was in danger of slammed into the stationary McLean. McDougall too was losing fifth as Skaife (“I took involved, with front end it quietly early on to look damage, while McConville after the rubber, and then they started to come back to and Noske too (front dam me”) harried him, while age) were detained.

An immediate Safety Car Radisich too was looming in their mirrors, having was deployed while.Perkins’ wreck was removed (out for slipped past Bowe, who was in real strife: the day). McLean pitted to ‘The left rear was so bad retire, while Noske, McConville and Forbes were it was lethal,” he’d muse as he contemplated what would able to tag back on the rear be disarmingly successful of the field. set-up changes for the secThree laps later it went ond race. green and Ingall immediate Bargwanna, Crompton, ly gapped Bowe, who was Murphy and Larkham folcoming under early pressure lowed - all four would slip from Lowndes. past the hobbled CAT Falcon In fact, Bowe was going to in the remaining five laps. be the first to “lose’ his tyres, in quite a big way, which would see him slide a long way back down through the queue.

It took Craig five laps to find his way past Bowe, inside at turn 3, by which time there was a queue of cars lining up to have a go.

Bright, Skaife and Tander.

The latter was pushing the HRT car hard and powered alongside and inside at turn one to grab fifth at half dis tance as Bowe, really start ing to struggle, fell to the youngster a lap later at the same spot (Bright having already got past).

Lowndes survived a big solo sideways moment on lap 13, which really allowed Ingall to clear away, the Castrol car completing lap 14 with a 2.5s margin.

Behind Lowndes, Tander was having set the race’s fastest lap flying, having deposed Bright with a great slingshot out of turn two.

As Tander towed inside Clearly, the VS was look Lowndes at turn one, so ing after its rubber well,just as Bright’s (along with Radisich eased past Bright out of two the whole thing Richards) was really start now a see-sawing process, ing to feel the pinch.

Seton too, was now in a depending upon whose tyres bit of bother. A bolt had still had something left.

That’s how it wound out, detached in the gear linkage and he only had third and Tander getting a little closer fourth gear. His plight (2.3 seconds) to Ingall, but would only get worse and it never likely to bridge the ended badly at the last cor- gap, Lowndes a couple of

25

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No day to be a Jason R 1: Bright got to be one of the first to test Queensland Raceway’s new instant turf - but he recovered later in the day.

No day to be a Jason R 2: Bargwanna was on the pace in the Valvoline VT, but his weekend was pretty much ruined after running foul of Paul Radisich early in race,two.

(Photos by Dirk Klynsmith and Marshall Cass)

tyres, maybe that’s the solu tion.”

He, along with others, would avoid the newer rub ber among his eight tyres for race two.

lengths away, Skaife a sec ond further back, Radisich, the struggling Bright, some seconds to Bargs, Crompton, Murphy and Larkham com pleting the top ten.

Pole man Bowe was 11th, from an improving Faulkner, an impressive Briggs, Kelly, Longhurst, Ellery and the tyred out Richards.

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Race 2(15 laps, In two parts)

In some cases, poor Bowe in particrdar, drastic set-up changes would need to be gambled on for the next two races if any progress was to be made. In JB’s case they were dramatic - and they worked.

The first realRaceway race testhad for Queensland thrown up an interesting and perplexing problem. Control tyre or not, there was a vary ing degree of problem with graining - even for those locals who’d tested at the cir cuit previously.

»

From his grid two spot, Tander made a beautiful start to move over on Ingall and a fast-starting Lowndes and grab an early lead, with Skaife, Bright, Radisich, Bargwanna, Crompton, Murphy, Bowe and Larkham in line astern as they com pleted the opener.

Already in strife was Bargs, spinning wildly over the outside kerb into turn

Bright put his finger on a solution: “Vie never had this prob lem when we tested with old

I:

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Continued on page 32

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16 July 1999

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He's won in open-wheelers, Busch Grand National cars and midgetseven in Australia. He's young, single, good-looking and versatile.

Tony Stewart may bejust the best racing driver in the USA and is set fora stellar career. Half-way through one of the best rookie seasons in the history of NASCAR racing Tony Stewart sat down to talk about life in the most competitive racing series in the world.

Motorsport News: Tell us about your thought on how your rook ie Winston Cup season has gone so far.

Tony Stewart: I’ve probably had the better end of the deal, In all honesty, compared to the other rookies this season.

I’ve stepped into an established team that finished in the top-10 in points the last two years. I have a team-mate to reflect off of and [Jones and Elliott Sadler] don’t have a team-mate to go to during practice and say,‘My car feels like this or that. Does your car do the same thing?’

I’ve got a little bit of an advan tage having a team-mate and a team that has already been estab lished for years. Me having the advantage of a team-mate to reflect off of is probably my biggest advantage.”

MN: You must be fairly disap pointed that you have been com petitive but that you haven’t won yet.

TS: Not at all. This series is all about consistency. We obviously want to win every week, but if we can just be consistent, then you can worry about winning races.

It means more to me to finish in the top-five three or four weeks in a row than it does to win one week and finish 30th the next week and crash the week after that. You guys [the media] are more antsy about me winning a race than I am.

MN: Tell us about your relation ship with crew chief Greg Zipadelli.

TS: This is my 20th year in racing and there’s probably been three or four crew chiefs that I had a rela tionship with like I have with Greg.

Larry Curry was one of them also and there were two guys I ran midgets for that were the same way.

It’s all about chemistry. You sit here thinking you put a crew chief and driver together working for the same cause and how could they not get along?

If it was legal to marry two peo ple I’d marry my fiancee and I’d make sure Greg was tied in there somehow so he couldn’t get away either. I just want to make sure he doesn’t get away. Some day when we renew my contract I’m going to make sure that he’s tied into it in some way, shape or form. We’ll fig ure something out. Relationships that you build in racing you never lose. When you have a relationship like Larry Curry and I have and like Greg and I have now, I don’t think even if our future changes and we weren’t with each other, I don’t think the friendship would change.

It’s weird. It really surprised both of us. I wouldn’t have known Greg Zipadelli if I had tripped over him until the first day that I saw him. I knew about him and I heard every thing that Jimmy Makar, Bobby

[Labonte] and Joe [Gibbs] were telling me about him, but I just didn’t know who he was and he didn’t know anything about me. To come in and have the kind of rela tionship we’ve had. I’ve been very happy with it so far.” ”l don’t think I’ve found anybody more intense than Greg, that’s for sure. When we started this year and came.to Daytona and Rockingham, Greg was pretty ill with hepatitis, but he never missed a day of work. The doctor told him to be flat on his back and not move for two weeks and he was working on race cars every day.

MN: What would you say is the main difference between Busch and Winston Cup? TS: It seems like you have to have the [Busch] car on the ragged edge every lap in order to be com petitive and be fast. The Winston Cup cars have extra horsepower and you don’t necessarily have to be perfect every lap, and you don’t have to overdrive the car every lap to be quick. Some times when you slow down you go faster in this car.

Everybody in the Busch Series is trying to get to Winston Cup and everybody’s trying to run 100 per cent every lap every race. In the Cup cars, the drivers are normally more patient because the races are normally twice as long;A iot of the time you end up having a lot longer runs in between stops. You don’t have as many cautions and you just have to be more patient in the car.”

MN: Have you received advice from other drivers?

TS: Everybody pretty much is help ful. I think these guys understand that you’re rookies and that you’re going to make mistakes.

They don’t want you making mistakes in front of them that can cost them a bad race or a wreck that takes them out of the champi onship. They’re all pretty helpful to a certain degree in making sure that if you’re not comfortable about something, they do everything they can.

I guess as ironic as it sounds Mike Skinner has probably been one of the guys that has helped me the most outside of Bobby. It’s kind of been a uni(^ue situation with our sponsors having conflicts with one another, but he’s probably helped me more than anybody outside of Bobby so far.

MN: What’s caught you by sur prise?

TS: Just the way we’ve run, hon estly. I figured at this point in the season if you went to our race shop, you’d see Bobby’s cars in one piece on one side of the room and the other side of the room would look like a salvage yard with front clips and rear clips off of them. Probably that’s been the biggest thing.

New Kid in Town: Stewart has come to grips with the ins and outs of Winston Cup racing as well as any rookie in history. Here he leads Ricky Rudd and Dale Earnhardt at Richmond in May.(Photo by Sutton-images)

Is Tony Stewart the

GREATEST

1felt like I arrived as a Winston Cup driver when I came through the tunnel the other day and turned right to come towards the garage area, and there was a orange school bus with Home Depot and 20, Tony Stewart and Joe Gibbs Racing, and I thought, Tve arrived.

999

Dressed for success: Team owner Joe Gibbs (right) is used to pressure and winning. The former Washington Redskins coach took the NFL team from cellar-dwellers to winning Superbowl XXVI in 1992.

Talkin’ the talk: Stewart has backed up his words with actions in the NASCAR big leagues, taking his Home Depot Pontiac to the lead sever al times during the sea son. His first win is get ting closer.

(Photos by Mike Powdl/ALLSPORT and Sutujn-Images)

Mr Versatile; In the past two years Stewart has won races in IRL (taking the title in 1997) annd Busch Grand National before his move into the Winston Cup series at the start of this season.(Photos by Vincent Laforet and David Xaylor/ALLSPORT)

HERO? loaf Stewart P@rs0nail data Born: May 20,1971 in Columbus,Indiana Height: 175cm Weight: 70kg Marital Status: Single Lives: Columbus and Cornelius, North Carolina Pets: Shih Tzu (that’s a dog) named ’Bud’ Hobbies: Racing, Pool, Boating, Bowling Personal cars: Chevrolet Dually, BMW Workout Routine: I Weight lifting and Cardio-vascuiar work

MN: What’s been the biggest struggle - racing or qualifying: TS: Both. Qualifying is every bit as competitive, if not more competitive, than the races at times. You look at the time sheets from qualifying and you have 40 guys that are within three tenths of a second of each other at a lot of the race tracks.

You can’t bobble, especially with Cup qualifying having two rounds most of the tracks we go to — a.Iot of time you only get one lap. You know if you make one small mistake it costs you two tenths of a second and that’s the difference between making a show and missing a show.

For all of us [rookies] the first four races were really important.

We couldn’t afford to make mis takes. It’s a good exercise in hold ing your breath and not blinking, not sneezing, not scratching your nose, nothing. You have to be perfect for one lap and do everything you can to get in, and then you have to switch modes and pretty much focus another 50 percent and the other half of your time on the race set-ups. That’s equally important.”

MN: You made your Winston Cup debut at New Hampshire, where you won in the iRL. Was that a help?

TS: You might as well throw the IRL equation out of it. It’s comparing apples to oranges. Being able to run second there last year I’m look ing forward to going there. I’ve had good runs there. 1 know Greg Zipadelli’s looking forward to it because that’s kind of his home track in the Cup series. I know we’re going to work really hard to be as competitive as we can be.”

MN: Winston Cup is the most competitive racing series on earth. Is it too much to expect a rookie to win?

TS: I’ve got my own goals I set each week and that’s what I’m focusing on. I hear the same things you’re probably hearing too, but who knows what is going to hap pen? If I knew what the future was I’d probably be doing something

1998 Busch Grand National 2 poles, five top-5 and five top-10 finishes.

Indy Racing League 4 poles, 2 wins. Third in series.

1997 Busch Grand National 1 top-5, 2 top-1 Os from 5 starts Indy Racing League 3 poles, 1 win, 1st in series.

1996 Busch Grand National 9 starts, no notable results

other than driving race cars because I’d be making a lot of money. Who knows?

The second time around I think we’re excited about coming back to tracks we’ve already run on this year, and we’ve got a base set-up that we’re comfortable with. Then you fine-tune to the different part of the season where the tracks are a lot warmer and the conditions change a little bit, but 1 hope to be here a long time, so one year out of 20 or so years in Winston Cup, I’m not real antsy or worried about that first one. I’m just worried about learning as much as possible and finishing races and just trying to be consistent.”

MN: With all the headlines you’ve been getting how do you handle your increased ‘notoriety’?

TS: I felt like I arrived as a Winston Cup driver when I came through the tunnel the other day and turned right to come towards the garage area, and there was a orange school bus with Home Depot and 20, Tony Stewart and Joe Gibbs Racing, and I thought, I’ve arrived.’

The fans have been awesome this year. That’s been my favourite part of this series so far, to see the excitement each Sunday. When you look up in the stands and there’s 200,000 people out there and 90 percent of them have a dri ver’s T-shirt on them, that just shows how popular this sport is. To be a part of that excitement, that’s what it’s all about to me.

I’m the only driver that goes out and does three autograph sessions at his T-shirt trailer every weekend.

I do it because I enjoy it, not because it’s a hassle. Even when we have a bad day I still go out. I might not be in a hurry to go out and do it, but I still go out and do it.

At the end of an hour session out there, even when you’ve had a bad day, the crowd makes you feel good and you think, ‘Well, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was. Everything will be better tomorrow.’ We have a lot of fun with the fans.

Indy Racing League Pole and led-43 laps ay Indy 500 J Named ‘Rookie of the Year. .Eighth in championship.

mm mm Won National Midget, Sprint and' Silver Crown series.

First driver to win ‘Triple Crown’.

1994 USAC National Midget series 22 starts, 5 wins. Won champi onship. Sixth in Silver Crown.

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16 July 1999 A

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Coulthard the Hill’s last F1 drive (maybe), Schumacher crashing, red flags and restarts, Hakkinen losing a wheel and a Brit winning his home Grand Prix - this was SUverstone 1999...

By JOE SAWARD

I

N an incident-packed race David Coulthard watched as World

Championship rivals Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher both retired.

Mika with technical trouble and Michael in a

but Eddie Irvine finished second to Coulthard and

very nasty accident which put him into hos pital. How long he stays there is not yet clear.

One would think that

is now equal on points to Schumacher. Who knows what Ferrari will do now?

this would leave the way open for Mika Hakkinen

Once upon a time there was an old airfield, over-

Qualifying

i

grown once the military avia tors had packed up and gone away. Grass grew through the cracks in the concrete and sheep grazed in the fields around the dispersal bays and hangars. The place was locked up and left until a group of race fans discov ered it and began hosting illegal meetings with what ever machines they could gather together.

It was a quick track - run ways and taxiways are usu ally straight - and soon gained popularity. It was a cheap option when the Royal AutomobOe Club was looking

I’ll drink to that: David Coulthard celebrates winning his first British Grand Prix, an occassion he thought “more than special”. With luck on his side, Coulthard was able to bring his McLaren home in front of Eddie Irvine’s Ferrari.

(Photos by Sutton-lmages/Race Access)

for a place to nm the British Grand Prix. A lease was organised and makeshift pits were set up. Corners were named - Maggotts, inciden tally, is rumoured to have been named after a Miss Maggott, a member of the Womens’ Auxiliaiy Air Force who did considerable war work in the nearby fields and woods with off duty pilots ... well, that’s the story.

People poured in to watch the action (the cars not Miss Maggott) and soon the cir cuit began to develop. It has been developing ever since and perhaps this is one of its problems. Yes, there is plen ty of space for everything you need for a Grand Prix but somehow Silverstone always feels like an old air field rather than a proper racing circuit.

It is an aerodrome rather than an autodrome.

Having said that, there is Let’s try this again: A depleted field started off on the second attempt to get this year’s British Grand Prix underway.

The big question now is, who will take Schumacher’s place and can Irvine win the World Championship?

(Photo by Sutton Images.)

not much left these days to remind one of the old days.

The three interlocking run ways are still there and there are a few dispersal bays in the car parks but otherwise much has been done to try to erase history.

What will it take?

Over the years there have been many great races at Silverstone and for many years the “Silverstone Finish” was a phrase bawled out by commentators as cars crossed the line close to one another.

It used to be true. It used to be great, but safety dic tated that things had to be slowed down and so the track was ruined with wiggly bits.

It became like most of the other racing circuits in the IS a world, It technically-challenging track but that does not mean it produces great races. Overtaking is hard and because the FI teams are always running around the circuit, set-ups are well-known. It does not pro mote great races.

The weather has often helped out in the past but this year the sun was shin ing for most of the time and while it was lovely to potter

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IXE

Championships lost: The team have blamed brake failure for Michael Schumacher’s first lap, first start accident at 5 'Stowe’s Comer.

That’s my boy: Mercedes-Benz motorsport boss Norbert Haug congratulates Coulthard on his British GP win. In the background is M-B engine builder Mario Mien.

If only Michael knew: Jacques Villeneuve and Alex Zanardi stalled on the grid, necessitating a restart.

Unfortunately, Ferrari forgot to tell Michael.

(Photos by Sutton-lmages)

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about in the leafy lanes, there was a suspicion that the race on Sunday was not going to be a classic.

It would be hard to match the recent French GP for excitement and interest. In qualifying, if anything, the weather did not help because as the official ses sion ticked by the times became harder to beat as the track temperature fluc tuated as the sun popped in and out between fluffy white clouds.

After the early runners which saw such unlikely folk as Pedro Diniz, Jacques Villeneuve and Damon Hill

was all over - a real damp squib of a qualifjdng session.

With David Coulthard third on the grid it was a pretty good day for McLaren. Coulthard reck oned that third was fine because he had had prob lems with the rear of the car jumping around under brak ing. David talked about win ning ...

Hakkinen used only three sets of tyres but otherwise had little to report. He is always good in fast comers.

Michael Schumacher was

on pole position - it got down to serious business with Rubens Barrichello and then Eddie Irvine doing the business after about 10 min utes.

There was a pause for a few minutes and then Michael Schumacher came

expecting and he said that he would be in good shape for the race. Irvine was fourth fastest, nearly seven-tenths slower than Michael which is about what one would expect. He com plained of an understeer problem which was not fixed until late in the session by which time the track was slower.

He also said he would be

along and put everyone into perspective with a lap 0.8s faster than everyone else.

A few moments later Mika Hakkinen put Schumacher’s time into another perspec tive when he lopped three-tenths off Michael’s time.

That was about it really.

Lots of people tried to beat Mika but they did not man age it. Hakkinen eventually came out and beat himself, clipping a few hundredths of his time but otherwise it

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pretty happy to be sitting between the two McLarens.

It was what he had been

good in the race. What a lot we had to look forward to on Sunday...

The third row of the grid belonged to the Jordan team Heinz-Harald with and Mr Frentzen Will-He-Won’t-He Hill looking as though he has rediscovered some motiva tion in his career. This is convenient as he will now be

able to collect another $4m before he retires at the end of the year -if he chooses to do so.

Damon said that 'his renewed speed was down to technical discoveries.

“The car felt really good and I enjoyed this quailing session,” he said. “I feel much more confident in the car after the changes we made. I absolutely loved it through Turn one, it was mind-blowing.”

Damon was closer to Heinz—Harald than he has been all year but the German also did a good joh fifth being his best qualify ing of the year - and he reckoned that there was not much more than could be expected from the car. HH was probably spurred on by all the yellow flags around the track...

“There are so many of them that it is hard to dis

Johnny Herbert’s perfor mance was not that impres sive - and did not please the Essex man.

“What was missing was consistency over a full lap,” Johnny said, mumbling that the wind might have had something to do with it.

Whether that was personal or climatic wind he did not say...

He was 11th hut reckoned he would do his best work in the race.

“Silverstone and I are old friends,” he said.

Sharing the fourth row with Barrichello was Ralf Schumacher in his Williams - the fastest of the Supertec runners on this occasion.

The Williams engineers were rather pleased with an untested new rear end.

“I definitely think this was a great improvement,” said Ralf.

Alessandro Zanardi was tinguish between them and 13th, eight-tenths slower than Schmnacher and more marshals’flags,” he said.

Next up was Rubens or less where he has been all Barrichello, showing once year long. again that the Stewart^-Ford “I have put together the is not be underestimated. best effort I could,” he said.

Despite this, the team was “This is what we got. It because would be really good to have disappointed Barrichello had been even an untroubled race tomor faster in testing. Rubens row.”

Three-tenths slower than complained of understeer in Schumacher was Jacques the slow comers.

“I did not feel as if I could Villeneuve in the BAR. commit to the corners, Jacques has always been which is what you have to good at Silverstone, it’s his kind of track , so ninth on do at Silverstone,” he said.

I

l the grid was really not that impressive.

Jacques reckoned he had wrung everything out of the car.

“We still need to make some progress in terms of performance,” he said.

Ricardo Zonta was a long way behind on this occasion - back in 16th on the grid having suffered understeer problems followed by a fuel leak which forced him to take to the T-car.

The race was important for BAR because if the team failed to score and Minardi scored a seventh BAR would

be dropped back to 11th in Constructors’ the Championship and that would mean no travel and TV money for another six months. The team has spent so much in recent months that the money is much-needed.

Rounding out the top 10 was Jean Alesi in his Sauber and, with Pedro Diniz 12th, the Swiss team was looking pretty good although Alesi was disap pointed.

“There were too many Continued next page...

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In the shadows of Michael: Eddie Irvine drove his Ferrari to second, while team-mate Schuey was airlifted to hospital.

If I could be like Mike: Pedro de la Rosa was just like Michael ... his Arrows out before the race had started.

(Photos by Sutton-lmages)

Race(60 Laps)

Come Sunday morning the paddock was having a laugh at The Sunday Times newspaper which ran a scandalous story about police investigating cocaine smuggling in Grand Frix racing. “Formula One linked to cocaine smuggling,” was the headline. It should have read “Folice search FI trucks - nothing found”.

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Family members: Hill’s fans were out in force for what will be his last ever British Grand Prix.

Hysterics Racing: Just prior to the race getting under way Hill went for a spin, spin, spin, round, round, round the track with HeinzHarold and Murray Walker...

(Photos by Sutton-lmages)

working as well as it should.”

A fair comment.

Things are soon going to change at Enstone ...

Continued from previous page. problems,” grumbled Jean. “We need to stabilise the performance in order to improve our results.”

Feter Sauber described the result as “OK”.

The Frost team was definitely not having an OK time of it with Jarno Trulli 14th and Olivier Fanis 15th. This was largely due to the fact that the team lost a lot of time on Friday after Trulli suf fered an obvious and rather nasty rear suspension failure. The team

rushed off the parts to John Barnard’s B3 Technologies for analysis rather than risk another problem. This meant that the team was catching up on Saturday and it did not do enough catching up...

Still, Frost was in a better situa tion than Benetton. Giancarlo Fisichella and Alexander Wurz were 17th and 18th on the grid.

“No matter what we did with the car today we didn’t seem to get any response,” said technical director Fat Symonds. “The car is not

The same will probably happen at Arrows as well as 19th and 20th on the grid was nothing worth writing home about. The team signed a deal with Supertec for next year (no-one said where the money is coming from) but there is no guarantee that the French engines will give the team much of improvement next year - by which time they will be heading towards antique status.

