O ff ici a l Pu blication of t h e B e n a l l a A u t o C l u b I n c .
pitstop September/October 2016
VINTAGE CELEBRATION WAKEFIELD HOSTS RECORD-BREAKING HISTORIC MEETING
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September/October 2016
Contents | BAC President Report.................................................... 4 | BAC Group CEO Report................................................ 4 | News.................................................................................... 5 | AASA Statement on Paul Zsidy................................ 8 | VSCRC/VMRC Report.................................................... 10 | VSCCA Historics Report............................................... 14 | Members at Play............................................................. 18 | Members at Play............................................................. 18 | