Motorsport News Issue 161 - 10-23 September 1999

F1: Irvine trades

Ferrari for JaA $4.50 'NZSS.95inclGSTj

10-23September 199§

NEWS

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INTERNATIONAL

Bathurst City Council

BOB JANE T-HiARTS % \

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We are delighted to announce an exciting new * format for the traditional Bathurst event in October at the world famous Mt Panorama circuit

T-MARTS

The new format will see the Super Touring cars and other invited categories compete in a sprint race on Soturday and a feature endurance race on Sunday. In addition,the new V8 Bathurst Tourers will compete with AUSCARS in their own 300km endurance race on Sunday morning. A further seven support categories(with over 300 cars)from Commodore Cup,Austin Healey, Group N Historic, Club Car, HQ Holden, Formula Vee and the brand new Mitsubishi Mirage Series Cars, will make up the most inclusive motorsport event ever staged at Mt Panorama.

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Support Categories Competitor Enquiries Ticket Costs

HQ Nationals Group N Commodore Cup Austin Healeys

Club Cars Formula Vee

’^0'' any signage or commercial enquiries contact Craig Fletcher or Peter White on 03 9427 9655

Mitsubishi Mirage

For hospitality packages and facilities contact Peter White on 03 9427 9655

For all your competitor enquiries contact Craig Fletcher on 03 9427 9655

Your ticket requirements

Raceweek pass (Wc,i,ws,hv to Sumkiy) Weekend pass (Salurdav & Smulcty)

Sunday pass Pit/paddock pass Pit straight grandstand

General admission

Your ticket requirements

concession

$80 ea $55 ea $35 ea $20 ea

$40 ea $25 ea $15 ea

FOG on all days

FOC on all days

N/A

TOTAL U(Cliilclrcn under 16years must be accompanied by an adult whilst in Pit/Paddock Area). CONCESSION: Children 12 to 16 rears; Pensioner cardholders. Children under 12 arefree ofcharge.

Paddock Camping Costs Name: Address: Caravan: Length Tent: Measurement

Commercial Signage

Per person: Week $75 each Weekend (Fri-Sun) $50

ph( p/c Annexe: Yes / No Preferred site:

(Every effort will he made to allocate your preferred site, however this is not alwavs possible)

Tickets Sc Camping package

You can purchase combined entry ticket and camping package for a week for $155 per person (includes Raceweek pass, paddock pass and camping) or a weekend pass (Friday to Sunday) for $125 per person (includes Weekend pass, paddock pass and camping). Please complete order form.

Accommodation

For all your accommodation and home rental program contact the Bathurst Visitors Centre on 1800 68 1000.

Hospitality Enquiries

Opcter Form Name: _ Address: p/c Ph:( Mobile:(

Payment details Total camping costs

$

Total ticketing costs

$

Total ticket/camping package cost TOTAL AMOUNT

$ $

Method of payment LH Cheque or Money Order payable to Advamaye huernaiional

□ VISA □ Bankcard ir

Card

□ Mastercard

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Cardholders Name: Signature: Total amount enclosed/to charge:$ Mail to

Exp:. :

Robyn Dixon Bob Jane T-Marts Bathurst '99 PO Box 3297 North Burnley Vic 3121 Ph 03 9427 9655 Fax 03 9429 1591

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W September!999

Canberra gets SCS date

CANBERRA is the latest venue to secure a new round of the V8 Supercar circus.

The Shell Championship Series will visit the national capit^ for the next five years, starting on the Queen’s Birthday weekend of June 9-11,2000.

The ACT government has com mitted $17 million to the event over the next five years, until 2004.

The National Capital 100, round 6 of the 2000 SCS, wUl feature three races for V8 Supercars; one a 25lapper on Saturday afternoon, one a reverse grid 25-lapper and a 50 lap final, both to be held on Sunday.

The 3.9 km track, designed by Mobil-HRT driver Mark Skaife, will wind its way past both the old and new parliament houses, and Lake Burley Griffin.

Track capacity will be 32 cars the top 28 from the SCS and two each at the discretion of AVESCO and CTEC, the Canberra Tourism & Events Corporation, which will promote the event.

Corporate tickets for the race will

be on sale in December, with gener al admission tickets available early in the new year.

Initial estimates are that between 50,000 and 70,000 spectators will attend the event, though CTEC Chairman James Service said at the launch that the estimates were “being really conservative”.

The legislation for the event was passed by the ACT government on Tuesday, August 31, by a vote of 161.

Like the Sensational Adelaide 500, there may be a naming rights sponsor for the event, subject to negotiations with CTEC. While Canberra is the big winner with the event, Symmons Plains in Tasmania will miss out after having hosted SCS and ATCC roimds since 1969,longer than any other track.

“It’s terrible giving people bad news,” said AVESCO Chairman Tony Cochrane. “[But] we are dedi cated to putting on the best racing at the best venues.

“It’s unfortunate. W’e all liked going there[Symmons Plains].”

n The end for Melrose or was that Mai Rose? In the week that saw the final episode ofthe long standing US soapy, the winner of the privateer category at the 1998 FAI 1000, Mai Rose, has confirmed he won’t be defending his crown.

Budgetary shortfall and his work with the new Mitsubishi Mirage series will see the Sydney privateer spectating in November.

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Get ready: The success of Adelaide (above) has led to another street race for V8 Supercars, in Canberra next June. The drivers who attended the launch (left) were all enthusiastic about the new venue.

HRT's double chance

Lowndes/McConville, Skajfe^Mprris for Q500 “That way, if one car was to record a DNF at Queensland Raceway we will still have one

next - week’s Queensland 500 at least _ Lowndes will line up wi h (amer in McConville, while

picture V” for Bathurst, A DNF by either c^r in ^ell see the

Ska.fe will share his Mobil Commodore with Super Touring champ Paul Morris.

The move ensures that the 1>99 Shell series title is likely to go down to the wire at Bathurst in November. Pairing the two would simply have meant that Skaife would be unable to challenge Lowndes for the crown (drivers sharing cars will both earn equal points from each race) despite being just a handful of points behind his team-mate following the conclusion of the ‘sprint’ ele ment of the series last Sunday.

The driver ‘spht’ was confirmed at the weekend when the duo out lined the team’s philosophy: “As we’re both competing for the title, the team is giving each of us an equal opportunity - and also ensuring that the team has a ‘double chance’ in terms of the championship,” Skaife said.

J^tBathurst.

HRT team manager Jeff Grech confirmed the Queensland line-up on Tuesday: “It’s for this race only, and we’ll have a look at the situa tion for Bathurst after the race,” he said. for “The pairings Queensland are simply a mat ter of pairing similar physical sizes together.”

AT the same time, Grech has coofinned that another brand new Mobil VT will be ready for the FAI 1000 at Bathurst.

The car currently being dri ven by Lowndes will pass to the Mark Noske/Todd Kelly Young Lions pairing, who will drive the VS driven by Lowndes at Winton at next week’s Queensland 500.

All quiet on the Parity front Ford Motorsport Chief Howard Marsden has confirmed that there will be no ‘parity’ push by Ford prior to the endurance races, dbspite the lop-sided win ratio in favour of Holden to date in 1999.

“The cars are fundamentally very close, I believe,” he said at the weekend.“The difference is HRT.They have their act togeth er extremely well at the moment.

We have to bridge that team gap.

We have to get our act togeth er...”

VICTORIA BITTER

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MARK Skaife and Craig Lowndes will drive in different HRT Commodores - for

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Photo by Noei Papeiera

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n John Faulkner will run his VT Commodore in Wynns team colours for the endurance races, with Formula Holden champ Simon WOls co-driving. The ‘merger’ with the Wynns outfit solves Faulkner’s budgetary problems, while allowing the Wynns team to retain a two-cai entry despite selling Steven Richards’ car to the Challenge Motorsport team. n Speaking ofthe Wynn’s team, also confirmed this week is that regular drivers Murphy and Richards will share one ofthe Kmart Vectras in the 3 Hour GTP race at Bathurst, regulars Sam Newman and Melinda price joining forces in the other.

Speaking of which, we hear Newman may well be in some thing a bit bigger next year - a V8 Commodore(GTP spec) per haps? n A joint ticketing deal has been announced for next week’s Queensland 500 and the Honda Indy 300. Tickets pre-booked at Ticketek for the double save patrons $9 at an all-inclusive $150 for Saturday/Sunday at both events. n The Ten Network has con firmed a five hour live broadcast of next week’s Queensland 500, from 12 noon on Sunday. n Dick Johnson and our young Champ Car hopeful David Besnard have been announced as the first ever‘ambassadors’for the Honda Indy 300.

I’ve got plenty of these and so has Paul: Skaife and Morris have won more than 20 races so far this season between them. They’d like 2 more ...

n Dean Canto is going to Bathurst- with an older woman.

The teenager will be sharing the Signature Security Mondeo with FF gun Leanne Ferrier, who tested for the team last ]\^onday at Eastern Creek. According to team boss Peter Hills[who will share with Ron Searle] Ferrier drove exactly to instructions and is looking forward to making her mountain debut next month.

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n Still no word on whether Audi Sport Austraha will make it to the'mountain. TM Rim Jones was non-committal

Cowin stars in US Nationals

on Tuesday, saying that there was':still time to make a decision but that it would have to be soon.

Sydney teenager makes Top Fuel final in Indy

n Jamie Brock will not be the only son of a Great Race winner on the moun tain in October, Gavin Harvey, son of 1983 win ner John, is suiting up for the race in his now-familiar Mitsubishi Mirage. n Car #95 where are you? Jamie Miller and Mike Kilpatrick have put together a deal to run Bathurst in Mike Quinn’s Toyota Camry, which was recently shaken down at Oran Park by Dean Canto. n Greg Ritter’s Formula Ford series win means that the title has gone to three different chassis manufacturers in the last three years; Van Diemen [1997, with Garth Tander], Spectrum [’98, with Adam Macrow]and now Mygale this year.

H'The form of Laurent Aiello and David Leshe at Brands Hatch ensured that Nissan wUl win more than just the Manufacturers’ and ''/earns’ prizes in the B’rCC. With the gap between the two and the rest ballooning by the race the Scot and the Frenchman are the only two who can win the Drivers’title as well.

H Up and comer Andy Priaulx is the new Renault Spider Cup Champion. He won his 11th straight race in the series at Brands Hatch, and is hoping to foUow the same path as 1996 Cup wirmer Jason Plato into BTCC. II The latest signing for the V8 enduro races at Queensland Raceway and Bathurst sees Perth’s Grant Johnson teaming up with D’Arcy Russell and the Playboy team.

Last year Johnson ran with the Nathan and Nicole Pretty team, also having driven the family’s car at the Perth round of the Shell Series.

■ American oil giant Pennzoil-Quaker State is beheved to be close to sponsoring the 2000 FI US Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The company, which has close ties with IMS and its Indy Racing League, is also rumoured to have been talking with Jordan, trying to tie-in a cross promotion with its involvement with FI rac ing, through a mqjor asso ciate sponsorship of the team.

By GERALD McDORNAN AUSTRALIAN teenage drag racing sensation Andrew Cowin has reached the Top Fuel final round of the US Nationals - the biggest and most pres tigious drag racing event in the world.

“We’re just over the moon,” Cowin told Motorsport News from Indianapolis on Tuesday afternoon.

“I’m just waiting for someone to pinch me and wake me up from my dream.”

Qualifying 16th and last in the quickest Nationals Top Fuel field in history, Cowin / bumped the world’s first 300 mph drag racer, Kenny Bernstein,from the field during the last qualifying session and then defeated the top qualifier, Joe Amato,in a shock first round encounter.

Cowin also defeated Randy Parks and Bob Vandergriff before falling to veteran Cory McClenathan in the final, 4.61/308 to 4.82/292.

The 19-year-old Cowin emulated the feat of his father in reaching the final round of an NHRA national event, Graeme having made it to the final in Fimny Car at the NHRA Winternationals at Pomona, California in 1987,losing to Bernstein.

Only four non-North Americans have ever reached the final round of a professional catego ry at an NHRA national event; Graeme and Andrew Cowin, England’s Clive Skilton and Japan’s Kenji Okazaki. Only Okazaki won.

“I’m just so proud of Andrew,his twin broth er John and the whole crew,they’ve done a tremendous job to get here and they deserve all the accolades,” Graeme Cowin said on Tuesday.

One of the highlights of the event for Cowin was knocking five-time World Champion Bernstein fi-om the field.

“Bernstein beat my dad in the final at Pomona in ’87 and then he beat me in my first round here a few months ago,” an elated Andrew said.

“We owed him a cou ple... and it was his birthday to boot!” ^

SEE PAGE 42 FOR A FULL US NATIONALS REPORT.

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4 Thunder from Down Under: Andrew Cowin caused havoc in Indianapolis, bumping Kenny Bernstein out of the field and beating Joe Amato, Randy Parks and Bob Vandergriff on the way to his first NHRA final. (Photo by Dave KommeyAutoimagefy)

2000 Shell dates announced THE Shell Championship Series takes on a new look for 2000.

Apart from the new event in Canberra, the 13-round series wiQ feature a mnber of other changes.

The series will kick off with two double-points races at PlulUp Island on February 13, of 45 minutes duration, with compulsory pit stops in both races. There will be no pre season test day, like the one at Eastern Creek this season.

The series opener will also feature the ^8 Supercar Fan Feast’, which will include spe cial events which will raise money for Melbourne’s Royal Childrens’ Hospital.

From there the circus will go to the traditional AGP sup port at Albert Park, followed the next weekend by the Wanneroo SCS event. The AGP support will be limited to 30 cars; the top 26 from the championship,2 at AVESCO’s invitation and another 2 at the AGP Corporation’s.

From there,.Adelaide’s Chpsal 500 (with two 250km races, with fuel afld tyre stops) is next, followed by sprints at Eastern Creek and Hidden Valley, then Canberra’s debut event.

The biggest question mark on the calendar is the Queensland sprint race, scheduled for July 1-2. It is currently listed as ‘Venue TBA’, and may be held at either Queensland Raceway, Lakeside or, at a stretch, Darlington Park.

“AVESCO is givmg a httle room on that one,” explained AVESCO’s Tony Cochrane at the calendar laimch.

“Lakeside is up for tender and we have been contacted by several bidders who are

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TC for PM? AVESCO’s prime mover Tony Cochrane.

Shell Championship Series 2000 Dates Rdl 11-13 Feb Rd2 18-19 Mar Rd 3 7-9 April Rd4 29-30 Apr Rd5 19,-21 May Rd6 9-ilJune Rd7 /■' 1-2 Jul Rd8 15-16 Jul Rd 9 29-30 Jul RdIO 19-20 Aug Rdll 8-10 Sep Rd12 7-8 Oct Rd 13 16-19 Nov

Phillip Island Wanneroo Adelaide 500 Eastern Creek Hidden Valley Canberra 100 Venue TBA Winton Oran Park Calder Park Qld R’way Sandown Bathurst

talking about upgrading the facilities there.

“Darlington Park is also in the equation and are close to finalising improvements.”

These are believed to be going on at present to bring the facility up to CAMS’ licencing standard.

But Cochrane did say that the event would not be in Townsville.

“Whatever happens, the race will stay in south-east Queensland.”

Vic WA SA NSW NT ACT Qld Vic NSW Vic QM Vic NSW

2 X 45 mins Sprint 2 X 250km Sprint Sprint 25/25 reverse/50 laps Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint 500km Sprint 1000km

Winton, Oran Park and Calder wUl retain their sprint status, followed by the in 500 Queensland

September, Sandown’s sprint race four weeks later and Bathurst’s FAI 1000 Classic on November 16-19. A week after Sandown the Gold Coast win host its last Indy Car non championship support event.

The late Bathumt date and early season start has been forc^, in part, by the Sydney Olympics, which effectively

blocks out any major sporting events in September Cochrane also saic that the SCS would visit New Zealand in 2001, taking the spot that had been allocated to Indy.

“There wiE be a 14th round which will take the place of Indy,” Cochrane said.

“New Zealand has a big fan base. We are a required com modity over there. But there are conditions; we must have the cars airlifted and rooms must be provided for the teams.”

Cochrane says there are two “serious bidders” for the NZ race, but would not elabo rate one whether they includ ed the Auckland street race [see MN #160], In the short term, Kiwi viewers will see all 2000 events on same-day coverage on Sky television.

While the formats of the races wiU vary,there vidll also be some movement of the sup port events. It appears likely that some of the support cate gory races will be on the main SCS biU and some of them on the new V8 Lites program.

For instance, Formula Ford may have four races at Shell Series events and four at Lites races. AU will be telecast on Network 10.

There is also going to be a reduction of the number of categories by one.

“It’s too big; we just can’t cope,” said Cochrane.

But it does seem likely that the Shell Superbike Series, long a crowd favourite, will stay on the bill and, with the possibility of a new class of exotic sportscars [see separate story], one or both ofthe open wheeler classes, and GT Production, could be moving offthe main bill.

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10 September!999

Jaguar FI done deal

n We have hard sugges tions in recent days that Renault may be buying a shareholding in the Arrows team. At the moment the shares are owned 40 percent by Tom Walkinshaw,40 percent by the investment bank Deutsche Bank Morgan Grenfell and 20 percent by Prince Malik ado Ibrahim.

The Nigerian prince’s shares are expected to be taken over shortly by Walkinshaw.

Irvine confirmation expected at Monza

By JOE SAWARD

THE

Formula 1 Commission met m London last week and

commercial sponsorship with HSBC expected to remain on the cars.

The Jaguar name has never been officially involved in FI although in 1950 Clemente Biondetti ran a Jaguar XK engine in the back of a Ferrari chassis and a httle known Argentine dri ver called Adolfo SchwelmCruz ran a stripped-down XK120 in the non-champi onship Pescara GP. Jaguar’s racing successes has created a certain mys tique about the brand which Ford is now trying to exploit through racing. The short term aim is to help the com pany sell the S-ty^ and the planned X400 models but in the longer-term Ford hopes to establish a global Jaguar following in the sport, simi lar to that enjoyed by Ferrari.

agreed that Stewart Grand Prix can change its name to Jaguar Racing next year.

The decision means that the Ford Motor Company, which owns Jaguar can go ahead with its plans to announce a full-blown Jaguar FI team at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month. We expect that Ford will announce that it has signed Eddie Irvine before the main Jaguar pre sentation so as not to detract from it.

Irvine will probably be confirmed as a Ford driver at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, which will give Ford Although Jaguar contin maximiun exposm-e in Italy.

The plan appears to be to ues to push its essentially run Coe Jaguar FI cars in British image, Ford’s inten British racing green colours tion is to make big inroads with the Jaguar leaping cat into BMW markets in the logo prominent. There is, United States, Germany and however, expected to be some Japan.

If Sue wins, he’s Italian, otherwise he’s from Brazil: Rubinho is heading for Ferrari.

Rubens sees Red

By JOE SAWARD

FERRARI has confirmed that Brazilian Rubens Barrichello has signed a twoyear contract with the team and will replace Eddie Irvine at Maranello next year.

Barrichello is the first Brazilian to have a works Ferrari drive in FI and the 27-year-old says that he will have equal number one sta tus to Michael Schumacher.

Barrichello lold a Sao Paulo newspaper last week that he would not have signed for Ferrari if “I have to allow Schumacher to pass me”.

Whatever the contractual situation Barrichello is going to have a hard time beat ing Michael Schiunacher and may come to regret the US$5m($7.7m)a year deal.

Barrichello - who is descended from Italian settlers in Brazil - has yet to win a Grand Prix despite having raced in over 100 Grands Prix. It is significant that when he was Eddie Irvine’s team mate at Jordan he was not much quicker than the Irishman.

“If I’m fast enough,” said Rubens, “I don’t believe that team orders will come into play.”

Irvine is still fighting for the World Championship for Ferrari and the team has confirmed that it will “put all its efforts and determination into tackling the decisive four remaining races of the World Championship”.

Irvine said that his time at Ferrari has been “a marvellous experience” but added that having scored three wins -with the team this year it would have “impossible” to stay as Michael Schumacher’s number two for another season.

V8 Lites for 2000 V8s back to New Zealand

A'FESCO’s V8 Supercar development series is to go under the “V8 Lites” tag and contest its own five-round series in 2000 at venues separate fi-om the Shell series.

One of motor sport’s worst kept secrets was fifficialiy confirmed at the weekend, although part, of the announcement made by AVESCO Chief Tony Cochrane provided additional interest when it was revealed that the V8

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Ldtes series won’t just be restricted to those currently tagged as ‘privateers’.

Anyone will be able to enter a car in the series provided it is not driven by a profes sional Shell series driver-ie any ofthe exist ing pro teams could choose to enter a spare car in V8 Lites to provide race miles for upand-coming drivers.

Final technical regs for V8 Lites and its race format are to come, but Cochrane con firmed that the current view was that the cars would in fact remain funda mentally V8 Supercar spec, including the use ofBridgestone control tyres.

The championship will be conduct ed at five Eastern State circuits, including some which have missed out on'Shell series rounds, with a likely additional ‘demo’ race at the new Canberra June meeting. The leading lites championship finishers will also be guaranteed a long dis tance race start(Queensland 500 and Bathurst).

Dates and venues for next year are; Mareh 25-26 Eastern Creek May 6-7 Sandowni June 17-18 Oran Park August 5-6 Qld(venueTBC) August 26-27 Mallala

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Details of a delayed TV package and series sponsors are to be con firmed,in December, according to Cochrane.

AVESCO’s chief also revealed that fHisslDhWJL

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End of an era: No more Privateer Dashes in 2000.

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the group has put aside $350,000 to fund the series in year one and that he expects 18-22 cars for the opening race at Eastern Creek.

“Our entry lists for the Shell Championship Series have simply become too large and too many teams are missing a start after making the commitment to get to meetings,” Cochrane said.

... but, in the meantime,the local brand is doing nicely

By PHIL BRANAGAN NEW Zealand may be getting back onto the V8 Snpercar calendar, but not until 2001.

AVESCO boss Tony Cochrane is adamant that the series will return to the Shakey Isles, but not until a date frees up. This will hap pen with the end of the Indy Car support race, which will be held for the last time this season.

But while Kiwis will have to wait for the V8s, they are pressing ahead to make their own pre mier touring car race, the DriveSafe 500, a great success in its first year.

The November 7 race, which will be held at the Pukekohe track, will cater for productionbased Schedule S cars as well as the Holden Commodores and Ford Falcons for the New Zealand Touring Car class, which is similar to Bathurst Tourers here in Australia.

At least two European cars are head to NZ, with Thomas Winkelhock like ly to drive a works-built BMW E46 320i. There is also a possibility of Volkswagen Motorsport contesting the event in two works Golfs, which are likely to stay and compete further in NZ. Long-time BMW pow erhouse Bigazzi Motorsport is also said to be looking at running two cars, while Swedish rally legend Stig Blomqvist is already confirmed in a locallybuilt Ford Telstar.

On the V8 front the entries are headed by Paul Radisich (Ford Falcon), new Australian Drivers’ Championship Simon Wills (in a Holden Commodore with Mark Pederson), World Superbike star Aaron Slight(Commodore) and Jamie Brock.

Organisers are trying to match Brock Jr with Jim Richards, who won three Bathurst 1000s with Jamie’s father.

n The Honda Racing Developments electronics engineer Chris Hills has decided not to join Benetton after all and will shortly move to Arrows.

He is expected to be joined there by several other key HRD men. A number of the members ofthe nowdefunct Honda team have moved to Benetton but our sources say that several others will reappear at Arrows. There is no word on the likely destination of HRD team manager Steve Nielsen but Arrows would be an obvious choice. n A Coventry newspa per recently ran a stoiy suggesting that Jaguar has applied for planning permission to build a Formula 1 facility in the town. This would make sense from a historical point of view as Jaguar has always been based in the to^vn. this would mean a trip of aroimd 40 miles, for the employees of Stewart and Cosworth although this would be relatively quick as most of the trip would be on the Ml and M6 motorways.

We still believe that it is more likely that the Jaguar FI team will be based at the Prodrive headquarters at Banbury. n Among the visitors the Belgian Grand Prix were the Finnish Prime Minister, making a pri vate visit to watch Mika Hakkinen in action.

Former FI team owner Jean-Pierre Van Rossem and a group of business men from Dubai, who were guests of Benetton.

Dubai has been consider ing bidding for a Grand Prix in recent years but may decide to use an FI team as a way of promot ing the city, which is try ing to build up its tourist trade with new hotels, duty free shopping, and a series of major interna tional sporting events. n Nissan has announced that it intends to announce major restructuring plans in October. These are cur rently being formulated by Renault’s Carlos Ghosn who is now running the Japanese company. The company is hoping to com pletely rebuild its image, product range and struc ture with the aim of breaking even in 2001.

Part ofthe image transfor mation is expected to involve an FI programme with Arrows.

-JOE SAWARD

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10 September 1999

n 18 year old Sarah Fisher, a standout midget speedcar driver in the US, last week passed her IRL rookie test at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Fisher, who has five speedcar feature wins this season,is hoping to con test the final two races of the IRL season. n ANDRA and Calder Park have reached an agreement to stage the Australian Drag Racing Nationals at the venue for the next five years, with an option of extending that to 2009.

Calder Park first ran the Nationals in 1992,the final year of the event’s state-by-state rotation, and have held it each year since.

Next year’s Nationals, on February 19, comes just one week after the opening round of the Shell V8 Supercar Series at Phillip Island. n Brazilian youngster Antonio Pizzonia won the British Formula Renault title last week and will test drive a Williams FI car as part of his prize.

The 19-year-old has scored nine wins this year and is hoping to graduate to the British Formxila 3 series next year.

Ingall warns f# gloves off By CHRIS LAMBDEN RUSSELL Ingall has warned that it’s gloves off” again, when the V8 Supercars contest next week’s Queensland 500.

After the first corner incident in race two at Oran Park involving Paul Radisich, Ingall and Glenn Seton resulted in no charges being levelled aginst the Shell Falcon driver, Ingall has declared the recent “co-

operation” between dri vers a failure and pointed the finger of blame at race stewards for not rig orously enforcing the stricter driving code: “Most of us have been

playing the game, follow ing the code, attending the special briefings and so on, but one or two aren’t and the Stewards are letting them get away with it.

“That’s it for me. We’ve done our bit, but they haven’t done theirs.

I’ve done the right thing and it’s cost me positions and points.

“But if they’re not going to back us up, there’s no point.

“As far as I’m con cerned all bets are off...”

Castrol team boss Larry Perkins supports his driver’s view: ((We feel the officials have let us down.” he said on Monday. “There were similar incidents involving Radisich and Ellery at the first corner - no way they were going to make it without bouncing off another car.

They should both have had action taken against them.”

Warning, warning: Russell Ingall has warned that all bets are off in Queensland,(di* xiynsmith)

n European Competition Commissioner Karel Van Jliert, who has led the fij^it against'Fl claiming that the sport breaks the European laws of competi tion, leaves the job this week. He will be replaced

by Italian Mario Monti.

Van Miert is to become head ofthe Nijenrode University business school in Holland.

■ Two weeks after Ferrari ran demonstration laps at Zandvoort in Holland as part of the Marlboro Masters Formula 3 event, Williams did likewise dur ing a Winfield promotion.

Both Alex Zanardi and Half Schumacher drove the cars.

■ Honda Motor Co President Hiro}niki Yoshino said last week that Honda is planning to reduce its dependence on the North American car markets and is aiming to increase its sales in the Japanese, European and Asian car markets. This programme will be linked to the Formula 1 plans with British American Racing and Jordan.

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■ Flavio Briatore is threatening legal action against Italian newspa pers which have made cer tain suggestions in recent days about his business and personal life. Briatore has brushed off the accu sations that he was arrested recently in Kenya. Briatore was in Kenya recently as he has a holiday home near the town of Malindi on the Indian Ocean coastline.

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What about Bathurst? Brundle talks business with Tom.

Brundle says no to le Mans 2000 SPORTSCAR ace Martin Brundle looks certain to take a sabbatical from the Le Mans 24 Hours next season.

The former Grand Prix dri ver, who started this year’s race from pole, said he has “had his fill of Le Mans for a little while”.

Brundle said: “At the moment I’m not planning to drive there next season. No one has asked me to do it, but if I got an offer I’d proba bly say no.”

The 40-year-old has been a pacesetter in the French enduro since dropping out of FI at the end of1^.

In ’97 Brundle was fastest in pre-qualifying with Nissan

prior to a disappointing race.

For the past two Le Mans he has led the race for Toyota before running into problems - the Toyota facto ry are also not expected ^.o contest the classic race next year after desperately trying for the past few years.’

“For the past three years it’s been a lot of work and not a lot of reward. I’ve done thousands of miles of test ing. The build up has seen massive expectation fol lowed by massive disap pointment.”

Brundle, now an FI com mentator on British TV denied that he is retiring from the cockpit, and said he could race at Le Mans in 2001 -GARY WATKINS

Doulman OK, but Dick cut-away Qld 500 in doubt AUSTRALIAN artist

DESPITE being declared fit following his bone crunching accident at Oran Park on Sunday, Peter Doulman and part ner John Cotter may miss the Queensland 500.

Talking to Motorsport News on Tuesday, Doulman said the Gatorade team are currently “in a bit of a spot” about next week’s enduro race.

The team has purchased Russell Ingall’s SLX VT Commodore from Larry Perkins, but is unable to pre pare it in time, while they don’t have the man-hours available to fix the crashed VS. “It’s really all up to Gatorade,” Doulman said.

“The crew is picking our new VT up from Larry Perkins at this moment, hut we wouldn’t be able to paint it in Gatorade’s colours.

“And the VS is stripped and it’s repairable, but we just don’t have the time to fix it prior to Ipswich - another week would have done us fine.

Patrick Hegarty has released the first in a series of superb cutaway drawings, featuring Dick Johnson’s Shell Helix Falcon, as reproduced in this issue's centrespread.

Brisbane-based Hegarty is a mechanical engineer by trade and, despite being thrown out of art class at the age of 14, has turned his hand to the complex business of technical cutaway art.

While his prime subject matter to date has been

Somebody get me a drink: Doulman is served. (Papeiera) “We’ll make a decision in some vertebrae around, but the next couple of days, but it’s nothing that a bit of until then...” physio won’t fix.

Doulman’s Oran Park inci “Even though I’m sore, I’m dent, which is believed to have not too bad. I must admit, been caused by a steering rack the Medi-track guys did a failure, left the Sydney driver terrific job, they were amaz with lower back injuries. ing, so professional... in fact, “I’ve torn some muscles they wouldn’t let me get out of the car!” and ligaments and moved

aircraft and componentry (under contract to the RAAF and Boeing), an interest in motor sport sees him starting a series on Australian motor sport icons.

Over 300 hours of solid work goes into such a drawing: “Dick and his guys were a pleasure to work with,” Patrick told us, “allowing me the access and photography to research the material -

once 1 signed a confiden tiality agreement and assured them the detail photos of the AU were to be destroyed after the image was finished!

“It’s great to have the opportunity to provide an accurate record of the greatest cars, teams and drivers in Australia. I think my customers recognise the exclusivity of what they are getting.

“In Dick’s testimonial

year, his was the obvious first subject.”

Hegarty is currently working on a similar draw ing of Alan Moffat’s Phase III HO Falcon and has plans to follow up with Peter Brock’s ’79 A9X, Mick Doohan’s ’96 SOOcc Honda and more.

A limited print edition of the exquisite Shell Falcon image ($200 unframed) is available directly from Pat (07 3818 0877) or his web site: www.paradigmsnlijtions.com.au

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SchumacKer absent at Monza... and more?

AS we suggested last week, it has emerged that Mi chae l Schumacher is not fit enough to race at the Italian Grand Prix and he may also miss the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring on September 26.

The Ferrari driver turned up to test for the team at Monza last week but com pleted only 27 laps before announcing that he was not ready to race.

“There were prob lems in my leg,” Schumacher told pressmen at Monza “and they are too big to do a proper job.

Basically, it is impossible to drive properly at the moment. The bumps of the circuit are prettj' severe. I have been in pain all the way through and you cannot drive like that.

I took painkillers but it did

Steppin’ out: Michael Schumacher was in Monza for testing, but won’t drive this weekend.

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not really help.”

Schumacher con firmed that after his crash at Silverstone the doctors told him that he would not be able to race for 12 to 16 weeks. He tried after just six weeks with a day of testing at Mugello and this seems to have caused him further problems.

“Maybe you can say it was too early, but we had to try,” he said. “We must just take more time.”

Schumacher underlined that he still feels lucky that he was not more seriously hurt in the Silverstone crash.

“Ten years ago I would have gone up to Saint Peter and knocked on his door,” said Michael. “And

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who will now get another couple of chances to show his skills as Irvine’s teammate.

- JOE SAWARD

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David and Goliath: Will the Belgian government’s anti-tobacco pressure finish off their GP? By JOE SAWARD THE Belgian govemmemfs insis tence of a foil tobacco advertising ban at the Belgian Grand Prix «!Ould lead to the disappearance of the event from the Formula 1 cal endar next year.

Belgian Health Mnister Magda Aelvoet threatened legal action against any team displaying tobacco logos at Spa-Francorchamps last week end and the tobacco companies decid ed to run without liveries for the weekend.

It is unlikely that they will return next year as the ban means that the contract with Spa - which was due to run until the 2001 race - has been bro^ken. The authorities in Belgium said that the maximum punishment for breaking the law would be a half mil lion dollar fine or a year in prison.

When the Belgian parliament voted

through the law in 1997 Bernie Ecclestone itook the Grand Prix off the FI calendar and it was not reinstated until the local government of Wallonia issued a decree exempting Grand Prix racing from the ban.

If the Belgians do not back down we would expect the 2000 race to he can celled and the most likely outcome is for the date to be given to Zsmdvoort for a Dutch Grand Prix.

The circuit is now up to Formula 1 standard although one more run-off area needs to be completed for it to qualify for a full FI racing licence.One thing which might convince the Belgians to back down is the knowl edge that the race could move to Holland. There has always been a healthy rivalry between the two coun tries and the prospect of the race mov ing to Holland may make the Belgians think again.

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W September 1999

Bernie sell out?

Bob Jane T-Marts backs Batburst 99 BOB Jane T-Marts has taken up the naming rights sponsorship for the October Bathurst meeting.

The move, rumoured by Motorsport News some weeks ago, was confirmed last week.

The meeting will thus be known as the Bob Jane TMarts Bathurst 99.

While entries for the Super Tourer 500 race are proving to be modest, the potential field for the Bathurst Tourer 300, which kicks off Sunday morning’s programme at the tradition al 10am start, is now 25-I-, “a good start” for the debutant

category according to co ordinator Bruce Williams.

Dunlop has added addi tional support to the race (it supplies the control rubber for the category) by announc ing a pole position award for this first 300km race.

The Dunlop Formula 901 Trophy and $2,500 will be up for grabs as the com bined Bathurst Tourer/ AUSCAR field qualifies on the Friday prior to the October 3 race.

An additional ‘hard charg er’ award for the race has been announced by Yella Terra.

Pre-event latest news in our next issue.

FORMULA One supremo Bemie Ecclestone is set to sell up to half of his Formula One empire for aroimd £1.5 billion ($2.85 billion), accoiding to London’s Sunday Business newspaper.

The deal, with a single buyer, could be signed within the next month, with Ecclestone keeping the remaining half of the

Changing fortunes: Bernie Ecclestone is looking to cash up some of his Ft investements, according to a London paper.

Perhaps he'll buy a 7-Series off Gerhard Berger. (Sutton-images)

r cat

CAT changes THE Cat Racing V8 Supercar team has been sold to Queensland racer John Briggs and is in the process of relocating to Briggs’Brisbane workshops.

A downturn in the mining industry has forced previous team owner Kevin Otway to concentrate on his WA-based tricking business, bringing on the sale ofthe team.

More than one potential buyer was in the picture, but the deal finally came togeth er with Briggs, who plans to set up a Roush-type opera tion, running the Cat team alongside his own two-car Falcon team.

While Otway . has expressed some disappoint ment at the turn of events, he hands over a fledgling team

t

which has made a major impact on the V8 Supercar scene in its debut year, with a pole position, race win and Shell round podium finish already to its credit.

Other than some technical staff changes brought about by the move, the team remains unchanged, with John Bowe (who has a stake in the new operation) and Jim Richards set to contest next week’s Queensland 500.

Caterpillar has recommit ted to the team for 2000.

TIM Leahey, retained by the Cat team to assist with test ing, will drive with John Briggs’ Supercheap Falcon team for the endurance races. Also joining the twocar Supercheap lineup is Todd Wanless.

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Formula One Management company, which holds the broadcasting rights for Grand Prixs, Ecclestone had planned a stock market flotation for his FI empire but no date had been set, and a $2 billion Eurobond issued in May to

lay the groundwork for the flotation has encountered dif ficulties.