Down at the back as usual were the two Minardi boys, Luca Badoer outpacing Marc Gene. The team used the latest evolution of the Ford VIO on Saturday but with the emphasis on Sunday being on reli ability - the team needing to finish seventh to bounce BAR out of the top 10 and so gain TV money - the team was not taking chances.

Some people will do anything to sell newspapers...

The man selling newspapers at Silverstone was Damon Hill and he was fourth fastest on Sunday morning, albeit 1.3s slower than Hakkinen’s McLaren. Coulthard was second quickest with Michael Schumacher third. No surprise in that...

There were some surprises as the grid lined up, however, and a nasty one for Oliver Fanis who found that sensors were indicating a pneumatic problem. He had to switch to the spare. The problem was that this was not ready so he did not get out before the pitlane closed and would have to start from the pits.

The rest of the field lined up without drama and the lights came on and stayed on for a long time.

When they blinked out Hakkinen and Coulthard got away well but Michael Schumacher was slow and on the run down to the first comer he was passed by Coulthard and Irvine.

Back on the grid sat Jacques Villeneuve and Alessandro Zanardi, both having failed to get away from the line. It looked dan gerous and so the order was given for red flags to be shown. McLaren radioed its drivers before they reached Stowe Comer. But Ferrari did not...

It was a matter of seconds - but they were important seconds On the run down Hangar Straight Schumacher tried to pass Irvine. Eddie moved out of the way, as he is contracted to do, and Michael pulled alongside as they headed into the braking area for Stowe. And then something hap pened. The Ferrari went straight on. There was, the team reckoned.

a rear brake problem. At unabated speed Michael went across the nose of Irvine’s car and into the gravel trap. It did absolutely noth ing to stop him and the car speared into the wall at about 150 mph. There was no deflection at all. It was a nasty one.

Michael tired to climb out of the car but then he fell back. It looked like a leg injury. Soon the rescue crews were there and Michael was taken from the car, treated on the ground beside it and then trans ferred to an ambulance and taken to the circuit Medical Centre. Then he was flown to Northampton General Hospital. There were lots of rumours as there always are but it seemed that the injuries were not bad. Time will tell.

For the next 35 minutes the cars sat on the grid. Frost, BAR and Williams were able to get Fanis, Villeneuve and Zanardi back into the action and eventually the field set off again. This time neither Hakkinen nor Coulthard took off very well and both found them selves under attack from Irvine.

Eddie managed to find his way around Coulthard but Hakkinen was still ahead. Frentzen was fourth and then came a very quick-starting Ralf Schumacher.

At the back of the grid Fedro de la Rosa’s Arrows failed to get away and retired on the spot. A rather boring result for the team.

In those early laps Irvine tried to hold on to Hakkinen’s tail but it was clear that it was almost impossible, the McLaren was sim ply too quick and Mika edged away until lap nine when he had nearly four seconds in hand.

Irvine fought back but Mika kept up the pressure and by lap 15 he had broken through the five second barrier. He would have a six second lead when he pitted on lap 25.

When he rejoined he felt the car was not right on the left side and went back into the pits at the end of the lap. While this was happen ing Irvine had pitted. In theory he should have emerged in the lead as he had three seconds in hand over Coulthard. The problem was that

VIM the McLaren crew were in the pitlane and this con fused him.

“The result was that I overshot my mark for the refuelling.”

Vital seconds were lost and as Eddie accelerated away Coulthard was coming onto the main straight. It was going to be a close-run thing. In the end David got there first - just and was able to keep him under con trol and then begin to build up a lead. At first it was just a matter of a tenth here and a tenth there. And then the Safety Car appeared.

This had been caused by two incidents which coincid ed. Hakkinen, who down in 11th, had just set the fastest lap when his left rear wheel suddenly came off. It bounced across the road into the wall and then bounced back into the mid dle of the track. Fisichella, Zanardi and Trulli all had near-misses. At the same moment Villeneuve’s BAR which was on a one-stop strategy - suddenly blew up. The team said it was a driveshaft failure.

Whatever it was, the car had failed again. Later Ricardo Zonta went out with a suspension failure.

Fortunately the Minardi team could not manage a seventh place. BAR was 10th in the Constructors’ title ...

Hakkinen drove his McLaren tricycle into the pits and the crew fitted another wheel and out he went again.

Eventually the team radioed Mika and told him

31

16 July 1999 to park it “to eliminate any potential risk”. Better to score no points than to have the World Championship challenger hurt himself And so it was left to Coulthard to do the job and he did it well. He kept Irvine under control throughout and eventually came home to win his first British Grand Prix victory.

He was delighted, “It was the most nerve-wracking time of my career,” he admitted, “but to win the British Grand Prix is the best feeling ever.”

For the British fans there was the added bonus of see ing a second British driver coming home as the run ner-up. Irvine had driven a very good race - apart from the pit overshoot. And now we have a very complicated situation indeed because Irvine now has the same number of World Championship points as Michael Schumacher. He is injured. Logic would dictate that this puts Eddie into a rather good position but we will have to see how quickly Michael recovers...

Third place provided a marvellous battle between Frentzen and Ralf Schumacher. In the early laps Heinz-Harald was ahead but at the first stops Williams managed to get Ralf out ahead. At the sec ond stops he stayed ahead but it was nose-to-tail all the way to the flag with the younger Schumacher soak ing up a vast amount of pressure. Ralf seems to have come of age this year and the Williams team are

rooting for him - and that is a good sign. Zanardi had a less exciting time but he finished even if it was only in 11th. It was better than nothing.

Frentzen had to settle for fourth and just behind him came Mr Will-He-Won’t-He, after a rather good showing which included a lap in the lead.

It might be a good moment to bow out, but with Damon you just do not know.

“The plan now,” he said after the race, “is to have a few beers and think about the future.”

The final point went to an impressive Pedro Diniz. He spent the early part of the race harassing Johnny Herbert for ninth place.

Ahead of them were Barrichello and Jean Alesi in a similar struggle. When all three of them disap peared, he found himself sixth and was able to hold off Fisichella all the way to the flag.

Alesi ran into throttle problems which caused him to pit for repairs, finally finishing in 14th.

Fisichella’s seventh place was a bit of a surprise given the team’s performance in qualifying. Both drivers raced hard and the team did some good work in the pits. Wurz finished 10th.

The two Stewart drivers were equally unfortunate.

Barrichello spent the early part of the race holding off Alesi but then in the second stint he began to charge, passing Hill and challeng ing Frentzen. Things were looking good. After his sec ond stop he was running sixth and he would probably have finished fourth but for a puncture which caused him to stop on lap 47. At the time Herbert was running just behind him but Johnny’s dreams of some more points evaporated when it became clear that

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he had jumped Alesi before the start-finish line when

The eyes have it: Ralf Schumacher put Michael’s troubles out of his mind and drove solidly for a podium finish, beating Frentzen into third by just .4s. (Photo by sunon-images) the second Safety Car pulled off. Johnny said that he had swerved to avoid the troubled Jean.

I had braked I would have been passed by the cars behind me,” he said.* The FIA stewards did not forgive him and he was given a 10-second stop-go penalty, which dropped him back to 13th. Both Stewart drivers fought back valiant ly, Barrichello passing Panis, Zanardi, Alexander Wurz and Trulli to finish eighth, and Herbert passing Panis to grab 12th. It was a good performance by the team - but it was not rewarded.

Ninth was Trulli and with Panis finishing 13th one could hardly say this was a great day for Prost Grand Prix. The best the team could say was that both cars had finished.

Down at the back in 15th place was Marc Gene who raced around with what sounded like a broken exhaust for most of the race, but at least he finTora ished, beating Takagi’s Arrows thanks to good pit work from the Minardi team. Takagi had earlier bopped into Luca Badoer and sent the Italian the over bouncing Silverstone grass at very high speed. This screwed up the Minardi’s radiators and temperatures rose until the gearbox failed.

The race was over, the National Anthem was played and the champagne sprayed and then the chatter began in the paddock.

What would it all mean to *

the World Championship?

And who would replace Michael Schumacher at Ferrari - and for how long?

You’ll have to wait to find out...

i\ e

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

D. Coulthard E. Irvine R. Schumacher H.H. Frentzen D. Hill P. Diniz G. Fisichella R. Barrichello J. Trulli A. Wurz A, Zanardi J. Herbert O. Panis J. Alesi M. Gene T. Takagi

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BRITISH GRAND PRIX 60 laps/308.296km McLaren-Mercedes Marlboro-Ferrari Williams-Supertec Jordan-Mugen-Honda Jordan-Mugen-Honda Sauber-Petronas Benetton-Supertec Stewart-Ford Prost-Peugeot Benetton-Supertec Williams-Supertec Stewart-Ford Prost - Peugeot Sauber-Petronas Minardi-Ford Arrows

1h32m 30.144s 1h 32m 31.973s 1h 32m 57.555s 1h32m 57.933s 1h33m 08.750s 1h33m 23.787s 1h33m 24.758s 1h33m 38.734s 1h 33m 42.189s 1h 33m 42.267s 1 h 33m 47.268s 1 h 33m 47.853s 1 h 33m 50.636s 59 laps 58 laps 58 laps

Fastest Lap: Hakkinen, Lap 28,1m 28.309s, 209.536 s.

Lap Leaders: Lap 1-24, Hakkinen; 25-26, Irvine, 27-42, Coulthard; 4344, Frentzen; 45, Hill; 46-60, Coulthard.

Retirements: Gearbox LapO P. de la Rosa Arrows Did not take race re-start Lap 0 M.Schumacher Marlboro-Ferrari Minardi-Ford Overheating Lap 6 L. Badoer Engine Lap 29 J. Villeneuve BAR-Supertec Rear Hub McLaren-Mercedes Lap 35 M.Hakkinen Broken Rear Suspension BAR-Supertec Lap 41 R.Zonta Drivers Worid Championship points Hakkinen 40, M. Schumacher/Irvine 32, Frentzen 26, Coulthard 22, R. Schumacher 19, Fisichella 13, Barrichello 10, Hill 5, Herbert/Diniz 2, Wurz/De La Rosa/Panis/Alesi/Truli 1.

Constructors’ World Championship points Ferrari 64, MoLaren-Mercedes 62, Jordan-Mugen Honda 31, WilliamsSupertec 19, Benetton-Supertec 14, Stewart-Ford 12, Sauber-Petronas 3, Prost 2, Arrows 1.

Total' pOfmiiiai UdMOo: RMco I

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This vehicle is straight and has been maintained, regardless of cost. Comes with top horse power engine "and PI 2 system. Gearbox has been completely overhauled in March 1999 and all other running geoL1998 results: 2nd in Silver Star Championship, 3rd Tickford 500 Support Race, Winne^^j^ . of Australasian Cup, Australia/New Zealand, 6th New Zealand Grand Prix.

1^1^ The only Australian car and driver to complete every race ^ held throughout Australia and NZ during 1998.

Plus over $45,000 worth of spares, including full set of wets and is race ready.

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/ -

Continued from page 25 four after being squeezed hard in a side-by-side contest with Radisich. He would pit for a new right rear.

Also delayed, hy a turn three bingle, were McLean (his bad weekend continuing), Harris and McDougall (out), while McConville had parked his VS just off the start line...

As Tander eased out a few lengths over Ingall, Bowe started to progress, inside Murphy at turn 6, then Crompton a lap or so later. In front of him, Radisich was aU over Bright, without success, while further hack Murphy, Larkham, Ellery and Richards circulated in close company.

As they embarked on the ninth lap, the first spots of rain came. Lowndes and Skaife immediately slipped under IngaU at turn three as Bowe now despatched Radisich.

It was suddenly getting slippery, the two HRT cars surviving a scary touch out of five, and IngaU made the first decision, along with Bright to

dive in for wets.

It looked a good call, but then - for reasons most teams were imable to ascertain - the race was redflagged.

Ingall was, well, furious and with some reason...

By the time the field had reformed, aU on wets and the countdown to the restart undergone, the rain had stopped and it was drying.

A six lap sprint, on a drying track, with both sectors added together, would decide the race.

Lowndes, IngaU and Skaife made good starts, along with Radisich and they turned into turn one in that order.

Tander and Bright in partic ular didn’t. Garth fifth.

Bright way down in 10th or 11th...

Lowndes soon put a gap on IngaU, who was in turn get ting away fi"om Skaife.

He would spend most of his time under the scrutiny of Radisich, who eventuaUy got a good exit from turn six and slipped down the inside into one to grab third.

Tander too headed a queue forming behind the second HRT car, with

Game over: Larry Perkins got hit in the first corner and was out for the rest of the day.

The heartland: With 40-plus cars making

the trip to beautiful downtown Ipswich the pit lane was a busy place to be.

(Photos by Dirk Kiynsmith)

Richards and Crompton close by as they wound out the six laps.

Combined results produced a Lowndes, Ingall, Tander, finally getting back onto Skaife, Radisich, Bright, terra firma some way down Bowe, Crompton, Richards, the back straight. He was Faulkner top ten, but that' 26th at the end ofthe lap, but red flag decision wasn’t being about to embark on one of well received... those comeback drives that can win a championship...

Up fi-ont, Skaife was imder pressure - from Richards.

Like Bowe, Richo had over Lowndes made a rare start, swallowed updud as come his first race blues and Ingall led Tander, Skaife, had a set-up going which was Richards (a sensational clearly working well at this start), Radisich and Bowe early stage. Lap four, though, away. was going to be pivotal.

Craig was in more strife at The Wynns car got inside turn one, the HRT car hung Skaife into turn two, the out wide on the marbles, col HRT understeering across lecting a thump in the rear. the marbles and into the

Race 3-17 Saps

Rd 8 Stielt ^ampionship Quaenslancl Raceway Results Race 1 (20 laps, with Safety Car) Pos Driver Race time Fast lap On 27:57.0739 1:11.3023 7 1 Russell Ingall 2 Garth Tander 27:59.3760 1:11.0033 8 27:59.8608 1:11.2281 7 3 Craig Lowndes 4 Mark Skaife 28:00.7429 1:11.3826 9 5 Paul Radisich 28:01.9445 1:11.2353 0 28:04.6206 1:11.4550 7 6 Jason Bright 7 Jason Bargwanna 28:10.5392 1:12.0461 8 28:12.0528 1:11.7497 8 8 Neil Crompton 28:14.2228 1:11.6230 7 9 Greg Murphy 10 Mark Larkham 28:16.8132 1:12.0151 9 11 John Bowe 28:18.4673 1:11.1304 7 12 John Faulkner 28:18.9831 1:12.2894 10 28:19.4730 1:11.9200 10 13 John Briggs 28:24.1831 1:11.5550 9 14 Todd Kelly 15 Tony Longhurst 28:27.3036 1:12.7736 6 28:29.3757 1:12.1432 8 16 Steve Ellery 17 Steven Richards 28:32.5378 1:11.8770 8 28:34.0588 1:13.0602 0 18 Mick Donaher 28:36.1821 1:12.7826 8 19 David Parsons 28:37.0621 1:12.4863 9 20 Rodney Forbes 21 Simon Emerzidis 28:41.5278 1:12.8310 9 28:42.0080 1:12.4663 9 22 Trevor Ashby 28:47.5639 1:13.0340 2 23 Chris Smerdon 24 Danny Osborne 28:55.8632 1:12.8546 9 29:02.3024 1:13.9828 7 25 Craig Harris 29:05.5611 1:13.8201 8 26 Rod Nash 29:10.3177 1:12.7889 9 27 Paul Weel 28 Thomas Mezera 19 laps 1:12.8993 7 19 laps 1:14.3755 2 29 Mike Conway 30 Cameron McConville 18 laps 1:12.0649 5 DNF Glenn Seton 19 laps 1:11.8444 7 DNF Phil Ward 9 laps 1:14.4578 8 DNF Paul Romano 3 laps 1:38.3264 1 DNF MarkNoske 3 laps 1:54.7790 1 2 laps 1:30.2666 2 DNF Wayne Wakefield 1 lap 1:49.9858 1 DNF Dugal McDougall DNF Bob Thorn 1 lap 4:02.2422 1 DNF Cameron McLean DNF Larry Perkins DNS Dick Johnson

Race 2(15 laps, on aggregate) Pos Driver Race time Fast lap On 1 18:37.3066 1:11.2005 7 Craig Lowndes 2 18:39.2109 1:11.4458 7 Russell Ingall 3 Garth Tander 18:39.8607 1:11.2463 7 4 Mark Skaife 18:42.8546 1:11.3660 5 Paul Radisich 5 18:43.9044 1:11.5328 5 6 18:50.7195 1:11.3080 5 Jason Bright 7 John Bowe 18:51.8247 1:11.2854 6 8 18:53.6367 1:11.9218 4 Neil Crompton 9 Steven Richards 18:55.1956 1:12.1735 6 10 John Faulkner 19:00.5332 1:12.3317 8 11 Greg Murphy 19:01.1683 1:12.6914 8 12 Steve Ellery 19:06.8209 1:12.3119 5 13 Mark Larkham 19:07.9551 1:12.2787 5 14 Dick Johnson 19:09.0091 1:11.9807 4 15 Todd Kelly 19:13.1254 1:12.2242 6 16 Tony Longhurst 19:14.9820 1:12.6585 6 17 Glenn Seton 19:15.4149 1:12.2775 5 18 John Briggs 19:18.9097 1:12.5442 6 19 Thomas Mezera 19:20.7449 1:12.6670 7 20 Trevor Ashby 19:26.6028 1:12.8143 7 21 Phil Ward 19:26.9532 1:12.7184 8 22 Wayne Wakefield 19:46.9464 1:13.57-47 6 23 Danny Osborne 19:47.9401 1:13.6760 6 24 Alan Heath 20:25.8636 1:15.3388 6 25 Cameron McLean 14 laps 1:12.2836 4 26 Jason Bargwanna 14 laps 1:12.6530 4 27 Craig Harris 13 laps 1:14.4483 6 28 Bob Thorn 13 laps 1:16.3987 5 29 Simon Emerzidis 12 laps 1:13.3353 5 DNF Mick Donaher 14 laps 1:13.2961 8 DNF John Cotter 13 laps 1:14.6689 6 DNF Rodney Forbes 12 laps 1:12.4676 4 DNF Chris Smerdon 11 laps 1:13.0405 4 DNF Paul Romano 10 laps 1:12.0718 7 9 laps 1:11.9156 5 DNF Dugal McDougall DNF Rod Nash 7 laps 1:13.6049 4 DNF Mike Conway 7 laps 1:14.4783 5 DNF PaulWeel 6 laps 1:13.6110 6 DNF David Parsons 2 laps 1:17.1309 2 DNF Cameron McConville

Race 3(17 laps) Pos Driver Race time Fast lap On 1 Garth Tander 20:35.0301 1:11.2239 6 20:35.2866 1:11.3415 11 2 Neil Crompton 20:37.9478 1:11.0878 7 3 Jason Bright 20:41.3259 1:11.2630 8 4 Craig Lowndes 5 Paul Radisich 20:43.3065 1:11.5298 7 6 Tony Longhurst 20:46.3746 1:12.0411 4 7 Jason Bargwanna 20:48.5666 1:11.5246 9 8 Glenn Seton 20:51.3486 1:12.0968 4 9 Mark Larkham 20:52.6376 1:11.9606 8 20:53.0232 1:11.4664 10 10 Mark Skaife 20:54.9221 1:12.1821 9 11 Greg Murphy 20:57.6457 1:12.2375 10 12 John Briggs 20:58.6558 1:12.0895 9 13 Todd Kelly 14 Cameron McLean 21:07.0333 1:12.5041 6 15 John Faulkner 21:07.1785 1:12.4416 8 16 Wayne Wakefield 21:07.7072 1:13.2002 11 17 Thomas Mezera 21:14.6150 1:12.5822 6 18 Phil Ward 21:21.4170 1:12.7975 6 19 Danny Osborne 21:21.7459 1:13.4437 5 20 David Parsons 21:33.0494 1:12.5088 5 21 John Cotter 16 laps 1:14.7057 10 22 Bob Thorn 16 laps 1:13.3235 10 23 Alan Heath 16 laps 1:14.8710 9 24 Rodney Forbes 16 laps 1:12.4574 10 DNF Russell Ingall 16 laps 1:11.6868 5 DNF Chris Smerdon 11 laps 1:13.1496 9 DNF PaulWeel 11 laps 1:13.4915 10 DNF Craig Harris 10 laps 1:13.1525 10 8 laps 1:12.5066 2 DNF Steve Ellery DNF Paul Romano 6 laps 1:12.0255 6 DNF Dick Johnson 5 laps 1:12.5421 4 DNF Steven Richards 3 laps 1:12.8564 2 DNF Trevor Ashby 3 laps 1:18.8555 2 DNF Mick Donaher 1 lap DNF Simon Emerzidis

Points after 8 rounds; Lowndes 1098, Bright 906, Seton 864, Ingall 847, Skaife 820, Tander 742, Murphy 674, Bowe 582, Richards 560, Longhurst 558, Radisich 514, Bargwanna 510, Johnson 502, Perkins 482, Noske 460, McLean 435, Larkham 402, Crompton 389, Faulkner 380, Donaher 277, Ellery 198, Forbes 195, Parsons 190, Romano 178, Reed/Mezera 176, McDougall 156, Ashby 138, Weel 94, Doulman/Briggs 92, Gardner 88, Kelly 78, Smerson 70, Emerzidis 68, McConville 54, Nash 52, Russell 50, Wakefield 44, Crick 37, Finnigan 36, Pretty 30, Tratt 27, Imrie 23, Conway 22, Ward 22, Heath 19, Osborne 18, Kendrick 17,Thorn 10, Cotter 9, Baxter 7, Peters/Harris 1.

sand (rejoining down in 24th!), but Steven’s momen tum had also been affected and he arrived at the next hairpin with Bowe and Radisich coming from all sides.

In the end, it was Richards who paid the price, the Wynns car half spinning on the outside line, the fi-ont air dam knocked off as Radisich clipped him on the way by.

This left Bowe in third and ever so surely closing on Tander, while up fi-ont IngaU was about to find himself in serious tyre trouble for the first time.

Crompton Bright, Radisich, EUery, Murphy, Faulkner, Longhurst (at last finding some pace also), Seton and Johnson all followed, with DJ’s unhappy day about to end with power steering fail ure.

Lowndes meantime was pouring through the midfield, team-mate Skaife also in recovery mode.

At the end of lap seven Lowndes was 11th and looming in on Seton.

Skaife was 18th.

Tander had by now hit the lead, driving inside Ingall on the main straight and Ingall was about to be swaUowed up

by Bowe as weU. Russell’s left rear was absolutely, completely shot.

One by one they went by: Crompton (into third).

Bright, Radisich, the fly ing Lowndes, until - with the car almost undriveable - there was a collision with Murphy as he went by. Ingall would call it quits with a lap to go, the steering deranged.

Lap 10 and Bowe was now closing on the leader, but the end of privateer Chris Smerdon’s unhappy

day, in the sand at turn six, was to have its effect as JB went by on that comer,incur ring a hlack flag and other official wrath (see news pages).

