Motorsport News Issue 181 - 9-22 June 2000

Coulthard/Hakkinen verbal war Issue 181

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Villeneuve discusses his future

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● Manufacturers in Motor Racing - the positives and negatives # Critchiey US Pro Mod success # Speedway # Karls

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9 June 2000

Full steam reverse!

Teams prepare for the cold, hard truth in Canberra

DESPITE some late squeamishness from some teams, the reverse grid format will remain for the second race of this weekend’s

GMC400 V8 Supercar spectacular in Canberra.

As the day of reckoning approaches, a few teams have suddenly realised the potential for carnage as 32 V8s, fastest to the rear, are unleashed on Canberra’s new concrete-lined street circuit.

With the race scheduled for Sunday morning, just three hours before the big points Sunday afternoon finale, the consequences of a major incident are obvious.

The race, along with Saturday’s afternoon opener, is worth 60 points to the winner. Sunday afternoon’s final race is worth 120 SCS points.

While reservations about the fastest-to-therear format have surfaced, there has been no for mal attempt to change the format.

“Yes, it’s true that a few teams have suddenly realised how tough it could be and there has been a bit of chat, but not at an official level,” AVESCO CEO Wayne Cattach said on Monday.

“The reverse race has been in the contract (with Canberra) from day one. It will be chal lenging, and we accept that the track is narrow in places.

“It will be up to the drivers to drive according ly. We’ll be stressing that at the pre-race drivers’ briefing and stressing the consequences if dri vers don’t drive accordingly...”

One element which may well assist is the race’s additional compulsory tyre-change stop, with a ‘window’ which opens on lap three. Faster drivers caught in a queue may well opt for an early stop to get into some clear space.

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HRT talking to David Brabham?

The latest dispatches concerning co-drivers for the endurance races prominently feature HRT’s second car. Most recently there have been a number of names connected with the drive but the one which keeps on bobbing up is David Brabham. Apparently the sportscar regular impressed the right people when he drove for WGR last year and they are talking closely. Expect denials all around, but our spies suggest a deal is not far away. n The road closures for this weekend’s -dMC 400 took effect on Tuesday night at midnight.

The traffic management plan, designed to minimalise disruption to the wildlife as well as residents of the national capital, wiU be in force until 6am next Monday.

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Expect to see Repco taking up a bigger portion of signage on the Garry Rogers Valvoline Commodores this weekend in Canberra. Repco appeared on the team’s cars earher in the season but are stepping up their involvement.

Turning blue with the cold: Russell Ingall will race in new colours in Canberra this weekend.

Regardless, Sunday morning’s race, over 25 laps, should be quite a spectacle...

IN other late news relating to the GMC400, Castrol has revealed an all-new one-off blue colour scheme to adorn Russell Ingall’s Castrol Perkins Commodore for the weekend.

The temporarily revised ‘clothing’ for The Enforcer’s car coincides with the company’s release of Castrol GTX Magnatec, which was launched in an advertising campaign (featuring ‘Neil’ from The Young Ones)last week.

Ingall will revert to his usual silver hvery for the following race at Queensland Raceway in July.

A macs: The Sequel tight second to Dixon at Milwaukee

Two twos in a row: Jason Bright was a more than competitive second at Milwaukee.(Photo by Sution-lmages) "At the restart there were nine ears between Dixon and me," Bright said. "It took me about six laps to get my way through them but by then it was too late."

Mexican Mario Dominguez took third place.

The Queenslander once again chased New Dixon, who won the Australian Drivers’ Zealander Scott Dixon across the line, repeating his Championship in 1998, was delighted to consolidate performance from the series opener at Long Beach in his points lead.

April.

"I guess you could not ask for a better start to the While Bright was happy with his second placing, he championship," he said. "This has given us a nice would have liked to have been close enough to foundation to build on for the rest of the year." challenge the flying Kiwi’s PacWest Racing car.

Bright has also been keeping up with the latest "I couldn’t get close enough," Bright said after the , moves in the local V8 Supercar series. race.

"Perhaps I need 100mm cut off Dixon’s wings," he "Both PacWest cars were too quick early. Scott and joked. "I hear there have been some words recently, (team-mate Tony) Renna were really quick early. They especially between Brad Jones and Mark Skaife walked away from us on full tanks, (referring to last weekend’s ‘V8 Superstars’ "I had a big push early and I held on for the fuel load contretemps on Network 10). to come down. The car was really strong from the "Don’t forget. I’ll be driving Dick’s Falcon at middle of the race but it was too late."

Bathurst".

Bright was not helped by the fact that the first yellow In the meantime Bright has two Lights tests to flag period was not until lap 78 of the 100 lap race. One contend with before the next race in the Lights series at thing that did work in his favour was that Renna had Detroit on June 18. engine problems, which eventually forced him to retire.

- PHIL BRANAGAN JASON Bright’s strong run in the Indy Lights championship has continued with a convincing second place in the second race of the series at Milwaukee.

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Cross words at McLaren LIFE is not all wine and roses at McLaren, with the team’s two drivers entering into a pub lic war of words.

David Coulthard said before Monaco last week that he was “dis appointed” to hear Mika Hakkinen describe him as having reached the limits of his capabilities in FI. The World Champion started the apparent feud by saying in an interview that he thought that Coulthard would never be a quicker driver then he (Hakkinen) was, regardless of how many races the Scot won.

“I do not think David can repre sent any danger to me,” said the Finn. “As far as his speed, he has reached his limits and he will remain behind me. He may improve but he will not be faster than me.”

Coulthard, who remarked last month that given the chance of qualifying ahead of his team-mate, he would then be able to hold off all challengers; “I am confident that if I can get ahead of Mika in qualify ing then I can challenge for wins and the world title,” he said.

“I know that if I do not get in front of Mika then I will make it difficult for myself,” he added.

“I think I am a very good driver.

Perhaps I am not quite as good as Michael or Mika at the moment, but I still do a good job and my best years are ahead of me.”

But, following Hakkinen’s com ments, Coulthard was reported as saying,“He’s entitled to his opinion.

“Naturally, it’s not one I share. I am very disappointed. After every thing I have done for him, I can’t believe that he would say some thing like that.”

Coulthard’s win vaulted him to second in the championship, 12 points behind Michael Schumacher.

n South African Deon Joubert will be a visitor to Canberra this weekend. Currently an Opel works driver in the SA Touring Car Championship, Joubert hopes to be the first driver from his country to race touring cars in Australia since Basil van Rooyen drove a Torana at Bathurst in 1977 as team mate to Peter Brock. n Gone out of print: Colourscan Motorsport has sold its Falcon AU to Brisbane-based JMR Racing. Josh McIntosh, (who has a speedway backgroimd) vrill drive the car in the rest of the Shell Series rounds from Queensland onwards and will co-drive with Mick Monterosso in the enduros.

The deal bounces Matthew Coleman out of the seat, although Coleman is said to be fielding endurance offers from other teams. n Cor Vandendimgen, who headed New Zealand’s Dunlop Motorsport operation for many years, has passed away. Before his retirement in 1986 the Dutchman, who moved to the Shakey Isles in 1952, worked wdth many ofthe sport’s biggest names,including Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart and Sir Stirling Moss, and was well-known on both sides ofthe Tasman. n The Australian Grand Prix has won an environmental award. KinhiU Pty Ltd, the event’s prqject manager, accepted the award in Sydney."The Green Grand Prix", as the event was dubbed, took the award for its avoidance and reduction in waste as well as its work in recycHng and reclamation. n More success: Aussie Jason Crump won the Swedish Grand Prix(speedway)in Linkoping on the weekend. Controversy reigned, with rival and World Champ Tony Rickardsson e.xcluded from the final and Tomasz Gollob outed also following an incident with Crump. Full details and report next issue.

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9June 2000

n Kevin Schwantz will drive with Paul Monis in the Queensland 500, but is stUl to find a Bathmst seat.

Our usual suspects suggest that the Texan may find his way into a Lansvale Commodore for November

n Briton Steve Blackney is the latest international to enter the Austi-ahan Safari.

The 29Tvear-old, a seven time Middle East motocross Champion, will ride a KTM 660 in the 5000km Northern Temtoiy event, which will start in Darwin on August 20. Schwantz will also ride, on a Suzuki DZR400.

B Speaking oftwo wheeled heroes, Caii Fogarty was a visitor to the Monaco GP,checking in with various teams while he recuperates from his PliiUip Island injuries. The quadniple World Superbike Champ was an interested observer while, a few hundred kilometres away at Hockenheim, Troy Bayliss was winning Ducati’s fii-st 2000 race- on Foggy’s bike. Let’s hope it’s contract time ...

H Speaking of Ducati Ben Bostrom, who has hit the SBK trail with aU the impact of a damp Kleenex, has been shuffled sideways in the Italian team’s fineup.

The American rider will now race for NCR, swapping swapped rides ivith Spaniard Juan Boija (who has had a similai' impact on SBK racing). The ex-GP racer will ride for Infostrada Ducati.

Meanwhile Bayhss’s American seat is being kept wairn by John Kocinski, who once said that anyone could win a world chanipionship bn a works Ducati-and then failed to do it when he had one.

Kocinski yvill race in the AMA series.

H Defending US Supei'bilie Champion Mat Mladin(Yoshimm-a Suzuki) has made it three wins from as many starts after claiming both races at the double-header at Road Atlanta, Georgia over June 4-5. Starting from pole position, the 28-year-old won both legs comfortably from Honda's teenage sensation Nicky Hayden, who finished a close second to Mladin at the Daytona 200 in Mai'ch. n Suzuki’s Shawn Giles has kept his mibeaten nm in the Shell Advance Superbike Championship after two wins at Queensland Raceway last weekend. Craig Coxhell (Yamaha)took two seconds while returning international Marty Craggill took two tliird placings on his Honda. n Tim Shaw’s chances of making the next round of the new Futiure Touring series took a turn for the better when the Tasmanian this week signed a last minute deal with Japanese car importer,IBC Japan.

Yokohamas likely for F3

By JOE SAWARD BMW Williams FI driver Ralf Schumacher crashed heavily while running fourth in the Monaco Grand Prix at the weekend and the German youngster may have to miss the Canadian Grand Prix.

Schumacher suffered a deep cut, 8cm long, on his left calf. He was taken to the Princess Grace Hospital in Monte Carlo for treatment. No bones were broken and the gash was vertical and so potential muscle dam age is limited.

However, Schumacher was clearly in pain after the crash and even with stitches it is going to be more than 10 days before the wound is properly healed. It will mean that if he does try to race in Canada, he is going to be in pain and could do himself more dam age if he decides to race rather than allowing the injury to heal properly.

If Schumacher decides to miss the l event it might provide the team with the possibility to try out Juan-Pablo Montoya alongside Jenson Button.

However this is not very likely to hap pen as Montoya is due to race in the Detroit Grand Prix which clashes with the race in Canada and it is hard to imagine that Target Chip Ganassi Racing would agree to let Montoya go for a one-off with Williams.

The team is also unlikely to give

THEME coiuld be a

change on control rubber coming for the burgeoning F2/F3 category.

Several competitors have tested a Yokohama

tyre in recent weeks and, subject to contracts being agreed, a change could happen as soon as August.

Currently the class races on a Dunlop radial tyre but there is a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ in place for the use of the rubber rather than a Rail, Juan or Bruno? Will Schumacher drive the Wiiliams in Canada? (Sutton-images) formal contract, making a change possible. Dunlop Motorsport Australia currently has stock which is capable of seeing out the rest of the season.

Yokohama is done by Jenson Button and the team's Montoya a run until he has had a anticipating a deal proper test in the car and that would test driver Bruno Junqueira and so if running until the end of there has to be a substitution it would frave to begin on Tuesday this week at 2003.

Monza. The team had decided on be Junqueira who gets the drive Testing of the Sunday night that the test would be rather than Montoya.

Yokohamas took place at Winton last month, with a reported best lap time lml9.8s, almost four seconds under Paul Stephenson’s 1999 lap man was willing to spend owner Gabriele Rumi openly rebadged in some form. record set on Duniops.

There is no doubt that admitting that he wants to US$180m ($330m)to buy the "The question was sell his stake in the team“for Sauber is also negotiating raised originally in Macau struggling team. around US$60m. with at least one potential last November,"said Alan Honda responded to the “Foi-mula 1 has changed,’’ buyer, rumours suggesting Bradshaw,Yokohama’s rumours by sending its top that this is a large financial Sales/Planning Manager. men to have very obvious he said at the weekend, “and meetings with Eddie Jordan to compete we now need a institution. We have heard "We agreed to test to and stories circulated that partner. Our aim is to be suggestions that this is either ensure the tyre was BAR could lose its Honda competitive, not survive with the vast French insurance competitive and durable. deal within a matter of problems, and we can’t do company Axa or the Union "The first test was at Winton and that test des Banques Suisses(UBS). weeks. The good performance that by oirrself’’ There has been a lot of talk But the rumoured buyers of the Jordans in qualifying proved that the tyre met may also have been part of who are keen to get Minardi about Arrows being for sale both speed and durability and there were a large num criteria. We took the same the game as the team had a have yet to come up with the ber of Morgan Grenfell tyres to Oran Park and “new specification engine” money although there are signs that the team may be Private Equity men running they have done well over fi’om Mugen.

Elsewhere in the paddock edging towards some deal around the paddock. MGPE 100 laps, and they’ve lost owns half the team at the only 0.2s. the future of Minardi which will involve the cur moment. rent Peugeot engines remains in the air, with team "We’re very happy with the tyre and we’re looking forward to getting involved. It’s a growing class with a strong but all over the world. future."

Mike’s partlGUlar love was The tyre was designed all things Italian. Whenever

by Noji-san,Yokohama’s possible he would fly to Italy technical engineer who is for the Surnrmer, invariably a familiar face around fining back to his Aussie Australian motor racing mates messages starting circuits with Yokohama’s with ‘Greetings from local progi’am.

Paradise’ and prompting the Yokohama currently nickname Kabelli’. supplies control tyres for He was in Italy on one of the F3 GPs in Macau and his trips barely a week Korea,and the national before his passing. series in Germany.The He was a dab hand Courtney, Marcos Ambrose Who of motoring industry Australian tyre will be behind the wheel as well, and Jason Bright^ benefited heavyweights, motoring identical to the Germanfrom Kabie’s enthusiastic writers and motorsport taking in many events spec rubber. and passionate support for names. A common picture including the Bathurst race, their efforts. where he raced several emerged from a number of IN other F3 news, times, with a best finish of He had many friends in speakers, including Will there will be no 15th in a Valiant Pacer. the international media and, Hagon and Peter Brock, of a i national championship at events like the Australian man dedicated to his Kable’s standing within for the class - in the Grand Prix, was in his profession and to ‘getting the the motoring media was short-term. element, swapping legendary and there is story and getting it right’.

CAMS’s most recent anecdotes with many of his He leaves his wife Joy barely a professional print associates in English, Italian and sons Greg (a motoring National Motor racing journalist in the country who writer based in Germany), Committee meeting or a mixture of both. During has not been influenced by the last week tributes have determined that the class Gavin and Roger, as well as him, including this writer. flowed from the likes of Sir Some of the current hundreds of friends and would not be a national thousands of readers.

Jack Brabham, Stirling generation of writers were category until at least Moss, Peter Brock and FIA next season. his apprentices and Mike We will grieve at our Vice-President Bernie It is believed that the sport’s terrible loss but was never shy in giving a Ecdestone. celebrate his enthusiasm for i word of encouragement and class is seeking support to anyone who was Mike Kabie was a great life and all things motoring. If sponsorship to ensure its we are half as enthusiastic believer in the sport and his in, or wanted to get into, the long-term future. It will contribution to its current about this business as Mike game. also change its name next Similarly with Australia’s profile cannot be under was at his age, then we’ll be season, when it will estimated. young racers trying to make doing okay. become known as it overseas. All the current Ciao Kabelli ...

Mike’s funeral, last Friday ‘Formula 3’.

- PHIL BRANAGAN in Cronulla, boasted a Who’s crop - Mark Webber, James -PHIL BRANAGAN

Ralf in doubt

Sale time in Formula One?

By JOE SAWARD EVER since the announce ment that Williams had landed sponsorship from the Allianz Group, thp El community has been going through a tm-bulent phase as other big financial institutions look at buying into the sport.

The Monaco paddock was alive with rumours that teams were about to be sold.

The loudest whispers con cerned British American Racing, with stories cireulating that an Italian business-

m^e KMe msl 20m ) Australian motorsport has rfbSt Its greatfriend, Mike ' Kabie.

The senior member of : Australia’s motoring media passed away in Sydney on Tuesday, May 30 after a typically robust and stubborn fight against cancer.

He was 65.

Kabie is probably best, known as the motoring editor of The Australian newspaper, holding the full time position from the birth of The Australian until 1992 ' when he became a contributor at large. He was also a contributor to many magazines, both in the general motoring sphere and ' the sport, and was a longr time contributor and avid Supporter of Motorsport ’ News.

During his reign he became one of the most influential motoring writers in I the country and became a friend and confidante to the most senior executives in the industry!,.

Kabie had a passion for all forms of motorsport and was a longtime chum of many of the leading drivers of the 1960s onwards,from AJ to Zanardi. This took him to not only all corners of Australia

9 June 2000

Wakefield Park sells for $2.6m

By GERALD McDORNAN A V8 Lites round for 2000 is among the plans of Wakefield Park Raceway’s new owners, a consortium led by Eastern Creek International Karting Raceway owner Garry Holt, the successful bidder in a recent tender process.

The consortium, consisting of Holt, record-setting Sydney to Hobart yacht race skipper Michael Spies, Rob Hodgkinson and Paul Phillips, out-manoeuvred a number of other parties interested in the venue, sources suggesting the ARDC was amongst those.

It is believed $2.6 million was the purchase piice for the venue.

Holt told Motorsport News that the group has a number of exciting plans for Wakefield Park.

“We are targeting a V8 Lites round for next year and representatives of

Club racing safe, says Holt

WHILE excited about the changes and the group’s plans, Holt emphasised that the current key elements to the track’s operation, it’s club and historic racing, won’t be ignored.

“Club and historic racing are a unique feature of the venue and they don’t need to be changed.”

Holt said the consortium would expand the venue’s day-to-day operations by holding corporate days and defensive driving courses - the courses also being offered in conjunction with a discount car insurance sch©m0 It is believed the group has already purchased eight AUSCARs and will ‘convert’ the cars to a V8 Supercar-like specification and offer corporate clients opportunities to drive the cars.

“Our plans will be for the venue to be able to offer more during the mid week to the public and corporate sectors to make it more profitable while, at the same time, we will also continue to invest heavily in the facilities and in other customer service areqs.”

- GERALD McDORNAN AVESCO will visit the circuit next Monday to overlook the facility,” Holt said. “We want their advice as to what changes we need to make to make the track better and safer for

competitors, and what we need to do to secure a round of the Lites series.”

Plans have already been drawn up for the widening of some corners, changes to pit lane and other safety

related issues, all designed to attract, not only a Lites round but, eventual ly, a Shell Series round.

The consortium, concerned about the restrictive space the circuit cur rently sits upon - 130 acres - has also purchased an adjoining 550-acre property on which they plan to con struct a second circuit, the second cir cuit allowing the operators to offer a national series a combihed circuit in excess offive kilometres.

Buirdings being used for the Sydney Olympics athletes village have also been purchased. Holt say ing upon the Games’ conclusion the buildings will be transported to Wakefield Park and used for low-cost accommodation and hospitality suites.

Garry Willmington will take over management of the venue, the veter an driver and team owner also shift ing Holt and Spies’ V8 Supercar team to Goulbum.

WHILE there is much speculation about the future of V8 Supercar racing, and whether Toyota may become involved with its new

Looks familiar: Motorsport News showed you what an Avalon V8 Supercar would look like in September, 1998.

Her. Canto for FTR

WAYNE Gardner has found an endurance drive - with

ypbio by Dirk Kiynsmii®^

Ford Tickford Racing.

The former HRT and Coke Racing driver will suit up in one of FTR’s blue Falcon AUs at Bathurst, sharing the car with team endurance regular Neal Bates.

But commitments in the AllJapan GT series will mean that Gardner will miss the Queensland 500. In that race Bates will share the car with ..

Dean Canto, who signed with ^ the team on Tuesday. , The Sydney teenager, who races an ex-Seton Falcon EL in the Konica V8 Lites series, will

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race his own car at Bathurst || with another driver, with whom the team is now negotiating. It is Ford-bound: Wayne Gardner also likely that the Canto'EL will Geoff Brabham, who drove for the be run in Queensland. team at the two races last season, Gardner, 40, is one of the best- is cuiTently without a drive. credentialled drivers never to have actually won at Bathurst. He has IN other driver pairing news, finished third twice, in 1993 and former Gardner co-driver Paul ’95, driving for HRT and his own Stokell will drive with Steve team respectively, and has threat- Ellery in both races, ened on numerous occasions, lead Stokell was set to join Ellery in ing in 1997 before his engine blew his EL model last year but when spectacularly at Forrests Elbow. f Ellery received the offer from Dick The move by FTR means that Johnson Racing the deal was put

on the backburner until co-dri ver selection arose this year.

“I’ve watched Paul for a while,” said Ellery.

“When it all came up again this year (getting a co-driver) Paul was the only person I spoke to.

“I don’t get to see a lot of rac ing at the ti-ack but at Eastern Creek he drove (the Lamborghini)really well for two wins.

“At Phillip Island this year we had a chat and it took me a while to get back to him while we got our team organised. He tested our car last year so we knew he was good enough and he came up again last Tuesday to drive the AU. “We knew who we wanted .and we went after him.”

Stokell drove at Bathurst for Gardner twice and has kept busy racing the Diablo in Nations Cup as well as a run in Targa Tasmania this year.

Ellery has six starts at Bathurst and led last year with Paul Radisich. His best finish is third

in 1996 with Tony Longhurst.

-AARON NOONAN/ PHIL BRANAGAN

Avalon, there could be another player in the category’s future Mitsubishi.

Last week it was reported in The Financial Review that Mr Tom Phillips, who was the General Manager of Sales and Marketing at Toyota, will be Mitsubishi Australia’s new CEO Mr Phillips arrives at Mitsubishi at a time when the company is said to be looking closely at some sort ofroad racing program to support the marketing campaign for the 3.5 litre V6engined Magna.

There are currently two Magna Future Tourers under construction in Sydney, which are expected to take to the track in the next two months.

At the same time the success of the Shell Championship Series is being watched closely by notjust Ford and Holden, but Toyota and Mitsubishi.

One leading racing identity who supports the possible inclusion of more manufacturers in our leading category is Fred Gibson, who recently sold his stake in what is now Kmart Racing.

'It(V8 Supercai’racing) doesn’t have to be Ford or Holden only," said Gibson last week.

'1 think that in 12 months time, or 18, it should be opened up to whoever wants to compete in the category, so it’s just not a Ford or Holden class. I’ve always said that.

'The sport is a touring car series and I think it should be opened up.But I think that any new manufactxirer should be allowed to come in but I think that AWSCO should be able to ask for a financial commitment from them before they are admitted.

'It’s got to the stage where the class should be run commercially and as a proper business venture."

Reports that Toyota was looking at a V8 racing version of its Avalon have been around for some time. Motorsport News first reported the manufacturer’s interest in the class in September 1998, when the development cycle of the 2000 Avalon road cai*(which goes on sale next month) was already well under way.

There were even reports - though they were not verified at the time - that Toyota Australia management had met with at least two V8 Supercar team owners; one who had a Ford team,one who had a Holden team.

Toyota execs are keeping their thoughts close to their chest at present, but the vibe from within the company is that the possibility of Toyota’s involvement is very much back on the agenda.

For more on manufacturers in motor racing, see page 20.

- PHIL BRANAGAN

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n Following Chip Ganassi’s success at the Indy 500, Roger Penske has confirmed a return to the Brickyard in 2001.

Penske will rent a.G Force/Aurora from Fred Treadway’s team(who ran Jason Leffler in a Penskesponsored car at Indy this year)and will test later this year at Indy with Gil de Ferran and the newly re-named Helio Castro Neves. While he cannot run cigarette identification on a car in both series’, Penske says that funding (some $US1 million per car) will not be a problem for the one-off race. n Flaming hell: Craig Lowndes wUl carry the Olympic flame around Mount Panorama on September 2-in his Holden V8 Supercai’l The reigning SCS champ will lap the famous circuit with a special miner’s lantern fitted to the car. Team mate Mark Skaife will carry the flame in Perth, Jason Bargwanna in South Australia, Lany Perkins, Steve Richards and Greg Murphy in western Victoria and Garth Tander and Russell Ingall in Tasmama. n Aussie Ben Rainsford, in partnership with former world champ Stig Blomqvist has taken the early lead in the London to Sydney Rally which began last weekeni In a V8 Ford Capri Perana,the duo led Rick Bates and Jenny Brittan’s Porsche 911 with the event due to arrive in Darwin on June 25. n Andretti for IRL! No, not Michael though.

Younger brother Jeff will join Sarah Fisher in a twocar Derrick Walker team in the IRL fi’om the Atlanta rmmd onwards. n The Queensland Raceway round of the Formula Ford series may be the last for Owen Kelly.

The Victorian-based Tasmanian’s budget has ran dry but he is actively seeking backing to continue the championship. Barring that he intends to raise funds to ran Honda Indy. n The Gearbox Motorsport V8 Lites team has I'eplaced the exPerkins Commodore vTitten-off at Phillip Island with a Dick Johnson Racing EL Falcon. Neil Schembri will run the car in the next round at Oran Park. n CAMS has issued a technical bulletin to correct an inadvertent deletion in the V8 Supercar regulations which says that "any device which assists gear changes by intemipting engine operation by any means other than the foot operated throttle pedal pr the ECU contmlled 7500rpm hmit,is prohibited".

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9 June 2000

Fiskhelki's great escape 'N *

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And they walked away: Benetton’s Giancarlo Fisichella was lucky to walk away from this frightening accident, a bruised thumb his only injury.

By JOE SAWARD DESPITE the fears of those watching, Giancarlo Fisichella emerged with just a slightly injure4 thumb from this spec tacular accident he had while testing at the Circuit Ricardo Torma in Valencia last week.

The Benetton driver was on a fast

Photo sequence by Sutton-lmages ,

lap when he came around-a corner and found Jamo Trulli’s Jordan on a slow lap having come out of the pits. Fisichella was unable to avoid TruUi and ran into the back of the car, launching the Benetton into the air and over the top of the Jordan. The B200 landed nose-first

in a gravel trap but Fisichella vi^as able to get out with only a bruised thumb, caused by a shock sent through the steering wheel during the accident.

The chassis was badly damaged and the team sent the car back to Britain for repairs.

Due to the accident, Alexander Wurz waS not able to do his planned day of testing. Benetton did have a second car available but it was being used to evaluate youngsters Giorgio Pantano and Antonio Pizzonia.

The twisty Valencia track played host to four other teams, looking for Monaco-like conditions: Jordan, Arrows, Sauber and-Jaguar.

feeling for Salo? Montreal Worries

By JOE SAWARD

THERE were rumours in Monaco that Finland's Mika Salo

is close to signing a contract to drive for the new Toyota Motorsport Formula 1 team in 2002.

Salo is expected to stay with the Swiss Sauber team next year but will then move to Toyota when the Japanese company enters the sport in 2002. By then Salo will be 35 years old but will have the experi ence necessary to help Toyota build its program.

Salo has strong connections to Toyota through his manager, Mike Greasley.

Greasley used to manage many of the top rally drivers and knows the Toyota management very well, par ticularly Ove Andersson; the two connected through rallying.

Salo has been involved in FI since he was first signed by Lotus in 1994.

When the team went out of business in 1995, he went on to Tyrell before moving to Arrows in 1998.

Dropped at the start of ’99, "Salo was eventually taken on by BAR when Ricardo Zonta was injured in an accident in Brazil.

After Michael Schumacher's acci dent at Hockenheim, Salo stood in for the German and came close to winning his first Grand Prix at Hockenheim, slowing on team orders to allow Eddie Irvine to win instead.

Sale's strong performances at Ferrari led to a two-year deal with Sauber and he has been the team leader this year, scoring points in San Marino and Monaco.

Changing colours? Could Mika Salo be headed for his seventh Formula 1 team in 2002? (Photo by suiton-images)

In a boost for his Toyota chances, Salo has the added advantage of being well known in Japan, having raced there for several years. He is also married to a Japanese woman.

By JOE SAWARD

THE city of Montreal faces serious problems at the Canadian Grand Prix if

Stand by the BAR: Will Villeneuve stay with the controversial Honda-powered team? (Sutton-imagcs)

Count Jacques out at McLaren

DESPITE his disappointment at Monaco, defending World Champion Mika Hakkinen remains as much a challenge to McLaren team mate David Coulthard’s title hopes as their mutual rival Michael Schumacher.

Jacques Villeneuve, on the other hand, can now be counted out of the possible future McLaren equation.

The 1997 World Champion had been tipped as a possible successor to Coulthard but now the clever money has him tipped to replace Alexander Wurz in next year’s Benetton team, which will be transformed into an official Renault operation the following year.

Meanwhile, Jenson Button’s future in FI looks secure, even though it appears increasingly likely that the 20-year-old will be replaced in the BMW Williams line-up by Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya.

If this happens, then Button can expect to be high on the Jaguarjeam’s list as a potential replacement for Johnny Herbert. Or he could find a berth with Jordan alongside Jarno Trulli if Heinz-Harald Frentzen is recruited by Jaguar, who are also anxious to enhance their image in the commercially-crucial German car market.

-JORGE DELGADO

rniions go ahead with a threat to disrupt the city’s public transportation system.

A large percentage of the 115,000 people who attend the event travel to the He de Notre Dame using the Montreal subway system, with around 20,000 an hour arriving on race day.

Without the subway being in operation there will be serious problems as there are no boats or trains, and access for cars is high ly limited because the island can only be reached by two bridges.

The track also has insufficient parking to deal vdth a large num ber of cars.

The negotiations over pension contributions broke down a month ago and the unions want a solution and hope that by taking action, thgy will force the city’s transit corporation to give way to their demands. The unions say that this is the first chance they have had to make an impression on the corporation without upset ting Montreal’s commuters.

It is possible, however, that the stiike action will be declared ille gal by the state of Quebec’s Essential Services Council on the grounds of safety, as in the event of an emergency the island could not be properly evacuated and traffic jams would block the pas sage of emergency vehicles.

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Juan Montoya won a rain-delayed Miller Ute 225 at the Milwaukee Mile Oval on Monday, recording Toyota's first win in the competitive CART FedEx Championship Series.

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9 June 2000

n Hardy Spicer has joined Mark Poole’s John Deere Supercai- team as a sponsor on the eve of the GMC 400. Hardy Spicer is a national company specialising in driveshaft services, H Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia has moved 20 points clear in the British F3 Championship after a 12s victory over Takuma Sato at Brands Hatch on the weekend.

H For Network Ten’s coverage ofthe GMC 400 n this weekend, 18 kilomeres of camera cable,60 microphones and 22 kilometres of audio cables win be used with six in-carcameras as well. All that cable and'lhey stiU can’t shut Barry up ... n AU but 10 cars pi'esented in Le Mans for sci-utineering have failed then- compulsory decibel test. It is said there is a fair bit of panic amongst many ofthe teams in the lead-up for the race, with none ofthe cars really designed for mufflers.

Q For all web surfers, don’t look to www.gmc400.com to get any information on this weekend’s event. The cuiTent site du-ects surfers to another domain where net names already registered are for sale. ® Prost FI driver Jean Alesi is reportedly waiting for an okay from team boss Alain Pi'ost for a release to drive in the Adelaide‘Race of a Thousand Years’.

Alesi has been made an offer to drive the Le Manswinning BMW roadster by friend, and BMM^ motorsport boss, Gerhard Berger.

1!American Jet Dragsterdriver Jack Dustman was killed in an accident at the IHRA Canadian Nationals at the Great Bend Motoi-plex, in Ontario on the weekend.

The 41-year-old’s jet d”agster left the end ofthe track following a SOOmph pass when his parachutes failed to open.

He was cut from the vehicle and transpoiied to a near-by hospital but pronoimced dead on ai-rival.

the same feat in Eastern Creek late In April arid last month in Darwin we did it again and ended the round in third position, which has elevated me to third in the championship chase.

Split TV coverage for Super Tourers

By GERALD McDORNAN

LIKE its season, TOCA's television coverage of its BOC Gases Australian Touring Super Championship has been split into two, following the announcement of their television deal this week.

Sixteen hours of coverage on the Seven Network will be comprised of eight twohour programs, with the 'winter' rounds being affect ed by the network's commit ments to the AFL and the Sydney Olympic Games.

The first four programs will have telecast times beginning at midnight, while the following 'summer' rounds will switch to 11am1pm screening times.

"This is a one-off situation because next year we move to a full sumTner champi onship away from the AFL season, and obviously the Olympics will have come and gone by then," said TOGA Chief Executive, Kelvin O'Reilly.

Despite the late night time slots for half the series.

O’Reilly said the time slots were well-established sports program periods on the net work and had rated well in 1999.

Seven Sport's Mark Beretta will host the tele casts, for the fifth year being produced by Sydney-based Watchout Productions, Beretta being joined in com mentary by former Audi Sport Australia driver, Cameron McConville, Former 'Wide World of

Sports' journalist, Michael Meagher, will compile fea ture stories for the pro grams.

"We have a fresh and dynamic commentary team and a'proven level of produc tion expertise, which I'm confident will help maintain and enhance the growth of the championship and motorsport in general," said O'Reilly.

"We have always been innovative with ou:f produc tion and viewers will see a number of new initiatives again this year."

The season-opening round, held at Oran Park on May 24, will go to air on June 14.

Just couple weeks agoawe were of dodging crocodiles in the 32 degree heat of Darwin and this week we trek just a few hours up the road to Canberra where our biggest threat will be* freezing to death - oh, and a reverse grid race!

More on that later.

It’s one of the great things with V8 Supercar racing today - the fantastic venues we visit over the season in so many varied climates. we have been Since my last column working hard to find more pace from the FTR Falcons and it’s all starting to come together very well.

The Clipsal 500 in Adelaide was very good for us where I was third for the round. I managed

A couple of recent days with some test heavy shock work and other suspension modifications have led to more gains. Where normally Neil and i would be quietly confident. I’m happy to say that we are both very confident leading into the GMQ 400 this week.

o

n Friday we’ll get our first taste of the

icy streets of the Nation’s Capital and I really can’t wait. The layout of the track is great and will produce some terrific racing.

Sunday morning’s race will be exciting, the first ever reverse-grid race for V8 Supercars.

It’s the only time you’ll every see me happy to be starting off the back of the grid for a race and that’s only because it will mean I won the first race on

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about the reverse grid race, but I think the focus should be more on the compulsory pit stops of each race. The pit strategy is what will win you the race for sure.

You have to get it right in each of the three races if you’re going to be in the running. It’s going to be close out there, so make sure you watch the pits and keep track of who’s done what and when.

I could tell you when we will be stopping but then, that wouldn’t be fair to every one else, would it?

would like note, to Just a final I welcome Wayne Gardner to Ford Tickford Racing for Bathurst and also welcome back Neal Bates.

Wayne is sure to bring with him a lot of speed and certainly a desire to do well at Bathurst, while Neal is joining us again this year and I’m sure he’ll do a fantastic job in the two endurance races.

Enjoy the racing

Saturday afternoon!

There is a lot of talk

Car makers line up for DTM BMW and Ford might be ready to commit to DTM progi-ams follow ing the success of the series’ first event at Hockenheim last week.

Senior executives fi-om both companies, includ ing BMW’s motorsport boss Gerhard Berger, at were present Hockenheim and sources are suggesting both com panies are close to joining Mercedes-Benz, Opel and Audi in the revitalised German touring car series.

Representatives from specialist car company

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Schnitzer, long-time. unofficial BMW motor sport entrants, were also in attendance.

An estimated 56,000 spectators attended the first event, with the spirit of the old DTM clearly evident with flags, fire works and horns greeting the drivers and cars.

'It’s a dream come true to get to this level that we have here," said Mercedes Motorsport chief Norbert Haug.

'We had 15 cars covered by a single second in qual ifying, which shows how competitive Mercedes and Opel are, and I congratu late Audi because this really is the first time they have run. They will be strong for svu-e.”

Berger said the series looked professional from the word ‘go’.

"One thing I especially like is that the fans have

access to the paddock and get closer to the action. It is remarkable that so many spectators have come to the first round..

That is a clear indication for the gi-eat potential of touring car racing in Germany."

Haug commented that manufacturers consider ing joining had better not delay.

'It is the plan to restrict the championship to 26 cars, and to do that we only need one or two man ufacturers. We must learn from Formula 1."