The European Union in June launched proceedings against the FIA world motor racing body and Ecclestone in a long-running cattle over how the sport is run, The EU’s compet.tion watchdog said the rules gov erning the FIA and the com mercial rights owned by Ecclestone-controlled compa nies violated EU competition law. EU regulators contested the idea that FIA should own the entire TV rights to all championships. Those rights have been transferred to Ecclestone for Formula One and ISC under a long-term contract.

1

'f with John Bowe

I

t has certainly been a momentous couple of weeks for the Cat Racing team with our impending move to Queensland. As you read this, the last of the Cat Racing equipment is being off-loaded at our new home with John Briggs Motorsport in Brisbane. John has some exciting plans ahead for a multi-team operation not unlike what Rick Hendrick or Jack Roush runs in the US in NASCAR circles.

It won't be an easy task, but it has been helped considerably by Caterpillar’s decision to continue to back the team next year. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but even I didn't expect life to be this tough.

Hard as it may have been, the results achieved have certainly exceed ed my expectations, but the road ahead is not going to be any easier.

Kevin Otway had done a fantastic job in getting this thing off the ground and none of this would have hap pened without his input. But the pres sures of a mining industry down-turn forced him to put his ‘baby’ up for adoption.

One of the things Ibehind am disappointed about is leaving the race fans in WA. Our team was adopted by them and the reaction was quite over whelming. However, having spent so long with Dick’s team, a large propor tion of our support also comes from Queensland.'

Queensland Raceway has certainly been very kind to us so far.

We grabbed our first pole position arid race wins at the sprint round but the Queensland 500 is going to be a differ ent story - especially with tyre wear.

t CAT with no vrings: JB would like to see a reduction in downforce for V8 Supercars to make racing closer and overtaking easier. fPhoto by Bob Pons) Tyre graining is a huge dilemma tracks with smooth surfaces likeon Queensland. Apparently the rubber tends to warm up before the tyre car cass does and if you are not careful, you can find yourself sliding back wards through the field.

We had a blinding single lap quali fying set-up for the Queensland sprint round this year - then went back wards at hundred mile an hour in the first race. While things came good at the end, tyres were still a problem and I don't think any team or Bridgestone really has a solution. The team that does the best job of finding that solu tion will win the race.

Tyre dramas will also tactics in the 500. While VS dictate racing can sometimes resemble a bit of a run away freight train, I reckon you will see lots of passing at the 500 as tyres go off. Pit strategies will be absolutely critical. And as usual, the boys in the team play a much larger role in long distance races as compared to sprint events. All in all, it is going to make for fascinating viewing on Network Ten.

here are a lot of changes hap pening in V8 Supercar racing at the moment but I reckon we could improve the racing even further by reducing the downforce on the cars.

By replacing the rear wings with a small NASCAR style spoiler, and taking out the front undertrays, the cars are going to slide around a lot more and be harder to control. The end result will be everybody will be prone to making more mistakes I’m not talking major offs, but slid ing a little widb off the turn, and understeering on the way in.

At the moment, it is incredibly hard to force your way through if you have to come from the back.

You could be up to a second a lap quicker in clean air than the guy you are chasing, but unless they make a mistake, getting past is tough unless you have a big horse power advantage like the DJR cars have this year.

I would be interested to hear if I was a lone voice with this idea but I am pretty sure the racing would be even better.

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10 September 1999

SIMON Hannan from Waterview » NSW is the big win ner of onr Headiers Survey/MaJaysian ! GP comipetiition.

His was the hicky entry drawn from the enormous pile of respondents to ouir Survey and he will' be winging his w^ay to the Malaysian GP next month,courtesy of Premium Sport Tours.

The thiw consola tion prizes, Playstation Rally-2 kits, go to John Meier(Mt Eliza, Vic), Steve Prentice ; (Yarraville, Vic) and Paul Anderson (Edmonton,Qld). Keep an eye on the mail box, guys.

Thanks to all our readers who took the time to respond to the survey. It’s great to heai’ that most of you like what we’re doing and enjoy Motorsport News,but it’s even bet ter to get your feed back and:constructive ideas on how we earn improve the product further.

Eddie tops Monza test

WORLD Championship challenger Eddie Irvine ended last week’s Monza test with the fastest lap of the three days in his Ferrari F399.

Irvine completed 160 laps of the Autodromo in the course of his three days of running, a total of 950km of running. His best lap, which was set late on the final day of testing, was a 1m23.876s.

Mika Sale did nearly 200 laps - 1100km! - while Michael Schumacher did just 25 laps before deciding not to continue. His 90 miles of running gave the Italian team a total testing mileage of 1375 miles in three days.

Irvine’s closest challenger turned out to be Johnny Herbert, who completed 465 miles of running and record ed his best time of 1m24.180s at the end of the second day.

The team ran Rubens Barrichello on three days of the test and he did 500 miles of running although did not go tor a really fast time at the end of the test.

David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen were both in action for McLaren. Coulthard was the faster, setting a 1 m24.250s at the end of the final day after 232 laps of the

track, while Hakkinen’s best was a 1 m24.39s at the end of the second day.

The two Williams drivers were turning in competitive times throughout the test with Alessandro Zanardi ending up the taster of the two with a best lap of 1 m24.403s after 162 laps.

Ralf Schumacher com pleted only two days of run ning, completing 104 laps, before handing his car over Formula 3000 driver Bruno Junqueira, who is expected to be named Williams test driver next year.

Jordan was also in action with both Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Damon Hill doing two days of running.

The pair completed 177 laps (635 miles) between them.

Frost Grand Prix has high It’s just typical: Eddie Irvine topped the Monza test and ran six hopes for Monza and both times as many laps as Michael Schumacher, but everyone runs a Olivier Fanis and Jarno Trulli Schumi pic — including us ... (Photo by Sutton-Images) were in action on all three Giancarlo Fisichella complet- the Belgian GF the team had days, the pair completing a ing 110 laps and Alexander to miss the first day of testing.

Wurz130.

In the end Ricardo Zonta total of 820 miles of running.

Sauber also ran two cars Minardi showed up for did 20 laps and Jacques on all three days of the test two days with Marc Gene Villeneuve 16. Giving the with Jean Alesi and Pedro doing the first and Luca team a total of 130 miles of Diniz developing the some Badoer the second. The pair running, Arrows did not make the what difficult chassis. They completed 70 laps between completed 115 and 130 laps them. trip to Monza, but ran briefly respectively but failed to British American Racing at the Santa Pod dragstrip in make much impression on was also in action but England, with Tora Takagi the timesheets. It was a simi because of the need to driving, - JOE SAWARD lar story for Benetton with rebuild the test chassis after

9

Clipsal 500 bigger and better SA Premier John Olsen was scheduled to launch the 2000 Clipsal 500 today (Friday) promising a “bigger and better” event than the successful 1999 meeting.

The April 7-9 event was to be ‘unveiled’ at the Adelaide Showgrounds, with a num ber of V8 drivers present.

The event will retain its two 250 kilometre race for mat, supported again by GTP night racing. Formula Holden, Historic FI, Marque Sports Cars and an addition al series of races for the newfor-2000 HQ replacement, Saloon Car Australia.

Organisers are increasing corporate and public viewing stands to improve viewing over the inaugural 1999 meeting, which attracted 162,000 spectators over its three days.

Three-day reserved seat ing ranges from $95 to $169 depending upon location, with a three day trackside season pass at $75.

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n Hockenheim, at 6.83km (4.24 miles) the longest circuit on the Formula 1 calendar with the exception of SpaFrancorchamps, could be dra matically reduced loi next year’s German Grand Prix. The FIA has asked for the entire circuit to be resurfaced and made wider, but the circuit operators are saying that this would be too expensive over the full distance.

Instead, they are considering losing the Ostkurve section and making a new infield loop through the forest between the first(Jim Clark) and the thii'd (Ayrton Senna)chicanes.

Spanish inquisition: Joan (say ‘Jo-han’) Villadelprat lays down the law to Marc Gene not to let the cat out of the bag about Spain’s new Ft team — and, for heaven’s sake, no photos ... (Photo b/mose sneaky chaps at suHons)

Spanish Minardi?

Telefonica money l Supertec engines l Gene, de la Rosa to drive

By JOE SAWARD THERE have been rumours for some weeks that Telefonica and other Spanish sponsors may be on the verge of buying the Minardi team.

For months Giancarlo Minardi has been refusing to agree to move the team away from Faenza but it is looking increasingly likely that if this does not happen the team will have to fold because it does not yet have an engine supply.

There is a projected deal with Supertec for next year but the team needs to find the money to pay for the engines and time is running out. It may be that Minardi will eventually be forced to accept that the team will have to be sold and be allowed to move.

There have been stories circulating for some weeks about a pos sible all-Spanish team involving Telefonica, Repsol, Marc Gene, Pedro de la Rosa and Benetton’s director Joan operations Villadelprat.

We even hear that a factory has been located in the Barcelona area so that work can begin quickly if the deal is struck. It makes a lot of sense for this to happen.

Villadelprat is not at all happy that Benetton has hired Rupert Manwaring to advise Rocco Benetton but to date the Spaniard has been keeping his options open.

With Arrows expected to go off towards a Nissan-Renault deal next year there may not be room for Pedro de la Rosa and Repsol and there are now no other options

open for the Spanish driver.

It is also worth pointing out that de la Rosa’s manager Julian Jakobi has recently signed up the next rising Spanish star Oriol Servia, who is currently a front runner in Indy Lights in the United States.

Jakobi - who had ambitions of being an FI team owner initially with Ayrton Senna but more recently with BAR - may be involved in putting the deal together, having identified Spain as being an untapped source of considerable sponsorship poten tial.

The arrival of a Spanish team would be a big boost for FI in gen eral and would help to create more interest in FI in the Spanish speaking world.

Lister drops the ball

THE Lister marque came within one

n BMW Motorsport is being asked to give the go-ahead for up to 12 replicas ofits 1999 Le Mans winning LMR sports-pro totype to be manufactured and sold to private teams m 2000.

The principals behind this ven ture are sports-racing team owner/driver Thomas Bscher and the chiefengineer ofthe successful 1999 project, Graham Humphrys. Bscher persuaded BMW to allow him to race one of the 1998 factory team sportsprototypes in this year’s 24 Hours. n As expected, Audi has scrapped the closed-coupe R8C racecar which it fielded in the 1999 Le Mans as a backup to its R8R sports-prototype.'The R8C retained the powertrain ofthe open-cockpit car, but its modified chassis was fitted with complete ly different bodyw'ork, designed

by Tony Southgate. Now Southgate is working on the R8R’s replacement for Le Mans 2000, which will be another opentop racecar. This will again be powered by the twin-tur bocharged, 3.6-htre Audi V8 (which was the first purpose-built race engine from the company since the Auto Union power units that had raced 60 years before), or by an entirely new VIO. n Italian private teams are expected to take advantage of an FIA ruling by preparing and rac ing Ferrari 550 Maranello cars in the 2000 FIA GT Championship. Concerned about the current domination of the series by the Chrysler Viper and Porsche 911, the FIA recently ruled that cars would no longer be eligible for International GT racing only if they had been homologated at the request of the manufacturers. Instead, pri vate owners can now inform the FIA of their desire to race a par ticular model, and the governing body will give the relevant manufactmer a set time in which to register any objection.

botched pitstop of its first international victo ry in 40 years at Bonington Park last weekend.

The British team, for which Mark Skaife drove at Le Mans in 1997, led through the opening 60 minutes of Sunday’s sev enth round of the FIA GT Championship and was less than 25 seconds adrift of the winning ORECA Chrysler Viper at the end ofthe three-hour race.

In between, the Jaguarpowered Storm lost nearly a full lap with what team members were prepared to admit was a shambolic first pitstop.

Lister number one Julian Bailey brought the car into the pits just ahead of Olivier Beretta in lead Viper. While the latter had a smooth hand-over to team mate Karl Wendlinger, all hell broke lose in the Lister pit.

Bailey had to negotiate

n From Germany come rumours that Porsche may liave to postpone its return to Le Mans until 2001, because its new sports-racing car is ^o far behind schedule. Although the company’s ail-new, 5.5-litre VIO engine is on schedule and under going testbed development, reportedly the aerod3mamic work at Weissach has been seri ously delayed.

Best of British: Chassis by Lister, engines by Jaguar, pitstops by Monty Python, his way around a station ary Porsche in the adjacent pit. In doing so he ran over the car’s air lines and yanked over its refuelling ng.

Bailey described the commotion as a “sham bles”, but the team was

quick to point out circum stances contrived against it.

up and cost us the win.”

William Hewland and Andy Wallace charged “It wasn’t really our hard over the remaining fault,” said team boss two thirds of the race to Laurence Pearce. claim the runner-up spot “The Porsche was in the behind the cruising Viper wrong place at the wrong'' of Beretta and Wendlinger, time. That stop messed us -GARY WATKINS

n The independent coordina tor of the FIA GT Championship, Stephane Ratel is also to coordinate the nonAmerican races in next year’s projected Global Le Mans Series.

As many as six rounds could 1 take place in Europe and the Far East, and Ratel will assist ALMS chief Don Panoz in their administration.

- QUENTIN SPURRING

IXK

11

10 September 1999

Loris and Bayliss Cpiville cements 500 lead takes Aprilia

seven

GSE Ducatrs Troy Bayliss made it seven wins out of

YET another win in the World Doohan-less

head for courts

500cc Championship, this time at the City of Imola Grand Prix, has seen Repsol-Honda’s Alex Criville extend his

points lead to 66 over Suzuki’s Kenny Roberts who could only muster a sixth place finish.

Criville led home fellow Park on August 29, Honda rider Alex Barros to maintain his lead while Max Biaggi came in in the 1999 British third on his MarlboroSuperbike Yamaha, the winning mar Championship. gin just 0.265s - Biaggi 5.9s The Aussie finished behind. race one in fourth Until half distance just place behind chief 1.9s separated the leading John nemesis eight riders, although it (Revo Reynolds wasn’t really what Criville Ducati), but the best wanted. was yet to come from “I’m finding racing diffi This looks like a world champion: Alex Criville is heading for his second world title the 30-year-old in the cult at the moment,” said after taking a narrow win in Italy - sorry, ‘San Marino’. (Photo by RaceAccess) second race. Having Criville. “I want to win made a good start, r.aces but at the same time so I just kept pushing 100 the closing stages. “I was I’d lost some time overtak Bayliss closed on |', ing Roberts and it looked riding as hard as I knew per cent.”

I’ve got to think about get leader Chris Walker 1 how and I just kept my like Abe vvas gone. He was “Third place is excel (Kaw) and stormed I ting points. riding on the limit though, “During the early stages lent,” said Biaggi, who took focus and concentration to past on the fourth lap laying black lines at every the position when Norick the finish. today I was having a few before pulling away. slides but I felt comfortable, Abe (Yamaha) slid off in I was chasing Abe but corner, then he crashed.

With the race in his “This was a tough track keeping, a crash on for us, we had to work hard ;he 12th lap brought through practice to find the out the red flag with right set-up, so it’s great to Bayliss declared the make the podium.” winner.

Things were looking good linkage in race two after running most of “I’m rapt to have CARL Fogarty has stretched his lead early in the running for the first race in seventh. won again, because in the 1999 Superbike World Biaggi team-mate Charles Edwards triumphed once in the rain-hit the last time was my Checa, an improved rear Championship after blitzing both races at 10th round in Austria, but the second race win double end set-up having the sec at Assen, Holland on September 6. went to Italian Pierfrancesco Chili.

Silverstone and I was ond Yamaha fourth after Starting second behind pole-sitter and Fogai-ty finished second and fourth at beginning to wonder qualifying and fastest in the Ducati team-mate Troy Corser, Fogarty the Al-Ring the previous weekend. when was going to morning’s damp warm-up, continued his love affair with the long and Torrential rain towards the end of the taste victory again!" fast Dutch circuit with a 4.44sec win in the although in the race he was opening race also forced Chib and Aaron said Bayliss. “It’s a again out of luck. first 16-lap leg, and again cmshed Corser Slight of New Zealand to abandon the com great result for Ducati “I felt so good on the in race two with a 6.32s victory. and consolidates our petition after sliding offthe track. bike,” said Checa, who With two rounds to go,Fogarty already Fourth place went to unfancied local lead at the top of the has one hand on his fourth SWC crown but cracked a finger on his left Robert Ulm on a Kawasaki. He admitted table.” hand when he fell on Corser. who fell at the final hurdle in last Team Clarion Suzuki he had profited from the many retirements Friday. “I got a good start year's title chase, has not given up hope. in what has been called one of the craziest rider Marty Craggill for me, anyway - especially “Realistically, it's going to take Carl to have races in the history of the sport. .scored a pair of eighths since I was only using one a crash or DNF a couple oftimes for me to ;vt the technical “I can’t believe my result,” Ulm said. finger on the clutch. catch him but I'm going to keep chasing until “Towards the end I had to go really slowly ,ini i insnire 'circuit, “I was so confident. I was the last lap ofthe last race,” said Corser. because it was so slippery and dangerous.” including a narrow win running fifth and knew I : After coming off a race win in Austria, Edwards, who won both races ofthe over team-mate James had a set-up that would team-mate Colin Edwards failed to stamp ninth round at Brands Hatch, was unable Haydon in the second allow me to go as fast as I his authority on Assen. and w'as left to, to repeat his showing in the second race leg. wanted oyer the last 10 lament another Ducati demolition after fin but remains third in the standings. Slight Points: Bayliss 328, laps. Then we had some ishing fifth in both races. is fourth.

Walker 310, Reynolds kind of' problem as we Circulating in third for most of race two, In the second race. Chili triumphed 306, Haydon 255, started the second lap, so I the Texan was levered aside by Slight and ahead of Corser and Honda rider Slight.

Emmett 250, Hodgson had to stop. It’s such a Yanagawa on the final lap to fall further Points: Fogarty 413, Corser 342, Edwards 2,,, Craggill 164, shame but at least we behind Corser in the overall standings.

Mackenzie 159, Hislop 323, Slight 284, Yanagawa 238. know I’m competitive Peter Goddard had another disastrous 126, Young 107.

-DARRYL FLACK again.” outing after being stopped by a broken gear -DARRYL FLACK just 20 races, this time at an incidentCadwell packed

Foggy on top of SBKs

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Italian’s firing from the 250cc GP team at the end of last season.

Capirossi, now a Honda rider,is suing Aprilia for breach of his contract and is demanding 9 billion lire ($7.7m)in damages.

Aprilia also said it will pro vide additional evidence that Capirossi’s dismissal last year was “due to unsports manlike behaviour”.

Aprilia chairman Ivano Beggio told a news confer ence at Imola that Capirossi rejected a rich settlement suggested hy the Italian team.

“We can produce addition al evidence that Capirossi’s behaviour in the decisive race last year was unsport ing ... although he was racing for our team,” Beggio said.

Capirossi, whose contract with Aprilia was set to expire at the end of 1999, was fired by the Italian team after he clinched the 250-cc world title following a colli sion with Japanese team mate Tetsuya Harada at the last corner of the last cham pionship race.

Harada, who is riding an Aprilia in the 500-cc class this year, was leading the race and the standings when the collision knocked him out.

Several commentators had criticised Capirossi’s behav iour but the disciplinary commission of the interna tional motorcycle racing Federation (FIM) did not take any action against him.

However Capirossi was banned from one champi onship race this year follow ing a collision with Aprilia rider Marcellino Lucchi at the start of the Italian GP in Mugello.

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W September 1999

n Bruton Smith’s Speedway Motorsports Inc had trading in its shares hajted recently due to an imbalance between buyers and sellers. The imbalance became apparent when 250,000 shares of the stock were dumped on the market. Trading in the SMI stocks was halted for two hours before the NY Stock Exchange allowed buying and selling to recommence. n Things aren’t all that bad for SMI, though, with Smith announcing last week the addition of another 13,000 seats at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The extra seats, to be accommodated in an innovative double-decker gi-andstand, now brings the half-mile oval’s total seating capacity to 149,000!

H The Chicago Tribune reported last week that the Chicago Motor Speedway were cited by the Cook County for noise violations at it’s recent Target Champ Car Grand Pilx.

Complaints from residents led to the notice being served, although no fines or penalties were issued. , Cook County and CMS officials were due to meet this week to discuss noise level requirements, with a city official saying that “Any agreement with the racetrack would take into account the economic impact the track has on the community.”

The recent race,' promoted by Champ Car team owner Chip Ganassi, was the first Indy car race in the Chicago area since ...

19181 n Indy Lights drivers Didier Andre and Tony Renna tested for PacWest at Sebring last week. The pair drove a ‘98 Reynard fitted with 2000 development parts over two days in their 500 miles oftesting.

Report by PHIL MORRIS in Vancouver Li

OBVIOUSLY nothing can slow Juan Montoya in his record-breaking rookie CART season, Colombian leading all but one lap in the Vancouver Molson

n

r

Indy race on Sunday - a race filled with trouble on

0

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a rainy afternoon.

The event, scheduled for 90 laps on the narrow 1.87 mile temporary street cir downtown near cuit Vancouver, began in a heavy downpour with standing water and rooster tails of spray challenging the 27 starters.

Before it ended, 16 laps short because of a two-hour time limit, more than half the cars had spun or slid into tyre walls or concrete barriers, causing six cau tion flags for a total of 34 laps of yellow.

Montoya, who started from pole for the sixth time this year, finished^ over 7.5 seconds in front of Patrick Carpentier just as the sun finally broke through the clouds.

A single lap assured the 23-year-old of his serieshigh seventh victory in 16 races this season.

Series rival Dario Franchitti, who came into the race trailing Montoya by just five points for the series title, was right behind the leader’s

The strong Juan: Juan Montoya strengthened his lead in the Champ Car series with his seventh win of the year, this time in the rain in Vancouver.

Under a dark cloud: Paul Tracy took the lead momentarily, but then slarpmed into the concrete barriers.

Following like sheep: Roberto Moreno again out-qualified Newman/Haas

team-mate Michael Andretti.

(Photos by RaceAccess/SuHon Images)

Target/Ganassi ReynardHonda for a restart on lap 60.

As the leaders came up to speed on the drying track, Franchitti dived to the inside of Montoya and tried to slip past in a tight right-hand turn. The two bumped and Franchitti spun, backing hard into a tyre barrier and knocking his rear wing askew.

“I was a bit worried about Dario,” Montoya said. “I knew he was quick, but I knew we could be quicker than him.

“I knew he couldn’t get me there, but he went for it. If I would turn, I would spin as well, so I just gave him more room and he just touched me and spun.”

V

race

Franchitti was able to drive his car back to the pits where his crew tight ened the wing. The Scot managed to get back out and salvage a lOth-place finish, but is now 23 points behind with just four races remaining, “Making a silly mistake like today makes it harder on us in the champi onship,” Franchitti said.

The incident gave second to team-mate Paul Tracy, but the Canadian ran into trouble later on the same lap, brushing the wall and slamming into a concrete barrier after having just passed Montoya.

“The only time I was worried was when Tracy passed me,” Montoya said.

“The car was sliding on me, but then he spun in

front of me three turns later.”

On c e Franchitti and Tracy were out of the picture, Montoya simply had to keep his Firestone tyres under him.

Some switched to slick tyres, but Ganassi chose to keep Montoya on rain tires.

“The track was getting dry except for two corners.

If you had slicks on, you could be fast everywhere else. But I think three cars on slicks didn’t get through

those corners...

“My car was sliding, but I felt I had it under con trol. If I felt it wasn’t under control, I wouldn’t be pushing as hard.”

Ganassi team-mate Jimmy Vasser wound up third, followed by former Vancouver winner Mauricio Gugelmin, rookie Cristiano da Matta and Richie Hearn.

Sixteen cars were run ning at the end of the race, vjith 13 on the lead lap.

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to 44-68 Racecourse Road North Melbourne 3205 Ph 03 9326 6088 Fax 03 9326 3822 race;

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W September 1999

Penske confirms Reynard WITH 99 wins and nine

championships to its cred it, Penske has decided to shelve their own brand chassis for next year in favour of Reynards.

The move to the new<'chas sis completes a complete transformation for the team with Gil de Ferran and Greg Moore also recently being confirmed as the new team drivers for 2000.

“In planning our program for the future, we selected Reynard after evaluating all our chassis options,” team owner Roger Penske said in confirming the chassis switch on the weekend.

A change in chassis for the team looked to be in the air

at the beginning of the sea son when the team decided to nm just one of their own cars, a move which put the team at a great disadvantage due to the limited data it was capable of collating and fur ther develop the car.

Further disadvantaging Penske has been their deci sion to also run a Lola this season for a number of differ ent drivers - the move ham pering development of their own car and providing little, if any, worthwhile results.

-PfflL MORRIS

1

Go CART-ing: Mario Andretti tries out Chip Ganassi’s new two-seater Champ car. (Phoio by suuon) {

It takes two, baby...

“I’VE been doing this all my life and I just realised I’d never done it!” was how actor cum sportscar driver cum CART team owner Paul Newman described his laps around the new Chicago Motor Speedway in Chip Ganassi’s new two-seater Champ Car. Newman got to ride shotgun to his for mer driver Mario Andretti, the former Ft and Indycar champion lapping the 1.7km oval in just 25.6 seconds, quicker than cur rent day Champ Car driver Dennis Vitolo!

“Give me another day, and I’ll be as quick as Shigeaki (Hattori) as well!”

“It’s a fantastic way to give people a real taste of what this sport is all about,” Andretti said of the car built in Ganassi’s Indianapolis race shop.

“I take my hat off to Chip and everyone who made this happen.”

The 1998 Reynard chassis, one of Alex Zanardi’s race cars, was lengthened by eight inches and slightly widened “It’s a little snug but the whole concept is brilliant,” said Andretti, arguably America’s all-time greatest driver.

Longtime ABC/ESPN announcer Gary Gerould was also one of the VIPs lucky enough to experience a ride in Chicago.

“There’s no ride like that at Disneyland,” said Gerould, who thanked Andretti pro fusely afterwards. "It just increases your respect so much. To think they do this 225 times.”

-PHIL MORRIS

2000 US driver shuffliims0 WHILE

a

number

of

teams have already set tled on their drivers for 2000, the annual US silly season is well under way.

A1 Unser Jr looks to be out

As you can see, it was only driven on Sundays: Roger Penske calks with Mercedes-Benz motorsport boss, Norbert Haug in Chicago.(Sunon)

of a single-seater drive and heading to NASCAR with rumours linking “little Al” to the new stock car team being set up by Arciero-Wells co owner, Cal Wells.

The rumours have the Winston Cup ride being the best offer Unser has received

M-Benz looks to buy into Champ Car team

to date with an apparent IRL ride also not materialising.

PacWest drivers Mark Blundell and Mauricio

Gugehnin are both thought to he potentially on the market at the end of the year, although the chances are that at least one ofthe pair will stay.

Gugelmin is the driver thought to be most at risk, some of his Brazilian sponsors are considering switching thenallegiance to Helio Castro Neves and Hogan Racing.

Patrick Carpentier has re signed for Forsythe for a third season, now as team leader with Greg Moore’s move to Penske.

Carpentier’s team-mate will be one of the two Player’s-backed Canadians racing in Forsythe’s Toyota Atlantic team. Alex Tagliani and Lee Bentham will take

CART tests also requestedfor AMG sports car stars i By PHIL MORRIS IN a surprise move, Mercedes-Benz motor sport boss Norbert Haug was in Chicago recently to discuss DaimlerChrysler buy ing into an existing Champ Car team.

Sources suggest that the factory’s perfor mance off-shoot, AMG, will be involved in whichever team the fac tory buys in to.

AMG’s Hans-Werner Aufrecht and Domingos Piedade have also visit ed a number of Champ Car races this year, indi cating their involvement

is also more than a pos sibility.

Almost as a direct link with the move into

Champ Cars as other than an engine supplier, Mercedes-Benz has approached PacWest to test some of the compa ny’s sports ear drivers, including Bernd Schneider, who has also raced in Formula One. “We have been approached by Mercedes-Benz to test l some drivers and we’re trying to fit it into our schedule,” said PacWest vice-president Steve Fusek.“We have a strong relationship with Mercedes and would like to help them out, but

we’ve got a very busy schedule of racing and testing. We’ll see what we can do.”

Schenider’s test will be scheduled for a road

circuit, rather than an oval.

“It will a fantastic opportunity to test a Champ Car,” Schneider said last week - the last time the 35-year-old 1997 World GT Champion having been behind the wheel of a single-seater being in a test with McLaren in ’95.

Not known is whether Australian Mark Webber is amongst the names requested to be given a PacWest Champ Car test.

part in a ‘shoot-out’ test to determine who gets the drive.

Jan Magnussen’s current position at Patrick Racing also looks in serious threat

with Magnussen only having a race-by-race agreement at the moment.

Magnussen took over PJ Jones’s seat after Patrick decided to fire Jones, but PJ was almost immediately back in one of Patrick’s cars after Adrian Fernandez broke a wrist in practice at Detroit.

Jones has driven Fernandez’ car in the last three races but the Mexican hope^ to be back in action at Laguna Seca next week.

Team ovraer Patrick is also talking to Roberto Moreno, Patrick Carpentier and Bryan Herta, as well as Magnussen, about a drive in 2000.

13

n Carl Haas and Lola appear to be close to a reunification with Lola’s Martin BiiTane visiting with the once long-time Lola US distributor Haas at the I’ecent Chicago race.

Any new deal between Lola and Haas is expected to be significantly more limited than their previous association, with Haas’ role limited to parts supplier.

Lola’s own Indianapolis office would continue to offer sales and engineering support.

“The rumours of a tie-in are nearly correct, although no contracts have been signed yet.” said Birrane. n Speculation continues to circulate about Gerald Forsythe expanding his McDonald’s team to a twocar effort in 2000, although Forsythe continues to say it is just that, speculation.

“I’ve had a number of meetings with interested sponsors and a driver, but so far they’ve all been short ofthe finances needed to compete at the level we want,” said Forsythe.

H With sales of sponsorship for its November Champ Car race low, the Hawaiian Super Prix has replaced CEO Dick Rutherford with Phil Herd.

Having already posted a bond with CART for the prizemoney,the organisers of the race said need to get it back on track to cover the US$10 million being offered -the winner taking US$5 million - with Herd now responsible for increasing corporate income with the event.

B Reunification talks continue between CART and the IRL with a resolution appearing to be getting closer.

Talks were recently stalled when IRL engine supplier GM was not happy with some aspects of the discussions, but those problems are believed to have been overcome recently.

Mobil Quick Qu p

’ MOBIL is givI ing Motorsport News readers the opportimity to win a set of its exclusive racewear - Mobil 1 Racing jacket, polo top and cap

(retail value $250 plus)!

Simply answer the follow ing two questions.

Question 1: What year did Peter Brock drive a BMW tour ing car?

Question 2: How many drivers have driven for MobilHRT at Bathurst over the past three years i (not including Young ' Lions)?

Place your answers on * the back of an envelope with your details and for ward to: Motorsport News Mobil 1 Competition, PO Box 1010 North Caulfield 3161.

First correct entry drawn will win the pack.

Entries close 4 October 1999. The winner and the next Mobil Quick Quiz will appear in Issue 163. Good luck!

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winning

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I

14

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n

W September 1999

Plato One hand on the Crown LAURENT Aiello took a win and a

joins

888

VAUXHALL is about to sign current Renault star Jason Plato to join its team in 2000.

Reports in Britain say that Plato has agreed to drive for the Triple Eight team, but that the Jwo parties are yet to agree a salary.

The 31-year-old, who has been left without a ride by the withdrawal of the Renault team, will replace Vauxhall's retiring John Cleland.

The Vauhall drive is a lifeline for Plato, who broke Into the Renault team two years ago after starring in Renault's Spyder series.

The Briton had previously hinted that he might seek a move to America - perhaps with a NASCAR team - if he could not find a BTCC ride.

Plato will join Yvan Muller in the team, after having spent the last season with another Frenchman, Jean-Christophe Bouiliion, alongside him in the Renault-Williams outfit.

The pairing presents an interesting combination. Plato was number 1 driver for Renault, while there is little doubt that Muller elbowed John Cleland out of the way to be number 1 at Triple 8.

Fireworks are likely...

Tale of 2 Nissans: Laurent Aiello has a stranglehold on the ’99 BTCC crown.

Neal gets the arse!

In England Independents' Champions get highly unusual trophies ...

(Photos by Bothwel!

Photographic and SuttonImages)

Photo t?y BOR

Ricky, don’t lose that number: Too iate - though Rydell did win at Brands.

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EARL’S P€nmMANC€ PROPOCTS

BTCC Brands

second place at ^Brands Hatch to Round 21 (25 laps) Volvo 19m 56.743s 1. Rydell tighten Ids grip on the 1999 British -r0.424s Nissan 2. Aiello Touring Car Championship. +2.744S Honda 3. Thompson +5.61 Os Nissan 4.

Leslie The Frenchman had pole position in +6,01 Is Nissan V,.

Neal the Sprint race, but was out-dragged to +6.826S Renault (i. Plato the first comer by Rickai'd Rydell, who +7.358S Renault 7. Bouillon +8.798S Ford 8. Reid went on to take the chequered flag for +10.0146 Honda 9. Kox his second win ofthe year.

Volvo +11.938s 10 Radermecker In the Feature event, however, the Round 22(55 laps) Nissan star made the perfect getaway Nissan 46m 34.375s 1. Aiello en route to his ninth victory of the sea +9.U.4S Nissan 2. Leslie +9.494,5 Honda 3. Thompson son to lead team mate David Leshe by .■ie.7S2s Honda 4. Kox 22 points with just four rounds remain Volvo -13.127s 5. Rydell Renault ing. The drivers’ title is now certain to +19.054s 6. Bouillon Volvo +19.259s 7. Radermecker go to Nissan, completing a famous clean +26.775S Renault 8. Plato sweep of all four titles in 1999.

4 28.473s Vauxhall 9. Cleland AieUo held pole position for the Sprint Nissan +29.635S 10. Neal Points; Aiello 214, Leslie 192. Thompson 144, Race but, alongside him, Rydell sprinted Rydell 141, Plato 117, Kox 103, Neel 96. away into lead. For once, the race pace Radermecker 97, Muller 95, Boullllon 86. of Rydell’s Volvo S40 was a match for Meanwhile, Gabriele Tarquini and the Primera and Aiello waited in hope for the Swede to present an opportunity. Yvan Muller were having their own lit No mistake was forthcoming and Rydell tle altercation. Muller started from the back after an early morning roll in his claimed his second victory ofthe year.

David Leslie maintained relentless Vectra and his attempt to claim twelfth pressure on Matt Neal’s rear bumper, place from the Italian saw a disappoint but Neal was determined to hang onto ing weekend for both drivers end in the fourth place. He did so until the final gravel. lap, when the call came for him to The Safety Car circled for five laps as allow David thi’ough. Somewhat reluc the ensuing debris was cleared, after tantly, the big man gave way, allowing which the race was fought out through Leslie two further points that could pit stop strategy. Aiello pitted first and ultimately prove crucial. by the time Rydell had made his stop Thompson’s championship challenge the following lap, the Nissan was clear had stumbled in recent weeks, but the and after all the stops had been com Yorkshireman was delighted to return pleted, the reigning champion found to the podium, ending a run of poor himself way down in fifth. form that had brought him just six Leslie assumed second place, cour points in the same number ofraces. tesy of a sUck stop by his pit crew, but Aiello out-dragged the pole-sitting he could not shake off the attentions of Rydell in the Feature event. David Thompson who all but attached himself Leslie slotted in behind the Volvo in to the back ofthe Scot’s Primera for the third, narrowly ahead ofThompson. rest of the 55 lap event. Thompson, still As the pack headed up to Druids for with designs on the runner-up slot in the first time, Reid drove his Mondeo the championship, had a couple of looks around the outside of Neal’s Piimera to down the inside but erred on the side of take the. place going into Graham Hill caution to collect his second podium fin bend. Ford colleague Alain Menu fol ish ofthe day. lowed him through, but in the shuffle Aiello cruised serenely on to claim the cars came together, robbing Neal of his ninth win of the BTCC season, fin his power steering and spinning Menu ishing nearly 10s clear of his team offinto the barriers to end his race. mate.

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W September 1999

15

The history ofBelgium, smoking and sea breezes A

fter the British and the Prussians beat Napoleon’s French armies at Waterloo in 1815, it was decided that the Belgian territories - which had been French -should be made part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

This was neat and tidy and got rid of an unseemly patch on the international map. The only slight problem was that no-one asked the Belgians and the Dutch if they thought it was a good idea - which they did not.

And so a few years later the Belgians rose up in rebellion against the Dutch and declared independence. The Great Powers of Europe, who were fed up with fighting wars, decided that to avoid more punch-ups that the easiest solution was to make Belgium an independent state. The National Congress of Belgium then decid ed that Belgium should be a kingdom and went looking for a spare monarch. It was not an easy task but eventually a Belgian government representa tive sidled up to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and muttered: "Psst. Wanna be a King?"

And the German said.

pie to jail if the cars ran with tobac co branding and so the F1 circus covered up the words and the logos and muttered dark noises about leaving Belgium forever...