Tander, who was certain that there was a yeUow and that Bowe couldn’t overtake there, let him go through.

Ignoring Bowe, Crompton was now second and, guess what?, closing on the leader - this from a pilot who’d » described his car as “awful after race one.

What a day of changing fortunes...

Neil didn’t quite make it, but he was right on Tander’s bumper as they crossed the line.

Bright soldiered in third, with the remarkable Lowndes next - that’s 22 positions made up, unsur prisingly with the race’s fastest lap along the way.

Radisich, Longhurst, Bargwanna( a solid recov ery too from his race one blues), Seton, Larkham and the recovering Skaife com pleted the top ten.

Add it all up and the day was Tander’s. It was the day he repaid Garry Rogers faith. It was also the day that a number of opposing teams reckoned he should move into a VT. The old VS, with its smaller frontal area, is clearly a good weapon on some circuits...

Lowndes had done enough, remarkably, for sec ond outright, with Bright and Radisich tying for third.

End result? An even big ger points lead for Lowndes at the head of the points table, but a new leader of the challengers - Bright.

It’s a big gap and, with the sort of championship saving recovery exhibited by the HRT pilot in that final race, one that you wouldn’t bet on being closed...

F ’

r

i ;6My!999 '3:

Wetf Wintoh Report by BRIAN REED

Photos by NEIL HAMMOND IT had to happen! After several great years with the weather, luck ran out for the Austin 7 Club’s Historic Winton and 1999 went down as probably the wettest on record.

Fortunately Friday’s pri vate practice was held in ideal conditions, and many competitors took advantage of the opportunity to give thencars and bikes a final shakedown before the weekend’s competition.

It’s getting to the stage with Historic motorsport these days that unless you arrive Friday you have diffi culty finding a place to park.

In fact, Friday’s unofficial practice was so well support ed that the BAG was able to run the vehicles according to their groups - it was almost like a mini-meeting with lots of spectators on hand.

There was also plenty of action, with New South Welshman Ralph Pauperis stealing the limelight. He

rolled his MG TC MUano in spectacular fashion in the Motorsport News Esses and was unceremoniously dragged out from underneath by a well meaning official.

Fortunately the driver suf fered no injuries, and amaz ingly the car rejoined the Iray next day.

And then the heavens opened. Saturday’s practice and racing were held in terri ble conditions with riders and drivers struggling to see through the spray. The bikes were first to tread warily, fol lowed by the Group Lb sports and racing cars.

Ian McDonald drove faultlessly in his 1957 Repco Holden to score from David Reid’s Crowfoot Holden, although Reid reversed the order the following day. The George Goad Memorial Trophy for Group Lb cars went to John GUlett (MG TC Special).

Of the 3(X) plus car entries the biggest category was again Group N, demonstrat ing just how popular the Historic touring cars have become. The organisers split the fi eld into “fastest” and

Do lunch with Tazio Nuvolari

A NOVEL way of celebrating the famous Mille Miglia has been devised by Caffe Nuvolari, a new gathering spot for the motor racing fraternity in Melbourne, not far from the Albert Park Grand Prix circuit.

Proprietors Michael Vidor and Romayne Vancuylenberg invite patrons to join them throughout July at four Sunday lunches to follow the stages of the Mille Miglia while enjoy ing the food and wine of the regions through which the race progressed. The first lunch was held on July 4.

Named after one of the all-time legends of motor sport, the Italian ace Tazio Nuvolari, Caffe Nuvolari serves fine meals and excellent coffee in a cosy atmosphere sur rounded by some magnificent motor racing posters and other racing memorabilia.

Michael Vidor is an enthusiast, and is personally involved in motor sport at club racing level. He and Romayne will certainly make you welcome for the lunches (and at other times as well, of course). Also, don’t be sur prised to see a pre-war Alfa Romeo or MG parked outside to add to the Mille atmosphere.

Caffe Nuvolari is at 166 Bridport Street Albert Park.

Bookings for the Mille Miglia lunches phone 03 9699 8969.

-BRIAN REED

■:'t

.'4 L

California dreamin’: Peter Giddings (Type 59 Bugatti) didn’t have much fun.

I wanna see that Motorsport News sign again :The MN Esses was a pretty busy place. “slowest” so everyone could have a run, and try as he may, Henry Draper’s mighty efforts in his flying Mini weren’t enough to unseat John Mann’s fabulous socmding Mustang. conditions Although improved on Sunday, the fields were somewhat deplet- . ed as quite a number of com petitors called it quits, but then faced the daunting task of getting their trailers out of the bog in the trailer park.

Meanwhile, back on the track there was plenty of XU-1 action as Ian Jones tried <hy on much longer circuits and try as he may, Jim every trick in the book to McGonviUe (Brabham) had to overtake Trevor Talbot’s simi lar car. Talbot won by .6s. settle for second, place.

Simpson finished third, and Jones had to wait rmtil a behind Geolf Varey (Giyphon) later race to taste victory. and Len Nation (Austin Keith Simpson’s amazing Eagle Special) in the handicap race for the Phil Irving Trophy.

Imp was rmcatchTop driver in Groups J & able in the M & 0 K was Jim “Stiunpy” Russell Racing events who scored an impressive let’s face it he’s double in his 1935 Ford V8 hard to beat in the Special ahead of the more fancied Amilcar AC of Richard Stanley and the Stop and wash indecently fast Austin 7 of off the MGs: Graeme Clark. Stanley took Phillip the honours in the handicap Schudmak’s race, with the Col. Arthur huge Sunbeam Waite Trophy going to the had its first out Austin 7 of Tony Johns. ing, almost run Although Peter Kent’s ning over George Austin Healey handled the Makin’s MG. wet Saturday conditions best, it was Don Harris (MG Jaguar, not Shaguar: B) who turned the tables as Bill Hamming’s XK150 the track dried out next day to score a comfortable win leads the pack in a very damp Group Sa and Sb the Group Sa & Sb Alan sportscar race.

Jones Memorial Trophy

1

Race. Mark Howell (MGB GT) won the handicap from the fast finishing Jaguar XK150 of BiU Hemming.

Conditions looked to be made for Richard Carter and his 1973 March in the Groups P & Q cars which included Formula Fords, and he scored a close win ahead of Sean Whelan (Elfin 700) on Saturday with Mike Beeley (Van Diemen FF) a distant third. Carter and Whenan were both non starters for the rest of the weekend, and this left the door open for Beeley who enjoyed a winning double next day.

Honours in the M & 0 Sports and specified Qs and Sbs were evenly distributed with victories going to Ian Pope (Lolita BMC) and Adam Bressington (Mallock Mk.8B), and to Malcolm Miller (ASP Clubman) in the handicap.

International guest Peter Giddings had a miserable

weekend in his rare Type 59 Bugatti, and the hammer on the driver’s seat was an omi nous sign. He battled on in spite of fuel feed problems, troublesome brakes and a malfunctioning clutch - at least the magnificent car spent plenty of time in the pits for spectators to enjoy a close-up view.

As always, the Regularity events were wonderful parades of rarely seen cars, including Ian Rankine’s halfWolsley, half-Triumph with supercharger known as the “Woltri.” The Ballot Olds dri ven by Queenslander Frank Moore was also impressive, and young David Bishop thought he was in a handi cap race as he carved his way through the field in his supercharged Austin 7.

Having his first run on a race track was Phillip Schudmak in his imposing 4.5-litre 1920 Sunbeam, and Ken Stuchberry was also impressive in his even larger 1928 Stutz. Honours went to Bill Boldiston (1921 Amilcar) on Saturday, with Bill Morling’s Austin 7 Ulster scoring a winning double on Sunday.

At least a number of the Austin 7 officials kept dry this year! The club has recently donated a fine new building to replace the old kiosk where drivers have licences checked, sign on and collect their goodies (includ ing a Tatts scratch ticket) as part of the entry fee.

The building is to com memorate 23 years of close association between the BAG and the Austin 7 Glub, and has already been named “the Mouse House” after several small rodents came out to see what all the fuss was about.

34

16 July 1999

n Rumours floating around the US at the moment have the 2000 US Nationals being moved from its tradition al home at Indianapolis Raceway Park to Chicago's Route 66 Raceway.

The word is that,fol lowing the completion of this year's Nationals the 45th running of the world’s biggst drag rac ing event... the “Big GO” - Indy will be bulldozed by the NHRA,the sanc tioning body then build ing the"ultimate drag racing facility" for the Nats to return in 2001. n Roland Leong made a surprise reappearance in Don Prudhomme’s Cope Funny Car pit area at the Winston Showdown,the veteran tuner signing on as an ad\isor to the team just weeks after his sacking.

Leong will help out current crew chief and longtime protege Todd Okuhara - Okuhara the one deciding Leong’s ser vices should be engaged.

“Our collective goal is to win races and if Todd believes this move will help us achieve that objective. I’m completely comfortalole with that,” Prudhomme said.

“I’m a team player and, like everyone else, I want to see the Copenhagen Racing Camaro back in the winner’s circle,” ' Leong stated. n Cristen Powell crew chief Mike Kloeber was hospitalised last week, Kloeber being struck down with intestinal bleeding just prior to leaving for the Winston Showdown.

Kloeber was admitted to hospital to recuperate and undergo testing to determine the cause of the problem and did not attend the race in Bristol.

Nick Boninfante Jr and team owner Allen Hartley, whose car Powell leased for the event, tuned the car dur ing qualifying, although previous commitments prevented Boninfante from being their on race day.

Following this one-off race back in Top Fuel, Powell’s team will begin readying themselves for their nitro Funny Car debut later this year. n Tom Martino’s Century 21 Pro Stock team ran a second car at the Winston Showdown, Pro Stuck Truck points leader Mark Osborne at the wheel.

Osborne, thanks to his event wins in the sedan class last year, had an automatic spot in the field and Martino thought two team cars would provide them bet ter chances of success and exposure.

Force cashes

in big time Report and photos by DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

After 11 years at the Texas Motorplex and Rockingham, for 1999 the Winston Invitational had a new look, name and venue - the Winston Showdown at Bruton Smith’s incredible reno vated at a cost of US$14million - Bristol Dragway ... although the winner’s circle picture stiU looked the same.

The format had the Top Fuel dragsters running the Funny Cars, but with the most picturesque venue drag racing has yet seen, the pic ture still looked the same with John Force in his limit ed-edition Superman Castrol GTX Mustang appearing in the winner’s circle.

After qualifying the fuel coupes were given a .37 of a second head start due to per-

formance differences - the racing turning out to be exciting and close.

In 23 head to head contests between the fuellers and the flops, the score was in favour of the dragsters 12 to 11 ... Force winning the one that counted.

The fans at Bristol had to wait through showers during qualifying and race day, with only eight pairs of nitro cars running during the first round on Saturday.

With the racing postponed until Sunday, rain once again delayed the start, the first round taking over 21 hoius to complete!

Force and his Castrol team led by crew chief Austin Cod showed why they are the eight-time Winston Funny Car Champions with consistent passes, getting quicker with each run before yyinning a wdd traction battie in the final round against Bob Vandergriff.

FRED Hahn used Jim Oddy’s wild 1954 Corvette to perfection, equalling the current IHRA Pro Mod records and driving aU the way to the winner’s circle at the newly repaved New York International Raceway.

Also in the winner’s circle was Don Lampus, scoring a huge win in Top Fuel.

The newly repaved track lived up to all expectations as the event produced new track elapsed time and speed records in every pro class.

Hahn scored his second Pro Mod win this season when Steve Vick red lighted

in his ‘68 Camaro - Hahn shaking and skating around before wisely clicking it.

Hahn had qualified num ber one at 6.31/222 in the second quickest field in history and equalled the national record with a 6.26/222 blast in the first round.

Point leader Shannon Jenkins fell in the second round, his engine letting to at the 1,000 foot mark.

Aussie Troy Critchley rebounded from his mishap in Cordova by posting a strong 6.46/217 in Johnny Rocca’s car to qualify 15th.

Unfortunately Critchley lost in the first round.

The final feaFueller v Flopper: Bob Vandergriff gave NHRA the final they wanted at tured the quick the Winston Showdown - dragster verses Funny Car. est qualified dragster of 3 superhero: John Force debuted his Superman Ford Mustang in Vandergriff and even kryptonite couldn’t stop him taking the 100 grand, 7.008 and earlier defeated (4.55) against the quickest to the final, Flopper - Force stopping the The best pass came in Mark Osborne, Rickie tuners in 4.94 seconds, the semis against Cory Smith and Greg Anderson.

With the Funny Cars get- McClenathan, Cory Mac Troy, meanwhile stopped ting a head start on the tree, having been brilliant on the Tom Martino, Kurt Force cut a .493 light, with lights during eliminations. Johnson and Alan Johnson.

Vandergriff cutting his best He saved his best till last, Johnson and his Dodge of the day at .464. Force lost cutting a .415 light, but had been deadly on the tree traction first and pedalled “Superman” left on time as with reaction times of .408 once, with the big Goodyears well and the Mustang and .406 in taking out hooking up right as stormed to low et for the Mark Pawuk and Warren Vandergriff began to loose breed at 4.87/306 to down Johnson, but red lig’nted in traction. The JerZees driver the MBNA dragster’s the semis against Troy.

4.67/298 - complete with Warren’s losing 6.974 in caught it quickly, both dri the second round was low vers pedalled once more but trailing flames. et for the Pro Stocks.

Vandergriff was inconsis Force stayed out in front and Matt Hines defeated tent on the tree, but had turned on the win light, David Schultz for the Pro Ray Alley and Jolmny West 5.47/262 to 5.87/243 to cappower working for him. In Stock Bike win, 7.34/185 to ture the largest pay-day of the first round, with noth 7.46/183, Winston’s Angelle his career, ing to lose following four Seeling red lighting in the Force ran against nothing troubled qualifying passes, semis. but dragsters during the five A1 Hofmann tried some Randy Daniels took his round marathon, also downstarting line tricks. third win of the year, the ing Cristen Powell, Jim Head As the two cars staged, pay-out being more than and Doug Kalitta on his way Hoftnann rapped the throt enough compensation for tle in an effort to draw no Winston points at this race.

Vandergriff into red light Daniels defeated Brad ing. Vandergriff didn’t fall for it and motored to a Jeter in the final round 4.61/309 win. with a 7.71/173 - Jeter red Vandergriff also downed lighting.

Tony Schumacher’s Exide Cruz Pedregon made his Batteries dragster, the first appearance since Interstate Batteries being released by Joe Gibbs Pontiac Funny Car of Racing recently, Pedregon Tommy Johnson and Chuck appearing with an exEtchells.

Randy Anderson Pontiac, Ronnie In an all-Coughlin Pro tuned by Stock final round, Jeggie Swearingen Junior took the US$50,000 Pedregon qualified fifth Lampus visited the winwinner’s cheque, defeating (5.02/294) and beat Doug ners circle for the second brother Troy.

Herbert before falling to time this season defeating Jeg qualified first at Gary Scelzi. series point leader Bruce Litton in the Top Fuel final -4.79/298 to 4.93/282.

Lampus’ win puts him ruton Smith has told the Dallas Morning News that right in contention with he would like to build a four-lane drag strip at his Litton for the IHRA incredible US$250 million Texas Motor Speedway com Championship. plex.

A 4.70/312 landed Smith’s Speedway Motorsports Inc. company owns Lampus the number one TMS, along with the NHRA-affiliated Bristol - the site of qualifying position as well last weekend’s Winston Showdown - Sears Point and as a leg up on both ends of a Las Vegas tracks and he would like to expand SMI’s new national record, NHRA portfolio with a state-of-the-art facility at TMS. Litton qualified third at While saying drag racing needs to be “tweaked” to 4.80/300 and advanced into enhance its appeal to TV viewers. Smith believes a fourhis fourth final round in five lane track will enable continuous racing and eliminate events with wins over Luigi delays caused by clean-ups.

Novelli and Bobby Lagana.

Another possibility is four-abreast racing ...

Four wide in Texas

B

lH^OCDEFSflXDITG

W July 1999

xaa

Phillips commits to Top Doorslammer

By GERALD McDORNAN GARY Phillips has con-

The Lucas Studebaker will run a 511 cubic inch hemi engine, topped with the Whipple screw blower currently used on the drag ster.

“The blower, clutch and clutch-can will be utilised in both cars but, other than that, the Studebaker will be ready to go at a moment’s notice.”

firmed the suspicions held by many for quite some time - the seven-time Australian Top Alcohol Champion will move to Top Doorslammer.

With the full backing of major sponsor Lucas Oil Products, Phillips and wife Debbie will make the move to the blown ‘tin-top’ class next summer, although it won’t be at the expense of the team’s Top Alcohol efforts.

“The deal is done and we’re excited about making the move,” Phillips told Motorsport News on Tuesday.

“It’s been a long time in the planning and while people have been guessing when we’d go [to Top Doorslammer], we

Gary TQappa’ Phillips’ announcement that he is soon to debut in Top Doorslammer, Perth’s John Zappia has said he is in the midst of planning a return to supercharged doorslammers.

Foliowii^ the sale of his alky Funny Car, Zappia has commenced assem bling the bits and pieces required - including an HQ Monaro body shell for an attack on the class that he helped inspire.

“I’m in the very early stages of starting the process but my family and crew want to do it, so we’U probably be out there within the next 18 months or so,” Zappia told Motorsport News

second team car now provid ing Phillips and Lucas with a display vehicle to further enhance their sponsorship arrangements.

what their reactions might have been about moving [into Top Doorslammer], but I’ve had nothing but encour agement which is fabulous.”

A better Klapp-trap: An impression of Gary Phillips’ new Studebaker Lucas Doorslammer. didn’t want to say anything until everything was set in concrete.

“We’ll contest both the Top Alcohol and Top Doorslammer series rounds. but when the two clash or are on at the same event, we’ll be running the alky dragster.

Zappia set for Top Doorslammer return HOT on the heels of

The Queenslander expects to test the Studebaker prior to the first round of the series at Calder Park in November - the advent of a

Already Phillips, recog nised as Australia’s premier alcohol tuner,'has vast experience with Top Doorslammers, the veteran supplying fuel systems and tune-up advice for a number of teams including Peter Gratz, Andrew Searle and Dave Koop.

“I was a little worried

this week.

“It’s a huge job and Fm a little concerned about the direction of the sport at the moment, but I’d really like to mix it up with Victor[Bray] again.”

Zappia is looking to submit for approval plans to ANDRA for the Monaro to have a similar front to what his previ ous car ran - that car having run a best of 6.54/218.

“If I can be convinced that we’ll be on a level

“We’ve had a great run with the dragster and I don’t want to just dump the class ... we want to keep it all going.”

Phillips has ordered a Studebaker from Queensland chassis builder Wayne Daley and construction of the car will commence immediately.

Russos depart for US peter andweeks Helen away Russo are just from making their NHRA Funny Car debut, the four-time Australian Funny Car Champions leaving for the US last weekend.

The couple arrived at their Los Angeles base early this week to begin final assembly of their new Dodge Avenger fuel coupe the Seattle event in just two weeks being their target.

playing field and, having run a ‘50’ with a twospeed trans and 1501b overweight,Fm sure we’ll be able to put something together.” infamous Zappia’s ‘Zap’s Rat’ Monaro will also be utilised as a dis play and biumout car for potential sponsors.

On the unforgiving asphait, top performing racers dependonISuto Meter Competition instruments. They are quality engineered for extreme ruggedness, accuracy and years of dei^ndabie service. For more than 40 years. Auto Meter has been making high performance Instruments to fit a huge variety of race, street and custom vehicle applications. Bold, easy to read dial faws provide quick glance installation together with their tough appearance and versatility make Auto Meter Tachs and Gauges the standard competition instrument in almost any automotive racing environment.

Pro Comp & Sport-Comp

“It’s been a huge job and it’s far from finished yet, but we’re really looking forward to rolling the car out of the trailer in Seattle,” Russo told Motorsport News just prior to his departure last Saturday.

“The chassis has been tinned, the body is having some paint put on it, the five disc clutch is at AFT’s, our engines and tools are at Geoff Adams’(a long-time Russo crewman now living in the US), so all we need to do is put it all together, load it up and head north!”

Transportation of the team’s car and equipment has been solved to a certain degree with the purchase of a 36 foot Chapparal race car trailer, although they are yet to organise a tow vehicle.

The Russos plan to con test the Seattle qnd Sonoma events then return to Australia prior to heading back and run ning the last three NHRA events of the year.

- GERALD MCDORNAN

Available-from leading parts outlets Distributed nationally by Rocket Industries Trade Enquiries Welcome Phone(02)9678 9977 Fax (02)9678 9955

Ultra-Ltte Series

Play-Back Tachs

35

n In the middle of his finest year yet - having won two events so far - Doug Herbert last week announced a three year extension to his contract with Snap-on Tools.

Herbert, who is cur rently second in the NHRA Top Fuel points, said the news allows the team to concentrate on their championship chase.

“We can now race for the NHRA championship without having any spon sorship worries and keep our crew intact for the future,” Herbert said.

Herbert has won four IHRA Top Fuel titles and was just the second racer to break the 300 mph bar rier. n The Australian Nostalgia Racers’ two remaining HiPerformance Swap Meets (August 8 and October 17) will feature a “Show ‘n’ Shine” contest.

Five categories have been selected - Top Competition, Top Street Machine, Top Hot Rod, Top Classic/Custom and Top Smadl Car - with guestjudges making appearances at each event.

The Australian Nostalgia Racers HiPerformance Swap Meets are held at the Fairfield Showgrounds in Sydney.

For more information call 02 9610 0500. n Luke Shepherd is continuing to work hard towards his debut at the wheel of his BB/Funny Car, with the 16 year old recently securing Alert Hire Group’s Blacktown Hire Company, Well Manor’d Garden Maintainence, Westend Performance and JJ Turnbull as sponsors.

Shepherd, son of Mark and nephew of Bob, has also gained incredible media coverage in Sydney with three major articles appearing in local papers recently.

36

16 July 1999

0 Co

■P'

A

VVOlil

By Peter Ritlge Pro Stock Chamnion Who’d thought that we’d have have the return to racing with our rebuilt Olds Cutlass Pro Stock that we did? Well, it cer tainly wasn’t me.

Twelve months after having won the Winternationals with Bruno Cugnetto’s spare car we were back there to run our car for the first time and, luckily, we came away with it all ... the whole enchilada!

After crashing in was December '97at-Calder boy, that great, sticking a brand new Don Ness-built Oldsmobile Cutlass 1imo’ over the wall thanks to a split oil filter dumping oil under the tyres its first run - our goal for the ’99 racing season was to get our car back together. Although the whole project took a lot longer than anticipated, the wait was well worth it.

Don [Ness] in his shoporiginally in Blaine,built the car Minnesota and we called on him to help us with the rebuild - the guy has built NHRA Championship winning cars tor the very best and he flew down here last October to work at Murray Anderson’s in Melbourne for three weeks.