\ Roll up, roll up: Opel, Audi and Mercedes could be joined by BMW and Ford in the DTM.

MARK Skaife has virtually ruled out speculation that Australian V8 Supercars could take on the new-look German DTM V8s in an international grudge match.

HRT’s Shell series leader returned late last week after a trip to Europe, which included taking in the opening round of the German series at the 2km Hockenheim ‘Club’ circuit.

“They are so different to om- cars that it would be very difficult to handicap either to make a fair contest,” he said this week.

“At some places they would be faster, at some others we would.

“They have 400 horsepower, weigh llOOkgs and, for example, run carbon-fibre brakes. They also have about four times as much downforce as we do. Their braking distances are probably about half ours...

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“That’s a pretty massive difference in comparative spec - they think they’re ninning low tech because they haven’t got trac tion control and ABS!” he concluded.

“It’s a fairly expensive formula - the teams must be spending four or five times what we do - and it’s not hard to see why.

The cars are virtually sports cars with a roof.”

Skaife came away from Hockenheim impressed with the 58,000 crowd, the ease with which they got in and out of the chcuit and the manufacturers’ corporate set-up, but with his support for Australia’s V8s very much intact.

“Really, we have to be pleased with the way we have controlled the costs here and the competitiveness of the racing we have.

What we have here is very, very good.”

- CHRIS LAMBDEN

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By JOE SAWARD

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WHILE rival Peugeot is trying to decide on its future in Formula 1, Renault seems to

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Shell Championship Series V8 Supercars* .R d6 Jun 11 ...Canberra ,R d7 .OLD Jul2 ,R d8 Jul 16 Winton ..

Jul 30 .■(. .Oran Park

,R d9

World Superbike Championship* Rd7 Jun 18 . . .San Marino Rd8 Jun 25 . . .Spain Rd9 .U.S.A Jul 9 Aug 6

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FIA Formula One World Championship ,Rd8 Jun18 . . .Canada ,Rd9 .France . .

Jul 2 Rd 10 Jul 16 Austria . .

Rd 11 Jul 30 . . . .Germany FIA Formula 3000 International C'ship Rd6 France Jul 2 Rd7 Jul 16 Austria Jul 29

Hockenheim

Rd8

Aug 12 . . .Hungaroring

Rd 9

FIA World Rally Championship* ,Rd7 Jun 11 . . .Acropolis Jul 16 New Zealand Rd 8 .Rd9 Aug 20 . . .Finland

Drag Racing Series Rd 11 Jun 18 . . .Columbus ,Rd12 Jun 24 . . .Madison .

Rd 13 Jul 8 .Bristol . .

Championship Series* Jun 18 . . .Detroit . . .Rd7 Jun 25 . . .Fortiand . .Rd8 Jul 2 .Cleveland ,Rd9 Jul i6 . . . .Toronto .

.RdIO

Australian Rally Championship* Jun 25 . . .Coffs Harbour . . .Rd 4 ,Rd5 Aug 27 . . .Melbourne Oct8 . . . .Tasmania ,Rd6

SOOcc World Grand Prix Motorcycle C'Ship* .Rd7 Jun 11 . . .Catalunya .

Jun 24 . . .Netherlands ,Rd8 Jul 10 . . . .Donington .

Jul 23 . . . .Germany . .

Rd9 Rd 10

Holden Australian

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PROCAR will unveil it’s new racetrack

Nov 12 . . .Rally Australia . . .Rd 7

Jul 2 QLD Jul 30 . . . .Oran Park

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JAMES Courtney has won Ms fourth race in this year’s British Formula Ford ChampionsMp with a dominant start-to-finish win at Oulton Park.

FedEx CART

Drivers' Championship* Jun 11 . . .Canberra .

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know exactly what it is doing in Grand Prix racing.

Sources suggest the French company will nm an all-out testing program this winter and throughout the summer of 2001 in preparation for its official return to FI in 2002.

Renault recently bought Benetton but agreed to leave it running as Benetton until 2002 so that, when the Renault name does return, it will be immediately competitive.

Flavio Briatore is currently in the process of revamping the team, hiring new staff and putting together a better package. A test team will enable the Renault to run its new engine out of the public eye and away from rival teams - in much the same way as BMW did with Williams.

There are several advantages of an indepen dent test team, the most important is that it means there would no testing restrictions which already apply to cmrent FI teams.

Such a program would also enable Renault to check out the effectiveness of Michelin tyres while Benetton could go on using Bridgestone rubber.

It is expected that when Renault does come back to FI, it will be with Michelin, the two companies having very strong commercial links. It is worth remembering that Michelin first entered FI with Renault in 1977.

We would expect Renault's testing work to be caiTied out by a young French driver, possibly Laurent Redon, who has close links with Benetton and Renault but is currently out of work.

Rd5 Rd6

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motorsporf A// event dates in this calendar were correct at the time of printing. Please consult any individual tracks and/or associations for dale changes.

Series or events telecast on Network Ten are marked with an asterix. Check your local guides for screening details.

Why wouldn’t you smile? Wouldn’t you be happy too if you got to drive the boss’ Ferrari with instead of his bus? Wayne Park is.

control centre, an impressive doubledecker corporate coach, above, in Canberra this weekend.

The coach, with an upstairs boardroom and corporate area and a staff office in the lower level, will be used as the headquarters for the Century Batteries GTP Nations Cup and Production Car categories at each round of the series.

'We’re proud of what we’ve built with both our GTP Nations Cup and Production Car categories and I believe the coach will enhance the professional presentation of GTP racing in Australia, said Ross Palmer of the unveiling of his new pride and joy this week.

The on-board facihties vidll allow us to even better service our sponsors and competitors, while also providing our own staff with a comfortable workplace.

An adjoining marque can also be utilised

by PROCAR to entertain guests and teams, as well as being available to hold media conferences.

Let’s hope they’ve also got some great heating for this weekend...

ROSS Palmer’s RPM Motorsports team has also unveiled its second Ferrari F360 which Wayne Park will debut this weekend.

The second Ferrari, which is - quite obviously - yellow, landed in Australia just three weeks ago, the team vmdertaking its final preparation in readiness for its racing debut.

Courtney led from pole position and simply thumped the opposition into sub mission over the 17-lap distance, aEowing the 19-year-old Aussie to regain the lead in the series over rival Mark Taylor (Mygale).

“I’m delighted with my performance today,” Courtney said.

“Everything just went like clockwork. I pulled out a reasonable lead in the first few laps and then just kept an eye out for any dark clouds. It stayed dry and here I am with four wins from six races.”

Courtney now leads the series by three points with the next round of the series this weekend at Silverstone marking the beginning of the second half of the series.

Goodnight John Boy?

THE Indianapolis 500 could be the next target in Johnny Herbert’s long career.

After 12 years in Formula One, and three victories in 150 starts, the 35-year-old Briton is reported to be looking across the Atlantic to further his career.

"I am realistic about my prospects and unless things improve, it looks like this being my last season in Formula One," Herbert said.

"When I was 10 years old and dreaming of becoming a racing driver, I dreamed about winning in Formula One, winning Le Mans and the Indy 500 - and I have won the first two," he said. "I'm not scared of the ovals."

The outspoken Herbert still walks with a limp from a 12-car pile up in a Formula 3000 race in 1988. On the verge at the time of signing with Williams, he debuted with Benetton, was sacked, returned (winning two races) and last season scored Jackie Stewart’s first win as a team owner.

9 June 2000

oY^ ALAIN Menu and Tom Kristensen shared the wins in rounds nine and 10 of the British Car Touring

Bern-ing down the Haus

There Danish on the Menu

THE return of the German DTM series was a great success, with Mercedes-Benz’s Bernd Schneider taking pole and two wins in the first round of the 2000 championship.

In front of 56,000 fans at Hockenheim, Schneider was headed for only two comers in the first race by Opel’s Manuel Reuter. But after Reuter ran wide and dropped down the field, Schneider led home team-mate Marcel Fassler and Reuter, who had charged back from 10th to third place.

Schneider’s margin of victory in the first race was 20s,' displaying the sort of dominance he enjoyed. But the second race, which started only 30 minutes after the first, was much more entertaining.

After six laps the race was interrupted by a huge storm, prompting a Safety Car and forcing the whole field (except

Vincent Radermecker flew the GM flag high in the third Vauxhall and passed Kristensen on the restart to end up second ahead of the Honda team mates Kristensen and James Thompson (now recovered from injury).

Kristensen’s win in the second race was impres sive. The Dane charged away from pole position to win over Plato by 10 sec onds, despite a brake problem and a big oil leak.

“I had a bad time at the end,” reported Kiistensen.

“The last four laps were

D2'is #1: Schneider took an opening double at Hockenheim.(Photo by Bothweii)

Championship at Oulton Park, the result keeping the for mer ahead in the championship chase marginally over team mate Anthony Reid.

The Swiss driver grabbed Ford’s 500th BTCC win, while Kristensen won his first since joining the BTCC at the, beginning of this season.

“Like in any form of motor racing, if you are leading on the first lap it is very difficult for the others to get by and win the race,” Menu said.

“I had a bit of difficulty with the extra weight, especially braking going into corners then trying to get drive coming out of them.”

Menu shrugged off the 30kg success ballast penalty which he had ‘earned’ at Knockhill a fortnight earlier and led round nine from start to finish.

Team-mate Rickard Rydell clashed at the Island Hairpin on the first lap with Vauxhall’s Yvan Muller, putting both out, while Muller’s partner Jason Plato was forced to pit to replace flat-spotted tyres under the resultant Safety Car period.

11

Winners: Menu (left) and Kristensen won at Oulton Park. (Photos by Botnweii Photographic)

certainly the most terrifying laps I’ve done! I started to have brake problems and I was losing a lot under braking, so I knew the last laps were going to be close anyway. Then I hit a stone, or something, “ which caused the oil leak.

“Fortunately the oil warning alarm only came on round the corners. On the straights the car was fine.”

Plato defended second r -D -j 1, l l j from Reid having gained ground in the pit stops, while Thompson grabbed another fourth ahead of

Muller, Menu and Radermecker.

Gabriele Tarquini traded in eighth, the 40kg success ballast he was slugged with after win ning round eight proving too much for the third Honda Accord.

Matt Neal was again top Independent in both races while James Kaye’s Honda Accord won Class B twice as weU. ^ ^ t. jno Points: Menu 100, Reid 93, ^ Tarquini 57, Kristensen 50, Radermecker 43, Neal 32, Thompson 26.

RAOEWEHH

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Marcel Tiemann, who stayed out to lead a lap) to pit for wet rubber.

When the field returned to the track Schneider and Fassler again went 1-2, while Michael Bartels took third for Opel when M-B’s Peter Dumbreck was clouted out of third place late in the race by Reuter.

For his troubles the German copped a time penalty, dropping him to 13th.

Opel new boy Timo Scheider took two fourth places on the day, while Dumbreck had fifth in both.

While Mercedes-Benz and Opel seemed well-matched at the front of the field, it was a tough baptism for Audi. The four Britishbuilt TT Coupes struggled for speed and reliability throughout the weekenc and registered a best finish of only 15th, which Laurent Aiello scored in.the first race.

Clearly, there is much development needed on the hastily-built cars.

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9 June 2000

Mickfirst in GP Hall ofFame MICK Doohan has been inducted into the Moto GP Hall of Fame in recognition of his motorcycle road racing career, highlighted by winning five successive 500CC world championship titles.

Doohan, who was forced into retirement in 1999 because of injuries, is the inaugural recipient of the hondlir.

He was presented with a plaque in honour of the award at the l^ian Grand Prix on Sunday at Mugello, which he attended as part of his new position as Honda Racing Corporation’s General Manager of Racing.

“I’ve been lucky enough to receive many awards over the years and being recognised by motorcycling is extra special because it’s from the sport and people I’m involved with,” said Doohan.

Before the race at Mugello, Doohan completed a lap of honour before the Italian crowd who had seen him race to sixth successive Grand Prix wins on the 5.2km circuit from 1993-98.

“It was a farewell to the people in Italy and Europe who supported me over the years, and in one way it closed that chapter of my career,” he said.

Luca tests Modenas FORMER GP winner Luca Cadalora has tested Proton Team KR’s Modenas at the Mugello.

Cadalora rode the bike to help regular GP rider David De Gea with the set-up of the threecylinder bike.

“Kenny Roberts asked me if I could lap around on the new motorcycle to help them towards a better development of the bike”, explained Cadalora after the test session.

“This is the only 500 David has ever ridden,” team manager Chuck Aksland commented.

“But Luca has vast experience and he knows the team well. I’m confident he’ll be able to give us a lot of information that we can use to help David and our own development.”

Cadalora and De Gea where the only two men testing at Mugello on Dunlop tyres, as the track had been booked

by Michelin to test the new 16.5 inch front tyre the French manufacturer is working on.

“All riders who’ve tested the new front have told us we’re going on the right direction", said Michelin’s sporting manager Jacques Morelli.

Who needs Fogarty?

Brilliant Bayliss breaks Due’s duck in Germany

[ Killer Aussie: Bayliss put Edwards and Haga (below) behind him to win in Germany.

By DARRYL FLACK AUSSIE Ducati rider Troy Bayliss scored his first World Superbike win at Hockenheim.

The Infostrada Ducati star was nothing short of brilliant as he caught and out-sprinted Akira Yanagawa (Kawasaki) and Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) to the line in the first 14-lap leg.

Pole-sitter Colin Edwards (Castrol Honda) led most of the race but was bumped back to fourth after being hit by Frankie Chili's delaminated tyre on the final lap of the race.

With the cloud of a one-month suspension for failing a drug test hanging over his head, Haga matched Bayliss's brilliance in the second leg with a spectacular vic tory over Edwards and Chili, but it was the Aussie who stole the show with his maiden world champi onship victory.

“I lost time in the first curve after the start and lost contact with the leaders,” said Bayliss afterwards.

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“But I knew I could win because the bike was perfect and I man aged to get back up with the lead ers and control the race. I knew that from a tactical point of view I had to go into the Motodrom in the lead on the final lap.

“In race two, I almost had a chance of getting into the gap left open when Haga and Edwards touched, but I was too close, the line was too wide and I knew that Chili was right behind me, so it wasn't possible.”

Team IrPfostrada boss Davide Tardozzi could barely contain his jubilation at Bayliss's stunAing performance, declaring, “Ducati has two Kings*- Troy and Carl.”

After another terrific stoush, Yanagawa finally held sway in the middle stages of race two, but blew an engine on lap 10. In the first race, Pierfrancesco Chili (Corona Suzuki) had even worse luck when his rear Dunlop t5rre let go on the final lap as he duelled for the lead.

Race two saw a change in fortune for the popular Italian who gar nered a well-earned podium finish following a mistake by Bayliss in the infield.

“I had a problem passing Bayhss because his bike was so fast, but in the end I gottby him and tried to chase down Hkga and Edwards. In the Sachs Curve, I thought they were so close to each other I thought they might take each other out. But somehow they both carried on. I charged to the line, but I just couldn't do it. Today I rode at 110 percent - just like Haga - but I didn't get the win.”

Unable to run the fuidous pace of the lead group, Aaron Slight

(Castrol Honda) was nevertheless impressive after carding two fifths, the second after getting the better of Troy Corser (Aprilia) by a whisker. Faced with a significant top-speed disadvantage, Corser put up a great fight with Slight's faster VTRIOOO SP-1 and led the Kiwi for most of the race, finishing just 0.70sec behind at the chequer.

“This track is all about horse

power and we knew we'd be in for a bit of a struggle,” said Corser.

“But I'm pretty satisfied with our results today - all things consid ered.

“In the first race the exhaust started leaking and the bike smmded a bit strange. I thought it might be the motor on the way out, so I rode cautiously and with one hand on the clutch - just in case.

In race two, I found myself stuck behind riders in the corners. I'd catch them on the brakes, but they'd pull away from me on the exits. I felt I was entering the cor ners faster then anybody out there today and I was really trying my best, so sixth was pretty good.”

After being controversially demoted to the NCR Ducati team in a swap with Juan Borja who now partners Bayliss in the Infostrada team, SWC rookie Ben Bostrom beat the Spaniard home in both races, but finished behind Ducati privateers Andy Meklau and Robert Ulm. The only Australian in the event, Phillip Island race winner Anthony Gobert (Bimota) retired from both races after qualifying 28th out of 34 entries.

Points: Edwards 202, Chili 162, Haga 137, Corser 120, Yanagawa 99.

Loris fights back

ITALIAN Loris Capirossi scored the most important victory of his career when he won a superb 23-lap 500cc race at Mugello.

Riding the Pons Honda, the 27-year-old former 125 and 250cc world champion fought off the challenge offel low Italians Valentino Rossi and Max Biaggi, who both crashed in a hectic final lap.

With Rossi and Biaggi out of the reckoning, Carlos Checa, riding the Marlboro Yamaha, grabbed second place with Ulsterman Jeremy McWilliams becoming the first British rider to finish on a 500cc podium for seven years, riding an Aprilia.

“This is the most important Grand Prix victory of my career”, smiled a delighted Capirossi after his victoi'y. “I was third at the end of the

moving into /third place after finishing fifth behind the Suzuki of Nobuatsu Aoki.

Other fallers in the race included pole setter Alex Barros, World Champion Alex .Criville and Australian Garry McCoy, riding the Gauloises Red Bull Yamaha.

Capirossi is the first Itahan to win a 500cc race at Mugello. He also secured Honda's eighth successive Mugello victory and its 139th 500cc Grand Prix victory makes the Japanese company the most successful manufactm’er in the class, overtaking the Italian MV Agusta factory.

YAMAHA’S Shinya N ak a n o overcame an ankle injury sustained in a spectacular Friday after noon crash to beat his team-mate Olivier Jacque first lap but took the lead on in the 21-lap 250cc in the second which I held until n which the fancied Aprilia Valentino and Max airived to riders crashed out. set up a fantastic finish.”

The pole position rider, 43Championship leader year-old Italian Marcellino Keimy Roberts was the early Lucchi crashed while lying leader riding the Suzuki but second on the 12th lap, while German Ralf Waldmann fell he started to drop down the field with tyre problems and while leading on lap three, eventually had to settle for Championship leader sixth place.

Daijiro Katoh finished third Spaniard Carlos Checa on his Mugello debut after took full advantage when Shell Advance Honda rider Rossi and then his own Tohru Ukawa crashed on the Marlboro Yamaha team-mate last bend, although he Max Biaggi crashed, to finish j remounted to finish fifth second for the fourth time, behind the Aprilia duo of this season. He now shares Marco Melandri and Frhnco the championship lead with Battaini.

Roberts with Norick Abe After a practice fall Aussie

Coming men: McWilliams (above)scored Aprilia’s first 500cc podium of the season while Rossi’s fans were to be disappointed when their hero fell.

(Photos by RaceAccess)

Ant West finished seventh.

Nakano, following his third victory of the season, leads Katoh in the championship by five points.

ROBERTO Locatelli was the easy winner of the 20lap 125cc race while the battle raged behind liim.

At the last bend, Manuel and Lucio Poggiali Cecchinello collided and Mirko Giansanti shot past to secure his fourth second place of the season and the World Championship lead.

His Honda team-mate Masao Azuiiia was third with World Champion Emilio Alzamora’s seventh place losing him his championship lead.

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start, Juan wins 81®

Got Milk? Juan Montoya tastes the spoils of a victory in the Indy 500, his win showing why the Ganassi team has dominated CART for the past four years. (Photos by sutton-images)

JUAN Montoya didn’t just win the 84th Indianapolis 500- he dominated it.

The Colombian became the first Speedway rookie to win the race since Graham Hill in 1966 and his victory marked the return of CART’s domi nant Target/Ganassi team to the Brickyard after a four year absence.

While Montoya drove impeccably, his crew really won the race. Pit stops regu larly two to three seconds faster than his opposition gave him track position when it mattered most - the win ning margin of 7.1s said it aU. "It was a lot of fun," said Montoya.

"The car was perfect. We didn't risk anything. This isn't only a win for me and (owner) Chip (Ganassi), but for the whole team.”

Despite a three hour rain delay, Montoya duelled in the early stages with pole sitter Greg Ray and took the lead after pit stops on lap 33.

After Ray eliminated him self by hitting the wall on two separate occasions, Montoya led the bulk of the remaining

laps on his way to Victory Lane, despite a late race chal lenge from ’96 champ Buddy Lazier, who finished second.

"We thought we were as fast as(Ray)," Montoya said.

"I got him in traffic, then he got me, but he made a mis take in the corner and I got through the traffic better and that was it."

Montoya had a number of challengers throughouf the race, up to 10 cars staying on the lead lap and within striking distance given a yellow flag.

The final yellow flew with 26 laps to go when Stan Wattles’ engine blew, setting up a shootout to the flag.

Team mate Jimmy Vasser helped the Ganassi team get to a team 1-2 by that point but Vasser was pitting out of sequence with the rest, hop ing for a yellow flag to save fuel and make it to the end.

There weren’t enough yel lows and the American had to pit with four laps to go, finish ing a lap down in seventh.

Before stopping though, he had made life difficult for Montoya’s challengers and by the time Lazier got past

Vasser, ‘Monty’ was a full 10 seconds up. Lazier was catching him too, setting the fastest lap ofthe race on lap 198.

AJ Foyt’s cars, driven by Ehseo Salazar and Jeff Ward, finished in third and fourth.

Consolation for Lazier was the fact that the finish had ele vated them to the top of the IRNLS point score over Robbie Buhl and Scott Goodyear.

"When you win this race, you earn it," said Lazier.

"He'd (Montoya) be able to get a run on them and be able to pass. I got hung up a cou ple oftimes."

"The difference was just getting bottled up in traffic. I think that's the nature of a real competitive series. You didn't know if it was going to rain or not, so everyone was really racing. It was flat out the whole race."

Eddie Cheever had one of only two cars in the field pow ered by the Nissan Infiniti engine and grabbed fifth, proving not only the improved competitiveness of the motor but also its reliability, both factors having plagued it since the formula’s inception in 1997.

Robby Gordon grabbed sixth - and last oh the lead lap before heading to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600 where PJ Jones filled in, the rain delay at Indy forcing an overlap in the two race schedules.

A1 Unser Jr’s return to Indy wasn’t so happy, ‘little AT running over debris from Ray’s first accident which punctured his radiator.

Out of luck too was rookie Sarah Fisher. The American had been impressive in her Brickyard debut and found the wall after Lyn St. James turned into the side of Fisher’siDerrick Walkerowned machine on lap 74.

Fisher’s speed and maturity proved her to be one to watch as the IRNLS moves through 2000 while St. James (53) proved that 2000 should"be her last ’500, having been lapped within 12 laps.

The hard-luck story went to Brazilian Airton Dare. He had charged through to the front before blowing a motor.

But the plaudits (and the traditional swig of milk) were with Montoya, who, having run in the CART race at Nazai'eth the day before, may have proved to other CART teams the vahdity of putting together a one-off IRNLS effort for the Indy 500. Just ask Target, Bud and Chip Ganassi what they think.

"It's huge... this is the biggest race in the world, and this is the biggest win in the world and it will get big ger as time passes,” said Ganassi. “I just want to race here," said Ganassi.

And who said "Who needs mUk’7...

Heaven sent: Thanks to rain, the beginning of this year’s Indy 500 was delayed by three hours. (Photos by sutton-images) I

84th tiiiii^ii^pcifis #08 2S May, 2000 - Final rasuffts

Pos Driver Laps Team/Chassis/Engine 200 Ganassi G Force/Aurora 1 Juan Montoya 200 Hemelgam Dallara/Aurora 2 Buddy Lazier 200 3 Eliseo Salazar Foyt G Force/Aurora 200 4 Jeff Ward Foyt G Force/Aurora 200 Cheever Dallara/Infiniti 5 Eddie Cheever 200 Menard Dallara/Auro'ra 6 Robby Gordon 200 Ganassi G Force/Aurora 7 Jimmy Vasser 199 8 Stephan Gregoire Simon G Force/Aurora 199 Panther Dallara/Aurora 9 Scott Goodyear 198 Kelley Dallara/Aurora 10 Scott Sharp 198 11 Mark Dismore Kelley Dallara/Aurora 198 Cahill Dallara/Aurora 12 Donnie Beechier 198 Truscelli G Force/Aurora 13 Jaques Lazier 198 Tri-Star Dallara/Aurora 14 Jeret Schroeder 198 Foyt G Force/Aurora 15 BiliyBoat 197 16 RaulBoesel Treadway G Force/Aurora 197 17 Jason Leffler Treadway G Force/Aurora 194 18 Buzz Calkins Bradley Dallara/Aurora 193 Dreyer&Reinbold G Force/Infiniti 19 Steve Knapp 188 TeamXtreme G Force/Aurora 20 Davey Hamilton 187 Treadway G Force/Aurora 21 Robby McGehee 196 Indy Regency G Force/Aurora 22 Johnny Unser 172 23 Stan Wattles Hemelgarn/Metro Dallara/Aurora PDM Dallara/Aurora 153 24 Sam Hornish, Jr TeamXtreme G Force/Aurora 126 25 Airton Dare 99 26 Robbie Buhl Dreyer&Reinbold G Force/Aurora 97 27 Richie Hearn Pagan Dallara/Aurora 91 Sumar Dallara/Aurora 28 Andy Hillenburg Galles ECR G Force/Aurora 89 29 Al Unser, Jr 74 30 Jimmy Kite Blueprint G Force/Aurora 71 Walker Dallara/Aurora 31 Sarah Fisher Simon G Force/Aurora 69 32 Lyn St. James 67 Menard Dallara/Aurora 33 Greg Ray Time of Race -2h58m59.431s. Fastest Lap- Buddy Lazier(218.494mph)

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SPORTSCOVER

M H P 1 U S V E R C O I. A

9June 2000 0

2000 and Juan,a Race Odyssey Report by PHIL MORRIS AFTER a few false starts

Toyota has finally broken through for its first Champ Car victory, with Juan Montoya taking an absolutely dominant win at the Milwaukee Mile.

The Target/Chip Ganassi driver had led the most laps on the circuit and had been in positiop. to win at least half of the previous five events, but had been unable to seal the deal.

The Colontbian ended an amazing month by becoming the eighth Indianapolis 500 Champion to follow up with a victory at Milwaukee and the first since A1 Unser Jr. did it in 1994.

After qualifying on pole position, his second of the season, Montoya led most of the way, ti-ailing only when a gi’oup of nine cars that were out of pit sequence cycled through to the lead.

The win also gave Toyota a long-awaited first CART vic tory, ending a mn of 306 win less starts.

Michael Andretti appeared poised to make a run at Montoya on the restart, but the lapped car of Mauricio Gugelmin was between the two contenders.

A string of 163mph laps from the Colombian decided the race; Andretti and the chasers were struggling to hit 161.

“I'm really happy,” beamed Montoya.

“We've been unlucky in the last few race. I think it is very good to win for Toyota and Target. I'm really glad to win for Toyota because they've worked so hard.”

Montoya's victory is the sixth different winner (from, different teams!) in as many races, tying a CART record from 1991.

“We tried at the end but we didn't have anything for Montoya,” Andretti said after crossing the line 1.015 sec onds in arrears. “I was work ing really hai-d to catch up.

“Juan was actually having more trouble in traffic than me and I saw that he was stuck there and I knew it. I

was doing everything I could do with five laps to go, but I ran out of laps.”

Andretti started 10th after a miserable qualifying effort, but moved into the lead

group on the strength of strong pit stops by his crew.

“The guys did a great job today,” Andretti said, “I came out after that first stop and said 'wow'.”

“With these wings, you couldn't pass anyone on the track,” he admitted.

Patrick Carpentier started third, finished third, but fought for eveiy inch.

“I am very happy with the job the guys did today,” said the Canadian. “My car was a little conservative to pass the other people.”

Carpentier's team-mate Alex Tagliani retired from the race when a pit fire broke out during what was other wise a routine stop. No crew members were injured, though several were exam ined by CART medical per sonnel.

Starting on the outside of the front row, Dario Franchitti faded in his Team KOOL Green Honda/ Reynard, eventually finish ing sixth.

“We had a loose car all day,” Dario said. “I was turn ing the KOOL car right more than I was turning left. We sorted out the problem a lit tle bit on the last set of tyres, but I could not run close to anybody.

“It was frustrating, l!ut we managed to score some points. I'm looking forward to getting on with the road courses on the schedule.

Hopefully, we can start scor ing seriously.”

Dario's team-mate Paul Tracy retains the series points lead despite a non points scoring 16th-place fin ish. Tracy qualified 6th and ran with the leaders until a driver-through penalty for an improper pit-lane entry dropped him from con tention.

Points: Tracy 69, Moreno 52, Vasser 48, Montoya,Andretti 44, de Ferran 43,Brack 39, Fernandez 38, Papis 31, Franchitti 28.

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Oh, what a feeling! Juan Montoya finally broke through for Toyota’s first Champ Car win. (Photo by RaceAccess)

Roger gets his century

AFTER 29 years of racing - and much recent frustration -Team Penske finally broke through for its 100th„win wheaGil de Ferran took the chequered flag at the delayed Nazareth race.

De Ferran’s Reynard Honda headed a rejuvenated Mauricio Gugelmin (Reynard Mercedes), Kenny Brack (Reynard Ford), Juan Montoya (Lola Toyota) and Adrian Fernandez(Reynard Ford) in the rescheduled race, which was held over from April 9 because the original date was snowed out.

For Roger Penske and his team, it was a victory that was as'sweet as the day at Pocono back in 1971 when Mark Donohue drove a McLaren to Penske's first victory.

"It's fantastic when you think about all the time and effort," Penske said in Victory Lane."We've struggled a bit in these past few years. We made a lot of changes but the team stayed behind us."

The victory arrived almost three years to the day (and 54 events) after posting its 99th victory at Gateway, with Paul Tracy on 24 May 1997.

It took 1099 days: Gil de Ferran ended Penske’s dry spell with a strong win at Nazareth.

"1 tell you, it's a very special day and I think big things are in order," said de Ferran after the race.

"It's just fantastic. I have a knot in my throat and if I keep talking I might actually cry.'

With just three laps remaining, de Ferran held off a strong challenge from Mauricio Gugelmin to take the lead. Although it wasn't a win, second place does mark the best finish for both Gugelmin and for a Mercedes-powered racecar this season.

"It was a great car all day," Gugelmin said."We

managed to save fuel throughout the race, and the engine was really strong throughout the race. Right at the end I had all the fuel I wanted. I was a little bit loose, as was everybody else."

Juan Montoya led from the pole and looked like he would go all the way to the finish line until bad luck put him out of contention. First, a bad pitstop put him back in back in fifth.

Later, on a restart following a yellow flag, he got caught up with the spinning car of Michel Jourdain Jr which resulted in damage to

the front wing of his car.

The team replaced the front wing and fiose assembly in a fast pitstop and Montoya went on the finish fourth.

Points leader Paul Tracy (KOOL Honda Reynard) finished 10th after running with the leaders until he spun avoiding the spin involving Jourdain, Jr. and Montoya.

His team-mate, Dario Franchitti was a victim of cold tyres. He spun at the start of the race, ending his day before the green flag flew.

-PHIL MORRIS

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16 9 June 2000 The youngster lost his front wing but tried to continue, only to end up crashing at the Swimming Pool later in the lap.

As those chasing began to fall out of the race, Junqueira pressed on, stretching his lead over Davies to five seconds by lap 15 - all despite suffering from a bad cold.

Saelens was tagging along, his car apparently undam aged, while Bernoldi led a train of cars comprising Minassian.

Webber,

yard dog -k

Follow the leader: Williams test driver Bruno Junqeira won his third F3000 race in succession.

Not off to a great start: Sebastien Bourdais started well but was taken out by David Saelens in a first corner fracas. Bourdais’ day was over, Saeiens continued to finish third.

Spinning a web: Our own Mark Webber impressed, qualifying seventh in his first visit to Monaco. In the race Webber was up to fourth when, two laps from home, his ill-handling European/Arrows Loia ended up in the wall at Tabac.

(Photos by Sutlon-lmages)

By JOE SAWARD THERE have been five races this year in Formula 3000 and Bruno Junqueira has won three of them in his Petrobras Junior Team entry. The last three.

He leads the Formula 3000 Championship by a mammoth 20 points while his title rivals, Nicholas Minassian and Mark Webber, have struggled to keep up. If the Brazilian loses the title, it will be remarkable.

Webber was out of luck in the Principality. After qualifying seventh (and crashing at the end of the sessi.in) he was a solid when the fourth European Arrows Lola got away from him for his second straight DNF. At theclear startthat of the year it was consisten cy would be important and

Junqueira has been very con sistent. But, for the second consecutive race, it was Super Nova Racing’s David Saelens who was on pole position. He was nearly matched by another man new to Formula 3000 on the streets of Monaco, Sebastien Bourdais in one of the Gauloises Formula cars. / “I am very happy because this is my first race ever,'at Monaco,” he said. “Of course my experience at Pau and Macau helped me a lot but it remains a challenge to com plete a clear lap here.”

Junqueira was third while fourth went to stand-in Jamie Davies, who has been with Fortec since Mario Haberfeld’s accident in Barcelona. Davies raced in the Monaco F3000 race last year but it was still a good effort.

There was also a good showing (finally) from McLaren’s junior team leader Stephane Sarrazin in his MySAP.com entry in his third Monaco F3000 race.

accidents in his MySAP.com car and failed to qualify, as (fad Junqueira’s team-mate, Jaime Melo, and Kristian Kolby (DAMS), who had an inopportune engine failure.

Everyone expected trouble at the first corner and, sure enough, there was some when Bourdais made a bet ter start than Saelens. He was ahead going into Ste Devote and Saelens should have backed off but the Then came another new boy Enrique Bernoldi (Red Bull Junior Team) and Webber in his Europeian Arrows entry, one of several drivers who had crashes in qualifying.

Michael “Even Schumacher has brought back a few broken cars here,” he said.

Eighth on the grid was Ricardo Mauricio (Red Bull Junior Team) with the top 10 being completed by Minassian (Super Nova Racing) and Kevin McGarrity in the fastest of the two Nordic Racing entries.

Further down the order Marc Hynes, the British F3

Champion, made a better impression than he did at the Nurburgring, having taken over the World Racing Team seat previously occu pied by the deeply ‘out-of depth’ Hidetoshi Mitsusada.

Given his lack of experi ence, Hynes’s Indonesian WRT team-mate, Ananda Mikola, did a good job to qualify right behind Hynes.

Fabrice Walfisch, a fron trunner at some races this year, was in a mess once again and qualified his Team Astromega car 23rd. This'was not impressive but rather bet ter than Jordan test driver Tomas Enge, who had two

McGarrity and Franck Montagny(DAMS).

Andrea Piccini (Kid Jensen Racing) and Soheil Ayari (Coloni) chased, but wiped each other out on lap 18 when they tangled at Ste Devote. This left Justin Wilson (Nordic) to attack Montagny and, on lap 29, he managed to get ahead at the hairpin.

The high attrition rate continued with car after car hitting the barriers. Hynes had a big one on lap 31 com ing on to the main straight and, at the same moment, Bernoldi smashed into the wall at Tabac. A Safety Car was deployed while the wreckage was cleared up.

Hynes was shaken up but unhurt although his car was heavily damaged. Only 13 cars were now running...

When the race was restai-ted, McGarrity took advan tage of a mistake by Minassian at Ste Devote and grabbed fifth, while Montagny retook his place from Wilson at Mirabeau.

The closing laps saw Webber in trouble and McGarrity, Minassian, Montagny, Wilson and Fernando Alonso (Team Astromega) running in a queue behind him. With two laps to go Webber lost con trol at Tabac and crashed, ending what had been a promising run.

Victory went to a very tired Junqueira with Davies having shown his class to take second. Hopefully he will find another drive when Haberfeld returns to action at the next event.

Saelens was third with McGarrity fourth, Minassian picking up two points for fifth and Montagny getting the last point.

Belgian foohshly (iid not. He tipped Bourdais into a spin and delayed himself allowing Junqueira, Davies and Sarrazin to get ahead. The delay also allowed Saelens to come under pressure from Bernoldi and Webber.

Back at the start, Walfisch was out, having stalled his car, and probably his cai'eer, on the line.

The order remained rmchanged at the front until the fifth lap when Sarrazin’s car suddenly cut out at Portier. He was trying to get out of the way of those behind him but misjudged the manoeuvre and turned into the patch of Mauricio.

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17

The rubbish tip gang, Chocolate and Willy Grover

passes through Beaulieu-sur-Mer where he used to live or one comes down from the autoroute and passes the bottom of the La Turbie hillclimb course, on which he starred on many occasions.

And then you get down into the town itself and reach the hallowed tarmac where he would have made his name if he had not been such a secretive fellow. He won the first Monaco Grand Prix in 1929 but if you look through the record books you will not find the name. He called himself ‘Williams’.