This would be a disaster for the sport because Spa is one of the great racing circuits of the world even in its new truncated form. It is a track which sorts the men from the boys and the lunatics from the sane. It is a magnificent place. A place of legends and heroes; of tri umphs and tragedies.

There are many in the F1 paddock who believe that it would be a tragedy if F1 was driven away from Spa because of the sport's addiction to tobacco money. I tend to agree with that but at the same time I think politicians should not be allowed to be such bullies.

Formula 1 does not want to give up tobacco money. Everyorje agrees that smoking is bad for you but there are no politicians advo cating banning tobacco. That would be too difficult and would create a whole series of new problems.

It would also deprive them of enormous tax revenues and if that money was lost more would have to be found from elsewhere - and that would mean new taxes - and such things cost votes. And so the politicians compromise and attack

advertising. They do care about motor racing. They care about votes and they seem to think that banning tobacco advertising will win them votes, by making them look as though they care.

What all the politicians and lawyers of the world fail to under stand is that there is such a thing as free will. Smoking is an addic tion but it can be beaten. We are the masters of our destinies if we want to be.

The other problem is one of power. F1 does not want to back down to a relatively unimpor tant government at a time when it is fighting bigger battles over tobacco on the world scene.

The Belgian government does not want to back

Spa may be the best circuit on the FI calendar but it is not an easy place to work. The traffic system is like Silverstone and it changesfrom day to day depending on whether a Flem or a Walloon is on duty.

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The Dutch thought this scan dalous and invaded Belgium but the Great Powers again flexed their muscles and decreed that the fighting must stop. And so in 1831 the country we now know as Belgium emerged. It was a bit of a mess, the northern part was peopled by Flems (who wete closer to the Dutch) and the south by the French-speak ing Walloons. The two groups have been squabbling ever since. And yet, somehow, this tribal mess of a country some how survives and even thrives.

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This year at Spa- the Formula Francorchamps 1 circus was treated to some typ ically Belgian division. The Belgian national government in Brussels last year voted through a harsh tobacco ban - nastier even that the European Union legislation. It has never been explained why such a thing is 'lecessary as Formula 1 has already agreed to abide by EU rules about tobacco and there is rw need for the Belgians to push fhe point.

Fearing that the Formula 1 cir cus would leave the Spa region, the Walloons- who stand to lose a lot of money and prestige if fhe Grand Prix disappears- decided to try to stop the ban. The local government announced that tobacco sponsorship could go ahead in the province. Brussels did not have the right to dictate such matters.

The lawyers got down to fight ing and because they charge by the hour, the issue was not solved in time for the Grand Prix this year. The Belgian Health Minister threatened to send peo-

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down because being beaten by a sport would be humiliating.

And so we will probably have to leave Spa. We will miss the excitement and the grandeur of the circuit. I will miss the chance to go around the old circuit- if only as a reminder of what the old Spa was like. Every so often I believe it is a good thing to get away from the modern idea of motor racing and remember the old days. You can do that at Spa by tripping away from the circuit to the little village of Burnenville (at the top of the hill after Les Combes).

This the old Spa fromisthere you cancircuit followand the road as it curls down the hill towards the old Malmedy Corner.

It’s gone now - having been replaced by some motorway slip roads - but if you keep on the road towards Stavelot you are quickly back on the old track. It is a flat out straight all the way down to the fearsome Masta kink.

There is something evil-sound ing about the name and, arriving there and threading between the houses, you realise why the place had such a reputation. And then it is flat all the way down to1he slightly-banked Stavelot Corner which fans of fhe film ‘Grand Prix” will recognise as the corner at . which Jean-Pierre Sarti crasheu his Ferrari, killing two small boys.

From there the old track blasted up through the woods to rejoin the new track at the new Stavelot corner.

Back in the paddock there are many who could not care less about the grandeur of the new track - let alone the old one. It may be the best circuit on the FI calendar but it is not an easy place to work. The traffic system is like Silverstone and it changes from day to day depending on whether a Flem or a Walloon is on duty.

The facilities are pretty dire and the organisation sketchy on occa sion. In addition to all this, strange folk are always causing frouble.

Wires are sabotaged. This year everyone had to be searched on arrival because someone had tele phoned a bomb threat. What a shame, someone said, that the bomb threat had not come from the US Air Force...

The impression is that few peo ple would miss Spa - and that is rather worrying. f FI does leave Belgium in all probability the end of August race will take place at Zandvoort in Holland. The Dutch - ever rivals of the Belgians - have set their sights on the Belgian date.

Tobacco advertising is not a prob lem in Holland and the Zandvoort track, while not being exactly the same as the old days, will still have most of fhe elements of the original circuit - a legendary place in its own right.

The trees and rains of Spa would be replaced by the sahd dunes and sea breezes of Zandvoort.

You can get frites and mayon naise in both places...

Would that be such a bad thing?

16

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Three iooks at the views Mika didn’t want to have: Coulthard’s win at SpaFrancochamps delighted some, but certainly not Hakkinen. The two discussed the result and their first lap coming together after the race (above).

(Photos by Sutton Images/RaceAccess)

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Report by JOE SAWARD

CLAREN scored a 1-2 at the Belgium Grand Prix but you would have not have known it judging by the mood of the team after the race.

It was most bizarre.

Mika Hakkinen was upset because David Coulthard had won the race. Coulthard did not seem to be very pleased despite the fact that he has always wanted to win at Spa. Ron Dennis seemed posi tively underwhelmed by the day’s activities. So what did it all mean?

It seems that there is simply not enough water at Spa. Anyone who visits this pleasant little corner of the Ardennes forests might argue with that belief because it seems to '■i, rain rather a lot in the region. This is not a place where things turn brown in August from constant sunshine. Far from it. It is lush and green. And that means water. Lots of water. The problem is that there is not enough of it because the area puts 100 million gallons a year into bottles and exports it to 50 coun tries where health-conscious folk sip it after their daily jog.

Spa is so famous that the name of the town came to mean health resort. Mineral water was discov ered by the Romans and Peter the

Great was among those who dropped by to sip the iron-rich water for medicinal purposes.

Being clean-living was obviously too boring and so someone came up with the idea of building a casino and so the rich and famous came along did the healthy stuff and then stayed up all night emptying their wallets gambling.

For a while it was the chic thing to do, but eventually Spa fell a little from favour and, in an effort to make the place seem glamorous, a local worthy came up with the idea of holding a motor race around the hills. It was a good idea and by the early 1930s Spa had become one of the great racing circuits of the world. It really is a spectacular place and any serious race fan has to go there once to see what every one is waffling on about.

The eulogies about Eau Rouge are not wrong. It is still the most exciting corner in FI - and the most dangerous and, every year, one or two FI drivers find them selves crawling from the wreckage of their bright shiny FI car having smashed it into the barriers at Eau Rouge.

Jacques Villeneuve is a particu lar expert at this and seems to get immense and intense enjoyment about spinning around, going upside down. After this year’s huge

Dan

crash on Saturday afternoon he was heard to exclaim: “That was even bet ter than last year”.

It is a place like Eau Rouge which gives you an indi cation of why we normal folk are different to racing drivers. They like danger. They crave adrenaline.

And that is why we love them. They crawl from the wreckage, shrug their shoulders and climb into a brand new car and get ready to do it again. Heroic stuff.

Every racing driver will tell you that they take Eau Rouge flat but quite a lot of them are not really telling the whole truth. One or two of the brave boys can do it but most flutter a little and feather the throttle.

Qualifying Mika Hakkinen has brave alwaysand been the bravest of the so it was no gi-eat surprise to see him on pole for the 10th time in 12 races and the Finn seemed quite happy with the situation, although he was pushed rather more than normal by his team-mate David Coulthard who has always been a man who loves Spa. In the end they were sep arated by a tenth of a second and DC was bubbly.

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“I enjoyed the session as the car was going well and we were making constant improvements,” he said.

“Whatever I did Mika seemed to improve upon it. I made some improvements for my last run which I think would have seen me improve my time but I made a small mistake...”

One would have expected to see the Ferraris next up as they have been for much of the season but at Spa it was the Jordan MugenHondas which were the closest challengers to the two Silver Arrows. This was not really a sur prise. Heinz-Harald Frentzen was the faster of the two drivers - near ly a second a lap slower than Coulthard. Damon Hill was right up there too, just four hundredths of a second slower than HH. The German reckoned that he would have been much faster if he had not been disrupted by the red flags caused by British American Racing trying to annihilate itself Damon was motivated again. He loves Spa and gets real kick out of driving the circuit.

“When you have a good go, you can hawe a good thrash out there!”

Now if you are expecting to see a Ferrari fifth on the grid you are going to be surprised because that place went to Ralf Schumacher. It was a splendid effort for the Williams driver and his best qualifsdng performance of the year. Ralf lost a hint of time passing an Arrows and reckoned that he might have been third - which would real ly have been something. Down at the Williams garage they w'ere pretty chirpy and the fact that Alessandro Zanardi was eighth on the grid - which is by far his best showing of the year.

“It’s a pity I had some brake problems,” said Zanardi afterwards, “I am quite sure I could have done something better than that.

Let us hope that this is the start of the long-awaited Zanardi revival.

Sixth on the grid was World Championship leader Eddie Irvine and there was a certain amount of forced smiling going on at Ferrari.

“I didn’t expect to be one and a half seconds off pole,” said Eddie.

“What is worse is that another team has slipped between us and our rivals.”

Mika Salo was three-tenths slow er that Irvine and that meant that he would start from ninth on the

grid.

“My car was ver>’ slow and I just could not get the maximum perfor mance out of it. I hope this will be less of a problem in race trim.”

Seventh and 10th on the grid were the two Stewart-Fords with Rubens Barrichello again faster than Johnny Herbert, although only by a couple of tenths on this occasion. This was something of a disappointment for the team which now has more expectation than once was the case.

“We have to admit that we thought our package would have enabled us to be higher placed,” said Paul Stewart.

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In the shadows of a great... me: Eddie Irvine studied the competition during qualifying, although he battled car balance all weekend - finishing fourth and losing the championship lead.

And Finnish-ing seventh Schuey stand-in, Mika Salo bounced back to a bit of form in Belgium, although the second Ferrari was out of the points.

(Photos by RaceAccess)

Big Accident Racing: Jacques Villeneuve survived this frightening accident in his BAR about 20 minutes into the Saturday morning practice session. Villeneuve lost control of the car at Eau Rouge, the car hitting the barriers at warp speed before bouncing back onto the circuit, flipping over as it did. Ricardo Zonta gave the team something to laugh at not long after, doing the same just slightly down the track, usutton images)

Such is the way of competitive people in FI hut let us not forget where Stewart was last year and how much progress has been made The momentum is continuing and the team is likely to he a serious contender for honours next year...

With the top 10 monopolised by five teams, 11th slot went to Villeneuve, a man who loves Spa. The meeting did not begin well for the team with Jacques avoiding a nasty crash on Friday when his suspension collapsed under braking for Les Combes when he was travelling at about 190mph. It was not the sort of thing which one expects to see in Grand Prix racing and that night the BAR engineers went to work to strengthen the wish bones on the car.

On Saturday morning everything was in order and things were look ing good until about 20 minutes into the session when Villeneuve had an enormous shunt after losing controTih Eau Rouge. The car hit the barriers at terrifying speed and bounced back, flipping over as it did so. Jacques scrambled out, leaving

-y. a gallimaufry of car parts lying around in the sandtrap. The car was fit only for the dustbin men.

The session restarted and soon afterwards Ricardo Zonta had an accident which began slightly further down the hill. This resulted in him going off into the baiTiers on the left side of the road - just as Zanai'di did a few years ago in a Lotus. Now this was a really big accident as the car flew, flippe'd and rolled before coming to rest minus all four wheels.

The marshals came out and began picking up the multi-coloured frag ments of the second BAR. By this time Villeneuve was back in the pitlane, sitting in the one remaining car and we were treated to the curious sight of BAR mechanics laughing and joking. It was decidedly odd and something

which upset Hakldnen quite a lot.

“I was really, really disappointed with the attitude,” he said. It was probably nervous laughter - the team was so deeply in trouble that it may have seemed funny - but it was decidedly out of place.

Villeneuve did go out again later in the session but did not improve his time. That afternoon the BAR tele phones were busy as the team test truck was deflected fi'om its routing to Monza to deliver two new cars to the team. They arrived at 10:45pm and the team was ready to run with three cars in the morning warm-up.

The team is now being kicked by everyone and is the butt of the FI joke market. The shunts earned them the nickname Big Accident Racing. It is hard going for them Continued next page...

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18

IMo)O®!70[P®[FO as the handling of his own car was really horrible. He qualified 15th.

Sixteenth and 18th on the grid was a dismal performance from Sauber. The blame was placed squarely on the aerodynamics of the car...

Down at the back was the usual melange of Arrows and Minardis with the battle being won this time

by Tora Takagi who showed himself to be hugely brave through Eau Rouge, where he set the second fastest split time, beaten only by Hakkinen. Next up was Luca Badoer while Spain dominated the back row ofthe grid with Marc fientjust outpacing Pedro de la Rosa.

And that was what he did. Both McLarens did two stops but David never lost his lead. Ajfter the che quered flag it was clear that all was not well between the McLaren dri vers. Before he went to speak to the media, Hakkinen received a few words of advice from team boss Ron Dennis.

Was Mika upset about the first comer?

“It was not very pleasant,” he said. “No further comment.”

What was going on? Mika’s per formance was most odd. He never backs off so why did he cruise along behind David to such an extent that the team put out a sign telling him to “PUSH”?

And then suddenly after tne pit

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Trulli dull: Belgium was for both Prost drivers, Trulli and Panis(above)finishing 12th and 13th.(Sunon images

Race(44 Laps) There was not a great of excitement in the hoursdeal before the race. The weather was good and so there was little hope of the kind of topsy-turvy event we had last year. The McLarens looked strong and we expected a fairly dull race.

And that was what we got — except for the first comer.

Hakkinen’s car moved before the lights went out and as Mika tried to sort himself out the race began and he scrambled away. In consequence Coulthard was alongside as they went into the first comer but on the outside. He kept his foot down and the two cars touched.

Neither was damaged.

With Coulthard ahead we expected Hakkinen to give chase but he did not. He dropped back.

“You have to look at the bigger picture,” he said. “After about five or six laps I decided that it was better to concentrate on the race and collect six valuable points.”

stops why did he set a couple of fastest laps before dropping back into the cruise mode again?

After the race no-one seemed happy. Not David, not Mika and not Ron Dennis. Was this, we wondered, a payback for David helping Hakkinen win the European GP of 1997 at Jere2 and the 1998 Australian GP? That theory made sense. The team collected maximum points in the Constmctors’ Championship and so pulled away from Ferrari. Coulthard pulled closer to Irvine in the battle for second place in the Drivers’ Championship. And Hakkinen took the lead in the Drivers’ World Championship - but not by as much as he would have Uked.

After the race the teair was very pleased to tell everyone after the race that here was evidence that McLaren does not have team orders. But normally when a team scores a 1-2 there is much rejoicing.

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Whatever Jacques can do, i can do better: Ricardo Zonta was hopeful he would be able to run free from his BAR after a similar accident to team-mate Villeneuve's at Eau Rouge. (Photo by sunon im^esi

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World Championship Round 12 August 29th, 1999-44 laps,(306.577kms)

T-minus 35 laps and counting: Pedro de la Rosa lasted until the 35th lap before retiring his Arrows with transmission problems.

Fosters - it’s Australian for: Grid girls...

The Hills are alive with the sound of... Actually, the hills were alive to the sounds of HeinzHarald Frentzen leading Eddie Irvine to third place.

(Photos by Sutton Images)

0FOST£IT8 7 ^

Continued from page 18... about as emotional as a Finnish funeral. Was Couithard less enthu siastic than he should have been because he knew he had been given the win without a fight? Was Ron Dennis less happy than he should have been because he knew it was a charade? And was Mika Hakkinen annoyed because the team did not give him the support he wanted or because Couithard had leaned too heavily on him at the first corner?

The official story just did not add up.

So what the Hell was going on between the McLaren drivers?

“It’s none of your business,”' said David Couithard.

So, folks, now you know... anoth er public relations victory for West McLaren Mercedes team.

In contrast to the frosts of McLaren the Jordan team was posi tively happy with Frentzen’s third place, despite the fact that it drops HH behind Couithard in the World Championship.

“It was a great race for us,” said Frentzen. “but the McLarens were unbeatable today.”

Damon Hill finished sixth which was quite good given a very bad start.

“I had too many revs and got too much wheelspin,” he explained, ‘and from then on I was just hoping

to get a point for the team.

Irvine was fourth and that was an awful result for the Italian team which has been at sea in recent weeks.

“The result is unsatisfactory,” said Jean Todt. “Eddie’s car has been unstable and lacking a good balance all weekend.”

Mika Salo finished seventh, slowed in the middle of the race he said - by having to lean off his engine to conserve fuel. One won ders why Irvine did not have to do the same...

Ralf Schumacher’s fifth place for Wilhams was not a happy result for the team and Williams Technical Director Patrick Head - always a man to speak his mind - let fly because he felt that Sale’s fuel problem was nothing of the sort.

Patrick reckoned that Mika had been told to block Ralf to protect Irvine’s fourth place. The lap times would tend to bear out this theory.

Before Ralf arrived behind him Salo was lapping in the lm55s.

When Ralf got right behind him the times suddenly dropped dra matically into the lm58s - and there were no backmarkers to blame. On one lap Mika did a lm55s and then dropped back to lm58s again. It was not even sub tle. Nor was Patrick Head.

(People in Ferrari uniforms

should don tin helmets at this point in the narrative.)

'Ralf fell foul of Ferrari’s cynical approach, running a onecar team with a blocking tactic to protect Irvine’s position and I am very surprised that Mika Saio was prepared to accept such orders from the pits. “ft Ferrari has been doing this sort of thing for the last number of years and I have to say that I very much appreciate the more sporting approach of McLaren in running a two-car team. They will thoroughly deserve the Drivers’ and the Manufacturers’ Championship which I hope they will achieve this year...”

(People in Ferrari uniforms can now take off their tin helmets.)

If Schumacher fell foul of Salo, Zanardi’s race was ruined because there was not enough fuel put in his car at his stop and he had to come back for more. Alex, in the Tcar because of continuing brake problems, drove a storming race and deserved better.

“At least we were competitive,” said Zanardi. “We were there. The car was responding really Wfell and I could have been in the points.

He finished eighth.

Ninth place went to Jean Alesi in his Sauber and Jean’s race was a dramatic one. He started 16th, narrowly missed smashing into the back of a stalled BAR on the grid. Despite this exciting moment he ended the first lap in 13th. On ●lap two he passed Wurz for 12th.

On lap five he took Fisichella for 11th and two laps later went past Herbert to grab 10th.

He stayed there until his stop on lap 14 which dropped him back to 18th and he had to start over taking all over again. He passed Villeneuve and Wurz (again) to run ninth before stopping again.

And then he hurried his way to

Pos Driver 1 0. Couithard 2 M. Hakkinen 3 H-H. Frentzen 4 "E. Irvine 5 R.Schumacher 6 D. Hill 7 M. Salo 8 A. Zanardl 9 J. Atesi 10 R. Barrichello 11 G. Fisichella 12 J. Trulli 13 O. Panis 14 A. WufZ 15 J. Villeneuve 16 M. Gene

Race time Car McLaren-Mercedes 1h 25m 43.057s/214.595kph 1h 25m 53.526s McLaren-Mercedes, 1h26m 16.490* Jordan-Mugen-Honda 1h26m 28.005s Marlboro-Ferrari 1h26m 31.124s Willtams-Supertec 1h 26m 37.973s Jordan-Mugen-Honda 1h26m 39.306s Marlboro-Ferarri 1h 26m 50.079s Williams-Supertec 1h26m 56.905a Sauber-Petronas 1h 27m 03.799* Stewart-Ford 1h 27m 15.252* Benetton-Supertec 1h27m 19.211s Prost-Peugeot 1h 27m 24.600s Prost-Peugeot 1h 27m 40.802s Benetton-Supertec 43 laps BAR-Supertec Minardi-Ford 43 laps

Fastest Lap; Hakkinen, Lap 23,1m 53.955s/220.128kph.

Retirements: Lap 0 T. Takagi P. Diniz Up 19 J. Herbert Lap 27 R.Zonta Lap33 L. Badoer Lap 33 P. de la Rosa Lap 35

Arrows Sauber-Petronas Stewarf-Ford BAR-Supertec Minardi-Ford Arrows

clutch spun off brakes/spun off gearbox broken suspension transmission

Lap Leaders: Up 1-44, Couithard.

DRIVERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS Hakkinen 60, Irvine 59, Couithard 46, Frentzen 40, Schumacher 32, Schumacher 24, Fisichella 13, Barrichello 12, Hill 7,Salo 6, Wurz 3, Diniz 3, Herbert 2, Panis 2, De la Rosa/Alesi/Trulli 1.

CONSTRUCTORS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS McLaren-Mercedes 106, Ferrari 97, Jordan-Mugen-Honda 47, WilliamsSupertec 24, Benetton-Supertec 16,Stewarl-Ford 14, Sauber-Petronas 4, Prost-Peugeot 3, Arrows 1. the flag after a great race.

Pedro Diniz had less fun. He dropped to 18th early on and pit ted early. Soon after his stop he spun in Eau Rouge and was for tunate not to have a sizeable shunt.

“I thought it was going to be a big one,” he admitted but fortu nately I spun through 360 degrees and scrubbed off a fair bit of speed before I hit the tyre

wall.

Behind Alesi in 10th place was Rubens Barrichello which was not so good considering that he started seventh.

“I have suffered from a lack of mechanical grip all weekend. I managed to nail down one lap in qualifying and that was my weekend’s moment of glory. I was having real trouble in the race A1 I could do was keep it one the road.”

Johnny Herbert failed to do that but it was not his fault. He had brake trouble. “i lost the brakes and went straight into the gravel trap and hit the barrier backwards.”

It was not a vintage weekend for Benetton either. The recent revival having run completely out of steam. The story was lack of grip and the result was Fisichella 11th and Wurz 14th.

It was a similar story for Frost although both drivers did some overtaking early on. Trulli passed Villeneuve and Wurz in the eariy laps while Panis bat tled his way past Diniz, Villeneuve and Wurz. After that it was pretty dull and the two drivers finishjed 12th and 13th with Trulli ahead of Panis by five seconds at the flag.

Fifteenth was Villeneuve and while this was hardly earth-shat tering stuff it must be remarked that this was his first finish of the year after 11 consecutive retirements. His one-stop race was not a good idea because his first lap dropped him from 11th to 14th.

From little acorns do great oak trees grow... it just takes time.

Zonta did not make the finish.

In fact he did not make the start either as when the lights went out he stayed where he was. The car was eventually started in the pitlane and he started a lap down. He retired on lap 35 with gearbox troubles...

The Arrows team had a fearful day. At the start both cars stayed where they were on the grid. De la Rosa did get going albeit slowly but Takagi retired with clutch failure.

lAk>0(£>[Fsm®[70

21

10 September 1999

Just another title for Rkhards

By EDWARD KRAUSE

A THIRD and a victory in the two final series races for the year secured Jim Richards yet another title, this time the Century Batteries GTP Outright Championship, adding the 1999 title to the one he won in ‘95.

Rival Peter Fitzgerald took pole position for both races in his Falken Porsche from Wa3me Park in the Ferrari although each time the field was led into turn one by the eight-litre Dodge Viper of Garry Waldon - Waldon hav ing qualified third and fourth.

In race one Park destroyed a drivehne on the startline as Fitzgerald and Richards fol lowed Waldon. Fitzy put the pressure on Waldon early, and then had it applied to

him when Richards and Morgan began looking for a way past.

Mtzgerald looked for a way through, but Waldon held on for the Viper’s second win of the year - third enough for Richards to seal the crown.

In race two Waldon again took the lead from row two but this time the Ferraii got off the line and Park slotted into second from Fitzgerald and Beninca.

The Safety Car was brought out for two laps to clear a stricken vehicle and when the race got underway again Richards got ahead of Beninca for fourth and then set out after the leading trio.

By lap eight Richo was beginning to put the pressure on Fitzgerald. Fitzy looked like he might be able to move up into second when he got an inside run on Park down the front straight but the 355

Boosh! Richards just avoided a lap 1 incident, while Geoff Full and Paul Elstrek got close. (Photos by Oirk Klynsmith and Noel Papelera)

Judging it perfectiy

A tense wait on Saturday night for the DESPITE an obvious lack of speed, Greg Ritter secured the Australian Formula three competitors, with a three-way tie for the championship a real possibility. If that hap Ford Championship with his sixth and pened the order on countback would be fifth place finishes at Oran Park enough Owen, Davison and Ritter. to get him home in a tight points battle It was also anxious for Murchison who with Alex Davison and Steve Owen. had an overheating engine and wouldn’t Davison took pole and won both races know until the warm-up whether he would be convincingly but he fell two points short of the able to race. Fastest time in the warm-up title, finishing equal second in the title race with Owen. allayed his fears as both Ritter and Owen made changes to try and find some speed.

Davison’s OAMPS/Wynn’s Van Diemen Davison led them away in race two and, was quick straight off the trailer and he was after a four lap Safety Car period to clear up fastest in both qualifying sessions. Second some turn one casualties, again walked on the grid was Christian Murchison, fol away from the rest of the field. He had done lowed by Leanne Ferrier in Fastlane Racing all he could, he would need for Owen to fin Van Diemens. Ritter qualified his Inspired ish fourth and Ritter sixth to take the title.

Racing Mygale fourth from Stuart Kostera.

Off the line Ferrier was second from Owen Kelly and Steve Owen, who was suf Kostera, Kelly, Owen and Ritter, but over the fering from chronic understeer in qualifying, bridge for the first time Owen moved past hampering his chances in the fight for the title.

Kelly for fourth. Davison was now in the points lead for the title...

Murchison got the best start in race one, At the restart the Valvoline pressured reading Davison until the second lap when a Rookie of the Year Kostera. Then Ritter got small mistake saw him go off road briefly He the run on Kelly out of Recaro and passed trailed Davison for another four laps until, try him down the straight. That move meant ing too hard into Suttons corner, he put a Davison was out of the championship race, wheel off and while sideways hit an oil pud Ritter was in the lead and Owen had to get dle, spinning off the circuit to near the back of second. the field.

That scenario all started to look likely as Davison was unchallenged after that, Owen pulled a great move on Kostera, recording a four second victory. around the outside of turn one.

While Rftter got a blinding start into third, Owen needed to pass Ferrier, but Leanne he soon fell back through the field, Ferrier held tight to take second. passing him forthirc, which soon turned into Meanwhile, Christian Murchison had second when Murchison spun. She held that screamed through from the back of the field from a fast closing Stuart Kostera. to move into sixth behind Ritter, and that was Owen Kelly took fourth from Steve Owen how they would finish - Davison a worthy and Ritter, the latter two having a meeting winner and Ritter a worthy champion. with the stewards after a collision off the Final Points: Ritter 198, Owen/Davison 196, Yokohama bridge in when Owen made his Kostera 135, Murchison 123, Cotter 85, Ferrier passing move. The stewards viewed Owen's 83, Tyler Mecklem 76, Kelly 64,Seward 63. in-car footage aind decided that it was a rac - EDWARD KRAUSE ing incident.

had the legs to hold on. Then Richards made his move on Fitzgelald at Recaro for third and then went after Park.

The Ferrari made a very determined lunge at Recaro on Waldon, a bit of contact pushed the Viper wide and Park was through into the lead.

At the end of the straight the Viper’s brakes finally gave out and Waldon was forced to park in the sand trap.

The Ferrari held off one challenge but exiting the bridge two corners later the tail went very sideways and Richards again pulled along side. Through four corners they ran alongside each other, Richards finally pulling ahead as they went into the dogleg and took the lead with three to go.

The only point of interest

after that was a spin for Beninca at turn one as Richards finished the championship with a win, a side ways Park in second and Fitzgerald third.

In Class B Paula Elstrek trumped new championelect Geoff Full in her Mazda RX-7, qualifying fastest for both races ahead of Full’s Subaru WRX and the Mitsubishi Evo 3 of Mark King. Elstrek dominated the first race, but King took victory in the secon,d. Full was out after a tpngle with Bob Hughes in race one resulted in his WRX hitting a tyre barrier.

In Class C, newly crowned champ Peter Phelan shared fastest qualifying spots and race v«ns in his Commodore VT SS with Daryl Coon in his Falcon XR6.

In the D category, Phil

rftffldinwnil iGmnp^heiis!y& sftlrrygrfsinventory

Kirkham showed why he is the championship winner, clean sweeping the event in his Mazda 626, beating the Holden Vectras of Me’.inda Price and Sam Newman.

In the up-for-grabs Class E, Nathan Thomas was another to clean sweep the event in his Suzuki GTi, but the series win went to Kosi Kalaitzidis in the Proton M21 - Proton’s first ever Australian motorsport championship.

Ric Shaw was another to clean sweep in Class S, his MR2 recording two poles and two victories.

Final Points: Outright Richards 187.5, Fitzgerald 162, Beninca 123. Class B Full 166.5, Class C Phelan 172, Class D Kirkham 180, Class E Kalaitzidis 158, Class S Shaw 209.

More supports on page 49.

rSiari'

22

W September 1999

All in the

FAMLY

l Mobil-HRT Commodore duo dominates Oran Park «> l Skaife doses points gap to Lowndes with pole, 3 wins l Lowndes VT 2nd x 3, Bright AU 3rd x 3 l Ellery and McLean Falcon ELs dazzle against ‘Big Guys’ l Falcon AUs - except Bright’s - struggle for grip l Tender & Ingall keep in touch for enduro double points Report by CHRIS LAMBDEN Turnaround: Skaife’s starts, ondl weakness, were at Oran Park, drivi^<^ hi m on to thr^wjrrSjj^ (Photo

win the champi NO-ONE goingbut to onship is today, you could lose it...”

The V8 fraternity heeded Mark Skaife’s post-qualifying words at Oran Park last Sunday.

With two major double points races to come, none of the title contenders was prepared to risk a costly DNF. It was a case of qualify well,

good starts, look after everyMobil HRT did it to perfec tion. Front row, three 1-2 results. McLaren-Uke. Mark Skaife was the pole man and better starter and the clean sweep brought him 12 valuable points closer to his team-mate.

Behind Team Mc-HRT, Jason Bright kept his, and Ford’s, challenge alive with a sensible third - better than he’d hoped after a problematic practice and qualifying.

The other contender, Russell Ingall, lost points after a race two first comer

bingle, but is still thereabouts.

Sensations of the weekend were Steve Ellery and Cameron McLean, the for mer a virtual privateer, the latter a genuine one, both in older EL Falcons. They qual ified third and fifth and ran there or thereabouts pretty much all day, shaming some verj' big names.

What is this quintessance of dust? Jason Bargwanna couldn’t figure whether to Be, or not to Be, his Winton dominance turning to dust after a tough weekend.

[Apologies to Will Shakespeare].

I need a Gatorade: Peter Doulman had a Big One at the start of Race 3, the Sydney Privateer emerging shaken but unhurt.

(Photos by Dirk ‘Paragon of Animals’ Klynsmith)

1 I

I I

lMs)0®i7sm®n^

23

10 September 1999 >■

Clayton’s McLarens: Skaife and Lowndes were untouchable at Oran Park, even the grass staying out of their way.

>-

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(Photo by John Morris/Mpix)

Best of Breed: If there was a prize for third - and there is,; kind of - Jason Bright took home the bikkies to Queensland. Next stop is in Jason’s back yard at QR...

(Photo by Bob Potts)

Malvern Star?

It was another tough weekend for FTR, with Seton and Crompton struggling in qualifying and the races.

(Photo by Lynley Reid)

-

Practice & Qualifying This Saturday one, was not to be an intriguing so much for the front row (HRT again), but more for a pretty clear illustration that, here

at least, the AU Falcon was in trouble - a pair of modest ly budgetted ELs grabbing the headlines. There were some very confused factory teams when it was all over...

Oran Park has always been a happy venue for HRT and, with Mark Skaife

debuting the team’s brand new VT (his previous car now in Lowndes’ hands), this wasn’t going to be any differ ent. The surprises were going to be among the chal lengers.

The two were within a cou ple of tenths of each other throughout practice.

Lowndes that margin quick er, but when it came to the 14 minute qualifying shoot out it was even closer.

On their first sets of fresh (green) rubber, Lowndes was a few hundredths slower than his used tyre best from earlier, his 1:07.62 four tenths better than Skaife.

Out on the second sets and

a Craig improved to 1:07.5025 but, just when that seemed to be it, Skaife found a good one to ease his teammate off pole by a hundredth of a second -1:07.4906.

While this McLaren-esque performance was going on. strange but impressive things were happening in the scramble for Best-of-theRest...

After tbe ‘first set’ runs. there were a couple of huge surprises - Ellery’s EL Falcon third best, 1:08.25, Tander (no surprise) 1:08.39, then McLean, the privateer’s EL sensationally fifth (1:08.49).

Continued over page

I /

I

1 1

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24

W September 1999 Shell Chomplonshlp Series Rd 11 Quailifying

Another Falcon front goes bang! Perkins spun in race 3, leaving Johnson with nowhere to go and, with Romano right behind, there was inevitable contact. No way to remember your last race at Oran Park... (John Moms) struggling over the bumps here,” Bright had confessed The times began to tumble earlier. The team were mak on the second runs as minor ing big changes, substantial tweaks and fresh tyre famil bar adjustments between iarity set in, Murphy burst first and second sets, and it ing briefly into third with a finally came good, enough for 1:08.24. Such was the Bright to snatch fourth. increase in pace all round As with Ellery, McLean that the Wynns man’s time backed up his earlier lap wouldn’t rate in the top 10 with a just as impressive when the dust settled a few gain (nearly half a second)on minutes later... his second set to actually Indeed it was Ellery who retain fifth. The phenomenon backed up, finding nearly continues and, boy, there are four tenths on his second some pro teams feeling the run. It was a superb effort heat... , from a team that, with its Russell Ingall had b^en sixth best on his first set and restricted programme, is vir he too found half a second to tually a privateer effort.

“The changes we made hang on to that spot from practice session one to although he thought he’d two made us slower, so we been held up a bit on the sec went back the other way, but ond set - “a bit of team dri further. It’s the first time I’ve ving out there,” he grumbled. gone into qualifying with an Castrol team boss Perkins untested set-up, but it 'continued his recent run of worked out fine,” the beam low qualifying results, this ing Ellery reported. time facing a grid 19 start Ma^ng a big jump up the after dropping time on new list late in the piece was rubber when compared to his Jason Bright. The Pirtek used rubber practice times. team was in trouble for set Tander was only able to up early on - “Willowbank is find a couple of tenths on his so smooth, we’re actually second run, so he dropped to Continued from page 23

m

seventh, but he was a whole heap better off than last Jason round winner Bargwanna. «.

Tander’s Valvoline team mate was well in the top 10 during practice session one, but slipped off the road late in the second session damag ing the front air dam.

Although the damage was only bolt-on stuff, Bargs just didn’t get a good run togeth er in the hot 14 minutes - a spring change made for ses sion two simply didn’t work on green rubber.

Pole one week, 18th the next. Tough business. The circuit commentator went on about roosters and feather dusters... / Tony Longhurst was eighth. That he was able to drive at all was something.

An old boating injury had flared in the form of a rup tured lower back disc and Tony had undergone a laminectomy just nine days earlier. Normally, that requires five weeks of ‘not sitting’ recuperation, but there Tony was.