Don, Murray, Wayne Rowe and crew member Gerry ‘Balls’ Mlinaric replaced the chassis from firewall forward, fitted new suspension struts, carbon-fibre front body-clip and a whole host of body and associated tin-work, working off NHRA spec sheets to ensure that the car would be able to meet all the template requirements.

When leftwas Murray’s shopthe andcar Don on his way home, Paul Librio from Allyworks finished off the fabrica tion work inside the car while we fitted the windscreen, windows, engine and drivetrain before stripping it back to basics for repainting.

Carron Coach Works applied the paint, the scheme being designed and masked by Shane Abbott at Warpaint before the car headed back to us in midFebruary for final assembly.

We little disappointed to were miss athe Nationals, but we wanted to take the time to double and triple check every thing before we rolled the Olds back out of the garage.

We organised a private test session at Willowbank Raceway three weeks before the Winternats, but Murphy’s Law came into play and it rained on and off all day!

With the ANDRA officials look ing on we were able to do a burnout and launch at the street

meet that night although, after it left hard and straight, the car got real loose in third and I shut it off.

Still, with the track the way it was, everyone was satisfied with how it looked and we were virtually ready for battle in a few weeks ...

Just to the Winternats No Fearprior contacted me to be their Australian drag racing figure-head, which was really great news to hear. Also, my old mate John O’Kearney stepped up to help us with sponsorship through his John Williams Auto Sales in Brisbane Atken the rocker event, inafter bro the finding engine adur ing the warm-up, I was a little apprehensive about running the car for our first qualifier... it was 9.30 pm, the track didn’t look too flash, it was cold, there’d been plenty of oildowns and the dew was settling on the track.

Thankfully, after getting in the car and doing the burnout the adrenaline took over...

When I launched the car went a little left off the line and then as I went through the gears to fifth it moved around a far bit. I brought it back in the groove before shut ting it down and concentrating on stopping it safely.

Victor, Charlie, John and Gerry arrived down the bottom end to collect me and Charlie was shout ing that we ran a 7.72 - what a relief it was to have that run out of the way and be number one!

The next day we ran a 7.70/175, the best run I’d ever done, to put us firmly atop the sheets and that made us happy (that’s an understatement!) - so much so that we elected not to try run the last session and, even though the track was better, no one went quicker... great!

Eliminations day agonising.

Even though wewas didn’t run till 6.30 pm, I was up 12 hours earlier with my brain racing at 300 mph, wondering if everything on the car was right and fully checked.

We got the one everyone wants to get out of the way - the first round - Kym Petterwood redlighted, thankfully, as I lost the shift light and hit the limiter a few times.

In the semis we outran Bruce Leake, which set up a great final a replay of ’98 - with Joe Polito ...

As we did last year, we outran Joe and, low and behold, we’d won back-to-back Winternationals ... it was a GREATfeeling.

A that special thanks must go and to all helped us regroup rebuild, including Don Ness. He must have liked us ‘cause he came back in January for a bit of a holiday! Naturally, he checked on our progress, provided some extra input and, in addition, had a look into another special project that he and I have been working on for some time.

We’re do some test ing ofgoing new to components next week which, we believe, should revolutionise the sedan ranks in drag racing throughout the world, but more about that in my next column.

h\ Ji>hn

Come Back Tour: Peter Ridgeway’s return with his Olds Cutlass was perfect.

A very big mistake: The meeting that Willowbank promoter Denis Syrmis is not happy with - professional drivers and teams got together at the Winternats to express concerns over late night racing. Included amongst the crowd are Victor Bray, Tony Wedlock, Gary Phillips, Jim Read, Joe Polito, Steve Read and Tony Thornton.

Winternats bin

A major argument is brewing following last month’s Winternationals and comments concerning racers and the event

by Willowbank boss Denis Syrmis.

Syrmis has attacked the racers both professional and sportsman in both the press and the track’s latest bulletin over the event’s night time scheduling, competitor numbers and the amount-of delays experienced due to oil downs.

Syrmis has threatened “dracon ian rules” for oil down offenders over 12 hours was lost to delays over the three days of the Winternationals - and has intimat ed competitor numbers wiU. be cut because “Just because you bought a tennis racket, doesn’t mean you can play at Wimbledon.”

A large number of professional racers in attendance at the Winternationals attended a meet ing to express their concerns to ANDRA officials over the cold, dewy, late night conditions which the event was run in.

The consensus from the meeting was the track should schedule the event to finish in the early evening at the latest, with the night time conditions being too cold for both professional performances and the paying public. i Syrmis responded in press reports recently by saying the rac ers “have got no chance” of chang ing the event from night to day and “If they want to do that, they can go to hell.”

He also responded in the track bul letin by saying that “a smart racer adjusts to the prevailing circum stances” and that not inviting any body from the track to special meet ing was “a very serious mistake.”

Austraha’s most successful racer, Jim Read laughed at the Wimbledon references, cross refer encing it to the event schedule.

“Tell Denis this - while not everyone can play can play at Wimbledon, when a professional player does qualify, they provide both the competitor and the paying spectator with the best conditions possible,” he said.

“The conditions at night aren’t possible to run these modern day cars in successfully, it’s as simple as that.”

ANDRA Chief Executive Officer Tony Thornton told Motorsport News he hadn’t been paying much attention to the arguments, although they were starting to get

his attention.

5 “I like night racing, but things have changed considerably over the past five years,” Thornton said.

‘With the equipment that is cur rent available and the perfor mances teams are expected to achieve, racing in ‘1,000 feet-below’ air is no longer the joy it used to be.

‘We need to look at finishing the event earlier with the ‘big stuff finalised by eight o’clock at the latest.

“I believe that would probably provide the best compromise for all concerned.”

Thornton also said that restric tions on competitors numbers at the ’Winternationals may have to be looked at.

Australia’s highest profile racer 'Victor Bray didn’t want to, drawn into any arguments, but he offered the following: “I just wish this stuff wouldn’t happen ... it just goes to show you how much trouble drag racing is in at the moment.”

One industry insider suggests there are major problems ahead for the event, track and the sport.

“Can you believe this is happen ing,” he said.

“Willowbank’s promoted the event for the last two years as ‘Austraha’s biggest motor race’ and ‘the biggest drag race outside the US’ but now they want pull back and cut the numbers ...

“They’ve also offered performance bonuses but are now criticising racers for doing their job of trying to run as hard and fast as they can.

“And finally they pubhcly embannss the racers by listing who did what oildown and when on the internet!

What would any prospective sponsor of the sport think? I reckon they’d look at the arguments and criticism, see the biggest event of the year has no national commer cial 'TV deal or presence and then j^g^; laugh at it and pass it all off as ^ great joke.”

- GERALD McDORNAN

’ * Phf*ioa'Ofifc*sy w-tvinKin*

At last weekend’s Winston Showdown at Bristol, NHRA nitro Funny Car driver Jerry Toliver unveiled his latest WWF Pontiac... the Undertaker! What do you think?

■ Rumour has it that Adelaide Pro Stock racer Robert Quattrochi has sold his potent Don Ness-built Chevrolet Beretta, replacing it with another Ness-built creation.

The word is that fellow Pro Stock racer Peter Ridgeway has brought a current model Pontiac Trans Am into the country recent ly and its new home will now be in Quattrochi’s workshop ...

■ Top Bike racer Brett Stevens should have made his first laps in his Murray Anderson-built Studebaker doorslammer by the time you have read this.

Both 'Victor Bray and Andrew Searle have spent the last two weeks helping Stevens with the final assembly of the car.

Stevens had the ’Willowbank track booked for two days earlier this week to undertake his

ANDRA licensing requirements.

Stevens is hoping his transition from two to four wheels runs smoothly, the Jack Daniels backed racer is looking to make his debut at Willowbank’s Winter Finals event this weekend.

■ Queensland Top Alcoho l Funny Car racer Steve Harker will be making his US debut at the end of the year, the hard working trucking ‘magnate’ plan ning to run the last four or five NHRA national and divisional events of the season.

Harker has a brand new Uyehara-built Dodge alky flopper in the US awaiting the fitment of his current engine/fuel system combo.

With wife Janelle, Harker will be based out of expat-Aussie Peter Osterio’s Atlanta workshops.

ihh)0®[Fsm®i70

16 July 1999

Kagered’s Cannonball Spuffard’s nitro Avenger up in smoke at Santa Pod’s annua!flapper showdown.

SWEDISH alcohol Fimny Car racer Micke Kagered took omt Santa Pod’s aninni]iai]l Cannonball Funny Car clas sic in England on July 3.

The Cannonball event mixes the alky burning coupes with the nitro burners, with the cars with the lowest aggregate from the three ‘qualifying’ runs making their way through to the final round.

John Spuffard, the class of European nitro Funny Car racing for the last few years, looked to have the event wrapped up with his Showtime Avenger, although tyre smoke in the final robbed him of any victory.

Spuffard took low et of the event with a 5.63 in the third

car should go faster ... it’s veiy important that we take the Championship back this year.”

Veteran Top Fuel Bike racer Brian Johnson won his bracket and also stunned with a great 6.58/216 to beat Steve WooUatt in the semi-finals, WooUatt hav ing run a 6.92 himself.

Johnson’s final round oppo nent, Chris Hampson, couldn’t front after running a 6.90/204

in the semis.

Current British Top Alcohol Dragster record holder, Rob 'Turner, who has a new car on order with American Bob defeated Leif Meyer, Andreasson in the final round 5.97/234 to 6.14/230.

Nick Davies defeated Gordon Appleton in Pro Modified, running a 6.77/204 in the final round.

Shock result: Gordon Smith’s nitro burner didn’t figure in the results.

FOLLOWING an overwhelming response from racers, sponsors and fans,*the NHRA had decid ed not to eliminate the injected nitro burning A/Fuel dragsters from their Top Alcohol dragster category.

The A'fuellers were apparently on the chopping block for 2000 although the reaction to a proposal to replace them, and the ever increasing numbers of the injected nitro burners - the cost of running them reportedly being far cheaper

round, although Kagered’s 6.29/224 in the final took the win.

Kagered used the event as a test session for the next round of the FIA Top Methanol Funny Car Championships at Mantorp Park in a few weeks, saying his car can run quicker than the 5.9 second first round run.

“One tenth more and we’ll be happy,” Kagered said. “I’ve bought all the parts I can,so the

Junior Fuellers cleared

Pnoto courtesy www.eurodragster.eorr

37 rmcCT

than the blown alcohol dragsters - was behind the NHRA’s aboutface on the proposal.

It is also known that a number of A/Fuel racers actually talked to the rival IHRA sanctioning body about a complete new class for the ‘south ern’ organisation - the IHRA presently running alcohol Funny Cars only.

“We decided that eliminating A/Fuel from [alcohol] di’agster com petition is not in the best interest of the sport and it doesn’t match the goals we have set in our strategic plan for the future of the NHRA,” Light said last week.

The A/Fuel class - which, in the ’60s carried the Junior Fueller tag - regained steam in the early ’90s, with competitors being able to produce strong per formances at a fraction of the cost required to run a supercharged alky burner - one alky dragster team known to have spent US$1.3million chasing the series three years ago.

Contributing to the costs is the fact that most A/Fuel dragsters are ex-Top Fuel cars with the profes sional teams willing to sell their rolling stock at around 50 percent of the cost of building a new blown alky dragster.

In making the announcement, the NHRA also announced that a new, updated rules package for the class will be soon released.

“We want to fine-tune the rules between the two different combina tions at the beginning of the sea son,” Light said.

“Once we stabilize the rules, the competitors vdll choose their prefer ence based upon such factors as performance, parts reliability, and cost of operation.”

Bailey, Jenkins win Cordov

a

Photo by David ust^zewsKj.,

Where’s Scotty: IHRA Pro Mod points leader Shannon Jenkins took the win at Cordova with the Parson Willys.

Paleface adios: Aussie Troy Critchley packed up after Johnny Rocca’s Ironhorse kick some rods and hit the wall, Jenkins and his nitrous mph at 222.91.

HEADING

four-time

champion Doug Herbert’s IHRA campaign for 1999, Jim Bailey drove his Snap-on Tools team car to the Top Fuel win at the SummerNationals, held at Cordova,last month.

After having top qualified with a 4.77/298, Bailey only needed to single to a

5.520/253.61 in the final round when Jack Ostrander, who killed two motors enroute to the final, was unable to fire his engine.

Bailey had been strong all event, taking round wins over Chris Karamasines and point leader Bruce Litton to reach the final round while Ostrander, who qualified third at 4.98, dispatched Luigi

Novell! and defending series champion Paul Romine.

In Pro Modified, and with out arch rival Scotty Cannon dominating the tour.

Shannon Jenkins, the cur rent Pro Mod point leader, overcame a Tommy Gray holeshot and posted his best numbers of the weekend to take the event "win -6.48/219 to 6.59/219.

equipped ’41 Willys recorded consistent low 6.50’s with earlier round victories over the ’63 Corvette of Quain Stott, A1 Billes’ wild ’53 Studebaker and Dale Brinsfield’s ’69 Camaro.

The low qualifier at 6.35, Fred Hahn, broke in round one against Tommy Mauney.

Billes qualified second at 6.36 but managed to set top

Australia’s own Troy Critchley suffered a setback at the event following a 6.57 qualifying pass when four conrods exited the engine near the finish fine.

Critchley’s Johnny Roccaowned “Ironhorse” ’49 Mercury began to slide in its own oil just past the finish line, where it tagged the wall, damaging the front nose of

the body beyond repair. The front of the chassis also suf fered some damage, although it appeared to be slight.

Tom Lee drove his Ford Probe to victory in Pro Stock, where he faced the similar bodied machine of Jon Yoak, Lee’s 6.80/206 was enough to handle a slowing 9.97/199 from Yoak.

Fords have dominated every event m Pro Stock this year with Lee, Yoak, Chris Holbrook and point leader Floyd Cheek being the only drivers to reach a final round in four contested events in ’99.

In the other “pro” cate gories contested, Johnny Mancuso won Top Fuel Harley, while Tony Bogolo scored the win in Alcohol Funny Car. Mancuso struggled in qualifying but forged ahead to down Jim McClure in the final -6.86/205 to 7.36/149.

Bogolo’s opponent, Jimmy Rector, red lighted in the final of alky Funny Car - DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

1999 WINSTON DRAG RACING SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS AT JUNE 29 1999 1999 Winston Top Fuel Championship 782 1. Mike Dunn, Team Mopar 723 2. Doug Herbert, Snap-On Tools 715 3. Kenny Bernstein, Budweiser King 691 4. Gary Scelzi, Team Winston 671 5. Tony Schumacher, Exide Batteries 652 6. Larry Dixon, Miller Lite 604 7. Joe Amato, Tenneco Automotive 6 03 8. Cory McClenathan, MBNA 582 9. Bob Vandergriff, Jerzee’s 545 10.Doug Kalitta, Kitty Hawk

1999 Winston Funny Car Championship 1,149 1. John Force, Castrol Ford Mustang 2. Tony Pedregon, Castrol Ford Mustang ....903 3. Whit Bazemore, Kendall Chev Camaro ....664 .561 4. Tim Wilkerson, JCIT Pontiac Firebird 5. Dean Skuza, Mateo Tools Dodge Avenger550 6. Cruz Pedregon, I’state Batteries Pontiac ..542 .493 7, Frank Pedregon, Penthouse Pontiac .455 8. Del Worsham, CSK Pontiac Firebird .435 9. Jim Epier, Easycare Corvetter .428 10.Cory Lee, Pioneer Dodge Avenge ....

1999 Winston Pro Stock Championship 1. Warren Johnson, Qoodwrench Pontiac ....910 2. Kurt Johnson, AC Delco Chev Camaro ....731 3. Jim Yates, Splitfire/Peak Pontiac Firebird 644 4. Richie Stevens, Valspar Pontiac Firebird ..601 5. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Jeg's Mail Order Olds....582 6. Allen Johnson, Amoco Dodge Avenger ....562 7. Mike Edwards, Dewco Chev Camaro 495 8. Troy Coughlin, Jeg’s Mail Order Old . .484 .472 9. Mark Pawuk, Summit Racing Pontiac .448 10.Greg Anderson, Troy Humphries

38 16July 1999

s

Millen takes Pikes Peak

«]

By Peter Whitt n'y -

??/.'ZK i

Bell’s ARC return Former Hyundai world championship driver Wayne Bell looks likely to return to the Australian Rally Championship next year at the wheel of Hyundai’s Formula 2 Coupe kit car. Bell said that the plan was to con test the 2000 ARC in one of the Formula 2 cars cur rently driven by Kenneth Eriksson and Alister McRae in the World Championship, before updating to a Hyundai World Rally Car for 2001.

Bell’s program would be funded by Hyundai in Korea, and if all the plans come together. Bell would then put Hyundai’s new World Rally Car up against the likes of Neal Bates and Possum Bourne to bid for outright contention in the Australian Championship.

Middleton denies Gp N exit Honda Civic driver has strongly denied recent stories that he was set to move out of the Formula 2 category and into a Group N 4WD car. Although Middleton is disappointed that kit cars such as Simon Evans’ Golf have been allowed to compete in the Australian Championship, he said a move to a different cate gory is not an option. The 1997 Formula 2 Champion missed the West Australian round of the ARC because his wife was due to give birth to their second child when the event was being run.

Beckton to miss Jim CSark Rally Seventh outright and third in class at the recent Scottish Rally was the highlight of Team Teroson’s performance after the first three gravel events in the 1999 Mobil 1 British Rally Championship. The Teroson Subaru Impreza will undergo another extensive testing program in preparation for the forthcoming tarmac rounds and will miss the SEAT Jim Clark Memorial Rally over the first week end in July. Marty Beckton, the team’s Aussie driver commented; “Whilst 1 am personally disappointed that we’ll miss the Jim Clark, I believe the decision is the right one for the team and I fully support it. “Our test ing program has had such an impact on the season so far that we’ve got to allow ourselves the time we need to maintain our performance in Ulster and the Isle of Man," Beckton said.

FLYING Kiwi Rod Mdlen defeated the field at Pikes Peak in Colorado, but the 10-minute barrier is still proving elusive.

Driving a Toyota Tacoma specifically built for the chal lenge, Rod Millen won the 1999 version of the Hace to the Clouds’ from more than 160 other competitors from six countries and 22 US states.

Racing on sUppery roads in gusting winds and rain 47year-old Millen exceeded 210kmh en route to posting the event’s top time of 10:11.15. Millen was hoping to break his record of 10:04.54, set in 1994.

“It was a little slippery, but that’s Pikes Peak,” said Millen. “I don’t think it was the rain so much as the grav el on the course. It’s part of the challenge we’ve recog nised since 1994. We need a really clean road. I’ll be back next year for sure.”

Millen’s son Rhys, the 1999 high performance show room stock division champi on and record holder, greeted his father with a hug at the finish fine.

“He’s pretty disappointed.

I know for years how much it’s meant to him, and he’s never gotten a break here,” said Rhys Millen. “He’s pret ty frustrated. You’ve got to be here every year to take

Guest set for NZ

By JON THOMSON

Bee-ute: Rod Millen’s Toyota Tacoma has lOOOhp,four-wheel drive, ground effects and nitrous-oxide, but still missed the elusive sub-10 minute run.

Results -1999 Pikes Peak advantage of what Mother changing weather conditions.

Unlimited Millen and son were not Nature dishes you.”

1. Rod Millen. Toyota Tacoma, 10:11.15.

2. Nobuhiro Tajima, Suzuki. 10:37.35.

Second over^ was Millen’s the only family combination Open Wheel 1. Stan Kossen, Chevrolet Wells Coyote, main rival, “Monster’ Tajima, to have a good weekend in 11:34.45. who was 26s off the pace Colorado. Father and son Super Stock Car 1. Clint Vahsholtz. Ford Mustang. after having problems during Leonard and Clint Vahsholtz 11:49.06. the run in his 750kW Suzuki. of Woodland Park, Colo., won Super Stock Truck 1. Larry Ragland, Chevrolet S-10 4WD. The narrow gravel road the sprint and super stock 11:24.36.

Sprint starts at an elevation of car divisions, respectively.

1. Leonard Vahsholtz, 1997 Vahsholtz Ford Sprint. 11:47.31.

9,402 feet and finishes atop The elder Vahsholtz posted a Pikes Peak Open the Peak at an altitude of new sprint division record 1. Jean Pierre Richelmi, Lancia Integrate, 11:48.26.

14,110. Forty-two percent of time of 11:47.31.

High performance showroom stock 1. Rhys Millen. Nissan Skyline. 12:13.47. the course is made up of cor “I had a real good run,” Challenge of Champions ners and there are 156 left noted sprint champion (finish at Glen Cove, halfway point) 1.

Roger Mears, 6:18.04.

Leonard "Vahsholtz.

“The car and right-hand turns. The 2. Parnelli Jones, 6:31.02.

3. Ivan ‘Ironman' Stewart, 6:36.26. course has no guard rails ran perfect. I didn’t make (All drove identical Toyota Celicas) and is known for its ever- any mistakes.”

Will Tomiiii get a 206?

TOMMI Makinen may be on the move from the Ralliart-Mitsuhishi WRC team - perhaps,to Peugeot.

Reports out of the UK suggest that Makinen could jump ship to the French team next year if Mitsubishi don’t bite the bullet and build a World Rally Car for the triple World Champion to drive next year.

It is believed that Makinen’s manager, Timo Jokke, has offered the Finn’s services to Peugoet for £4 million ($10 million) a year - £700,000 more than Colin McRae cur rently receives from Ford.

Makinen certainly hasn’t denied the rumours, saying “Everything is absolutely open.... nothing is decid Frankie and Tommi? ed”. ti Tommi Makinen could be It’s getting more diffi cult all the time to be seen in a Peugeot 206 next competitive in a Group A season, though it’s unlikely to be this one which car and I am sure we Francois Delecour bashed should try to improve as up in Greece. much as we can.

Makinen said.

Words of advice: Makinen said that the What do world champions new World Rally Cars talk about when they get (like Peugeot and Ford) together? are on the pace right from “I always say, Tommi, go the outset and they still for the dough.” have many ideas to “Thanks for the adyice, improve their cars.

Mike. Have a good race “We haven’t got so many break a leg.” ideas to improve our car (Photos by Sutton-lmages and anymore,” he said.

RaceAccess)

MICHAEL Guest will be aiming to make it three wins from three starts in Group N production car class at the Rally of New Zealand this weekend.

Guest has won Group N class in both of his previous two outings in Kiwiland in 1996 and 1998.

As the defending Group N winner in New Zealand, Guest acknowledges that the strong field of production car challengers will be hunting for him on the sweeping Kiwi roads.

“I love the New Zealand roads, in my opinion they are the best rally roads in the World because you can really attack them,” said the Subaru driver.