I have always found it fascinating that a racing driver would want to hide his real identity.

Why is there a need for a secret? I suppose it is the journalist in me.

Anyway, about 12 years ago I started casually researching the story of the first winner of the Monaco Grand Prix and the story grew and grew. I met his brother and discovered that I knew almost as much about ‘Williams’ as he did. It was a very strange feeling.

And over the years, it appears, I have become the world’s greatest expert on Willy Grover; Grand Prix driver and British secret agent.

One day when I get my act together the book I have written about him will be published and I will be able to go and research something else.

Areas of conjecture: Jenson Button was the subject of much chat in the Monaco paddock.

Will he be in a Williams-BMW or a Jaguar-Cosworth next season?

And what really happens on those large, sea-faring vessels?

Does Joe Saward know?

And, if he does, would he tell us? ...

(Photos by Sutton-Imagcs)

T

he first time I went to the Monaco Grand Prix, life did not seem to be very glamorous. I was sleeping in a racing truck and my landlord was either Eddie Jordan or his bitter enemy (at the time) Gary Anderson.

It was best to switch between the two so as to avoid being caught in the crossfire which had something to do with a supply of tyres which one had purloined from the other. The Formula 3 paddock in those days might have been in the Principality but I doubt it. It felt more like Italy and it was rubbish dump.

But we were younger then and happy enough to be racing with the big boys of Formula 1 and so we accepted our lot in life. Most of the people who were there then are in FI now or they have been and gone.

We were all mad but we shared the passion. There were no wheeler-dealing middle men or overly-tailored managers. There was never enough money and a lot of the drivers used to live in the trucks or camper vans. Those who stayed in hotels did not always manage to pay the bills and so could be seen sliding down drainpipes on Sunday mornings.

The Formula 3 rubbish tip was too far from the Monaco circuit to walk - unless you had an hour to spare - and so the only way to get back and forth was to hitch rides on the sidepods of the cars, in or on support vehicles or on trolleys which were towed behind any available vehicle.

And so one morning I arrived at the circuit riding on the bonnet of Mr Anderson’s car. The police did whistle a lot but they could not run fast enough to stop us. Gary then decided that it would be quite entertaining to see if he could make me fall off and so by the time we reached the chicane I was not sitting on the bonnet looking cool but rather lying across it, hanging on to the windscreen wipers and screaming at Gary to stop behaving like a lunatic.

I distinctly remember in the Swimming Pool section there were people in the grandstands applauding the show. I do not think I was ever as happy to go into the Monaco pitlane as I was when we arrived that morning.

We have all got a little older since then. And now Eddie Jordan tries to forget that we knew each other back then, for fear that I will remember something bad about him. He has become rich and Gary has done well too. Their kids

M

have grown up and now make me feel old and I have a wide-eyed/kid of my own who I took for a tour of the paddock and tried to convince that Formula 1 cars are made in ovens.

Just like chocolate cakes. My son likes chocolate cakes but there was no way that he would believe that you put cars in ovens and bake them. And so I went to find someone impressive to tell my son that cars really are made that way.

To a six-year-old, Anderson is . an impressive sight, a giant in search of a beanstalk. Yes, he said, looking down on the little fellow. Daddy is right. We cook the cars in big ovens. He nodded. You don’t argue with Gary Anderson.

My little cynic failed to believe that also I knew a man called Dr Chocolate and so off we went to Tabac Corner to find the good doctor’s boat. Dr Chocolate has done well in the cake trade and he always has a yacht in the harbour at Monaco where there is always a party going a storm.

Dr Chocolate is mad about Formula 1 and so he’s a breath of fresh air compared to some folk in the paddock. He has the passion that we had back in the rubbish tip days and he has the boat. And why not drop by for a quick drink and tell the doctor a bit of the latest gossip. The really good stuff.

Is Williams going to drop Jenson Button for Juan-Pablo Montoya? he asked. Could Jenson be driving for Jaguar next year? Both stories were possible,.] said. In FI

everything is possible. You just never know. You can never be sure.

Things are announced and then never happen while other things happen and are never announced.

This was highlighted again the other day by the Frost team which put out a press release stating that its technical director Alan Jenkins “has not resigned” as had been reported.

“Oh,” said one my colleagues in the Press Room, where cynicism has been elevated to an art form.

“He’s out then.”

The statement added that Jenkins would not be at the race that weekend. In the paddock there was some confusion amongst the French press. He is gone? they asked. Yes, I replied. He has been given “le drop kick”. But, they said, look there is a statement from the team saying that he is not leaving.

“Eh bah non,” 1 replied. “It does not say that. It says he did not resign. It does not say that he has not been fired. They are trying to disguise the fact that the team is in a state of civil war because it is a big weekend for sponsors or whatever. No-lies have been told.

You just have to read it carefully.”

The truth and lies have become completely blurred in Formula 1 to such an extent that some team bosses do not seem to know the difference. A while back I was talking to Bernie Ecclestone about one team boss.

“Yes,” he said with a steely glint irr his eye. “When he says ‘Good Morning’, 1 look at my watch to make sure.” z.

There were lots of stories in the paddock at Monaco about teams being sold to new owners. There are, it seems, a lot of buyers out there and quite a few of them have money. Formula 1 will be better off without some of the current gang and will probably become a little more honest and a little more open under corporate management. The grey men may be duller than some of current team bosses, but the fear of getting caught telling lies often pushes company men to tell the truth.

The funny thing is that the corporate men are rather keen on hiring wilder young men to drive the cars because they want their stars to have charisma and to stand out and not remark that “it is not appropriate for me to comment” when asked any question which has a word with three syllables in it.

Gerhard Berger was one of the rubbish tip gang and he is always good for a quote. At Monaco he remarked that BMW should pay Jenson Button’s recent speeding fine because he had advertised the fact that a BMW diesel car can get up to 230km/h. Within seconds the moralists in the Media Centre were up on their soap boxes, preaching about how Button is a public figure and how he should behave in a more responsible manner.

Well, let me tell you a story...

The first thing1 come I thinktoabout every year when Monaco is a man called Willy Grover. I rarely even get close to Monaco before 1 think about him because on the way into the Principality one either

ention ‘Williams’ in an F1 paddock and everyone immediately starts talking about Button and Montoya and what Frank is going'to do. And will the speeding story make a difference...

Well, consider this. Back in the 1920s Willy Grover and his wife Yvonne used to drive around Europe, going to and from the races. There were constantly frustrated by havinglo stop at all the railway crossings and so Grover would drive at high speed up to the barriers. He would then shout out “Duck!” to Yvonne and they would go straight through without stopping.

I met Grover’s niece and she told me about the adventures of Willy and Yvonne had on the streets of Monaco.

‘They would sometimes go driving in two cars,” she said.‘They used to jump all the red lights. And she would be stopped by the police because she was always in the second car.

‘What about him?” she would complain.‘Why don’t you stop him?”

And the police would reply; “He is Williams, we don’t stop Williams".

Yes, it was dangerous but it was colourful. Driving fast is not so different to sword-swallowing, fire breathing and climbing mountains.

If you know what you are doing then you will never be close to the limit. Perhaps, people argue, someone will womble into your path and cause an accident. Yes, perhaps - but is it endangering life any more than those troglodyte twerps who disappear into caves and get lost and expect to be rescued? Or those who climb cliffs are have to be saved by brave men in helicopters?

Formula 1 is not the place to discuss right and wrong. Button paid his fine. End of story.

Besides, how can you take a sport seriously when they cook their cars like chocolate cakes?

18 9June 2000 IT’S a first in the history of the Australian Touring Car Championship (or Shell Championship Series as it is now known)and ‘IT’ leaves a lot of questions with not many answers until ‘IT’ has been run and won.

So what is ‘IT’?

‘IT’ is the Canberra reverse grid race this weekend, a race which is something new to V8 Supercar racing. The second race, while still critical, has even greater consequences in terms of weekend and championship results, as.jt determines the order for the double-points third race, which haS not only a compulsoty tyre change, but a compulsory fuel Stop, a la Adelaide 500, as well.

There will be a compulsory pit stop for tyres for good measure and add to that the amount of points on offer (60 points for a win in race one and two and 120 for a race three triumph) and this is where the 2000 Shell Championship Series could take a turn.

So what’s the better strategy for the quick guys belting their way through from the back? Will they pit as soon as the window opens and use the clear track to pick up time, and, possibly capitalise on any Safety Car periods, or run their tyres and fuel right down and pit later on?

Added to the endless possibilities are the potential front runners on the race two grid. Can an Ashby or Donaher win a race in this unique format? Or will the professional pit crews put paid to that with quicker pit stops?

What of the nature of the circuit layout? The tight confines and concrete walls are of typical street-track motif and the fourth gear underpass corner could see a bit of a work out if somebody gets it wrong.

The ultimate question thougl i - is it for the better or worse? It all depends where you are on the grid ...

Motorsport News couldn’t warm up its crystal-ball so we asked the people who the format affects the mostthe drivers -for their views on the race, as well as how many coats and pairs of thermal underwear and gloves they’re packing for the trip ... por championship front P runners Mark Skaife and Garth Tander, conservation for the first two races is the key to success in the double points all-out slugfest in race three.

“We’ll try not to get involved in anybody else’s accidents,” says Tander.

“If there is an accident there’ll be cars everywhere!

We’ll press on when it’s available - survival is the key because the races are reasonably long (compared to a three-race sprint round) as well as pit stops, so there’s plenty of chances to get in front.

“You will just have to keep your eyes open -just don’t drive into the cloud of smoke Days of Triunder-style!

“Everybody will be in the same situation so, even if

Reverse '

G

You're after as many points as you can get in Canberra and there's a reverse grid race coming up in Race 2. What do you do? AARON NOONAN asked some of our top drivers.

Betcha Paul Weissel you do have a bad race two, ^ (HRT PR man) didn’t teach you’ve got 200 kilometres to^' make it back up in race threk his boys to say that too often “Pitting early and doing So does ‘The Kid’ expect your stop before any Pace any favours from the slower Cars will be an advantage, cars? just like it was in Adelaide.

“No, not/really. I’m not “I don’t expect anyone to get out of the way - everyone expecting anyone to move over and let anyone go past has a right to race. If they - they’re there to race as (the Level 2 drivers) are much as we are. blocking, then perhaps they “ The thing I’m concerned might let some of us go by about is the spectators and and join on the end of the those watching on TV and queue.” making sure that they’re aware of the rules and what n the other hand, Craig Lowndes’ pot of golden we’re doing,” he says. luck has dried up in recent Surely, though, red cars rounds and the Canberra go quick when they start at race is critical in title terms.

Bugger up Canberra (or someone else do it for you) and you can kiss the Shell crown goodbye. However, Lowndes isn’t quite doing that just yet.

“Hopefully, for that second race, we’re going to be somewhere at the back of the pack,” he says.

O

do with survival. If they don’t, then they're going to risk getting a punt up the arse.

“Most will move over because they know at the end of the day they’re going to get passed and if they make it easier, there’s more chance of them having a straight car.

“You’re going to get past a few easily because you’ve got a hell of a lot of car speed on them but apart from that, who knows?”

“There will be a lot of crashes, more so than Adelaide, and more Safety Cars.”

the back as Adelaide in the past two years has proven?

“Yeah, that’s our problem, we start there too often!” he laughs. isn’t While too accustomed HRT’s champ to disappointment, one man who knows how it feels to be starting from the back after dramas is Ford pilot Paul Radisich.

‘The last race is going to sort it all out. The reverse grid won’t lend itself well because of the layout. From the sheer factor of the third race being so important I’d like to think that most people

7f they don't move over, then they're going to risk getting a punt up the arse Russell Ingall fi

Situation normal: HRT leads FTR, Valvoline, Mitre 10 and Ingall. But will that be the situation on the grid in Canberra? (Phoio by John crote)

are going to use their heads.

‘The last round (Darwin) was just pathetic from what I saw of the people in the latter half of the field. I’d have to say that that tone is probably going to be carried through, because the people down there are not thinking.

“My gut feeling is that people will use their heads.

If there’s going to be any carnage it will possibly be in the third race.”

Meanwhile, Russell Ingall has conceded that his title chase is over.

“Championship’s buggered. Darwin was the last shot for sure. That was it.’

So are you conceding defeat?

“It depends on what you mean by ‘conceding defeat’.

As far as the championship goes, if you were a betting man, you’d be pretty keen to put some money down on me but we’ll just go for race wins now.

“Canberra could knock a few (championship contenders) out but we’re not talking one driver, we’re talking three that have got a fair gap on me. There’s always Bathurst and that’s the one we’re gearing up for now.”

What’s the gameplan?

“I don’t know. You get your backmarkers no matter what. If you stop early you’re going to cop backmarkers down the track whereas, if you do it earlier, you’re clear of most of the backmarkers for a while,” he says.

‘They won’t(move over) and neither should they, because they’re still fighting for their position. On the other hand, I suppose it’s to

lenn Seton is on the improve. The FTR leader is getting better as each round goes by but he says that Canberra is “definitely a race you go into cautiously when there’s so much up for grabs with the championship.”

Seton doesn’t see the Canberra event as being the turning point though.

“I reckon another couple of rounds will be the turning point. Sure, this is going to be important because there’s a lot more points up for grabs but I don’t think it’s a turning point.

“I haven’t seen the joint yet, so I can’t comment on passing areas. It sounds like it’s reasonably tight and rough too. Skaifey knows more about the joint than anyone ...”

While hisvery counterparts are all complementary about the reverse-grid format, Steve Ellery is dead against it.

“I’m bloody terrified. It’s the most stupid thing I’ve ever heard of,” he said.

“It seems like we’re going back to club level racing. I’m really,concerned, with the likely possibility of slower cars being approached by really fast cars into the corners, which doesn’t usually happen.”

B

ut what about the other end of the spectrum?

Mick Donaher has proved to be one of the surprise packets in the SCS in the last two years with some stunning drives in the Ultra Tune/TDK machine.

Canberra is his best chance of improving his best SCS performance to date of 11th in race two at Winton last year.

“Lately, we’ve been running in the 15th to 20th place ballpark so, if we run there (in Canberra), it’ll put us in the same position anyway!” says Donaher.

So will he move over?

“My heart says ‘no way in the world’ but my head will say ‘I’ll let him have some space.

“The commercial realities will hit if we’re in front. I guess we’ll stretch it out as far as possible.”

S

0 the general consensus is that there’s going to be blocking, crashes, some caution. Safety Cars, and lots of strategies at work.

You could easily think they are talking about what goes on inside Parliament House rather than in the streets surrounding it...

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2D 9June 2000

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When Ford Australia President Geoff Polites threatened to pull out of V8 Supercar racing last month it made a lot of people look at the role of manufacturers in motor racing.

PHIL BRANAGAN looks at the changing role of the Big Players in the sport.

■TT^VERY month, it M seems, Motorsport Ji—^Ne'Ws runs stories about the possibility of one car manufacturer being taken over by another.

We seem to be in the decade of the takeover and the effects that moves in the boardrooms are having on the world’s racetracks are becoming more and more important.

Internationally, it is hai'd to keep up with which badge is owned by which corporation.

If, on the way to work, a Volvo S40 cuts off your Jaguar XKR, slagging off a Yolvo driver’ is not quite fair; after all, you’re both driving ‘Ford.s’...

Last month’s comments by Ford Australia President Geoff Polites that the compa ny could conceivably puU out of V8 Supercar racing have caused people to focus on the relationship between the companies and the sport. It makes interesting reading.

The relationship between manufacturers and motor racing started with the very first car - or, more accurate ly, the very second car.

Manufacturers mostly want to link themselves closely with motorsport. ‘Racing improves the breed’; ‘Win on Sunday, sell on Monday’, and so on. But there can be an upside as well as a downside to racing.

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ne man who has wide experience with manufacturer support in Australia is Fred Gibson who, after retiring from a driving career which saw much success with Ford’s works team, saw further championships wins managing teams for Nissan and then Holden.

Gibson takes Polites’ word with a grain of salt; “When I heard Pohtes comment that Ford was going to puU out of the sport, my reaction was, ‘So be it’” Gibson says.

“Okay, we ai-e going to lose money out of the sport, as far as the Ford competitors losing Ford money. But it’s the same thing with Holden - that’s the commercial business decision you make.

“That means you just have to go and find sponsors with other money outside of the manufacturers. I don’t think that we should be rehant on Ford or Holden’s money for om- sport to prosper.”

Gibson sees one possible avenue to open up the category.

“It doesn’t have to be Ford, or Holden only. I tliink that in 12 months time, or 18, 4t should be opened up to who ever wants to compete in the category, so it’s just not a Ford or Holden class. I’ve always said that.

“The sport is a touring car series and I think it should be opened up. But I think that

Stable stables: Holden and Ford have leading roles in the local V8 Supercar series but will their role change? (Dirk Kiynsmith) any new manufacturer should be allowed to come in but I think that AVESCO should be able to ask for a financial commitment from them before they ai'e admitted.

“It’s got to the stage where the class should be run com mercially and as a proper business venture.”

Further, Fred suggests that changes should be made to the structure of the sport at the moment; “I think'^that the board should be the best people for the board, not people chosen on whether they are Holden people or Ford people. There shouldn’t be any alliance to Ford or Holden taken into it; they should be chosen on whether they are the best people.”

Re-inventing yourself: The old DTM series ruled the roost In Europe until costs went through the ceil ing. The new version, which started at Hockenheim last week, has much tighter cost controls.

Bothweli

What we have done in Australia is have a vety tight rein on the regulations and the thing is things can’t get out of control.

Fred Gibson

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After having had experi ence with both sides of the fence, Gibson’s comments on Ford and Holden are interest ing, to say the least.

“Ford aren’t involved in motorsport and Holden are!

“Go back years ago - Ford were involved as a works team and pulled the plug and I went to Ford, which they wanted me to do, when the V8 class started. I said, ‘Guys, I want to stay with Ford and be involved’, and afterwards, when we had gone with Holden, people asked, ‘Why

IB- %

didn’t we go with Ford?’ It was because commercially, they weren’t in the game.

“They weren’t talking the numbers you’ve got to talk to go motor racing and weren’t spending the money that they should have been spending a few years ago to be involved in the sport.

“Ford have never spent a lot of money in the sport; Holden have always spent the money that they should have.

“Do we really want Ford and Holden to be the saviours of the sport? Do you want to need the manufacturers to survive? I don’t think you do.

I don’t think we should.

‘They (Ford) are not really in motorsport. I don’t care what they say. Holden would support more people in racing that what Ford does.”

Sometimes level of sup port from the a manufacturer can dictate the health - or, even, the very survival - of a championship. The German DTM 2000 series, which started at Hockenheim two weeks ago, has come about solely through the support of Mercedes-Benz, Opel and Audi, the latter two at the same time withdrawing from the German Super Touring Championship, which is now as good as dead.

Ironically, the original DTM/ITC series in the 1990s survived the loss of Audi and boomed with the support of M-B, Opel and Alfa Romeo but, with the stratospheric budgets needed to be competi tive restricting participation to factory teams only, once one manufacturer decided to withdraw in 1996 the other two quickly followed and the series was dead almost overnight. , “The whole thing there is that it was out of control any way and it was out of control because of the manufactur ers,” comments Gibson.

“They were all trying outspend each other and win with a set of regulations which were very open. Now they have come back because there is a set regulations that are a lot tighter that what they were before. We’ll see how long it goes before it starts getting out of control again.

“What we have done in Australia is have a very tight rein on the regulations and the thing is things can’t get out of control.

“That is what happened in Group A. It was a matter of getting out of control.”

That is unhkely to happen in Australia. While the V8 Supercar series does rely on the support of Ford and Holden, its does so in a limit ed capacity and under a set of regulations that limits the advantage that a team with huge funding has over one with a more modest budget,

0

ne effect that the ratio nalisation of the world motor racing industry will have on the sport is to reduce the number of brand names racing each other in any par ticular series. The British Toming Car Championship is a good example of this.

During the ’90s the BTCC

i

9June 2000

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hosted worlcs or works-backed teams fi'om 12 manufacturers - Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota, Vauxhall and Volvo. Now there are three three-car teams from Ford, Vauxhall and Honda. Ford will never race against Volvo or Mazda again because they are all the same company. Ditto for Renault and Nissan.

Alan Gow, whose TOGA company oversaw the incredi ble boom in the class, sees a degree fef inevitability in the down-sizing of-the Super Touring class.

“Any top-level motorsport is reliant, and always wiU be, on manufacturers,” says Gow. “Name one part of motorsport which isn’t - it always has to be that way. Without manufacturer support you don’t get the sort of invest-

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You cannot expect any manufacturer to maintain a constant involvement in any motorsport program forever Alan Gow

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ment you need in motorsport.

“But you cannot expect any manufacturer to maintain a constant involvement in any motorsport program forever.

There’s always going to be change. It’s unrealistic to expect othei-wise.

“But I think that the big thing coming up on the manufacturer front is the polarisa tion of manufactur-

Days gone by: You won’t be seeing 10 manufacturers in the BTCC any more, or Volvo racing Ford.

Volvo is now part of Ford - and so is Jaguar Grand Prix.

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ers. There’s less and less manufacturers now than there ever used to be. In tour ing car racing, for instance, you’ll never get 10 manufac turers racing against each other hke we did in the BTCC a few years ago. There aren’t 10 manufacturers now.

“Ford is a very good exam ple. They made a decision about how they were going to position their various brands.

They want Jaguar in Formula One, Aston Martin in sportscars, Ford as a brand name in World Rally and Volvo to do touring cars.

“That’s fine, but 'it also means that there are brands which will not be competing with each other any more.

That goes for Renault and Nissan and a few others.”

Another factor in the reduc tion in the number of manu facturers in the sport is that

many companies are now generally in the control of businessmen whose first thoughts may be profits, not sport.

Are car companies run by people who are genuine car and motor racing enthusi asts?

“Less and less now,” agrees Gow. “They used to be, and they all used to have a Motorsport Manager. But more and more Motorsport Managers are now part of the marketing program.”

What does it mean for the.^ future? In Austraha,the sport will continue along its current path but, unless Toyota and Mitsubishi (now a part of DaimlerChrysler) want to come a play V8 racing, the sport will rely on evolution, not revolution.

Internationally, the growth of the sport seems assured.

The DTM2000 series is off to

21

Locked gates and the unemployment queue THE history of car manufacturers’ involvement in the sport has ebbed and flowed for almost a century, with countless billions of doiiars being spent to reinforce the image of one manufacturer or other. There is no doubt that there have been huge successes and some significant failures along the way.

Inexorably linked to this has been the fortunes of not only the manufacturers but their teams and drivers, as well as the health of the sport itself or the categories within the sport.

One of the most visible examples of a manufacturer-backed racing project ending ingloriously was Nissan’s IMSA sportscar program.

After dominating the US scene in the late 1980s and early ’90s the program, run

by Nissan Performance Technology Incorporated, had its sights directed at the next step in the ladderIndy Car racing.

The man who had the most success with the team, winning four GTP Drivers' titles, was Aussie Geoff Brabham. He takes up the story; “The team had decided to make the move from sportscars to CART. They put together a budget, presented it to Nissan Japan and waited for the green light. At the same time, Nissan Japan recorded the first financial

a promising start, with BMW likely to watch proceedings with one eye on getting involved - unless the compa ny is swallowed by one of the world’s mega-car companies.

In open-wheel racing the manufacturers major Formula One and ChampCar programs are not being fund ed for the fun of it, the involvememt of manufacturers in, ^the World Rally Championship continues to grow and sportscars seem to be heading in the right direc tion.

And, with Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, BMW and Honda about to face off against Toyota and Renault in Grand Prix rac ing, just how bad can things be?

loss in its history...

“Two hundred and sixty people went home on Friday night and came back on Monday morning to find the gates padlocked.

Security guards escorted them inside to collect their belongings. It wasn’t a total shock - the team management knew it was coming and so did I. “Nissan had taken over the team and it just ballooned out. Of the 260 people there 200 were useless They had to have purchase orders and follow all the corporate guidelines, which just doesn’t work.

"Very few manufacturers can operate a team inhouse. It doesn’t fit; there’s no such thing as overtime in motor racing.

“So manufacturers use smaller teams - Ford with Stewart’s, BMW with Williams, Fiat with Ferrari, which is more like a manufacturer team anyway.

Peugeot was an exception though; their sportscar program was very successful.

"From a driver’s point of view it’s great; driving for a manufacturer-owned team usually means that the deal is pretty good. But in a big company things change.

They can-puil out just like that. You have to know it's not a long-term thing."

And, of course, things worked out for Brabham.

Peugeot called, he won Le Mans, and the rest is history. * - PHIL BRANAGAN

The 90S to Paris: Brabham leads a Peugeot 1-2-3 at Le Mans.

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Best antidote; Coulthard put a tough month behind him with a strong Monaco win, leap-frogging Hakkinen in the World Championship.

(Photos by RaceAccess)

David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen were having a war of words when they arrived at Monaco = but it was the Scot left with all the silverware.

JOE SAWARD reports.

w?

Pole master: Michael Schumacher led qualifying and had the race by the throat when his rear suspension failed.

(Photo by Sutton-lmages)

I C H A E L Schumacher may consider that he was robbed at Monaco in 2000 but as the winner David Coulthard pointed out to finish first, you do have to finish.

Michael’s Ferrari cracked an exhaust and the heat destroyed the car’s rear- suspension. When it went, Michael was about half a minute ahead. But it went and that was the end of that.

And thank goodness it was, because the result has breathed life into the World Championship once again. If Schumacher had won it would have been five wins in seven races and a massive lead over his rivals.

Coulthard’s victory leapfrogged him ahead of Mika Hakkinen and took him to

of within 12 points Schumacher. Things are getting interesting...

Qualifying t is a httle-known fact that

Ithe first motor sporting

event after World War II took place at Monte 'Carlo before the war in Asia had even ended. The fighting in Emrope had been stopped for some months and the Continent was beginning to sort itself out as refugees headed for home and large number of soldiers were beginning to get bored.

And so it was that an American officer came up with the idea of holding a ‘regularity trial’ for the Jeeps and CMC trucks of the 36th American Infantry Division on the old Monaco Grand Prix circuit on 5 August, 1945.

Of course, a lot has

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9June 2000

Sj(o changed in 55 years, but one thing that hasn’t is the fight between cramped, high-priced real estate and cramped, high-priced cars. On paper, the two seem completely incompatible.

The racing itself is as it has always been on the streets of Monaco. Mind-boggling. You can say that overtaking is impossible and that it is bor ing but watching the stars threading their cars through the streets, kissing the barri ers and hopping the kerbs is still one of the wonders of the world. You can say that they are all mad but you cannot help but,be impressed. It is madly glamorous and deeply impressive.

And when they get down to qualifying you get to see the FI drivers at their finest.

Nowhere must one be more precise or concentrate harder.

A blink or a sneeze and you are in the wall and even if the speeds are lower than at other races, you can still have a big Mt. It is not so much about the cars but rather about the tal ent and commitment of the diivers. And so on Thursday it was no big surprise to see Hakkinen and Michael fastest.

Schumacher Coulthard was third quickest and Eddie Irvine was up there for a change in his Jaguar.

Jean Alesi was also in the nmning in liis Prost-Peugeot.

On Saturday morning as everyone else was getting their cars right for qualifying, Michael Schumacher was doing race testing and one could not help but feel that the Ferrari star was totally at ease and confident that he had the measure of the oppo sition.

In the afternoon it was going to be close. Only six dri vers opted for the harder tyres, most keen to qualify well because of the problems overtaking in the race. The McLarens and FeiTaris went for the harder rubber which was less marginal for the race. They could afford to make the choice because they knew that they would be able to qualify well. They were joined by Jenson Button in his Williams-BMW, a confi dent decision from one so young, and by Gaston Mazzacane who was presum ably dreaming of driving through the entire field on Sunday to win the race, just as Olivier Panis did a few years ago.

Tire tyres were reckoned to make a difference of perhaps a second a lap and so some of the soft runners would look better than perhaps they real ly were.

Schumacher never really looked threatened for pole position and ended up twotenths faster than his nearest rival. He was pushing hard

Only at Monaco; Mika Hakkinen was hoping for a good run on the Monte Carlo streets but didn't get one.

The red catapult; Schumacher made a brilliant start - three times but he left without adding to his four wins.

(Photos by RaceAcoess)

lu

and brushed the barriers on several occasions.

“The car was not perfectly balanced on the first two runs,” he said. But the third run was a good one, without

traffic.

“I had some understeer which cost me one or two tenths,” he admitted.

But it did not matter. He was on pole position. And bet ter than that Mika Hakkinen was back in fifth place on the grid. The Finn complained that every time he went out he ran into traffic and it was not until his last ran that he managed to heave himself up from 17th on the grid to fifth.

Mika was slightly better off than Schumacher’s Ferrari Rubens team-mate Barrichello, who lined up sixth on the grid. He did not blame traffic. The car was not very good and he was strugghng.

“I did all I could,” he said.

“There are some aspects of the set-up to improve on as the car feels nervous.”

Coulthard was third, fourtenths slower than Schumacher but not as quick as he had hoped to be.

“I must admit I was expect ing to be on the front row,” he said. “I was probably a bit too

Yellow, peril?

The Jordans flew in qualifying, with Trulli second and H-HF (right) fourth.

Were they running Honda’s newest engines?

(Photos by Sutton-lmages)

t.

'

Gloves

STRUT BRACES

But then again Jean Alesi is a star and the team has been making progress, despite internal ructions. More impressive still was the fact that he had done it in the spare car after his own had electrical problems.

“Jean drove a quite fantas tic lap,” said Alain Prost.

The same could not be said for Nick Heidfeld who has been a big disappointment this year and continues to be so. He stuffed his car heavily into the wall at La Eascasse on Thursday and then went off again on Saturday morn ing and was pushed by a mai’shal and was then not allowed to continue. You can blame the marshal, of course, but if Heidfeld had not gone off... He was 18th on the grid.

Continued on page 24

Michael Schomacher in Formula I and \ 4 times World

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car clearly has a mechanical problem and he cannot bene fit by continuing on the racing line,” raved Frentzen.

“This not only endangers other drivers but in this case it also rained the final quali fying runs for Jamo and me.”

Stdl, second and fourth was a good effort for Jordan, which has not been as com petitive as it had hoped to be so far this year.

The usually ebullient Eddie Jordan was rather subdued, realising perhaps that the tyre situation did not favour his men for race day.

“Let’s wait and see the result of the race before we celebrate too much,” he said.

If the top six was scram bled but otherwise fairly pre dictable seventh position on the grid was a huge surprise for we are not used to seeing Prost-Peugeots in the top 10.

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cautious on my first run to make sure that I got a decent time. We improved the c'Sr and I definitely had the potential to go quicker but I got caught up in traffic or yel low flags on all my subse quent runs. That is Monaco for you.”

The interlopers in the front rows were the two JordanMugens, with Jamo Trulli a merry second and HeinzHarald Frentzen fourth.

Trulli was actually on pole after his first and third nms but he lost his final flying lap when he came up behind Irvine, who had suffered a power-steering failure, and was unable to improve.

Frentzen suffered a similar fate.

“He ought to have the expe rience not to slow down to SOmph in the tunnel at the end of the session when his

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24 9 June 2000 had hurt his foot slightly in qualifying, had to hop and hobble.

In such cir cumstances the

Continuedfrom page 23 Giancarlo Fisichella was eighth on the grid and com plained that the car was much more nervous on Saturday than it had been on Thursday. Alex Wurz, a man under pressure if ever there was one, crashed on his final qualifying run and ended up 12th on the grid, explaining that he would have done bet ter if he had not crashed. A very sensible comment.

The BMW Williams team did not look to be doing very well, with Half Schumacher ninth and Button 14th but one cannot'expect too much.

Just watching the car in action one could appreciate that the BMW ehgine is very peaky and hard to handle, particularly on a street track like Monaco.

Ralf lost a lot of time on Thursday morning when he crashed at Fortier and was never really happy with his cai’. He was another victim of Irvine in the final moments of qualifying. Button did a remarkable job for a newcom er (Patrick Head reckoned that Jenson was “amazingly quick” on Thursday) but he lost his best lap on Saturday because of Wurz’s accident and so was 14th but, with hard tyres, he was less than a second slower than his team mate. Perhaps the risk in qualifying would pay off in the race.

Jaguar flattered on Thursday but deceived on Saturday when Irvine and Johnny Herbert ended up 10th and 11th. Both drivers were disappointed and reck oned that they should have been in the top six.

“It’s nice to be close to Eddie,” said Herbert, “but we’d rather be higher up the giid. We are still very up and down in our performances so we are going to have to work hard on finding consistency.”

It was not a great day for Sauber - but then it rarely is at the moment. Mika Salo was 13th on the grid with Pedro Diniz 19th. Pedro had a crash on Thursday(which did not help his cause) and he admitted that he was not very keen on the way the car- was behaving on Saturday. Salo blamed traffic for his position and reckoned that on pure pace the car ought to have been in the top 10.

Arrows was not very impressive either with Jos Verstappen 15th and Pedro de la Rosa 16th. Verstappen struggled with handling but failed to find more grip while de la Rosa crashed and had to go for the spare car. When he set off on his final flying lap the gearbox made a nasty screeching noise and he went / into the pits. The team said the cars could have been higher up the grid (blah, blah, blah).

The Lucky Strike BAR Honda team was not looking very lucky and Jacques Villeneuve was down in 17th on the grid and Ricardo Zonta was 20th. Given the number of boats with

Four World Championships: Coulthard and Carl Fogarty compare notes. Shock; Supermodel Naomi Campbell managed to walk 10 metres without whining. (Sutton-images)

Highs and lows: BarricheUo and Coulthard finished on the top two steps pf the podium, while Ralf Schumacher’s race ended in the barriers. The German is in doubt for the next race in Canada.(Photos by RaceAccess and sutton)

1 yJ

■lE; ■ I

9 aiiwrsi & B.uia

British American Tobacco VIPs on them this was not a very good effort.

Villeneuve lost an engine on his first run, ran a mile back to the pits and set off in the spare. He hit traffic, then had a spin, was stopped for a weight check and ran out of time. Zonta had a less excit ing time but struggled to find downforce.

At the back as usual were the two Minardis with both diivers smacking walls in the course of the qualifying ses sion. The nice thing about being a Minardi driver is that you can make such mistakes and still not lose places because whatever you do, you are always on the back row of the grid.

In the circumstances Mazzacane’s choice of the harder tyres for the race was really quite intelhgent.

Race (78 laps) In theFerraris morningwere warm-up the two first and second, with BarricheUo just faster than Schumacher, while Ralf Schumacher was third quickest in his spare car.

Button was also quick, set ting the seventh fastest time.

There was drama in the clos ing seconds of the session when de la Rosa smashed his Arrows into the wall at Tabac.

As the cars set off for the final parade lap Diniz was left sitting on the pre-grid.

The Sauber team finally got him going but he was going to have to start at the back of the field.

Before that could happen, however, Wurz suffered an engine failure and the start had to be aborted. This meant that Wurz would not be able to start although the team worked to convert the car for Wurz, just in case thp race was stopped because if that happened he would be able to start the new race. Wurz’s

pitlane closes 10 minutes after a red flag is shown and so the running Grand Prix became impor tant and in the pitlane the quick prepara tion of spares cars was also essential.

Diniz won the" running race and as Sauber had managed to get the spare out quickly he motored around to get on to the grid.

Zonta was able to do the same and Villeneuve

parked his original car because it had a damaged dif fuser and took to the second spare. He too made it before Ik'jiSiv Vi the pitlane closed. Wurz, problem was good news for Button, Gene and Heidfeld Diniz as he was able to take did not make it and de la up his normal position on the Rosa arrived back but the grid.

At the start Schumacher spare car had stiU not been rebuilt from the morning got away well and was well ahead of Trulli when they,.^ shunt and so he was out of the race. arrived at Ste Devote.

Coulthard was behind the “The only positive thing we Jordan and behind them can talce from this is to forget and Frentzen about it,” he said. came Hakkinen. As the frontrun And so finally we had the remains of a grid again. ners raced up the hill there There were four cars hned up was suddenly an indication that the race was being in the pitlane: Wurz, Button, Gene and Heidfeld. Off they stopped. went again with Schumacher But the red flag was only shown at the start-finish line again getting ahead of TruUi with Coulthard third, and on the television screens Frentzen fourth and - not around the circuit.

Hakkinen fifth.

Sixth place There had been a glitch in the went to Half Schumacher who FIA timing software. made'a good start to charge So the race went on and, at up the dusty outside and dive the Grand Hotel Hairpin (oth erwise known as Loews), into the order.