“It’s a bit swollen,” he

Time Pos Driver Team/Car 1:07.4906 1 MarkSkaife Mobil HRT Commodore VT 1:07.5025 Mobil HRT Commodore VT 2 Craig Lowndes 1«7.8755 3 Steve Ellery Ellery Racing Falcon EL 1:07.9499 Pirtek /Stone Brothers Falcon AU 4 Jason Bright Greenfield Mowers Folcon EL 1K18.0294 5 Cameron McLean 1K18.0322 Casirol SLX/Perkins Commodore VT 6 Russeii Ingall 1:08.1335 7 Garth Tender Valvoline/Cummins Commodore VT 1:08.1344 8 Tony Longhurst Castrol Longhurst Ford Falcon AU 1:08.1618 9 Glenn Seton Ford Tlckford Racing Falcon aI 1:08.2326 S 10 Steven Richards Wynn's/Kmart Commodore VT 1 08.2402 Wynn’s/Kmart Commodore VT 11 Greg Murphy 1.08.3877 12 Neil Crompton Ford Tickford Racing Falcon AU 1:08.4195 13 MarkLarkham Mitre 10 Racing Falcon AU 108.4532 14 Paul Radisich Shell Helix Racing Falcon AU Cummins Commodore VT 1:08.5716 15 John Faulkner 1:08.6222 16 Dick Johnson Shell Helix RaUng Falcon AU 1:08.6898 17 John Bowe CAT Racing Falcon AU 1:08.80/4 Valvoline/Cummins Commodore VT 18 Jason Bargwanna Castrci Pexkin? Commodore VT 108.8850 19 Larry Perkins 1.OS.1803 Siemens Mobile Commodore VS 20 Paul Romano 109.2580 WetShake/PPG Commodore VS 21 Rodney Forbes 109.3689 Lansvale/PPG Commodore VS 22 Trevor Ashby 1.09 4106 Ultra Tune Commodore VS 23 MickDonaher 109.6039 Team Gatorade Commodore VS 24 Peter Doulmon 109.6060 25 Darren Pate Finnigan/DWS Commodore VS 26 Chris Smerdon Challenge Motorsport Commodore VS 1:09.779C 1.-09.8676 Aloe Quench Perkins Commodore VT 27 Dugal McDougall 1:09.9019 28 Rod Nash Autopro Commodore VS im9540 29 Craig Harris Harris Racing Falcon EL 1^19.9990 30 PaulW^I K & J Thermal Produels Falcon AU 1:16.0597 31 Simon Emerzidis Simon's Earthworks Falcon EL 32 David Trucky* Parsons Challenge Recruitment Commodore VS 1:10.0733 1:10.2480 33 John Briggs Supercheap Auto Falcon AU 1:10.3614 Cadillac Productions Falcon EL 34 Mike Conway 1:10.3758 35 Layton Crambrook Crambrook Racing Commodore VS 36 Bob Thorn 1:10.9449 Supercheap Auto Falcon AU 37 Dean Canto Challenge Recruitment Commodore VS 1:11.0612 38 Damian White 1:11.2565 The Race Centre Commodore VS 1:12.6632 39 SillAttard The Xerox Shop Commodore VS 1:12.8295 40 Barry Morcom Redline Sports Commodore VS 41 Richard Mork 1:13.1101 V8 Racing Commodore VS

said... An off into the turn two sand during practice hadn’t helped, but hey, here he was ahead of all but one ofthe AUs. Glenn Seton was a bemused ninth, a perfectly balanced FTR Falcon on used rubber turning into a front end grip problem on fresh rubber when it mattered. Glenn had been fourth in both practice ses sions, but could only find a couple of tenths in the fresh tyres.

Team-mate Crompton was even worse off and for the same reason - slower than his session one time, 12th.

Not a happy situation for the Ford boys...

Steven » Richards was tenth, just shading team mate Murphy - the Wynns pair, like the HRT duo,just a hundredth apart- but seventenths off the front row.

Mark Larkham was 13th.

The Mitre 10 car had flat-

tered in the second practice session, Mark one of the few to road one of his race sets in setting a 1:08.1 (second in the session), but when quahfying came couldn’t quite repeat on the remaining fresh set.

The Shell team was the other AU team back in the qualifying wars, Radisich and Johnson only a tenth or so apart, albeit eight-tenths faster on fresh tyres than in practice. 14th and 16th respectively meant another slog race day in prospect...

Between them was John

Faulkner, the sponsor-bare VT actually slower than in practice, again searching for a set-up.

John Bowe was a strug gling 17th, the Cat (Under New Ovraership) Falcon very short on set-up time after locking the steering early in session one and suffering a suspension failure in the sec ond.

Paul Romano completed the top 20, actually running in second ‘slower 50%' ses sion, but squeezing out pri vateer team-mates Forbes and Ashby.

PRIVATEERS

w«.meron ends an era W

m

CAMERON McLean emphasised his clear role as Privateer of the Year with a clean sweep at Oran Park.

The Greenfields Falcon was devastating in qualifying, McLean’s fifth outright 1:08.0294 a massive 1.2s clear of the next pri vateer qualifier, Rodney Forbes, with Trevor Ashby and Mick Donaher within a couple of tenths, followed by Peter Doulman, Darren Pate, Chris Smerdon, Rod Nash, Craig Harris, Simon Emerzidis and David (Truckle) Parsons.

While the rest didn’t qualify for a main race start, they did get to run the 12 lap Privateer sprint on Saturday afternoon.

Forbes again out-jumped McLean to lead, but it was really ^ only a matter of time.

A Safety Car intervened for a lap after three (Dean Canto In the second Challenge car looked to have spun and stalled on the cir cuit), but a couple after the restart, McLean got the run onto the straight and inside Forbes at turn two. Game over.

The big scrap for the remainder

of the race involved Forbes, with Ashby, Donaher and the fast improving Harris, who on consecu tive laps disposed of Donaher and then Ashby, the latter down the inside into Autotek.

The good work was for naught though, because both Harris and Parsons received Stop-Go penal ties for jumping the restart, both pitting late in the race and drop ping to the tail.

McLean romped home, well clear of Forbes, under pressure from Ashby and Donaher, while further back Emerzidis won out in a big dice with Parsons and then Pate.

As far as Sunday’s races went, it was simplythree McLean, McLean, McLean, up there with the big boys and out of sight. The contest as such was for second.

Forbes held the upper hand in the first race, from Ashby and Donaher until they came up to pass a struggling Mitre 10 Falcon late in the race. Forbes headed inside the blue Falcon, but there was contact, and the Golden Holden fell back.

*‘T4

●5

. Chailentfe .

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We got trouble, right here in Olympic city; The battles in the mck of the Privateer ranks were fast and furious on and off the. track, as Steven Richards found out. (Photo by Noei Papdera) In thg end, it was Donaher who won out, by just half a second from Ashby, Harris leading Pate, Parsons, Smerdon and Nash f home.

Donaher and Parsons were both in trouble and pit bound on the opening lap of the second, I leaving Ashby to get in among the big names, a strong run eventually netting 13th, behind Dick Johnson, but ahead of Richards, Longhurst, Seton...

Harris, Pate and Emerzidis completed the top five, albeit some

distance back.

Race three was of course dis rupted by the substantial crash involving Peter Doulman and the Gatorade car, but again it was Ashby who took the runner-up spot, this time however closely harassed by Harris, growing in confidence in the ex-Bright Falcon, the pair matching each other for lap after lap.

Smerdon and Nash took the remaining places after a last lap fracas between Pate and Forbes over the bridge saw Forbes spun

out of the race. Then further around the track, Pate went tor a wild ride across the final turn infield, spinning back onto the road and contacting Donaher.

And thus what seems likely to be the final Privateer sprint series came to its end (V8 Lites beckons for 2000). While McLean set new ■privateer' standards, Forbes, Ashby/Reed and particularly the consistently competitive Donaher have provided each other with a worthwhile contest.

lKk>0®l7SfJXD[F0

JO September J999

SCS Rd 11 Oran Park Results Race 1 (19 laps) Pos Driver 1 MarkSkaifc 2 Craig Lowndes 3 Jason Bright 4 Steve Ellery 3 Garth Tonder 6 Russell ingoll 7 Cameron McLean 8 Neil Crompton 9 Qenn Seton 10 PouiRadisich 11 John Bowe 12 DicJt Johnson 13 John Taulkner 14 Lorry Perkins IS Paul Romano 16 MickDonoher 17 Trevor Ashby 18 DugalMcDougall 19 Craig Harris 20 Darren Pote 21 MarkLarkham 22 David Trucky Parsons 23 ChrisSmerdon 24 Rod Nash 23 Peter Douiman 26 Simon Emerzidis 27 PaulWeel 28 Jason Bargwanna DNF Rodney Forbes DNF Greg Murphy DNF Tony Longhurst DNF Steven Richards

Race time 23:51.9336 23:32.9968 2353.6904 23:55.9380 23:58.0405 24:02.3118 24.-02.8559 24.-03.1882 24:03.7015 24:04.2033 24KJ4.6765 24KJ8.7745 24:09.2144 24:15.7863 24JM.0519 24:22.4406 24^2.9147 24:26.0542 24:27.6416.

24:29.1413 2455.0538 2455.8557 24:42.8708 24:49.9236 2450.1149 18 laps 18 laps 17 laps 18 laps 9laps 1 lap

F/lap 1KJ8.5729 1:08.0631 1:08.5808 1:08.8338 1:08.7430 1:08.9152 1:09.0046 1:09.0552 1:09.0064 1:08.8876 1:08.7584 1:09.0204 1:08.9292 1:09.3773 1:09.6319 1:09.4988 1:09.6297 1:09.9052 1:09.6038 1:09.7763 1:09.1025 1:10.1003 1:10.4719 1:10.4763 1:10.2069 1:10.2335 1:09.4134 1:08.7633 1:09.4521 1:09.5977 5:47.6708

On 5 5 10 9 15 10 11 9 9 6 7 8 14 8 7 7 7 12 14 14 8 10 14 14 10 12 12 11 10 6 1

Race 2 (20 laps) Pos Driver 1 Mark Skaife 2 Craig Lowndes 3 Jason Bright 4 Garth Tander 5 Paul Radisich 6 Steve Ellery 7 Cameron McLean 8 John Bowe 9 Jason Bargwanna to Larry Perkins 11 Russell Ingall 12 Dick Johnson 13 Trevor Ashby 14 Steven Richards 15 Tony Longhurst 16 Glenn Seton 17 Greg Murphy 18 Paul Romano 19 Neil Crompton 20 DugalMcDougall 21 Craig Harris 22 Darren Pate 23 Simon Emerzidis 24 Peter Douiman 25 Rod Nosh 26 Chris Smerdon 27 Rodney Forbes DNF John raulkner DNF MarkLarkham DNF David Trucky Parsons DNF MickDonoher DNF PaulWeel

Race time 2601.5238 2602.3857 2602.8575 2603.3337 2609.0598 26:12.4871 26:14.6598 26:16.0111 26:19.1810 2651.4469 2652.2380 2653.6828 2655.6929 2657.3986 2657.6746 2658.3177 2651.2450 26:31.4405 2652.5349 2656.0480 2658.6810 26:41.4188 26:45.9964 2651.1525 27.00.8629 27:15.2559 19 laps 16 laps 10 laps 1 lap llap

F/lap 1:08.7859 108.6637 1:08.6443 108.5538 108.8866 1:09.3228 109.2613 109.2032 109.1148 1:09.2779 109.1438 109.6481 109.7713 1:09.6498 109.1939 109.2630 109.6804 1:10.0659 108.8046 1:10.0157 1:09.6531 1:10.1014 1:10.4733 1:10.9477 1:11.1721 1:10.7135 1.09.9196 108.9962 1:10.1921 151.7421 2:12.4572

On 8 16 10 11 15 13 8 8 14 9 13 14 19 13 9 12 8 10 16 7 19 20 15 10 17 12 10 12 6 1 1

Race 3 (22 laps) Pos Driver 1 Mark Skaife 2 Craig Lowndes 3 ' Jason Bright 4 Garth Tander 5 Paul Radisich 6 Cameron McLean 7 Steve Ellery 8 Russell Ingall 9 Tony Longhurst to Steven Richards II Glenn Seton 12 John Bowe 13 TrevorAshby 14 Craig Harris 15 PaulWeel 16 Larry Perkins 17 Dugal McDougall 18 Chris Smerdon 19 Rod Nash 20 John Briggs 21 Greg Murphy 22 Simon Emerzidis 23 MickDonoher 24 Darren Pate 25 Rodney Forbes 26 Neil Crompton DNF MarkLarkham DNF Dick Johnson DNF Paul Romano DNF Peter Douiman DNF Jason Bargwanna

Race time 3457.5026 3457.7570 3458.4335 3458.8370 3459.8977 34:31.5963 34:32.1778 34:32.9095 3453.4891 34:35.8508 3459.3245 34:40.3907 34:45.2789 34:48.4807 34:49.5506 34:51.3578 35*1.1692 35.-02.5519 35*2.9979 35*3.6247 35*4.0810 35*4.7889 35:07.2642 35:10.5011 35:11.2060 21 laps 19 laps 4 laps ilaps 2 laps Olaps

F/lap 1:08.6178 1^18.5627 I.-08.5601 1:08.7071 1:08.8063 1:08.8945 1:08.8688 1:08.8674 1:08.8013 1:08.9168 1:09.0910 1:08.6280 1.09.7169 1:09.7773 109.7209 1.08.9728 1:10.2031 1:10.5097 1:10.5260 1:10.3778 1:09.1530 1:10.6027 1:09.7209 1:09.7364 1:10.1418 1:08.6489 1:09.7461 :;10.7687 1:10.8110 1:12.6240

On 16 15 16 18 17 17 20 16 17 16 15 16 14 17 15 15

?! i 21 19 20 14 16 17 21 15 17 19 2 2 2

Overall points:Lowndos 1378. Skaife 1356, Ingall 1288, Bright 1276,Tander 1194, Seton 1162, Bowe 992, Murphy 940, Bargwanna 872, Longhurst 832, Radisich 808, Richards 782, McLean 727, Perkins 714, D Johnson 692, Faulkner 636, Crompton 615, Larkham 509, Noske 460, Romano 354, Donaher 353, Reed 291, Forbes 249, Trucky Parsons 248, McDougall 235, McConville 230, Weel 198, Mezera 174, Briggs 118, S Johnson 108, Crambrook 104, Pale 96, Smerdon 94, gordner 88, Nash 85, Kelly 76, Trait 67, Skippy Parsons 66, Russell 50, Poole 44, Wakefield 42, Nath Pretty 40, Crick 37, Finnigan 36, Nic Pretty 30.

With 41 cars on hand, and just 32 grid spots on offer, the second qualifying session became a serious contest just to simply make the 32-car fi eld for Sunday’s opening sprint.

In a last minute cliff-hang er Simon Emerzidis and David (Truckie) Parsons

Also missing the cut were Messrs Crambrook, Thorn, Canto (in the second Challenge car:, White Attard, Morcom and Mork.

Tough business these days.

Race 1-19 laps (inci Safety Car)

grabbed the last two spots, at the expense of Supercheap Level 1 contender (and new CAT team owner) John

The morning up race these days iswarm very much more than its name

Briggs and Mike Conway.

suggests, more a full-on last

25

n Celebrity squares; out and about at Oran were new CAMS CEO Peter Hansen,former Bathurst/AGP winner ■*'T> John Goss and BJ’s old partner John French; ■ First reserve for the day, John Briggs, finally got an outing in race three after John Faulkner’s team were unable to repair the damage from his race two clash with John Bowe in time. The rest of the reserves missed out...

This team has everything: Except a sponsor. Steven Ellery shone all weekend. Now, if he qualifies car #18 in Queensland, and Radisich charges again ... (Photo by John woms/Mpix) minute chance to try one more set-up combo.

Those to make gains included FTR (Crompton a huge gain from a simple shock adjustment) and the Valvoline team, a ride height change on Tander’s car found to be a gain, the same settings transferred into Bargwanna’s machine for race 1.

The start was very even, Skaife’s inside slot deciding the issue at turn one, while Ellery had to concede third to Bright, with Ingall, Tander, McLean,'- Crompton and Seton fifing through.

By the end of the opener, Bargwanna had made up an incredible eight spots to be next, 10th, from Johnson, Radisich, Murphy, Bowe and the rest, but they were greet ed by a Safety Car. Longhurst had spun off after a collision coming across the bridge and was stuck in the sand. Richards too was parked out of Coke Corner with deranged front suspension and so they cmised for two laps before it went green again.

The restart was orderly and, frankly, Skaife and Lowndes had it under control all the way. After the gap to Bright went out to as much as 2 seconds, he brought it back to under a second later in the race, but that was it.

Ellery settled into a quite lonely but superb fourth all the way, while behind him Ingall looked to be straggling to stay in front of a ever increasing queue - Tander, McLean, Crompton, Seton, Radisich, Johnson, Bowe et al.

Murphy had tried the out side of Johnson at Shell Corner (turn three, only to find Bowe occupying the inside as he gave it away and tried to get back on line.

They contacted and Murf spun, rejoining at the back before retiring with a broken pinion.

Bargwanna’s superb open ing burst had also come to naught, fuel pressure prob lems causing a cut-out prob lem which saw him fall rapidly back, then pit.

Bowe’s progress was steady - he closed in on his old boss and slipped inside at Autotek (final comer) on lap 11.

Up front it was very set-

tied - the action was (as ever) in the immediate vicinity of Ingall, although this time he was the attackee!

The Valvoline youngster probed away, finally getting an excellent drive out onto the straight and sitting it out inside the Castrol car all the way down the straight, before claiming the spot under brakes.

And that was the last of the big moves. The day was looking ominously like a Team McLaren-Mobil-HRT sweep...

Race 2-20 laps (inci SC)

s

ame again, almost a car bon copy - including the early Safety Car! Lowndes was a little slow away however and that allowed Bright to slot into second.

Tander, Ellery and Crompton followed, but behind them there was may hem as Radisich hurled the Shell car down the inside of Ingall just as Seton was try ing the outside. Three into two didn’t go and as Ingall allowed for Radisich, so he contacted Seton, who spun across his bow onto the infield. Ingall himself being delayed - dropping to 21st.

The Safety Car after the opening lap was for Weel, in the same sand as Longhurst in race one.

It went green again on lap five and the HRT duo pulled off a great team move to get

Lowndes back into second, Skaife slowed them considerably as they went through Autotek to take the restart and Lowndes got an absolute flier to surprise Bright, alongside and outside as they peeled into Coke Comer.

FTR’s misery was about to be compounded. With Seton having rejoined at the rear, Crompton was now about to pit for a Stop-Go after having been pinged for a jumped start. Some days you just wish you played golf..

Up front there was to be no change - the gap from Lowndes to Bright oscillat ing, no real challenge by Lowndes on Skaife...

The interest was in the progress of the rear of field starters particularly Bargwanna, who had charged to 15th on that open ing lap (a damaged bonnet to show for it), along with Murphy, Richards and the recovering Ingall.

Radisich closed in on future Shell team-mate Ellery as the laps ticked by, giving the youngster a bit of rear end treatment before the Chelgrave car made space for him to go through into fifth, where he stayed for the duration.

Settled it was, but Bargs barged his way through to a fine ninth at flag fall, Ingall 11th, Richo 14th.

Bowe and Faulkner had a bit of a fracas as the fonner tried to pass around the out side across the bridge,

Continued on page 49

■ Sensitive! An illustra tion ofjust how sensitive some of the current V8 Supercars can be to set-up variations: one AU Falcon team made an adjustment of‘two clicks’ (in percent age terms, infinitesimal) to the rear “bump’ settings on Sunday morning and found nearly a second a lap. A tenth or two is usu ally considered a big deal...

■ The Garry Rogers Motorsport flag bearers were expanded to a ‘three some’ for this meeting.

Speculation was rife, but they turned out to be Charles, Di, and a horse named Camilla. All done in the best possible taste...

■ Typo in one of Sydney’s Sunday papers referred to V8 marketing group ATESCO ... any-con nection between our V8s and the UK supermarket chain Tesco is entirely coincidental...

■ Russell Who? Spectator rushed past near the Castrol team’s marquee yelling “hey, it’s Russell Bingle”....

■ The ‘Magnificent 77 When Skaife crossed the fine to win race 3 he com pleted something of a record in the modem, V8 era. The last seven races have been a lapscoreFs delight, with the car on pole leading every lap Skaife in race 3 at Symmons, Bargwanna in all three at Winton and Skaifey at OP. ■ Crowd figures were down a little, the track not hosting the (Irand Final for the first time in eight years. It was Fathers’ Day as well but 31,602 still jammed in for raceday.

Immovable Enforcer: Ingall ran hard all weekend and gathered points but was hosed by the MHRT and GRM VTs. At least it was better than last year’s OP race. (Photo by oirk wynsmith)

BODY:

Ford Falcon AU XR8

ENGINE:

5-Litre Windsor cylinder (SVO cylinder heads) wi.th electronic fuel injection and engine management system Estimated output — 480kW (620 bhp) @ 7,500 rpm - 623 Nm (460 ft/lbs) @ 5,500 rpm

DRIVELINE:

Transmission — Holinger six speed Differential Australian ,1’ord 9" CWP Ratios vary frot 2.9:1 to 3.7:1 n

SUSPENSION:

Front — Independent upper and lower wishbones with Penske coil-over dairpers.

Eibach and King springs Rear — Four-link trailing arms with Watts linkage locating live axle with Penske

BRAKES:

coil-over dampers, Eibach and King springs Front — Brenl>o 356mm (14") discs with'Brembo calipers

WHEELS

Rear — Bretribo 330mm (13") discs with Brembo ca,lipers Speedline cast magnesium 17 X 11” rims

TYRES FUEL TANK

Bridgestone V8 Supercar control tyre 120 litre fuel cell with^dry-break system I

An extract frcm the limited edition artvKak by Pat Hegarty

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NEWS

28

W September 1999

Perfection is not enough

y©ms wraps up third title in dramatic championship tussle Richards pole and 3 wins falls 2 points short Volvo’s Manufacturers and.

Teams title Pitstops decide final race and championship 9 McLean returns to Super Touring with strong drives Cant© top Independent shares wins with Champ Hills and John Henderson

m -jrs :

Qualifying report by PHIL BRANAGAN Race Report by AARON NOONAN he was behind do nothing more JIM Richards than take polecould posi tion and three race wins at the final round of the BOC Gases Super Touring Championship but it was still not enough to stop Paul Morris.

The Queenslander took his third title in his private BMW after putting a bad qualifier behind him with three second places, just enough to hold out Richards by 2 points.

Practice rain hampered the efforts of Audi’s Brad Jones and Matthew Coleman to upset the series battle and, along with Volvo returnee Cameron McLean, Morris’s safe position decided the weekend.

McLean and Coleman got caught up in a first corner Race 1 melee,forcing them to the back of the field but both recovered strongly, especially McLean who was flying in the final race.

Independents’ honours went three ways. Dean Canto, John Henderson and Peter Hills each getting a win, while David Auger again blitzed the Gas & Gear cate gory for older cars.

Qualifying

the eight ball in practice. He was making changes to the car straight before the session and it was looking like hard work.

Out he went. The times started to come down by tenths, then hundredths, until he was within 0.05s of bumping Morris back to row 3. In he came for new tyres; the first lap was good, not great, the second closer, but the third a peach. It was, in fact, 59.85s, enough to not only force Morris back a row, but to split the Audis.

“I was looking forward to coming in,” Cam said later.

“They said, ‘Pit’. I thought, ‘Great’. Then they said, We’U put more t3rres on’.

It was hard yakka ...

Jones was second, Coleman fourth. Jones was relatively delighted; it was his first time at Calder in the FWD A4 since the very first time he drove it in March and he felt like there was more time

and parked the car. That was that. The team’s testing 10

faster in the morning practice session but now, when it counted, Morris was busting

B!OC

starting from row 3;from 1 or 2 he was a mozza to get into the first corner in the lead.

ready.

Tony Newman was at the back. The newer of the Kiwi’s

The Bunmer did its regular start, blasting straight down the inside of the four cars in front to take the lead into turn one. Richards slotted

From 3 it was going to be tougher, and everyone knew

Peugeots ran strongly in practice until an engine prob lem forced the team to miss

into second, with a fast-start ing John Henderson heading Jones and Canto once the

Canto led the rest, looking to seal up second in the Indy points behind Hills, while John Henderson (returning to the fray for the first time , in three races) was encourag ingly close in the Vectra, going like a train as usual.

Hills followed from Mark

qualifying and fit their spare engine. He would start from the back with the Searle

field had filed through turn one.

it.

Zonneveld, Auger’s alwaysconsistent Alfa and Robson, the Honda looking in need of some TLC from the cashstrapped team. Leslight was next in the only Carina, Malcolm Rea’s two cars

BMW,Troy up.

Richo’s rear-gunner McLean meanwhile was still

Race 1 (14 taps)

in turn one, caught up with Coleman. The front left of the Volvo made contact with the

The equationwas for the cham pionship simple, Richards needed to win all

right rear of the A4, which left Matt stranded, and Cameron on the anchors to miss the silver machine. Both

three races and hope that team-mate for the weekend Cameron McLean could keep out Morris. Some Audis in the middle wouldn’t hurt either.

rejoined in twelfth and thir teenth.

Almost immediately Richards latched onto the bumper bar of the 320i, while

Jones picked up third when Henderson’s Vectra ran off at turn one at the beginning of lap two.

Coleman and Zonneveld got together on the next lap coming onto the straight. The Pug ended up hitting the wall, out for the rest of the day with front left damage.

Already the championship combatants were establishing a gap, 1.3s back to Jones.

It was only a matter of time before Richo found a way past, the Volvo’s car speed clearly superior to the three-year old BMW. On lap three, Richards dived under neath Morris and from there it was really a case of how much he would win by, and whether Morris could hold out Jones.

-.P* i

fast lap but was not com plaining, only 0.15s behind Bradders and looking, per haps, for the opportunity to win his first race of the season.

Of the Big 5, Morris left the most time in the pits. The NEMO Bimmer had been

ing most of his track time to rain on Thursday and Friday

trapped in Queensland because the team was not

to come from the car, seeking changes in the Sunday warm-up.

Coleman lost time on his

For Richards, the session was as straightforward as it could possibly be; he went out, did the time (59.2999s!)

days earher paid off big.

For team-mate McLean it was much less so. After los

What was important was what wasn’t said. He was

i

1

to get under 60s. The car had lost its front-end grip but at least it was consistent on a race run.

fisiparfouiriing Charnpionsfiiip Round:8,Calder Park, Qualifying

Car/Team Pos Driver Volvo Australia S40 1 lim Richards 2 Brad Jones Audi Sport Australia A4 3 Cameron McLean Volvo Australia S40 4 Matthew Coleman Audi Sport Australia A4 5 Paul Morris NEMO Racing BMW 320i 6 Dean Canto Signature Security Ford Mondeo 7 John Henderson Hi Tech Motorsport Holden Vectra 8 Peter Hills Signature Security Ford Mondeo 9 Mark Zonneveld A-Z Home Improvements Peugeot405 Gun Racing Alfa Romeo 155TS 10 David Auger 11 Anthony Robson Racing Project Honda Accord 12 Aaron McGill Trinovin/Smeg Ford Mondeo aop Toyota Carina 13 Milton Leslight TC Motorsport Peugeot 406 NT Tony Newman SAE/RoadchiUBMW318i NT Troy Searle

Time 59.2999 59.7095 59.8565 59.8654 59.9104 60.5225 60.5862 60.8022 61.3390 61.8815 62.1798 62.2415 63.9982 No time No time

Fast starts: Mclean made a great start in race 1 but found himself boxed in between Morris, Richards and Coleman. The two number 2s collided, leaving both with a lot of catching up to do.

(Photos by Dirk Klynsmith and John Grote)

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Typical pose: Morris and Richards (left) started and ended the season this far apart. The race for the championship came down to a single pitstop and the NEMO crew carried the day.

Volvo still took the Manufacturers and Teams’ Awards.

(Photo by John Grate)

10 September 1999

●Is. Roce 1 (14 laps)

Race 3 (27 laps)

■ It must be election sea son in the south. On Saturday Brad Jones got to drive his Audi ‘passenger’ car, chaufFering around none other that Victorian opposition leader Steve Bracks, present with his two racing-mad sons and a horde of media who looked hke they’d never been at a racetrack in their lives.

Bracks reportedly enjoyed the ride.

Race lime Pos Driver Race time Fast lap On Pos Driver Pos Driver Fast lap On Race time Fast lap On 1 Jim Richards 14:10.2457 59.5252 7 1 Jim Richards 18:14.7930 59.9044 8 1 Jim Richards 28:09.1695 59.3718 15 2 Paul Morris 14:15.6948 60.0776 5 2 Paui Morris 1&23.5689 60.4760 7 2 Paul Morris 28:10.6353 60.3463 18 3 Brad Jones 14:19.5138 60.0848 4 3 Brad Jones 1834.5122 60.4106 6 3 Cameron McLean 28:11.8633 60.1063 18 4 Dean Canto 14:29.5742 60.9382 2 4 Cameron McLean 1835.0287 60.4697 5 4 Brad Jones 2832.1113 60.2947 17 5 John Henderson 1432.1686 61.2442 3 5 60.7246 6 5 Matthew Coleman 18:29.9251 Matthew Coleman 28:24.3950 60.2638 17 6 Cameron McLean 1435.3073 60.4201 7 6' John Henderson 18:36.9867 60.97^ 2 6 Peter Hills 28:41.6353 61.2010 3 DQ Matthew Coleman 1437.7282 60.7655 8 7 Dean Canlo 18:41.8470 61.3.043 6 7 John Henderson 28:49.4260 61.1663 16 14:44.6882 61.6214 3 7 Tony Newman 8 PelerHiiis ia41.9925 61.1104 3 8 Dean Canlo * 28:53.9266 61.3510 7 61.9552 8 1431.2375 ia57.1149 62.0305.6 9 8 Anthony Robson 9 Anthony Robson Anthony Robson 26 laps 62.0019 22 1435.1084 62.6203 9 9 LukeSearte ia58.2444 62.1711 6 10 LukeSearte 10 David Auger 26 laps 62.5354 26 15«2.7456 62.3412 7 19:10.9564 62.3941 6 11 LukeSearte 10 David Auger 11 Aaron McGill 25 laps 62.6608 18 15:18.4236 62.4308 11 11 Aaron McGill 12 Aaron McGill 17 laps 62.4457 3 DNF David Auger 24 laps 62.2661 2 11 laps 63.7264 3 DNF Milton Lcsiight 13 Milton Leslight 17 laps 64.4137 2 DNF Milton Leslight 7 laps 64.4549 2 DNF Peter Hilts 5 laps 60.6605 5 8 laps 61.4126 4 DNS Jim Cornish DNF Tony Newman DNF MarkZonneveld 3 laps 62.5070 2 DNS Jim Cornish DNS Tony Newman DNS MarkZonneveld DNS MarkZonneveld ,PNS Jim Cornish Final championship paints: Morris 264, Richards 262, Jones 186, Coleman 156, Hills 109, Mark Adderton (Volvo) 75, Canto 66, Robson 47, Patrick Watts (Peugeot) 40, Henderson 38, Newman 34, Auger 26, McLeon 23, Mark Witliamson (Volvo) 17, McGill 15, L. Searle (BMW) 10, Jamie Wall (Honda Accord) 8, Cornish 5, Roger Townshend (Honda Accord) 3, Malcolm Rea (Toyota) 3, Zonneveld 3, T. Searle 3, Claude Elias (Hyundai) 1, Leslight 1, John Teuton (BMW) 1, Nigel Stones (Hyundai) 1.

In the Independents battle.

Canto held the upper hand, having past Henderson with Hills running third. That changed on lap six, the new Independents Cup winner having a scary ride at the end of the main straight. The Mondeo had split a front left brake hose, Hills recording his first DIW of the season.

One new set of blue and white Mondeo racing overalls to the dry-cleaners”..

Richards was regularly lapping seven to eight-tenths quicker than Morris, and by lap eleven the gap was a comfy- 5.8 seconds, enough of a buffer for JR to cruise his way to the chequer 5.4 seconcls ahead of Morris. Jones was a further four seconds back in third with Canto run ning a lonely race to be top Indy and fourth.

Henderson grabbed fifth, with McLean and Coleman making it back to sixth and seventh. Newman, Robson, Searle, Auger and McGill rounded out the fi eld, Leslight’s Carina broke a top synch sender, failing to finish.

I

Race 2(18 laps)

mSm 8Results

Take rewind, and race play one overtape, again.

Race two was aU pretty much of a muchness. Morris went whoosh off the line, Richards woimd the Volvo up emd went through to take an easy win.

AU quite simple really.

Again though the Independents were mixing it with the works cars into the first corner, Henderson and Canto slotting in behind the top two, with Jones, McLean, Coleman, Newman and HiUs behind.

Brad took Canto on lap two and Henderson two laps later to be third, while the lead went Swede on lap three.

Again the Volvo was lap ping considerably quicker than the rest and again Morris had to contend with Jones. The Audi closed on the BMW for a few laps, but drifted back, falling into the clutches of McLean, After 10 laps Richards was 4.6s ahead, and further built the lead, 8.7s by the end of 18

McLean

^ WITH a 12 point deficit to make up it : was not enough for Jim Richards to beat Paul Morris at Calder.

Even with pole, Morris was in the box seat if he had three seconds. Richo needed help.

Brad Jones and Matty Coleman had been gaining speed in the Audis, and Mark Adderton had had his best results of the season at Oran Park a fortnight earlier, but Jim and Volvo felt they needed something more.

So in came Cameron McLean. The Queenslander, fresh from sealing his fourth title in five years [The Privateers crown in V8 Supercars] returned to the Volvo fray tor the first time since Bathurst 1997. What the Swedish team needed was a return to that form; at the B100C McLean out-qualified Richards, Rickard Rydell and Flash Nielson.

As usual, the Brisbane driver was his almost laconic self on his second trip to Caldei in a month on his return to the class; "It’s a lot closer,’’ he down-played.

'There’s only tenths in it in qualifying, which should make for interesting racing.

"One thing that could be a problem is the start. I haven’t started a FWD car for a couple of years. We’ll sort something out in the warm-up and go around from there and see what happens...”

He’s sounding more and more like Queensland’s new favourite son each race...

Volvo Mark III: After Mark Williamson and Mark Adderton, Cameron McLean drove for Volvo at Calder. Look for him in an S40 again at Bathurst next month.

(Photos, by Dirk KlynsmiUi)

laps. Jones shadowed Morris home ahead of McLean who closed on the Audi but was unable to make a pass, Coleman in fifth. .Henderson held out the two Mondeos for Independent honours, with Robson and Auger rounding out the top ten.

Newman’s Calder hoodoo again struck the oil pump locking on lap nine, leaving him out for the day. The failure didn’t surprise the Kiwi, the 406 lunched an engine on Saturday and was racing with a spare unit. At least this year it didn’t attempt lunar orbit...

“Our car’s working very well,” said Richo after the win. 'AVe’re being a little bit more polite than normal but we had his (Morris) measure comfortably.”

Race three would be a cracker.

Race 3 (27 laps) The pit the stop race would decide championship.

the pit crews with a vital role to play, The possibihties were end less. The Audi and Volvo teams had the advantage over the Morris crew in pit stop speed during the season, with Richards having the advantage in car speed on the day. The shghtest slip-up would make or break...

The BMW launched. Hills the best of the rest before yielding to the works cars, This time though the Audi of Jones, which had steadily improved during the first two races, was in second, ahead of Richards, McLean, Hills, Canto, Coleman and Henderson, ITiis time Richards had to dispose of two cars and by lap seven duly did so. The move in which he took the lead was critical. Having out-dragged Morris down the straight and held the inside line into turn one, Richards wasn’t the only one through. Paul left the door open long enough for Jones to dive contact through left as well, Some slight the Bimmer out wide and the Audi with rubbing guards.

“I tried to stick inside Richo, but Brad dived up the inside. I thought he was on the Volvo payroll for a minute there...” said Morris later.

If the positions stayed the same, Richards was the champ.

Moving away, Richards was first to head for the pits on lap 12. His 3-second lead though went west, 24 seconds the result of a pin getting caught in the axle^ Monas and McLean pitted

B Talk about morale boosting! Returning to Super Touring for the first time since October last year, Cameron McLean was getting back into the swing of things. On asking the Volvo crew about the race three pit stops, came the reply, “Just bruise our shins, don’t break them”.

on lap 13. The NEMO crew turned in a blinder, putting their man back onto pit lane in 11.9 seconds, McLean not far behind, stationary for 12.6.

Next lap and now every thing revolved around Jones’ stop. He’d had a clear track to work with before pitting, and with Richards having a bad stop, would undoubtecUy come out ahead of the Volvo.

A quick stop would see him on equal terms with Morris.

An Audi between Morris and Richards would suit the Queenslander quite nicely.

The best laid plans ...

Jones’ stop too was a disas ter, 20.6 seconds after a cross-threaded nut delayed things.

So with everybody back out, Morris now held a nice lead from McLean with Richards ahead of Jones and Coleman.

The Volvo fight wasn’t over yet though, with McLean let ting Richards by without any dramas on lap 17 to chase down Morris.

With 10 laps to go, it was now or never. Some lapped traffic momentarily impeded Richards’ challenge, but he was past with two to go.

Richards’ championship now rode on McLean passing Morris, but the gap was too much. 1.3 seconds separated the top two, two points in championship terms. McLean grabbed a podium spot, com ing to grips more and more with the ’97 spec S40 each time out, with Jones and

■ Keeping costs below the lull. When quizzed on Bathiu-st driver line-ups, Peter HiUs let slip that Damon Hill will join the team for the October race.

‘It means we only need to take an ‘s’ off ill (the pas senger window),” he laughed. Better still; maybe he should engage FHolden driver Peter HiU...

1 Speaking of the media, in the lead-up to the race Audi driver Coleman was featured in The Australian.

Too bad they caUed him Michael Coleman... though 'The Oz did manage to get a ‘Matthew’ into the story somewhere - Matthew McConville! The story also suggested that ‘Michael’ had raced karts against Brad Jones’ son...

■ TOCA’s annual dinner took place on Monday night, with the usual tro phies being awarded. One of the highlights of the evening was the presenta tion of the Gregg Hansford Memorial, which deserved ly went to David Auger who has not missed a race in three seasons despite con siderable set-backs.