“I feel as confident as I can be about New Zealand par ticularly since our Subaru gets some new performance parts as a result of a new homologation which came into effect on July 1,” Guest added.

“It has been a tough and very steep learning curve in , the three World Rally Championship rounds we have tackled this year but I can go to New Zealand safe in the knowledge I know the roads and the others are going to he on foreign terri tory,” he said.

Guest is aiming to make up for the mechanical failure his Subaru suffered on the Acropolis Rally in Greece where he felt particularly confident of his chances.

“Greece reminded me of Australia a bit, it was very rough in places and I felt we could do well but it wasn’t to be so we now have to focus on the rallies ahead of us and get on with the job.

“The new homologation parts should put our Subaru back on a more equal footing with the Mitsubishis which have had a power advantage during the first half of the season,” Guest said.

The Newcastle driver com prehensively outpaced Group N World Champion Gustavo Trelles in New Zealand last year to take the class win.

“The Kiwi roads really reward an attacking style like mine and that is proba bly why I like it so much,” he said.

“Having said that there are about five or six drivers capable of winning the Group N class including, Trelles, A1 Waihibi and Taguchi”.

As well as Guest the Australian contingent on rally Australia this year will also include the Subaru Australia entry of Cody Crocker, fresh from his heat win over Ed Ordynski in Perth last month and the hot VW Golf GTi of Simon Evans.

^

lEikDOcDIISfJXDUO

16 July 1999 to Victoria, Young claimed second with Nelson third.

80cc The again provid ed category the largest entry, though seven wouldn’t start the final.

One absentee being Malcolm Cancian, the cur rent NSW Club Champion exited in a spectacular roll in race two, breaking his left arm.

Richard Spiteri repeated the feat in race three when a

DAP 'da man: 1 QOcc winner Rod Prickett from vH

on

M<llveen takes NSW 250 Superkart title WARREN Mcllveen scored his first overall vic

tory since moving up to the 250cc International category at the New South Wales Superkart Titles held at Oran Park last weekend.

David Holdforth continued his winning streak in the 250 National class while Jeff Reed, guest driving the Team Stockman 125cc machine, also recorded a resounding victory.

Troy Byron and Rod Prickett emerged victorious in the 80 and lOOcc NGB classes respectively.

With a combination of fine weather, more then 70 entrants and the decision to use the Grand Prix layout at Oran Park,the day provided a feast of memorable moments.

the opposition, while the

previously dominant Peter Young was left to fight out the minors with Bill Nelson and fellow NSW drivers Daniel Greenaway and Phil Holt.

steering bolt broke, sending him backwards into a sandtrap before launching the kart which threw Richard from the vehicle. Apart from severe bruising Richard was okay, though kart owner Colin Moore could have used some sedation.

At the front of the pack, the usual trio of Ross Hansen, Troy Byron and Sharyn Battle were joined by the Coach Design entry of Chryss Jamieson.

Byron and Jamieson trad ed results while Hansen claimed third. Sharyn perhaps found the pace a little hot with spins forcing her to watch the end to races two and four.

100CC NGB

Troy Byron won the battle . to claim the NSW title and Holt effectively ruined his overall Steve Aaron memori nm in the second race when al trophy. a heavy contact at Momo Recaro saw him roll, though 125CC unscathed and able to con

R

tinue later, this dnf proved costly.

Prickett took the title back

od Prickett ventured north and soundly beat

Jeff Read the drive in was thegiven factory Stockman machine and

Wonderful Winton in Winter 'hat was the scene for the third round of the Victorian Superkart Series and the weather didn’t let us down with the rain begin ning to fall as the karts went out for qualifying.

Not many dry spells were had for the rest of the day. the wet and freezing conditions and failing light necessitating all of the fOOcc classes needing to be run on the track at the same time - separated by a gap. The ploy almost worked to perfection but the last race was red flagged for safety reasons when the light disappeared rapidly.

100cc Light

The first couple of races were spread out as the dri vers made adjustments for the conditions, but by the third race it was closer with Darren Formosa, Rod Prickett and Ben Castles leading the rest. Andrew Loughron did a couple of spins in the esses for the final and was lucky he didn’t hit the wall any harder.

Castles had the speed in the final with Nicholas Higgins close behind.

Formosa’s third was enough for outright first on the day, Prickett second from Castles. jjtfe taking: vtfifre a roJiKoa!

100cc Heavy

Dean Roberts continued on his winning way with another clean sweep of all races to finish the day with maximum points. Gary Pegoraro, Ken Knight and Darren Spencer all ran at the front end of the field with Spencer and Knight tied on points and Doug Brumby quietly amassing points to finish fourth.

100cc Junior The McIntosh Brothers, Adam and Trent, in this their second meeting, con tinued on from last round, adapting to the wet condi tions well. Luke May, the current state champion, and Ulrich Deyssis showed their experience by running at the front with May taking three wins on the day.

Deyssis also took one win to come home second on points, with Adam McIntosh third ahead of his brother.

80CC

Darren James made the wet track look easy to drive with the way he had his kart set up. Tony lapozzuto, with limited experience, chased James hard all day, Darren Dunn and Robi Canuti right behind, lappozuto took his

promptly dominated the class, recording a perfect five from five.

Next best was a close con test with Scott Stockham, Roy Francescato and Peter Pollock sharing the spoils.

Scott and Roy were actually equal on results, though Stockham’s better finish in the final enabled him to take a well deserved second.

Dave Smith struggled throughout the weekend while Scott Matheson’s recently rebuilt kart under took another heavy impact at the esses tyre wall, bending his steering in the impact with his stomach (talk about an airbagj) Scott was fine, though his bank account seems set for another battermg.

250cc Natoona!

S

uch is the current domi nance of Dave Holdforth and Michael Crossland it seems that only mechanical woes or driver error is hkely to change the outcome, a sit uation which affected Crossland in race three to the advantage of Gary Brookes.

Holdforth continued his recent success by taking races one to three and looked set to fight Crossland in the final, before a half spin and a broken exhaust pipe enabled Michael to take a morale boosting win.

Brookes grabbed third while Max Raffaele finished as the best of the visiting dri vers.

39

250cc Internationa!

Much expected with from this was category, names such as Siebert, Lambous, Stockman and Pellicano entered.

From the outset reigning National champion Brian Stockman made his inten tions known by winning two from two, Charlie Lambous finshed second in race one and then spun while leading comfortably in race two.

John Pellicano seemed to struggle after a dnf in race one and remained unusually off the pace for the rest of the weekend. Dnfs would soon mar the day for Lambous when a chain broke in the final, while a race three dnf resulted in Brian Stockman packing away his twin.

The real surprise was the form of new driver Warren McRveen. Though a national champion in the 125cc class, Warren had saved his best racing for this weekend, fin ishing stronlgy in each heat and using consistency to keep him in the hunt - the title going down to a fight between himself and Gerard Siebert.

Siebert did everything right in the final to record another win, while McUveen produced the race of the day by driving through the field to claim third and overall victory for the day. Second by a mere point was Siebert, John Pellicano salvaged third.

- JOHN MORRIS/MPIX

COMING EVENTS in KARTIIKI

first trophy ever, finishing second with Dunn third.

In the restricted class P plate drivers Greg Bass and Peter Crooke tied on points with Bass getting the win with a better final finish.

125CC Neil Smart is really com ing to grips with his new kart, pushing Peter Hageman in the points tally, although Hageman had a bit more speed and with agility of the 125 in the wet conditions he beat the 250s home as well.

David Baker bought the ex-Peter Worral kart and Mitchell Kain made a suc cessful debut in Baker’s old kart by coming home third.

Mick Bakker has also got a 125 almost completed the class looking extremely good for the future.

July 18 July 25

250cc National Ross Higgins had a pit lane start in race one, but still managed to win the class while Stan Tadd had his kart going well, although an off in the esses dropped him back to third behind a steady Matt Thomas.

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250cc Internationa!

An off in race one put Tony Rath half a lap down so, with nothing to lose, he drove like a mad man pos sessed to catch and pass all the other internationals.

Chris Mann held on to sec ond with Robert Clinch third. Mann and Clinch couldn’t match the speed of Rath who won the day.

- GRAEME BURNS

V\C10!l\M4KMa\HG ^SSOa^■UOH Ph 03 5449 6302 or 03 9362 1144

Our Web site is: www.kartguide.com.au/vka.htm Our Email address is: vka(§b 140.aone.net.au Victorian Karting Association Inc Registered No: A13837D

40 16July 1999 n Mark Martin crashed hard at Daytona during final practice, the night prior to last week’s Pepsi 400. Martin broke a bone in his left wrist and sus

Jarrett coasts to Daytona victory

tained serious bruising.

The damage done in the accident also extended to fhe team’s starting posi tion after the Eagle One/Roush team were forced to use a back-up Taurus- after starting last, Martin did well to finish 17th on the lead lap. n Dale Jarrett’s Quahty Care Ford Taurus received some damage during one of the practice sessions at Daytona, Jarrett having struck, of all things, a turtle!

It’s unclear whether the turtle was racing a hare at the time... n Robert Pressley, Hut Stricklin, Derrike Cope, Stanton Barrett and Ken Bouchard were the unlucky five who failed to make the 43 car field for the Pepsi 400.

Terry Labonte, Kyle Petty, Rick Mast,Ted Musgrave,Kevin Lepage and Jeff Burton took pro visional slots, Burton’s engine burping in first round of qualifying, the team electing not to run the second round trials. n Busch series driver JefFKrogh was listed in a “critical but stable” condi tion following a crash in the final practice session for the DieHard 250 Busch race, held at the Milwaukee MUe last week.

Krogh, 27, was testing his backup car after crash ing his race car in earlier qualifying. n Atjust 18 years of age, Casey Atwood became the youngest ever winner of a Busch Series race when he took the DieHard 250 last week.

Atwood, who qualified on the pole for the third time in his career, passed Jeff Green on the final lap, bumping Green out of the way. n Ken Schrader and team owner Andy Petree announced that Oakwood Homes- who sponsor Petree’s Busch series entry - would replace Skoal as the primaiy sponsor of the #33 car next season.

Skoal’s decision to quit was“comphance obliga tions under the Smokeless Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement signed last year.”

My car’s developed a push: Jarrett’s crew needed to push the #88 Ford in victory lane after it ran out of Unocal 76 on the cool down lap.

High Tide: Ricky Rudd and Front Row Joe’ Nemechek started off the front.

(Photos by Martin D. Clark)

Jarrett took'his first Pepsi4QP wiq^ al^ytona, his thir^latthe “beach-^^byMamn.Q^'*)**^^ Report by MARTIN D CLARK WITH a little luck and good fortune on his side.

Dale Jarrett further extended his points advantage with a win under the lights in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona on July 3 - thankfully for Jarrett the race finishing under caution with the

Quality Care/Ford Credit Taurus running out of fuel after the chequered flag and needing to be pushed by his crew down the front stretch and into victory lane.

After taking the lead with 16 laps to run, Jarrett drove on the apron of the track to conserve fuel during the final two laps, which were under caution.

“This shows that we’re here to win races,” remarked Jarrett who led three times for 40 laps. “But we’re now just halfway over [the season] and we’ve got a long way to go.”

‘Front Row Joe’ Nemechek won pole with a 194.860 mph run while Ricky Rudd was a surprise outside front row starter - those two led the early going before Rusty Wallace made it three wide down the front stretch to. take up the running with some great two and three wide racing behind them.

Jeff Burton showed form early moving from 37th to 12th by lap 20, while Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon

Tide turns for Ricky Rudd WINSTON Cup veteran Ricky Rudd has hit out at CART Indycar team owner Cal Wells following the announcement that Wells has landed Tide, Rudd’s Winston Cup sponsor for the past six years, for his new, NASCAR team.

Rudd’s annoyance came after being informed of Tide’s decision to hand its dollars to Wells’ Precision Performance organisation and having asked Rudd if he would like to drive for the team - the news also coming on the heels of McDonalds’ recent announcement that they also would be moving to Wells’ new venture, dumping Bill Elliott in the process.

“I see a lot of outsiders wanting to get in right now because I guess it appears to be very glamorous and there appears to be a lot of money involved in the sport,” Rudd said last week.

“I think, unfortunately, a lot of guys who paid their dues and helped create the sport are tending to get run over.”

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“I am trying to figure out how I got myself into this position. I am proba bly guilty of working way too many hours and worrying way too much about this race team instead of going up to Cincinnati (where Proctor & Gamble’s - Tide’s parent company head office is situated) with a fancy briefcase and a nice presentation.”

“I am guilty of trying to build this rac ing team and getting it back on the right track, where these guys obviously must have a lot of time on their hands to be flying aroimd and basically trying to steal everybody’s sponsors.”

For his part. Wells, knowing that he won’t be welcomed warmly into the NASCAR world, defended his posi tion.

We haven’t come down here to upset anybody but the sponsors that we have been talking to have been talking to a lot of people, not only inside this garage but out, and some body was going to lose and somebody wasn’t,” he said.

were battling behind Wallace for the runner-up slot.

Earnhardt eventually got

by Wallace on lap 39 just before the first round of pit stops when Wallace blew back by, only for Rusty to relinquish the point to Bobby Labonte and then Jarrett.

Wallace, though, had the stronger car and used the draft to his advantage to take up the running once again, leading a dog fight through halfway.

The first of three cautions aired on lap 84 for slight rain, allowing a second round of pit stops - Earnhardt lead ing Wallace, Jarrett and Ward Burton. Wallace got the jump on ‘The Intimidator’ one lap into the restart.

Final pit stops came under green flag conditions around lap 140, John Andretti, who had been running in the top five was the first to pit after a brush with the wall.

Jarrett was instructed to stop for four seconds of fuel on lap 144, although the stop appeared to be only two before the 88 took off...

Wallace and Gordon also only took on fuel, Gordon stalling on pit road, taking away any advantage the fuel only stop made. Earnhardt and Burton took on two tyres.

The second caution came with 14 laps remaining for a fuel catch can that had been dropped on the track by Kenny Irwin...

The thought has to cross

1999 WINSTON CUP SERIES RESULTS New Hampshire Int. Raceway | | July, 1999 I. Jeff Burton #99 2. Kenny Wallace #55 .

3. Jeff Gordon #24 ....

4. Dale Jarrett #88 5. Bill Elliott #94 6. Mark Martin #6 7. Wally Dallenbach #25 8. Dale Earnhardt #3 .. , 9. Jimmy Spencer #23 ..

10. Tony Stewart #20 ...

.Ford .Chevrolet .Chevrolet ●Ford ●Ford .Ford .Chevrolet ●Chevrolet ■Ford .Pontiac

11. Terry Labonte #5 .

12. Steve Park

13. Ricky Craven 14. RichBickle 15. Ward Burton #22 .

16. Bobby Hamilton #4 17. Johnny Benson ....

18. John Andretti #43 19. Michael Waltrip #7 20. Elliott Sadler #21 .

.Chevrolet .Chevrolet .Chevrolet .Pontiac .Pontiac .Chevrolet .Ford .Pontiac .Chevrolet .Ford

one’s mind - was this a team order from Robert Yates?

Ward Burton was one of the front runners to pit dur ing the caution, taking on four tyres and dropping from ninth to 20th.

With 10 laps to run the race was set for an exciting shoot ' out, Jarrett leading Wallace, Skinner, Bobby Labonte and Stewart on the restart as Earnhardt surged forward.

Wallace, who had led 75 tours, got together with Stewart in a blocking move, this drop-kicked Rusty back in the draft to finish 11th at the race’s end.

Earnhardt, with his two fresh tyres, moved on the high side of Labonte bringing Jeff Burton with him into third when the caution came out for Jeremy Mayfield, who was nudged into a spin by Wally Dallenbach - Jimmy Spencer also finding the wall.

This left a crawl around the track to complete the 300 miles behind the pace car.

Had the yellow flag not waved it’s doubtful Jarrett would have won, Earnhardt looking tough on new tyres.

“Another second place at Daytona, that’s all I need ...” remarked Earnhardt after. , Gordon, who was looking for his third Pepsi 400 win in suc cession, could only muster 21st.

Final positions; Jarrett 169.312 mph, Earnhardt, Jeff Burton, Skinner, Bobby Labonte, Stewart, Ward Burton, Hamilton, Iryan, Terry Labonte.

r Points to I I July, 1999 1. Dale Jarrett ,2839 2. Jeff Burton ,2599 ,2590 3. Mark Martin 4. Bobby Labonte 2551 2450 5. Jeff Gordon . ,2405 6. Tony Stewart 7. Dale Earnhardt Sr 2324 ,2141 8. Ward Burton .. .2098 9. Terry Labonte . .2097 10.Jeremy Mayfield

16 July 1999

41

From 38th to first: Jeff Burton claimed his fourth win of the season. t

(P^fOto by Martin D Clark)

Rookie Tony Stewart hands win over when he runs out offuei while leading with three laps to go

Repost by MARTIN D CLARK JEFF Burton was the win ner of a wild race on the

spun and Mark Martin checked up only to be hit by Keimy Irwin and spim around.

Most of the leaders pitted for right side tyres, Jarrett one nule New Hampshire electing to stay on the track, flat oval for the third gaining track position and straight time on July, five points to lead Gordon.

Burton charging all the A handful of laps later way from 38th on the grid Kenny Wallace made contact to take his fourth win of with Johnny Benson and the year. another yellow flew, Ken Burton took a provisional Schrader receiving major starting slot, the crew chang damage as he got spun in the ing just about everything the fracas. morning of the race to Following a lengthy cau improve the car ... and tion for oil clean-up, Andretti improve it they did, taking took up the running, when the lead for the first time leader Gordon slipped in the with two of the 300 laps oil dry on lap 136. remaining when race leader It didn’t take long for a Tony Stewart ran out offuel. caution when Gordon nudged “We were out to lunch,” Wallace, who was on his out Burton said of the team’s side in turn two, Wallace sent qualifying efforts. slamming into the wall hard “We changed everything on after starting on the outside the car, I didn’t think we had pole. a chance to win this thing ... I “I was hoping he (Gordon) feel sorry for those guys(Tony would be a little more patient Stewart and his team), that’s on the restart,” said Wallace a tough way to lose a race.” who eventually finished 42nd.

Jeff Gordon won the pole Andretti continued to head with a 131.171 mph record the fray through halfway, a and he led the early laps great battle behind him before Bobby Labonte took over the helm on lap 20, his Gibbs Racing team mate NASCAR is contemplat ing a rule change in Stewart moving swiftly into their premier Winston Cup second, John Andretti third. series, thinking about the Lap 64 and Stewart took possibiliy of doing away the lead for the eighth time with qualifying and race this year, having more power engines. to move around the outside of The new rule would Labonte before 21st miming Joe Nemechek slammed the eliminate having separate engines for each and save wall on lap 77 - the yellow waived for the first time. teams up to an estimated Gordon beat Stewart, US$1 million a year - the Busch and Truck series Labonte, Andretti and Rusty Wallace off pit lane, points having a similar rule. leader Dale Jarrett pitting three times due to a collision he cars of Dale Brett with Michael Waltrip on pit Earnhardt road. Jarrett started at the Bodine, Derrike Cope, rear of the short-lived restart Rich Bickle and Hut when Jerry Nadeau went for a Stricklin all their fuel cells spin to bring out caution two. confiscated after the New Labonte and Andretti Hampshire race. passed Gordon for the lead just before caution three for a obert Pressley, Derrike melee on the backstretch on Cope, Dave Marcis lap 113, Rich Bickle almost

T

R

So close: Tony Stewart ran out of fuel while leading with just three laps remaining.

between Earnhardt, Labonte, bag, but a bump from Gordon when asked what he said to Kenny Wallace finished a Stewart and (Jordon. in the final turn dropped him Gordon when he got out of cai-eer best second with Martin Two more cautions then to fourth. his car replied, “That’s a fighting and painful sixth. aired, the second when Bobby “Just a little bit of nibbing between me and Jeff.”

The series now takes a weU Labonte spun into the wall. there, but we’ll see each Gordon was not available deserved week off, many “I got into the comer real other again, we’ve got a lot for comment, meeting in the needing it to cool tempers, hard and it got around on of racing to,” remarked a hot NASCAR hauler with offi before the circus rolls into me. That’s the way it goes,” under the collar Jarrett who. cials post race.

Pocono on July 25. said Labonte.

Stewart then headed Jarrett, but as the laps wound down the front three were deciding if they had enough fuel to go the distance.

With 18 circuits to run Gordon was the first of the lead group to pit for a splash of fuel, Jarrett then stopping for around three seconds, but he stalled exiting his pit.

Stewart and Andretti, who were some 16 seconds in'arrears, were conservative with the loud pedal and gam bled ... but it(fid not pay off.

With three to go Andretti the region of $10-12,000 to pitted and finished 18th, COMPETITOR disap half-mile venue hosting the second round of the series on coughing from his pit while pointment is the best way cover our travel and accom Stewart ran dry on the back to sum up the reaction to modation expenses alone,” December 18 - just three weeks after the Perth road stretch to run 10th - a tough the 1999/2000 Wyhoon said this week. break for the rookie who “At this stage we also don’t circuit round. appeared to have his first Superspeedway calendar, even know what the racing The Adelaide round also is released by Calder Park win in sight. format vsdll be for any of the the first round of the series Jarrett had third in the last week. rounds, so we’re not even for the supporting AUSCAR, The calendar, which pro sure if we’ll need extra crew Sportsman and HQ cate poses a six round NAS(JAR and David Green failed to to carry out pit stops ... these gories. series, starting at Wanneroo things need to be sorted out Two qualify for the New Superspeedway in Perth on November 28, soon so we can work with our events planned for January Hampshire race while four currently lists just three sponsors to try and get the of the five Roush entries 15 and February 12 before dates at the Thunderdome used provisionals .to make budget and then make the the supports take a break and one Adelaide round, giv the field, including Mark appropriate bookings.” and the NASCARs again ing AUSCAR, Sportsman Martin, Jeff Burton, Chad appear at the AGP event at “If we are going to Perth and HQ competitors just four we [competitors] maybe need Little and Kevin Lepage.

Albert Park - Calder Park’s rounds for their own respec For Martin, complete with to get together in the next calendar listing the event tive series’ - although it has few weeks and try and for March 12 in anticipation broken bones and using a been suggested that the cate crutch, it was the first time in of Ron Walker’s negotia arrange a transportation sys gories may receive extra tem where we can cut the tions to move the event over a year he had started rounds at other road racing costs of travelling,” he said. outside the top 25. from it’s current March 5 venues. date.

Wyhoon is known to be The Wanneroo round, currently preparing a New The final round has been Ernie Irvan has extend ed his contract with while having been talked the to Millennium Auscar and has allocated about for some time, comes recently purchased an ex- Thunderdome for April Fool’s MB2 Motorsports and sponsor Mars/M&M’s as a surprise in that its HRT VS V8 Supercar, the Day - April 1. through to the end of the November 28 date is only the former AUSCAR Champion’s A'Malaysian NASCAR year 2000. day after the World Series future apparently lying else date has also been listed for During a season and a Sprintcars have concluded where.