He was fortunate that Jean there was trouble - as there Alesi gave him space because often is. To begin with, Hakkinen sliced ahead of a younger driver might not have bothered to let him in Frentzen in a lovely move to and there would have been grab fourth. But moments another crash. Jean was thus later the main pack arrived seventh ahead of BarricheUo, ’with de la Rosa tiying to go FisicheUa and Herbert. around the outside of Button.

It was the perfect situation It was not really on because for Schumacher because it there was only so much steer was very quickly clear that ing lock that Button could Trulli could not match the apply and so, inevitably, the Williams tipped the rear of pace of the Ferrari. The gap gi-ew massively quickly and it the An'ows into a spin.

The car curled across the was not until Tnilli stopped road in front of Button and with a gearbox problem on those behind clonked into one lap 37 that the gap - by then another or came to a dead out to 36 seconds - began to come down as Coulthard stop. The car park included charged to try to make up two Minardis, two BARs, biniz’s Sauber and Heidfeld’s groimd.

Prost.

Villeneuve and But basically it was a waste of time and he knew it. You Mazzacane were able to get do not give Schumacher a going again and motored half a minute lead and expect down to the pits while Diniz, Zonta and Heidfeld set off to to beat him. But, as Coulthard said later, he had imn back to the pits. no sympathy for Michael “I was standing there won when the Ferrari star suf dering where everyone had gone,” said Button, “and then fered a broken suspension on I realised that I needed to get lap 55 because who was to say that Schumacher had not back in a huny and so I start pushed his car too hard. ed miming back with Pedro.

The others were about two “Clearly McLaren built a car that was more than hundred metres ahead.”

Poor old Marc Gene, who. strong enough to go the dis-

tance for me,” said David later. “I don’t know what Mika’s problem was today but it’s a great day for my side of the garage.”

Hakkinen’s race was as frustrating as Coulthard’s as he was stuck behind Frentzen but then on lap 36 he sudden ly slowed with a problem.

There was something block ing the brake pedal of the McLaren and it took the team a long time to understand the problem.

Eventually an inspection hatch was opened and radio cables which had been caus ing the problem were rearranged but by the time Mika rejoined he was a mil lion rtules behind. He chased back as he was bound to do and looked towards the end of the race to be in a position to take fifth place from Mika Salo but then with a couple of laps to go he lost sixth and seventh gears and had to motor to the flag. He took one point but it might have been more.

Schumacher’s problem was not a blow to a wall as it may have appeared. In fact he had a cracked exhaust and that overheated the carbon suspension at the left rear of the car. It coUapsed and that was that. Michael drove the car round trying to salvage something but the car was shot.

“Obviously I am disap pointed,” said Michael, “but there was nothing I could do about it.”

BarricheUo had a rather better day when all was said and done. Although he was only eighth early on, he kept going while all around him failed and the result was sec ond place.

“Having started from where I did I spent the race catching up,” he admitted.

“But it is good to ‘be back on the podium again.”

The Jordan challenge was blimted early on when TrulH went out but Frentzen sur vived and was running a safe second in the closing laps when he made a mistake and ran into the wall at Ste Devote.

“It was my mistake,” he admitted ruefully. “I pushed too hai-d and went off. There is nothing different I can say or anything I can add.”

Heinz-Harald walked back to the pits, apologised to the team and felt bad.

“We all make mistakes in this high-pressure business,” said team boss Eddie Jordan.

“It happens.”

The high attrition rate meant that thfrd place went to Fisichella but this should not really be mistaken for a return to competitiveness for the team. Fisico was ninth on the first lap and he fin ished third. Six men in front of him ran into trouble of one form or other. End of story.

Racing is all about finishing and Fisichella managed that.

That was good. The perfor mance of the car was pretty average.

Wurz did not really impress. He stalled from the pits and eventually managed to overtake Mazzacane’s Minardi after 11 laps. Eight laps later he crashed at Ste Devote. The car was not ver:’ good but another crash was the last thing that Wurz

r

9 June 2000

25

What they said

V

Cat scoresNjvine brought Jaguar GP its first points by dragging the green machine home in fourth place. (Sutton) needed.

The high attrition rate meant that Irvine came home in fourth place to score Jaguar Racing’s first World Championship points. That was something. He was on the same lap as the winner but more than a minute behind. Irvine said that it was one of the hardest races of his life.

Herbert had all the bad luck as usual. Early in the race his power steering sys tem began to go wrong and having made a good start and got ahead of Irvine, he behind the dropped Ulsterman. He then realised that he needed new tyres and radioed the pit three times to tell them he was coming in but the radio message was not received and, so, when he anived the Jaguar mechanics were sitting around rather than poised to do things. The Keystone Cops would have been proud of them.

It only took them half a minute more than usual.

Johnny was by then so far behind the action that he had nothing much to do but he battled on, pitting agaur later to have his power steering system reset, and he finished - but two laps down in ninth place. Not where you want to be.

Fifth place went to Salo and, given that he started 13th, this was not bad but it was not done by any overtak-

Monoco

ing manoeuvres. Towards the end of the race he had to work hard to hold off his rival Hakkinen but he did it and that is what counts.

After his adventures at the start(s) Diniz would have appreciated a nice quiet race.

The spare car was fine, he said, but on lap 31 he made a mistake at Ste Devote and broke his left rear wheel.

Villeneuve finished sev enth in the BAE. “It is just a shame that one other driver didn’t drop out near the end of the race,” said Jacques, putting the whole thing into perspective.

If you have to rely on others falling off and you are lapped by half distance and you have a Honda engine, the problem must be something else. Maybe those nice fel lows at Honda could help BAR with the chassis tech nology. / For the early part of the race Zonta battled heartily with his team leader but he then blotted his copybook when he went off into the wall at Ste Devote.

“I have learned a lot this weekend,” said Zonta (a new boy at Monaco because of his injuries last year). “If we could start it all over again, I know we could improve the set-up and therefore have a good chance of getting a better result.”

Yes, a fair point. I expect British American Tobacco

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1 David Coulthard McLaren-M0rce^s1nr49m28.213s 2 Rubens Barrichello Ferrarf' / . ' , \l'hr49m44.102s 3 Giancarlo Fisicheila ^^r)ettQ'n-Playlif^ fl hr49m46.735s 4 Eddie Irvine Jag^arACdswort^. jhr50m34.137s 5 Mika Salo Saubier-P^rQj!fSs 1hr50m48.988s 77 laps 6 Mika Hakkinen McL/a/eiV-'Mercedes | 7 Jacques Villeneuve BAR-fSTn^^”’ "‘ j, , 77 laps i; 8 Nick Heidfeld / 10%.^77 laps PgSSt-Feugeot 9 Johnny Herbert 76 laps ai'guar-Cds^^rth / ' 10 H-H Frentzen jf^brd^n Mug'ert-Horidh retired lap 71 Fastest Lap: Hakkinen 1m2

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56-78 Lap leaders M.Schumaqher.1r'^S Co^tHard Retirements: ,4“ engine pick- up Lap 17 Button A' ,/ ’^l(!ja:ms-^W life accident Lap 19 VVurz T' Lap 22 Ggne ● -'T Mipardi-Bord gearbox accident Lap 23 Mazzacai^^’^ v^iKjWai'rti-hord transmission Lap 30 ‘FVost-Ppugeot accident LapAST, Dihfe Sajjpef-Petronas gearbox ,,^,L:^3i'' Trqlrr* Jordan Mugen-Honda accident 38; R'; SchuStaWer Williams-BMW BAR-Honda accident Tjaip 4b \ Zpfita Lap 56 \M,\Schumai I'er Ferrari suspension accident Arrows-Supertec

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World d’rivdr^.,<^arTiplpnsl1^points5§i''schilmacher 46, Coultharct34, Hakkinen 29,\ Pa'rlfcfienD 22, Fisichellp^rR. Schumacher 12, Frentzen and Villeneuve:?, Tr)^ 4, lrvih^»'S'’utton and Salo 3, de la Rosa and Zonta 1 v»!5 X '-'J' ■):©' Constructo rs: Fer.fprt 68, IsitcLaren'JVidrcedes 63, BMW WilliamsFI Team 15, Beri(S%>n 14,'jdrdan S,'BAR Honda 6, Jaguar 3, Sauber Petronas 3, Artow^i'l.^— '

David Coulthard:: I have always said that there are a few Grands Prix which are very special to me, and Monaco is definitely one of them. The track is probably the most technically challenging and I'm very happy both for the team and myself.

I have felt confident all weekend and the car was very good throughout the race. Initially I got stuck behind Trulli but I was constantly pushing him and when he retired I tried hard to catch Schumacher even though there was a significant gap, because you never know what might happen.

Rubens Barrichello: My start was not too bad.

In fact it was quite good, but Ralf Schumacher went down the outside and I had no option but to back off.

I was unable to find the right set-up in qualifying and that was why my grid position was not so good. I spent a lot of the race conserving my tyres'and fuel. I feel that if I had been able to stay out one more lap before my pit stop, then I could have passed Frentzen.

At one point I nearly went into the barrier before the tunnel and it took me two more laps to clean up my tyres. feel the same way about their Fonnula 1 program.

Heidfeld managed to get to the finish in his Frost but it was hardly a good reason for rejoicing; the team waffled on about fihishing in the points but that was never likely after Alesi went out with a broken transmission on lap 30. , ®f the rest the performance of Arrows is best glossed over quickly, Verstappen managed to stay off the walls for 60 of the 78 laps but in the fullness of time he went the way he has often done in the past.

Crunch!

Wilhams too ended the day with two broken cars. But the team also had a damaged dri ver because when Ralf Schumacher cai-eered into the barriers at Ste Devote on lap 37, while running fourth, he got a nasty gash on his leg.

It remains to be seen whether he will be able to race in Montreal because it takes time to heal such things. It may be that Bruno Junqueira will be given the chance to drive in his first Grand Prix in Canada.

Button’s miserable race continued after he set off from the pitlane. He was trapped behind Wurz’s Benetton and then was unable to pass Mazzacane’s Minardi because his engine began to misbehave, and eventually the team called him in. There was no point.

The Minardi story soon over. Gene started from the pits, Mazzacane^from the track. On lap 22 Gene went out with a gearbox failure and on lap 23 Mazzacane crashed at Ste Devote.

It was a big struggle, one of the hardest races in my life. The steering was getting very heavy towards the end. I was suffering from dehydration Giancarlo Fisicheila: because my drink bottle wasn't I was optimistic to get working and my foot into the points, but didn't is badly blistered think I would be able to get but I'll worry about on the podium from my that tomorrow. starting position. I was ^ It's great to put pushing hard behind Barrichello but then on Jaguar's name on the scoreboard.'ltabout the 46th lap, I got a we continue to put puncture in one of my rear all the jigsaw pieces tyres and lost about six or seven seconds. in place on a regular basis, the I had to come in 10 laps Hey,I won: David Coulthard. isutton) points will come our early for my pit stop but Mika Hakkinen: after that the balance was way again for sure. good and I could push 'til A great win for David Mika Salo: the end. It is a fantastic and the team. I know what it's like to win in Monaco Well, that was quite a result. I'm really happy for the whole team who have day. and it's a very special and First of all. I found that I all worked really hard. I rewarding feeling would like to dedicate this couldn't see the starting congratulations David. lights from my grid position. result to my friend Fabrizio In my view, one point is Then I made a great start who is in hospital after an better than nothing, but accident. but the race was stopped. obviously I'm disappointed And then 1 worked really that I couldn't manage to hard for an hour and 50 Eddie Irvine: score more. I experienced There have been races minutes, had a battle with some problems with the car this year when we deserved ^he World Champion and during the race. First of all, take home two World points - but today we got with my brake pedal, which Championship points. them. I'm really pleased for we fixed in the first pit stop, That may not seem very and then towards the end, I the guys. Together, we've had some trouble with the many, and not greatly all been slogging away and exciting, but I can tell you not getting any payback but gearbox and had to back that I worked hard for them, off. the car has been good all and when you have a weekend and I had a good All in all, I guess I'm McLaren behind you, you feeling about the race if I lucky to leave with one feel very satisfied. kept it clean. s,. point.

Basically, having started from where I did, I spent the race catching up. Towards the end, I backed off because I was told to drop my revs. It is good to be back on the podium again.

Engine Management & Data Acquisition Systems MajatoOnttriifI ITiTT^a^&M Engine Management Systems ■= 24 June 2000 ADL Dash Logger 2S June 2000 Attentmn to all MoFeC users and mterested persom.

MoTeC Australia will be holding two one-day training seminars focusing on Data Acqyisitiora and Analysis with the iVloTeC Dash Logger and the MoTeC Engine Management Systems.

This will be open to all current MoTeC users and those intending to use MoTeC products.

The cost of attendance is $150 per person, per course and includes comprehensive course notes and relevant documentation. Morning/afternoon teas and lunch will also be provided.

Bookings are essential and places are at a premium so please be in contact with Jeanette at MoTeC on 03 9761 5050, fax 03 9761 5051 oremailjeanette.ralston@motec.com.au to reserve your place at the seminar.

f

SUPER TDURING SOI

WINTER TOUR DATES ROUND 1 ORAN PARK MAY 28 ROUND 2 LAKESIDE JUNE 18 ROUND 3 ORAN PARK JULY 9 AUGUST 27 ROUND 4 WINTON

TELEVISED WED. JUNE TELEVISED WED. JUNE 2i TELEVISED WED. JULY IS TELEVISED WED. SEPT. 6

(Check your local TV guidles for 7 Network broadcast time coiifirmation.)

YOKOHAMA. www.toco.comi

wwv^.toca.com.a

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www.toca.com.au

SUMMER TOUR: NOVEMBER 2000 - FEBRUARY 2001

28 9June 2000

0

Report by PHIL BRANAGAN THE Paul Morris Show had a good weekend in the first round of the BOG Gases Super Touring championship at Oran Park, with pole position and three wins in three races.

But, while the defending Champion left with maxi mum points and won the final race by a clear lap, it wasn’t as straight forward as many expected.

Morris had an entertaining battle with John Henderson’s on-form Holden Vectra in two races, and the Mount Cotton Estates BMW finished behind Peter Hills in the middle outing. But Hills, who had passed Moms under yel low flags, was excluded for turning Henderson around, restoring Morris to the top step of the podium.

With Hills outed David Auger took third overall, his re-liveried Alfa Romeo also taking three Independents’ wins.

In the first sprint outing for the Future Tourers class Tim Shaw took the honours in his Holden Commodore ahead of Christian D’Agostin and Michael Webb’s Falcon.

Bathurst FT winner James Brock had a tough weekend, missing qualifying with engine problems and having two spins.

There were quite a few bent cars after the weekend, Ray most notably Sidebottom’s Commodore which crmiched the wall hard after contact with D’Agostin.

Qualifying Morris arrived in Sydney with 37 pole positions to

his credit and with odds short that he would ad a 38th.

Correct weight, Sydney.

He was a little slower than he had been a year ago (sixtenths, to be precise).

Last year Jim (Richards) and the Audis were here and. after running around, there’s a lot less rubber down. The track’s slower because of it,’ he said.

There was also a change in Photographic proof: Someone did lead Morris in the first round at Oran Park.

Henderson was the closest, passing the BMW twice, but Hills made his move under yellow flags and was DQ’d from his Race 2 win for nerfing Henderson off the track.

(Photos by Dirk Klynsmith)

format (a single qualifying session) to take into account.

Morris said that he was confi dent that the car would keep its qualifying speed but that “the 40 kilos (weight penalty if he won) will hurt us more in the races than in qualify ing”. That’s what you call positive, counting the penalty before the races.

Henderson was second.

The Sydney policeman was

delighted with the improved grip and braking of the Vectra and was a much closer to the pole time that he had ever been at Oran Park.

The Team Mondeos should have been on row two, Hills besting Gurr for best time.

But Gurr missed a weigh bridge call (“Alan could have been on the front row if I had sat him down and told him a few things,” admitted Hills)

and lost his time.

Still, Hills was impressed; “He’s something special.

You’ll see him closer to the front during the later parts of the season.”

Hills had problems of his own. The V6 was misfiring and the front brakes sticking, which gave new team manag er Graham Watson a fair bit to think about.

At least Gurr was not alone.

Paul Leabeater also missed a weigh-in aboard the H3mndai.

Jamie Miller was sixth fastest in the Toyota Camry, which had been pencilled in for a couple of other drivers

before he grabbed it for the Pedders Suspension team.

Long-time TM Mick Quinn reported no dramas but the man who had looked like rac ing it, Aaron McGill, must have looked a little envious.

He had had gearbox prob lems in the Nissan Primera in practice and would be starting from the back.

McGill’s other car, the Ford Mondeo, was being driven by Allan Letcher and he quali fied well in seventh with few problems.

Shaw took the honours in the Future Tourer class, just besting Christian D’Agostin and Ray Sidebottom. The three Commodore Cup gradu ates promised a close race and Shaw was delighted just to be there, Bruce Williams having put in a couple of all¬

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The David Leatherman Top 10 list: David Auger’s nicely turned out Alfa went well, taking three Independents wins as well as two podium finishes. (Photos by Dirk Klynsmith)

DARWIN is a leng way from Sydney ^ : Darwin is a long way from anywhere. ^ Nemo Racing had a lot to do between Midden Vaiiey’s SCS round and Oran Park.

Morris explained;"The truck got back to the shop on Wednesday morning and left around midday on Thursday. It was a big trip, so we had a different driver to come here. “(Engine builder) Arch (McMurray) did his last trip as a truckle; from now on

nighters to get the VS ready for combat.

Of the rest Tony Newman missed qualifying when his engine had oil and water mixed together and his crew had to rebuild it for the race, while James Brqck’s crew were doing likewise. The engine in the Biante VS ate a bearing on Saturday and the team set to building one good unit.

Brock made it out on Sunday morning only to spin in the warm-up, tearing a tyre off a rim but doing no other damage.

Race 1 (22 laps including Safety Car) As expected Morris the blast down to the won first corner but the usually faststarting Hill was beaten away by Henderson. Gurr, after making a meal of one of his practice starts, went from fifth to eighth.

Morris had a few looks at the back of the Vectra but his challenge before sneaking through on the inside at turn one, but things were halted when McGill spun the Nissan at Momo(the last comer)and the Safety Car was dis patched while the track was cleared.

Morris won the restart only to see Henderson take

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he will jiust do the engines. Uwe is now i the truekie and he’s also handy when it ; comes to speaking to Germany."

Uwe will also have new wheels j soon. Nemo Racing will have a second ; transporter for the rest of the season. ; And Morris will have a new ride as well; he will runjhe ex-Lowndes Commodore VT (with hiS own engine and Nemo saspensiom)from the July Queensland Raceway SCS sprint round.

9 June 2000 9)Co

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-

Dude wins, Junior loses

aS. 'Sj’

Paul Moi-ris’s team was one man short at the

after two starts in Formula Ford and one one-make

weekend. Suspension man Tim Neff skipped Oran Park so he could do the

outing.

suspension on A1 Unser’s G-Force/Aurora in the Indy 500. While Morris went

hard. The former touring

was less lucky, DNFing after running over debris woHAiywr

Shell Championship Series. n Age shall not weary them; David Auger’s Leatherman Alfa Romeo

n Channel 7’s broadcasts of the BOC Gases series will kick off

155 is getting faster with the passing of the years.

Auger’s fastest lap of 44.16s was almost 0.9s faster than the car went at OP with Steven Richards

Monis puUed the same move, took the lead and held on to take the win. Hills, still with the misfire but now with brakes working at 100 per cent, took third from Auger, Seaiie (a sfrong lun from the real-). Miller and Letcher.

The battle for the Future Tourers was a good one.

Shaw leapt up to fifth at the start, only to have a number of the smaller cars file past in the corners. D’Agostin closed in and the two started to bat tle, finishing a length apart at the end of the race.

Luke got knocked wide and crunched the SAE Bimmer into concrete. He was perched there for a few laps before being towed in.

Henderson made a good restart and held Morris out for four laps before the 320i blasted past and took the lead for good, kind of. Hills closed on the Vectra and on lap 14, tapped it around at tm-n one. He was through to second and Henderson recov ered in eighth, moving to sixth by the end.

Four laps later there was more action at Momo. The Commodore War was raging

There was some carnage further back when Gurr and

and D’Agostin looked inside Shaw and Sidebottom. Yellow

Brett Youlden got together at the O’Brien sweeper on lap 14. The Commodore was

hit green and the APS car was tank-slapped into the wall, the front of the car virtually

being pushed wide when the Mondeo had a small lose in front. Gurr was stuck and had to be towed in while

destroyed. D’Agostin was later excluded over the incident.

Youlden stmggled in to have his broken suspension looked at. He was out for the day.

Brock’s bad run continued, with a spin jamming the exhaust, which he had fixed before continuing laps down.

Race 2(22 laps EJendersoii almost LMorris away at thebeat sec ond start from Hills and Auger, while Shaw again bounded away in the V8, this time with the yellow D’Agostin VS clamped to his spoiler.

Again Henderson looked like the one to challenge Morris, taking the outside line in turn one on lap two to lead but,just as it looked like a real battle, there was another Safety Car. Shaw and D’Agostin were battling with Searle and, coming onto the straight.

car and rally great continues in his role this

BOC show, while he also fills the DSO role in the

from Greg Ray’s accident.

ner but, after two more laps,

n Colin Bond sure works

season as Driying Standards Observer in the

three from three, Unser

back the lead at the first cor

29

Hills chased Morris-'and, with yellows out and Momis trapped behind a lapped car, surged past at Momo next time around. With Morris unwilling to retaliate Hills took the flag and the trophy, only to be excluded after the race over the Henderson incident.

“Fair enough,” Hills said.

“My fault. Take it like a man.

Of all the people I’d never like to do that to, John is near the top of the list.”

So Morris won from Auger, the quietly efficient Letcher, McGill and Downard. Behind Henderson came the winning FT, Shaw, with Michael Webb next in the neat Falcon.

Peter Haywood led Brock into the top 10, while Newman (who started - see final Biief)

sat there for around 20 min

Commodores versus

utes while, apparently, the timing system was wrestled with. .

Japan: James Brock had a tough weekend but the FTs

Henderson not only couldn’t beat Morris away the third time around, but

looked good between the 2litre Super Tourers, which were more nimble in the

Hills got into second until the Vectra sneaked through after two comers.

While Henderson chased the BMW Hills was soon in trouble. He lost sixth gear (which he* was in for only about 4s a lap) and let Gurr

aboard in 1995. Auger has more wing on the car now, of course, and Yokohama (which also supplied Richards) has made gains vsdth t3rres since then, but

corners than the big V8s.

(Photo by Lynley Reid)

n Alan Gun- sure is

f

following Morris a little too precisely. On the cold track Morris slid towards the wall on lap six; Henderson slid a little wider and his front

D’Agostin.

Morris’s dominance was

trailed into the pits on lap 15 with an oil leak.

fairly expected but, with the V8s thrown into the mix,

Race 3(35 laps)

there was some good racing in the pack.

How much difference will

The cars gi-idded the blue but ruddy until sky and

40 kilos make? Lakeside,

results suggest Tony Newman DNS’d all three races and Luke Searle ' missed Race Two,both of which are clearly wrong.

Watch the broadcasts for what really happened - and hope that the timing people do a better job next time.

- PHIL BRANAGAN

'BOC G,ases Suiper''Ib'Uirimg

f 'OraiH; IFairk

Race t (22 laps Srscl Safety Car) Pos

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 NC DNF DNF DNF DNF DNS DNS DNS

Driver

Team Car

Race time

Fast Lap

Qua! Pos

19:03.6041 43.5222 43.6797 1 Paul Morris Mt Cotton Estate BMW 320i 19:04.3741 44.4900 44.7561 2 John Henderson Hi Tech Racing Holden Vectra 19:08.2141 44.8726 44.8612 3 Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Peter Hills Leatherman Alfa Romeo 155TS 19:19.8041 44.1622 44.9889 4 David Auger Luke Searle SAE Roadchill Express BMW 318i 19:25.2217 45.0817 No time Jamie Miller Pedders Suspension Toyota Camry 19:26.9207 45.7500 45.6534 6 19:31.2107 46.4582 46.1301 7 Allan Letcher Trinovin Ford Mondeo Tim Shaw 19:32.4707 45.8886 46.3043 8 Bruce Williams Commodore FT Christian D'Agostin Ted’s Cameras Commodore FT 19:32.9107 46.6400 46.4212 9 19:44.9407 48.2800 47.9452 14 Michael Webb SVO Motorsport Falcon FT 19:49.0007 48.0729 No time Paul Leabeater Leabeater Hyundai Lantra Ray Sidebottom APS Racing Commodore FT 21 laps 46.5552 47.0242 10 Mike Downard Playboy BMW 318i 20 laps 47.7300 47.0316 11 Peter Hayward Ascot Car Rental Commodore FT 20 laps 47.4107 49.3624 15 Peter Wright Wright Falcon FT 17 laps 46.0800 No time James Brock Biante/DuPont Commodore FT 16 laps 47.7800 No time Carlos Rolfo TC Motorsport Peugeot 405 16 laps 46.5700 47.2153 12 Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Allan Gurr 13 laps 44.2700 45.0141 5 Brett Youlden Youlden Commodore FT 13 laps 47.6205 47.7597 13 Trinovin Nissan Primera Aaron McGill 4 laps 45.9923 No time No time TC Motorsport Peugeot 406 Tony Newman No time Anthony Robson Robson BMW 318i No time Mike Fitzgerald Fitzgerald Peugeot 405

Race 2(22 laps inci Safety Car) Driver Race time F/lap 44.7738 18:51.9823 45.7913 18:56.4632 46.8369 19:09.8718 19:16.6779 46.4252 47.4331 19:33.4569 44.7938 19:33.6827 47.8743 21 laps 48.7130 21 laps 49.2911 21 laps 47.7871 21 laps 49.0777 21 laps 45.7074 21 laps 49.9232 21 laps 47.8829 16 laps 46.0879 13 laps 47.5875 10 laps

Pos

1 Morris 2 Auger 3 Letcher 4 McGill 5 Downard 6 Henderson 7 Shaw 8 Webb 9 Hayward 10 Brock 11 Leabeater 12 Gurr 13 Fitzgerald DNF Sidebottom DNF Wright DNF Rolfo DSQ D'Agostin DSQ Hills DNS Newman DNS’Searle DNS Miller DNS Youlden Before: Ray Sidebottom was in the heat of the Future Tourer battle in his immaculate APS Commodore before he got into the wall in the second race. (Photo by Marshall Cass)

we suggest that they be used as a guide only. There were many timing problems over the course of the weekend. During Race One the tuning screens ‘froze’, during the second there was numerous drop outs and,just before 3pm there were still no printed results for the 9am warm up or the first two races.

For instance, the official

right wheel grazed the con crete. He pitted, hoping a tyre was just going down, but the problem persisted on new mbber. A wheel bearing was damaged and his race was done.

Gum led the boss until his

until lap 10 when D’Agostin zoomed past. James spun at Momo later, allowing Shaw through for him to finish right behind the Ted’s car again. Webb was third in class, taking second on the day between Shaw and

Autopro V8 Supercaidriver and former Audi man Cameron McConville. n Motorsport News has

through into third.

The Vectra’s downfall was

tyres started to fade. Hills taking'second when the young’un went up the pit escape road on lap 27. Auger closed, taking third on lap 33, a lap before Morris lapped the field.

Miller was fifth from McGill and Letcher.

Brock led the FT class

Commentators will be Seven’s Mark Beretta and

printed results issued by Oran Park for the races but

young, and fairly inexperienced. His Super Touring debut was his fourth car racing meeting.

suspension man Tim Neff, absent at the Indy 500.

had plenty of people at the track and most the races will be shown about two weeks after the event.

it’s still a pretty good effort.

(Photo by Marshall Cass)

Sydney or Indy?

Morris had to do without

with a late-night viewing on June 14. The network

Race 3(35 laps)

Pos

Driver

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 DNF DNF DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS

Morris Hills Auger Gurr Miller McGill Letcher D'Agostin Shaw Downard Webb Brock Hayward Leabeater Fitzgerald Henderson Newman Rolfo Searle Wright Youlden Sidebottom

Race time

F/lap

; 26:20.8122 44.2532 34 laps 45.2567 34 laps 45.6451 34 laps 45.3915 34 laps 46.4089 34 laps 46.3496 33 laps 47.0718 33 laps 47.2384 33 laps 46.9776 33 laps 47.5062 32 laps 48.5352 32 laps 47.1812 32 laps 49.3641 30 laps 48.1760 25 laps 48.7343 9 laps 45.3331

Points; Morris 46, Auger 30, Hills 22, Gurr 18, Henderson and Letcher 16, Miller and McGill 11, Downard 10, leabeater 8, Searle 6, Fitzgerald 2,

30

9June 2000

Crossr There is a great deal of speculation about thefuture of Jacques Villeneuve, The 1997 world champion has had a tough time since leaving Williams andjoiningforces with British American Racing and Honda. ADAM COOPER spoke to the mercurial Canadian.

Wiotorsport News: How difficult was it to keep up your motivation last year?

Jacques Villeneuve: I knew Honda was coming, and I knew the car would be designed differently, to make sure that another season like that wouldn’t happen again, with the car breaking down every time. So I was confident about that. You just hang in there and try hard to make the most of it.

You still hope to make a few points somewhere,just to help the next season. So you stick with it and work hard. But it didn’t work out...

WiN: But was it like going to races knowing you’d have problems?

JV: We started off at a race meeting thinking this is going

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be great, we’re going to be quick this weekend, and we’re going finish the race.

Sometimes it would go OK until the race, and you’d keep your fingers crossed thinking this time it will be alright. And then again, that was it, stopped. It would be like reading a book and it ends halfway through, or watching a movie and the tape breaks half way through every time you put one on.

So you never reach the end of the story, basically.

was working as hard as ever, I was giving everything I had, WIN: How frustrating was and I had nothing to feel bad that? about where that was JV: If you’re big-headed then/ concerned. I think it would be it hurts you, I guess. But I / worse if you have a winning don’t think I’ve ever been big car and somehow you just headed. So it was never a screw up the whole time. problem.

Then you have something to I knew that in the car I feel bad about yourself.

weve got tke people.

Lefs see

■What’s Luck got to do with it? While Jacques has struggled with ’the BAR-Honda it’s easy to forget he took the Indy 500/CART title double just five years ago.

-

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WIN: What was the worst time?

JV; Last year there were just'' a couple of mistakes, like Montreal. But this happens every season, so that’s normal to have a couple.

But in a season like last year that looked like it as going to be the one race where we were going to be alright, so the feeling is heavier when you make a mistake in a season like last year. It just saps your energy, that’s all.

MN: Did you regard it as a ‘learning year’?

JV: I’ve been learning every year all my career, but last year I didn’t learn much! Not much on the driving side. Patience maybe, and self control, and maybe finding energy in yourself from somewhere, because you don’t get it from the track.

I didn’t learn that much last year!

MN: So was it a wasted year?

JV: For results, yes.

But a career is also a lot of other things. It’s not like I sat at home doing nothing. I still worked hard, I kept fit, I trained, I raced.

Results-wise it was wasted, but at the same time if I stay with the team long, long term then that year becomes useful for the following years, then no, it’s not wasted. But if you leave the team, then no, it’s not wasted. If you leave the team, then it's wasted.

So it depends, if the team progresses and you’re still with the team, that work is being sued. If you go somewhere else then it is wasted.

WIN: You were always in winning cars from 1992 to ’97, when everything looked easy the outside.

Looking back, do you realise how lucky you were?

JV: Maybe it seemed easy, but it wasn’t that easy.

Because every year was a step up, and every year I was always fighting against something, even ’97 at the end of the season was pretty tough. It was hard but at the end of the day you got something. Even in ’98 there were some good races and at the end of the day you got something. It was just last year that we got nothing. This year looks like it’s better than last year, it looks like it’s similar to ’98, which would be acceptable.

MN: You are very close to the organisation of the team - were you surprised at how much is involved behind the scenes in FI? JV: You realise how much of a business it is and how big it is. There’s so much money involved and a lot of people involved.

That’s not a side you want to see -that’s not my business, that’s not my work, it’s not something I want to be part of. It’s not what I want to get mingled with in the middle of the season. I’m here to race. I’m not here to get involved in the political side of the business.

MN: Were you unhappy with the problems within the team last year?

JV: I got mingled with the political aspects because it was having a negative effect on the racing. The energy wasn’t being spent where it should be spent, so of course I got involved.

When you have many problems and nobody takes notice, then you have to bust it out. You have to put it out in the open and get people to react. And I think it had a

positive effect. The problem was that it took energy away from the racing, and that was really bad. That annoyed me more than the actual lack of results. Now everything has finally been resolved and is flowing well, and as long as it keeps flowing, I’m happy.

WIN: How is the team now?

JV: They are very hungry, very positive. They’re going to be now, whereas last year they were doing all-nighters just to get the car ready every day.

This year that’s not a problem. The car is ready by 10pm, they get a good night’s sleep, and they just work better. That’s great. And the fact that we got points in the first race calms everybody.

MN: Do you want to stay loyal to Craig Pollock for 2001, or would it be easy for you to move elsewhere?

JV: It’s not a question of being loyal to Craig. I’ve got a contract until the end of this year, and when that contract is over, I have to look after my own career - whatevehs best for me. And whatever is best for me will make Craig happy anyway.

What the team does, and what I do as a career, is separate to a certain extent.

Of course I’d like to win with this team, but if I can’t, or if I’m not happy with some situation. I’ll go somewhere else. It’s still my career, and a driver’s career is not that long any more. So you’ve got to make the most of it.

I’m in my prime now. I’ve lost two years’ results, and this year we’re not competitive enough yet. It can’t go on like that, so of course you keep your eyes open. And there’s interest around.

MN; Would leaving be an admission that you made the wrong decision to join BAR?

31

9June 2000

1 I

n PORM^

WOl CHAMM

JV: Yeah, it will be frustrating, because It’s something that I really believe in. And I believed in it two years ago, and I walked in blind, with my eyes closed, because I really did believe in it and all the people.

So leaving here without results would be like losing - and that wouldn’t be a nice feeling.

WIN; Did you have other offers two years ago?

JV; The other project I could have gone for (in 1999) would definitely had better results than last yearas we were the last teami But there would have been opportunities to win, to win races and the championship. So it’s hard when you look at that. So that’s why the long term has to be good. If you just look at the short term, it’s really bad, really terrible, but if you look at it long term, if the long term goes as planned, then it’s perfect, it’s satisfying. iVlN: At the moment it looks like it will be almost impossible for any time to rise up and chailenge Ferrari and McLaren. How does that make you feel?

JV: Yes, but if you look at it when I was at Williams, McLaren were getting more competitive, and then suddenly in one year they made a big leap - whereas it’s when you are normally at the back you make a big leap. So you never know.

We’ve got the money, we’ve got the people. Let’s see what happens.

Not only that, there’s a new tyre manufacturer coming in next year, and that will change everything. I’ve no idea what the team’s plans are, but I think it’s great for the racing it’s going to make it more fun.

MN: You became 29 at Imola. Do you feel like you’ve grown up since your time in Japan in 1992?

JV: It’s not the 30th yet!

I don’t care. Getting in the 20s was probably the biggest thing, because you’re going from being a kid to a man. I’ve grown up and matured, but I’m still a kid at heart.

That hasn’t changed.

I don’t take myself more seriously than then. Just in life in general maybe I think slightly differently, more like a grown up about a few different things. I party a little bit less, and my life is more settled.

But that’s about it. I still ski like a maniac, I’ll still go on a go-kart and just play with friends the same way as when I was younger. I’m.pretty settled right now.

I’ve never really attached much importance to birthdays. Yes, when I was younger and got loads and loads of presents as a kid, it was great. But right now, I get myself what I want and need anyway.

But I’ve never had a fiancee before for a birthday, so that’s a little bit different...

The Old Days: Villeneuve, Renault and Williams made a formidable combination, winning 11 GPs and the 1997 world title.

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32 9 June 2000

Running

By STEVE NORMOYLE

GREG Waters and Geoff Emery shared the spoils in the opening round of the ROH Wheels Commodore Cup at Oran Park.

The field was small but the action was iypically physical - and not just out on the track, a minor scuffle break ing out after the-,conclusion of a bruising race two.

Polesitter Emery led them away in race one. Waters giv ing chase and heading Alphonsus Mullan, Christian D’Agostin, Geoff Parker and Steven Carless.

A brake-locking Emery lost the lead to Waters through Turn 1 on lap four, and that was all the encour agement the Queenslander needed as Emery slipped back into Mullan’s clutches.

Before Mullan could mount a challenge, however, his Commodore began billow ing smoke from an oil leak.

The car spun on its own liq uids over the dogleg and all Mullan could do was try to lessen the impact with the wall. The car was extensively damaged, the driver fine, and when the wreck caught fire a few laps later officials finally decided to red flag the race.