-AARON NOONAN/ PHILBRANAGAN

Continued over page

FOR SALE ● FOR SALE ● FOR SALE’*- -F(QR’SALE^lOR/SAii^ FOR. ● 1999 Pirelli Porsche Cup Class B Champion and 2nd outright

J

*

● 911/930 Road Registered Class B Porsche Cup Race Car

● Meticulously maintained by T&D Automotive Custom' Deep Ocean Blue Paint (can be resprayed before sale)

● 1975 chassis with full chrome molly roll cage to front and rear suspension points with removable intrusion bars

III 1

« 930 turbo body steel rear guards ● 9305 front spoiler » 1993 (964) 3.6 fully rebuilt fresh engine 270 horse power chipped for HEAPS of torque

o Very light weight 1,040 kg « 928S4 front brakes, 930 rears with Pagid black & blue pads ● Twin oil coolers ● Close ratio 915 dog box with lock out on 1st & reverse (no need to use clutch on up shifts) « VDO 2 stage shift light ● Bilstein Coil Over suspension package with full set of springs in 501b increments from 3001b to 1,1001b ● Fully sorted fuel system with surge tank and in line fiKers

KtLPATM€K

● Mailaia 1.17,03 ● Winton 1.33.64 ● Oran Park GP Circuit 1.16.10 (.4 sec under lap record) ● Currently Running 1st Class B Porsche Cup and 3rd outright " Holds lap record at ● Lakeside 57.26 (with 75kg of weight added) ■ Oran Park (short circuit) 46.52 (with 30kg weight and 50mm restrictor) ■ Old Raceway 1.19.42 ■Calder Park 1.03.66 ● This is an ideal cluh/race car for the serious driver. Use it to drive to sprints or trailer it to race in Porsche Cup, Marque Sports or Sports

Sedans. Full assistance will be given for set up to suit new driver.

° Will sell as a Road Car with 915 box and 16" wheels or as a full race package with or without spares.

; o I also have spare front SB : guards, bonnet, front spoiler, front and rear bumpers, side Hr paneis, doors, wheeis, tires ~ and aii fibreglass moulds.

" Yes, the car is currently registered and you'ean see several photos on my web sife at www.gokarts.net.au

● $55,000 Road Car ● $65,000 Race Car ● $10,000 Trailer - lightweight, only 850 kg (has work bench with 12 & 240 volt power)

» $5,000 2 X sets of 17x8&9 Simmons wheels with Pirelli Slicks (1-2 races old)

● $2,500 1 X set of 16 x 8&9 Simmons wheels with Dunlop slicks in good condition

“ $1,000 per set of 4 Pirelli Slicks. I currently have 4 sets, soon will have 6! » Must sell the lot to go racing in next years GTP series!

Ph 07 3368 2727 mobile 0418 753 256 or email: mike@gokarts.net.au

/Ai®0(D[FSfp(o)[?0

10 September 1999 Continued from page 29 Coleman fourth and fifth.

Hills made it the second Independent win for Team Mondeo, ahead of Henderson and Capto, his young team mate clinching second in the Independents Cup. Robson and Searle vvere ninth and tenth, McGill^a smoky final finisher with power steering problems.

So after such a close fight, the series became the third title for Morris, his first as team owner.

“With such close competi tion, there’s no-one backing me up as team mate. I’ve never been in such a pres sure cooker atmosphere,” said Morris.

Richards was a gallant

runner-up, creating a new record for most wins in a season -10.

“All I could do was win the races and hope someone would beat Paul. It’s been cut and thrust, but I’ve thor oughly enjoyed it,” said Richards.

A third title for Morris, a fourth for BMW, and close but no cigar for Volvo. They didn’t go away empty hand ed, the victorious manufac turer and team trophies going home with Jan Eriksson, John Cotter, George Shepheard and the gang. While the drivers’ title may still leave a hole in the collection, the Bathurst ‘500’ is less than a month away.

Which would be the per fect chance to fill it...

Holden and Ford battle: John Henderson, Dean Canto and Peter (Photo by Noel Papelera) Hills split the Indy wins evenly.

I get no kick from champagne: Morris gets his just desserts from Richards after the closest championship tussle in ages.

(Photo by Dirk Klynsmith)

Gunning for Fun: David Auger and Anthony Robson have had some great battles throughout the season and Calder’s finale was no different. (Photo by oirk Kisjnsmith)

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Rallycross returns to Calder: Peter Hills’ Ford Mondeo had brake fail ure in the first race and took to Tom Easton Drive. (Photo by chris carter)

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10 September 1999

31

Cdl^rT^ayne^s World

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V8 Superstars: Wakefield, Shaw and D'agostin have turned on brilliant racing throughout 1999.(Photo by oirk wynsmith)

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THE battle for the ROH Commodore Cup went down to the final race of the season and, as in the BOC Gases series, a worthy winner emerged, this time in the form of Wayne Wakefield.

After taking the first race Wakefield slightly missed the start of race 2, but emerged from the first corner ruck with a handy lead over Tim Shaw,Ray Sidebottom, Christian D’agostjn and Neville Haley.

The battle for second turned into a war, allowing WW to scuttle away and hang on for a 2.4s win. That, combined with a narrow race 1 win and a successful appeal against his Oran Park exclusion, was enough to get him over the line for the series win.

In the first race Wakefield, who qualified on pole position, led a four car train away from the pack, with Shaw, D’agostin and Alphonse Mullan giving chase. D’agostin slipped into second at turn 1, only for Shaw to get back past at once, finalising the finishing order.

“It was a great season,” grinned Wakefield after the race,“and either of us [with Shaw and D’agostin] would have been a deserving winner.

I’m rapt to win.”

-PHILBRANAGAN

Endless Luff

THE second round of the Mitsubishi Mirage Series turned out to be another double triumph for Warren Luff.

The Sydney driver’s measure of punishment was smaller than it had been at Oran Park but he still manager to lead home Gavin

Harvey in both races, with Mohan Perrera and rally ace Ed Ordynski splitting third places.

Audi Sport TM Kim Jones was threatening in race 1 until gearbox problems, while Barry Nesbitt and Gary Young also impressed by running in the leading pack.

.A Clash of the Titan: Stephenson completed a strong season with a 2-1 result. (Phoio by Dirk xiynsmith)

Dallara la la land

By PHIL BRANAGAN

PAUL Stephenson is the 1999 ’ Australian Formula 2 ! Champion after splitting the I wins with Chas Jacobsen at ' Cakler.

The veteran beat the young ster to pole position in qualifying, and led away from the pack, but Stephenson soon took over,

while Mark Rundle stalled, losing half a lap.

Brian Sampson got his '91 Dallara into stride, taking second on lap 3 and started to catch Stephenson. But soon Chas was back on the noise, sweep-'' ing past a closing in on the leader, assuming the front mid race and holding on for a 1.43s win.

Sean Cussell (Dallara)was third from Sambo and Rod Anderson’s Reynard, while Rundle climbed up to 11th.

Race 2 was much more basic for Stephenson. After Jacobsen stopped with mechanical prob lems the youngster took off into the distance to lead Cussell, Peter Rees(Reynard) and Anderson home.

Number 2 in the Jones family? Kim Jones was the best of the ‘Media/Celebrity’ cars at Calder until the gearbox gave up the ghost.(Photo by chris carter)

Hands up if you won the Porsche Cup

PETER Bradbury had already sealed the Pirelli Porsche Cup before Calder, but that didn’t stop him domi nating the racing - in spite of a scare.

Bradbury wasn’t on pole - hell, he wasn’t even second! Martin Wagg took pole ahead of Cameron McConville. the MHRT driver having a day out in Rohan Skea’s 911RSCS. Unfortunately, McConville didn’t make the show, the car out with bent valves before the racing.

Then, more drama; Greg Keene’s RSR stopped on him, forcing the Adelaide driver to borrow Ed Aitken’s RSCS. He was starting from the back of the grid and needed to get to fourth to take second in the series.

Bradbury zoomed off in

race 1, from Wagg and Peter McRae, Mike Kilpatrick and Colin Ivory.

Keene was up to sev enth after a lap, sixth after two, fifth by lap 4 and fourth by lap 7.

The front two were leaving by 2s a lap, Wagg squeezing into the lead only to spin at Autopro when fading brakes got the better of him. Martin got back on in third, leav ing Bradbury,to cruise home ahead of McRae, with Keene cruising in fourth from Kilpatrick.

Race 2 saw Bradbury took off before Wagg hit the front, only to have a reoccurrance of the brake problem from race 1.

Bradbury resumed the lead cruised home by 3.Js from Wagg and McRae, with Keene again fourth to cement his runner-up spot in Class A. -PHILBRANAGAN

Photo by Dirk Klynsmith

pXo.

ALICE SPRINGS’ Arumga Park Speedway hosts the Red Centre : Sprintear Shoot Omt on September 10-11.

Trevor Green from South Australia will be competing, along with ; reigning Queensland titleholder Dean McCooinbe. who will go head to , head with QLD rookie ofthe year Drew Kruck.

Heading the local contingent will be Dai-win’s Warrenne Ekins and i Alice Springs drivers Mike Hanlan and Dawen Lynch, the latter making | the step up from the Street Stock ranks in the Dave McFadden-owned| Sprintear. i The Sprintear Shoot Out consistes of three heats on the Friday night and the finale on Saturday - supports wdl be Super Sedans and Street; Stocks, the Supers using the event as a lead-up to the Northern i Territory Super Sedan Title in October.

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o SPEEDCARS have been removed from the

executive could not make that decision until .Monday

Claremont Speedway calendar for the next season following a breakdown in negotiations with i. o nr-™ promoter Con Migro, who is insisting that members of the West Australian Speedcar Drivers Association (WASDA) join the National Association of Speedway Racing (NASR), or be banned from racing at the Perth venue.

Ian Gibb, who was negotiating the Speedcar schedule, said that, “after the controversy of speedway being given a two-year extension to run at Claremont, it was disappointing for Mr Migro to react this way when you remember that WASDA contributed equally with all the other disciplines to help convince the WA govern ment to assist in a deal that would allow Claremont

30th, when our next general meeting of members ^ j l It is unfortunate that Mr Migro has made this deci,(.j^^^brook continued, “and I suppose, if we’re j out for the new Kwinana Motorplex as well. seems to me, at least,,to be a ludicrous situation that the government can build the new speedway for competitors and spectators and one of the best divisions is banned because it won’t be forced into joining what seems to be a union”- Glazebrook went on to say that he thought compulsory unionism was illegal, “but maybe not at Claremont Speedway.”

Migro, who had gained the rights to host the Australian Speedcar Grand Prix for the final year at Claremont, has reportedly advised Gibb that he would give the event back to the promoters who would run it in NSW - “this comes as a blow to Speedcars in WA,”

Speedway to have an orderly withdrawal from Claremont.”

WASDA president Ron Glazebrook said “our club was given an ultimatum to join NASR by 4pm on said Gibb.

Thursday, 19th August, or be excluded from this sea- 'At the WASDA general meeting, 66 members (all son’s racing at Claremont Speedway. / those in attendance) voted unanimously not to join “I told them [Claremont Speedway] that our club NASR.

World of Outlaws soHos to indude Mustralian rounds?

Internationa!series expansion to include three iocai venues

THE biggest speedway series in the world could be coming to Australia next year.

The burgeoning World of Outlaws sprintear series may become an international series under a proposal to bring the $US20 million championship from the US to Australia.

The idea has been floated by Outlaws executives as a potential way of expanding the hugely popu lar series worldwide and vice-presi dent Carlton Reimers will tour Australia this coming season to

inspect the country’s major speed way ovals.

Venues in which Reimers has expressed interest in Australia include Premier Speedway (Victoria), Parramatta City Raceway (Sydney) and Speedway City (Adelaide).

As second in charge to Outlaws founder and president Ted Johnson, Reimers has been respon sible for many of the growth areas of the series, including the newly announced “development series.”

Premier Speedway Club manager

SPRINTCAr Control Comicil of Australia'(SCCA) President George Tatnell has indicated his disappointment about com ments made by John Hughes in a recent letter to the SCCA

regarding its relationship with the National Association of Speedway Racing(NASR).

Clarifying the SCCA stance, Tatnell stated in last week’s reply to the August 19 Hughes letter that “the SCCA is not in dissaray with its future with NASH” and that the recent SCCA poll of associations Australia-wide was “just a majority vote not to join at this time.

“I believe the SCCA relationship with ASPA [Australian Speedway Promoters Association] is as strong as ever, with every club working with local promoters.”

In a clear attempt to spell out the obstacles he has attempted to over come while negotiating the political minefield Tatnell then stated: “As you are aware, I asked the clubs to join Ni\SR to try to achieve a posi tion on the Board. It was put to all members and clubs and was voted not to join at this time.

“Main concerns appear the same as the past: 1 No trust; 2 Make-up of Board; 3 Threat to clubs and

Graeme Hose, ecstatic that the series has a chance of coming to Australia, has no doubt that the economic spin-offs from having the greatest names in American Sprintear racing, their support crews, a huge media contingent and sell-out crowds would be a major financial boom for the western Victorian facility.at WaiTnambool.

The WoO is in its 22nd year - it features 73 events with dates at 46 venues in 25 American states and boasts more than US$10 million in prizemoney. - GEOFF ROUNDS

Mbk Bumesiif IH@t©rsp©rl

members;4 No input in decisions; 5 Threat of promoters controlling speedway; 6 Rules and specifica tions being set by NASR; 7 Intimidation of members and clubs “After two years, the present Board has not been able to have competitors embrace NASR. It has put speedway in the worst shape, with promoters and competitors further apart when everyone’s cost is escalative,” Tatnell said.

“I hope at your General Meetmg this week a different approach and strategy will be employed, as the past approach has only alienated competitors against NASR. “NASR charter should be to pro mote speedway, not run it. as com petitors and promoters need to work together with every state hav ing different circumstances to work with.

“Rules and specifications is the least important thing in speedway.

I believe you should be looking at; 1 Updates of venues; 2 National TV; 3 National sponsors; 4 Packages for promoters; 5 Competitor input.

“I know that you will take this letter on board and view it with an open mind, as speedway is suffer ing from uncertainty and anger due to the inability to sell NASR,” Tatnell concluded.

OZSpeedcar Title I late change

THE 2000 Australian Speedcar Championship, which has been allocated to the new Western Auto Raceway in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, has been pushed back from its original date of Febraary' 4-5 to March 8-11, 2000.

The Australian Speedcai- Control Council explained that the original date clashed with the Australian Sprintear Championship in Adelaide and it was decided to move the Speedcar title event so that it would gain - BRE'TT SWANSON maximum exposure.

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10 September 1999

NZ,Canada, Australia in new World Challenge

THE international profile of WarrnambooTs Premier Speedway is set to soar with the expansion of the prestigious Austrahan-American Challenge Dash Sprintcar race.

Director of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa, Tom Schmeh annoimced that the event would expand its qualify ing programs in New Zealand and Canada.

The event will become known as the World Challenge Dash and it is believed there are also plans to expand the race even further next century.

Presently, Warrnambool hosts the only qualifying program of the challenge during the Grand Annual Sprint Car Classic in January, with the final held in August at the Amoco Knoxville Sprint Car Nationals. ' 'The new challenge will kick off its international qualifying pro gram in California on September 15, but dates and times of the Auckland and Canadian rounds are yet to be finalised.

Premier Speedway manager Graeme Hose was not concerned the new Challenge would take top international drivers away from Warrnambool and towards the other qualifying venues.

“I don’t think it will make any difference in the numbers coming to Warrnambool - if anything, it will increase our contest of American drivers,” he said.

“The [Warrnambool] event is hotly contested by some top drivers who are all trying to get to Knoxville, where speedway racing has really taken off because of national, live 'TV exposure.”

The announcement comes less than three weeks after Californian driver Randy Hannagan took the chequered flag and $5,000 in the Australian/American 1999

Challenge Dash.

Those Canadian and Australian racers competing in the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series events at Chico will automatically be eligible to race in the World Dash Challenge at the 2000 Nationals in Knoxville.

- GEOFF ROUNDS

Tucker Time dates

n Queensland’s motorcycle speed way scene continues to grow, with another new venue now available for Solo and Sidecar competitors.

The Gatton Speedway circuit, situated less than an hour west of Brisbane, will play host to the bike brigade throughout the 1999/2000 season.

Located in the Gatton Showgrounds, the track has been widened to obtain the necessary approvals from Motorcycling Australia and will become the third venue for speedway motorcy cle competition in south east Queensland.

'The promoting Queensland Minisprint Speedway Association has seven meetings scheduled for the coming season, with a mixed program of Formula 500s, Microsprints, Solos, Sidecars and Karts to appear at each meeting.

The only exception will be a bike extravaganza on December 11 that will see Dirt Track Solos, Classic Solos and HarleyDavidsons in action.

The fiiU schedule ofevents is as follows; October 30,November 27, December 11, Januaiy 22, February 19, March 18 and April 15.

THE Victorian Formula 500 Association’s popular Tucker Time Series 2000 will feature heavily in three states''during the eight meetings comprising the championship.

Warrnambool’s Premier Speedway and Western Speedway, Hamilton, have again been includ ed in the fixtures, with four rounds in Victoria and two each in South Australia and New South Wales.

Dates are: Riverview Speedway, Murray Bridge, South Australia, December 26; Speedway City, Adelaide, South Australia, December 27; Western Auto Raceway, Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, January 14; Premier Speedway, Victoria, January 15; Newcastle Motordrome, New South Wales, February 26; Goulbum Speedway, Goulburn, New South Wales, February 27; Western Speedway, Hamilton, Victoria, March 11; Blue Ribbon Raceway, Horsham, Victoria, March 12.

Last season’s championship win ner was Ken Willsher, who finished ahead of his cousin, Danyl Willsher and current Australian Champion Luke Dillon. -GEOFF ROUNDS

■ Barrie Wixted was the big win ner at the Queensland Speedcar Racing Association’s annual 'Trophy Presentation evening.

The event was held at the Glen Hotel and featured Australian Speedcar Control Council presi dent Sam Pappa as a special guest.

In his 23rd season of competi tion, Wixted took out the 1998/99 QSRA Club Championship by a comfortable margin.

Wixted amassed 348 points to finish well clear of Doug Cavell (282) and the consistent Grant Draney (257) in the final stand ings.

Toowoomba’s Darryl Bonell col lected the trophy for Most Feature Race Wins, despite missing much of the season after his huge crash in New Zealand.

Sydney’s Scott Jenkins was rewarded for his efforts through out the season with three awards going his way - he picked up tro phies for Most Heat Wins and Best Stars Dash Performance and

Nelson tops VIC Super Rods from Vogels

■ COBDEN driver Darryl Nelson has won the Victoiian Super Rod Association’s aggi'egate award for the 1998/99 racing season.

Nelson, a double Victorian Super Rod champ, won from Simpson’s John Vogels and Laang’s David Cook.

Cook also won the Rookie of the Year award after a successful season in the ex-John Wiggins machine, while Simpson driver David Magilton was awarded the most improved driver aw'ard.

New president and profit for Premier

PREMIER Speedway’s newly elected president Jim Lewis believes flexibility is the key to run ning one of Australia’s most successful motorsport venues.

Lewis, 45, a quality assurance manager with Warrnambool-based civil contractors Rodger and Vickers, has taken the reins for the next 12 months from Graeme Hose, who has taken on the role of club manager.

Lewis’ interest in speedway began at Warrnambool when hit father, Ross, raced a Hot Rod - in 1991, Lewi.s became a member of Premier Speedway Club and then a pit marshal and in 1996 was elected as a committee member.

While the club recorded a healthy profit for the past season of $91,500-plus, Lewis realises the importance of the paying public and some of the areas that need to be addressed to keep the club running successfully.

“We as a club have to realise that it’s an entertain ment industry that we are in and there are a few things we hope to try and there are many aspects the ^ we can still address to make it an even greater family atmosphere,” Lewsis said - his committee consists of vice-president Peter McKenna, secretary/assistant treasurer Phyllis McLeish, treasurer/assistant secre tary Ross Harper and committee members Robert Nicol, Neville Pike, Michael Aberline, Philip Brown - GEOFF ROUNDS and Darid Malone.

was also presented with a Dedication Award.

Other winners on the night were Paul Smith (Rookie of the Year), Dean Tighe (Encouragement Award), Robin Hamilton (Most Improved), Darren Farmillo (Special Merit) and Gary Hynds (Best Presented Car and Crew).

1 i wt il

By Chris Metcalf ■ The Queensland Compact Speedcar Club held its annual 'Trophy Presentation ceremony at the Donald Simpson Leisure Centre in Cleveland and over 120 guests were on hand to see second generation driver Steve Swingler score a narrow win in the Club Championship.

In what has been a stellar sea son for the youngster, he has taken out the 1998/99 Queensland and New South Wales champi onships and accumulated 526 points to edge out the consistent Darren Bamer (517) and rising star Brad Sloan (450) for overall honours.

Swingler also picked up the Ray Laird Memorial 'Trophy, the Greg Carey Memorial 'Trophy and was victorious in the Heat Pointscore ahead of Bamier and Brad Hilder.

Bamier was awarded the Don Vine Memorial 'Trophy and also took out the Feature ^ce pointscore over Swingler and Sloan.

Brad Sloan enjoyed a very suc cessful season, winning the Bgrade pointscore ahead of Gavin McDonald and Robin Hilder - J' s also took out the Presidents Cup and was Most Promising Driver.

Brad Hilder was victorious in the Stars Dash pointscore, down ing Swingler and Australian champ Darren Vine.

Other trophy recipients on the night were Scott Aldred (Rookie of the Year), Gavin McDonald (Most Improved) and Peter Leahy (Club Member of the Year).

In his final season of competi tion, Rod Singleton collected the Ted Westbrook Memorial trophy and an Appreciation Award for his outstanding contribution to the sport.

■ The right to host the Queensland Super Sedan Championship has been awarded to the Bowen Speedway Club in North Queensland. The title looks set to be decided at Macka/s Speedlink Park circuit over two nights on May 6-7.

Meanwhile, the Queensland Modified Production Championship will be decided on the wide open spaces of Bundaber^s Carina Speedway on a date yet to be confirmed.

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W September 1999 n REGULAR 360ci Sprintcar driver Paul Stubber admitted

WSS season for Farroll

he probably won’t be seen behind the wheel of a Sprintcar in Western Australia next season.

In recent seasons, Stubber has been behind the wheel of the #31 Sean Enterprises car, but he has also forged a rela tionship with Northern Territory car owner Dave McFadden.

This relationship has seen Stubber drive McFadden’s open car in the top end and this wiU again be the case in the upcoming NT tour.

But it appears that this j deal will blossom even more itext summer, with Stubber tipped to run the Maxim/Rriner engine pack age at all of Adelaide’s mfyoishows.

Stubber said that racing in Adelaide was more suitable for McFadden and he thought

IF all the talk around town is correct, Ryan Farrell will front for the full schedule of World Series Sprintcars next season.

In recent times, Farrell has emerged as one of the true talents in the sport behind the wheel of one of the powerful Kendrick Racing machines.

After Kendrick decided to pull up many of his Sprintcar roots and concentrate on other areas, Farrell was forced to look for a new ride and he has approached Steve Woods of WA Racing Supplies.

In recent years, Woods has field ed cars locally for American Brooke Weibley and Gavin Migi-o.

The deal with Farrell hasn’t been sealed yet, but Woods is con fident it will go ahead and the plan is to have two new' Maxims and a new truck and trailer ready for the gruelling series.

-DARREN O’DEA 1 Kerry Madsen, despite buying a house in Knoxville, Iowa, is putting together a deal to nm Bill Robertsbuilt Grizzly chassis from the Craft Racing stable in Sydney for a brief Australian campaign.

Roberts has just completed the constniction of three new chassis and Madsen’s season will consist of about 20 shows aorund the coun try, but will be restricted to the east coast.

E Brooke Tatnell is said to be sad dling up a couple of Avenger chas sis this season and, going on cur rent foim in America - where he is constantly making the Outlaws feature events and running top ten frequently - he is going to be well tunen by the tm'e he gets home.

Tatnell’s fonner crew chief Tim Gleeson got homesick a while ago and left the team to return home to Sydney, where he picked up a gig with the Jeffries team.

It remains to be seen what hap pens when Skip Jackson returns home for his Aussie campaign will Gleeson stay with Jeffries, or will he reunite with liis champi onship winning driver of the last two seasons?

0 While on the subject of L3mton Jeffries and the Vortex team, in collaboration with Bill RobeiTs the team has been developing some dif ferent wing designs and had origi nally expeetd to test them late in

he would take up the oppor- j tunity to race regularly in i another state.

- DARREN O’DEA

.Byan*arFgH'at-S|3KBec|r(DanlerWfflciiTsi}ic) working on a trailer to house the car behind Mike’s ubiquitous Chevy truck.

^ .on n rear

■ Current SRA Series champion Jeff Judd has taken delivery of a new “Tall Boy” Foster for his sea son’s campaign, as well as an engine from Jeff Kendrick.

I

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By Brett SWANSON August. However, the late delivery of the team’s Ivan Walker engine / means that the testing has been delayed slightly - Garry Brazier has been slated to do the driving if he’s available.

Jeffries will start the season in a new Eagle chassis imported by Bill Roberts’ Spot On Spares (SOS) con cern, the official Australian Eagle distributor. n McCubbin Racing recently took delivery of an ex-Skip Jackson Shaver engine, delivered by Paul Jackson, one half of the Jackson & Jackson (J & J) racing team.

H Mike Van Bremen has ordered a new Foster chassis, but is not expecting to take delivery of it until later in the season.

9 David Van Bremen, elder broth er of Mike, is about set to make his Sprintcar debut in a Foster chassis run previously by his little brother.

David has pui-chased an engine from Alan Barlee and js currently

. !i l<

■ Ian Thomsen is geared up for another season and will concentrate on the SRA Series and selected World Series Rounds - meanwhile, his sponsor from last season.

Apex Trusses boss David Batlow, is looking to purchase a car himself and has had discussions with the Green Brothers about the purchase of one of their J&Js. ■ Alan Barlee is another to have purchased an engine from Jeff Kendrick and is looking for some engine reliability this season Barlee and “father in law” Garry Chippindall are said to be contest ing the Northern Tenitory Sprintcar Trail, if it goes ahead.

■ Frank Ramsdale, the former sedan racer who made a successful debut in Fred Edwards’ Sprintcar last season, has formed a new part nership with Gavin Sharpe and the pair will run their own team this season.

The team has purchased the Schnee run previously by both Stephen Bell and Tood 'Wanless

and will couple that with an engine purchased from Dubbo’s Mark Blyton.

'The team plans to contest the SRA and’Adrenalin series, as well as other major 'Victorian events.

Support for the campaign will once again come from Pakenham Upper Licensed Store, Watsons Steel Fabrications, Tovm & Country Mobile Phones, AH Care Exhaust, Hocking Engines Berwick and Ramsdale Wreckers - techni cal support will also be supplied by Quick Race Parts’ Rob Richardson.

■ Mick Turner, former Modified Rod racer turned Sprintcar racer, will also saddle up in an Eagle chassis, as will PMmer Motorsports’ driver Warren Ferguson.

Both frames came from SOS, which by all reports is going so well that propreitors John Shore and Bill Roberts may be forced to miss the Northern Territoiy Sprintcar Trail.

Tlie birth of Roberts’ daughter and the business’ performance has left him little time to prepare the team’s cars for Shore to drive.

■ It seems that, unless Stephen Bell can find a car in which to install himself and his engine, then the talented Victorian may not be racing this season.

Bell has had discusions with the Craft team in Sydney and has also

had very basic discussions with Wayne Milbum -it would be a real shame if Bell wasn’t part ofthe ■Victorian Scene.

■ Former 'Victorian Super Rod , champion John Vogels is ready to follow former rival Jeff Judd into the Sprintcar ranks this season and be a welcome addition to the squad.

Vogels was an exciting, classy driver in the fastest from the back Super Rod class and will be push ing hard to emulate Judd’s record of winning a feature in his rookie season.

Vogels will be using a ’96 Jenkins purchased from Sydney’s Adrian Maher - numbered 'VIC 70, the car will be crewed by veteran Mai Rankin and Vogels’ usual dedi cated crew, with the support of Total Dairy Service, Colac West Auto Wreckers and Vogels Motors Simpson.

■ Troy Shiels has purchased the superb transporter used in the p ast by former Sprintcar champion Ken Veal, who has reportedly pur chased himself a new tmek.

■ Rumour also has it that Geoff Clifford is putting his outfit on the market - Clifford and Darren RusseU made their Sprintcar debuts last season in a pair of J&Js and were just hitting their straps tow’ards season’s end.

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10 September 1999

35

Nielsen wins Sullivan makes Polish podium behind runner-up Rickardsson

RYAN Sullivan finished third in the Polish Grand Prix at Bydgoszcz on August 28 - his highest placing yet in a GP event - and he now stands a great chance of automatic quali fication for next year’s series, as he lies 11th in the standings with one meeting to go.

Leigh Adams finished sixth after earning second place in the consola tion final and is now seventh in the standings.

Top .Aussie is Jason Crump, who is fourth and a good performace in the Vojens meeting on Seoptember 25 could see him make the bronze medal position - Crump had a disappiointing day in Bydgoszcz, fail ing to make the semi-finals when beaten by the Gollob brothers, Tomasz and Jacek, in heat 20 to finish joint ninth.

Sullivan, seeded to the main event following his performance in the British GP, started brilliantly with a heat victory in his first ride (heat 12) when he beat Henrik Gustafsson and the British pair of Joe Screen and Chris Louis.

A second place behind eventual

winner Hans Nielsen in heat 18 earned a semi-final place and a sec ond place there behind World Champion Tony Rickardsson took the Adelaide man to the final.

Adams, also seeded, could only finish third behind Britain’s Mark Loram and former world champion Greg Hancock in heat 13, so he had to race again in heat 15 to stay in the meeting - he rode brilliantly from the gate to take the chequered flag without being headed and did the same again in heat 19 in front of Gustafsson, Screen and Hancock to earn his semi-final slot.

A third place behind Rickardsson and Sullivan meant he missed out on the final, but a well-earned sec ond spot behind Tomasz Gollob in the consolation event meant sixth place overall.

Crump was not at his best and a third place as a seeded rider in heat 14 meant he had to tiy again.

A victory in heat 16 gave him hope, but another third place in heat 20 meant he missed out on the last eight and will have to race through the early heats in Vojens.

A tremedous event in front of a capacity 25,000 crowd saw

Grays Harbour

n Sammy Swindell was back in the winners circle, taking opening night at Grays Harbour after pass ing the King of Outlaws, Steve Kinser, on lap 24 and then holding offseries points leader Mark Kinser over the closing stages.

Brooke TatneD finished 16th after timing 22nd of 49 cars and j then running fifth in his heat.

Svidndell won the feature night dash the next evening from Mark Kinser and then looked like he was going to take a sweep ofthe event until Mark K surged past after 26 laps ofthe A-Feature event.

Swindell held on to second from Shaffer, Smith, Herrera, Gobrecht, Andy Hillenburg and Jeff

Swindell.

Tatnell had been 14th fastest and then won heat three, but an opening lap collision with Tiner hampered his efforts and he fin ished 13th.

Riverside

' ■ Tatnell posted the best result of I Ins maiden Outlaws season when he narrowly missed scoring the first A-Feature win in Outlaws competition by an Aussie, Tatnell leading twice on August 23 for a total of 13 laps, but imable to stop Lasoski from taking the win.

Tatnell set up his great perfor mance with a 14th-quickest time, followed by the win m heat three.

He then beat Jason Meyers, Lasoski, Steve K, Randy Hannagan, Mark K, Smith and Brad Furr to start the 40-lap race from the pole.

By Tony Millar<||0f' n Ctaig Watson looks set to make a belated move into British Elite League speedway next year.

Watson has been riding for Newport in the British Premier League for the last three seasons, but has made a number of guest appearances for top clubs during that time - he is now riding on a loan basis for Eastbourne, who are keen to sign him next year and talks have taken place.

Title contender: Bydgoszcz runner-up Tony Rickardsson.(Mike Patrick) Rickardsson close the gap behind Polish favourite Tomasz Gollob to just four points in the overall standings - a win in Vojens, where he won the last World Individual title, will allow Rickardsson to retain his crown whatever Gollob does.

Veteran Hans Nielsen won the event, his sixth individual GP victo ry, when he beat Rickardsson, Sullivan and Loram in the final but the 39 year-old Dane confirmed that Vojens will provide his farewell Grand Prix and bring In the end, Steve K took a ner vous, but comfortable, win from Brent Kaeding, Blevins, Lasoski, Hannagan, Shaffer, Gobrecht, Smith, Hillenburg, Herrera, Jeff Swindell and Tatnell.

San Jose At the drop of the green, Tatnell jumped into the lead.

Despite a caution when Daryn Pittman stopped on the track, Tatnell controlled the restart and opened a gap on Lasoski, before jumping the cushion and allowing Lasoski to take the lead on Tap 13.

Lasoski then opened a gap until Tatnell closed up and then sur prised “The Dude” with an inside pass to retake the lead on 30.

Tatnell then tried to drive into the turn as hard as Lasoski which he didn’t need tp do - and Lasoski drove past intq the lead on the one-lane track. ' Behind this lead pair came Mark and Steve Rinser,Sammy Swindell, Hannagan, Schatz, Gobrecht, Blevins and Herrera.

Southern Oregon

n For the fourth straight race, there as a new face in victory lane and this time it was Steve Kinser who led all 30 laps on August 25 in what was far from an ●asy victory - Kinser struggled home with a left rear tyre that was virtually flat, after contact with Tiner on lap 7.

Mark K struggled a^er jumping the cu.shion and then Swindell and Dale Planey collided while dicing for third place.

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n Lasoski became the first repeat winner from the past week when led all 20 laps of the preliminary feature at California’s San Jose Speedway on August 27.

Following a caution when Duane Bonini Jr spun, it was a five-lap sprint to the flag that saw Lasoski win from Haudenschild, Hannagan, Gobrecht, Steve K, Swindell, Shaffer, Blevins, Mark K and Kaeding.

Ofthe two Aussies in action at the California track, Tatnell fared the better, timing 17th to Peter Murphy’s 20th.

Tatnell (fourth) and Murphy (fifth) both made the featui^, where Tatnell came 13th and Murphy 21st.

Haudenschild showed that his form from the previous night was no fluke when he led all 30 laps on August 28 for a US$12,000 pay day, after he’d announced that the Jack Elden team would complete the rest of the Outlaws season.

Tatnell suffered front-end dam age and stopped on lap 6, whileJac cleared out, taking the win from Lasoski, Swindell, Hannagan, Herrera, Mark and Steve Kinser, Schatz, Shaffer and Kaeding.

Tatnell was credited with 22nd, while Murphy could only manage 14th in the B-Feature.

down the curtain on a glittering career.

Polish GP placings and points: 1 H Nielsen 25, 2 T Rickardsson 20, 3 R Sullivan 18, 4 M Loram 16, 5 T Gollob 15, 6 L Adams 14, 7 J Gollob 12, 8 H Gustafsson 10, =9 J Crump 8, =9 J Screen 8.

Overall Standing after five events: T Gollob 90, T Rickardsson 86, J Nilsen 68, J Crump 60, H Nielsen 58, G Hancock 56, L Adams 53, J Screen 52, M Loram 51, S Danno 50.

-TONY MILLARD

Aussies through to World Team Cup final after Leszno success AUSTRALIA has won through to the final of the World Team Cup after a tremendous perfor mance at Leszno in Poland on August 22. ' The Australians finished on 51 points to head the host country, Poland, which scored 43 points, ahead of Sweden with 26 and Russia on 24.

Australia will now race against England, holders USA and the host country, the Czech Republic, at Pardubice in the Czech Republic on October 2.

The Aussies were led by an amazing 17 points from six rides by Jason Crump.

Jason Lyons and Leigh Adams scored 13 and 12 points, respective ly, with Ryan Sullivan getting 9 reserve Todd Wiltshire was not required to race.

Full scores Australia 51: Crump 17, Lyons 13, Adams 12, Sullivan 9.

Poland 43: Tomasz Gollob 15, Piotr Protasiewicz 11, Rafal Dobrucki 6, Slawomire Drabik 5.

Sweden 26: Mikael Karlsson 9, Henrik Gustafsson 9, Stefan Danno 8, Peter Svensson 0.

Russia 24: Oleg Kourgoukin 11, Sergei Darkin 7, Roman Powazhny 4, Siergiej Jeroszon 1.

-TONY MILLARD

n Sydney rider Mick Powell, recently sacked by Glasgow after many years with the club, returned to haunt his old team mates when guesting for Edinburgh in their League meet ings at Armadale.

Powell romped to a 15 point maximum to send his former club tumbling to a 48-41 defeat.

Just 24 hours earher, Powell rode for his new club, Berwick, against Glasgow and he gained a 14 point return in another win, this time 49-41... as they say, revenge is sweet. n Former World Long Track Champion Simon Wigg, now out of the sport following health problems, has finally receiver*, clearance to move to Australia and he will live on the Gold Coast. His residency application, endorsed by the likes of Ivan Mauger, Barry Sheene and Mick Doohan, has been approved and he will arrive in Australia at the end of this month.