May, with negotiations cur half with the team Irvan their ‘three races in four days rently underway between After having been canned has recorded 16 top 10 western swing’.

NASCAR with just a few short weeks Perth-based Last season Adelaide’s results and three pole notice last season, AIR is owner/driver Barry Blake round of the NASCAR/AUSpositions. back on the calendar, the and a Malaysian promoter.

CAR series was cancelled due to it being held only the day after the adjacent Speedway City’s WSS round engines into AUSCARs and number of major - the promoters not wanting the formation of a new ‘guid changes concerning to risk “mnning up against” ance’ company.

Superspeedway racing in the popular dirt-track series.

Australia are soon to be Former Motor Racing The WA round also pre Manager Peter Bridge is announced, perhaps the sents significant budget expected to now control the most significant being the problems to most NASCAR formation of a new NASCAR running of Calder Park’s teams - veteran racer Terry Superspeedway and road class(a ‘B’ class powered Wyhoon being one to express racing events through a new

by GM Goodwrench his concerns. company called “Bridge engines), the potential intro “It will be an expensive duction of GM Goodwrench Motor Racing Management’’. exercise for us, probably in

NASCARs g@t six rounds for

Support categories - AUSCAR, Sportsman & HQs- disappointed atjust four rounds again

Further changes ahead

A

42

16 July 1999

0

9JG>.

*iSB».swssav:

Proposalfor WA Mod Sedan Team Series

By DARREN O’DEA

Charge from the pack: Andy Hillenburg dominated the opening night in the Dakotas, charging from 20th to win.

Duel in the Dakotas

THE annual three day Duel in the Dakotas kicked off with Andy Hillenburg kicking butt on the opening night.

Hillenburg only managed 20th time of the 35 competitors in qualifying but from then on was unstoppable.

He won the fourth heat sharing wins with Brooke Tatnell, Jac Haudenschild and Mark Toews, taking the Dash, in which Tatnell finished 8th, and then leading ail 20 laps for his second preliminary feature ofthe year.

Hillenburg led Haudenschild all the way through numerous stop pages with defending Dakotas champion Sammy Swindell third ahead of Mark Kinser, Johnny Herrera and Tatnell in sixth.

Night two belonged to Stevie Smith in an almost carbon copy of Hillenburg’s effort the night before, the only difference being that Smith qualified 19th before win ning his heat, the dash and then leading all 20 laps.

Tatnell had another good night timing eighth and then running 11th in the feature.

Finishing behind Smith in the main were Danny Lasoski, Steve Kinser, Haudenschild and Kevin Gobrecht.

MARK Kinser continues to add to his points lead after taking his 12th A-feature event of the year at Husets Speedway.

“This is our 12th win of the year, which is as many as we had all of last year,” Mark said after collect-

By Darren O’D

w

AYNE Miller has been re elected as president of the WA Speedway Riders’ Association, following the club’s annual general meeting iast month.

Graham Winter was elected as secretary and Bernie Dunn as treasurer. Dunn has also elected as the SRA representative to Motorcycling WA. Darren Nash is the sidecar representative to the committee and Rob Townson is the solo rep.

ing the US$10,000 first prize. “The Mopar car is just great, especially in traffic.”

Tyler Walker set fast time while Kinser was a disappointing (by his standard) ninth.

He made amends by winning his heat and the Dash to start from pole.

At the start, however, it was Johnny Herrera who took the lead for the opening nine laps.

Sadly for Brooke Tatnell, a bro ken rear end ended his race on only the second lap.

Kinser closed in and passed Herrera after nine laps and was never headed.

Walker though, had dropped off slightly but then put on a charge to grab second ahead of Danny Lasoski. Herrera and Steve Kinser.

-BRETT SWANSON

Speedway City 2000

AN increased schedule of larger-scale shows at Speedway City this coming season has prompted the Adelaide race track to announce its inten tions to employ more staff.

‘We’re looking to take on keen motorsport enthusiasts prepared to make themselves available reg ularly on Saturday nights in sum mer,” said promotion spokesper son Wendy Turner.

‘TuU training and uniforms will be provided and some of our new personnel will have the chance to ofBciate at the Australian Sprintcar titles in February,” she added.

Speedway City is keen to boost its quota of flag marshalls and timekeepers, and will also be appointing a Clerk of Course, deputy C of C, and an electronic scoreboard operator - aU positions of considerable responsibility.

Further details are available from the track office and expres sions of interest can be made by

SPEEDWAY drag racing fans had theand opportunity to check out the overhead plans for the new motorplex that will start construction in Kwinana in near future.

The plans were revealed at the WA Street Machine State Titles at the showgrounds, put on by the officials who run both the Claremont Speedway and Ravenswood International Raceways.

Both venues have one more season to run at their current venues before the muiti-million doliar, purpose-built complex will become the new home of motorsport in WA. The plans have also been unveiled at a display at the Kwinana Hub shopping.

G

O Grease Lightning was the catch-cry for three speedway

writing to Speedway City at office@speedwaycity.com.au or phoning on 08 8351 7777.

The full calendar for Adelaide’s Speedway City’s 1999/2000 speed way season is as follows: Nov 6 Nov 13 Nov 27 Dec 4

Official practice Sprintcar Masters All-Star Show World Series Sprintcars Dec 11 All-Star Show Dec 27 World Series Sprintcars Jan 15 All-Star Show,SA AMCA National Titles Jan 22 Sprintcar Spectacular Feb 3-5, Australian Sprintcar Title Feb 12 All-Star Show Feb 26 SA Sprintcar Title Mar 4 All-Star Show Mar 11 Sprintcar Gold Cup Mar 25 Austrahan Sprintcar Stampede Apr 8 All-Star Show enthusiasts recentiy.

Sprintcar drivers Gavin Migro and Pino Priolo teamed up with speedway commentator and for mer West Coast Eagie star Kari Langdon for a Battle of the Codes contest.

Pitted against other high pro file sporting outfits in WA,the speedway ioving trio, complete with race car, belted out the num ber in the studios of Channel 7.

The show was recorded before a live audience and went to air last week.

Incidentally, the speedway team didn’t win, that honour went to the Fremantle Dockers football side but it was more positive pub licity for the sport.

G

UY Wilson is the 1999 WA Solo State Champion after finishing second in the fourth and final round of the series at Bibra

CLAREMONT and Bunbury Speedways have proposed a Modified Sedans Teams rac ing series for the two Western Australian tracks next summer.

Promoters Con Migro and Des Ferris have recently float ed the idea with Modified Sedan officials.

The plan is loosely based around running a minimum 12 rmmd series, with six meetings at each track.

“We feel to be successful this competition can only work if each team’s cars are the same colours with numbers signwritten to be the same style and same,” Migro and Ferris said in a prepared statement.

“Individual drivers sponsors would need to be written on their cars in the same style and colour for each team.

“That way we could end up with a team resembling say a football club. If we do not want to go this length, then the con cept will not work and the pub lic’s support would not be forthcoming.”

The promoters believed the prize money offered would be more signihcant if the drivers embraced the concept.

They believed incentives over the season could be offered if they could start mar keting the concept early.

“This competition may sound radical but the stock car teams of the ’60s had significant fol lowing in other countries,” the promoters said.

Both Ferris and Migro are now awaiting feedback from the Bunbury Car Club and the Speedway Sedan Racing Club before any decision is made.

“We hope that the drivers and teams embrace the propos al, understanding that, while this is something different, it is designed to put more bums on seats and expose their spon sors to more people.”

Lake Speedway recently.

Honours on the final day went to Nigel Flatman who won all four qualifying heats and then took out the A-final, from Wiison, Rob Townson, Peter Conroy and Paui Duke.

But a clean sheet at the three previous rounds at Collie, Esperance and Kambalda - an impressive result anytime - gave Wilson a well-earned title.

The B-final went to Lee Blackman from Grant Farrell, Gavin Lewis and Darren Dawes.

I

N the last edition of Way Out West we mentioned that Veronica McCann recently had a bit of a spin in a Sprintcar and that the Smarter than Smoking Junior Sedan series winner would be back to defend her title at Claremont Speedway next season.

RACEFAN website closes down Team RACEFAN, onesite of,in if not the first Internet Australia devoted to Speedway racing, is to close up shop after four years as one of Australia’s premier Speedway sites.

As of July 16 the site will he no longer. Webmasters Brian and David Hennings have decid ed that with the wealth of infor mation now available on the net the time has come to move on.

“When I first got internet access, I was frustrated with the lack of information out there regarding speedway, and the hassle of actually tracking it down,” Brian Hennings stated in his web message.

“The TEAM RACEFAN web site was set up to get speedway information onto the internet and the time has come where we feel that the purpose has been served.”

Todd Wanless runs NARC in US Former Australian Sprintcar Champion Todd Wanless has joined Pete Murphy running with the Northern Auto Racing Club in California.

Driving the Wright One Construction car, Wanless is running the Speedweek series and has impressed with some good performances considering that they are all new race tracks to him. ‘ Despite being called a hot shot from New Zealand in one media release, the Aussie has posted a top 10 finish and, at times, has out qualified and raced Mmphy.

Kinser takes final Duel Steve Kinser victory in the final Dueltook in the Dakotas event, held at Red River Valley Speedway on Sunday night - the ‘King’winning US$18,000.

Well, it appears that she wili be doing it in a new car with her old trusty orange mini being advertised for sale - McCann is now behind the wheel of a Daihatsu Charade.

ELLENBROOK Speedway results, June 20: Street stocks: Race 1 & 3- J Cooper, race 2- R Smith, fea ture - S Hillary.

Production sedans: Race 1 R Bennett, race 2- W Leviston, race 3- J Castagna, race 4- G Hoskins, feature - A McNaily.

Super 6 Sedans: Race 1 -L Squance, race 2- B Schofield, race 3 & feature - G DeMamiel.

Junior sedans: Race 1 - C Whitehead, race 2 & 3- T Richards, race 4 & feature - V McCann.

Sprintcars: Race 1 - M Robertson, race 2-4 - L Monty.

lMs)[ko)[7S[p(o)[F9

16 July 1999

43

Kinser continues Outlaw reign ...as does the rain as bad weather hampers Pennzoil Outlaws Series RAIN has been the big winner at the Pennzoil World of Outlaw races towards the end of June, with numerous washouts and cancellations, the latest victim being the Bud Carson Memorial at State Fair Oklahoma.

took the US$12,000 for the win ahead of Swindell, Craig Dollansky, Mark and Steve Kinser. Tatnell was running as high as third before finishing 10th. Jackson and Jaymie Moyle were 21st and 22nd.

K

Speedway,

1-80 Speedway, Greenwood, Nebraska.

This event was firstly postponed and then later cancelled, making the State Fair Speedway one of the hardest hit having also lost the Outlaws show originally scheduled for April 25th.

In other series news, Kasey Kahne is the second young driver to be given seat time in Junior Holbrooks Energy Release Eagle, having taken over from Shane Stewart.

As reported previously, once long-time pilot Joe Gaerte decided to retire from full-time Outlaws competition Holbrook started the poUcy of giving a handful of young guns a limited try-out with the team before deciding on who gets the seat permanently next year.

Blot in the copy book: Steve Kinser stuck the Quaker State sprinter on its side at Knoxville.

Eagle Nationals, Eagle Nebraska.

Packed wallet: Beef Packer Danny ‘the Dude' Lasoski took home the winner's cheque at the Ethanol Classic.

M

ark Kinser dominated the opening night of the 16th annual Eagle Nationals, earning the Vivarin Quick-Time Award, winning the first NAPA Auto Parts heat race and leading all 25 laps in the preliminary feature.

“This Mopar car is definitely on kill tonight,” Mark said. “This thing has so much horsepower.”

Mark Kinser beat home, Tyler Walker, Steve ' Kinser, Jac Haudenschild and Johnny Herrera.

Danny Lasoski ran home seventh with Brooke Tatnell 12th - the first four cars all gaining automatic entry to the following night’s Channellock Dash.

Mark Kinser ran second to Walker in the dash but then looked set to make a clean sweep of the event, leading the first 30 laps before spinning and colliding with Jeff Swindell.

The incident handed the lead to Walker but his engine quit before the restart, brining Steve Kinser to the fore.

The ‘King’ then led the remaining 10 laps to successfully defend his Eagle Nats crown - taking his total to an amazing eight of the 16 Eagle Nationals run.

“We put a tyre on that was too hard, and we were just trying to ride it out and darned if they didn’t just set it in our lap!” Kinser said later.

Sammy Swindell recorded a fine second place finish ahead of

Beefpackers Eagle into the low groove and the lead - the pair actu ally making contact as Lasoski executed the winning pass.

Haudenschild again finished third ahead of Steve Kinser and Walker with Tatnell and Jackson 13th and 14th.

In the Ethanol Bonus feature the cars starting in inverted posi tions to where they finished the main feature - it was Herrera who

k

Steve Kinser given up on trying to winhasn’t his second straight Outlaws championship as an owner/driver after taking his sev enth A-Feature of the year in the Independence Day race at 1-80 Speedway.

Ironically Kinser only managed six A-Feature wins on his way to the title last year.

Kinser made his intentions clear by setting fast time, but almost missed the A-main when he could only manage sixth in his heat.

From third in the Dash, Kinser passed Lasoski and Swindell, who had led the opening two laps, before going on to win by almost two sec onds.

Aussie Skip Jackson was partly responsible for the win, Kinser explained.

“We got lucky and got to the bot tom before Sammy went down there. We looked at the track dur ing the B-main, and it looked like it was going to take rubber on the bottom,” he said.

“I also talked to Skip Jackson and he said it felt like it was start ing to get some giip down there, so that’s where we set up to run.”

Swindell hung on for second ahead of Lasoski, Mark Kinser and Herrera with Jackson finishing 15th and Tatnell 18th.

-BRETT SWANSON

Mopar man: Mark Kinser dominated the opening night of the Eagle Nats.

fcS:Haudenschild, Lasoski and Tim Shaffer. Tatnell recorded an 11th place finish.

Ethanol Classic, Knoxville, Iowa.

D

army ‘The Dude’ Lasoski knows his way around the famed semi-banked 1/2 mile Knoxville raceway as evidenced by his 70 fea ture wins, seven track champi onships and the 1998 Amoco Knoxville Nationals win. He rein forced his standing here by taking a clean sweep of the two night Ethanol Classic.

On opening night Lasoski was dominant winning every race except the dash. He paced the 49

car field in qualifying for the eighth time this year, won the opening heat and then led all but one of the 20 feature laps.

Steve Kinser flipped after contact with Stevie Smith and then Kerry Madsen crashed with Lance Blevins on the restart, also collect ing Smith, Tatnell and Donny Schatz.

Skip Jackson was running fifth early before finishing seventh, Tatnell 13th and Madsen credited with 21st. ' Mark Kinser, the only other dri ver to lead a lap, finished second ahead of Walker, Haudenschild and Terry McCarl.

The following night Mark Kinser won the dash and then led the first 21 laps before Lasoski put the

Saldana stars at All-Star sprint Ohio Speedweek

By BRETT SWANSON OEY Saldana, driving the Steve Mox Motorsport Stealth, has just taken out the 17th Annual All-Star sprint Ohio Speedweek.

Saldana won the open ing round at Wayne County Speedway in controversial circumstances after con tacting Dean Jacobs while protecting his lead.

The former Stanton/ Mopar driver was leading on lap 19 when Jacobs drove high around him coming

J

through turns one and two.

Saldana drifted high to block the move, running into Jacobs, breaking Jacobs’ front wing mounts and caus ing Jacobs front wing to flip back as Saldana maintained the lead. Naturally both dri vers had differing views on the incident.

“I was on the bottom

[line] and I saw the ‘top’ [gap] and went there ... oth erwise I was going to lose the race,” Saldana said.

‘This isn’t the way I like to

win but you’ve got to get them somehow...”

“It took me right out of winning the race,” Jacobs said of the incident. “I had him flat beat and he didn’t like that so he ran over me ... it’s as simple as that.”

T

he next night it was a Kinser in victory lane Kelly Kinser. Kinser had come from 13th starting spot to take the win at the Muskingum Speedway. The early stages of the race had

been led by another Kinser, Randy. Mark Keegan was second and Saldana third.

B

utch Schroeder was the third different winner the following night at K-C Raceway. Paul McMahan, in his return from injury, drove through the pain to finish second while Saldana, despite running hot, could only manage seventh.

Acouple was a sell-out of dayscrowd later it

that witnessed Saldana take his second win within a week, this time at Limaland Motorsports park.

McMahan was unfortu nate not to win as his car slowed on the penultimate lap when a fuel line came lose for the second time.

Saldana was fortunate to win in that his brakeless Stealth hit McMahan’s machine when it slowed sud denly. Both recovered quick enough to take the top two positions. Byron Reed was

third with Danny Smith fifth.

The finalRaceway race wasPark at Attica and it was All-Star legend Kenny Jacobs who finally hit the front, taking the US$10,000 win before another sell out crowd.

Saldanais fourth place finish behind Byron Reed and Kelly Kinser ensured him of the Speedweek victo ry by 12 points from Kenny Jacobs, Reed, Kelly Kinser and Frankie Kerr.

The fight for Australian Speedway The fight for control of the sport off the track will, apparently, over the next 12 months get tougher and dirtier than the wheel-to-wheel battles which take place on the track.

BRETT SWANSON takes a look at the formation of Speedway Australia Inc. and whafs been going on behind the scenes.

THE National Association of Speedway Racing (NASR), the privately owned umbrella group headed by John Hughes, is apparently continuing with it’s attempts to forcefully unite all the individual national divisions of speedway racing in Australia.

The push by NASR and the Australian Speedway Promoters Association (ASPA) continues to rile the majority of competitor groups who, until now, have had no real alternative. ‘ However, following the ASPA’s national conference in May, new impetus was given to a push to develop an alternative, competitor-con trolled, unified national body, hence Speedway Australia Incorporated was bom.

SA Inc. has been developed along lines in many ways parallel to the concepts behind NASR, but with one major difference - there will be no private ownership.

SA Inc. is to be owned by the competitors who will fund it just as they are being asked to fund NASR Inc., the Association which fronts the privately owned NASR P/L.

In a tumble: Sprintcars are known for their spectacular incidents, but will the sport crash worse than this if all mem bers of the sport forget what they’re actually there for?

We are the champions: Who will be the real Australian Sprintcar Champion if two National titles are run on the same night at two different venues? And which event would someone like Robbie Farr attend?

(Photos by Brett Swanson) This may come as a severe blow to NASR which has been trying to establish itself by forming partner ships with the major pro moters of Australia through the ASPA. The other major difference between NASR and SA Inc. is that SA Inc. is that it will be controlled by a board of nine elected members - four from competitor bodies, four promoter members and one independent member.

SA Inc. was implemented to make a quantum leap for ward iu the administration and marketing of speedway in Austraha.

Its immediate brief is to concentrate on the “common

ground” issues of competitors and promoters and to involve all parties in a consultative forum with the view to devel op common objectives for the good of aU speedway.

For its future SA Inc. believes there is a need for all participants in the speed way industry to have input and an ongoing involvement in the strategy development of the body and for the body to be fully accountable to its members for all financial transactions.

With four representatives coming from competitor groups, it is cun-ently envis aged that those members will be contributed by the SCCA (Sprintcar Control

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16 July 1999

One in, all in: Next season’s Super Sedan title is already a major point of contention, NASR and the ASPA offering an alternative to the official Australian title. (Photo by sren swanson) son preferably not involved A previous agreement was and Claremont.

PCR Promoter David in the industry but someone for no national title to be with a business, marketing, run during January, Lander is a member of finance or government back- although Gurbiel himself NASR’s board while ground. staged the ’95/’96 title for Claremont promoter Con A similar state structure Super Sedans at Newcastle Migro is head of the ASPA. will also be introduced for that January and, at that The ASCF has been invited each “division”. time, the ASCF notifying to have input on the venue One of the key instigators them that all previous but the decision will be of SA Inc. has been Neville agreements were now void. made by NASR’s board.

The ASPA’s response has The state bodies of the Harper, president of the ASCF. been to sanction the NASR Sprintcar fraternity have In his report following the Nationals and the All-Star been as vocal in their resispromoters conference. Super Sedan Challenge pro- tance to joining NASR as Harper said “Sadly the trip posed by Larry Nelson on any other, but despite all was a total waste of money behalf of Queensland Super states voting not to join NASR, National President and time. The ASPA had Sedans and Barry Pearce, already made a decision Harper beheves his organi- George Tatnell apparently is willing to make decisions prior to my arrival that a sation was set up.

NASR Nationals event would It was quite evident that and promises that fly in the be run in opposition to our [we] were set up and it suit- face of the members wishes.

Council of Australia), the According to the minutes traditional official ASCF ed [them] to have people ASCC (Australian Speedcar believe that the ASCF were of the ASPA conference, “Mr National Titles.”

Control Council), the ASCF This has apparently - the cause of the disagree-. Tatnell outlined that only (Australian Saloon Car ment on the title issue when one item stopped the SCCA according to a letter from Federation) and MA ASPA secretary and that is not the truth,” Harper from joining NASR and that (Motorcycling Australia). was the race rule used by Newcastle Motordrome said, Promoter representation the World Series Sprintcars (a Apparently, will consist of two from the owner Peter Gurbiel - come NASR/ASPA alliance isn’t company owned by NASR) main stream promoters about after the ASPA were (ASPA) and two from the country promoters association.

The independent will be elected by the competitor and promoter members, that per-

gates endorsed the motion from the previous year which said: “That the SCCA have no connection with NASR” - a motion which was carried unanimously.

Adding to this a new by law was carried that allows the Executive Committee to make minor decisions between AGM’s.

Those inside say commit ting the SCCA to pay the $6,000 required to join NASR is not a minor deci sion and, in fact, Tatnell’s actions have concerned many of the SCCA executive so much that they have sent letters to Tatnell and the state member clubs remind ing them of the recent out¬

disturbed by Saloon Car Federation’s move to allocate the national title next

content to just control Super ^nd if that rule was changed Sedans, Harper concluding to* the rule recognised and that it had come to his inten- by the SCCA for a minimum of 12 months, then Mr January to a non-ASPA tion that the ASPA/NASR Tatnell gave his assurance venue. combo are intending to run that the SCCA’s policy NASR Nationals in opposi would be reversed immedition to other official class national titles. ately.”