Behind Waters and Emery, D’Agostin took third from CaiTess, Parker and Tim Pearce.

Race two was a cracker and featured a hard battle at the front that involved at various times Waters, Emery, D’Agostin and Carless. There were Formula

Ford-style drafting duels (during which D’Agostin was shown the bad sportsman-

ship flag), some heavy outbrakmg moves and plenty of panel contact.

But most of the place swapping was happening behind the leader, Emery briefly dropping to third place on lap 11 before emerg ing back in front after the next braking duel. Waters shadowed him home for sec ond placed, setting a new lap record, while D’Agostin was third and barely ahead of a closing David Gittus and Brett Holdsworth.

Playing for keeps: Geoff Emery and Christian D’Agostin got close - a little too close - at Oran Park,(pnoto by Marshall cass)

The Luff Unlimited Orchestra

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Harder to pick than a broken nose: Tim Pearce was also in the wars in his Commodore. (Photo by oirk Kiynsmith)

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WARREN Luff continued his dominant run the Mitsubishi Mirage series at Oran Park, taking two wins. But the Sydney driver was pushed byjourno Dean Evans (foiiowing) who took two second piaces. Barrie Nesbitt and Gavin Harvey took thirds. (Marshall cassphoto)

Youth holds sys^ciy over experience

THE new Formula 2/3 National Series has been turning on some torrid racing and the action in round three at Oran Park was no exception.

Out of it emerged Paul Stephenson with an enhanced points lead in the series, the Victorian claiming the win in the first 20iapper and finishing second later in the day.

Pole position fell to the star of the previous round, Darren Palmer, but mechanical gremlins prevented the Bronte Bundle Dallara 398 driver from starting race one.

Stephenson didn’t waste the opportunity of Palmer’s absence and the Pteto

Dallara 396 driver tore away to an early lead, Chas Jacobsen (Dallara Toyota) in pursuit.

But Stephenson seemed comfortable maintaining a small gap over Jacobsen, who had problems of his own in fending off the Dallara F397 Alfa of a determined Peter Hackett.

Having charged through the field, Hackett looked set to dispense with Jacobsen, but some defensive tactics from the latter not only saw off the challenge but left Hackett baulked so badly that Mike Beeley (Reynard) slipped by into third

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What would Mika say? Rod Anderson takes to the air in the ex-Hakkinen Reynard 893.

Limping home: A wrenched knee did not stop Peter Hackett from winning a race.(Marshall cass) place. Hackett recovered the spot before the end but he could do nothing about Jacobsen. A new lap record was some consolation.

Fifth was Mark Rundle (Dallara), who headed the similar car of Glenn Coombs and Ian Black’s Reynard.

Race two was a contest of speed between Hackett and Stephenson. A better start saw Hackett dive into the lead through the Esses, and once in front he left Stephenson to chase him in vain, Hackett

taking the flag by little under a second.

Jacobsen tried to stay with them but in the end fell to the impressive Palmer, who set the fastest lap during his charge from the rear and was less than three seconds from the tail of Stephenson’s Dallara at the end.

Beeley was fifth from Rundle, Coombs, Black and Peter Rees’ whose Reynard spun on the opening lap and clashed with Rod Anderson’s Reynard, which retired with sidepod damage.

- STEVE NORMOYLE

I

9June 2000

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Stewart home in victory lane

By MARTIN D CLARK

TONY Stewart set a blis tering pace at Dover’s ‘Monster Mile’, the 1999 Rookie of the Year domi nating the event on his way to victory lane for the first time this year.

Stewart was the 12th dif ferent winner in 13 races this season, the Joe Gibbs team driver joining an everexparifling list.

“We never Adjusted the jack screws all day, all we did was adjust air pressure the car was awesome today,” remarked Stewart of the #20 Home Depot Pontiac that just rode around the apron all day.

The win was so strong that Stewart was quick to make a point to members of the assembled media, many of whom doubted him after such a strong year last year.

“We had a couple of media guys throw us under the bus and we really needed this.”

It was caution number nine on lap 382 of 400 that

provided the turning point of the race, when Jeff Gordon cut a tyre and hit the wall, just as Stewart was passing under the three-time cham pion.

Dale Second-placed Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Mike Skinner and Steve Park lost out big time, the four having just pitted to complete their final stops.

Stewart had passed Earnhardt on the 33’7th lap, setting a blistering pace and, when the eighth yellow flew, he stayed out on the track...

Thanks to the final cau tion, now only five cars were on the lead lap; Stewart, Matt Kenseth - who was at this favourite track and the form driver coming into Dover - Bobby Labonte and Yates team-mates. Dale Jarrett and Ricky Rudd.

Stewart checked out on the pack before Sterling Marlin impacted the wall hard with 10 laps to go, leaving a six lap shootout at the fi nish - again Stewart blasted away on the restart, leaving Kenseth to battle

with Labonte’s #18 Pontiac.

Wallace was a victim of a bungled restart when NASCAR gave him a stopand-go penalty in the dying laps, dropping him from sev enth to 14th.

Aside from runner-up Kenseth, the other top Roush cars suffered mechanical fail ures. Jeff Burton fell victim to a stuck transmission, fin ishing 34th, while Mark Martin blew an engine at three-quarter race distance.

“We only had about a half lap warning,” said Martin of his misfortune, “We were real lucky at Charlotte - the same thing happened there, but we finished 12th.”

For Martin, it was his fourth straight finish outside the to.p 10, the first time since 1989 he has achieved such a feat.

While the Cal Wells Busch team undergoes some revamping, including putting Scott Pruett in the seat for the majority of races to gain more experience, the sea soned Indy car driver contin ued his struggle in Winston

Cup, spinning twice and clobbeiing the wall.

The same happened to Mike Bliss in the Viagra Pontiac, although no com ment will be entered into on how he hit the wall twice!

An extremely annoyed Rick Mast was the cause of the first caution of the day in Dover, the veteran hitting the retaining wall to take him out while avoiding Steve Park. ●> “Every week it’s that same yellow car that causes wi’ecks,” Mast said about the Earnhardt driver.

Joe Nemechek had a good run, posting his third top 10 of the season in his Oakwood Homes ride, while in the point-standings Gordon lost two slots, as did Martin.

Stewart moves up to ninth

from 10th.

Final result; Stewart (Pontiac), Kenseth (Ford), B Labonte (Pontiac), Jarrett (Ford), Rudd (Ford), Earnhardt (Chevy), Nemechek (Chevy), W Burton (Pontiac),Earnhardt Jr (Chevy).

Points standings;B Labonte 1946, W Burton 1864, Earnhardt 1848, Jarrett 1790,^ Martin 1755, J Burton 1733, R’Wallace 1704, Rudd 1678, Stewart 1641, J Gordon 1606.

allow for Valvoline to meet its marketing objectives.”

It is believed the oil giant will continue as a major sponsor of another team within Winston Cup, with several prospective teams already lining up at Valvoiine’s door.

Roush Racing’s president, Geoff Smith, was quote,d in a US newspaper as saying Viagra, sponsors of Eel River’s Pontiac this season/would replace Valvoline, while further speculation continues to have either WalMart or General Electric sponsoring Martin’s championship-challenging #6 Taurus.

- MARTIN D CLARK

Come through the window; Dover winner, Tony Stewart.

Matt ROOKIE Kenseth didn’t domi nate the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte but he did lead the race when it mattered

most, taking his first Winston Cup win.

Bobby Labonte and Dale Earnhardt Jr dominated the race, although Kenseth took the lead from Labonte just 25 laps from home.

“As soon as I took the lead from Bobby, my heart starting beating pretty hard,” Kenseth said. “1 just had to try hard to hold him off

(Photos by Sutton-lmages)

representative. "I can't even think ofa single reason to have the chemical in the plant."

More than 100 people were injured in the collapse while three people stiU remain in aitical condition.

progress and he’s displayed an incredible amount of talent," Evemham said of Attwood’s signing.

seth claims rookie win

Got there and almost got there...

Matt Kenseth took his first Winston Cup win while Bill Elliott almost took a win, leading early with the ‘Macker’s’ car.

n Officials from Charlotte Motor Speedway have confirmed the May 20 pedestrian bridge collapse was caused by a build-up of calcium chloride in the concrete and an excessive amoimt in the grout plugs.

Chloride is used to speed up drying of concrete but should not be used in pre stressed assemblies because of the knowledge that corrosion could occur.

"This appears to be an isolated incident," said the manufacturer's

■ Ray Evemham has confirmed that 20-year-old Casey Atwood wiU drive a Dodge Intrepid for his new team next year.

Atwood, a regular on the Busch tour, at 17 became the youngest ever NASCAR pole winner when he took the top spot in Nashville. He won his first two races last year, becoming the youngest ever winner.

"We’ve followed his

Valvoline dumps Martin

MARK Martin has lost the support of Valvoline, with the oil company ending their 12 year association with the Jack Roush stable at the conclusion of this year’s Winston Cup series.

Valvoline have pulled the pin on their sponsorship, citing excessively rising costs from within the Roush camp as the main reason for their withdrawal.

“We negotiated very diligently to continue our sponsorship of Mark Martin,” said Steven Kirchner, Valvoline’s senior vice-president of marketing. “However, the structure as presented to us by Roush Racing to continue our relationship did not

33

and with two laps to go, I got a little teary-eyed.

“It’s real easy to mess one of these races up and I didn’t want to do that mitil the chequered.”

Kenseth’s Roush Taurus ran strong all night, which is more than can be said of his teammates, Jeff Burton and Mark Martin, who fifdshed 11th and 12th respectively.

Despite not having won^ ‘Little E’ congi-atulated his friend and rival in victory lane afterwards. ;

“I don’t know what we did with the last set of tyres but we really struggled on them,” Earnhardt Jr said.

“Matt did a good job and he’s a class act - I’m really happy for him.”

Kenseth, who almost won his first race in California in April, became the fourth dri ver to win his first race in the 600, joining Labonte, Jeff Gordon and David Pearson.

“We were junk last week with this car in the Winston but the ci’ew used their heads and figm-ed it out,” he said.

“It feels gi-eat to win this race, which is huge considering you need to be able to adjust from the beginning to the end and make a lot of changes in between.”

The other young gun up front during the 600 was JeiTy Nadeau, who started on the outside front row and led 115 laps.

But, disappointingly for Nadeau, just before a red flag for rain, his Hendrick engine lost power with a broken valve spring. The trou-

bles eventually led to the engine finally expiring just 38 laps from home, bringing out the last caution.

Nadeau had been strong moving around Junior, with ease on several occasions and looking set for his first career win.

Another that fell foul to engine trouble was Bill Elliott, who ran strong early and head ed a few tours after third. qualifying Assistance from Ray Evemham showing there is life in the old dog yet.

“Something stripped the teeth off the oil pump belt, I lost oil pressure and that’s it. I was kind of just biding my time, waiting until darkness came and to get the car worked out from that point,” said a disappointed Elliott.

Final result: Kenseth (Ford) 142.640 mph, B Labonte (Pontiac), Earnhardt (Chevy), Earnhardt Jr (Chevy), Jarrett (Ford), Mayfield (Ford), Skinner (Chevy), R Wallace (Ford), Park (Chevy), J Gordon (Chevy).

- MARTIN D CLARK

■ ‘Front Row Joe’ Nemechek has been fined US$15,000 by NASCAR for rough driving during the mnning of The Winston he blatantly sprm out Steve Park, wrecking both cars, plus Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon in the final 10 lap shoot out.

Park and his team manager, Steve Hmiel, were both reprimanded by NASCAR when Hmiel shouted obscenities at Nemechek following the incident and Park stormed into Nemechek’s trailer to remonsti’ate.

■ Jeff Gordon has upped his association with DuPont thi’ough the 2005 season in a deal said to be worth US$15 milhon per year. DuPont will focus all of its future worldwide marketing around Gordon.

Although the deal is reputed to be the biggest in NASCAR, the amount per year may seem a lot now but may not be enough to run a team in five years time with the increasing schedule and operating costs.

■ Although Pontiac teams hold one-two in the points standings, constant grumblings from GM and team owners have NASCAR looking into possible aerodynamic aids.

"We've been asked to look at some things and we've said we will," remarked Kevin Triplett.

"As far as what or how much, I don't think we’re ready to say just yet" - MARTIN D CLARK

34 9 June 2000 n Concrete specialist Rusty Wallace won the Dover pole with a 157.41Imph lap, his fourth of the year.

“I hke how you’re always banking,” said Wallace of the Dover track. “To be honest, the concrete gives me security, a lot of drivers it doesn’t.” n Along with Petty, Carl Long was the only other driver to miss the Dover race, although outside-pole sitter. Bill Elliott had to start at the rear when he wrecked his primary car in practice . and a back up was pulled from the transporter. The ened to Dave same Blaney who destroyed two cars and the team had to send home for a third.

Drivers that took )rovisionals were Terry jabonte, Bobby Hamilton, Chad Little, Jimmy Spencer, Mike Bliss, Dave Marcis and, making his second career race, Ed Benier.

Only Dale Earnhardt Jr and Mike Skinner have qualified in the first round of time trials for every race this season.

0 NASCAR have announced an anticipated inile change for the Pontiac teams - starting with next weekend, a different rear bumper can be used with the change becoming mandatory at Daytona in July. The bumper will now sit lower to the gi'ound by threequarters of an inch.

“Anything we can get right now, we appreciate,” said Bobby Labonte crew chief, Jimmy Makar.

“That’s probably 60-65 percent of what we need to get the same amount of downforce in the wind tunnel as the Ford’s and Che'/i'olet’s.”

H After closing the doors on his team in JanufNjy, Cale Yarborough sold Ins engine shop to Ernie EUiott and has now, appai-ently, sold the team to a new concern under the Premier Racing Team banner. There has been no word on just who PRT are as yet. n Larry Hedrick has closed the doors on his un sponsored Chevy team, and the doors will remain shut until a suitable backer is foimd. Nearly all ofthe staff has also been laid off.

H Short track veteran Rich Bickle will attempt to run the Brickyard 400 in August for team owner Steve Coulter. Coulter’s #66 Pontiac team runs a partial Busch series schedule. n NASCAR has instructed Dodge to cut back on testing of its 2001 Intrepid, citing testing advantages over existing teams being the reason. n Andy Pefree’s team has had a test date taken away from them by NASCAR for having two drivers drive Kenny Wallace’s car at Michigan recently.

“We feel like somebody ratted us out,” said Wallace of the incident involving test driver Jim <^auter.

- MARTIN D CLARK

Critchley makes Pro Mod final

IT was only an Pro Modified record-setting effort by Fred Hahn at the wheel of Jim Oddy’s Summitbacked ‘53 Corvette that could stop Australian Troy Critchley from win ning his first ever IHRA national event.

Hahn and Oddy stunned everyone with the quickest run in his tory for the category, a top qualifying 6.179secs in Great Bend, Canada, and then the pair backed up that run for the record with a final over win round

:;3 Edging closer: Aussie Critchley is getting closer to his first big US win, last weekend making the Pro Mod final.

Super Stock 1^1 fight looming?

Critchley - 6.22/226 to 6.35/224.

For Critchley, it was a great return to form at the wheel of Johnny IronHorse Eocca’s with the Mercury,

Queenslander having ANDRA rule amendments create controversy before Winternats failed to qualify at the

By GERALD McDORNAN

DRAG racing looks as though it could be heading to the courts soon following the re-issuing of an ANDRA technical bulleting, with updates, less than two weeks before the Winternationals.

The bulletin, issue by ANDRA techni cal director Morrie Huckle, ha's re-clari fied the Super Stock Gas body rules con cerning body dimensions and wheelbase length with an amendment stating a vehicles bumpers must be of stock dimensions.

The bulletin’s issuing could put in doubt Melbourne racer, and champi onship hopeful, Nick Xerakis’ Winternationals attempt. And, if Xerakis is denied his chance to contest the event and win the championship, the sport could be off to do battle in court.

Xerakis’ G/Gas record-setting Ford Probe came under intense scrutiny when first launched onto the racing scene, with the US-built car having had its wheelbase moved forward in the body, a common practice for modern day vehicles to fit the rear tyres under the bodywork.

US constructors, and Australian Pro Stock racers, then add up to four inches into the body work between the front door and the front wheel arch - extend ing the car’s length by that amoimt.

For Australia’s Super Stock class though, the extra length is not allowed and constructors have sacrificed front overhang - what is used to tip the finish fine beams - to retain a vehicle’s stock body length. This is achieved by modify ing and moving the front wheel arches foi-ward.

But, much to a number of other rac ers annoyances, Xerakis has retained the longer overhang - his Probe being

Under the pump? John Barbargallo’s earlier model Ford Probe is also expected to come under scuitiny at the Winternationals. Barbargallo has said he’ll run Pro Stock if he does. (Photo by Nix Pix) built to US specifications - and cut the depth of the rear bumper, achieving the measurements required.

Xerakis’ car was protested at the recent Nightfire Championships at Willowbank and Huckle’s response was to re-issue the technical brdletin, com plete with the amendment less than two weeks ago.

Spealdng to Motorsport News a week before the Winternationals opening day, Huckle said the amendment was made in response to the protest.

“We had been informed that Nick’s car has been changed since it was previ ously measured and, in response to the protests at the Nightfires, we’ve made a clarification and our intention is to stop cars at the Winternationals,” he said.

Huckle said he believed Xeralds’ cai-, which had been the centre of controver sy when it first hit the track, had been changed to be fully ‘legal’ by the fitting of a new front. But, following an inci dent at Adelaide International Raceway earlier this season, Huckle said he

Kyle contimM,es DESPITE not qualifying for last weekend’s Winston Cup Dover racer, Kyle Petty still managed to finish 13th, after substituting for the still-injured John Andretti, who is suffering from broken ribs.

Petty also ran his late son Adam’s car, complete with Adam’s name on the roof, in the Busch race, running as high as fifth until a late race stop droppedhim to 26th. , “Coming in here last night and just rolling through the front gate of the race track, knowing that Adam wasn’t here, was pretty haid,” said Kyle in an arranged press conference, his first since his son’s death. “I can rest assured that he would kick my butt to know that we didn't go to Charlotte but I just couldn’t go.”

Rumour has it that Petty will never race at the New Hampshire track, where Adam was killed, again.

- MARTIN D CLARK

believed the original front, including the four-inch extension, was refitted and the rear bumper chopped.

He is also said he believed the cutting of the rear bumper wasn’t in the spirit of the rules.

Xerakis has countered Huckle’s claims, saying the car has not been changed since he complied with ANDRA’s demands 18 months ago that the body length be standard.

“They’ve got their heads in the sand if they think we now have to meet what they’re now saying, less than a week before the Winternationals, is the spirit of the rules when we’ve raced to the black and white of the ANDRA rulebook all season,” Xerakis said.

“We’ve earned championship points, national records and prizemoney the way the rules have been all season.

Xerakis pointed to previously pub lished photos, including Motorsport News (issue #155, June 1999), which showed his car in its current state.

“ANDRA officials have checked the car more than once at every meeting for the last 18 months and it’s always been the same. If Morrie Huckle wants to believe pub talk, then he’s not domg the job justice.”

The amendment to the technical bul letin can also effect a number of other racers with fellow Probe driver, albeit an earlier model, John Barbargallo who also set Iris respect B/Gas national record at the Nightfires - also expected to come under scrutiny.

Huckle’s final comments were inter esting...

“I don’t know whether I’ve done good or bad here... maybe I’ve opened a can of worms while I’ve tried to be pro active,” he said.

season’s first two events.

He was the only one close to Hahn and Oddy’s flawless performance, qualifying third with a 6.36/212, and then putting in three consecu tive laps in the 6.36/225 range.

“It’s great that we’re finally making some progress,” a delighted Critchley said. “The rain, which cost us at the first two events, stayed away and we were able to put in six consistent runs and make the final.

“Oddy and Hahn are running strongly, they’re going to be tough to beat, but I feel we’re not too far away from taking our first national event win.”

In Top Fuel, Clay Millican defeated Jim Bailey and Paul Romine before stopping veteran Shirley Muldowney in the final round, 4.84/307 to 4.88/297. Muldowney’s car would not go into reverse following the brnmout and the crew pushed her back while Millican patiently waited. estab Muldowney lished a new IHRA mph record at 310.13mph in the first round while defeating Bruce Litton.

Ron Miller defeated John Montecalvo in the final round of the IHRA’s mountain-motored Pro Stock class, 6.68/207 to 8.27/117. Miller was the low at qualifier 6.625/208.

Von Smith took hon ours in Alcohol Funny Car with a final round win over Scott Weney, 5.902/236 to 5.96/233.

Jay Turner won his second event of the year in Nitro Harley, topping recent Australian tourist, Johnny Mancuso in the final round, 6.68/179 to 7.47/146.

- DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

9June 2000

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Baxter readies for Funny Car debut

By GERALD McDORNAN

M E L B 0 U R N E Competition Eliminator racer Shane Baxter is heading towards nitro Funny Car racing next season.

B^ter is teaming up with hot rodder David Allen, Allen having purchased a Plueger rolling chassis off Funny Ca'r and Top Fuel owner Garry McGrath.

“I can’t wait to get into the Funny Car and have a run,” an enthused Baxter told Motorsport News this week.

“David wants to run this thing right, so we’re going to set the car up to license and then try and run consistent ly down the track.

“We’re eager to get out there and have a go, although we will play it conversatively and by ear.”

The car Allen has pur chased is the former Jim Carter/Al Hofmann Plueger chassis originally imported into Australia by Calder Park.

For its last outings, with American Glenn Mikres at the wheel, the car was cloaked in an Oldsmobile Cutlass body, the team also purchasing a similar spare body to compliment it.

McGrath is pushing to run a Funny Car/Top Fuel match race series next sea son at Calder Park and Adelaide International Raceways.

While Calder Park’s for mer drag racing manager, Steve Allen, expressed inter est in the idea, a number of racers have commented that the restrictive match racing will harm both categories Their arguments have pointed towards the four-car Funny Car match racing three seasons ago that, until now, led to the category vir tually being wiped from existence.

I

Cugnetto for US Pro Truck

By GERALD McDORNAN

Daniels is the form tmck racer on the NHRA tour this

BRUNO Cugnetto could make his professional rac ing debut in the US in as little as two weeks.

1110 Melbourne performance equipment entrepreneur was this week offered a drive with Randy Daniels’ NHRA nation al event-winning Pro Stock Truck team, and Cugnetto could be at the wheel of a sec ond Chevy-backed SIO pickup in time for the Pontiac Nationals in ColumbuS, Ohio on June 15-18.

“I’m excited about what Randy and Garley [Daniels’ father] have offered and I am going to seriously consider what’s on the table,” Cugnetto said this week.

“The offer is there and the opportunity to race could materialise within the next few weeks and I’d be already for that.”

Cugnetto believes, with the experience of Daniels behind him, he would be competitive reasonably quickly.

“Just qualifymg for a race is tough enough in itself -

year, having won foxir of the first six races of the season, while also trailing points leader, Bob Panella Jr, but just 11 points going into last weekend’s race.

He finished fifth in the Winston championship last season and, despite a shock dnq at the season-opening Winternationals, is consid ered one of the favourites to take the title.

The offer from Daniels is

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Fast freight: Bruno Cugnetto could soon be racing in the US, helping Daniels in his points race with Bob Panella Jr. especially when you can be five-hundreths off top spot and en,d up 30th - but Randy and Garley have a good han dle on what they’re doing ... you don’t win four races if you don’t.

‘With their help, and a few test sessions where I could get use to the Chevy SIO truck and the manual shifter. I’m confident I could be on the place and have a good a chance of qualifying as anyone.”

If all goes to plan, it is believed Daniels has

expressed the desire for an arrangement to lead to some thing more permanent next season, although Cugnetto does have some concerns.

“Naturally, I would have some major concerns about how our VPW Mail Order business would be effected by me being away and I’d have to sort through those before any further decisions were made.

“VPW is a growing concern and needs constant attention and I cannot let 16 years of hard work slip by catching a racing bug.”

one which could please both parties; Cugnetto with his, and every other Australian racer’s desire to race profes sionally in the US and Daniels with the opportunity to expand his team to a twocar outfit and gather more data to help advance their performances.

Cugnetto, who won Pro Stock at this year’s Nationals, has had a long association with the Daniels camp, using the team’s tech nology to power his record setting VPW Oldsmobiles.

in

n Rachelle Splatt won’t make the final appearance of her‘farewell drag racing’ tour at the Wintemats thanks to a shortfall in funding. Splatt was recently quoted as saying sponsor Valvoline’s withdrawal was the reason for not being able to complete the tour. By the way,she was also quoted as saying she now is not retiring from the sport, merely taking a break... n Peter Wdeman,crew chieffor Splatt, will attend the event as a crew member with the Darren DiFilippo Redback Performance Exhausts team. Wdeman and team owner Charlie DiFiHppo have long been fiienos and the two hope their association may lead to some strong performances. n Peter Ridgeway’s Wintemats testing plans have been shelved with the incumbent Pro Stock Champion now ready to tackle the opposition head on.

Ridgeway had hoped to have a new engine ready for the event, using the Wintemats as an opportunity to try out new ideas with the engine, but he will now rely on his proven 7.61sec powerplant instead.

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n Both Jim Read and newNSWANDRADD GeofF Crisp have had their apphcations for membership ofthe ARDC rejected. Read and Crisp were notified within hours ofthe ARDC issuing a press release last week saying they were inviting representatives from the drag racing industry to form a working pai^ to develop opportunities for the sport at Eastern Creek.

Strangely,the ARDC letters to Read and Crisp notifying them oftheir rejection didn’t include a refund oftheir $195 membership payments.

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36 9June 2000

Helen Hofmann

n Former Calder Park drag racing manager, Steve Allen’s place on the ANDRA National Control Council has been taken by Hidden Valley promoter Trevor Horman. Horman has been the alternate NCC representative for the Drag Racing Promoter’s Association for the past four years, and has spent time on the NCC pre'viously. n Gary Phillips’ lead in the Top Alcohol Championship was extended by five points heading into the last round this week when ANDRA awarded the seven-time champion bonus points for top speed at the Nationals.

Wayne Newby was originally awarded the points after setting a new national speed record at the event, although he was stripped of both by a recent tribunal for faihng to present his car for a post-race check.

II ANDRA has confirmed Geoff Crisp’s appointment to the National Control Council, Crisp having been recently elected as the NSW Divisional Director.

At the same time, ANDRA has also confirmed the reelection of Harry White and Bob Castle in the South AustraUan and South Queensland divisions.

S Alcohol dragster racer Manty Bugeja became the first Maltese drag racer into the five second zone when he ran a 5.93 at Santa Pod Racev j'iy in England a fortnight ago.

An attempt to run the first five second et in Malta failed last year, although Bugeja’s team owner, Joey Carabott, is confident the team can achieve the feat later this season.

■ Swedish Pro Modified racer Tommy MoUer is attempting to upgi’ade his license to Top Fuel, MoUer ha-ving recently taken his first shot in Knut Soderquists’ Carbon By Design fiieUer at Santa Pod. MoUer is, apparently, looking at running Europe’s first nitroinjected digger in Top Alcohol later this season.

Fonner Funny Car pilot, Alan Jackson drove Soderquists’ car at Santa Pod’s Main Event event.

Bank account wrecker: 17-year-old Luke Shepherd’s career appears to be on the up, with Wreckair Hire signing on as major sponsor last week.

LUKE Shepherd has signed a major sponsorship deal with Wreckair Hire which the 17-year-old Sydneysider hopes will give him the impetus to gain his competition Funny Car license. Shepherd was schedule to undertake hisfinal licensing runsjust prior to this weekend’s Konica Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway.

Force equals Glidden total Force Ron Capps with con Bob sistent 4.8/4.9S runs. equalled The nine-time cham Glidden’s all-time record of 85 NHRA pion also took the NHRA points lead national event victo from Jerry Toliver for ries with a resound ' the first time this sea JOHN

ing win over team mate.

Tony Pedregon, in the final of the Castrol Nationals in Dallas last week.

Pedregon jumped to an early lead but a lack of traction meant Force passed by to take victory in 4.91secs/313mph.

“This was 15 years in the making”, exclaimed Force. “I thank Castrol for giv ing us the money to hire Austin Coil and all the workers we have here at the track and back at the shop.

Without them all. I’d stiU be driving trucks.

“I’m happy tying [Glidden’s] record is aU done and over with.

I’m proud of it but I never raced Glidden, so I can’t say I beat him. I thank him for setting a mark for all of us to chase.”

Force qualified on top of the quickest Funny Car field in his tory - his 4.87/319 led a field bumped at just 5.050s and then downed Al Hofmann, Cristen Powell and

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son.

A new leader in the Top Fuel standings was also established as Gary Scelzi powered to his 17th career victory, and second win in a row, defeating Larry Dixon Jr, 4.61/316 to 4.69/309 in the final.

Scelzi now leads rival Tony Schumacher by 39 points and Dixon by 46 points in the Winston series.

“This is the position I want to be in,” said Scelzi.

“People say how hard it is to be the guy that everyone is chas ing, well, I want to be that guy.I want to lead the points at all times and win every race.”

Andrew Cowin made his 2000 US debut, qualifying the family K&N Filters/Auto Meter dragster 10th at 4.77/309 before falling to Tony Schumacher in the first round.

Fellow Aussie, David Gnibnic also made the show as only 14 Top Fuel cars were in attendance.

V Gaines pulled off a

huge upset by record ing his first career Pro Stock victory, holeWarren shotting Johnson in the final, 7.04/196 to 7.01/197.

“It’s been a long time coming,” an elat ed Gaines said later.

“It probably hasn’t sunk in yet, to get to this point and finally get the job done, espe cially over the main man, is hard to describe.

“I rode up here [to the winner’s circle] in a golf cart with John Force and I congratu lated him on winning his 85th race and I said I hope it feels as good as the first. He told me the first one’s the best and I believe him.”

Matt Hines went back to what works

Finally we’veI started can smile to turn a little theafter corner with our Pontiac Racing/Red Line Oil Funny Car (not that turning corners is usually a good thing in drag racing).

The season has been incredibly tough so far, we failed to qualify at four of the first seven races and that’s just not good enough.** I was actually close to pulling the pin on the whole program'after the Atlanta race and it was only through the encouragement of our friends and Pontiac that I didn’t.

When you’re in a situation like we were, tough decisions have to be made and I made one in deciding to release Ronnie Swearingen from the crew chief’s role, replacing him with Andy Nering.

It was definitely the right decision as Andy, who is now in his third stint with Hofmann Racing, has already put some runs on the board and we’ve gone some rounds.

Cristen has been driving really well and the start to the season has also been extremely frustrating for her, although the 4.95sec run right out of the traiier in Dallas had her smiling again.

The Funny Car category is really looking strong at the moment, with just about more interest and colour in it ‘han ever before.

Po'ntiac’s efforts in supporting Funny Cars have been joined by Chevrolet and Ford, while the sponsor interest is increasing, all resulting in the class being more competitive.

Both on and off the track, the class is looking impressive. John Force’s operation has always looked good and now he’s joined

by Jerry Toliver’s WWF team, Scotty Cannon’s outfit, Del Worsham’s team, it all just seems to be more entertaining than the Top Fuel pits.

Everyone’s also got big, bright motorhomes in the pits, even us, although ours is owned by Cristen’s dad, Casey Powell!

Already three times this season the bump spot for the 16 car field has been the quickest ever and it doesn’t look as though it’s going to let up.

Cristen has college just finished herand third year exams

she’s maintained A-plus averages, which is impressive considering she is juggling school with racing.

Last year Cristen missed classes to be at the track on Friday, although this year her schedule doesn’t include Friday classes so she can fly in Thursday nights.

We’ve had some great response to our teaming up this season, although I’m not a person concerned with egos and it’s not really the thing that spurs me on.

What has been, though, has been the great ;:upport from the team, Pontiac, Red Line Oil and a bunch of other people.

Thankfully, Mac Tools and Mother’s Waxes and Polishes have also jumped on board recently to support us and it’s starting to make our season a little easier.

My husband Al and boss,to Jim Dunn, are alsohis starting make a move with their Mooneyes/Red Line Oil Pontiac and they’re going to be a tough team to beat soon.

Jim’s been persevering with the five disc clutch and he’s now starting to make it work, as was evident with Al’s 4.91 in the first round against Force in Dallas.

Jim has already asked Al to commit to next year and the two seem content about continuing together until they’ve both had enough.

A fair few people lost their money by betting Jim and Al wouldn’t last past the season opener in Pomona, so continuing on next year wouid really rub that in! ‘

W

e’re about to head towards Chicago but I should mention before I go about last night when we were having dinner at a Denny’s restaurant in Red Oak, Texas.

All the crew were chatting ●when we were approached by a guy, an Aussie, who spoke to us about our weekend in Dallas.

I had a bit of a laugh when I saw the shirt the guy was wearing, a Holden Racing Team polo, and, when the he left, the crew asked me what a Holden was!

Anyway, the truck is loaded and we’re off to Chicago...

*.

and parlayed it into his first Pro Stock Bike win of the season, defeating Angelle Seeling in the final round, 7.28/184 to 7.31/182.

“I’ve felt like a rook ie out there the last

«

couple of races, trying all this,new stuff we’ve been working on,” said Hines. “We went back to ‘Old School’ and got the bike back to what it used to be and it paid off.”

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Turning the corner: Helen Hofmann’s Cristen Powell-driven Pontiac is starting to show its potential, going some rounds in Dallas.

2000 WINSTON DRAG RACING SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS AT MAY 21.

2000 Winston Top Fuel Championship 599 1 Tony Schumacher 574 2 Gary Scelzi ' . 552 3 Larry Dixori 513 4 Kenny Bernstein .

5 Joe Amato 455 394 6 Doug Kalitta 332 7 Cory Me Clenathun 329 8 Doug Herbert . . . .

9 David Grubnic . . .

264 262 10 Don Lampus

2000 Winston Funny Car Championship 589 1. Jerr/Toliver . .

559 2. John Force . . . .

528 3. Ron Capp.s. . . .

465 4. Tony Pedregon 389 5. Jim Epier 324 6. Scotty Cannon .

7. Dean Skuza . . .

310 8. Whit Bazemore 300 9. Bob Gilbert.son 297 10. Del Worsham 288

2000 Winston Pro Stock Championship 75 5 1 .Jeg Coughlin . .

2. Warren Johnson 466 3. Jim Yates . . . .

427 4. Mark Pawuk . .

38 0 37 7 5. Troy Coughlin 6. Ron Krisher . . .

37 4 7. Richie Stevens 36 8 8. Kurt Johnson . .

36 1 9. Bruce Allen . . .

35 1 lO.Tom Martino .

33 1

■

9 June 2000

37

0.

Force claims record 86th win Dual Duels Master Funny Car driver dominates at Joliet to take record from Glidden

PRO Stock and Pro Stock Truck racers, Jeg Coughlin and Randy Daniels both scored big in Chicago on the weekend,the duo taking dominating wins in the NHRA’s

XSi-

special ‘Holley Dominator Duel’ races. ..c,

The special‘races within a race’ were run on Saturday of the Prestone Nationals and offered the top eight qualifying cars of the past 12 months huge cash incentives to win.

In the Pro Stock

Master blasters: John Force dominated Joliet with his Castrol Mustang. The nine-time Winston Funny Car Champion thanked his crew chief, Austin Coil (right), Coil having won 11 championships in the category.

(Pholos by Dave Ostaszewski)

JOHN Force has become the greatest winner in NHRA history, with the nine-time Funny Car champion surpassing Bob Glidden’s 85 national event victories total at the Prestone Nationals near Chicago on Sunday.

But, while Force dominat ed with his Castrol Mustang, topping season-long arch rival Jerry Toliver in the round final 4.84sec/318mph to 4.93/312 it was Gary Scelzi and the Alan Johnson-led Winston team that may have etched their names in the history books for one of the greatest ever comeback victories.

After a spectacular top end crash in Friday’s first sessio .r, reminiscent of their crash in Topeka last year, the Winston team regi'ouped, pieced together a new car together and went on to score a final round, 4.64/314 to 4.70/313 win over Larry Dixon Jr. on Sunday.

The crash happened when the rear tyre on Scelzi’s ‘big red’ machine delaminated, with the shredding tread rip ping off the rear wing and struts. The car hit the wall, the chassis breaking in two just behind the roll cage, and then tumbled out of control.

While the tyre delaminated, oddly, the tyre was still full of air after the 316mph acci dent.

On Sunday, the Winston dragster rolled through the 16-car show to claim it’s fourth win of 2000.

A round one 4.66/299 took out Rhonda Hartman-Smith and another 4.66/305 mph ended the day for Australia’s Andrew Cowin. He downed rival points Tony Schumacher in a wild, flame throwing, back-pedalling semi-final.