After a spell of recuperation and settling in, Wigg expects to return to speedway in some way and may become involved in pro motion.

■ The British Elite League moves into its final stages, with five clubs in contention to take the title.

Ipswich leads the table, but its remaining four fixtures are all away - it leads by four points from Belle Vue, which has two meetings at home and two away to come. Coventry, Poole and Peterborough are poised to close the gap - the first two have seven meetings left, while Poole has eight, of which four are at home.

■ Jason Crump has moved to the top of the British Elite League averages, ahead of World Champion Tony Rickardsson.

Ryan Sullivan, after a dreadful start to the season, is now sixth, Leigh Adams seventh and Jason Lyons in ninth spot, making it four Aussies in the top ten !

On the other side of the coin, the likes of Craig Boyce, Steve Johnston, Shane Parser and Brett Woodifield are out of the top 30.

AUSTRALIAN SPRINTCAR CALENDAR VICTORIA S.R.A.

Western Auto Bendigo ....

Western Auto Avalon Warrnambool Western Auto Avalon Western Auto Western Auto Avalon

.Oct 30 ■Nov 6 .Nov 13 .Nov 20 .Dec 4 .Dec 10 .Dec 26 .Dec 26 .Jan 8 .Jan 15

SPEEDWAY CITY S.A.

,Nov 6 Official Practice . ,Nov 13 Sprintcar Masters Nov 27 All-Star Show . . .

World Series Sprintcars . .Dec 4 Dec 11 All-Star Show World Series Sprintcars . .Dec27 AMCA National Titles jan 15 Sprintcar Spectacular ... .Jan 22 Feb 5 Australian S/car Title Feb 12 All-Star Show

ARUNGA PARK SPEEDWAY

NT Sprintway Trails

Sept 10 & I I

36

10 September 1999

n Petty Entei-prises will lose 28-year spon sor STP in July of 2000 at Daytona when General Mills and Cheerios will take over as the primary spon sor and STP will step down to an associate

By Martin D Clarl^^^K role.

STP’s parent compa to have the operation for a ny and General Mills bulging disc last year, but worked out the deal, STP cancelled for personal rea sons. citing rising costs as their reason behind the decision. n After recently signing a contract with Tyler Jet Motorsports, Rich Bickle was apparently released from the Pontiac team post race at Darlington.

A

n As rumoured, AJ Foyt will enter Winston Cup next season sponsored by Conseco -the team will be managed by veteran engine builder Waddell Wilson, but no word yet on a driver.

n Other gossip around the Darlington garage involves the possible driver/car swap between Jerry Nadeau and Wally Dailenbach with Hendrick and SB2.

H Dale Jarrett’s run of bad luck continued at Darlington - he was fastest in practice and last to quali fy under cooling conditions, but in first round qualifying he was heading for the pole when he spun in turn 3, luckily without contact.

Jarrett ran second round time trials on Saturday in an attempt to gain one of28 front stretch pit stalls, but was not successful - he qualified 36th,the last car to make it on time.

“This is a pretty big dis advantage, but it’s my fault I’m back there,” said Jarrett of his pit location.

n Tommy Baldvrin Jr has signed a three-year contract with Bill Davis Racing to remain on board as the crew chieffor Ward Burton in the CAT Pontiacs.

Baldwin had been in con versation with Hendrick Motorsports to replace Jeff Gordon’s crew chief Ray Evemham,who wants to spend less time at the race track and move into a gen eral manager position to be created for him. / Don’t expect Evemham to make the move unless a ' suitable replacement is found, though.

E3 Todd Bodine(thanks to a faulty ignition box) and Stanton Barrett were the only cars not to make the field at Darlington - Terry Labonte, Michael Waltrip, Steve Park, Rich Biclde, David Green, Robert Pressley and Dave Marcis were the provisional takers.

It was the fii-st time since Michigan in June one of the five Poush cars-did not use a provisional- at least one car has used one in 19 of24 events.

n World of Outlaws driver Tyler Walker has been signed by Tyler Jet Motorsports(no prior rela tionship)to drive a new Busch Series team they are forming.

Tyler Jet currently mns Pontiacs for Rich Bickle in the Winston Cup series.

Walker, 20, will mn select Busch events later this year with Tyler Jet.

n Despite rumours, A1 Unser Jr will not be the dri ver for AJ Fojft’s new Winston Cup team in 2000 -Foyt has yet to decide upon a driver, or car make.

n Sterling Marlin has been fined $5,000 by NASCAR for intentionally running into Chad Little’s car on pit road at the Watkins Glen event.

Apparently Little had stalled his car and a fhistrated Marlin drove into the side ofthe Roush Taurus.

n Mark Martin will under go surgery on his back after the Atlanta finale on November 21 - he was due

Ernie pulls the pm 66

It’s not smart for me to push the envelope

ERNIE Irvan announced his immediate retirement at Darlington Raceway on September 3.

“Swervin’ Irvan” started in Winston Cup in 1987, dri ving for Morgan McClure Motorsports in the #4 Kodak Chevy.

He won the Daytona 500 in 1991 and from there in 1993 mdved to fill the seat left sadly vacant by the late Davey Allison at Robert Yates Racing.

In 1994, while lying second in points and driving for Yates, Irvan had a practice wreck at Michigan that almost took his life - doctors gave him a. 10% chance of survival, “The doctor kind of explained to me how many miracles you can have,” remarked Irvan. “That woke me up.”

Last month, another doc tor in Michigan also caused Irvan to rethink after an August 20 practice wreck in his self-owned Busch car left him unconscious again with a head injury and bruised lung.

That wreck came exactly five years to the day after his first horrifying wreck.

Irvan wps also involved in a hard wrfeck at Talladega in October last year that saw him once again air-lifted to hospital.

“The decision to retire was solely between me and my family,” said Irvan. “There was nobody quizzing me about it.

“Everybody here has watched me race and knows that I give it 100% eveiy day - they realise,! don’t want to retire. Today, I don’t want to retire, but I know it’s the smart thing to do.

“Obviously, being able to come back and drive again was a dream come true - it’s still a dream. Winston Cup racing is something I love to do, but I know it’s not smart for me to push the envelope.

“I cherish the moments

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Show’s over; It was a case of one accident too many for Ernie Irvan. (Martin d ciartr pic) later in the season to prepare for the coming year.

Nadeau has already signed with Hendrick Motorsports for 2000.

- MARTIN D CLARK

I’ve had in racing; I’ve had a lot offun with everybody.”

Irvan’s successes include 15 wins, 22 poles and $11.5 million in earnings.

Ir\mn will be replaced for

the remainder of the year by Jerry Nadeau, unless the team finds a driver to pilot the car in 2000 - if that situation arises, the team would probably bring that driver in

LOCAL NASCAR boss Bob Jane announced at a

Mussie tnK heads for Japan oval

recent super speedway drivers meeting at Calder Park Raceway that three Australian competitors had been invited to con test the Japanese NASCAR oval event set down for November 28.

The drivers named includ ed former champion Jim Richards, multiple titleholder Kim Jane and leading Ford Thunderbird campaign er Terry Wyhoon.

Richards stimned the visit ing US Winston Cup and Winston West teams when he raced at the Suzuka road circuit meeting in November ’97 at the wheel of a Pontiac Grand Prix prepared by Canadian entrant Dick Midgeley - he qualified on the front row and finished fifth overall with a team that had virtually no budget com pared with the huge Stateside, multi-car opera tions.

“Unfortunately, I’m nqt available to go to Japan this November,” explained Richards. “I’ll be participat ing in 'a drive program with Porsche at Moimt Cotton in Queensland at that time -its been arranged for months.

“In addition, I haven’t raced on an oval for some thing like eighteen months

and I would like to get some laps under my belt before I ventured back out onto another one.

“If the Americans would like to invite me to partici pate in next year’s race. I’d ensure that ever3fthing was in place to put in another strong performance.”

It appears that Ford driver Neville Lance will replace Richards, the very popular Western Australian speed way hero finishing third in last season’s Australian NASCAR championship series.

Meanwhile, over at Terry Wyhoon’s Korumburra race shop in Gippsland, his crew has removed the engine from his Tom Smith-built T-Bird to freshen it up for the Japanese assault.

“Bob (Jane) rang and

asked me if I was going to attend the drivers meeting. I replied that 1 would be there to hear the news from his recent trip to NASCAR,head quarters in Daytona,” com mented Wyhoon.

“At the meeting, he gave me a hell of a surprise when he announced that Jim Richards, Kim Jane and myself would be heading over to Japan in midNovember to run against the Americans on the new oval track owned by the Honda Motor Company.

‘We’re all awaiting further news on the trip, but in the meantime we’ve started to prepare the car for the big race against the Yanks - and wouldn’t it be good to go well against them with our Austrahan-built car.”

- GRANT NICHOLAS

R

HM®9®I7S[p<DlT[l'

W September 1999

ri

I

m fnff/foff reasons why Jeff

Burton loves Darlington

.'i-

2

n n n

37

n Steve Grissom has taken over driving duties for Melling Racing -the deal was announced on August 23 when Jerry Nadeau was released from the ride.

Nadeau, meanwhile, subbed for the injured Ernie Irvan at Bristol, qualifying eighth and fin ishing 20th.

The arrangement was made with MB2 Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports, who Nadeau will drive for in 2000MB2 use Hendrick engines and chassis. n Johnny Benson was released from his driving duties at Roush Racing effective at the end ofthe season. If a suitable sponsor is not found to replace Cheerios and the General Mills group,the team will be closed over the winter.

0) C C

vVier Ward runner-up ahead ofJeremy Mayfield

5

JEFF Burton dominated a rainshortened 50th running of the Southern 500 at Darlington on September 5, the race ending on lap 270 of 366 after two rain delays and red flags, the latter

Green flag pit stops came around iap H6 and Dale Earnhardt missed stall and lost a lap to the leadw(mld gam it back later, multitude of right

and impending darkness haltmg the event.

Burton also took home an extra million dollars for his fifth win of the year - the race was part of the Winston ‘No Bull Five’ program and Burton was one of five drivers eligible if they should win.

“I hate it had to end under rain today, but the best car won today,

^gain Mayfield led following the culmination of pitting, Gordon swinging into second past J Burton, but Michael Waltrip lost control off turn 4 on lap 133 and hit the wall to bring out the second yeUow. Almost immediately, the yellow flag came back out for a multi-car ^reck on lap 146, induced when someone hit Steve Grissom in turn 3.

Winning^the Southern 500, that’s a big deal,” said Burton.

For the second time in a No Bull’ event this year, Jeffs older brother Ward was the runner-up - this last happened at Las Vegas in March.

Dale Jarrett has lost 142 points in the last two races, but still holds a 168 point advantage over second place Mark Martin,,third in points Bobby Labonte suffering engine woes with valve train problems and Gibbs team-mate Tony Stewart fin ishing back in 12th with a broken rear suspension ratchet.

Jarrett finished 16th, his back stretch pit stall hampering efforts, although he did head 15 laps by short-pitting to gain five bonus points.

Kenny Irwin was the surprise pole sitter with a 170.970 mph lap in the Yates Taurus - he will vacate at season’s end - though he failed to lead a lap.

Outside sitter W Burton headed the first tour and opened up a healthy advantage.

Jerry Nadeau cut a tyre and impounded the outside and inner concrete walls extremely hard on lap 51 - Nadeau was alert, but retained in hospital overnight for observation. Mike Skinner was also involved, running into the rear of Jarrett, who *uckily sustained only minor rear panel damage.

J Burton headed G I'don on the restart after the two bumped com ing off pit road.

Jeremy Mayfield then took up the running, his best showing since the spring Darlington race.

Luckily for Jarrett, he was able to pick his way through the spinning carnage, which involved

Kenny Wallace, Geoffrey Bodine, Ted Musgrave and the impressive 2000 rookie Matt Kenseth, running in the top ten.

Jarrett led after not pitting, but J Burton brought his brother and Mayfield by Jarrett on lap 170 to lead and he never really looked back at that point, leading halfway and building up a quick, two-plus second advantage - brother Ward was fighting the tricky egg-shaped one-mile and a throttle pedal that would sometimes not return.

Gordon was one of a handful of drivers that decided to pit after the second red flag and he dropped from fifth to finish 13th, a considerable points disadvantage, although he did gain some on Jarrett.

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n It looks very possible that Kenny Irwin and Joe Nemechek will swap rides, Irwin going in the SABCO Bell South Chevy and Nemechek in the Yates Texaco Ford -SABCO owner Felix Sabates admitted that he has conversed with Irwin and Robby Gordon about the vacancy. n Quashing rumours about Jeremy Mayfield’s possible release from Penske Kranefuss Racing, he upped his contract with the team for two additional - MARTIN D CLARK years.

i ad thin I ale did a ba'* r

I

UUNDER a full moon,4ans at the halfmile Bristol bowl on August 28 witnessed one ofthe most controversial races in many years, the major talking points the way Dale Earnhardt earned his way to victory lane and that Dale Jarrett wrecked twice, the latter thus losing a sizeable advantage in the points race. \ The major incidentiwas Earnhardt’s blatant wrecking of race leader Terry Labonte coming off turn 2 on the final lap.

Labonte led from lap 439 of 500, but when Jeremy Mayfield spun and Bobby Labonte’s gearbox caught fire, the tenth caution flag uncoiled and Terry was punted into a spin by Darrell Waltrip, who apparently didn’t see the yellow Sights.

This left Teny with flat-spotted tyres, mean ing he had to pit and relinquish the lead to Earnhardt.

He came back on the track in fifth position, but the double champ stormed past the competi tion and back into the lead in the turns with a gentle nudge on Earnhardt on the penultimate lap.

“TeiTy got into me* in the middle of turns 3 and 4,” said Earnhardt, who retaliated, follow ing Eabonte up the groove exiting turn 2 and spinning him around on the final lap, “I didn’t mean to wreck him; I just meant to rattle his cage a iittle bit,” Earnhardt said.

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Kevin Lepage in a Roush Taurus posted his best finish in fifth, making it three Roush cars in the top five, Joe Nemechek also running well to come home sixth, with a surprise Bobby Hamilton seventh after a very mundane year thus far.

Final results: J Burton (Ford), Ward Burton (Pontiac), Mayfield (Ford), Martin (Ford), Lepage (Ford), Nemechek (Chevy), Hamilton (Chevy), R Wallace (Ford), Schrader (Chevy), Park (Chevy)..

Points standings: Jarrett 3693, Martin 3525, B Labonte 3373, Gordon 3351, Stewart 3323, J Burton 3292, Earnhardt 3141, R Wallace 2882, W Burton 2995.

- MARTIN D CLARK

n Derrike Cope was released from the newly taken over Bahari-Eel River Racing- Todd Bodine drove the #30 Pontiac at Bristol, qualifying 20th and com ing home a deserving 15th.

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“He never has any intention of taking any body out,” said Labonte.“It just happens that way. I didn’t even waste my time going to the NASCAR trailer and talking to them about it.

I’ve been there before. He’d better tighten his belts.

“Have you ever heard him say he means to spin anybody out?” questioned Labonte.

NASCAR’s Vice Resident Mike Helton stat ed:“In this case, it’s not inconclusive that it was a racing accid,ent back to the chequered flag. So, therefore, we’re going to leave the standings the way they were at the finish ofthe race.”

Labonte’s crew chief Andy Graves was proba bly as wound up as the 140,000 booing fans.

“Two old, over the hill past champions took us out tonight, but this is Bristol - it’s the land of excitement.” Boy, was Graves right.

As for Jarrett, he had a 314 point cushion entering Bristol, but left 213 points in front of Mark Martin after losing 101 points.

Jarrett spun his ill-handling Taurus unaided on lap 77, unfortunately involving Bobby Hamilton, Elliott Sadler, Bill ElUott and John Andretti in the fracas with some major damage.

Jarrett pitted to adjust the set-up and replace flat-spotted tyres, but was in the wall 22 laps later - in danger of going a lap down, his Yates Taurus was a total handful in the turns.

Meanwhile, Jerry Nadeau, subbing for Ernie Irvan, was in front of then leader Tony Stewart and trying to stay on the lead lap.

Nadeau came upon the straggling Jarrett and contact was made on the front stretch when both drivers headed for the same line - Jaraett foimd the wall and Nadeau received a two-lap penalty for his trouble.

Jarrett posted a 38th placing, his first outside the top 11 since the Febraaiy Daytona 500 and ended a string of 14 straight finishes outside the top six.

“I created all of it,” said Jarrett. “The car just got away from me;it was my fault.”

Stewart won his second pole of his rookie sea son with a 124.589 mph lap, Rusty Wallace to his outside - but Wallace had the jump on the start and led the first 26 laps, Stewart dominat ing up to halfway and heading through tour 251 when Jeff Gordon found the front for 47 laps.

T Labonte led for the first time by using a dif ferent pit stop strategy on lap 300 for 78 tours, Earnhardt then heading up the pack on lap 379, the pair the only leaders during the remainder of the race.

Final results: Earnhardt(Chevy)91.276 mph, Spencer (Ford), Rudd (Ford), Gordon (Chevy), Stewart (Pontiac), Martin (Ford), Marlin (Chevy), T Labonte (Chevy)499 laps, W Burton (Pontiac), Schrader(Chevy). > Points standings: Jarrett 3573, Martin 3360, B Labonte 3262 (updated), Gordon 3222, Stewart 3196, J Burton 3107, Earnhardt 3044, T Labonte 2740, R WaUace 2740, Skinner^660.

-MARTINO CLARK

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38

IM

10 September 1999

Top Autd^ Outrigl%unner-up and first ^four-wheeler home,the formidable Bruce Garfentf and Harry Suzuki i 4ackaroo emerged at the of the class

Report by JON THOMSON

WITH Peter Brock out of the Australian Safari mid-way throvigh day three on the run to Ayers Rock, the competition in the Auto section of the event was settling down to a fair dinkum dust-up between Bruce Garland and John Hederics.

When the cars and bikes left the Rock at the start of day four, the battle for the bike section had also seen a major change, with defend ing bike champ Andy Haydon forced to change engines on his KTM at the Yulara overnight stop, after losing over an hour late the previous day.

With Haydon out of contention, it was now down to his fellow KTM rider, Andy Caldecott, the exmotocrosser who was holding off local desert specialist Stephen Greenfield by over 15 minutes, with 42 year-old veteran Peter McDonald another 50 minutes back in third.

Donald Cant, a motorcycle com petitor from NSW, was a victim of the long and rough opening stage of the day near Mt Connor early on day four. Cant crashing at high speed 150kms into the stage, break ing his leg and having to be trans ported to the Alice Springs hospital.

Garland was only leading by approximately ten minutes when the cars and bikes arrived back in Alice Springs for the Monday night halt.

Des Harrington was in third place in his V8 Holden-powered Nissan Patrol ute, while the Dutch Land Rover Discovery team of Aad Van Der Groot and Ed Vink rolled twice during the day, but managed to keep the heavily bandaged 4WD goi:ig to anive back in the Alice for a long night of repairs.

“Tomorrow will be the day that will determine this event,” said Garland, as he contemplated the long opening stage that would kick off day five.

It

The first stage of the day would cover over 230kms, running through station tracks and across increasingly arid rocky country to the north west of Alice parallel to the Tanami track.

This would be followed by a tough rocky stage, slightly longer, but just as challenging.

The first stage saw Caldecott’s hopes of winning his first Safari dashed on the rocks of the opening stage when he misjudged things at high speed, going over the handle bars of the KTM and dislocating his left shoulder.

He was transported out by ambu-

Outright winner; Stephen Greenfield was in superb form, taking not only the two-wheeled honours, but the outright Australian Safari win on his all-conquering Honda XR600

lance and retired from the event.

Stage two lived up to Garland’s predictions, the 245km stage caus ing problems for both himself and Hederics.

Halfway into the long stage.

Garland arrived at a hairpin and in the thick dust came to a complete halt.

However, once he got going again, he raced off down the road, the same road he had just driven down - he went lOkms in the wrong direction and only realised when Hederics arrived over the horizon towards him!

That could have been the defin ing moment in this year’s Safari however, more drama was to unfold.

Hederics had smashed his front diff on a rock in the first stage and emptied the unit of oil.

Now running in two wheel drive only and first car on the road, hav ing passed Garland after his direc tion error, the Nissan driver arrived at a dry creek to find one of his wheels passing him.

The vehicle became bogged in the sand and, with only two wheel drive and three wheels, he was stuck.

Garland passed to go back in the lead and only a sportsmanlike act

by Harrington enabled Hederics to be pulled free of the creek.

Garland was now tippy-toeing as well, two punctures using up his spares and the final stage of the day to the east of the Stuart Highway was taken at an easy pace to ensure he would not be stuck with another flat.

In the bikes, Greenfield was now leading and one of the quiet achiev ers of the event, Tim Scriven of Victoria on his Honda 250, was now up into second about 50 minutes behind the lead, while McDonald was another 25 minutes back in third.

When they arrived in Tennant Creek for the overnight halt.

Garland was in the lead by about 10 minutes, his biggest break so far and due mostly to the bad luck of Hederics that day.

Day six would take the crews west from Tennant Creek into the Tanami Desert into a stage which would cover 350kms in one fell swoop - the tough stage, full of bulldust, rocks and sand, would be a test for everyone.

Garland blasted through the

Runner-up; Nissan Patrol of John Hederics and Kees Weel was the second four-wheeler to make Darwin I

stage without problems, taking just over 2.5 hours to cover the stage but Hederics wasn’t far behind.

The stage presented the first big problems for Penny and Val Swan, who had inherited the lead in the Formula Four class the previous day when the Monkhouse Suzuki had lost time and conceded the lead to the mother/daughter team.

In the powdery bulldust. Penny Swan arrived at a tricky comer too fast and tipped the car on its lid ironically, it was Bill South and his son in their Range Rover who helped get the little Suzuki back on its wheels.

The Swan Suzuki made it to the finish of the stage, but only after running out of fuel and being topped up by the sweep car to maintain their Formula Four lead.

With no problems on the day, Garland extended his lead over Hederics to 17 minutes by the time they arrived in Kalkarindgi for the overnight halt.

In the bikes, Steve Riley, in his 11th Safari on bikes and possibly his last, was up into second place after a great day on the handlebars - he was just two minutes off Scriven in second, who in turn was

►

Da about 1.5 hours behind Greenfield in the lead.

Day seven would take the teams past Victoria Rivers Downs and into Katherine for the final overnight halt.

However, militarj' exercises held up the start of the opening stage of the day, F/A-18 Hornet fighters dropping bombs in an area near where the crews had to traverse.

The battle for the lead in the car section saw Hederics’ car owner and co-driver Kees Weel take a wrong turn on a transport early in the day and lose valuable time before the first of three stages, but Hederics made up the time late in the day as Garland backed off and defended his lead.

“They have to do all the work, not me,'’ said Gaidand.

Garland would finish in Katherine 14 minutes ahead of Hederics, with Harrington still in third over two hours further back.

In the bikes, Scriven lost time and conceded second place to Riley, while British rider Tara O’Callaghan moved up to third place on his KTM. Just the final day to go and clerk of course Bob Carpenter put a sting in the tail with a tough stage through the Lichfield National Park, a 55km stage through rocks and crossing many croc-infested creeks, which some of the crews described as the toughest of the Safari.

But, tough as it was, Garland’s lead was secure and not about to change as the teams honed in on the final stage, the Mindil Beach Sprint.

The spectacular display on the sands in front of Darwin’s motor racing fans saw Garland seal his second^ Safari Auto win, 12 mins ahead of Hederics and Weel, with Hairington maintaining third place, one better than his last out-

ing.

Garland maintained this was the toughest event yet and w’as notable for the intense fight with Hederics in the Nissan.

“This was a bloody tough event and it’s just a pity that it didn’t attract more competitors,” said Garland.

But it was Greenfield, on his Honda 600 in the first tilt at the Safari, who would have the lowest overall elapsed time to take his first

Sainz and Ford? n The latest name being bandied around as the second driver for the Ford Martini Team for the 2000 World Rally Championship, is currently Toyota driver Carlos Sainz, who left Ford to drive for Toyota last year.

Sainz is said to be unhappy with the perfoiTuance of the current Corolla and has been rumoured to be talking to Ford.

The uncertaintly over the future of Toyota’s involvement has also been said to have forced Sainz to look elsewhere.

The story is just another in the continuing Silly Season, with Tommi Makinen also rumoui-ed to be sought by Ford.

Wise enters Sprint

-A

Francois Westen^rgi and Maarten V&n Eyk' claimed victory In thteirnaUdnst #ess ’ Country Auto j outright victory and the win in the Moto section, Riley taking second place on his Honda 400 in his 11th and last attempt on the Safari and O’Callaghan claiming third on his KTM. Only 50 of the original 72 starters made it to the finish of the gruelling event, which Advantage International hopes to run again in 2000.

1999 Australian Safari Results

1.

2.

3.

International Motorcycle Stephen Greenfield Honda 27 hrs 58 mins 49 secs Stephen Riley Honda 29 hrs 26 minutes 35 secs Tara O’Callaghan KTM 29 hrs 30 mins 33 secs FIA Intemationai Cross Country Auto

1.

Francois Westenberg/ Maarten Van Eyk Mitsubishi Pajero 33 hrs 30 mins 45 secs Phillip Soetwerboek/ Wim DeGroot Mitsubishi Pajero 33 hrs 44 mins 56 secs Colin Hunter/ Guy Basile Jeep Grand Cherokee 36 hrs 53 mins 21 secs

2.

3.

1.

2.

3.

Australian National Cross Country Auto Bruce Garland/Harry Suzuki Holden Jackaroo 28 hrs 31mins 3secs John Hederics/Kees Weel Nissan Patrol 28 hrs 43 minsl4 secs .

Des Harrington/Bill Bennett Nissan Patrol V8 30 hrs 45 mins 13secs

Podium finish; Des Harrington ' and Bill Bennett came home third in Australian National Cross Country Auto

f

.”.●1 ; .vr. ft-

n Former multiple Victorian Rally Champion Graeme Wise is a suprise entry in the NECC Rallysprint to be held near Beechworth in Victoria on September 18.

Wise will drive his champi onship-winning Ford Sierra XR 4x4 in the event, with his twin daughters co-driving -the girls will take it in turns to call the cor ners.

Turkey bids for WRC status

■ TOMSFED, the organising com mittee behind this year’s Rally of Turkey, is bidding for inclusion as a fiiture round of the World Rally Cl>ampionship.

■According to Mumtaz Tahincioglu of TOMSFED, the event ran to a new format this season as a tester for future years.

Turkish organisers shifted the rally from Istanbul to Bursa last year and a superspecial stage was introduced.

The event attracted 58 starters this year and featured centralised servicing and a team of respected organisers from the UK, brought in to handle Clerk of Course duties, results and to oversee scrutineering.

The Turkish economy is cur rently on a downward spiral with sponsorship hard to come by, but the organisers have the manpow er, suitable options on tarmac spe cial stages, hotels and ideal trans port links to make such an event work.

Like its neighbour the Rally of Lebanon, it appears that the Turkish event will join a list of possibles behind the obvious favourite candidates in Japan and the USA. The likes of Volkan Isik, con testing the 1999 FIA Teams Cup, Ercan Kazaz and Nejit Avic (’97 European F2 Champion) have already put Turkish competitors in the international spotlight.

Fiat Palio Kit Car

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■ The 1999 Rally of Turkey marked the world’s first appear ance of the recently-homologated Fiat Palio Kit Car. The 1.6 litre twin cam machine was built at Abarth in Turin, with input by the factory and manpow-

1999 ’WINSTON CUP SEMIS RESULTS

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Saffat Ucuncu, the assistant general manager of Fiat Turkey, admitted that test and develop ment work began last November and the car was homologated on July 1.

“I see this car as having more potential than the new Punto,” admitted Ucuncu.

“We now have 155bhp oii tap with the basic specification and this car will run on three rallies in Turkey this season. We already have a basic specification in a race championship.

“The Palio runs with a limited slip viscous differential and fea tures a high-rewing engine and competitive package for the Formula 3 category in the Turkish Championship.

“It is likely that we can get 180bhp, no problem,” he added.

The Paho road model is current ly built at the Tofas factory in Bursa in Turkey and is largely sold throughout Eastern Europe, notably in Poland and Turkey and throughout much of South America.

“We hope that this will be the start of a long term project and full co-operation from the factory in Italy,” Ucuncu said.

The Palio runs with Eibach sus pension, front and rear disc brakes and a five-speed transmission taken from the Alfa Romeo 156.

The car’s debut was in the hands of driver Ethem Genim and co-driver/singer Sibel Tuzun.

They were well ahead in the F3 class at the end of the opening leg of 14 stages and were eighth over all, but left the road on the first stage of the final day - it was a promising debut, nonetheless.

Evans wins

■ Gwyndaf Evans has won the SEAT Cars Lurgan Park Rally driving a Cordoba "WRCar, the first time SEAT’S four-wheel drive World Championship challenger has been seen in Northern Ireland.

Evans and co-driver Howard Davies set fastest time on the opening six stages and finished over 11 seconds ahead of last year’s winner, former European Rally Champion Patrick Snijers.

Snijers travelled from Belgium to be Gwyndafs nearest chal lenger in his Escort WRCar, while Denis Biggerstaff finished third and collected an extra £1000 for winning the final Ulster TV shoot out in his Metro 6R4.

Four-times Irish Rally Champion Bertie Fisher dropped to fifth after spinning his Subaru on the final stage.

It was the fourth time SEAT UK had sponsored the event.

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and over a concrete safety barrier, totally destroying his brand new race car.

“I got out and said ‘damn, that was really stupid!’ but I was only going around 70-80 mph!” he says ofthe expenence. That’s what happens when you’re on a shithole track...”

Still Cannon wasn’t deterred by the experience, heading out testing with a spare car within, days.

“We made a bunch of l/8th mile passes and the car ran great, we even had one run where it would have been in the 4.80s ” he says of his first few weeks in the seat.

“I had 40-50 runs under

Attack of the “Killer Nitro Mater”: Scotty Cannon has exploded onto the Funny Car scene with his Oakley-backed Pontiac, making a huge impact in more ways than one.(phckos by Ccraid McDomani

s

/

Life’s just getting bigger and better for Pro Modified legend Scotty Cannon. GERALD McDORNAN caught up with the six-time champion recently to talk about life on the NHRA tour and his 300 mph nitro Funny Car.

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COTTY Cannon has never been a standback sort of man.

He’s always been loud, outspoken, upfront and colourfuljust to use a few descriptions.

Despite being all of the above, and more, Cannon has also never accepted anything short of success and winning and he has been able to back up his words with actions and wins ... and lots of them.

The mohawked American became a huge favourite of Australian race fans from afar, with many reading of his exploits and devouring every piece ofinformation they could find of him.

Much to.the delight of his Aussie followers, two seasons ago while on his usual winter break Cannon toured Downunder and further enhanced his reputation as, not only the best Doorslammer racer in the world, but also as a crowd favourite - one who could perform equally as well off the track as he could on.

It’s history now that, after his conquest of Austraha, Cannon returned home to dominate the ’98IHRA Pro Modified Championship with his flamed Australian-built Studebaker.

The attention that he gar nered back at home with his efforts, though, attracted more than Cannon himself had ever hoped for. In fact, it was perhaps only ever dreamed of- a major sponsor willing to fund his racing and help him make the move up to the class he had always dearly wanted to contest nitro Funny Car. Tlie chance meeting with Oakley’s CEO Jim Jannard has now led to Cannon being where he has always wanted to be, in the biggest and fastest drag racing circuit on earth.

“I was doing what I was doing because that was what I could afford,” Cannon says of his career in Pro Modified -the US equivalent to Australia’s Top Doorslammer.

I “If I could have afforded to run a fuel Fumiy Car before. that’s what I would have been doing to start with, but now with Oakley this is all just a dream come true.”

The move to his dream class, in driving terms, hasn’t been a disappoint ment with the nitro burners providing the seasoned veter an with more than a thrill.

“It’s all that and some it’s awesome,” Cannon says of his new 6,000 horsepower hot rod.

“These to me are the ulti mate hot rods on the face of the earth, even by far over the dragsters, as they’re hard and aggravating to drive.

“They wander all the time, it’s weird... it’s never settled, it’s always hunting. It’s never a straight good consis tent pass like a Doorslammer is. The best pass you have, it always wants to run off somewhere.”

The step-up from Pro Mod didn’t prove to be too much harder, although the ride has shown to be totally different.

“It isn’t a whole lot harder, but a Funny Car is just a beast the whole time. It's not quite as finicky as a Doorslammer, but it’s travel ling ground so much faster and it’s so much quicker that it can get ahead of you - and if it gets ahead of you, you’re gone.

“Gets ahead of you and you’re gone”-those words from Cannon come from a hard learned experience with the “rookie” finding out very early on in the year, crashing a car while testing in prepa ration for his NHKA debut.

“We tested on a rathole track that was only sprayed [with traction compound]in the ‘groove’.

“The car smoked the tyres about 60ft out and I lifted. I got a little sideways, it drift ed half out of the groove, one wheel was still in the groove and when the tyre stopped spinning it gripped and jolt ed me in the car and I blipped the throttle, then it went wide open...”

Cannon ended up going up

my belt before I went to my first race.”

Cannon’s transition from Pro Mod to Funny Car. while originally appearing to go smoothly - aside from the over-the-wall incidentturned a little sour through the team being imcompetitive and that was a situation which ultimately led to the demise of the team’s original crew chief Wayne Dupuy Cannon had hired Dupuy to tune to the car while, at the same time, learning what a fuel car required - Cannon wanted to be totally handson with his operation, as he had been in fto Mod, all of the time.

“That was a mistake,” he now says. “I would still love to keep tuning this thing, make the calls, go home ana reinvent things but the fans the media and the sponsors request so much attention and these cars require more attention than anything we ever ran before... they ain’t easy.

“The character, whether it be Scotty Cannon,John Force, whoever, that’s what they’re all paying for. If Fm busy working on the car all the time, they’re all not going to be happy for long and then I don’t have a deal, so the main thing is to keep them all happy,” he says of his new foimd responsibilities and with hindsight.

Both Cannon’s perfor mance with those who required his attention and the car suffered and he quickly realised that, while he wanted to learn all about fuel Funny Cars, he could hire someone to do the tun ing fully and look after the operation while he was fulfiling his obligations - those that kept the car out on the track.

Veteran Funny driver and tuner DaleCar Pulde was the choice to teike over from Dupuy and he jumped at the call.

Cannon hired Pulde, not only because of his tuning expertise, but also for his dri ving experience with the vet eran also being regarded by many as the best Funny Car driver, period.

“Dale’s done it so many times - he’s been driving since he was 16 and he’s 50 years old. He is the best dri ver and he actually taught people like John Force how to drive.

“He’s helped me a lot, although he says he hasn’t had to change my driving style. But Dale tells me things that are great - he’ll go out there, look at the first

0.

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10 cars that go down the track and come back and say liey, watch out for this spot, but from there on it should be OK’ and when he tells me that, I’d better listen ‘cause he’s been out there so many times.”

The move to Pulde calling the shots, tuning-wise, has also already shown it will pay dividends in the future with the team having made it to the semi-final rpund at four of the last six meetings- a situation that makes Caimon more than happy, in more ways than one.

“I figured it would be a lot more glorifying ifI could tune my own car, win my own championships like I did in Pro Modified,” he says of his original decision to hire Dupuy and learn the ropes.

“Well, maybe it is a lot more grat ifying, but over here [in the NHEA] there’s a lot more glory to go ’round,” he says.

“Tf I need a crew chief on the car to make all the calls on the car and to keep the crew together and order the parts and keep an eye on things, well you can hire someone to do the tuning.”

W September 1999 you so it ain’t like driving for a reg ular crew chief- I’m drivingfor another Fimny Car driver, one who’s considered to be the best.”

Inside the car Cannon hasn’t dis appointed Pulde, with the rookie earning praise from the crew chief “The last couple of races I ped alled the car in qualifying and got us in the field and he said ‘just keep doing what you’re doing, it’s work ing for us’.

“When Dupuy was here, not tak ing anything from him, he said I was doing good but whenever Dale Pulde tells you you’re doing good, it’s like it’s coming from a higher standing and that’s nice to hear.”

With things now settledstarting and the team’s performances to move towards event-wirming consistency. Cannon’s figure is looming even larger and a new rivalry - one that is comparable to the “Snake” verses “Mongoose” (Don Prudhomme and Tom McEwen)rivalry of the ‘70s -is growing with eight time World Funny Car Champion, John Force.

(£

Well, maybe it is a lot more gratifying, but over here[in the NHRA]there a lot more glory to go ^round

Last of the Mohicans: Complete with mohawk, and the' wildest paintscheme on the tour.

Scotty Cannon has made his presence known in 1999.

oel

The release of the pressure of running the car has also proved to be a major bonus for Cannon.