The minutes also state The issue of private ownership of sporting This is confirmed in the “By the acceptance of WSS organisations has long provided many with opportunities ASPA c^ference ininutes and NASR of the above, Mr to question motives, amongst other things. re-affirmed in a letter to Tatnell guaranteed the Speedway Australia’s main push is that, finally, a fiTASC^ ’ ^^ SCCA will embrace, support competitor-backed national speedway organisation and join NASR.” The reasons behind the much like ANDRA is to drag racing, will be able o look /ohn Hughes the after the fortunes of the sport-Its competitors, fans AND jgtter stated “Following various SCCA states refusal promoters — for the present and future. ; unanimous acceptance, it to join NASR are beheved to Naturally, any organisation must have a plan of attack resolved that a go much deeper than just a and goals, with Speedway Australia -in an effort to ‘Nationals’ event would be minor rule about the position capitalise on the promise of the sport — including conducted by NASR for ing oflapped cars on restarts.

According to insiders the amongst theirs: Speedcars in the 1999/00 real concern is the control - A competitive and creditable insurance scheme to season.” cover competitors, race crews, officials and It also said “It is not pro- NASR is trying to take over tracks. This insurance is already in place and has posed to further debate the the sport, the private owner been in use for a few years and it matches, if not reasons for this change in ship behind it, along with

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exceeds that offered by the Federation of A Cr,aoWM/ai/ /FACi) <;rhpme Aus/raten Speec/^ay A standardised national ' A national marketing strategy to speedway via television and print media.

Standardised race rules and regulations.

A national stewarding scheme Support and encourage the promotion and staging of national series and events.

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comes.

The Victorian Speedway Council met with those behind SA Inc. recently and expressed its support for the concept, so the parties behind the scheme are now going full steam ahead in an attempt to get the associa tion up and running.

SA Inc. appears to offer competitors a real and con trollable alternative and, regardless of the outcome, the next 12 months are sure to be messy.

One way or the other, if the sport can survive the turmoil it should come out of the battle unified at last, and, after all, isn’t that what NASR wanted?

Is,George diggingl his own grave?

CQ

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a.

tenure asTatneii’s the National George President of the SCCA is in jeopardy following his controversial decision to ask for a commitment by the association to join NASR. Late last week Tatnell issued a letter to all state Sprintcar clubs stating that he believed the only option for the SCCA and its mem bers to retain a say in the running and direction of Sprintcar racing in Australia was to join NASR. While acknowledging NASR was far from perfect: a lot of work has to be done for NASR to work, Tatnell said that, if it were possible to gain a position on the board, he believed the move would help gain some stability in speedway.

But immediately follow ing Tatnell’s release, SRA

of Victoria President Wayne Milburn sent a motion to the SCCA - a motion also signed by the Queensland.

Tasmanian and West Australian clubs- stating that the SCCA will not make a decision to join NASR, or any other body until a vote is taken on September 30, and that no action is to be taken prior by the SCCA executive.

If the motion is not fol lowed as directed, a further motion 6f no confidence in Tatnell has been threat ened.

The motion was moved by the Victorian club and seconded by Queensland.

While Tatnell’s wealth of knowledge and experi ence can’t be ignored, it would seem he has put his position as National President of the SCCA on the line.

- BRE'rT SWANSON

1999 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SERIES POINTS SCORE

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direction here but we suggest = further concern over some you take up any particular members of the NASR board. issues relevant to the reaIt would appear that sons behind the promoter’s Tatnell is out of line and out decision with their associa- of step with his assurances, tion.”

Tatnell believed to have no ]ggjjgyg(j venues mandate to do so with the ^j.g being considered - direction of member states.

Parramatta City Raceway, to At the SCCA’s recent coincide with the Olympics, national conference the dele-

45

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46 16July 1999

Revolution Gives Kart The Boot REVOLUTION Racegear has two new additions to its range of products. The popular brand of race apparel ‘RPM’ has been boosted with the launch of a new racing boot and steering wheel.

CaUed the “RPM Kart Plus’ the new Australian made boot has a number of special features and applications that make it very comfort able and durable.

Developed from RPM’s Kart boot design, the new boot features a “jogger” style ankle profile for greater sup port, Ml padded lining for both comfort and absorption and a heavy duty fuel resis tant sole.

The boots are finished in high quality black suede with tan lining.

While designed primarily for Karting, as the name sug gests, Revolution Racegear claim the RPM Kart Plus is also suitable for other forms of motorsport including speedway, rally and some forms of circuit racing.

Revolution has also increased its variety of steer ing wheels with a new RPM wheel.

RPM Kart Plus. Revolutions new karting boots Italian styled and manu factured, the classic three spoked wheel is available in leather, polyurethane and vinyl.

The new Rpm wheel prices start from $125.00.

The RPM Kart Plus boot is priced at $115.00.

Both are available from any of Revolution Racegear’s 18 stores accross Italian Styled. The new Australia and New Zealand. RPM wheel from Italy For more information on any of the Revolution range tion contact Revolution or for your nearest store loca- Racegear on 03 9873 8700.

All Falcon Gets The Good Oil PENNZOIL-Quaker State Australia has released a new product to join the extensive Pennzoil auto motive lubricant range, High Tech 5W-30 low vis cosity engine oil.

Formulated especially for motors that power the

imported range of Ford mod els and the recently released AU Falcon models, Pennzoil has developed a locally blended 5W-30 range that exceeds original equipment specifications.

For further information contact The Pennzoil Tech Info Line 1800686602

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Y for Yokohama Nile Lite YOKOHAMA has launched tyre noise.

In heavy rain, the V102’s a new high performance tyre featuring a unique Y Y’ shaped tread is designed to immediatly pump water shaped tread pattern.

The new AVS Sport V102 away, while its new technolo has been designed to meet gy compound ensures maximxun adhesion in the wet. the needs of the latest gener Yokohama has a network ation of ultra high perfor of almost 400 dedicated mance road cars. dealers accross Austraha.

The centre section of the tyre has no break in its Zig Zag design delivering extremely high levels of rigidity resulting in improved steering responsive ness.

Tyres based on a straight groove design struggle with the twist ing produced by the high acceleration forces of many performance ears. The ‘Y’ shaped tread design is claimed to resist this improving All new:AVS Sport V102 from handling and reducing Yokohama.

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AUTO METER has released a new range of gauges which are easily identified by their anodized blue exterior. The Luminescent dial glows at night, when no battery pow ered Ughts are available A sealed, water resistantcase keeps moisture and debris out, and the light weight anodized aluminium fittings on the temperature guages are ideal for sprintcar racing, where they must withstand harsh enviroments.

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A new D5mamometer has been launched on to the Australian market which could have an impact on motorsport.

Melfab Engineering have been appointed Australian dis tributors ofthe Dynopack chas sis dynamometer. Developed and manufactured by International Dynamometers in New Zealand the Dynopack has a some very unique fea tures.

The Dynopack is attached directly to the wheel hubs, thereby eliminating tyre noise and tyre distortion.

Direct coupling eliminates the need to estimate torque and therefore enables the dynamometer to make very sensitive readings over a very wide range of engine speeds.

International Dynamometers claim this gives a more accu rate reading which can be repeated on different runs.

The window based soft ware package is user fiiendly and also gathers all the rele vant information within runs of 30 seconds. The informa tion is graphed and can be compared against other runs

to show differences in perfor mance made by any alter ations to the engine set up.

The greatest feature of the Dynopack is its portability.

The direct coupling to the wheel hubs eliminates the need for huge and expensive rollers, which need to be permantley fitted to the work shop floor. This means that once you have finished your dyno run the Dynopack can be simply moved to the cor ner of the workshop allowing more floor space for other tasks.

When you want to go rac ing simply pack the

Dynopack into the trans porter and set up in the pit garage. If the driver is com plaining of lack of power hook up the Dynopack and the results will be known within 30 seconds. Any adjustments to the engine set up can be checked for improvement before return ing to the track.

Dynopak is available in both two wheel drive and four wheel drive systems For more information on the Dynopack contact Bob at Melfab Engineering on 9312 3356 or visit the website at www.melfab.com.au

Dyno at the track. The new Dynopack can be set up in the pits garage

Volvo’s superb S

WHILE Jim Richards has been tearing up the racetracks of Australia in Volvo’s S40 Super Tourer another model from the Swedish manufacturer has been making its presence felt off the track.

In the year since its release the S80 sedan had bagged 18 major awards from the world’s motoring media, the most recent being the Pan-Europe design award, based on the votes of 500 professional car design ers and design students from 33 countries.

After spending a week in the T6 version of the car, it’s not difficult to see why. The car, which is the first production saloon to feature a transverse, twin-turbocharged six cylinder engine, combines a high level of luxury with class-leading performance.

The car represents a new look for Volvo while retaining some of the marque’s tradi tional identifying features.

“The strong shoulder and pronounced V of the bonnet are classical Volvo signatures,” says Volvo’s English design director, Peter Horbury.

“They have been taken even further in the S80. It has an identity connected with the Volvos from the past without being sen timentally retro.”

“You spend more time than you think looking at cars from behind so the S80 must look as individual from the back as from the front. Our aim was to retain simplicity and form so there is no shift in surface, just a change of material. There is a continuation of form from the sheet metal of the body to the plastics of the tail lights.”

Horbury’s success in judging public taste is now recognised around the world. The S80 has won awards for style as well as for the hallmark Volvo values of safety and engineering excellence.

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Air Boy Brake Bleeder

For one person operation, the most efficient way to bleed hydraulic brake systems.

Sfafe Distributors

NSW: (02) 9678 9977 VIC: (03) 9794 5177

€

OLD: (07) 3808 1986 WA: (08) 9353 1155

Australian importer and distributor:

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Motorsport Equipment & Rocegeor 37A Fenton Street Ookleigh 3166

Ph 03 9543 6222 Fax 03 9543 6244

48 16July 1999

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CLASSIFIEDS

Sedgits/Sporfs Cars

Mitsubishi LA Lancer, clubcar Moteo injected 2.6ltr Scorpion box & diff, Detroit Looker, AP's, fuel cell, panhard rod and 10 wheels & tyres, heaps of spares. $16,000 com plete, $5000 rolling. Ph 0413 754438. 157

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Speedway Modified Production VB Commodore. 202, 3 spd, 3.55 locked diff, mags, spares, ready to race. $2,500. Ph: 02 9584 3484. 158

Ford Mustang coilector's car. Ex Dick Johnson Group A touring car in immaculate condition. $28,500. Ph: 08 9405 1113. 157

Chew Monza Sports Sedan. Super T10, 9", space frame, huge brakes, current log book. Heaps of spares brakes, wheels, springs etc. Tandem trailer. $15,000 roler.

Ph: 02 4943 4346, 0414 467 697. 156 Ford Mustang GT Sports Sedan. 351 Ford, dry sump, top loader, Harrop 9" floater. Big 4 spot brakes all round, Bilsfeins, BBS wheels, Zakspeed suspension, Sabelt harness, wets on rims. Plenty spares. Oran Park 44.2. $32,000ono. Ph: Kevin 02 4782 1145, 0414 822 427. isa Commodore Club Car. Fresh 580bhp Chev, Nash 5 spd, 9" floater. Awesome performance & reliability.

Absolute sacrifice at $22,500. Too many goodies to iist. Ph: 08 8383 7341 (AH). 158

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 155 ji

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Brock Commodore VH Grp.3 build no 1114, very good, original condition, 135,000km. Red, must sell. $9,500 ono. Ph: 07 5534 1397 157 Torana LC Club Car 2E strong 202, blue head, 45mm Webers, steel flywheel, close ratio Muncie, big brakes with 4 spots, 15" wheeis, proven car with lots of spares. $9,000, may trade road car. Ph: 08 8276 9933 or 0419 837 499. 157

Austin Healey Sprite. Mki. English 1958. Dark green, bare metal restoration to original condition 500 miles.

Second on conoours. Nothing to spend. Haggling starts $20,000. Dl 5832. Ph 0 4392 8896

Formula 500 chassis, 1.25 chrome moly, tig welded, brand new, has all panels and new bars. POA. Also, Commodore VT Super Sedan fibreglass body, includes bon net, front guards, roof, rear quarters & boot lid. $975. Ph; 03 6424 4544, 0412 092 020. 158 Outback Racing surplus parts sale; Complete VW quickchange diff, birdcages, brake, driveline, 6 pin hubs, 3 gear sets, $1500; two three-piece rear wheels, one two-piece front, $500 the lot; 2 Kawasaki crankshafts, both with Suzuki rods and welded, $600 ea; 1 set used Kawasaki oases $100; new/used Wiseoo and Aries pistons; 1 set chrome Kawasaki extractors, $150. Heaps used Kawasaki engine parts. Ph: 07 4668 5698. ,5s Super Sedan: factory Rayburn Mandrel bent rails.

Complete roller, new quick steer. Wide 5 hubs, gun drilled axle, aluminium radiator, Willwood brakes, new rack, fuel cell.

Ready to race, less engine. $12,500ono. Ph: 02 S724 0806, 0419 692 677. m Super Sedan chassis, roll cage, Pontiac body with alloy interior, front spindles, upper and lower arms, front struts.

Built 98, four meetings old. $5,000. Ph: 02 4572 5949. 158 Modified Rod, SA5 rolling chassis, less motor only, quick change diff, spare wheels, front axle and jigs. $6950. Ph: 08 8556 1203. 158

ROH Commodore Cup car #29. 1999 specs, ready tc race. New engine at start 99 season. Very competitive, nc expense spared owner selling due to business commit ments. $22,000neg. Ph: 02 4573 6418. 158 HQ Sedan. CAMS rego 99, plenty of spares, roller $2,000, complete $3750. Ph: 07 5593 6368 (AH). ™

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Torana Sports Sedan; mid mount 300hp, alloy head, Irving head, fresh engine, 48mm Webers, close ratio Muncie box, iocker diff, 4 wheel disc brakes, 15x10 wheels.

Full fibreglass lift off front, space frame. Current log book, reliable performer, ready to race. $8,900on o with spares.

Ph: 018 311320, 03 9350 1728 after 5pm. 158 HQ race car. Last race April 98, Div 1 NSW. New brakes, w/screen, Velo GP90 seat + more. $5,000. Ph: 02 9773 3654,019 604 961. isa

Mazda RX5 Fresh 13B, (20,000km) since full rebuild). Low Lovell suspension, looks good, just needs TLC and minor body work. $3,500 (bargain) No reg. Ph; 02 6629 0215 157 Austin Healey 100/4 blue & cream blue interior,.perfor mance engine, o/drive, disk brake front, Marque sports log book. Ideal Club Car, rallies, weekend drives. $30,000 ono.

Ph 03 5367 4380. 157 Satsun 180B Sports Sedan, 280Z engine, 260 bhp, slicks, 8 wets, spares, log book. $8000. Ph 03 9499 7141. 157 Alfa Sprint Sports Sedan, spaceframe construction, 13B rotary peripheral port Mazda factory housings,4uel injected by Motec, 5 speed Getrag gearbox, AP 7" clutcti, alloy flywheel, alloy Ford 9" diff. Independent rear end, AP 4 sport brakes front & rear. On board jacks. Simmons centrelock wheels, 10.5 x 17. 1 set of wets, lots of spares.. $28,000. Ph 07 5594 1706 157 Bridgestone HQ race car, reg for 1999 season.'No more to spend, ready to race including Dorian timing system. Ph 08 9309 5415 157 HQ Holden. Greg King offers for sale the Bathurst Best Presented Car. New car built and painted on rotisary. 99 reg, latest spec, C&B engine with spare. Looks as good as it goes. Just get in and take the chequered flag. Heaps of spares, an absolute sacrifice at $6,000. Ph Greg King 0419

013 594. 157

Porsche 911 SCTarga 1983 model. 3lt, 5 speed, 16" wheels. $29,500. Ph 07 5527 4616 or 0419 214 844 156

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Stealth Pontiac Speedcar: 10 meetings since new. Fast & reliable. Weld star spline, MPD spindles & drive line, QCS, KSE, Carrera shocks. Fuel Safe, titanium E/P, set numerous track records. $45,000. Ph: 02 9624 6428. 158 VB Super Street with roller 202 engine. No expense spared. Redline cage, spare diff, some tyres. Will separate. $5,500complete, $4,000 engine. Ph: 07 4786 1088. iss 95 Firebird. Complete wide 5 front end, new Frankland wide 5 magnesium diff, new powder-coated chassis, alumini um wheels, new seat belts & seat & gauges. Sweet power steering. $13,000. Ph: 02 4937 2999, 0408 699 698. isa

I Mazda RX7 red coupe. Ex centreline suspension.

Championship winning club car. Just rebuilt inc cam bered 5 link rear with watts link. Falcon XF rotors & series 5 calipers, Bilsteins, Hawke carbon pads, Needham C/R 5sp gearbox. Wolf 3D engine manage ment. Savanna taillights, front & rear spoilers. 4 Dunlop D78F Formula R, 4 Dunlop D93J Formula R wets, 4 Toyo Trampio - all 12 mounted on 14x7 Performance Challengers. MRT trailer. A developed & competitive package all in EC. $12,000 without basic engine or negotiate engine package. Ph Sacha Allen 03 9417 3932, 0412 003 825 or Adrien Allen 03 9528 1567. 156

Cortina Modified Sedan 3. Top point sooting car 97/98. 98/99 Claremont Speedway plus other champi onship wins. Very reliable and competitive car, spares included. Contact Frank Does 08 9377 7917 or 0412 771 595 157

an/ Super Sedan. '95 Corvette. Top condition, heaps of spares including 3 new bodies and moulds. As roller $6,500. 51 Bhp Chev engine also available, fresh, ready to go with engine $16,000. Ph: 02 6374 1303 157

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RX2 Club Car - 13B, turbo box, big brakes, adj Bilsteins, tagged alloy cage, new 14" AOOSRs, Kevlar seat. Entered for 6 Hr. $9,500ono. Ph: 0418 554 829. 158 Porscbe RSCS 1995. Pristine condition. Ph: 0411 327

327. ,58

Sports Sedan, Batsun coupe, 13B, 5 speed, alloy roll cage, 4 wheel discs, Volvo calipers, mag wheels 8" and 10", log book, very light & fast. $4,999. Ph: 03 9792 9526 (BH), 03 9792 4696 (AH). 158 Mazda RX-7, 94. 59,000km, 20B 3 rotor motor, 5 speed, immac cond, 76 alloy wheels, sunroof, power windows, Bose stereo system. May 2000 reg. Ph: Mark 0416 062

451. 158

Tbunderdome HQ, complete and running, needs updat ing & tidy up. Fresh engine and good running gear, plus heaps of spares inci new engine unassembled, flat track suspension kit, panels, wheels. $3,900ono the lot. Ph: 03 9465 5651. ise

Holden Premier Station Wagon, 69 auto, 307 V8. 12 months reg, excellent cond, $8,000 or best offer. Original owner. Ph: 03 9792 2989. iss VT Commodore, New Millenium AUSCAR caged body shell, or can build up into complete car. Be ready for Bathurst. Can deliver anywhere in Aust. Ph: 0418 877 268, Fax: 07 5578 3845. ISO Holden HQ racer, complete going car, iog book, good history. You won't win but you'li have a ton of fun. With spares. $2,400ono. Ph: 02 9670 2218 (AH). 158

Jaguar XJS 350 Chev, Turbo 400, both recently recond, 16x8 Simmons, new tyres, bare metal respray, no rust, n 0 expense spared. $15,000 ono. Ph 08 8536 4034 ra Commodore VL, Group A shell. Ford 9" diff. Modified Aussie 4 sped. Rebuilt 308 with 320bhp. Excellent cond.

Ready to race. $10,500. Ph: 02 4942 6233. is?

Toyota KE25 Club Car, twin cam, fully rebuilt car, new Sparco seat, new 4 point harness, rebuilt 5 speed, hypo clutch, Liteace diff, new club car tyres, logged '99. Offers.

Ph 02 9661 3507. 157 Lotus Cortina Mki 1965 genuine car in full race trim.

Superb mechanicals and body work. Full details Ph: 64 9 412 8500, $30,000. 157 Mazda RX4 Club oar s/sedan project, floater diff, watts iink, rear trailing arms, disc brakes, pedal box, custom roll cage. Too much to mention. $3500 ono. Ph 0409 191 612 or 03 9354 0417 157 Datsun 1600 Club car fully modified L series 2 litre motor, 260Z gearbox, 3.9 LSD, roll cage, clean body, $5000 ono. Ph 07 3277 6466 bh or 07 3801 2367 bh. 157 Toyota Mark II sedan club car fitted with fuel injected turbo 2 litre 6 cyl 5 speed box two sets of mag wheeis.

Goes well. $1500 ono. Ph 03 5447 7530 157 Mazda RX7 Series D, Seris 6 13B engine with T4 hydro Halteoh, big intercooler, LSD, Nissan GTR brakes, Konis, cage, Simmons wheels, 400+ hp. Professionally built road car. $18,000. Ph 08 8388 7297. 157 MG TC Special (Forde bros.) significant Historic racing car, documented history, log book, standing’l/4 in 13.2 secs, s/charged, comes with tilt trailer. $32,000 Concours condition. Ph 08 8332 3959. 157 Ford Escort Mkli FE Twin Cam Hi-Flow T3, Garrett wastegate, 220hp at wheels, ground up rebuild using the best parts, immaculate, CAMS approved 2E Street Registered, way too much to list. Going overseas must sell.

Bargain. $8500. Ph 08 8339 2442. 157

Renault Spider #69. Factory built works racing car, one of 80 ever built. Raced by german Renault works team 9496. 6 spd sequential gearbox, aluminium chassis, fibreglass body. Pole Nurburgring 24 hr race 1998. Has had complefe rebuild before shipping to NZ. Will trade Super Touring car or sell. POA. Ph: 00 11 643 377 9678, fax 00 11 643 377 9677, mobile 00 11 6421 211 5720

AUSCAR Falcon last season rookie winning car. With a spare set of wheels, fuel churn, jack etc. $22,500 ono. Will lease if required at a reasonable rate. Ph Jason 0412 779 999 15a

Modified Production TE Cortina 250 + .060 methanol, top horsepower, good rubber, heaps of spares.

Very competitive car, best offer around $5,000. Must sell.

Ph: 03 5593 2845 or 0417 563 233 157 Super Sedan Commodore, Dave Best chassis. Winters quick change dif, 4 aluminiym beedlock rims. Ready to race less engine and gear box. $9900 Ph Peter 03 5176 1352 or0418 134 174 157 V8 Dirt Modified 351 Ford-Cleveland, Sprintcar front end, 6 pin wheels, quick change diff, live axle, wide 5 wheels, coil over suspension, car ready to race. $9000. Ph: Phil 07 3205 2077 bh. 157 LH Torana Super Street. 202, 4 speed. Competitive car complete ready to race. $4,000 ono. Ph 07 4786 2676 157 Litre/Compact Datsun A15, McGee injection, auto meter gauges, quick change, as new vortex wings. All spares and trailer, quick car must sell. $12,000. Ph: 0414 557056 157

Open Wheelers

1975 Galant GC Coupe Race Car, ex Brown Davis, 2 litre, twin 48ml Webers, 5 speed close-ratio, 4 wheel discs with bias. Marsh seats, full cage, 2 sets of mags, blue 2 pack, adj. front end, 4.6 locked diff and more. Lap times avail. $4,700. Ph 03 9885 5417 ah 150

Formula Ford, RF95 Van Diemen, ex Todd Kelly (1997).