“I’m a little in awe that we won this race,” Scelzi said.

“After all that’s happened, it’s quite a feat. It’s nothing short of amazing. We’re back, I extended my points lead and were still number one.

“It’s great to win on the same day that Force made history. I’ll be old, fat and

retired before I ever catch Amato (50 Top Fuel wins), let alone Force’s 86. I can’t believe I’ve won 18.”

Dixon’s Miller Lite drag ster advanced to the final with wins over David Grubnic, low qualifier Cory McClenathan (4.54secs - the quickest run on 90 percent nitro to date) and Doug Kalitta.

Cowin’s return to Joliet was impressive, the 20Vearold Sydneysider rocketed out a 4.66 on Friday, then returned Saturday to record runs of 4.70/313 and 4.66/300.

In round one, while facing Kenny Bernstein, Cowin launched and marched to a 4.70/309 win. It was only the consistent power of Scelzi that stopped the Aussie.

Force qualified number one (4.85/304) and just kept putting numbers on the board on his way to the record win. In round one a 4.88/313 defeated John Lawson, while a second round 4.90/312 stopped teammate Tony Pedregon.

In the semis. Force looked to have his hands full with

Ron Capps, who again was running hot. But Capps lost traction, pedalled and hiked the front end up, forcing him to lift - Force motored on through for a 4.94/316 win.

“This was better than [win number] 85”, claimed Force.

“I tripped down at the other end, I couldn’t get out of the car fast enough!

“I stepped on the gas and all hell broke loose and I knew if it held together we’d win the race. The truth is that this is really Austin Coil’s day. We’ve been together’ for a long time and he’s the man that put me here. He deserves all the praise”.

Toliver, with his Dale Armstrong-tuned WWF Camaro, looked strong throughout the event, quali fying third at 4.86/304, although the record-setting mite of the Force camp proved too much.

Pro Stock saw a first time winner for the second event in a row, with Ron Krisher making it look easy in his final round victory over Troy Coughlin - 6.88/199 to 6.92/197.

Kiisher, piloting his Eagle One Pontiac, absolutely dom inated the event, qualifying on top at 6.86/200 and t^en stopping Robert Patrick, Alan Johnson and Jeg Coughlin on his way to the final.

“I couldn’t believe it when I hit high gear, looked over, and there was no Troy,” Krisher said. “I knew once I got to high gear’ I couldn’t be caught. Our objective was to be more competitive and we made off-season moves to win races.

“My hats off to Mike Edwards, Jimmy Roberts

and Jerry Bickel for giving me the car and the horse power to win. It’s been one helluva trip since our wreck at Pomona.

“Back then I was on my roof, now I’m on top of the world.”

Antron Brown picked up his first Pro Stock Motorcycle win this year with a final round 7.21/181 to 7.26/182 victory over Craig Treble, while Bob Panella defeated Randy Daniels, 7.53/177 to 7.53/178, in the Pro Stock Truck final, taking his third win of the year.

- DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

Comeback of the year: Gary Scelzi’s team salvaged what they could from his Friday afternoon qualifying crash and sent their driver out with a new car on Saturday. Scelzi drove the new Winson mount, below, to his 18th NHRA Top Fuel win.

(Photos by Dave Ostaszewski)

o ptiii ' i

That’s my boy: Graeme Cowin suited up son, Andrew, before a qualifying run. Andrew downed Kenny Bernstein i n the first round. (Photo by Dave ostaszewski) (

category, Coughlin defeated his brother, Troy in an all-Jegs Mail Order final round, 6.94/198 to 6.97/197the win his second consecutive Dominator title.

Jeg,the number two seed in the program had earlier stopped Bruce -Allen and Kurt Johnson, while Ti’oy took out number one seed, Warren Johnson in the first round and Jim Yates in the semis on a holeshot.

‘We strive to make the field of this prestigious event every season and just being one of the eight cars to reach the race both years weVe been eligible is phenomenal,” Jeg said.

“I can’t believe we were fortunate enough to win it both times. .

Look at the guys in this field. How much tougher can it get? Any one of these drivers could have won it.”

Daniels defeated arch-rival Bob Panella Jr in the final of the Pro Stock Truck Duel, 7.53/178 to a shut-off 8.68/112.

Daniels defeated Brian Self and Greg Stanfield on his way to the final round.

Panella had stopped both of the Jegs trucks on his way to the final, taking out Mike Coughlin in the opening round and John Coughlin in the semis.

“We’ve had a great season to date and the win in the Duel woxild certainly go well with the Winston title on the resume,” Daniels said later.

“Panella never lets up and to get a bit of a break,thanks to him suffering tyre-shake, was all we really needed.”

-DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

lZti®0(D[?SfJXo)0^0

38 9June 2000

n 1998-1999 SRA Series Champion Jeff Judd has purchased a brand new Avenger chassis for this season’s campaign. The'team’s favourite Gambler will be kept as a spare while their other Gambler and Foster chassis are on the market. @ Ian Thomsen has purchased an aluminium engine from Perth’s Geoff Kendrick. The alloy powerplant will be installed into his Maxim and will get him back on track after an enginerelated, abbreviated season. Thomsen finished off the season working the infield as an SRA official.

B SRA Club Champion Mike Van Bremen is saddling up this season in a lightweight Foster. klVB's sponsor, Ian Loewe, was considering the purchase of a Maxim chassis but Van Bremen has elected to stay with the local manufacturer albeit in a current, lightweight frame, a The SRA Series Championship-winning McCalium outfit is on the market as a total package.

The package includes the J&J chassis, aluminium engine, spares and the team’s well-known V8 LeyUnd transporter.

0 Championship winning driver Rob Rankin has also made lots of noise about the season past being his last also.

However, coming off one of his most succesfiil years ever, Rankin is still well able to compete and may continue if efforts to find him another ride come to fruition.

- BRETT SWANSON

By Wade A un

Home towner; Jeff Eeles will be one of the locals in the field for the final SA Sprintcar meet. (Photo by Paris chanes)

SA Sprinters SOUTH

Australian

Sprintcar fans will have one last chance to see the Winged Warriors in action the 1999/2000 for Speedway Season.

In a last minute decision after negotiations between Sunline Speedway promoter Robbie Stevens and Mildura Sprintcar driver Darryl Bottams, a deal has been struck for an end of season run to be held on Sunday June 11 (Queen’s Birthday) in Waikerie, South Australia.

Nominations have come from South Aussies Jeff

Eeles and*the local Riverland hero Chris Evans from Renmark. Evans will be keen for his first feature win in his Ampol Renmark/Road and Track J&J after a narrow loss to Garry Chippendall at the Mildrua Easter Sprintcar Cup. Interstate visitors -have also nominated, with a con tingent of at least three cars coming from Mildura, includ ing Darryl Bottams, Mathew Wdson and John Hedrics.

Also on the program will be the running of the Steve Butcher Memorial for Street Stocks.

n Australian Speedcar Champion Michael Figliomeni is turning heads in the USA as he races his selfbuilt FIGhter chassis against the USAC and BMRA boys in

n NSW sidecar rider Chris Pym is set to make his debut in Sprintcars.

Pym has bought the exPeter Attard #76 J&J in a

joint venture with former driver Paul Mahoney.

Though he hasn't fired a shot in anger yet, Pym will certainly be a surprise packet for the winged ranks.

Having raced at the top in Sidecars for all these years, he certainly won't be scared to get sideways with a roll bar around him instead! n Speedcar driver Jason Gates has the #5 Alach Esslinger combination up for sale as he looks for a house deposit. Gates won't entirely leave the scene however, hoping to concentrate his efforts on driving Sprintcars for a Sydney team. n Speaking of Speedcars, it looks like Troy Jenkins will move to a new Stealth chassis with car owners Terry and Debbie King of Dominator Engines.

Jenkins wdl once again run with Fontana power.

His younger brother, DaiTen, wdl once again race for Bruce and Gavin Leer, though at this stage, he wdl be the only car in the stable. It was hinted n recently that Jenkins would have a team-mate for the 2000/2001 campaign, although team owner Gavin Leer wouldn’t confirm or deny the story.

Sniltli overcomes trouble, Tatnell improves STEVIE Smith over came an interesting obstacle on his way to a Pennzoil World of Outlaws feature win at

Wheels Rolling Raceway in the latest round of the series.

Smith’s neck collar came loose and got caught in his steering wheel late in the race but he was able to carry on and keep the car under sufficient con trol to grab the $18,000 first place cheque.

He overcame a tussle with Sammy Swindell and increased the advantage to 10 lengths before becom ing entangled in traffic.

Powering away. Smith went on to win by some 15-car lengths ahead of

Swindell, taking his 55th chequered flag in Outlaws competition.

Mark Kinser grabbed third ahead of Danny Lasoski, Dale Blaney, Steve Kinser (starting from 14th), Johnny Herrera, Tim Shaffer, Andy Hillenburg and Daryn Pittman.

Aussie Brooke Tatnell had a superb qualifying run by taking fifth in the Parsons #6 machine, before grabbing fourth in his heat race and eighth in his dash. He was 19th in the feature.

Swindell had opened the annual sprint tour for the Outlaws on Memorial Day at Lebanon Valley Speedway in New York

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California, The ‘Magic Man’ scored a popular victory at Perris Speedway, having run fourth the weekend before in a USAC show won by Sprintcar shoe FORMER World of Ronnie Day. Fighomeni was Outlaws driver, now fastest quahfier, won his TNN Motorsports heat and started the main announcer Brad Doty is from sixth, taking the lead coming back to Australia after three laps. At in February 2001. ,».Manzanita in Phoenix he ran second in the feature Doty wiU be the special guest of the Gough and after starting from eighth.

Gihnour CAT 50,000 race on Earlier in the night he February 2/3 at Parramatta finished second in his heat and will spend the week and second in the dash. prior to and week after the The following night he event down under' with his ran second in the dash and teenage son Braden. his heat at Tuscon, Arizona Brad's trip to Austraha and was running fourth in two seasons ago was so the main before he blocked popular that organisers a fuel filter in the Fontana. have moved quickly to have What made it more him back for next season. impressive was that he had "I had the trip of a lifetime never raced at any ofthose in ’99,so I can't wait to come four venues before! The back again in Februaiy," Americans were very interested in the Doty said over the phone this week."My son Braden is construction of Figliomeni's radical chassis, with the folk a big fan of Australian at TCR Chassis paying vnldlife so he's going to get a kick out ofit too." particular attention after his Perris win.

*15

n Brent Hough, cousin of Australian Sidecar Champion Glenn Hough, is looMng for a Sprintcar in which to make his debut this season. Brent has competed in Formula 500's as well as power boat racing and is busy assembling the necessary budget to purchase a car.

1 eoo TOO ^ee

though with success, dom inating the whole event.

He cut nearly half-asecond off the single-lap record, won his heat and dash races and led all 25 laps of the feature.

“My guys work hard and the Channellock car was fast from the time we unloaded it tonight,” Swindell said proudly.

“All we did all night long was put tyres on it and put fuel in it.

Preparation before the race is a big part of it.

“We’ve been pretty fast here lately. If we haven’t been in the lead, we’ve been close to it. We lost a lug or a cylinder there on the last lap. I’m glad we 99 didn’t have to go 26(laps).

Swindell diced early with Jac Haudenschild but the latter was involved in a three-car incident on a restart after Joey Saldana stopped on the front stretch with a flat tyre.

Lance Blevins was a bit too keen on the restart and, in his haste to re take Herrera, collided with Haudenschild and spun into Blaney. Blevins and Blaney were out, while the “Wild Child’ was sixth.

Swindell opened the gap again and won from Donny Schatz, Smith, M. Kinser, Herrera and Haudenschild.

Tatnell was again in good qualifying form.

grabbing 12th in the 28car field, and a strong fourth in his heat before a third in his d’ash.

A 17th place finish in the feature was some what of a letdown.

The Outlaws had also put in a two-night show at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, with Mark Kinser holding off cousin Steve to win.

Tatnell was 19th out of 44 runners, fifth in his heat, and qualified for the feature by running third in the B-Feature. He was 18th in the maiin event.

On the preliminary night it was another Swindell win while Tatnell failed to qualify for the feature.

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9June 2000

39

0

Speedcar veteran hangs up helmet

Saying goodbye to driving: Ray Bishop will still be around Speedcar racing, coaching son Harley rather than driving. (Photos by Bren swanson) VICTORIAN Speedcar stalwart Ray ‘Noddy’ Bishop has announced his retirement from the sport.

The six-time State cham pion and 11-time Club champion made the announcement at the Victorian Speedcar Drivers Association presentation night (co-hosted with the Victorian Compact Speedcar Club) on May 27.

While the identities of the placegetters for the Season Aggregate Pointscore for Club Champion was known, no-one was prepared for just how momentous the presen-' tation would be.

As young gun Harley Bisi'op made his way back to

his table after receiving his third place trophy, VSDA President John Mills announced that second place was the perennial Ray Bishop.

Bishop approached the microphone and said, “Before I say thank you I have spmething to teU you. Pm retiring.

“This is the hardest deci sion I've ever had to make.”

He told the stunned audience how driving a midget race car had been the greatest sporting quest of his life, and, after watching every other divi sion, nothing came any where near as fulfilling as the roar of the mighty midgets.

“They're a beautiful piece of machinery and on the track their racing is spectac ular. I love these cars and Pm going to miss it.

I’ll still be around the tracks to help and coach my son, Harley, to reach the top echelon of midget auto racing and hopefully to put as much back into the sport as the sport gave me.”

Paul Farrell emphasised the whole atmosphere of the occasion when, upon receiving his third consec utive Club Championship trophy he said, “Well, I had a speech all worked out but what can I say after that!”

- KEVIN EMMERSON

McCalluin 'MeGaillliirn, foriaer Hot Rod toacer aj(d f|ptker tb S^peedway -racers BKeyiffl ja®^i)arrylL McCallmini-, .passed

By Tony MilIa MARK Lemon has at last made his return to British speedway, with Oxford offering the Victorian a team place.

Last year the popular rider from Bairnsdaie rode at both Eastbourne an^ Hull and remains an asset of South Coast club Poole, In his first meeting against Aussie-packed Kings Lynn, he dislocated a collarbone in the same shoulder that he injured during the Speedway Masters series in Australia earher this year.

He was only set to miss one meeting before returning to the saddle both in England and for his Swedish club.

Off to study at Oxford, dirt track style... Bairnsdaie’s Mark Lemon returns to the British scene with Oxford, (Photo by Mike Patrick)

considered too dangerous for n Another rider pleased to return to the British racing after stock car dam League has been Adelaide age when racing took place in wet weather. man Brett Woodifield.

He had been frozen out by ‘ There has so far been a five the ‘averages’ system in the ; wnek break at the Manchester League that made it impos- circuit with promoter John sible^fqr him to get a team Perrin considering racing place at the start of the sea- home meetings some 35 miles son. away at ShefSeld.

But he’s now back at The promoter has been in Peterborough where he first dispute with the Greyhound rode in Britain on his : Racing Association, who own the track, about who arrival four years ago. " Woodifield has replaced pays for the repairs.

Glenn Cunningham, who n Two Australians are had a poor start to the sea son, and joins fellow Aussies Ryan Sullivan and Nigel Sadler in the Peterborough team.

Teams in England are allowed to replace riders after they have raced six meetings if the total aver ages for the seven-man squad falls below the pre season 45 point limit. n Jason Lyons has been stai-ved of action in England over the last few weeks with the temporary closure of the Belle Vue track, the venue

very much part of the battle at the top of the Swedish League.

Jason Crump has been piling up the points and a 14 point return earned his club Vaxgama an important away win at third placed Valsama.

Shane Parker totalled 14 in a big 60-36 home win by his club Karparna over a Vastervik side that included 14-point Sydney rider Todd Wiltshire and a disappoint ing six point return from fel low Sydneysider Craig Boyce.

including David Vears and Martin Broome from Mt Gambier, Bob Tunks and Graeme Daly from Sydney'and a host of Victorian

r away^ redeat^ alter"seemg oat Ms final .speedway identities, career speedway season of SpriatGar racing despite havMcGailum s ^ ! ins Gancerit' ‘ ' . revolved around Hot Rods, where he j:* 'S^kcars kept him going,” said ® [ KevinalSouthlsfthther’s illness. : Welsh^Graeme McGi^Mn, Doug and He saivout'the whole season and if not Norm: Drew and Bob Tanks at venues i for his Ipv.e of Sprintcars,the doctors reck- .such as the now defunct Torquayi Tracey’s and Roley Park speedways, as j.on it vyoMd have taken him earlier.

I “It’s,tough to lose anybody you love but at well as the Melbourne and Sydney Showgrounds. j least wawere abite to m^e Mslast season a MeOaluni’s career ended with the start of I winnihgohe ^thivictory in the SRA series.” his son’s careers. ●T^McCaPum^is surwyed by Ms wife of 44 -years LoiSj, their two sons Kevin and Danyl Motorsport News extends its condolences . and four grandchildren. to the McCallum facMly and fiiends. '. Over 300 moumerS'attended the service, . ^ BRETT SWANSON

Max Oymesny Motorsport

AustraSiari Distributors for

Xoo$if r 1

^ ^ RACING TIRE

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NSW: 02 9679 1990 Fax 02 9679 1187

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n Jason Crump has also helped his Polish club Gorzow to fourth place in the Pohsh League after a 12 point return in the 48-42 home win against Wroclaw.

Craig Boyce rides for the same club but scored just one in the same match.

Todd Wiltshire rides for Bysgoszcz who missed out on top spot when losing 5238 at Czestochowa.

Wiltshire scored just seven while Toinasz Goliob netted 16 from six rides.

Ryan Sullivan is racing for bottom club Torun, one of only two clubs yet to pick up a point away from home. n Mildura 'rider Leigh Adams, who rides for Kings Lynn, tops the British Ehte League averages at 10.33 ahead of Tomasz Goliob and Czech GP runner-up Mark Loram.

Jason Crump at fifth (9.69), Ryan SulHvan at sev enth (9.54), Todd Wiltshire ninth(9.38) and Craig Boyce tenth (8.59) make it five Aussies in the top 10, the best for years.

For the record, Mildura’s Jason Lyons is 18th and Kalgoorlie’s Steve Johnston 19th.

Only seven English riders are in the top 10 with Czech GP winner Billy Hamill (USA) not making the top twenty!

Top of the tables: Leigh Adams tops the British Elite League aver ages with four other Aussies in the top ten, a fact underlining the sheer talent of the Aussie riders.

(Photo by Mike Patrick)

2000 WOMB Of cmrums sinis foiots :s€oie ■ Point Standings To 3 i May 2000

I. Steve Kinser 2. Mark Kinser....

_ 3. Stevie Smith . . .

- 4. Sammy Swindell 5. Danny Lasoski ..

6. Dale Blaney ....

7. Joey Saldana. ...

8. Andy Hillenburg 9. Jac Haudenschild 10. Johnny Herrera.

y

3666 3576 3540 3513 3485 3325 3261 3254 3163 3158

11. Daryn Pittman . .

12. Donny Schatz .. .

13. Lance Blevins .. .

14. Tim Shaffer i 5. Danny Wood ...

16. Greg Hodnett...

17. Brooke Tatnell..

18. Paul McMahan ..

19, Randy Hannagan 20. Brian Paulus . . . .

3102 3034 2980 2960 2931 269 2654 2191 2175 2023

Rolling Wheels 3 I May 2000 I. Stevie Smith 2. Sammy Swindell 3. Mark Kinser 4. Danny Lasoski 5. Dale Blaney 6. Steve Kinser 7. Johny Herrera 8. Tim Shaffer 9. Andy Hillenburg 10. Daryn Pittman

11. Donny Schatz 12. Joey Saldana 13. Jac Haundenschild 14. Lance Blevins IS. Lance Dewease 16. Dean Jacobs 17. Danny Wood 18. Greg Hodnett 19. Brooke Tatnell 20. Lance Yonge

lA](D9®ffSfp®!70

40 9June 2000

Tucker Time for Formula 500s WESTERN Australian pet food company Tucker Time for Pets has ai^nounced its support behind the inaugural NASR Formula 50,0 Winter Nationals.'

The event will be held on June 10 at River View Speedway Murray Bridge with a total prizepool of $10,000 making it the richest one night feature event for the category held in Australia.

The winner of the feature event will win $5000 with current Australian Champion Luke Dillon at the head of the entry list.

The response from Western Australian drivers has been reportedly good with up to 13 cars to make the journey from the west in addition to cars from Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania set for what is being billed a ‘showdown at sundown’.

NASR’s World of Speedway will cover the event.

VSDA hands out the trophies THE Victorian Speedcar Driver’s Association has handed out its awards for the 1999/2000 racing season at a combined function with the Victorian Compact Speedcar Club on May 27 in North Melbourne.

Paul Farrell and Ray Bishop shared the Most Feature Race Wins (thi-ee each) while Ti-avis Mills and Hm’ley Bishop tied for the Rookie ofthe Year award.

Farrell also picked up the Most Consistent award.

Top rookie and fomier Wynn’s V8 Supercar driver Darren Hossack picked up the Most Improved Driver trophy while the promising Rodney Hudson-Davies won not only the Encouragement Award but also the Best Presented Car and Crew gong.

Travis Mills won the Division One pointscore from Harley Bishop and Scott Memery while Paul FaiTell won the Open Division from Ray Bishop and son Harley.

Bob Haselgrove was '^’.awarded Club Person of the Year for his catering efforts.

Two out of three ain’t bad There’s a house nestled in the sleepy little town of Mount Evelyn, Victoria, which boasts amongst its residents, two Australian Champions...

By BRETT SWANSON DANIEL Barton was the first to bring an Aussie title into the household when he won the Australian Street Stock Championship at Redline Raceway.

House-mate Ashley Parkinson then secured a drive in the Skybeam Motorsports Modified Production Commodore and brought home the Australian Championship from Albany’s Attwell Park Raceway.

The third member of the house, Matt Easton, doesn’t race and hasn’t won any Aussie titles but is quietly building up his Victory Lane Racegear speedway parts business.

One guess what the lads talk about around a pizza box in the evenings ...

MotorTFIE Skybeam sports team, owned by Chris and Lesley Clark, has long been one of the best outfitted mod-prod teams in Victoria with son Ricky previously doing the driving.

A family ‘blue’ led to son Ricky leaving the team /and thanks to the recommendation of engine builder Hans Lovski, Ashley Parkinson was given the ride.

The new combination debuted at Bendigo’s big Prince of Wales showground and looked to be the goods before contact ended their charge.

Later events in the season showed just how much poten tial the team really had, wins at Bacchus Marsh, Bendigo and Swan Hill proof Pai-kinson and the Skybeam team went on to take pole at the Vic titles but an oil line failure kiUed the chances.

Still, the potential was enough to warrant the team’s black twin-cab trans porter heading across the Nullabor for the national titles.

Strangely, no one, apart from themselves, really rated Parkinson and the Clarks much of a chance of taking victory.

Over the Easter weekend, Parkinson won three heats and scored two thirds from five starts.

His efforts earned Parkinson a third qualifying

spot and he then dusted the competition in the pole shuf fle to lead the field off.

Parkinson led the first seven laps of the title event before dropping to second place behind West Aussie champ Ben Ellement.

It wasn’t anything to worry about as Parkinson was pacing himself in the Commodore, waiting until the last lap to make his move...

With the white flag wav ing, Parkinson and Ellement emerged side-by-side from turn two - ‘Ash’ was in the lead.

History shows the #5 car finally took the win by two car lengths, a victory that hoisted the team to the top of the Aussie Modified Production ladder.

Locals Ellement and Greg Freeman filled the podium while defending champ Gary Pagel was fourth.

It was a big night in the pits for the Victorian teams, as all five Garden Staters had made the feature from the 50-plus teams that had entered.

Parkinson has spent his whole career in sedans thanks to fellow racer Shane McKinnell who got him involved as a junior, first as a helping hand and then dri ver of McKinnell’s EH at Alexandra.

Parkinson’s first major vic tory came in 1988 when he won the Victorian while Championship, Alexandra club titles followed in ’89 and ’90.

His Alexandra win total is impressive, other series wins coming in ’92 and ’93, while runner-ups in ’91 and ’94 re emphasis his abihty.

In fact from 1986 to ’94 Parkinson has never finished lower than third in the club points.

Another Victorian title

...

Skybeam me up Ash: Ashley Parkinson (right) has proved his worth behind the wheel of the #5 Commodore (above). ' ^ (Photo by Brett Swanson)

performances obviously helping to secure the ride in the championship-winniu,g Commodore.

With the season ending this week at Bendigo, where ‘Ash’ is hoping for yet another victory in the annual Queen’s Cup event.

So what’s next for the 26 year old welder?

Parkinson is quite happy to spend his time racing Modified Production Sedans and is hopeful of a long and fruitful association with the Clark’s and their Skybeam team.

“I’ll be driving again for the Clarks in the Skybeam Motorsport/Victory Lane Racegear VR Commodore,” a proud Parkinson re-affinned recently.

“The team has some-great plans, next season well proba bly build a new VT Commodore depending on which way the engine rules go, so I’m quite excited about it aU.

popped up in ’94 with the BModified title being won at “We’ll just take it as it comes because we don’t have Baimsdale.

Podium finishes in the Bob the budget to step up to another division, like Super Davies Memorial, Rushworth 1000, Queen’s Cup and 1995 Sedans^, Late Models or State title have also come his Sprintcars but, at the same time, you never knock back a way.

Parkinson resumed his ride if it comes along.”

Now if they just had an career after a three-year break in ’98 and straight Australian ChampionsMp for away the victories flowed, partying hard, there’d be taking feature wins at _ three Aussie Champs living Bendigo and Avalon - his under the one roof...

SRA awards night THE annual Sprintcar Racing Association of Victoria awards gala was held recently in Geelong with over 150 people in attendance.

Radio 3YB’s ‘Diggin’ in the Dirt’ co-host Stuart McCarthy was the evening’s MC on a night where David Swayn followed up his Knoxville Hall of Fame Australian Sprintcar Poll National Rookie of the Year Award with the Doug

+

Wright State award.

Swayn took the award from a list of seven nominees and also scored

the Ian Vale, Competitor ofrthe Series.

The Allspdrt Trophies Crew of the Year went to the SRA Series cham pionship winning crew of McCallum Racing wMch of course included the team’s recently deceased patriarch Graham McCallum.

The W&G Mowers Best Presented Car & Crew award went again not

Bv CHRIS METCALF JAMIE McHugh has taken out the final round of the 1999/2000 Coastline Vehicle Transport Super Sedan Series at Archerfield Speedway on June 2, It was a fortuitous victo ry, McHugh having inherit ed the lead after John Leshght retired with a bro ken axle and the relegation of Wayne Randall to the rear ofthe field.

Once in front, McHugh was untroubled in keeping

surprisingly to the McCubbin Racing team wMle Blair Jones won the Quick Race Parts Battler of the Year.

D&F Racing Products Unluckiest Driver award went to Mick Van Bremen, mainly for his luck with his ageing transporter while The Bill Evans Family-supported Encouragement Award went to rookie John Vogels.

Ian Smith was awarded the RusseU Clark Most Improved Driver hard ware and Natahe Morton is the Club Person ofthe Year’.

The aU-important Open Pointscore was an extremely close fought affair with Mike Van Bremen surprisingly

Ms battered Cammio ahead i of Ms pmsuers to finish the Mght undefeated.

Ian MaTshall continued; Ms recent good results with : a fine runnei’-up finish,,, having to withstand a| strong challenge from rook ie Geoff Phillips throughout' the latter stages of the race. ' A dielighted Phillips ; became the second rookie to chnch a podium fimsh this season wMle Rodney Gou^ annexed foui-th spot ahead of Wayne Brims, Randall, Geoff O’Eeefe and Alex Jenner,

just getting up ahead of new SRA Series Champion Rob Rankin.

Matthew Reed, despite retiring before season’s end still grabbed third ahead of David Anderson. All Trophies for the club ChampionsMp were donated by the Avalon Sprintcar Club.

The prize for the Most Outstanding Achievement went to an extremely humble veteran in Butch Hunter for Ms effort in plac ing his budget racing car on pole at Warrnambool’s round of the Easter trail.

-BRETT SWANSON

9 June 2000

41

0

It’s raining, men: There was some wet and wild racing at the Winton.

Histories. Mike Micelli took John Mann’s scalp in the Grp N race while Graham Smith got wet wet wet in the 1950 Allard J2. (Photos by ngn Hammond) Report by BRIAN REED A MASTER of understatement was the commentator who rounded off the weekend's activ ities at the 24th Historic Winton by saying “The weather has been less than idyllic.” In fact, the weather was a shocker!

In spite of the rough conditions around 280 drivers and close to 100 motorcycle riders turned on a great weekend's motorsport for the brave souls who came to watch. And they came in droves to enjoy the 44 events (27 for cars and 17 for the bikes) at the Austin 7 Club's annual,gathering.

The usual gatheiing of collectable club cars graced the carpark with Aston Martin, Mustang, Cortina, MG,Riley and others well to the fore.

Heavy showers persisted throughout Saturday's program and this was reflected in the prac tice and race times. Sunday was bitterly cold, but fortunately the track dried out as the day pro gressed and there was plenty of excellent racing to make up for the miserable conditions.

The weather played right into the hands of CanbeiTa's Mai Reid who won both Groups J & K Vintage and Post Vintage events (including the Keith TyiTell Memorial Trophy) in his 1948 ‘Monoskate.’

The late Alec Mildren's 1959 Cooper, the fifth such car he had brought into Australia in his attempts to win the CAMS Gold Star award, was raced at Winton by Dick Willis from NSW, and he made his trip south worthwhile with some fine performances against strong opposition from Ian McDonald (Repco Holden), Stuart Powell (Faux Pas), Ken Bedggood (Lola Mkl) and Graham Smith's thundering Allard J2.

But it was Stuart Powell who was the star of the Lb Sports & Racing events with a narrow win over the Allard on Saturday and victory in Sunday's handicap to vrin the George Coad Memorial ’Trophy.

The Phil Irving Trophy, a handi-* cap race for Groups M & 0 racing cars went to the Joins Formula Junior of Geoff Fry, and the Col. Arthur Waite Trophy, a handicap for Groups J & K cars was won by Basil van Dongen in Trevor Cole's well used Austin 7 Special.

In fact, the handicap races were a feature of the program and pro duced some close and exciting fin ishes. Unfortunately the handicappers were kept busy, with several competitors breaking their time limits and relinquishing their top finishing positions.

Victorian Roy Best drove a fine race in his 1959 Austin Healey Sprite to score a runaway victory in the Alan Jones Memorial Trophy race for Groups Sa & Sb, and Richard Carter dominated proceed ings in his impressive 1973 March openwheeler against formidable opposition from Mike Glynn (Lola F5000) and Hugh Gaidley (Cheetah Mk4)in the P, Q and Fonnula Ford classes.

Wslone

SandiM/ri New look: Winton’s new control tower frames the competitors.

Lago GP with a best placing of sixth in the Group Lb handicap race. Giddings experienced gear selection problems during his eaidier visit for the Qantas AGP meet ing at Albert Park - unfortunately Of the Formula Fords, John the gi-emhns returned for Winton.

Goddard's Royale RP24 was clearly In spite of the weather the motorthe outstanding car and Goddard cycle riders also did a fine job in gave plenty against the bigger car- n handling the tricky conditions. son the slippery track.

Peter Guest was outstanding in The Minis revelled in the condi¬ winning the All Powers Bill Luke tions and Alan Bergan's Austin Memorial Trophy on a Norton fitted Cooper S scored a winning double with a Vincent engine belonging to in the Group 2 tintop races, while Australian champion Ken Lucas.

Another rider who excelled w'as Melbourne's Henry Draper was the outstanding performer in the Group Keith Campbell whose uncle bear1 ranks against the Ford Mustangs ing the same name was 350cc world and Torana XU-ls - it was just like champion in the ’50s. The current the good old days!

Campbell revelled in the wet condiRegular USA visitor to Winton tions, winning against machines Peter Giddings had a rather miser- with much bigger capacities, able meeting in his 1950 Talbot The Turner brothers (Peter and

Michael) dominated the Post Classic sidecar events on their 4cylinder Honda 1000 and came through to greet the chequered flag in spite of a one lap handicap! The Classic sidecar events (for machines up to 1962) were shared around amongst a number of com petitors.

The 24th Historic Winton was essentially incident free apart from NSW driver Ray Wamsley who rolled his Cooper MG at Turn 1 during practice on Saturday. He had just qualified eighth fastest for the Group Lb Sports & Racing events and although not injured wasn't able to take any further part in the meeting.

Most spectacular 'off amongst the bikes were Lyn Jones and Chris Panyi when their 550 BSA outfit temporarily disappeared in a wall of water on the side of the track. It was really tough going!

IHIIRI are abiae big plans in ; fbe making the 2000 Histomc Sandown meeting to | I be held on ©otober 21-22. fhe always one of the I highlights on'the national I Galendar, is taking ona ' I number of new faeets for i 2000I fhe ViGtorJan MietoriG | ; RaGing; Register will again I team with the MG Car Club I and together they hope to ; present a Tasman Challenge j involving as many of the Gars j and dRiwers that took part j I during,the great years of the Tasman Series.

It'S an'exciting prospeGt | i and it is understood that Max | I Warwick has been assigned I the task of iplanning the I Tasman Challenge, possibly i involving some level of j partiGlpation from overseas i competitors ^ BRIAN REED, j

Ai^id t:h<e

V Brabham up front: Peter Addison’6 BT23 leads the Group M & O Racing field into the first corner.

Vintage & Post Vintage Reguiarity (1) Vintage & Post Vintage Regularity (2) Vintage & Post Vintage Regularity (3) Groups J & K Racing - Race 1 Groups J & K Racing - Race 2 Groups J & K Racing Handicap Groups Lb Sports & Racing - Race 1 Groups Lb Sports & Racing - Race 2 Groups Lb Sports & Racing Handicap Groups M & O Racing - Race 1 Groups M & O Racing - Race 2 Groups M & O Racing Handicap Groups M & O Sports & Q - Race 1 Groups M & O Sports & Q - Race 2 Groups M & O Sports & Q Handicap Group N Touring (1)- Race 1 Group N Touring (1) — Handicap Group N Touring (1)- Race 2 Group N Touring (2)- Race 1 Group N Touring (2)- Handicap Group N Touring (2)- Race 2 Groups P, Q & FF - Race 1 Formula 5000 & Group Q Groups Sa & Sb - Race 1 Sa & Sb Alan Jones Memorial Groups Sa & Sb Handicap

Keith Roberts (Riley) Bob King (Bugatti Anzani) Roger Benjamin (Riley) Mai Reid ('Monoskate') Mai Reid IMonoskate') Basil van Dongen (Austin 7 Spl.) Stuart Powell (Faux Pas) Dick Willis (Mildren Cooper) Stuart Powell (Faux Pas) Peter Addison (Brabham BT23) Les Wright (Dairo Jaguar) Geoff Fry (Jolus FJ) Max Brunninghausen (Chevron B8) Neville McKay (Mallook Mk8B) Neville McKay (Maliook Mk8B) Michael Miceli (Ford Mustang) Denis Sargent (Torana XU-1) John Mann (Ford Mustang) Andrew Bergan (Austin Cooper S) David Pike (Holden EH) Andrew Bergan (Austin Cooper S) Richard Carter (March) Richard Carter (March) Mark Howell (MGB GT) Roy Best (AH Sprite) Rick Reynolds (MGB)

42 9 June 2000

Toyota one day, Subaru the next

The Best of Rivals: Possum Bourne and Neal Bates split the honours in the second round of the ARC, taking a first and a second each. the Queenslander.

Stewart Reid, making his comeback after the horrific crash in Tassie last year, saw it all come to a prema ture end when the new described as an etermty^.

Lancer Evo VI holed a piston Ordynski’s Lancer had no and forced him out. problems but the Subaru Despite Bates dominance team seemed to have all the over most stages, dust was answers. starting to become a problem “I’m never disappointed as the day wore on for the Toyota sitting at number coming second to that team, Cody has lifted the bar and two on the road.

“We really had a major we have to catch up,” dust problem and we’ll lob- explained Ordynski. bying for a three minute The surprise packet of the dust gap tomorrow - we had day was Adrian Bukmanis to take some pretty big risks hi the ‘old’ Legacy, finishing actually,” said Coral Taylor. fifth, just 45s behind the facThe Group N battle was a tory cars and about 30s in little more one-sided, with front of the Lancer of the Group N Subaru of Cody Spencer Lowndes.

Lee Peterson won F2 in Crocker taking fastest on virtually every stage to hold the Nissan Sunny GTi while a commanding lead over Ed local Paul Pywara won the Ordynski’s Mitsubishi as the Aussie Car Class in the sixlast couple of stages were cylinder Commodore Ute. The Falcon of Peter Menzies run around Imbil.