“T can chck my fingers at Dale and say “hey. what’s happening?’-1 don’t have to go to seven different guys and ask aU ofthem like I use to.

Tf something happens with our sponsor Oakley, I’d still have to handle it anyway, whether I was working on the car or not, and the same goes with the fans so really it’s actually easier and I Uke it bet ter-it now suits me!”

With the easing of the burden uround the pit area, Cannon’s responsibility in other areas has picked up, the most important being in the cockpit where he is expected to perform well every time - not only by his sponsors and the fans, but also by the crew and cer tainly by Pulde.

“Dale won’t settle for a jackass, if I’m not driving the car right he’d be the first tojump down my throat, but he hasn’t had to do that much,” Cannon says thankfully.

“You drive it over your head or don’t do ii; right, he’ll be right on

The rivalry, despite being in its infancy,for Carmon, has made his debut season even all the more enjoyable “It’s made it all bigger and better, it’s a big rollercoaster ride right now,that’s what it is,” he says.

Ever the one to pounce on an opportunity. Cannon began the rivahy at the beginning ofthe sea son by challenging Force to a US$200,00 winner take all match race - a challenge that raised the ire ofForce.

Force has come out firing this year,looking as though he’ll soon secure his ninth championship, but Carmon is happy with his progress and still more than keen to take on the king of fuel coupes.

“We’re still goima do it... oh, yeah. I’m not chickening out,” he says adamantly. “I beat him [Force] at a match race at Norwalk and I’m sure I can do it again.

“I’d like to think by the end ofthe year we’ll have made some more ground on Force, especially the way

Simply the best: Dale Pulde is regarded as the best Funny Car driver ever and he has now being given the responsibility of taking Cannon to the top of the class.

(Photos by David Ostaszewski/Gerald McDoman)

the team is operating now and I’m looking forward to the clash.’

The rivalries, along with the attraction of the man who doesn’t conform for the sake of it has also opened up opportunities for Cannon, ones which he’s real excited about for the future.

‘There’s just a lot more fans over here, plus I believe all of my Pro Mod fans followed me over and that just means that the door’s wide open with possibilities for next year and beyond,” he says excitedly.

‘It’s exploding out there for Scotty Cannon and I’m excited. The sky’s the limit and we’re looking forward to heading that way.’

Knowing Cannon, heading towards the future will be at nothing less than 300 mile per hour!

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10 September 1999

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Like father, like son: Andrew Cowin emulated his father’s '87 achievement by making the final round at an NHRA event.

Putting out the laundry: Frank Pedregon claimed Funny Car.

win stuns at S Nationals

Looking for a win: Cory Mac downed Cowin in the Top Fuel final, t t

(Photos by Dave Kommel-Auto Imagery/Gerald McDornan/Mike Basso)

s.

300mph Son of a Gun mnner-ups in Top Fuel Report by DAVID OSTASZEWSKI ANDREW Cowin stunned the drag racing world enroute to a runner up showing at the biggest, oldest and most presti gious drag race in the world, knocking of the biggest names out and over during qualifying and eliminations.

In reaching the final round Cowin repeated the feat his father achieved in 1987 by reaching the final round of the Winternationals at Pomona in California.

“I can’t believe this is true, it must be a dream... somebody pinch me,” Cowin told reporters after making his way to the final round where he was to meet Cory McClenathan.

The dream lasted until the final with Cory Mac going on to win 4.61/308 to 4.82/292 - but Cowin still provided one of the highlights of the event.

“We’re just stunned to be here, at the US Nationals and having made the final round,” he said.

“We mightn’t have won, but more people know who we are and what we’re about and that’s just great.

“I’m just so proud to be Australian right here and now...

The 45th running of the U.S Nationals provided upset after upset, but none was more crowd pleasing than Cowin’s first round defeat oflow qualifier, Joe Amato.

The “Superman” special edition dragster of Amato left on Cowin, but by 1000 feet the K&N Filters/Auto Meter dragster reeled / Amato in to score a stunning 4.66/300 to 4.71/300 upset victory.

Cowin continued the upsets in the next two rounds, defeating Randy Parks and Bob Vandergriff with runs of 4.66/278 and 4.68/297.

Competing in only his fifth NHRA event. Cowin made waves from the beginning of qualifying, posting a 4.72/302 right out of the box.

His second run Saturday pro duced a tyre smoking effort which saw the left rear tire come off the wheel and the car skidding to a safe stop at half track.

Cowin was bumped from the show during the second last ses sion, but came up to the line in the last session and blasted his way back into the program, turning a 4.70/303 to put five-time Winston Champion Kenny Bernstein out of the show For McClenathan, it was a much needed win in an effort to get the MBNA team back in the hunt for the NHRA Winston Championship, the win moving him up to seventh, only 62 points out of the lead with only six races remaining.

With Mike Dunn, Gary Scelzi, Doug Kalitta and Amato going out early and Bernstein and Dixon failing to qualify, it left the door wide open for a shuffle in the standings.

The top ten drivers in the champi-

onship standings are only separated by 119 points, McClenathan qualified second behind Amato at(4.57/319) and used passes of 4.66/314, 4.66/295 and 4.59/311 to stop Steve Smith, Eddie Hill and new point leader, Tony Schumacher enroute to victory.

‘We really needed this win,” said McClenathan. “It’s been a tough season for our team, but we kept fighting and the car has been com ing around.

“It’s always a special feeling to win Indy. We felt pretty confident about our chances before the race started, but when all the big names started dropping off, I was begin ning to wonder if I was going to be next.

“Fortunately everything worked out and we pulled out a hardearned win over a good young team in the final... it feels good to be back in the thick of this championship hunt.”

Scoring somewhat of an upset in Funny Car was Frank Pedregon at the wheel of Jim Dunn’s Penthouse magazine Firebird. Pedregon made two flawless nms during qualifying and strung four of them together during eliminations to give two time Indy runner up, Dunn, his first Indy win, defeating Jim Epler and the “Undertaker” Pontiac in the final round, 5.08/284 to a red lighting 8.02/101.

“We had the WWF car over there, we kicked ass and we got attitude,” said Dunn following the final round.

On Friday, Dunn boasted that he came to Indy to win, with some fresh pieces, and a good tune-up. Later that night, Pedregon wheeled the Firebird to a ninth 1 best 4.96/297.

“Whether you win Indy once or The team came back out on six times, every one is special,” Saturday morning with a race day said Johnson. “If you win only one set-up and posted a 4.97/300, park race, this is the one to win.” ing the car until Monday.

Johnson flew to his shop in On race day Pedregon cranked Georgia Saturday night with the out 4.99/302, 5.01/295 and 5.01/294 only luggage being the wounded victories over John Force, low qual cylinder head from the previous ifier Tommy Johnson Jr., and night’s pass.

Scotty Cannon.

“Superman could m2ike the trip “Jim and I talked early this week in minutes, but mere mortals like and we both had a good feeling me need an airplane to fly,” about this race,” said Pedregon. Johnson, who also ran a Superman “We were very well prepared and it liveried machine at Indy, said. paid off with a victory. This is what When asked about having the you work hard for your entire repair done at a local shop, Johnson career - a chance to win the U.S. replied, “I’m not about to let anyone Nationals. local know what I’ve got.”

Matt Hines who took the win in “This is certainly the biggest win of my career and I was glad I could the Holley Dominator Duel on make that dream come true for Jim Saturday, doubled up on Monday Dunn too.” and collected the $10,000 bonus Funny Car had also provided from NHRA after his final round

i

some surprising DNQs, as Cory Lee, Dale Creasy, A1 Hofmann, Cruz Pedregon and Columbus win ner Phil Burkart all failed to make the record quick field, anchored by the 5.081 of Chuck Etchells.

Pro Stock while not really an upset provided some drama as Warren Johnson visited the Indy winners circle for the sixth time when he defeated former crew chief Greg Anderson in the final round with a 6.94/198.

Johnson, the low qualifier with his Friday night and engine wounding 6.92/196, was a picture of consisten cy, posting 6.93/198, 6.94/198 and 6.95/198 wins over son, Kurt Johnson, Jim Yates and Jeg Coughlin.

defeat of Angelle Seeling for the Pro Stock Motorcycle crown.

Hines left on Seeling in the final round and picked up the win on a holeshot as his 7.34/179 stopped the point leaders close, but later 7.34/176.

“We knew we had to be quick and fast to win at Indy, that’s just the bottom line at this race,” stated Hines. ‘This is a great win for the team and a good confidence boost er, especially with all the money we took home.”

Mike Coughlin scored honours in the Pro Stock .Truck category, defeating Scott Perin in the final round, 7.64/175 to 7.66/174 after cutting a near perfect .401 light in the final round.

1999 WINSTON DRAG RACING SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS AT AUGUST 22, 1999

PENHMIL tar

1999 Winston Top Fuel Championship 951 1. Mike Dunn, Team Mopar 932 2, Kenny Bernstein, Budweiser King 930 3. Gary Scelzi, Team Winston 930 4. Doug Kalitta, Kitty Hawk 921 5. Tony Schumacher, Exide Batteries 904 6. Joe Amato, Tenneco Automotives 904 7. Larry Dixon, Miller Lite 857 8. Doug Herbert, Snap On Tools 816 9. Cory McClenathan, MBNA 802 10.Bob Vandergriff, Jerzee’s

1^9 Winston Funny Car Championship 1. John Force, Castrol Ford Mustang 1,479 2. Tony Pedregon, Castrol Ford Mustang ,.1,157 3. Whit Bazemore, Kendall Chev Camaro ..1070 .706 4. Del Worsham, CSK Pontiac Firebird 5. Dean Skuza,Matco Tools Dodge Avenger 703 .702 6. Frank Pedregon, Penthouse Pontiac ,630 7. Tim Wilkerson, JCIT Pontiac Firebird 8. Cruz Pedregon, I’state Batteries Pontiac ..605 .593 9. Cory Lee, Pioneer Dodge Avenger. .573 10.Jerry Toliver

1999 Winston Pro Stock Championship 1. Warren Johnson, Goodwrench Pontiac .1,221 2. Kurt Johnson, AC Delco Chev Camaro .1,099 3. Jim Yates, Splitfire/Peak Pontiac Firebird 919 4, Jeg Coughlin Jnr, Jegs Mail Order Olds....901 5. Richie Stevens, Valspar Pontiac Firebird ..766 6. Troy Coughlin, Jeg's Mail Order Olds.. .693 .670 7. Mark Pawuk, Summit Racing Pontiac 8. Allen Johnson,Amoco Dodge Avenger .666 9. Mike Edwards, Dewco Chev Camaro... .619 .596 10.Greg Anderson, Troy Humphries

i

W September 1999

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43

Doorslammer runs 6.10/230!

Bray’s record taken afterjust one month - US nitro coupe creates history By GERALD McDORNAN AFTER winning back his title from fellow Australian Top Doorslammer racer Peter Gratz as the fastest world’s

Snap replacement: LaHaie is gone from Herbert’s team.

Dick flicked DOUG Herbert, bitten by crew chief Dick LaHaie's decision to join Don “the Snake” Prudhomme’s camp as crew chief on the Miller beer fueller in 2000, ended the veteran championship winning tuner’s association with the Snap-on team in the lead-up to the US Nationals.

Herbert, a two-time winner in ‘99 who currently sits in eighth place in the Winston standings, justified his decision to end LaHaie’s contract early by stating “Heck, we ve loit in the first round at the last five races, how much worse can it be?”

Rumours in the team had the association between Herbert and LaHaie strained, despite the fact that the team recently announced a continuation of their Snap-on sponsorship and Herbert stating that the signing allowed the team to “stay intact”. Veteran tuner Larry Frazier takes over the lead duties.

doorslammer pilot just a month ago, Victor Bray has again lost the title and also the chance to be the first into the 6.1s and over

putting in more competitive performances recently.

Effective immediately Pro Stock car, bike and truck competitors must only use fuels that are avail able from NHRA-accepted suppliers at each event and the fuel must be made avail able to all competitors.

“After testing, we found some substances with which we didn’t want to be associated because of thek side effects,” NHRA’s Graham Light said of the fuels found. “But we want to make H clear that there was no violation of rules as they were written.”

years ago,Kuhlmann being suspended for cheatmg.

Talking to Motorsport News upon hearing the news of Merrick’s run, Bray said that he wasn’t surprised of a Super Chevy car setting a new record.

“They’ve got a weight advantage over what we’re doing and they’ve also got *pop’ in the tank,” he said.

“It’s pretty hard to make our cars run in the 6.1s ... I’ve been trying for three years now and it’s going to take something else to get our cars to run that quick.

“But good luck to them, they ran 6.1s and 230 mph first and they deserve all the accolades they get.”

230 mph.

American Randy Merrick, running at the Super Chevy Show at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago, last week belted an incredible out 6.103/230.72.

The 230 mph terminal topped Bray’s recent 229.94 run, while the elapsed time bettered Scotty Cannon’s “world’s quickest doorslammer et” of 6.200, set at a match race last year.

Merrick’s Corvette runs ' a Super Chevy legal 30 per cent dose of nitro, along with a maximum of 20 per- c

V*,

cent blower overdrive. | At 2,6001b, the car weighs | around 1801b lighter than s Bray’s’57 Chevy. | The Merrick car, ironi- » cally, is believed to be the § same one which Bill Kuhlmann - the first ever Not surprised: Victor Bray.

Lampus leads IHRA TF series

Jungle Juice banned THE NHRA’s Pro Stocks fuel rules have been clarified following the discovery of “hazardous materials” in fuel samples taken from some oars recently-special brews are believed to have contributed to a number of teams

doorslammer driver to top 200 mph - was caught using nitro in while con testing an IHRA race two

SOPHOMORE Top Fuel

before the final, but it’s a win and we’ll take it,” said Lampus.

“We’re here for the thrill of competition and sorry we were unable to race against Bailey. I’m just glad Jim was okay.”

Joining Lampus in the winner’s circle were Ed Hoover in Pro Mod, Chris Holbrook in Pro Stock and Jay Turner in Nitro Harley, Hoover singled to a

pilot Doug Lampus con tinued on his way to the 6.39/211 in the final round to IHRA Top Fuel crown score his first Pro Mod win , since 1992 when he defeated with a strong win at the the ’68 Barracuda of Billy World Nationals in Harper - Harper unable to Norwalk, Ohio on August return following engine dam31— his third straight on age in the semis, the tour.

Hoover qualified sixth at In the final round, Lampus g,40 in the quickest Pro Mod singled when Jim Bailey was geld in history, which ranged unable to answer the call fol- g.Qjjj pred Hahn’s number one lowing a semi final round of6.351 to the 16th car of win over Danny Dunn in Mike Castellana at 6.460. which the left rear wheel Holbrook’s win in Pro came off the car at the finish Stock - 6.72/207 to 6.73/206 line. Bailey was able to get - came over first-time finalthe car stopped safely, but ist, Jeremy Bevins. the damage to the chassis 'Turner took honours in was to severe to continue.

Nitro Harley when he defeat Lampus attempted to ed Johnny Mancuso in the lower the et record in the final round, 6.56/201 to final but the blower belt exit 6.70/198. Mancuso earlier ed the car at 1000 feet and it ran the best ever Harley run slowed to a 5.35/176.

- 6.508/216.93.

“It’s a shame to know that - DAVID OSTASZEWSKI you’ve already won the race

RACHELLE Splatt is calling it quits following the 1999/2000 season.

Dubbed the “Queen of Speed”, Splatt announced her impending retirement last week, citing business and personal reasons ..behind her decision to give driving away.

“I'm moving ahead from one phase of my life and career to another exciting phase and I greet that with enthusiasm,” Splatt said.

“T’m sure I will tackle the future with the same commitment that I gave to racing.”

She said the birth of her daughter, Kayla, last year wasn’t a deciding factor in giving the sport away.

“While I’ve been more conscious of safety since Kayla was born. I’ve still really enjoyed my racing.

“But, of course, I look for ward to giving Kayla a more normal upbringing now, rather than constantly travelling from one end of the country to the other attending race meetings.”

“Discovered” by Romeo Capitanio, Splatt gained her Top Fuel licence in January 1993 and went on to win the Nationals - dom inating the event and defeating Charlie DiFRippo in the final round -just two Looking to the future: Rachelle Splatt will call it quits at months later. the end of the 1999/2000 season.(Photo by AUspon/Rob Cianllone) After being seen on a US television report of the event, Splatt was his daughter Danielle, Splatt returned to picked up by US team owner John DePorter Australia to form her own team, debuting at to drive his Luxor Casino-backed car during the ’95 Nationals at Calder. the ’94 NHRA season.

Since her return home, Splatt has won In March that year Splatt gained the 16th three Australian Top Fuel Series events, an and last spot in the 300 mph club, becoming International race in Japan and received the first female driver to break the barrier, incredible general media coverage. She has After a dispute with DePorter, the also run a best of 4.88/297.

- GERALD McDORNAN American replacing Splatt in the car with

Funny Cur numbers boom for 2006 RUMOURS continue to abound regarding who’s doing what and with yvhom in 2000 with the Funny Car class looking to contin ue to boom next year.

Whispers have Winston Top Fuel team owner Alan Johnson securing the fund ing to also run a fuel coupe alongside his dragster, while A1 Hofmann and Dean Skuza are also believed to be talk ing two car teams.

Johnson is reported to have signed Pennzoil to fund his fuel coupe with Top Fuel racer Bruce Server’s name

being mentioned as a possible pilot and Rob Flynn, current ly crew chief on Jerry Toliver’s now two-car WWF effort, as crew chief.

The popular Skuza will also apparently have Mopar funding - the budget taken from the Gwynn/Dunn Top Fuel team - to back his sec-

ond car effort, with the DamilerChrysler company looking at heating up their involvement in the class and the Mateo Tools team.

Hofmann, who has only enjoyed associate sponsor ship from Pontiac over the past two years, is believed to be close to signing a big enough deal to run two cars and, so the word goes, has approached Chuck E^’chells about releasing Whit Bazemore from the Kendall team to drive for him...

The Etchells team were also recently said to be close to a two car effort for next year.

Also Pontiac are believed to

A funny numbers game; More two-car Funny Car teams are expected to front in 2000.(Photo by nave Ostaszewski)

be ready to enter the aero wars with a new 'Trans Am body to rival the current Ford Mustang and Chev Camaros.

With so many cars and all of the manufacturers heavily into Funny Cars, it looks as though it will be the class to be in in 2000.

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10 September 1999

rWHs:

BRIEFLY HISTORIClll After the highly successful 30th aimiversaiy ofthe Holden Monaro at Airworld Wangaratta last year, a fol low-up event is being planned which promises to be even bigger and better.

Monaros in the Millermium, to be held over the Easter 2000 break is aiming to attract more than 6()0 Monaros and up to 20,000 spectators- potentially Australia’s biggest single model car event.

Special guests who have played key roles in the Monaro’s design and devel opment as well as its motor sports heritage will include Bob Jane,Bruce McPhee, Colin Bond, Noel Bedford, Leo Pruneau, Bob Watson, Ian Tait, and the latest Monaro legend’ Mike Simcoe,the designer of Holden’s new VT Coupe pro totype. A highlight ofthe 4day program will be Holden’s Dinner with the Legends on April 22 at Airworld.

Chairman ofthe organis ing committee is Antoney Wilkinson(0411)257 807.

B News from the Historic Commission’s first meeting for 1999 indicates that the Commission intends to devel op a closer relationship with other CAMS committes, and will also take a more active role in the drafting of the Historic motor sport cal endar in conjunction with the promoters of Historic events.

The Historic Ebgibility Committee is to be increased in number to six members and a non-voting chairman (Tony Caldersmith.)The six members are Biyan Miller (M,0,P,Q and R), Greg King(S), John Caffin(L), Brian Beasy(Formula Ford), Carl Stecher(N)and Patrick Ryan(J and K) n Good news is that the V/qrld Motor Sports Council has been considering a pro posal ofthe FIA Historic Cars Commission to open up opportunities for interna tional Historic motor sport.

Austraba’s representative at the FIA Historic Cars Commission,John DawsonDamer has recommended that competitors with Historic International Driver’s Licences should not be restricted to just those events listed on the interna tional calendar ifthey wish to compete outside their country ofresidence.

The proposal is to be con sidered by the World Motor Sport Council. n Former president ofthe Victorian Historic Racing Register, Roger James has returned safely from a twomonth jaimt around Noiway and the Arctic Clircle as part ofthe 50th anniversaiy cele brations ofthe first Alvis Silver Eagle.

The touring party covered 4000kms in a group ofthe famous British cars, and apart fix)m crook petrol, magneto malfunctions, flat tyres and falling linkages, they performed perfectly.

n The numbers ofenthu siasts entering the Historic ranks are increasing at an annual rate of between 5 and 8 percent world-widea most encouraging figure.

There are now more than 10,000 competitors which means the FIA cannot help but be influenced by these numbers when it is formu lating policy for Historic motor sport. A breakdown of the figures shows Europe has 4500 competitors, the USA 3000,Japan 650, Australia 610, New Zealand 550, Macau 190, and South Afiica 165. Clearly Australia is very well repre sented. However a less encouraging aspect is that locally only about 50% of owners with currently log booked Historic cars have applied for a Certificate of Description -a not-so-new requirement of CAMS which comes into effect as of January 2000.

What is now concerning clubs and organisers ofrace meeting is that unless there is a big tumaroimd between now and the end of the year. Historic fields could be cut by as much as half when racing gets underway in January.

Another requirement that may be deterring some com petitors is the need to invest in an appropriate CAMS approved driving suit. Added to the not insignificant cost ofa Certificate of Description,some owners may be feebng the pinch a bit. However on the positive side, a Certificate of / Description wUl provide a fully authenticated history of your car(handy ifyour ever want to sell), and for some competitors a new driving suit may be long overdue. If nothing else, there should be no compromise on safety.

Because ofthe anticipat ed last minute rush (it’s a bit like the E-tag, isn’t it?), owners are asked to attend to the necessary paperwork and driving suit outlay ASAP. n To coincide with the 40th anniversary of Australia’s most prolific and successfiil racing mar que, Elfin owners have been invited to strut their stuff at the next big Historic race meeting in Victoria - the Historic Sandown on October 23-24.

The Elfins will do parade laps on both days ofthe program.

The meeting is being jointly organised by the VHRRandtheMGCar Club of Victoria, with Noel Robson chairing proceed ings. All Historic cate gories will be catered for including pre and post war regularity runs.

Private practice will be available on Friday, October 22 for an addition al fee of$75, and garages are also available for hire.

Entries close with the meeting secretary Heather ffrench on September 22..

For further details contact Heather on (03)9598 518.

-BRIAN REED

%

Great days at Leyburn

Report and photos by GRAHAM RUCKERT

New times old timos: Rachel Smealon’s stunning Infiniti Sports 1300(above) represented the modern machinery at Leyburn.

NOW firmly entrenched as the premier event on the Historic Racing calendar in Queensland, the What you talkirn’ bout Willis: Dick Willis had a ball in his Leyburn Sprints on August 21/22 were of extra '59 Mildren Cooper Climax. significance as they comThe other Italian Job: memorated the 50th Jack Bonfield’s ’66 Fiat anniversary of the 1949 Abarth OT2000 is not your Australian Grand Prix average Fiat 850! held at Leyburn.

'The 1949 race was the first time that an Australian Grand Prix had been held in Queensland. Organisation of the event was in the hands of Queensland Motor Sporting Club, and the Leyburn venue only came about after the original plan to run the race at Lowood fell through due to objections by local religious groups to running the event on a Simday.

A hasty survey of alterna tive locations saw the eventu al choice of Leyburn, oO an abandoned WWII airstrip a few miles out oftown.

The circuit consisted of two intersecting runways connect ed by a taxiway to give a triangular/course of 6.9km with three left-hand comers. These were named after the local farmers whose permission had to be obtained for the use of the venue. All were quite different, ranging from the tight 90 plus degree turn at the end of the main straight.

Porter Corner, to the fast sweep ofBackhouse Bend and finally the two part Hamblin Comer to return to the finish.

Race day exceeded all expectations, with a massive crowd estimated at between 25,000 and 30,000 people.

Unfortunately these numbers were not catered for in some areas and there were access problems and huge traffic jams due to the single access road (not unlike those at the recent opening of the new Queensland Raceway!).

Eventual winner, John Crouch in his Delahaye and

1

1n

Frank Kleinig in the Hudson Special both posted the fastest lap ofthe 1949 AGP at 2:52 for the 6.9 kilometres, a respectable 144.8 kmh aver age, and the fastest AGP to that date.

While the current Leyburn event is not held on the origi nal circuit, it is nevertheless very interesting for drivers and spectators alike and this has contributed to its popu larity on the historic racing scene in Queensland.

The 1000 metre course uses closed public roads right through the centre of the small Darling Downs town.

The 350 metre .straights allow the faster cars to run to over 160kmh, and four right angle turns and a chicane keep the drivers on their toes and the crowds amused.

Bill Westerman and his organising committee from the Historic Racing Car Club

i

Shaken, not stirred: Gordon Lepp hurls his ’67 Aston Martin DB6 through Turn 3 and onto the back straight.

(QLD) Inc. were particularly keen this year to have as many cars as possible repre senting the era ofthe original event. They certainly succeed ed with an impressive entry list of 223 vehicles, ranging from pre-war motorcycles, racing cars, specials, tourers and sports cars through to examples of more modern machinery such as Sports 1300s and current special interest and invited vehicles.

To continue the anniversaiy theme, this year’s sou venir program contained an article by Ben Westerman recollecting the 1949 race, as well as a reprint of Noel Tuckey’s contemporary report. Accompanying the official program were repro ductions of the 1949 race pro gram, and the QMSC club magazine containing the report on the original event.

All of these items are sure to find permanent homes in many enthusiast’s collections!

The weather was kinder this year, and Saturday was warm and sunny. Sunday was overcast and cooler, and this certainly helped promote good times from most com petitors during the day. A light shower in the early afternoon scared off some of the record crowd, but it did not emulate last years torren tial downpour and those who stayed were treated to anoth er two hours of spectacular runs on the 1km course.

Crowd favourites at Leyburn seem to be an3fthing

that is either Ford, Holden, V8 and/or loud, and there war plenty to keep them cheering.

Biggest cheers ofthe weekend went up for Martin White and his 1967 Mustang Fastback GT, which depending on whose rumours you listen to produces something over eOObhp!

It certainly appeared to be true judging by its perfor mance, as Martin managed to keep the rear tyres lit up and smoking for the entire 350 metre length of both main straights to the dehght of the crowd! Shane Smith in the 1970 Ford Escort GT 1300 also received a standing ova tion for spinning inside the school chicane, then perfectly executing a Tlopkirk’ to exit and continue!

As part of the celebrations ofthe 50th Anniversary'ofthe 1949 Grand Prix, a memorial cairn has been erected at the old airfield site and will be dedicated at a ceremony on September 18. This will be attended by many significant Queensland motorsporting identities as well as some of the original attendees of the 1949 race, and promises to be a fitting conclusion to the year’s celebrations.

Preparations are already underway for next year’s sprints, and a provisional date has been set at August 20/21. Entries always far exceed available places in the field, so contact HRCC as soon as possible if you wish to be part ofthis great event.

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JO September 1999

45

Clark on the move

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1997 Australian Formula A Champion David Clark has left CRG. the team with which he has been associated for 12 months and which took him to victo ry in Formula 100 Light at the 1998 Nationals.

CRG team manager Le.s May said that he was disappointed to see Clark leave, but understood that thinp like that happen.

"My only concern now is that David had a legal contract to drive for us until February 2001, a contract that encompassed both cai-s and karts." May said.

“We are willing to negotiate to let David out of his contract, but at the same time we simply cannot let him go after investing so much."

Clark has had a season to forget in 1999, qualifying second last for each of the three rounds so far. a disappointing result for the

Hunt's World Tour

THE month of August was hectic for Troy Hunt, with the Formula A Championships in the local Wynn’s Series at Geelong, then a qualifying event for the Elf-support ed La Filiere school in Japan and straight to Belgium as part of the Top Kart factory team for the Formula A World Championships.

Following the completion of the Geelong final. Hunt drove straight to Melbourne airport for a flight to Japan for his World Tour.

He arrived Monday morn ing and was on the track almost immediately, the final being held on Wednesday and, at Mizunami, one of Japan’s most difficult cir cuits, Hunt was soon on the pace.

The Japanese were aware of the young Australian tal ent, a number of them hav ing faced him at Suzuka last

year in Intercontinental A at the World Cup, where he showed them a clean pair of heels.

This time around, however, they were all in equal machinery - PCR PV50-powered Biesse karts.

Hunt was immediately on the pace, setting the fastest lap after only 15 minutes, some of the Japanese drivers having been at the circuit for almost two days.

He then went on to take

He is now eligible to be part of the Elf-supported La Filiere school based at Magny Cours and Le Mans in France, where he will compete regularly in Elf Formula Campus cars

against 23 of the best young drivers in the world, Immediately after the event. Hunt was back in Sydney with his manager and boss. Eastern Creek Kartyvay’s Garry Holt, for some promotional work, victory in the first two heats, before hopping a flight to despite a start from the rear Belgium for this weekend’s in the second - he then won World Championships for the pole shoot-out for the Formula Super A and pre-final and the pre-final by Formula A. There he’ll race alongside an amazing 5.5 seconds.

Again, to make it interest- Mellow Australians Ryan ing and really test the talent, iWlodzinski (Energy Karts the grid positions were Formula A), Ryan Briscoe reversed for the fi nal, Hunt (CRG - Super A) and Ben making it to sixth by the Horstman (Biesse - Super A), Keep an eye out for this mid-point before an engine young driver — he is destined failure put him out.

The object of the meeting to become a part of Australian had been to discover the best motorsport histoiy.

- SEAN HENSHFI.WOOD talent. Hunt wimting by a mile.

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m man who has been one of the most eonsis-1 tent vvirmers oyer the last two seasons, Post-Geelong,.he had been linked to a; number of top karting teams, as well as a | front running privateer VSSiapercar'bti Bathurst, although his eontraet vyith Lj\J'R ^ may alter his plans. - SIBENSHEELWOOD I

■ The fourth round of the Star Series attracted over 130 entries to Ballarat on August 22, three victories from three starts seeing Jess Douglas take out Clubman Heavy from Wayme Jolly and Glen Chadwick.

Other winners were Rick Kelly (Junior Clubman), Tim Francis (Senior National light), Mark Davidson (Formula Rotax), Dean Foster (Junior National Light), Rodney Westbrook (Clubman Over^ 40), Kane Rose (Clubman light), Tony Pugliese (Formula Yamaha Heavy), Rick Kelly (Formula Yamaha Junior), Adam Hickey (Senior national Heavy), Jordie Lindstrom (Midgets), Ben Taylor (Junior National Heavy), Barbara Agrimi (RESA) and Lee Uhlhorn (Formula Yamaha Light).

■ Despite the rain in Melbourne, the sun shone at Winton on August 18 for the Victorian Superkarts annual Gold Nugget (incorporating roimd five of the club series) and, for the third consecutive time, the gold slipped across the border into NSW, this time in the hands of 80cc racer Paul Battle, who scored four straight wins and enough points on the day to take home the coveted trophy.

Other winners were Jason McIntyre (lOOcc NGB Light), Dean Roberts (lOOcc NGB Heavy), Travis Grigg (lOOcc NGB Junior), Greg Bass (80cc Restricted Class), Peter Hageman (125cc), Wayne Schultz (25^cc National), Tony Rath (250cc International) and Ben McNamara (Handicap race in ^ lOOcc NGB kart).

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Tim s father. Peter, competed against Scott's dad. Albert, in the late sixties and earl\ se\entie.-; in racing and sports car- and the families have retained their close ties ever since.

Tim has driven Scott'.s kart before, making his .Siipeikait debut at Calder Park on July LS alia. Scott and .Albert and llni .'hing fourth overall on the day in IDUcc Light - in .Scuth Aus will be assisting Tim with his Senior Light assault.

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I

Commodore Cup - win the 2000 championship! Fastest, lightest, best prepared Cup Car available yet.

Comprehensive spares package -r 2 yrs data (any Australian circuit). Never finished lower than 2nd in 1999. For sale, not lease. Genuine enquiries only. Ph: Christian D'Agostin 03 9568 7020,0418 105 369. le; Subaru RX turbfr rally car. Ex original Peter Glennie car. Group A CAMS. RPM seats, full roll cage, some spares, NSW reg to 5/2000. $8,500oro. Pt : 026562 6258. w

Replica Lotus. Accurate copy of Series 3 Lotus /.

Unfinished project. Consider part exchange English motor cycle. $9500 Ph:02 4384 3571. 162

Mercedes 190E, 1986, red, 5 speed, bone Connolly hide Recaros, factory roof and airoon Zender body kit, Ronal wheels, genuine 68,000kms with Cooks. Immaculate cond. $31,900ono. Ph:03 9758 8669, 0412 366 157 i6j

Sports 1300/Clubman. Second NSW Championship 1995 & 1996, third l'S91, 1997. Corolla engine, Holinger o/r gearbox, moulds, reg trailer. First race early 70s. $12,750.

Ph;02 9918 8735, 0414 825 648. lei VS Commodore Sports Sedan, 80% finished, space frame, two body kits, carbon fibre wing, ind rear susp, coil over shocks, big brakes, dry sumped. Built for 350 Chev. $15,000ono. Ph: 03 6330 1881. 161 XF Falcon AUSGAR/Sportsman #2. Only 2 seasons old Prof prepared/maintained car, podium finisher, best presented awards. Top hp motor, inc 2 sets wheels/tyres.

Dorian timer, etc + loads of spares inci flat track set-up and full caged spare shell POA, but all options consioered. Ph; Tony 0418 830 465. 161

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AUSCAR/Bathurst Tourer: Immaculate VS Commodore, complete roller less engine, yellow light, fire bomb, fuel cell & churn, harness, complete Autometer instrument panel, turbo brakes & M21 gearbox, new gears & bearings in diff, C, R and P cage. All new panels. $6,000.

Needs engine. Ph: Tony 0419 155 635. 161 Ford Faicon XA-GT. 95% restored. No expense spared.

Absolutely rust-free, lots of spares. Unreg, but driveable.

Must sell. $8,000.neg. Ph:02 4655 8030. 161 Capri 2lt S/Sedan, 90%, excellent start for someone at club level. $offers. Ph 02 5977 5571 iei

Ford Falcon EF AUSCAR for sale or lease. John Sidney 420 bhp engine inc alloy heads, Harrop equipped, blue printed. Super T10 gearbox. Many quality parts, competitive road course record. Ph 039654 0707 or 0414 237 811 161

Ok,-

At

Cortina GT MK1 complete rebuid for 1999 Australian Grand Prix support. Only two race meetings since. Car has proven reliability and quick in the right hands. $12,500. Ph Jeremy Mantello 03 9329 6822 bh or 0418 545 185 ah 161

Van Diemen Multisport, 1989 model. Ford 1600cc XR3i engine, Bosch K-Jetronic inj. Extremely rare and unique, build no. 21. Excellent cond, never raced in Australia. $18,000ono. Ph:02 4228 0659. 161 Escort RSI800 BDA, ex works Colin Bond lYKOOO. Factory alloy 2L, ZF 5 speed, floating Fierra, works suspen sion, brakes, clutch, wiring etc. The real thing, fully restored. $45,000. Ph: 07 5529 7146. lei Lotus Cortina Mkl, 1965. Genuine oar in full race trim.

Superb mechanicals and bodywork. $30,000. Ph: 00 11 649 412 8500. tei

293 330. 161

Escort Sports Sedan, sell as roller, takes 4 cyl engine. mid-mounted, spare wheels, diffs, very tidy. $6,500, Ph: Dick Willis o26652 2099(AH). ,s2 Faicon AUSCAR Sportsman #2. Genuine front runner.

4th 98-99 season, current log book, spare engine rebuilt (never ryun). spare diff, 12 wheels, 1 set new tyres, pur pose-built trailer. New helmet equipped for radio. 5 boxes of spares. Nothing to spend. $15,000 the lot. Ph; Gerry 03 9873 5969. 162 1

5609. 161

Under 2 Litre Sports Sedan: Ford Escort, immaculate, ready to race, 3rd Australian Under 2L S/S (Lakeside June 99) & 2nd Aus Tyretec round (Lakeside June 99). $11,000. Ph: Brad Seagrove 026680 9133(BH),026687 5131 (AH). J61 AUSCAR Sportsman, XF Falcon, one season old, fresh engine + paint. Never bent, needs minor work. $6,500ono.