New engine, (Speedtech), top car, immaculate cond, ratios and spares. $32,000ono. Ph: Mike 0411 622 999. isa Kart; Twin Clubman - Arrow chassis, balanced Stones engines, matched pipes, nose cone, tacho, many spares.

Immaculate presentation. $3,500ono. Ph: 02 9524 1199. 150 Brabham 1964 BT16 F2 998cc Cosworth SCA, Hewland Mk.7 6 speed, FIA papers, green/silver. Perfect race ready condition, $75,000. Ph 64 9 412 8500 Fax: 64 9

412 8512. 157

16 July 1999

Parts

Replica Lotus 7 Series 3, 1600 Ford mechanicals, unfinished project. $10,000. Ph: 02 4384 3571

Elfe 700 1976 Group Q. 1600 cc Ford. Immaculate condition.

Vety competitive. Fastest Group Q at V\/inton. Cheap to run and martain. CAMS cert of description. $37,500. Ph Peter Whelan 08 83732070 bh,088295 4342 ah or 088373 2087 fax. 157 Formula Ford RF 95 Wan Diemen ex Todd Kelly (1997) new engine (Speedtech)top car, immaculate condi tion, ratios and spares. Ph: Mike 0411 622 999 priced at $35,000 ono. 157

Elfin 620FF one of four cars exported to USA in 1974.

Stored for last 15 years. Totally original, located in Tennessee. $US9000.. Ph Brian 02 4966 3516. 157 Off Road Class 9 Buggy 13B Twin Turbo, adjustable S.A.W. rear, coil front, G50 Porsche box, spare wheels, will separate. $18,000. Ph 02 4951 6291. 157 Superfcart 250 IntemaSional.2 cyl, 6 speed g/box, ready to race. Some spares. Ph 08 86330574 or 0418 837 745. 157

350 Chew; Victor Jnr manifold, twin point acoel disy, good cond. Best offer. Ph:036424 4544,0412 092 020. iss 4 spot Outlaw calqiers, still new in boxes. Complete with braided brake lines and pads, with various brake compo nents. Ph: Tony 0417 693871. tSB Series 4 RX7 calipers (front) $350; Willwood 4 spots & ceramic pads $750; ex DJR Sierra 5 speed getrag, rebuilt $2,500; Harrop rotors on Holden hubs $800; #%GE 2 litre Toyota twin cam, $950; Holinger gears & Getrag (damaged), needs input shaft, $500; Alloy fuel tank, full baffling (new) $250. Ph:0418 736 619. ise Brabham wheels: 13”x7.5", 9” & 10" widths. 6 available.

Also, range of historic Dunlop racing tyres, 15”x5.50 and 5.00.

Make an offer. Ph:03 95891217, or 039682 4644(BH). iss MS© Promag, ten times more output than conventional magneto. Built-in rev limiter. $2150. Ph: 0418 514 444, 03 5176 2257. ise Set of F/F wheels, reduced to $300. Ph: 07 3351 3506. 15a Ford 351C 4 bolt block, $1200; 4MAB cranks, $400; Carillo con rods $1200 set; Accell race dist $380; roller rockers $300; alloy bell housing $280; efi complete 302W $1200. Ph: 02 4782 1145. iss Croup A twin throttle body injection with air intake and MoTeC computer & harness. $3,000. Ph: 02 4782 4074 (BH),02 6355 2413. 158 Ford Cleveland parts: Yates C3L high port alloy heads, with roller rockers, push rods and roller cam. Jack Roush intake manifold, Milodon gear drive, TRW pistons, 6" conrods, 351 4-bolt main block, $10,500. C6 auto Tci 3500 stall. Band m Quicksilver gear shift, $2,000. Ph: 02 6288

VW IRS Beatle type SuperBox, Billett Steel Hemisphere (American), 4 stargear diff, 25mm alloy ribbed sideplate, 4.125 crown/pinion. Holinger 3rd & 4th gears - 1.58/1.14. $900.. Ph 07 3351 3506 157

Eitgiiies Chev 350, short motor, -r-035, 358ci. JE pistons, 13:1 comp, Manley 5.7 rods, 4 bolt 010 block, w/tray, HV pump & sump, roller cam, ARP studs. Suit Speedway. $11,000ono. Ph: jason 08 8261 6672. 158 Chew 17 degree motor, Dart alum heads, bowtie block, T&D shaft, rockers. Grower crank, Oliver 6” rods, JE pis tons. Fully recoed by Rob Benson. 650hp. $17,500. Ph: 0418 514 444.03 5176 2257. 158 Toyota G4A-E10 dohe 20 valve motor. Throttle bodies & ram tubes, lightened flywheel, custom fabricated 4 into 1 header, extensive head work. Motor just rebuilt, receipts available, in excess $4000 inc new pistons, rings, larger exhaust valves, compression 11:1, just run in, hear running. $2,850. Ph: Dennis 03 5968 8777. 158

}

Toyota 4AGE face engine, nitrided forged steel crank 3/8’ ARP big end bolts. Wisco forged pistons, TRD 320 degree race cams/followers/valves. Ryall quad throttlebody manifold. Crank trigger ignition MSD. Dry sumped 3 stage pump. Autronic SMC ECU. Steel flywheel AP clutch. Engine dynoed, several programs, race ready. Cost $14,000 unraced. $8,500. May separate. Ph: 02 9752 2291 bh or 02 9875 1050 ah. 157 Chev S.8, high performance 355ci, manifold to sump.

12.5 to 1 comp, roller valve train, 4 bolt bottom end, approx 420-450 hp, can supply thickerhead gaskets to make more streetable. Only quality brand names used inside engine.

Ring for more details. Will separate heads and manifold from bottom end. $6,000 ono. Ph: 02 9604 8910 or 0417 253-324. 157

Chev 350 4 bolt 010 block, big HP, 292 fuellies roller rockers, forged pistons, CC 280 cam. Fresh engine. $4,000. Ph 08 9279 9933. 157 Sigma 2.6 EFi, Mahle forged pistons, spent $4000, 5 racesold.$1,5000Ph024951 6291. .57 Formula Ford engine. Complete, just re-built, new pis tons/sleeves/crank and bearings. Used in one hillclimb only. Includes dry sump and pump, carbi and manifold & 157 exhaust system, hear running. $2,500. Ph 07 3351 3506

Transporter for sale Dual Cab Isuzu, 85 FSR Update,6 speed turbo with 160,000 genuine k's. 22' custom pan suit super sedan, sprintoar etc. Simply too much to list. First to see. Will buy. As new. $59,000 neg. Ph 02 6280 6581 or 0147 511 296 157

Over $2 million of cars, parts in Motorsport News FREE Classifieds.

Tramsporters/lk’ailers 1972 F100 ute. 460 big block motor, auto, power steer ing, 4wd brakes, 9 inch diff. Gun metal grey duoo, lowered, good tow vehicle. 12 months rego. $14,000. Ph: 03 9776 1694,0412 580 367. m

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 157 Enclosed trailer 17ft, alloy floor, work bench, 2 pack paint, mags, 240v power inside and out, alarm, 12 months full car trailer rego, many extras, excellent condition. $6800.

Ph 02 9730 2599. 157

Wanisd Business partner sought. Sydney-based petrolhead with internet & computing skills sought to start new motor sport business. Tech background an advantage. Suit retiree. Fax reume to 02 9439 7404. isa Pit Crew female or male for Super Touring race car.

Experience not necessary. We will train. Located in South West Sydney. Must be committed - no tyre kickers. Ph 02

5629. 158

9774 1711. 157

Racima Mini Funny Car. 1932 Ford, Suzuki 1100, air shifter, new tyres. Requires minor work to finish. Over $4,000 spent on parts, sell for $3,000or offer. Ph: 02 6236 9167. 158 Supercharger 14-711 Littlefield, Billett rotors, rebuilt $2100. New L4T clutch 10" - 3 plate, new clutch can $5500. Fresh complete veney heads inc. new inlet manifold and rocker assembly. $7500. Ph 0418259 621. 157 Grower 11”3 disc clutch, suit Chrysler/KB excellent condition. $1300. Header kit suit Funny Car $400.Ph 0418 259 621. 157

49

Half enclosed tandem drop-axle trailer, 8x14 wheels, 19ft. 6ft 6in heavy duty axles, brakes, inside cupboard, 6 months reg. Cheejuer plate floor, tool box, spare wheels, suit wide car. $3,500. Ph: 018311 320, 03 9350 1728. is8 Trailer, 2 car and plenty of storage, lightweight, tows beautifully, aluminium frame, two car annexe. Vic rego.

K700. Ph: 0419 895 692. 158

Enthusiastic female with V8Supercar pit crew experi ence and current admin, career looking for full or part-time race team position doing PR, catering, logistics, girl Friday etc. Phone Anne 02 6274 1850 bh or 0413 275 570. 157 Formula One video tapes on the 1980 season or individual races on tape on earlier FI seasons. Ph: 02 9529 9950. 157 Dorian Timer for Sports Sedan ASAP. Ph: 02 0412 049 158 or 02 9906 7614. 157

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ROH Prosprints, (similar to above photo) 2 sets of 4 wheels. One set Ford/Valiant -other set early Holden/Torana/Volvo. All 14x7. $600 per set. Ph: 03 9884 4944 or 0416 215151. 155 Tilton clutch plate to suit 7.25" clutch and Escort/Cortina twin cam gearbox. Brand new, in box. $180ono. Ph: 02 9526 8436. 157 Fully enclosed trailers, up to 6 metres long, 2 metres Kombi 1800 off-road gearbox, Albins close rafio gears, wide, immaculate presentation, 8 ply tyres, Sunraysia wheels, elec brakes etc. $7,500. Other sizes/styles on request. Ph: super diff. $2,000. Ph 02 4951 6291. 157 Steve or Chad 0412 610 444, or 02 9610 4444. is8 Chev Brodix-10 heads flow good HP. Race ready. Ph 07 3888 3232 157 40' Bedford bus, newly finished, ten comfortable RX7 Motec M48 Pro Fuel Injjection System, includes M48' seats, fully decked out, very fast Isuzu 6BGI turbo intercooled,6 speed. Ramped to fit Commodore. Reluctant sale. pro box, Motec capacitor discharge, 2x Bosch 500hp fuel $35,000. Ph: 08 8383 7341 (AH). 158 pumps, 10 Bosch 351 injectors. Crane ignition coil, wiring Tandem enclosed trailer, 5mt long inside, 2mt high. loom and pressure regulator kit. To buy new $7,200, sell Electric brakes on Alco axles, mag wheels, ramps. Will fit HQ $6,200 brand new with all manuals. Ph 0419 188 010. 157 RX7 SI/11 body shell. Suit sports sedan or cluboar. Sgme inside, only 2 years old. $4,500ono. Ph:03 9465 5651. 156 suspension mods, includes most parts of original car, $500. Mandrel bent roll cage and many metres CDEW tub ing $500. Body rotisserie, adjustable, suit most bodies, knock down to store, 360degree HD oastors.$750. Ph 03 9792 5617. 157 Wheels, 2x13x8.5, 2x13x7, 2x13x5.5. All to fit Datsun, Toyota, Mitsubishi. $450. Also slicks all 13", 8 to 10 inch wide. Avon and Dunlop new to half worn. 10 of, $50 each, FIDO dual rear end, fresh 351-r auto. 9mm Goseneck trail will separate. Ph 0418 207 130. 157 er, 5 itva genset - air comp bunks, benches, winch, 240Racewear, 2 Flamecrusher driving suits, size M, three 12v, cupboards, 9x4m Annex, fridge, TV, video, stereo, later, FIA appr., one blue, one red/yellow. Both include alarm. $30,000. Ph: 07 3805 4611 or 0418 716 002. 157 nomex balaclava, underwear, socks. As new $400 each. 1 pr Nomex boots and socks $100. 1 pr Nomex/leather gloves $50. 1 Dominion 5 pt harness. New, $150. Ph 03 9792 5617 157 Mazda 13B Turbo gearbox, K.G. Engineering close ratio, dog engagement, straight cut gears with roller bear ing hardened yoke. New, cost $8,000. Sell $6,500. Ph 03 9792 5617. 157 Holden XU-1 close ratio gearbox $750. Borg & Beck triple plate suit EH complete assembly with very light steel flywheel. $500. Ph: 08 8276 9933. 157 Coil over springs Many length and rates $100 pr. Pit Fully enclosed 21 ft tandem axle, tilt, car trailer. 6 new scooter as new motorised cost $1400 fits in car boot. Light & 'Sunraysia rims with light truck tyres, 4.5 tonnes carry cap. fast. Easy to ride $450. Ph 07 5441 7700 or 07 5448 5569 157 elect brakes on both axles with breakaway unit. $6500. Ph: Super Flow SF600 Re advertised sale fell through. You 0412 677 975. 157 can get the bargain. As new with manual, port plates & Race-car transporter Tri-axle 32" enclosed trailer, micrometer. $7500. Ph 07 5441 7700 bh 07 5448 5569 ah Landcruiser wheels, electric brakes, winch, aluminium Sparco “Rev” race seats x 2. Azzurro blue. 1 EC & 1 ramps, 240v power & lighting, 5.7 kva generator, lull length Aver cond, retail $899 each, sell $1,000 for both. Ph 03 annexe, turn table coupling, 4.5 tonne gvm, normal trailer 9336 3039 157 registration, fit sedan car or dragster, new condition.

Formula Ford alloy mag wheels x 4 with Avon tyres, $19,500. Ph 03 9317 8867 ah. 157 good condition. $400 ono. Ph 07 3351 3506 157 Mercedes Benz 1424 Lucar custom built Pantech 2 car Weber carby, 58mm DCO side draught. New, $2,250. Ph transporter, front spower lounge-living area, fully equipped, 03 9792 5617. 157 large storage area work bench ets. $110,000 or will finance Slick tyres, 280/680/R17, soft/medium compound for $2200 p/mth. For appointment to inspect ph 0418 33 77 VSSupercar type, brand new. $450 set of 4. Ph: 0419 319 55,03 9775 2299 ah or fax 03 9775 2399 157

Photos for sale Round 3 BOC Gases ASTC - most Super Tourers and F2s. Some photos of Porsches, Commodores and HQs. Ph: David Batchelor 08 8634 5310 157

©flier IndyCar trip to the Gold Coast. Everything included air fare, accomm (on track), race clothes, raceday meals & drinks. Heaps more. 10 spots only, with 2 spots left. $1375.

Ph:Geoff0411451 240. 158 Race car Swap Meet and Show'n Shine: Fairfield Showgrounds, Sydney, Sunday August 8. All sites under cover, rain, hail or shine, we swap. Trophies awarded for show categories. 6am start. Buyers $2, sellers $10 per car or ute, $15 for trucks. Call the Info Line on 02 9610 0500. isa Workshop to let (or sell) Factory unit over 300 sq metres in Hornsby Industrial area (Sydney) approx 20kms north of CBD close to Ml freeway north. Excellent outlook, enormous mezzanine, office, bathroom, kitchen 2 x toilets, built in wall benches, engine/machine room, large compresor, multiple car spaces (and space for transporter) $525 PW (plus outgoings)Ph 02 9482 2470 and 0408 162 762. 157 For sale: rare Adelaide FI, Gold Coast Indy posters and promo material, too numerous to list. Also some mid-70s FI posters. Ph: Anthony 07 5479 1049. 158 Expressions of interest sought for purchase of Australian Fuel Bladder Supplies Pty Ltd. manufacturers of custom & controlled fuel cells, and fuel systems. Ph: 0412 651 368, 07 5530 2578(AH). 157 Enthusiastic female with VSSupercar pit crew experi ence and current admin, career looking for full or part-time race team position doing PR, catering, logistics, girl Friday etc. Phone Anne 02 6274 1850 bh or 0413 275 570. 157 OMP triple layer race suit size 52 plus gloves $300 lot ono.

Ph 03 9762 0065 ah or 0416 166 999. 157 Autosport magazines. Aug 78 - June 89, $20. Ph: 08 8356 4596. is8 Demmler 3D workstation. Complete jigging system for building race-car chassis, capacity to take full car body, including all auxiliary equipment, built to absolute accura cy, new condition. $12,500. Ph 03 9336 4522 bh. 157 Ford Cosworth Owners Club forming a register of owners of Cosworth powered cars to promote communica tion between members. Ph Neville Davis 02 4367 6734. 157 Attention all teams - Young hopeful driver with talent and potential seeks drive at Bathurst (any category). Very willing to assist in any way. Ph Mark 02 6925 3830. 157

002. 157

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

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50 2July m Motorsport NEWS

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Editorial

From someone who should know...

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Dear Sir, So the Australian Rally Championship is to be professional ly promoted and this gives rise to an angry outburst from disgruntled organisers.

But, in doing so, they demon strate how weU they themselves in the foot.

Editor Phil Branagan Holiday Editor Tony Glynn Assistant Editor Gerald McDornan Graphics Co-ordinator Viv Brumby

Advertising Advertising Manager Brendon Sheridan

Administration Managing Director Chris Lambden

Contacts 89 Orrong Crescent Caulfield North VIC 3161 (PO Box 1010 North Caulfield 3161) Phone; 03 9527 7744 Fax 03 9527 7766 Email: msnews@ozemail.com.au

Contributors General: Mike Kable. Jon Thomson, Brian Reed. Grant Nicholas, Darryl Flack, David Hassall, 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, Frank 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, John Morris/Mpix, Frank Midgley, John Bosher, Phil Williams, Mike Patrick (UK), Tony Loxley, Daniel Wilkins, Wayne Nugent, Peter French Artist: Bernie Walsh Cartoonist: Allan Schofield

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Send letters ttfTalk Convert^to PO Box 1010 North CauHieW our E-maD address, or fax to 03 9527 7766.

The staff of Motorsport News does not necessaiify agree with opiniofis

Give us support for our keen eye

That’s another way of saying they are amateurs, and I say that without any denigration. Our sport can not exist without the amateur input of organisers, marshalls and officials, even at Formula One level.

Rallying in Australia exists in a time warp - it’s where it was in Europe in the ’70s. It needs drag ging by the scruff of its roll cage into the media-driven next millennium.

In Europe the WRC and the British Rally Championship have proved that rallying is a media-wor thy sport. If it’s going to get that same recognition in Australia it needs professional guidance, pro motion and management.

By their own admission the Clerks of the Course have identified themselves as being not the people to handle this task.

John Smailes and his Project Group have already generated the sort of TV coverage that makes the modest few sponsors in the sport believe that some of their invest ment is being seen by more than the few fans who lurk in the forests.

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Good old fair go; Brittan says that’s what rallying needs in Australia.

Ed’s note: Nick Brittan spent 17 years as the Media Manner of the RAC Rally, along with managing the the likes of rallying’s Kankkunen,Vatanen,Biasion and Blomqvist to name a few. Brittan also admits to being well paid .„

Where’S Webber?

Dear Sir, I wonder if you may be able to help me. I am trying to find Mark Webber’s homepage on the inter net.

All I can find is the one at

Bemie has proven beyond doubt that 'TV is the key to success and financial fortune in FI. Telly and professional promotion is the way to drag Australian rallying out of the 1970 ditch it’s wedged in at the moment.

I’m not saying that Smailes is the next Bernie. But what I do say to the Clerks of the Course is stop whingeing, do what you’re good at and let Smailes do what he does professionally. Whingeing is for Poms - what ever happened to the Aussie dictum of Fair Go!

Mercedes which only gives a profile.

If you are able to help me I would appreciate it.

My compliments on you maga zine. It seems to get thicker each fortnight while the “other one” gets thinner.

JJ Email <ahlmann@ozemail.com.au> Ed: Mark Webber’s sponsors Yellow Pages have provided a comprehensive website for him for a number of years. You can access it through: www.yellowpages.com.au.

Nick Brittan Bayview, NSW

How to fix the V8s?

Dear Sir, I buy your magazine each fort night and find it a great read; much more variety than your opposition AA. Keep up the drag racing, CART and NASCAR content. Is there chance .of you pubhshing a compre hensive list of upcoming events, not just the majors ?

With regard to the feature “What do we do to fix FI?”, I agree that there is a serious need to fix Formula One. At present it would have to be the greatest yawnfest known to man.

Along the same lines, though, the same question must be asked of our own V8 Category. Having been to Eastern Creek round and watched the others on the teUy, there is also a serious lack of overtaking at the pointy end of the field. Whereas last year the teams were blaming tyres, this year the catchcry is “Getting the suspension set up right”.

I suggest, for one thing, they should do away with the threesprint race format - there should only be long races, with pitstops.

The only race so far this year to generate excitement and lead

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changes was Adelaide. HRT do a tremendous job setting the car up for qualifying and the sprint races, but longer races seem to even things up.

In response to Stuart Hamilton (Talk Converter Issue #156), I don’t care what time the CART or bike races are telecast, as long I have a VCR I’ll continue to watch.

Phil Baldwin Email <”Phillip_Baldwin”@colpal.com>

Seemingly they cling vrith pride to the fact that they “do it for noth ing because they love the sport ... they don’t make any money from their efforts.”

MOTORSPORT NEWS is published by Australasian Motorsport News Pty Ud ACN No 060 179 928 Directors C Lambden (Managing), A Glynn

Material published by MOTORSPORT NEWS is copynght and may not-Jbe reproduced in full or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Freelance contributions are welcome, and while all care will be taken. Australasian Motorsport News Pty Ltd does not accept responsibility for damage or loss of material submitted.

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Dear Sir, I have been an avid motor sport enthusiast for many years and like many keen observers on TEN’s Hidden Valley coverage was sur prised to notice Russell Ingall’s incar telemetry showing the tacho exceeding 8,000 revs.

Unfortunately Russell has seen fit to blast the general pubhc for hav ing the hide to beheve he could dare cheat and get away with it.

I have watched many telecasts over the years and can never recall ANY other team exceeding their rev limit.

Russell suggested in his column we should all get a life - it doesn’t take much to question such an anomaly and the fact that Russell was at the time at the pointy end of the field.

Perhaps Russell could give the public some support for having such keen eyes and showing such interest, and the telemetry suppli ers a kick in the butt.

In complete contrast to the above.

I’d like to applaud the unsung heroes of your magazine - the pho tographers. I am proud to say that I know Dirk Klynsmith having raced superkarts for some years and am always keen to see what visual feasts await me each fort night.

These people are extremely dedi cated and get very little recognition for their efforts. I hope you’ll pass on my appreciation for their time and dedication. The mag would be very plain (and thin) without your covers being graced by their work.

John Barrs Email <jbarrs@terrigal.net.au>

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Russell ‘ENFORCERf Ingall

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