For Bourne however there had held the lead for much seemed to be no answer to of the day until a time penalthe Bates Corolla with the ty robbed him of the lead.

The Proton Rally Trophy focus switching to the next saw the title favourite. day.

We just have to keep Ashlea James take another going and get win, with 23rd outright in them tomorrow! the Satria. Not so lucky were the other two Proton runsaid Possum.

The tarmac ners.

Joe Lombardo suffered a Noosa Hillclimb finished the day “ head-on collision with Bruce and the Corolla Fullerton’s Subaru on a WRC took the transport stage, and the stage by 2s with other Proton of Todd Reed some thrilling tar- went off the road and mac slides from became stuck, forcing him to both Bates and retire out of late time.

Bourne.

The The second leg started result gave Bates with a tough assignment, the heat victory with two stages totalling 42km north-east of Imbil by just 7'secs.

Crocker had before the first real service, r. been in command Bourne’s crew had found in the Group N the cause of the handling battle all day problem overnight and the despite a big Subaru was now back on the moment on the pace. ■’ Melawondi stage The problem was not the where the Subaru front diff but the rear, so we stood on its nose replaced it,” said Bourne, Bourne took a 4s lead over oyer a hump for what Doubling up: Ashlea James dominated the Proton category. he Bates on the first stage and

Bates won the first stage by 4s, kicking off a battle NEAL Bates and Possum that would last all day.

The first few stages saw Bourne have taken one heat each to share victoiy the fight see-saw as Bouyne struggled with the handling overall in the second of the Subaru, the shock round of the Australian „ . ,. change not helping. Bates Rally Championship control despite the Super Series, the Rally of g^p changing constantly.

Queensland.

Fm not doing anything Bates had a trouble-free different from the last few win in the opening heat after events, but it certainly feels Bourne struggled with an ill- good to be on top for a handling Subaru, however ' change, and I’m also probaonce the fault was rectified bly experiencing more grip on Saturday night the from the Michelins than I’ve Toyota driver had trouble ever felt before,” said Bates, matching Bourne.

Bourne was worried about The rally, based on the the inconsistencies of the Sunshine Coast, was held in Subaru, clear sunny weather which, “It won’t turn in and then despite soaking rain in the when it does the tail wants week’s prior, produced tough to step out. It is something dusty conditions in the more than shockies but I forests around Imbil. don’t think we are going to Bourne was worried on the have time to sort it out until long transport up from tonight,” Bourne said.

Local John Goasdoue Caloundra on day one and ordered a shock absorber came across a herd of cattle change at the Imbil Service on Forest Drive 1 while travPark before the first special elling at better than stage was run, signalling 160km/h. One singled his problems for the Subaru Lancer out for attention, the team. front-end damage sidelining

By JON THOMSON

Heatl 1 Neal Bates/Coral Taylor 2 Possum Bourne/Mark Stacey 3 Cody Crocker/Greg Foletla 4 Ed Ordynski/lain Stewart 5 Adrian Bukmanis/John Ahern 6 Spencer Lowndes/Chris Randel

Toyota Corolla WRC 1h05m30s 1 h 05m37s Subaru WRC 98, Subaru WRX Impreza 1h08m31s Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VM h 10m04s 1h10m49s Subanj Liberty 1h11m12s Mitsubishi EVO 5

Heat 2 1 Possum Bourne/Mark Stacey 2 Neal Bates/Coral Taylor 3 Cody Crocker/Greg Foletta 4 Ed Ordynski/ lain Stewart 5 Reece Jones/Leo Bult 6 Martin Lintott/Tony Jackson

49m37s Subaru WRC 98 49m59s Toyota Corolla W RC 52m36s Subaru WRX Impreza Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VI 52m58s Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 54m57s 55m07s Subaru

on the second the Corolla hit something beside the road, putting the steering out of whack, making the task dif ficult for the Canberra dri ver.

Bates spun on the next stage as Bourne started to pull out a lead. The Corolla driver would only head the times again once more dur ing the day as the Subaru in perfect trim raced to the heat win.

Neal was happy with the weekend overall however, the Queensland rally prov ing that the battle at the front was well and truly back on and that Coffs will be a tight affair.

The Group N fight was another tough affair with Crocker in the Subaru again heading the Lancer Evo VI of Ordynski. Crocker beat the Mitsubishi driver over the first three stages to take a four second lead. However the Subaru driver cemented the category win for a sec ond time by pulling another 28 seconds on the next two stages.

Kiwi Reece Jones took fifth outright after all around him ran into prob lems.

Brett Middleton saw his new Subaru and his 2000

campaign take a major set back with an off into a large tree. The crash destroyed the front of the car, putting the next round at Coffs in question, as the former F2 champion continues to struggle in his first year in the top class.

Lowndes also had an off, going too wide on a left-han der, breaking an axle and suffering some front end damage while Bukmanis would not repeat his day one performance after blowing a gearbox.

The Privateer’s Cup instead fell to Martin Lintott with sixth outright in his Subaru.

The battle for F2 Lee saw supremacy Peterson again take the Nissan to victory ahead of the Daihatsu Charade of Peter Anderson. The Aussie Car Class was claimed once more by Pyvaara in the Ute, with the team now planning to do all of the remaining rounds.

James won the Proton Rally Trophy once more beating home Todd Reed’s machine after Joe Lombardo failed to restsirt.

The Championship now moves to Coffs Harbour in a month’s time.

9June 2000 PXo

Rally Oz changes

TELSTRA Rally Australia’s popular Langley Park Super Stage on the Swan River in Perth will undergo a major revision this year.

Although the details won’t be announced until July, Rally Austj-alia’s Garry Connelly has confirmed that there will be significant changes to the stage.

Reportedly, many regular Rally Australia watchers have become bored with the ‘sameness’ of the stage over the past two or three years, and it appears the changes will be well accepted among competitors and spectators alike.

‘The location is still fantastic - the stage just needs some modifications to bring the excitement back into it,” one leading journalist commented.

- PETER WHITTEN

Subaru 4-door coming

The biggest speculation around Australian rallying at the moment is not will Toyota pull out of local competition but when.

With no ongoing develop ment of the car by TTE mak ing it difficult for Bates to match the constantly-develop ing Subaru ofPossum Bourne, the chances of the Toyota boai'd backing another season of high cost competition seem remote.

Despite no one in the team admitting it, the body lan guage and the subtle hints all point to the fact that the Canberra-based team will probably not have a Toyota ARC program next year.

Bates first rallied a Celica GT4 for Toyota in 1990 and has won three Australian titles. But the past three sea sons with the Corolla have been an expensive and painful experience at best.

Already speculation over Toyota’s possible involvement in a V8 Supercar program has been given some credence by top management, meaning the rally program is probably offthe agenda.

MOST manufacturers

have shied away from four-door rally cars, but Prodrive director David Lapworth denies that Subaru’s decision to make the next version of the Impreza a four-door saloon will compromise its competitiveness.

“We can re-work the rear wheel arches and the

Road racer? Bates has already done road events like Targa - could V8 racing be next?

Toyota's exit closer So what will Neal-Bates do?

There is the chance that he could run the V8 Supercar program or, potentially,

spearhead a new rally program for another maker.

One rumom in the mill over

1

the weekend was that Bates

FSA rules on triple-layers and gloves LEADING competitors in Australia and overseas

Who brought the gloves? Teams like SEAT will have to be fully dressed for all FIA-sanctioned rallies in future.

have questioned the FIA’s new clothing require ments at all FIA-sanctioned rallies.

The rule change means that both crew members must wear triple-layer over alls regardless of the weath er, and from the Acropolis Rally onwards, co-drivers must also wear gloves.

On hot events like the Acropolis, and the new Cyprus Rally, drivers usually

wear t-shirts to combat the heat, but ail this will change.

And the co-driver’s issue has also raised eyebrows.

“It’ll be interesting to see how we handle the job of turning the pages on our pacenotes with gloves on,” leading Australian co-driver Damien Long said.

The heat problem will also cause concerns at our own Rally Austraha in November, where temperatures often top the 30 degree mark.

T PETER WHITTEN

may be heading up a program for Ford, with a liTOC Focus in local rallies.

Ford is about to laimch the Focus here and Motorsport Manager Howard Marsden is keen on rallying. The compa ny recently pulled out of its commitment to Steve Winwood’s Falcon rally car and the Focus could be a match for the Subaru.

As well as this. Bates is a regular co-driver with Ford’s factory-backed Ford Tickford Racing V8 Supercar team and will share a Falcon with Wayne Gardner at Bathurst.

Despite these pointers, co driver Coral Taylor flatly rejected the speculation.

“I can categorically say we have had no discussion with Ford,” Taylor told MN. -JON THOMSON

teQDiiwatcli: McRae might stay put SPECULATION over Colin McRae’s future is hitting fever pitch, the 1995 World Champion stating that he could stay at Ford in spite of his dreadful finishing record in the Focus.

‘The problem is, if you’ve spent two years by the end of this year trying to get the thing right and you can see it happening, then you basically drop it and go somewhere else,” McRae said.

43

“Sure enough, the Focus [pictured] is going to start winning in 2001 and whatever [car] you’ve gone to drive is not. That’s basically the way it's been going for a while; we had two disastrous years with Subaru, left there and then the thing’s run like a train.

“I would hate to do that again.”

He is convinced that the team is making real progress with the Focus.

“It is a lot better; Catalunya went very well. Argentina was unfortunate more than anything that the problem wasn’t spotted in time, so I think it is going in the right direction and it’s

more than a small step in the last couple of months.

“It’s taken quite a big step in a lot of different areas and we're getting there. That’s why I’m playing my cards very close to my chest at the moment.

“The main thing at the moment is just to do another two or three rallies in the Focus and get the results that we’re hoping it will. That’s the only thing that we’re thinking about at the moment- or the only thing I’m thinking about, anyway,” McRae said.

McRae holds the key to the transfer market for next season. Both Peugeot and Subaru have expressed an interest in hiring the 31 -year-old Scot.

rear doors. It’s got some small advantages for us.

Access to the rear suspension is difficult in a two-door. There are some components we might be able to locate slightly better,” he claimed.

The usual reasoning is that the extra doors limit rear wheel arch'size and therefore suspension travel. Although Mitsubishi and Skoda are the only manufacturers rallying top-line four or five-door machinery at present, Lapworth insisted that the WRCar rules give enough flexibility to ensme that the next-generation Impreza, due to go into action in 2001, will be fully competitive.

Insiders blaim that it will be a radical interpretation of the rules and it is thought that a bodyshell is already at Prodrive’s Banbury headquarters. Both of Prodrive’s original Subarus, the Legacy and the first generation Impreza, were four-door saloons, while Tommi Makinen has been World Champion four years running in a four-door Mitsubishi.

Speculation about the shape of the next Subaru has been heightened by the publication of computer-generated impressions in a British weekly. Lapworth claimed that they were far from accurate.

Lapworth believes that World Championship leader Richard Bums shouldn’t suffer any of the overheating problems that slowed him in Portugal and Argentina on next month’s Acropohs Rally. There are two kinds of cooling system for the latest Impreza P2000 and he admitted that the team had made a tactical error in taking the cold-weather version

V.

to Argentina.

The alternative arrangement includes different radiators and fans, and will be vital in the searing temperatures likely on the Acropolis.

Subam is aiming for its fifth Acropolis success in seven years.

-PETER WHITTEN

DmffSfpa

44 9June 2000

Karting Briefs WHILE Sarah Fisher and Lyii St. James cleaned each other up at the Indy 500,it almost happened at the Ford Max Challenge as well!

The tv.'o ladies in the field clashed with,three laps to go, however, both Hollie Donovan and Kate Friend were able to continue to the finish, unlike their oval track counterparts. n Don’t expect a quick resolution m the ARC vs AKA com’t battle. Despite a prehminaiy hearing having taken place on May 24, there will be no more action imtil July 19 when a new hearing date will be set.

Meanwhile, the average Clubman karter waits...

H The local Police had the radar gun out at the recent Bairnsdale Street Grand Prix.

The top speed recorded went to Matt Wall in Formula 100 at 114km/h, while the speeds in other categories maxed out at; 86km/h (Senior National), 107km7h (Rotax Light) and 84km/h for the seven year old Midgets. All this dovm a 60km/h shopping strip... n According to the MAX Challenge rales, no thermostats are allowed so competitors were forced to tape up the radiators to combat the chilly conditions at Westgate Park.

Using individual strips of race tape, the drivers theii liad to peel them off indiv dually as the engine temperature came up during the race.

By MARK WICKS GAVIN Walker has taken out the first round of the Ford MAX Challenge series at Westgate Park Raceway, Melbourne.

The 16-year-old took vi.ctory over Matt Wall and reign ing Formula A champion Jamie Wliincup.

Walker established an eaily gap at the beginning of the 30 lap final, however Mark Winterbottom was able to break away from a squabbling pack to hunt Walker down and take the lead. for Unfortunately Winterbottom, his carburet tor fell off shortly after, allowing Walker to win by 6.5 seconds.

Ironically it was William Yarwood who qualified n fastest (41.766s) on a week end where cold and wet con ditions played havoc.

Winterbottom was second (41.927s) ahead of Tyson Pearce (41.950s), Whincup (42.211s), Wall (42.311s) and Travis Murphy(42.346s).

Whincup was impressive in the heats, winning the first two and claiming second in the third heat behind Wall.

The grid for the pre-final Wall, was Whincup, Winterbottom, Walker, Michael Cai-uso and Yarwood.

Neil McFadyen was having a wretched weekend, lining up 16th.

On a veiy wet circuit, WaU took the lead at the start ,as Yarwood spun out on fhe infield.

McFadyen was finally showing some speed, ulti mately working his way up to finish second as Walker got underneath Wall, taking the lead up the Irill and going on to take the win.

Walker takes first blood

Whincup fell to fourth, hit ting his engine as he drove.

“We had a faulty engine, it backfired and blew the o-ring off the power valve,” he explained.

With the problem fixed, Whincup jumped to the lead at the start of the final, ahead of Walker, McFadyen and Wall with a gap to Winterbottom, Mark Hester, Jason Varley and Yarwood.

Walker quickly took over the lead and pulled away as a battle raged for second.

Winterbottom finally broke free of the pack and caught Walker, taking the lead on lap 14.

The two raced hard, mak ing contact at the end of the straight before Winterbottom slowed and stopped on the back of the circuit, over whelmed with frustration at what had happened - the carburettor had fallen off.

The pressure was now off Walker, who now cruised to victory as Wall, Whincup and Yarwood carved each other up.

The only question for Walker was that of endurance. But, while he is not used to running longer races like many of the other drivers, it was a question easily answered.

“One of my quickest laps was towards the end so it was okay,” Walker said.

Wall eventually claimed sec ond despite accidentally rip ping the radiator masking off.

“The temperature fell down to 49 degrees and then it started missing,” he said.

Shopping at Westgate: Gavin Walker’s Kmart Racing kart was the machine to beat in the new Ford Max Challenge. He won by 6.5s. (PHotobySeanHensheiwood) Whincup explained he was relatively happy with third despite engine set-up problems.

Yarwood was another to suffer nvechanical problems but his were more pro nounced - the engine regu larly cutting out on the main straight where he often lost position.

A determined drive aird some excellent outbraking manoeuvres was good enough for fourth.

“I just couldn’t get the thing to run, it kept stop ping,” he said.

“Considering what was wrong with it, we’re happy with fourth but then, on the same note. I’m sure we were fast enough to win it by a long shot.”

n The Sydney Superdome Indoor Kart Prix originally scheduled for June 24 has been postponed. The , promoters are now ^talking of running the event in November.

-MARK WICKS

the final it just went back wards,” he said.

The second round of the Ford Max Challenge series is at Eastern Creek International Kartin Raceway on July 1-2.

piord Max

Round f RiesuIXs ^ IMIaiF

Laps/Margin Pos Driver, State . . . .30 laps 1. Gavin Walker, Vic . . . . . . .-6.49&S 2. Matthew Wall, Vic . . . . . . .-6.595s 3. Jamie Whincup, Vic . . . . . .-6.876s 4. William Yarwood. Qld . . . .-7.957s 5. Neil McFadyen, NSW . . . .-11.637s 6. Michael Caruso, NSW . . .-14.511s 7. Tyson Pearce, SA . . . . .^.-14.968s 8. Jason Hryniuk, NSW . . . .-15.280s 9. Darren McDonald, Vic . . .-19.496s 10. Aaron Fitzgerald, NSW Fastest Lap: Mark Winterbottom (42.073s).

airnsdale streets come alive On-board with Owen: Steve Owen is keeping his eye in with karts after running equal second in the ’99 Formula Ford title. Look closely and you’ll see Owen-cam at work...

ffl The AKA has issued a memorandum regarding pistons in the Re-Sa class.

Competitors should note that the piston will remain a ‘non-tech’item up to August 1. After this . date the only per’missible piston allowed will be PCR as originally stated in the rule book. n Organisers of the Bairnsdale Street Grand Prix offered a new ARC water-cooled engine in an ‘early bird’ entry promotion, Gippsland’s Bradley Stratton the lucky winner.

Other special awards included the Loctite Trophy for highest pointscore of the meeting (George Sera), while Gavin Walker was crowned ‘King of the Street Meets’- having won on the temporary tracks at both Portland and Bairnsdale.

McFadyen’s pre-final pace disappeared in the final, falling to fifth.

“We salvaged good points from not such a good weekend. In the prefinal it was good, but in

(Photo by Mark Wicks)

THE Bairnsdale RSL Australasian Street Grand Prix marked the ninth annual running of this popular’ karting event but, with the program cut short after heavy rain on n Saturday, which delayed proceedings, some excellent racing made up for this on Srmday.

The two Rotax classes enjoyed healthy fields indi cating the clutch and push button start engine is prov ing vei-y popular.

Kmart Racing’s Gavin Walker and DPE’s Brett

Davidson were at the pointy end of both classes.

Walker led the opening laps of Rotax Heavy but Davidson had the pace to catch and pass to take the win.

Joseph Pasquale led the Rotax Light field away, estab lishing an early gap which forced Walker to push hard.

Walker successful!/ passed him to take the win while Davidson grabbed third.

Walker’s Rotax success was duplicated in Clubman Heavy where he was first over the line but later disqualified after contact with George Sera.

This promoted Kane Rose to first, while Danny Buzadzic was excluded for being underweight.

Matt Wall was top point scorer after the heats of Foi-mula 100, which had erod ed the field to only six finalists.

Wade 'Ti’uman and Marcus Zukanovic blasted through to lead as Wall fell to third before taking the lead on lap six - only to drop a chain at the very next comer, handing Ti’uman the win.

Sera enjoyed a flag to flag victory in the Over 40s ahead of Graeme Monds.

Glen Chadwick was lucky

to finish fourth as his kart’s top steering mount bolt had worked its way loose!

Jordie Lindstrom came out on top in Rookies and Jonathon Taylor won Midgets.

Reigning Aussie Champ Taz Douglas proved quick in Junior Clubman but it was Brent Rose who led the final over Douglas, Troy Woolston and Jace Lindstrom.

Douglas retired after drop ping a chain, leaving Rose well clear with a handy gap back to the rest.

The Clubman Light final was the last event for the day and was fittingly taken out by local Dale Cai-penter.

Carpenter had to work hard for victory, fighting off challenges by Josh Arandt, Lee Uhlhom and Steve Owen - Owen crashing out having clipped Carpenter’s rear tyre.

Grant Anderson, Nicholas Parker, Adam Klunyk and Greg Henry were also fast, Anderson moving through for third.

-MARK WICKS

V if

I

W

©y MARK WICKS AUSTRALIANS competing: | in Europe continue to slog ! i it out against the world’s j toughest competition. i The opening; round of i ; the European Formula A and Super A j championships was held in | Belgium and it was Troy i : Hunt who starred.

I Despite quali%«ing a | lowly 26th, Hunt finished | fifth in race one ahead of World Champ Davide Fore. ; The fact that this was { Hunt’s FSA debut, and that j he had only completed two days testing prior, made I the feat even more i remarkable. i Ryan Briscoe finished ninth | ; while Ben Horstman qualified ; seventh and was running a i safe fiflh when a rotary valve i failed on the last lap. n j Hunt slotted into fourth in i race ttwo behind team mate j Bruno Vroomen. Coming i under pressure from the ; following Nelson Van Der | Pol. Hunt was eager to ! pass, however the two | came together on lap four | putting Vroomen against I ; the fenee and into hospital | with Hunt out of the race.

Briscoe claimed i seventh and lies sixth in points, with Hunt 10th.

j

JAIVIIE WHIIMCUP

9June 2000

45

One very busy boy

JAMIE Whincup is going to be a busy boyfor the rest of2000. The reigning Australian Formula A Champion had already committed to running a busy Formula Ford schedule before ojyportunites to contest both the FA and Ford Max series popped up. Despite the time restraints, hefound time to speak with Motorsport News’ TONY GLYNN

Have you done your homeworkyet? Jamie Whincup has an incredibly busy schedule ahead, splitting time between two car series and FFord. Whincup and Clint Cathcart talk things over at the Ford Max Challenge.

(Photos by Tony Glynn and James Smith)

&

double champion WHILE Jamie 17-year-old Whincup (Jamie was also the 1998 Intercontinental A titlehold;r) is currently finding life on the bitumen a little hectic, he’s already begun to enjoy the fruits of his success.

“Because I won the Formula A championship last year, it’s opened doors this year with sponsorship and given me a level of recogni tion that’s already proving to be worthwhile in both karts and Formula Ford,” he said.

“For example, the people I drove for in 1999 offered me a sponsored drive this year in their FoiTnula A kart for the FMK Series, both Tecno and Parilla Australia wanting to capitalise upon my champi onship success and providing me with the latest machineiy to publicise their equipment for them this season.

“Remo Racing’s Remo Luciani is the Tecno man for Australia and he decided to put some money in to let me race Formula A for him, n which was a considerable financial change from my previous self-funded efforts.”

^^

very short notice, Tecno upplied the latest facto ry chassis in time for Whincup - who also drew solid support for his FMK endeavours from long-time supporter dataEase - to make the grid for the first round of the series at Bolivar in Adelaide, but the lack of pre-race testing proved to be a hindrance.

“We came fourth in the first race at Bolivar and weren’t exactly happy about

the result, as we expected to do a lot better than that,” explained Jamie.

“We didn’t have enough rear grip, which was the result of too little practice and simply not enough time to learn about the chassis.

“We were off Formula Fording this year and getting involved in a completely new ai-ea and then suddenly found ourselves back in karts and going racing at the last minute without enough prepai-ation.

“Even the tyres were a problem and, despite the fact that the Bridgestone supplier claimed this year’s tyre was the same as last season’s, everyone felt that they’re not.

“So, to make sure that the next FA round is handled correctly, we’ll be going testing here in Victoria and will hopefully be able to get in a day on the track at Ipswich in Queensland, where the next round is scheduled to be ran.

“I’m confident about my driving ability, but I’m not too confident about our equipment and what we can do with it - it’s all new and imtil we learn all about it, we won’t be going anywhere.”

The Tecno team certainly wasn’t handicapped by a horsepower problem at Bolivar, Whincup believing that his Parilla powerplant produced more power than any of the opposition.

However, it was a format change that upset the plans of the reigning champion.

“The rules have changed this year and, while I’m expe rienced with the engines, the race format is totally different and we now get to run two sets of tyres this year.

What won the title for us last year was our ability to come to terms with the tyre wear.

“Because we only had one set of tyres for the whole

highhght the talents of young Australian drivers and open the doors to Ford’s worldwide racing progi’am.

During early testing, Jamie

“Because I won the Formula A championship last year, it’s opened doors this year with sponsorship and given me a level of recognition that’s already proving to be worthwhile in both karts and Formula Ford ^ Jiamle WhiiniGuip weekend, we developed the art of preserving our tyres the best - it’s an art to drive the kart and conserve the tyres and that’s what we were particularly good at.

“But with two sets of tyres for each meeting you can go and burn them'up a lot more than last year, “We’re not the^ gurus with this new system, but I don’t believe anyone else really understands it either and so we’re all having to learn to come to terms vrith it.

Jamie is also the Ford Maxcompeting Chdlenge,in a series based aroimd a control kart powered by a 125cc Rotax engine and designed to

felt that there was plenty of power to do the job and he was visibly impressed by the fact that all engines have been dynoed to ensure an equal package is the norm.

“Because the equipment is designed to be identical, it’s all going to be up to the driver and'racecraft - whoever is going to race the best will win, which is good,” he enthused.

“The entry list for this series has all the good drivers that I raced against last year includmg Mark Winterbottom, who came second in the FMK championship.

“Then there’s Neil McFadyen, who’s going really well at the moment and Michael Caruso, who’s very.

very good, so this is a very classy field.”

The opening round at Todd Road in Melbourne a fort night ago saw Jamie ulti mately come home third in the final, the disappointing result the culmination of a troubled introduction to the Ford Max Challenge concept.

A persistent miss resulted in an engine swap that failed to fully resolve the lack of outright performance, though the appalling weath er and Jamie’s ability on a rain-soaked track camou flaged the litany of difficul ties experienced by his team.

Thanks to the ongoing efforts of Clint Cathcart and the Whincup clan to make the best of a bad situation, Jamie was the man to beat during the heats and first race.

But, despite the best efforts of the series organ iser and plenty of hands-on assistance, the Rotax and its ancillaries stubbornly refused to co-operate and Jamie was obliged to just soldier on and accept his fate.

Nonetheless, when the teething problems have been resolved and the pool of knowl edge deepens, Jamie remains confident that the series will prove to be a success.

The moveFord from to Formvila forkarts the year 20CK) was the next step up the ladder to a motorsport career destined to include V8 Lites and, ultimately, V8 Supercars.

Considering the collective passion of his father David and his uncle Graeme for circuit racing, it came as no surprise that the Whincup clan decided to bite the eco nomic bullet and move Jamie on from karts to a self-funded program in Formula Ford.

But the benefits of anoth er season in karting had also to be considered and the original game plan was subsequently modified at short notice to include both forms of motorsport in a now-hectic racing schedule.

“Yes, the karts are dis tracting, as we were going to run the full state series of Formula Ford as a learning curve for next year, when we intend to run the national champi onship,” Jamie stated.

“But the extra racing will further improve my driving skills and racecraft.”

“While learning the Formula Ford, we are also testing with the karts and that’s obviously holding us back as far as development time is concerned. But the karts will be finished by the end of this season and we’ll then be able to devote some quality testing time to the Formula Ford for next year.

“We have a Van Diemen RF94, which is truly competi tive, though it shghtly lacks the edge of the newest cars. “'The new cars are forced to run bigger sidepods, which makes them go through the air slower and that gives the older cars a chance.

“I am having to learn about the gearbox though, which is a bit of a novelty after all those years in single-speed karts.

“But racecraft is the same and, while there are differ ences between racing in a field of karts and a field of Formula Fords, overall they are fairly well the same.

“The higher terminal speed is something you don’t actually think about much, as you’re more con cerned with catching and passing the car in front of you, rather than consider ing the actual speed at which you’re racing.

“I will be sorry to move on from the karts but, in the meantime, I’ll keep juggling my time and make the most of what’s shaping up to be a most interesting and phe nomenally busy year.”

H!^CDO(o)[7Sm®[79

46 9 June 2000

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V8 Supercar race aero body kits available in ^J^vlar/Carbon fibre composite and fibreglass (GRP).

Repairs also available.

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TelepliGme (03) 9474 0900 Fax (03) 9474 0999

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QLD: (07)38081986 Peiformance Wholesale NSW: (02)97715877 Hardiman Auto Supplies Victorian Speed Pro VIC: (03) 9794 5177 Crane Technologies SA: (08) 8363 5566 Gogear Racing Services WA: (08) 9443 4400 Greenlane Speed Shop NZ: (09) 525 6858 ^ Phone your state distribiOorforfurther infonnation!

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47

9June 2000

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CLASSIFIED

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Motorsport News Classifieds are FREE for private sales. Classifieds from motor sport traders are accepted (marked with a ●) and must be prepaid, at the following per issue rates: $5 per 10 words (min $10 per ad), photo $10. Further enquiries to our advertising department.

Future Tourer Commodore VS, as raced at Bathurst.

Big Harrop brakes , Tilton pedal assembly, top Hp engine, HM latest spec exhaust, Harrop sway bar, wheels & nut retainers, fire bomb, Bilstein shocks Bathurst spec. T10, cambered diff. This car was 3rd fastest on the Saturday & was capable oi ebing lastest. Car capable of running top 5 as is. Engine has 500km since reco. Ph 0417 558 452. te?

Sedlaias/SpQFts Cars

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Club Car TF Cortina, 4.1 6 cyl, 350hp, Top Loader, car has been developed and is strong , quick and relaible.

Ready to race comes with spares and trailer. $10,000 neg.

Ph Ken 0403 011 924. ,82

W:

ys : ; Sports Sedan, Hume Rotary Mini, 600kg, 330hp, Hewland FT200, LSD, adjustable wishbone susp all round, vent discs, class winner circuits, outright hillclimber. Offers invited over $20,000. Ph 03 9742 5277 AH,

Mazda BX7 Turbo, 1989 series 5, imported for rally. ;_Only $8500 ono. Ph 08 8344 7999. 182 BMW 2-litre Super Tourer, 1998 ex-Winkelhook works car, maintained by Schnitzer, capable of winning Aust series, never crashed, race ready. $US85,000. Spares package (inc engine) available. Ph 0417 755 747.

AUSCAR VS Commodore, as run by Matthew White. 2 X championship winning car, top HP engine, Harrop run ning gear, suit AUSCAR or Future Tourer, very competitive, assistance provided for flat track. Ph 0417 558 452. 182 BMW 635 CSi, ex-Frank Sytner UK, LHD BMW factory built, chassis no E24RAI-22, complete with spare Alpina engine & spares. $59,000. Ph 0064 9 274 8646. 182

Morris Cooper S Mklll, genuine 4/69, mags, cage, race seats, 1310cc, comes with Weber or SUs. White body, burgandy roof. $8000. Ph 03 5470 5563. ik

Toyota Sprinter ’83, twin cam, white/blue trim, air con, disc brake rear end, Koni shocks, 15x7 wheels. $4500. Ph 07 3216 7780. ,82 HQ Holden race car, 8 meetings old, ready to race, plenty of spares, comes with Dorian timer & 2nd HQ sedan. $4000 ono. Ph 0407 144 796. 182

Group C Gemini, with logbook, Haltech injected DOHC, Konis, AP brakes, Detroit locker, Watts linkage & more.

Immaculate condition inc spare engines, wheels & more.

Close to Grp.C trim or ideal Club Car/Sports Sedan. $9500 ono. Ph 0414 943 987 or 03 9706 1279.

Escort Sports Sedan, 13B PP rotary, 5 speed, c/ratio g/box, E2200 full floating r/end, new AP front 4 spot brakes, very fast Club race car, spares include 4 spd g/box, wheels, siciks & wets (near new) full set body moulds etc. $18,500 ono. Ph 02 4721 8125 or 0417 401 658. ,82

HQ racer, new motor, #1 1998, #2 1999, consistent front runner tor 5 years. Very well prepared & presented, log book & lots of spares. $7500. Ph 08 9405 2265 AH. 182 VL Sportsman AUSCAR, JFR built & race prepared.

Front running car, no expense spared. Best offer, will trade. Urgent sale. Ph 03 9551 6585. 162

Off Road Class 4 VW Baba, Nissan CA18 fuel inject ed turbo engine. Bilstein shocks with coils, SAAS seat, quick & reliable, NSW class champion last 3 years, ready to race $9000 ono. Ph 02 4832 1321 . 182

Holden HG GTS 350 Monaro, race car. New suspen sion, Wilwood, 4 spot brakes, front-rear, 15x8 Superlites, A008RS, full cage, Sparco seats, Momo, 9" diff, needs engine, gearbox. May separate. $7000. Ph 08 8270 5921.

48

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9 June 2000

Commodore Brock Calais Sport,'no 4076. Group A spec, 304, factory sunroof, full Brock optioned v/ith books and build sheets. Very clean $17,800 ono. Ph 08 8270 5921. 182 Cortina &T 2 door Gp Mb, red/white, full cage, Koni suspension, sealed ehgine, SCCR g/box, Quaiffe LSD, 2 sets wheels, 1st in class '99 AGP, excellent condition. $18,000. Ph 03 9365 5038 BH or 0419 552 875. .82 1980 Ford Escort, 2lt in reasonable condition, comes with spare motor and gearbox, $3500, Ph 03 5134 6126 after 7pm. ib2

Ford GTD 40 1991, 302 Mustang, Renault 24 transaxle, full factory kit inci air con & Connelly hide leather, stunning & immaculate. 4,500 miles. $NZ65,000. Ph 0064 9 5220887. 1B2 EB/EL Fcrd Falcon, sports sedan project. Welded 16point roll cage, 9" diff with 4-link, huge 4 spot calipers, pedal box with bias, Bilstein suspension fully rose-jointed.

Johnson 120-litre bladder tank. 80% complete roller. $4000. Will separate. Ph 02 4578 3434. ib2

Ford Escort Sports Sedan/Club Car, very reliable & fast, easy to drive. Falcon diff with Watts link adjust front end with spares $6500. Ph Adam 0402 252 271. ,»i HQ race car #18, front running car, ready to race. Lap record holder Phillip Island, must sell $6900 ono, Ph 03 9587 3226(Dave) or 03 5998 7358. isi VS Commodore VBSupercar parts, huge list includ ing; diff housing, rear axles, heavy duty tailshafts, Tilton clutches, wheels, Yokohama slicks & wets, air dam, rear bar, air box, front air scoop, alloy radiator, complete exhaust system, race seat, brake calipers & rotors with hats, fron uprights, shocks, cylinder heads, cranks, camshafts & loads more. Prices neg. Ph 0418 313 482. lai HQ race cars, 3 of for urgent sale, competitive cars including log books, sealing sheets and accumulated spares. Price ranges up from $3200 each and all offers considered. Ph 0417 893 446 or 08 8389 3446 AH. is.

HQ racer, fully prepared, fresh motor & diff. plenty of spares, log books, must sell. $3000 ono. Ph 02 4647 1896 or 0414 471 892. mi 5

Toyota Corolla Levin Coupe 1992, factory special, 4AGZE 1600OC, twin cam EFi, supercharged motor, extractors 5 speed, 4W discs, ABS, mags, roll cage, AC, CD, PW, imported race/rally use, no compliance, serious performer. Sacrifice $8000. Ph 0419 886 544. 181 Torana hatch A9X replica, club car, 500hp (dynoed), 350 Chev, dry sumped, t/loader, floating 9‘, huge«brakes, Simmons, 1 season old -r Bedford Pantec transporter, well worth $25,000 ono. Ph 03 6243 9387 or 0409 521 810. 181 Prince Skyline GT, fully imported B2, ex-NZ Carlos Neate race car fitted with Stage III factory race kit. Only one known of this type. $20,000. Ph 02 4274 4498 BH. ib.

Subaru WRX STi '99, 2 door, 1 of 400, damaged front right & dent on RH 1/4 panel, will supply most parts. For further detail please Ph 0415 499 600. lei i -J

1.

Tilton Racing clutch, with aluminium flywheel & spare plates $1300. Romac full floating 5-litre Commodore diff $1700, Electromotive crank trigger ignition & coil pack $600. Assorted Hoosier & McGeary speedway tyres 15'x8" $70 each. Ph 03 5024 2194 or 0418 322 951. ,o-.

AMCA race car, complete, LH drive, power steer, needs minor work to be competitive, drivable, must sell, urgent. $7400. Ph 0407 527 807. .8.

Sprintcar chassis, Drake, high bar 1993 model. Only used 4 times since new. $500 ono. Ph 0410 493 242 or 03 9728 4839. ta.

Go Karts (2), Birel AR4 with Clubman engine (very fast) $2500, twin Benson with very fast Clubman (suit Super Heavy) $2300 or will swap for race oar etc. Ph 07 5428 6369. 182

Class 1 Bullet, 3.8 V6, Porsche box, coilover Bilsteins, 85L tank, tandem trailer, spares, no expense spared, will separate motor, box, trailer. Ph 03 6265 3369. tea Formula Vee, chassis. Narrowed with Sabre body kit to suit monoshock rear end & front end $1200. Brand new F Vee engine, not started $1000. Short ratio gearbox $500.

Ph 03 9722 9315. laa Rail RT4 1986, chassis #594, complete history avail able minus engine. $25,000. Ph 0064 9 274 8646. laa 125cc Super Kart, temp gauge, wets on rims, spare sprockets, eng plates, pod, chains, rims & nose cones. $2500. Ph 02 4933 4637. 182 NG Eltin Formula Vee, race ready and competitive.