Ph:03 9873 3162. lei

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GTP Maserati Cup. Sandown lap record holder, one of a few vehicles capable of beating the Porsches at a realis tic price. Comes with Maserati crew chief & track assis tance. sponsorship & buy drives for endurance races including Bathurst. Comprehensive spare parts inventory included. Ph: 0412 346 923. i62 EH Appendix U, spares include block, exhaust ere. '/ery fast, unraced since 95, must sell. $10,500ono. Ph: 0418 695 212,02 9831 7784(AH). i62

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Honda Civic 1981, rally/club race car. 1335cc, Class R1, 12 months rego, 20 rally & circuit wheels & tyres. Safe reliable fun motorsport, class placings last 3 events. $4,400. Ph: Stephen 07 3262 7833(BH). ]6t 1982 Gemini. Comes with 2 x 5sp g/boxes, 3 sets mags, racing dials and pads, stripped interior, fuel cut-off. Engine timing needs work. Complete car in g/c. $500. Ph: 03 5996

^t

I©'

ll Modified Production TF Cortina. Methanol engine, 3 speed gearbox, Quioksteer, spare tyres, rims, diffs etc.

Ready to race. $5,500. Ph: 026033 2830,0417 504 799. 112 Torque link set-up and coilover kits wanted for Super Sedan. Ph: 02 6242 6638. w Formula 500m chassis, 1.75 chrome moly, tig welded on jig. Includes all panels and nerf bars. Brand new. Ph: 03 6424 4544(BH). 162 Sprintcar parts: right & left hand rear wheels, six pin, 2 front ends, aluminium stubs etc, Ayres power steering pump, 4 sets of 6 pin hubs, steering wheel, harnesses, front caliper. All must go, best offers. Ph: Chris 03 6334 1385(AH), or 03 6331 2849(BH). 162 Junior Sedan, Toyota Corolla, ready to race, everything except harnesses, sponsor included. $1,500 complete. Ph: 08 8280 6048. m

Modified Production VN Commodore V6, Walker race engine, 5 speed, 9 inch diff, 12 meetings old, best of every thing. Must sell for business opportunity, with spare engine etc. $10,000ono. Ph: 02 6297 9763. m Super Sedan: Chev Monte Carlo, quick change diff, 8 5X5 wheels and tyres, ready to race, less engine & gear box. $4,500ono. Ph:02 6963 5563. 161 Speedcar: Gardner hibar, very quick Nissan FJ30 engine, dry sumped, power steering, heaps of spares. Will run with the best. Comes with end trailer, plus XF Falcon tow vehicle. Priced for urgent sale. $23,000 the lot. Ph: 07 3822 5852,0411 479 821. lei V8 Dirt Modified, SA5, 351 Cleveland, quick change diff, spares negotiable, ready to race. $10,990. Ph: 08 8556 1203. 161

Lancer. Fresh 13B bridgeport, Weber etc. Bladder fuel tank. Coirra seal $3,000ono. Must sell for new project. Ph: 02 4822 1563. 161 Confirmed race at Bathurst! Commodore Cup #44, engine, gearbox and diff just rebuilt. Brand new front end with heaps of spares. $18,900, Ph: 02 9528 8392, 0416 166 843. lei Sports 1300, U2 Toyota Corolla engine -r box, 4 wheel discs 2 sets wheels + tyres. Very pretty & reliable car. $15,000 Ph; Al 02 4721 5060. iei

Historic Sports Racing Car - Group R, full restoration, Hewland gearbox. Elfin rack, Kaditcha body, rotary pow ered. Offers around $30,000. Ph: 03 9682 2466. i6i

Terry Wyhoon Racing 1998 Aussie built Ford Thunderbird NASCAR. Complete, ready to race. Fresh engine. Race winning vehicle, tuition available. Ph for full details and spares 018 555 521, 03 5658 1177, 03 5655 2591. 161

Super Sedan: Vs Club Sport, Rayburn chassis, fibreglass body, aluminium work. $3,500. Ph: 0416 048 962, 07 5494 8962(AH), ici K

r

Escort Mkll rolling less engine, box. 5 link, turrets, strengthened shell, fibreglass/steel panels, cage, Bilsteins, 4 spots, pedal box, dry sump, quick rack, strong LSD, more. $8,000. Ph: 07 5529 7146. 161

AUSCAR. Top hp, T10, Harrop brakes, immaculate pre sentation, Currently being prepared for Bathurst. Price will vary on stage of preparation. Many spares. Ph: 03 9309

Speedcar: Stealth Pontiac 97. Well maintained & con structed, only 10 races since new. Weld Star wheels, QCS rear end, MPD spindles & drive line. Glow Autometer gauges, Digatron tach ARS adj Carrera shocks. Hollow bolt kit. Alum 166ci Pontiac. POA. Ph: 02 9875 1041. i6i 95 Pontiac ex American truck spares (Allan Butcher) Mandrel bent Rayburn chassis, magnesium diff, alloy radia tor, bert box, wied wheels less motor. $12,000. Bargain. No where to race. Ph 07 4772 2511 lei V8 Modified Rod. Roller, torsion bar suspension, Dina diff, auto box, less motor, spare diff, front end, tyres and rims. $2,500. Ph: 02 6571 1897. 161 continued over page

1487. 161

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Torana, yellow and black 2 pack, drop tank, half cage, SAAS seats, velour interior. Band M shifter, LSD 9 inch, 4.11 gears, VS Simmons, Yokohamas, remote deadlocks.

Less motor, g/box. $7,500. Ph:02 6341 3991 (AH),

Engines Super Sedan chassis, Pontiac body, Newcastle 51, four meetings old, never been damaged, rear sliders, engine mounts, $4,000 or with upper and lower arms, front struts and spindles, $5,000. Ph: 02 4572 5949. ibi Commodore VT Super Sedan, fibreglass body, includes bonnet, front guards, roof, rear quarters & boot lid. $975. Ph:03 6424 4544(BH),0412 092 020. ibi Super Sedan 95 Pontiac. Quick change wide five all round. New and used tyre coil overs, power steering less motor and gearbox. $10,000. Ph 02 4572 7018 161 Limited Sportsman 10 meetings old, top hp engine, met'fianol, sprint car suspension, Volvo diff, finished 4 at 9899 SA state titleb. Heaps of spares. Ready to race. $5000.

Ph 08 8739 6323 lei

Open Wheelers

Chevron B34, 1976, with Historic logbook. Fresh 2-litre twin cam Novamotor. 2 sets wheels/tyres. Excellent cond.

Some spares. $42,000. Ph: 07 3396 1624. ib2 Superkart, 250 Inter, 2 oyl, 6 speed, Kelgate brakes.

Must sell. $5,000. Ph: 08 8633 0574,0418 837 745. ib2 Road registerable Clubman Sports Car wanted as project to restore. Wrecked, damaged or just in need of TLC, I don't care. Fair price paid. Ph:03 5255 2446. ibb Drive available - Formula Ford Indy 8 Bathurst - cham pionship-winning cars and team. Ph: 07 5446 7611, fax 07 5446 7480. ib2 Sr^erkart Gladiator lay down, full house Y280,6speed, water cooled, fresh motor and box, spares, wets, C/\MS log book. $3000 180 kg lockable trailer $1000. Ph 07 5578 1993 162 Kart - Kail CRG, bluprinted Hurst motor, KT100S, plus spare motor, stand, trolley, many spares. Fully adj chassis, ready to race. $3,500ono. Ph: 0419 611 665. ib2 Elfin 600E F2. Historic Group Q, log book, c/n 7126.

1600 Ford twin cam, Hewland Mk9. Immaculate. The best 600 available. Complete with spares, jigs, moulds and fully end tandem trailer. $45,000ono. Ph: Ivan Clenoie 03 9726 7166(BH), 03 97621732(AH). 161 Formula Ford Van Diemen RF95 (ex Todd Kelly 1997).

New Speed Tech engine, top car, immaculate cond. Ratios and spares inc. $30,000ono. Must sell. Ph: Mike 0411 622 999. 161

Brabham, 1964 BT16 F2. 998cc Cosworth SCA, Hewland Mk7 6 speed, FIA papers. Green/silver. Perfect race-ready condition. $75,000. Ph: 00 11 649 412 8500. 1G1 Swift SC93F. Christian Jory offers for sale ready to race, heaps of spares, top finishes Nat 8 State series. All set-up data. Lamer engine, $20,000. Ph: Tony Jory 03 6326 5555, 0418 130 133. 161

Tony Kart - late 97 Exagone, fully adjustable rolling chassis, all rear hubs, spare front wheel, EGTG, tacho, nose cone, new brake pads. Club Champion in Clubman Hee.','. $2,900. Ph:03 5241 1912. 161 Kart; PCR Firefox 32mm chassis, 40mmm axle, complete with Baron tuned and blueprinted KT100S motor/carby. Ready to race with some spares and fully end al trailer. $3,300 the lot.

Ph:035762 2518(BH),03 5762 5763(AH). 161 Drive Available - Formula Ford DTE Oran Park in exJason Bright Van Diemen RF95, championship-winning oar and team. Ph:07 5446 7611. ibi Kart engine RESA fully rebuilt top and bottom inludes carbie and header. Fast urgent sale. $950 Ph Peter 07 4774 5980 ah or 07 4725 7688 bh i6i

Go Racing: oar never raced. Brand new Pro built 3/4 chass car, 355ci, injected, methanol eng. Bob Grant Power Glide, 9in coil over, diff, too much to list. Save $$$. Sell $25,000. Ph: 07 4637 9693, 0419 734 506. 162

Formula Ford engine, fresh, never been raced, comes with manifold, clutch, flywheel, ready to bolt straight in.

PDA. Ph: Jeff 03 9791 4633(BH),03 9570 3683(AH). 162 Chev 400, new, all best parts. Crow, Ross, Jessel, Lunati, LA, Accel, Peterson, Ferra titanium, Bowtie, Bo Laws, Grower, Tilton, Pontiac, dry sump, methanol. Complete, 700+hp. $18,000. Will separate. Ph: Michael 024257 7303. 162 Chev SB high performance 355ci, manifold to sump, 12.5 to 1 comp, roller valve train, 4 bolt bottom end, approx 420450hp. Can supply thicker head gaskets to make more streetable. Only quality brand names used. Will separate heads and manifold from bottom end. $6,000ono. Ph: 02 9604 8910,0417 253 324. ibb Toyota 4AGZE, supercharged 1600, twin cam 16 valve.

Complete with all fittings, wiring, computer, the lot. Very rare so complete, $1,500. Can arrange transport. Ph: 0419 388 075,03 9889 1149(AH). 161 Cosworth BDP S3 ex Qld Champion Speedway, 290bhp, factory dyno sheets, mechanical injection com plete. Extractors, suit Sedan and Speedcar. $7,000. Ph: 07 5529 7146. ibi Yamaha FZR lOOOcc EXUP motor and gearbox only, 42,000kms, excellent cond. Yoshimura exhaust system. Ph: Graeme 07 5537 3054. ibi* Ex McCubbin Racing 360 Chev. Built & maintained

by John Sidney, Brodix dash 10 heads, Hilborn injection, new injector hoses, KSE fuel pump, KSE cover & water pump, JE pistons. This is a reliable competitive engine pro ducing 620hp (sheets avail). Priced to sell at $13,500. Ph: 03 5335 5196(BH),03 5332 1320(AH). 161 Formula Ford race engine: new for 1995 champi onship, not used since Bathurst last year. $4,000. Ph: 07 5575 5001,0414 744 700. 161 Toyota G4A-E10 dohc 20 valve motor. Quad throttle bodies & ram tubes, lightened flywheel, custom-fabricated four into one header, extensive headwork, motor just rebuilt, receipts available in excess of $4,000 inc new pistons, rings, larger exhaust valves, compression 11:1, just run in, hear running. $3,850. Ph: Dennis 03 5968 8777. 161 Wanted: HQ race engine. Fan to fly wheel. Ph 02 4268 3119 161

Parts

Clutch, Quater Master, 7 inch, triple disc, made in US, suit T10 fine spline with 7.5 steel flywheel. Suit Chev or Holden V8. As new $700. Ph:07 3803 3747. rei BRM twin cam, Mkl Cortina, 2 door body, vgc, full Lotus running gear, Lotus gearbox, Webers, Dunlop mags, much more. Ph/fax: 02 6862 4100. tei Pro shocks 4 oft 7800, 2 off 7600, $60 each. Coil springs 2 off500lbxirx2.5'ID, 2off250lbxirx2.5', 2off300lbx9’x2.25', $40 each. Simmons wheels, 4 off, IS^xlO 5‘ no centres, $500.

Ph: 0413 992 355(BH),024580 8229(AH), rei MuHlers. Stainless steel, 2.25 bore, straight through, fibreglass packed. Oval shape. 400 long x 200 wide. $50 each. Ph: 03 5964 3073. ibi Various: WiiwoocJ vented brake rotors (x2), .75 x 10.5 6 on 5.5. Brand new $150. Sparco Pro 2000 fibreglass race seat, FIA spec, black nylon, EC c/w side mounting brackets, $600. Volvo brake conversion kit, suits Maxda RX2, RX3 & RX4, inci Volvo 4 pot calipers, 10.5* vented rotors, Mazda hubs, mounting brackets, pads, $450. Ph: 03 9435 5407. ibi Petersen four stage dry sump, includes 15 metres df Aeroquip lines and fittings. Like brand new. $2.600ono. Ph: 03 5037 6902. ib.

Winter quick change diff, new crown wheel 8 pinion and all bearings, gears, axles and steel diff tubes. 3' offset.

Like new. $2,500. Ph: 0416 048 962,07 5494 8962. 161 Carille rods 6‘, one race old, resized, set of 8 complete with rod bolts. Small block Chev journal size. PC $1800. Pti 0414 563 793 bh or 039836 6071 ah lei

Fuiy encS trailers ja): 1 x 18' tn-axte. i x 14' dual aide. Both wired for 240v lights/power points; al checker tail gate; side wall and front panel opens out; access side door; rib panel cladding; as new, priced for quick sale, 18'- $7,750ono. 14'$5,750ono. Ph:035392 2424,018108121, ibi Economy transporters 1974 Nissan C80 diese! truck.

Purpose built angled tray back with tyre racks, storage cupboards, aluminium ramps, towbar for trailer (2nd car).

Recently overhauled brakes, wheel bearings, diesel pump and injectors, new diff gears, tyres, radiator, alternator, batteries. $4,900ono. Ph: 07 3851 1378, 0418 736 619, 0418 883 898. tei IIsuiu 85 FBR/FSR dual cab update, 6 speed, turbo with genuine 160,000kms. 22' custom built pan, suit Super Sedan, Sprintcar, Drag car etc. First to see will buy, $45,000. f^:02 6280 6581, 0417 511 296. ibi Fuily end trailer - 6 mt long inside, 8ft wide, elec brakes, opening back door, small side door. Ph: 02 6362 5804 after 6pm, ibi Fully end race car trailer/annex. 18' aiumlnium clad tandem trailer. New f*avy duty springs, new axles, new elec brakes. Also mag wheels, new tyres, new 12v Warne elec winch, 240v lights/power, bench, large internal tool box, 2 side access doors, rear loading ramp. 18 x 12' fully end annex with window.s. removable front/back/side & 3 matching trailer skirts. PDA. Ph: Tony 0418 830 465. ibi

Transportei's/'frqiiers

F/Ford semi-enciosed trailer, tyre post, metal floor, electric brakes. $1,995ono. Ph: 0412 351 451 (Shift work er). IBI

r i.

ACCO 1730 dual cab, seats 8, Neuse 358 diesel, 5 spd, 2 spd diff. 23ft pan, lined in woodgrain, tyre racks, storage space, 2 large bunks, sink, clothes locker, elec winch) Ideal transporter any race car. $17,500ono. Ph: 03 5024 2276,018 502 982. 162 1987 FSR Usuzu 24'x8.5' pantec. 6.4 Itr DSC, 6 spd, 6/2000 Vic reg. Ramps to suit Commodore or Falcon sedan. 90001b winch, 3 phase, fridge. TV, lockable storage cabinets etc. Finished in white, no money to spend-. RWC supplied. With 24'x12' canopjr* $27,500. Ph: Christian 03 9568 3020, 0418 105 369. 162 Trailway trailer, suit FF/FV, rego, single axle. $2,400.

Ph:07 3219 1311. lez Isuzu race car transporter, 230hp, turbo,6 spd, elec tric tail lift, nose cone, belly wheels, 240v power, reg. $25,000ono. Ph:03 5275 2567. 161 Racing Car Trailer: open with front and side protection.

Single axle with built-in ramps. Significant history - used to transport historic Elfin Formula Ford. Could be used for F/Ford, F/Vee or similar small racing oar. Hydraulic brakes, spare wheel, winch. Tidy unit. Vic reg to 10/99. No further use, priced to sell $990. Ph: John Benson 03 9593 7772 (BH),0418130 600. ICl Nissan Urvan, 2L, 5 speed, Feb 2000 rego, alloy bull bar, 9 seater. Very reliable. Any reasonable offer accepted.

Ph:02 6853 8118. ibi

Longacre deluxe pyrometer, brand new, in case, $200, Autometer Pro shift light with 8000rpm pill kit, brand new,$100. Ph: 03 9722 1745,0419 138 017. ib2 Cobra Clubman race seats. Black x 2 with RPM 4-way 3 point Blue harness. $500 the lot. Ph:02 6672 3618. 162 4 13x7 Hotwire 90% A4 Le Mans, 2 13x7 Hotwire rims $400. Ph':’0413 963 332. 162 Wheels, alloy and steel, new/used. Large assortment, suit club level motor sport, road, rally, autocross, speedway, off road etc. From $20 each. Ph:035222 1139,015 811 295. 162 Fire extinguishers, 4 x Lifeline 3.375kg electric, alloy chamber. $875 each. Ph:03 9580 5236. 162 Race wheels, three piece, alloy rims with alioy centres, 4 inch PCD, two 13x9.5, two 13x12, suit Mk6 or 7 Cheetah F2. $900ono. Avon wet weather tyres. Two 13x570, two 13x620 in good condition. $200ono. Ph: 03 9878 9515 (AH),0417 851 716(BH). ib2 Formula Holden wheels, two rear, three front, sand blasted, ready to go, $2,200ono. Ph: Jeff 03 9791 4633 (BH),03 9570 3683(AH). 162 Pirelli tyres x 4, all new, P7, 235:40:16. Cost $540 each, the lot $1,000. Ph: 07 5529 0427,0410 715 548. 162 Wet weather tyres on rims, Dunlop - 2 x 225/500-13, 2 X 250/535-13. $400. Ph: 03 9480 4040. 162 Astratech data logger. Top of the range, Windows 95 or 3.11 discs. Spare sensors and pyro probe for turbo.

Replacement cost $6,000, will sell for $3,000. Ph: 02 9693 5088,0417 236 914. 161 Commodore VN body shell, cut ready to suit tubs & Truck & Trailer; Truck - 1987 Mitsubishi FK415, suspension pick-ups. Can be upgraded to VS. Suit Supercar, NMA or Sports Sedan. $1,500. Ph: 03 5988 IlS.OOOkms, air con, air suspension rear axle. Trailer - 28' 6266. 161 floor, hydraulic front lift, cabinets & shelves, 28' awning, Datsun/Nissan parts: 1600 240/260Z, 200SX etc. spares. Ph: Starr 02 4383 2454. 161 Engine parts, diffs, CWPs etc parts too numerous to men 33fft tri axBe trailer, 8fl wide, 7ft hig Elec brakes, living tion. All new, some s/h parts. Ph: Geoff 03 5021 4400 fax 03 & workshop area. Will carry 2 F/Fords or Sedans. Plus 84 5023 0527 for list, ibi F100 LWB 4X4, 351, on gas & fuel. Complete $30,000 will Hoosier racing slicks, all new & under cost. 22x10x13 R43, separate. Ph: Tony Jory 03 6326 5555,0418 130 133. lei $245 ea; 22x10x16 R33/R50, 4275 ea: 23.5x11.5x6 R43/R50, $285 ea; 25x13x16 R43,$305 ea. Ph:08 83320800. 161 Commodore Cup shell viiith cage, 90% complete. Springs & shocks, front & rear spoilers, front & rear brake rotors, front brake calipers, K-mac bearing plates, manifold/carby + many more spares. Ph: Warren 07 5541 1633(BH). 161 Wheels: 2x13x8.5, 2x13x7, 2x13x5.5. All to fit Dalsun, Toyota, Mitsubishi, $450. Also slicks, all 13', 8 to 10' wide, Avon, Dunlop, new to half worn, 10 off, $50 ea, will sepa rate. Ph: 0418 207 130 NSW. 161 Ford 351ci 4 bolt block $1,200; 4MAB cranks $400; Carillo " Chevrolet Dually 5th wheel tow unit. Chev 454 pet/gas, con rods $1,200 set; Acoell race dist $380; roller rockers a/c, Alcoa wheels, 3001 gas Silverado interior, trailer as $300; alloy bell housing $280; efi complete 302W $1,200. new. Sleeps 6, a/c, TV, stereo, fridge, sink, length 42ft.

Ph: 02 4782 1145. ibi $85,000 one. Ph 08 9304 1551 161

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

Description:

vg:

VIM

10 September 1999

Kenworth & 40' Panteoh. Truck carries 10 people in lounge room comfort legally. Trailer carries two sedans with workshop and sleeps five in comfort. Ph 07 5543 1698 ibi Bsuzu as FBR/FSR dual cab update, 6 speed, turbo with a genuine 160,000 klicks. 22' Custome built pan suit super sedan, sprintcar, drag car etc. Simply too much to list. Fust to see will buy at $45,000. Ph 02 6280 6581 or 0417 511 296161

Wanted Tyres, second hand Hoosier A60 or B60 x 13 SD or SDE. Ph:0419 264 981. ibb Video Japes of complete FI races. Spa 91 to Spa 98. Will buy or borrow. Ptease write to: Mary, 29 Mont Iris Ave, Glen Iris, Vic 3146. te; Motorsport magazines: Racing Car News, Chequered Rag, Auto Action etc. Any books/newspapers/mags from eraly 70s through to early 80s. Ph:07 49826260 after 7pm. w Nota: photos, articles on Nota cars and specials. All types, any year. Know of a Nota for sale? Please contact 03 5781 1779. 161

Weight balancing scales to suit Commodore. Must be excellent cond. Ph:0249426233(BH),0249469554(AH). 161 BMW M3 2.3/2.S 4 cyl motor parts - heads, cam boxes, especially blocks + cranks. Ph; Geoff 07 3252 4397(BH), 07 3857 2761 (AH), 0409 275 149. 161 Holden VL-VT race motor complete or in parts or damaged, Perkins slide or HRT injection preferred. Also 5 stud 17" Perkins wheels. Ph: Andrew 0407 829 938, 03 9725 6492. ,b, Ford ISO© BDD - prefer complete, but anything consid ered. Ph: Geoff Wiseman 02 6646 2321 (BH),02 6646 8100 (AH). IBI

RX-7 Club Car or road car. Ph;0417 219 804. 161 Bathurst books: need to finish my collection. 1982/83 James Hardie 1000, The Great Race 9 & 10. in reasonable cond. Ph:02 6931 6980 after 5.30pm. 161 The Book The British Grand Prix 1926-1976’ by Doug Nye, in good condition with a dust jacket. Ph Scott 03 5025 7293 IBI

Holden 6 cyl parts, Yella Terra 12 port alloy head, Yella Terra shaft, mounted roller rocker, 4 barrel! 12 port manifold and mantle bent extractors. Ph 02 6255 4593 or 0408 447 675 161

Photographs

Motorsport enlargemem pr'inJs; VSs) noofian', FT' fully framed. For full lost write to 24/2 Bellbrook Ave, Hornsby, NSW 2077. 161

Send us your classified ads and we’ll run them for FREE Yes! MotorspcHt Navs Classifieds are absoluMy free for readefs’pnrate car & equipment sales^hnpiy post or faxyour ad to us & we'Q run it for

I F

Please keep ads tono more than 30 words, plusa photo if required.

Postto: Motorsport News Free Classifieds PO Box 1010 Caulfield North VIC 3161 or Faxto 03 9527 7766 i

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*

Name: J Address: Ph(

2 issuesalisoliftel^free. )

TO ADVERTISERS Please use the form provided and print dearty. Rease note we are unable to return photographs used in classified ads. Ads will appear as soon as possible after receipt. FREE Oassifieds are for the sale of private goods and rehkies ^nly^jiotju^ness advertising. Classifieds dose last mail Thursday prior to on sale date. Photos marked will not be used.

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/05eptemlbe/-/999

Oran Park SCS continued Faulkner out on the spot with deranged steering.

And that, customers, was that.

Team Mc-HRT continued on its dominant way. Could there be a trifecta quinella?

Race 3-22 laps (inci SC) There could. a race shortened

by In a lengthy Safety Car period, Skaife again won the start and ran cleanly all the way, with Lowndes in tow.

It was as dominant a per formance any of the past HRT l-2s, but the good news in terms of challengers is that Bright hung in for third again.

He almost got inside a slowish Lowndes off the start, but didn’t quite have the nose in enough to make it stick at the first comer.

Behind the leaders, there was some turn one drama as Bargwanna went straight on, forcing Bowe to go with him, dropping the CAT car to 16th. Bargs was in the sand and out on the spot.

A big winner from all this was Ashby, who emerged from the first lap ruck in a startling ninth place. Super stuff, but once things settled down later in the piece, a number of thp quickies demote the would Lansvale/PPG privateer to an eventual 14th.

Lap three, and Perkins spun, to be clouted by Dick Johnson, who simply couldn’t quite miss the Castrol car after getting a helping punt from the rear.

His Oran Park race days were thus ended as the meat in a sheet metal sand wich...

The big drama came at the end of this lap, when Peter Doulman’s Gatorade car got its sponsors a major dose of TV time - but not in the way the team would have preferred.

Doulman slipped off the road out of the O’Brien Dipper (that’s the flip-flop to you and me) and arrowed straight on into the tyre wall.

It was a heavy hit, the car coming to rest up on the tyres, the driver clearly hurt.

It took some time to remove Doulman, with apparent lower back pain, and then the car, so that there were just ten racing laps left to run when it went green (the races limited to 22 laps, a maximum of five ‘free’ laps under the Safety Car).

Tander put some pressure on Bright, particularly at Shell, but there was no real prospect of change at the front.

Further back, after his earlier moment, Perkins had another, this time with Larkham. Slowed by a minor touch with Forbes,

Perkins found Larkham on the inside across the bridge, the two riding it out.

A touch saw LP hold the longest, highest degree of opposite lock slide seen for some time, to resume with out losing a spot the pair were down in 17th/18th at the time.

The race ran its course with no change up front.

Skaife had made a minor change to the rear of his car for this one and it wasn’t quite as good in the later laps, but there seemed no likelihood of a serious pass ing attempt from his team mate.

49

Last Wills and Testament

They filed through Bright, Tander, Radisich, the new boy McLean finally getting a full day’s race run to match his qualifying prowess, Ellery ^ a terrific day also). Ingall, Longhurst and Richards.

So HRTmode goes into dis tance withlong its dri vers separated by just 22 points. Despite his moder ate day. Ingall is still third, 80 points away, just 14 in front of Bright.

Although Tander has now moved himself to fifth, a terrific achievement, he’s a further 72 points away and perhaps just a slim title contender at this stage.

The top four all have endurance pedigree - it will be a fascinating conclu sion...

Blue in the pink: Simon Wills completed his demolition job on the Australian Drivers’ Championship by hammering the field - again - at Oran Park. (Photos by oirk Kiynsmith) AUSTRALIAN Drivers Champion Simon Wills finished the season with a domi nant display, taking pole position and winning both races conifortably.

Wills qualified his Birrana Reynard 0.6s ahead of the Challenge Recmitment pair of Chris Staff and Matthew Halliday, followed

by Tim Leahey, Brenton Ramsay and Paul Dumbrell.

A bad start saw Wills fall behind Staff, but he only took two laps to get back in front. The only problem in race one was the hundreds of metres of television cable strewn across the main straight, caused when Dale Brede had to take evasive action to miss an accident, and while travelling across the infield got the cables caught on his undertray which brought out the Safety Car. Staff held on to second in both races and took second in the championship and Rookie of the Year. Matthew Halliday picked up a pair of thirds, Akihiro Asai making life inter¬

esting for both the Challenge drivers in race one before he went off the track, eventually finished fourth in both races.

Tim Leahey had a clutch let go on the form-up lap of race one, but came from the back to finish fifth in race two. Jason Liefting had a fifth and a sixth while Paul Dumbrell, who finished sixth in race one, didn’t have much of a 17th birthday, a spin and a broken gearbox putting him out ofthe race.

Les Crampton wrapped up the Silver Star in his PIAA Reynard 91D, main rival Damien Digby out after four laps of race two with a broken input shaft, handing victory to Crampton.

Final Points: Simon Wills 235; Chris Staff 126; Matthew Halliday 107; Adam Macrow 70; Akihiro Asai 69.

Silver Star Les Crampton 172; Damien Digby 140; Roger Oakeshott 126.

Rookie of the Year Chris Staff.

- EDWARD KRAUSE

Is

Not the retiring kind: Anyone who says that Dick Johnson is not having a red-hot go in his final season wasn’t paying attention at Oran Park last weekend.(Photo by oirk Kiynsmiih) Classifieds continued

Mallala Super Truck photos. Most trucks, Sports Sedans, Club Cars, HQs. Ph: 08 8634 5310. 162

Other Memorabilia n late 60s onwards. Programmes from Bathurst, Towac, Catalina, Warwick Farm, AIR, Surfers, Oran Park, Hume Weir. $5 each Yearbooks early 70s $10 each. Ph:024934 5395(AH). i62

Rare Adelaide Ft', Gold Coast Indy posters and promo material, too numerous to list. Also some mid-70s FI posters. Ph: Anthony 07 5479 1049. 162 Bell Sport 2 helmet. Full face, white, size large. As new cond. $300. Ph: Laurie Davidson 0418 560 915. 161 Shirts, 2 only Marlboro Penske, 2 Valvoline Walker, large 8 medium. Fully embroidered, front back 8 sleeves. VGC suit enthusiast. $100 each. Ph; 07 5443 1587. isi Ayrton Senna - free-standing arcade game, fully coin operated, in excellent cond Features Senna in Adelaide GP. A must for Senna collectors. Very rare. $2,000. Ph: 02 6291 9930. 161 T2 Thrustmaster, steering wheel 8 pedals with gear stick for computer games. Still in box. Works with most dri ving games - GP2, Rally TOCA2. $140ono. Ph: 02 4655 6266. 161

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Duking it out: Martin took a stranglehold on the series at Oran Park. (Photo by John Morhs/Mpix)

Martin tightens his grip DUCATI

star

Steve

Martin has taken a big step towards his first Superbike crown after a strong outing at Oran Park.

After qualifying on pole position Martin took race 1, but had to give best to Andrew Pitt in the second, the Kawasaki rider overcom-

ing the Italian V-twin.

The first race was an allred affair, with Craig Connell shadowing Martin to the flag ahead ofPitt, Suzuki’s Shawn Giles and Kevin Curtain, again overpowered on Yamaha’s R7.

In the second race Pitt led away, the ZXR750 having just enough to hold out the

swarming Martin and Giles, revelling in some suspension changes to the Ansett Suzuki.

This time around Connell missed the start and had to be satisfied with splitting the Proddie bikes of Curtain and Adam Fergusson (Honda).

Points: Martin 410, Pitt 365, Connell 300, Giles 278, Fergusson 259, Curtain 251.

50

10 September 1999

What’s in a name?

0) (0,

P (0.

NEWS

Editorial Editor Phil Branagan Tecl?miBcal Editor Tony GSynn ,ftssi$tas?t Editor Gerald McBornan SrapS^ics Co-ordinator Viv Brumby

Advertising Advertising Manager Brendon Sheridan

Administration Mastagang Director Chris Lambden

Contacts 89 Orrong Crescent Caulfield North VIC 3161 (PO Box 10 i 0 North Caulfield 3161) Phone: 03 9527 7744 Fax. 03 9527 7766 Email: msnews@ozemaiI.com.au

Contributors

General: Mike Kable, Jon Thomson, Brian Reed, Grant Nicholas, Darryl Flack, 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: 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, Jo*Qn 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

Dear Sir, In reply to reader Craig Morgan’s “Grid rethink” letter in your last issue, I would like to comment upon Alan Moffat’s pronunciation of the word “Falcon” in his commentary.

Moffat actually pronounces the word correctly, if he’s talking about the “Fawlkin” bird of prey.

But when it comes to the sedan built in Australia by the Ford facto ry, he’s incorrect.

Back in the sixties, when the Falcon began to roll off the produc tion lines. Ford issued a statement about the correct pronunciation of the name to clarify this very issue the factory stated that its new sedan’s name was to be pronounced “Fellkin.”

The same problem arose vnth the Monaro produced by GMH, the Fishermen’s Bend factory insisting that the name be pronounced as “Mon-are-oh” and definitely not “Mon-air-oh,” a fact that Bathurst commentator James Laing-Peach consistently and most annoyingly failed to grasp, despite the best efforts of his fellow commentators.

As far as Audi is concerned, there wouldn’t be two dealers in the coun-* try, or Australian staff at the importers office, who can agree about the pronunciation, but I’ll put a couple of bob on the “Orrdi” used

by Moffat - and all the Europeans that have a view on this subject as being right on the money.

/

'nestilhtfl

Reg Hill Casterton, VIC

Shameful behaviour Dear Sir, It is an absolute shame to see the V8 Supercar series axed from Symmons Plains in favour of a new street race in Canberra.

The race attracted great crouds every year and was Tasmania’s biggest sporting event in terms of attendance.

I find it totally unfair that AVESCO can just say “we don’t want a race at Symmons any more, we will go to Canberra instead” without even consulting any of the Tasmanian parties first.

I am a student and I have recently done an assignment on the way

ilR

Publisher: C Lambden Printed by: Wilke Color 37-49 Browns Rd Clayton 3168 Distributed by:NDD Ltd Material published by MOTORSPORT NEWS is copyright and may not be reproduced in full or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Freelance contributions are welcome, and while all care will be taken. Australasian Motorsport News Pty Ltd does not accept responsibility for damage or loss of material submitted.

Opinions expressed in Motorsport News are not necessarily those of Australasian Motorsport News Ply Ltd or its staff.

that the V8 Supercar race benefitted the Tasmanian economy.

Not only did the gate takings bring in a lot of revenue, plenty of other businesses benefitted from the event as well, these ranging from motels, resturants and the transport of the race teams’ equip-

Overseas (Air Mail) New Zealand, PNG Malaysia, Indonesia Phillipines, HK, Japan US, Canada

I

ment here, down to the couriers that delivered the extra food sup plies to the track.

The loss of this event will have a great impact on the state and I feel the Tasmanian government should ^P^^d however much it has to and "^^ke Symmons Plains an A-1 stan<^ard circuit, by upgrading the track and media centre - to make 20,000 Tasmanian motorsport fans happy and to help its own economy, AlexRothwell

Mum’s the word Dear Sir, Back in the good old days when promoters actually promoted events properly, it was relatively easy to

fm

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Europe Post or fax to address above.

to waste their hard-earned cash on trivialities like advertisements.

Well, I don’t for one minute believe that crowds just materialise out of thin air and I hold the view that the motor racing spectator base is thinning out disturbingly quickly, thanks in no small part to the major promotional efforts put in by opposition sporting codes.

There’s very little effort these days to market the sport directly to the full-bore followers of motor racing - the spectators - that have traditionally fflled the grandstands.

As an example, I used to be a keen follower of the NASCAR and AUSCAR racing at Calder Park, but the astonishing lack of promo tion has resulted in tiiflingly small audiences and great confusion

r

f

Dear Sir, Firstly, congratulati ons on a great magazine. However, I am writing to tell you my disgust about the new V8 Supercar round at Canberra.

Well, yes I think that it’s a bril liant idea, but it is stupid that they put it on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, as it is the same weekend as the biggest drag meet of the year - the Wintemationals.

Now, as an avid fan of both motorsports, how am I supposed to be in Queensland and Canben-a on the same day?

I just hope that they can figure something out so fans of both motorsports like myself get to see them.

Doohan and the future Dear Sir, Let’s hope that Mick Doohai^ is soon back in good health and on centre stage once more.

I was particularly interested to read the story in your last issue about the possible options open to Mick if he is unable to actually compete next seasom While the role of team owner might at first appear to be something of a step down fixim performing on the track, there are numerous examples of the GP greats having successfully made the transi tion from the saddle to the desk.

Whichever way it goes, your fans are behind you, Mick, C. McWilliams Rosebud, VIC .. iT^dwTkAdP

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ADVERTISING WORKS. IT’S THAT SIMPLE!

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find out when and where particular motor sport events were being held.

But not any more, it seems, the general impression now being that everyone out there will automatically know what’s going oifin this rather large country of ours and, therefore, the promoters won’t have

David Belcastro

by E-mail

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Brilliant future: Mighty Mick has plenty to look forward to. (Tony Giynn pic)

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about when the actual racing is happening.

I can also point the finger at many of the speedway promoters, as they are just as guilty of keeping the population ignorant when it comes to looking after their com petitor and spectator bases.

When will reality hit these men tal giants? Come on, promoters -

Thu^''f

c

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And using Mobil 1 pays, with Mobil 1 teams winning the 1996, 1997 & 1998 V8 Supercar championships, and the 1998 Formula 1 driver and constructor championships.

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