Top HP, Elliot engine, just rebuilt. Completf with trailer and spares $12,000. Will separate, car less engine $6000, Elliot engine $6000. Trailer $2000. Ph 03 9804 7642. .b, Formula Libre, Kawasaki fuel injected HOOcc machine for hillclimbs, sprints. Spares, moulds, setup, jigs etc. Fully enclosed tandem trailer. $9600. Ph Lee 03 5332 6900. la: Spectrum 06, "One of the fastest Formula Fords I’ve ever driven - Christian Murchison 29/3/00”. Complete with top HP DAMEC engine, just 1 race meet new. 3 sets wheels, huge lisr of spares, 28 sets of gear ratios, Dorian.

With MoTeo and data $34,500, without MoTec $27,500, Lamer engine $3500. Front & rear jacks also available, stands & engine fitting trolley. Ph Michael 08 9377 2999 or Jamie 08 9356 1415. isi Formula Ford Van Diemen RF93/95 update, body work, complete with Lamer engine, front adjustable Koni spare corners, 2 sets wheels, ratios, maintained by Peter Banfield Motorsport. $22,000 ono. Ph Darren 0407 649 807. .8.

Formula Ford Van Diemen RF89, ex-Paul Morris, OLD State series winner in 98/99. Top condition, chassis never damaged, two meetings since ^gine reoo by Speedtech. Some spares, $14,500. Trailer $3000. Ph Peter 0418 184 456. 181 Brabham BT16 F2 1965, Cosworth SCA Hewland Mk7 6 speed, FIApapers, superb and race ready. NZ$80,000.

Ph 64 9 412 8500 or fax 64 9 412 8512. iei

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Grand Frix Midget, Noel Freeman's Australian Championship winning car. Stinger chassis, Suzuki 1197CC, Mikuni RS40 fiat slides, power steering, all the good gear. $10,000 ono. Ph 03 5250 4080.

Sprintcar, '85 Gambler HiBar, CAE quickchange and driveline, 305 Chev, complete car, ready to race plus spares. Currently running with VSC modified Sprintcars.

Will sell complete or as roller. Ph Rick 03 5626 8376. .6.

372 Shaver engine, Rodeck block, Dash 12 heads, all lightweight internals, complete with exhaust pipes & fuel pump, 700hp. 590FtLb torque. $25,000. Ph 08 9724 1336.

181

V8 Dirt Modified, SA5, Ford 351C, with some spare parts, currently registered. Steering box needs .(epair, oth erwise ready to race. $7500 ono. Ph 08 8556 1203. is.

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Ail ( Alfa Sprint Sports Sedan, spaceframe construction, 13B PP rotary engine. Mazda factory housings, fuel inject ed by MoTec, 5 spd Getrag with Holinger gears, AP t/plate clutch, alloy flywheel, independent rear end, alloy diff, AP 4 spot brakes front & rear on 14' rotors. Centrelock hubs, Simmons wheels 10.5x17", spares, models the lot. $28,000. Ph 07 5594 1706. tei HG Monaro, Group Nc, raced once, high HP 350 Chev (James Race Engines), best prepared to'uring car at Phillip Island Histories. Must sell, new project. $60,000 ono. Ph 0418 545 185 or 03 9425 9443. u.i

EH Holden Sports Sedan, 208 eng, triple Webers, M21 box, locked diff, Volvo front brakes, rack & pinion steering, fibreglass front/boot lid, great beginners car, $5000 ono. Ph 02 6683 2216. ,b, NASCAR Pontiac Grand Prix, ready to race with spares, all offers considered. Ph 0413 075 214. 18, Mini Sports Sedan, 1330cc, SPV4 cam, Russell head, SCCR g/box, Torana brakes, coil over front etc. Log book, Oran Park 49.8, NSWRRC winning car $3400. Ph 02 9773

V- .■j-rci

Reliant Scimitar 1970, totally rebuilt, chassis up, only 45,000 miles from new, 2 owners, ideal Targa car.

Registered, like new. Ph 02 9630 1553. IBI Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V, turbo, white, 2-litre, GTP race history, ready to race, includes some spares, genuine enquiries. Ph 0407 713 105. ibi

©pern Wiaeeieffs

Formula Vee Elliot 01, top HP Elliot Bond engine. ExMark White 1996 pointscore winner, fresh paint & nose cone. Comes with Pi, gearbox, trailer & spares. $9000. Ph 03 9308 7663 or 0416 210 778. is2 Formula Ford, Historic Van Diemen 1976, fresh Lowndes engine, properly prepared, ready to race, addi tional tyres & ratios available. CAMs cert, offers invited round $18,000. Ph 03 9742 5277. i82

1909. ,6,

Sports 1300 Mallock U2 Mk21 B, built 1996, new 130hp Corolla motor, very good car, no money to spend plus fully enclosed trailer & spares. $19,000 ono. Ph 08 8339 3534 or 0407 605 840. 181

Nedloh 2, famous Aust special, first time ottered for sale.

3 L/S/diffs and spares. 5 times RD Mt. Tarrengower, for mer outright record holder Arthurs Seat. Immaculate con dition, COD, ready to race. $35,000. Ph 03 5428 5343. i82 Formula Vee, '99 Mantis chassis, needs engine, brakes, wheels etc. $3000. Ph Mark 0418 531 797. 182

mm 4

Lancer Sports Sedan, Cobra race seat, six poinl har ness, rollcage etc less engine & gearbox. $1500 ono. Ph 02 4822 1563. ,»i

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Elva DKW, Formula Junior 1959, stored for last 33 years, orig cond, has genuine chassisplate, ’bargain at $29,000.

Ph 0064 9 274 8646.. i82 Rail RT4 1982, chassis #295, complete history avail able minus engine. $25,000. Ph 0064 9 274 8646. ,82

Street nmachine, 1954 Chrysler Desoto sedan.

Completre car has extensively modified body, chassis. suspension, interior and driveline. A new car with less than 200km since completion. Painted 'Happy Days' yellow, 600hp 502cu in aluminium head Chev engine. Voted 5th in Street Machine of the Year. Full 12 months NSW rego, Gas 454 plates included. $42,000 ono. Ph 02 9728 6183. ibb

3 Ltr Standard LJ Torana, with hot cam, ready to race, reg AX58, previously placed at Alex, plenty of spares, tidy car, suit beginner or keen person. $950. Ph 03 5962 5656. m Torana LJ, 3.3 red g/lite pistons, Yella Terra head, elec tronic ignition,,1 ton clutch, high vol/oil pump, Romac bal ancer, 4 speed g/box, mags, racks, axles, cross members, difrf housings, 5 point harness f/glass seats, wings & spares. Complete car & spares $4000. Less motor & box, ' '' i855w ^k. some spares $2500. Ph 07 4954 5225 or 0427 969 876. is?

Super Sedan, Rayburn chassis, club sport body, full polished aluminium interior, aluminium fuel tank and line, window net, aluminium rear spoiler, electrical & ignition Modified Bike, Kawasaki 1045cc laydown frame, best panel, throttle pedal & linkage,;bolt on bumpers, built '93.

ET 9.7@131mph, current tech $6500 or must sell engine $3000. Ph 0416 048 962. ia? less carbs $2500. Full details Ph Andrew 03 9729 0987 NSW Speedcar #6, chassis kit including all panels after 7pm. Ifll (some new) all swegded radius rods with aluminium hems, torsion bars, arms, stops 2xfront axles, aluminium radiator iisgiiies & ducting, nerf bars including spares & FBI lightweight tail.

Rotary 13B PP, dyno 330hp, ceramic seals, lightweight Priced to sell. Ph 02 9681 3462. ,bb rotors, alloy pump as fitted in Hume Mini. Hear running Speedcar, Sanders shorty stubs, hubs, brake rotor & $5500 ono. Ph 03 9742 5277. ,82 calliper complete to BOH on $1500 ono. Ph 02 6288 6924 1 set 18 deg heads, & Jessel rockers. Vertex magneto AH. 182 & tach, alum tail shaft, 3 stage dry sump, pump, suit CHev, VK Commodore Modified Production, fully worked belt driven fuel pump, Wildwood powersteer pump.

Jack Bros eng, Tilton ped & oyls, adjustable suspension, Complete Chev short block. Ph 0416 049 442. ,s2 auto metre tacho and gauges, MSD igni, quicksteer, new 97 Chev LT1 350, a/c, ps, 6 spd trans, complete pack f/glass, 4 wheel disc brakes, strong & competitive. Quick age new from GM $9500. Ex-Frank Gardner F5000 race sale $5500, Ph 07 4954 5225 or 0427 969 876. is2 engine, fresh with all the good parts. $8500. Ph 08 9305 Hi Bar Sprintcar, complete less engine, pumps, quick 8763. 162 change, 3 sets of wheels, wings and lot more. All you need Holden 6 cyl methanol, 3.3 ltr blue Jack Bros built, is a motor. $12,500. Ph 03 5282 2792. ibb roller rockers & cam. Sacks clutch, HQ racing pistons, 7 Macdonald Racing Schnne Hi-bar or low-bar, litre sump, power steering pump & pulleys, Romac bal your choice. All the best running gear, lightweight and ancer, holley & manifold, excellent HP. Quick sale, cheap competitive car, set up sheets and after sales service at $4000. Ph 07 4954 5225 or 0427 969 876. 182 Jnolusive. Bolt in a motor and win! $16,000, Ph Nathan Mazda 20B rotapy, twin turbo, import with all acces 0419 756 212.. ik sories, low kms & good compression. $4800. Ph 03 9782 Super Sedan Falcon, Frankland diff, Brinn trans, 2 5998. 182 wheels tyres. 366 Chev, Lunati crank. Diamond pistons, Lotus Twin Cam, all steel, Brian Hart-built 1600oc, Kryptonite rods, Brodix heads, dry-sump, consider trade, slide injection, full orig, very rare engine. $15,000. Ph 0064 cheap but good, Ph 03 6340 1884. 182 9 274 8646. ,82 Pontiac body and chassis, done four meetings, no Toyota 4AG, Formula Atlantic 1600cc all steel Bertils running gear $2000. Two front spindles $250 pair. AFCO USA, complete rebuild including pistons, not used since. single leaf springs 5" arc $150 pair. Struts $100 pair. Ph 02 $14,000. Ph 0064 9 274 8646. ,82 4572 5949. 1B2 Power Dyne supercharger, 8 psi unit, complete.

Modified Production Commodore, less motor on VS/VT EcoTech V6 Holden, done SOOOkms. $5000. Ph 07 15", P/S, r/box. All adjustable with spare parts. $2100 ono.

3374 2149. ,82 Ph 03 5331 5870.'ib2 Chevy 4, Historic Speedcar motor, just rebuilt, not run.

Spare engine parts, also header pipes and injection with trumpets. Ph Allan 08 8342 4433 BH. iss Nissan FJ20 turbo engines, ex-Carling, x2 long motors, different specs, one fully rebuilt, one suit rebuild.

All custom internal parts, big plenum/throttle body, extrac tors etc. Best offer. Ph 02 6231 1144 or 08 8527 2266. ,b2 Chev 3S0, dynos a true 413kW, alloy heads, new methanol or Avgas carby & Crane race ignition inc, open inspection welcome. $15,000 worth, must sell, now $7950 absolute minimum Ph 02 6374 1303 after 5pm. IBI 13B PP rotary engine, Mazda factory housings, light Super Sedan Commodere, quick change diff, beed weight Hi comp rotors, MoTec injection on 5Smm throttle bodies, alloy flywheel, stainless steel exhuast, comes w'tth lock, rims rear, Afeo front arms, power steering with all electrics ECU etc. $9000. Ph 07 5594 1706. la, spares, wheels, tyres, panels etc. ASCF & Board rego.

Less engine and gearbox. $5500 ono. Ph 02 6351 3049 or 4 cyl Pontiac, lightweight Scat crank, Jesel rockers, 0408 022 627. ,ai genuine offers. Ph 02 6288 6924 AH. ,8,

9June 2000

49

9)(o.

BMW WI3 engine, 2.3llr, 16v 220hp 1988. Excell cond, complete with wiring harness & brain etc plus 5 spd Getrag box & numerous bits, perfect for E30 or 2002 or E36 31 Sis. $13,000 ono. Ph Mick 02 9757 2966. ■.« Cosworth Sierra Turbo engine, full works engine, stripped for inspection, complete less turbo, V serious engine, 500bhp -r loads of extras and spares. $8000 ono.

Ph 08 8396 6640. mi Chev splayed valve engines, 1 new 1 used, com plete with fuel systems and exhaust. Ph Pat Purcell 02 9755 3458 or Dean 0417 252 321. Idl Holden 186 (x2), 1) roller rockers. 12 port head, elec tronic ign, extractors, light f/whl ,' bottom end slightly worked, 2) standard head, bottom end built to same spec, as 79 Round Oz C'Dore. Both need freshen up, $1000 for , in

both. BJl 03 9366 6872 or 0428 535 245 454 LS-6 Chev, recondition 40 thou balanced & shot pained, flat top pistons, 8000km very slrong pulling, com plete $5000 ono. Ph 0409 846 717. itii Ford 1300 C/flow, Ritter built, steel, carbs, clutch, dry sumped, ready’to race. Dyno time only. $6300. Ph 02 9211 2854. 181

P«ir#s V8 Supercar tyres, Dunlop S Yokohama, second-hand 17x11 trom $50 each. Ph 07 5495 6920. le?

McCreary race tyres, ASCF Modified Production class 10 McCreary, 1 Hoosier & 1 Dunlop, all 95% tread on rims.

Borg Warner diff complete, fine s/axles, 4 power s/racks, f/glass & some more bits all to suit VB & up Commodores. $1500 the lot. Ph 07 4954 5225 or 0427 969 876, mz ’ Off Road buggy, secondhand parts sale. Wright, CNC, Beard, Centreline, Summers Bros, engines & gearboxes.

Call for detailed list. Ph 0414 367 997. i»j Cosworth twin cam head, complete vrith DJR CAMS, Vernier cam pulleys, R200 block, low comp pistons, rods, DJR crankshaft, new HP oil pump, complete inlet & exhaust manifolds. Sell the lot. $7500 ono. Ph 02 9613 3038. 162

DG 300, complete with spare housings, s/hats, ew/p & assorted parts $12,000. Triple plate clutch with spare top/body, used plates $800. Ph 07 3202 2830 AH. 102 48mm down draught Webers, Group C type, ex-HDT with linkages and fuel lines to suit spreadbone manifold. $1000 one. Ph 0402 212 562. 132 Holden B-cast V8 cylinder heads, machined for large springs, polished chambers, throated with 3 angle seats & s/s 1 piece valves $550.. Ph 0417 558 452, 132 Sach clutch, (lite weight) suit Holden or Ford race car.

Ph 0417 558 452. IB? Yella Terra, billet lite weight flywheel to suit Holden $150. Yella Terra roller rockers new 5020 suit Holden V8, in box as per Future Tourer spec $600. AUSCAR front Harrop discs & hats $1000. ia2 Group A 2 stage dry sump, oil tank, hardly used with modify oil stick S breather outlets. $500. Ph 0409 125 965.

82

4 Ohliins shock absorbers, triple adjustable for FHoiden. $8000. Ph 0412 895 560. .b2 3 19-inch snake tongue touring car rims, centrelock. German made, good condition, regret sale. $600. Ph 0409 125 965. 182 VW flywheel, balanced & dowelled to suit 'L' box $160.

Berg push rods with oil squirters, to p of line to suit type 4 2ltr$100. Ph 0409 125 965. ie2 AP Racing brake calipers, & 330mm rotors c/w braid ed lines, suit BMW M3 as new, also tuned custom exhaust $2500 the lot or offer. Ph 0419 559 816. m Carburettors, Weber 45 DC03 sidedraft and parts want ed, also 40 and 58DC03 wanted, must be DC03, good pnees paid. Ph 02 9713 9280.. 1B2 Datsun 1600, parts. Doors, struts, hub caps, did, har ness, seats, gearbox, 1800 motor, carbies, bumper bar, rollcage,.boot lid. Priced from $5. Ph Ross 03 5334 6364 AH. 182 Carillo conrods, new in box, 308 b/e, 5.900" C-C -r .995 $2000. Ph 03 5988 0666. 182 2L SOHC Ford head, S/S large valves, Manx cam.

Vernier pully, double valve springs, choice of either Mandrel bent extractors or anti-reversion extractors. $1200. Ph02 4933 4637. m2 Chev 350, +30, 12.5:1 Wiseco pistons new $850, Crane solid cam CC - 290A new $150, Eoelbrock Super Victor manifold new $500, Holley 850 Annuler record unused $650. Ph 08 8270 5921. 182 Chev 350 Bowtie, raised runner alloy heads bare with Grower shaft rockers new $2000. 350 010 4 bolt block + 30 ARP main stud kit, fully prepped, new, unused $1000.

Ph 08 8270 5921. m2 Dunlop slicks, 30% wear. 2 x 245 x 550 x 13"; 2 X 250 535 X 13", excellent condition $400. Ph 0418 582 882 or 0408 522 175.. ,82 Chev AP Racing, 7 1/4 triple plate clutch & explosion proof flywheel $950. Ph 08 8270 5921. ,b2 202 + 60, motor meeds rebuild + spare block, crank used $100. HY chassis with front end $100, four grain scales on wheels $1200. Ph 02 4572 5949. ,82 New Pro 956 hold down shock, & 180 AFCO rear, new coil spring 275+250 $85 each & two used 175-450 $60 each. Sweet power head, ram plus two hoses $550.

Ph 02 4572 5949. 182 Mark Williams 11/16” diameter, wheel stud kit. Part , No 51540. New, $180. Ph 03 5265 1240 AH or 0416 099 727. 182

Taylor Pro Competition, dual boot mount battery kit.

All hardware new. Part No. Tay048600. $140. Ph 03 5265 1240 AH or 0416 099 727. IB2 Supertrapps, 2x Stainless steel 2.5" inlet, 5" outlet, 19" long Supertrapp muffler and two optional Supertrapp mounting kits. All parts new, sell well below cost. $850. Ph 03 5265 1240 AH or 0416 099 727. .82 Holley HP SSO methanol carb, bowl extensions and jet pack to tune all, as new, $1100. Ph 0419 655 701. ib2 Tyres, Hoosier 245x60x15, 70-80% tread off. Street TD, $200 ono. Ph 0412 996 433 or 02 4226 3402. ,82 Ford Cleveland Windsor heads, C302B, cant valve in original cartons, bare, very rare, no longer made, Yates heads based on these units. $2500. Ph 03 9598 3658 AH or 0417 164 809. ,02 Alloy fuel tank, 100 litre, foam filled, 915L x 640W x 245H $350. Volvo front brake callipers $120. Mk.ll Escort fibreglass boot lid & bonnet $120 pair. Ph 03 9898 1522 or 0407 326 548. ,b, Ford top loader, gearbox and linkages, original 34,000 miles. $600 ono. Ph 02 4274 4498 AH. ,e, Super Sedan quick change, brand new. Winters all tubes $2900. Chev Vertex Magneto $700. Just been reconditioned. Ph 0407 527 807. is, EL Falcon racing body, located at Russell Caddy's. $2000. Ph Pete r02 6655 5996 or 0413 348 526 or email ford_gt@one.net.au. ,0, Ford Cleveland, parts 3.310" stroke, internally balanced nitrided crankshaft, 5.950" Ridgecrest alloy rods, 4" std Glidden-design Venolia pistons. Will not separate, as new. $1950. Ph 03 5472 4116 or Fax 03 5470 6966 or email farrell@iaccess.com.au. ,8, Cheetah race wheels, suit MK 6 or MK 7, 4 inch PCD in very good condition, fronts 9 1/4 X 13, rear 11 1/2X13.

Ph Ian 0417 851 716 BH, 03 9878 9515 AH. 161 Assorted Springs, various rates, various lengths. Suit Open Wheelers. $50 pair. Ph Ian 0417 851 716 BH, 0)9878 9515 AH. ,a, Mazda, 4 ROH 5-spoke wheels with caps 7x15, near new with Hoosier slicks, 10 laps old.*$1450 the lot. Ph 03 9844

EF Falcon, brand new shell with 4 doors and bootlid.

Ideal for V8 Lites. $3500. Ph Tony 08 8250 1903 AH or 0427 501 903. /

Traiisporters/Tmliers

Dodge V8 Twin Cab, dual fuePbeaver back with elec winch, demountable tool & access, container converts tp i flat tray. RWC $9500 ono. Optional three car tent. $1500.

Ph 03 9742 5277. laz Panlec purpose built dual axle, *eleotric brakes, alu minium checkaplate floor, drop tail door, side doors, tyre rack & 240 volt light setup. Suit small Sports Sedan, karts, motor bikes, Speedcar. $4,000. Ph 0409 125 965. i82 Sprintcar Pantec, '22x8x8, 240 volt, lights, full side boxes, tilt rear door with winch, interior racks for all spares $7000. Ph 07 4634 3477,

Chev ’89 Silverado Crewcab, '94 upgrade, 5.7L auto, pure white, maroon int, (6 sealer), fully loaded, ideal tow vehicles, ask for fax sheet. $35,000. Ph 02 9879 6555 BH or 0408 369 070. iu2

2876. 181

Slide injection, suit 3sg Toyota, ex UK BTCC, LSD suit Escort as new, for banjo Mkll. Ph 03 6249 2684 181 Motec cross ram fuel injection, manifold. Suit Ford SVO Hi Port heads, ideal for touring car, also suit Holden EFi V8 heads. Complete with pumps, surge tank, SVO manifolds & Ferrera Race Valves. New. Ph 0413 998 642. 181 Chev 350 parts, Yella Terra platinium rockers, 4x6" Carillo rods, 6 x 035 JE pistons, 5 x 030 Ross-pistons, Grower roller lifters x llpr, comp roller lifters x 7pr, 2 x roller cams, rev kit, make an offer. Ph 03 6424 4544. isi 4 rally wheels,. Compomotive, white, 6J x 15, suit Mitsubishi VR4 or GSR,$480. Ph 03 5156 2607. lai Diff, 9" td suit LH Torana, 31 spline, big bearing axles $800 ono. Also Willwood 4 wheel discs, calipers tp suit race c&r, cost $5000 plus, sell $2000 ono.Also race rims, 4 17x8 Auscar, suit Commodore $800 ono. Fax 08 9537

Transporter, 25' elec brakes, 240v/12v, benches, cup boards & kitchen stove, sink, fridge etc, 6x5 fully enclosed annex, ask for fax sheet. $13f;e00. Ph 02 9879 6555 BH or 0408 369 070. 182

6 ^

- OBE

Mitsubishi Canter DFE211 ‘85 excellent condition, 136,000kms, 5 speed diesel, car licence, repainted, dual fuel tanks, water tank, gates, tool box, tipping tray & ramps. Great transporter foi race oar. $11,000. Ph 07 5498

7784. 181

42ft Pantec hydraulic tail lift, fits 2 cars, shower. bathroom, sleeping quarters, full size fridge. All offers con sidered, Ph 0413 075 219. isi

Tri-axle 33ft x 8ft x 7ft high, as new, built to carry 2 Formula Fords or Sedan, 240 volt & 12 volt workshop area, large annexe, electric brakes on all wheels + 84 F100 4x4, 351 gas & fuel $30,00 the lot or $15000'each. Ph Tony Jory 03 6326 5555. lei Isuzu transporter. Pantec, twin cab, turbo diesel, hydraulic tailgate lift, genset, long range fuel tanks, sleeps 3, big annex, 240v power, much more. $20,000. Ph 0418 767 990 or 07 5522 7056 AH. isi

Wmiitedl Mini Cooper S, photos & information of car raced by Ern Abbott 1964-65, Greg McEwin and Les Jesser 1966-69. Ph 08 8336 3498 AH or e-maii’- memtech@camtech.net.au.

182

5pm. 181

Isuzu SBR Dualcab, updated drivetrain, new Pantech, checkerplate, rear ramp door, Duratorque tow bar, electric brakes, tyre rack, just passed RTA inspection, low kms very clean. Just serviced. $16,500. Ph 0414 248 855 or 02 9528 3168. i82

Any parts for Hewland LG,series boxes, LC 400/500/600. Ph Graham 0412 156 766 anytime. 151 Your old race car photos, for the "Historicar Archive" for access by all. Send to: PO BOX 334, Springv/ood 2777 or Ph 02 4751 7511. .9.

Mechanical fuel inecjtion, to suit 9.200" Ford Cleveland, C302B heads. Also 750cfm methanol carburet tor. Ph 03 5472 4116, Fax 03 5470 6966 or email farrell@iaocess.com.au. lai Books, Autocorse, Ral lycourse, World Rallying, Automobile Year, any cond or quantity. Ph Mike 0412 904 638ore-mail speedsigns@interact.net.au. w

Ofiter

Transporter, 8x2,5x3, electric brakes plus breakaway, aluminium cladded, wired with full lighting and powerpoints, superwinch, work bench, cupboards, aluminium checkerplate floor. Full length enclosed awning. $14,800.

Ph 0414 248 855 or 02 9528 3168. ,82

The Great Race books, Nos 14-17. (1994-1997). In perfect condition, always looked after, will be sought after books in year to come for complete set of TGR books.

Offers. Ph 0417 163 193. 152 Helmet, Shoe!, small size (kids), good cond, 3 visors. $150 ono. Ph 02 9670 4091 AH. m2 Helmet, Simpson Size 60, Super Speedway shark, never used, cost $1500, sell $1000. Ph 0412 895 560.. 1S2 Motoring books & magazines, large run of Autosport 1988-1998. Full set Sports Car World 1957-, set of Modern Motor. Ph 08 9279 7003 or Fax 08 9377 3939. ib2 Alfa Romeo showroom sales brochures, various models - Giulietta Sprint, Alfa Sud, GTV Alfa 75, 33 16v. $3 each plus postage, glossy, exc condition. Ph Gail 03 5334 6364 AH. 182

TAG Heuer Chronograph, watch. Senna style with leather strap. As new, minimal use, new battery. Circa 1996. $1900. Ph 03 9890 6782. lai Books, The Great Race volumes 1-16, Bathurst programs 1985-1997, Bathurst videos, huge amount of racing memo rabilia including posters, other videos (500cc motorcy cles). Full collection $3000. Ph 0418 488 368 or 02 4328 1923 AH. 181

’86 Isuzu FSR, 5 tonne, 22ft pan, very economical, benches, lookers, shelves, built-in compressor, generator, 240v wiring, 10x6m awning and walls, erect in 10 min.

Ideal for karting, FF, sports car or small tourer. $23,000. Ph 02 9838 4944 BH. 181

e □ Sedans □ Open Wheelers □ Speedway □ Drag □ Parts □ Engines □ Trailers □ Wanted □ Photographs □ Other

OescraptSoirB:

B2

Ford Trader 5 speed, long range fuel tanks, 2001 reg, suit Formula Ford or Vee, small sedan. Includes ramps. winch and large annex. $6500. Ph 03 5275 2305 BH. mi

Sponsorship, needed for 2001 Formula Holden team. If interested please contact Benn Anthony 02 4388 1582 Rally junior champion at NAMS level for 1998 & 99. m Drive wanted, in any Victorian State Series- FFord, HQ, Superkart etc. Pref circuit racing. Ph 03 5962 3618 after

2428. 101

Suzuki GSX 1100 crankshaft, welded, Falicon knife edge rods, crank polished, new big end bearings, straight cut gear. $2000 ono. Ph DalgOAIS 993 559. ibi Speedcar/Litre Sprint, fauralite 13x10 Beadlock vari ous rims from $350. Ph 02 6288 6924 AH. 1B1 FBI tail tank, flat bottom, suit Sprintcar. $900 ono. Ph 02 6288 6924 AH. IQI Hewland DG300 gearbox, suit Off Road buggy $10,000. Ph 02 9627 2151. 161 Haltech computer, $600, Heltec computer complete with wiring loom & injectors $1200. Both brand new. Ph 02 9627 2151. UM Jimco oft road racing frame, "A" arm front end, with Stubbs, CNC front brakes, rear arms with Summers Bros floaters, aluminium panels. Ph 02 9627 2151. 131 Fuel injection, Chev 18 degree, HRT, complete less injectors $2850.Also Raceline 5 stage dry sump pump $1750. Ph 0418 341 261. 161 Triple 45mm Weber, short Warnsford manifold, link ages, fuel rail, air cleaner to suit Holden 6 cyl. $1350. Ph 03 9366 6872 or 0428 535 245.'lei Holden gearbox (x2), M20 6 cyl A1 V8 needs rebuild.

Both with bell housing & shifter. Ph 03 9366 6872 or 0428 535 245. 18, Holden diffs, non LSD, LX-LH 3.08 complete drumdrum, LC-LJ 3.36 complete drum-drum. Ph 03 9366 6872 or 0428 535 245. 10, Commodore AUSCAR, mag & Speed nuts, 8 wheels $800, 4 slicks brand new Dunlop Formula R 235/50 15" $1200, Centre Force 11" pressure plate $400, 4 speed Munci g/box $700, turbo 308 bell housing to Munci $100, standard 308 pattern bell housing to T10 g/box $180, Harrop front brakes complete $2500, 308 race engine complete $5000. Ph 0418 500 287 or 03 9432 9482 AH. m Subaru WRC 75 br bag tanks, 1x98 Premier with fuel box & sender $2000, 2x99 fuelsafe $1500, AP brake calipers CP3720 & CP3620 $4500 car set. Ph Richard 64 9238 5732 NZ. is, VL turbo inlet & exhaust, manifold complete with all plumbing etc. No tuibo $600 ono. Brand new VL Turbo block, still in packaging from factory $600. Ph 02 9520 5039 or 0418 405 687. 161 Brabham magnesium wheels, 12" x 13", wobbly pat tern, unmarked $2200. Ph 02 9211 2854. 181 MGTC gearbox, Needham rebuilt, unused. $1100. Ph 02 9211 2854. .8,

Brand new purpose built, dual axle, elec brakes, reg, flat white aluminium sliding, front office area & seating. Tie down hooks, aluminium ramps, rear door, gas struts, 21x7x8, FHoiden or FFord. $8000. Ph Craig 0412 895 560,

X

Exhuast tube bender, 3 phase Binnie, computer con trolled, as new condition $10,500. Can inspect in Castlemaine, Vic. Ph 03 5472 4116 or Fax 03 5470 6966 or email - farrell@iaccess.com.au. mi Chassis dyno, Schultz, water brake, 10" rollers, speedo, huge fan $5000, Ph Ray Gulson 0408 628 677, 181

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50

HE®D®[?SfJXDI70

9 June 2000

Mslttisuari m news

Glasses anybody?

Staff JournaSist Aaron Woonan

Dear Sir, Re Vanessa Livermore’s letter (issue 180)in Talk Converter.

This inept young lady obviously sleeps under a HRT doona, has a Craig Lowndes pillowcase and cannot see past the HRT pits.

Keep up the good work, it’s a great magazine.

iSrapfeics Co-ordinator Viv Brwmby

Dale Robertson Blacktown, NSW.

Advertising

Whafs wrong with the techos?

Editorial EcSStor Phil Brai^agam Assistant Editor Gerald McBornaini

Advertising fMlanager Brendon Shersdaini

Administration Maraagiing Director Chris B-ambdero

Contacts 89 Orrong Crescent Caulfield North VIC 3161 (PO Box 1010 North Caulfield 3161) Phone: 03 9527 7744 Fax: 03 9527 7766 Email: msnews@ozemail.com.au

Dear Sir, Parity after qualifying in Darwin.

There is a Ford and a Holden dn the fi'ont row of the grid with .01 of a second between them.

When the first Ford is five or six places from pole there is no parity.

What is wi'ong with the technical people when nothing has been done for over 18 months?

K. W.Pestorius, Rotorua, New Zealand.

CompuServe: 100237,1 i6s

Contributors General: Brian Reed. Grant Nicholas.

Darryl Flack, Tony Glynn, Mike Kable, Mark Jones, Jon Thomson FI: Joe Saward, Adam Cooper Europe: Quentin Spurring, Gary Watkins US: Phil Morris NZ: John Hawkins Speedway: Brett Swanson, Julie Pearce, 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 Super Speedway: Martin Clark (USA) Karts: Sean Henshelwood, Graeme Burns, Frank Viola, John Morris, Mark Wicks Photographers: Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsmith, Bothwell Photographic, Marshall Cass, Nigel Snowdon & Diana Burnett, Tony Glynn, API Images, Neil Hammond, Slipstream Photographic, Thunder-Pics, Phil Williams, Allsport, John Morris/Mpix, Frank Midgley, John Bosher, Lynley Reid, Mike Patrick (UK), Daniel Wilkins, Wayne Nugent, Peter French, Chris Carter Artist: Bernie Walsh Cartoonist: Allan Schofield Motorsport News is published by Australasian Motorsport News Pty Ltd ACN No 060 179 928 Publisher; C Lambden Printed by; Wilke Color 37^9 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.

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Penalty kicks Dear Sir, After all this stupid fighting over the Holdens being too fast for the Fords, then they turn around and penalise them again.

The Holden teams were penalised last year and were made to take so much ''off the car's aerodynamics. That failed (it only made us go faster) so the Ford drivers and supporters should just shut up and be happy with what they have.

Talking about penalising, what about penalising Tony Longhurst at Western Australia this year? When he came onto the main straight with Paul Weel, Longhurst came across in front of him and almost drove him off. If Weel hadn’t have braked, Longhurst would have pushed him off the track.

In that conflict, neither got black flagged, lost points, stop/go penalty, or any fine that was aired.

Even Dick Johnson said that the AU Falcons aren't the easiest to set up.

1

pim Carruthers winning 250cc motorcycle races. Even if you had a 7” n TV however, seeing anything about n B motor racing was a rare treat.

Eventually somebody started showing Bathurst, and the first TV broadcast of an FI Grand Prix, here in Send your letters to PO Box 1010 North Caulfield Vic 3161, Canberra at least, was in 1980, fax to 03 9527 7766, or email to us at msnews@ozemail.com.au probably because Alan Jones was The staff of Motorspoit News does not necessarily agree with opinions express by readers. coming good.

SBS started broadcasting the 500cc motorcycle GPs in 1987 because of Wayne Gardner.

It has built up since to the situation we have today. We have so much motor sport on TV that I for one do not have time to watch it all.

I’m not pretending that everything in the garden is rosy.

Yes, even 1 become irritated sometimes. However, could we not occasionally say a heartfelt thanks to the networks (yes, even to the ABC for the couple of minutes they give on the news) for the coverage we now enjoy?

e

Z' n

nn

Mark Taylor, Wanniassa, ACT.

Mot toychiog this one ...

I reckon: “If we just get Crenno to release the ‘Craig doona and pillowcase combo’ you reckon Vanessa will buy it?” (Photo by James smith) So what - can Fords get away with it and automatically Holden get penalised in some way or form?

Holden shouldn't be penalised if Ford can't set up a car for racing

ability.

Samantha Nilon E-mail: sammyleel3@hotmail.com ED:While we admire your enthusiasm,Sammy ... Holden was not penalised last year and Longhurst did lose points - 10 of them-over the Perth brouhaha.

1 remGmDGS" When ...

Dear Sir, A regular feature of Motorsport News to which I do not look forward is the endless litany of complaints in Talk Converter about every conceivable aspect of motor racing television coverage.

Listen, you whinging kids, I was around, and interested in motor racing in the 1950s. There was no

television. Yes, I know the first commercial television broadcast was in 1956 but TV sets did not domestic common become appliances until at least ten years after that. For most people the media Were radios and newspapers, plus a few speciahst magazines.

The only time there was an3dhing about motor racing (in the widest sense - the racing of things which have motors) on radio or in the newspapers was when someone was killed.

After they had finished sahvating over the number of dead and injured, they might - if you were lucky -tell you who won.

Things improved a bit in 1959 when Jack Brabham started winning things, and became even better in 1960 when he continued winning. After that, other than occasional references to his winning a Formula 2 race, the media sank back into their coma until 1966.

After another period of hibernation, ABC Radio started making noises in 1969 about Kel

Dear Sir, Just read where David Coulthard has been forced to abstain fi'om sex for two weeks.

Judging from that sort of comment, he mustn't count sex with less than two people as sex ...

Name and address withheld by request.

ED;Withheld,if you heai’ guns and bagpipes,start running.

Sensitive, Mew Age TV viewer Dear Sir, I hope RPM takes little notice of Mike McKenzie’s letter (issue 180).

C’mon Mike, speedway gets more than enough coverage on Speedweek, etc. If RPM starts covering crap like speedway. I’ll stop watching it.

PS: To RPM, please get rid of that Alison Drawer, she’s a menace.

PaulAshbee Kingswood, NSW.

autooneI

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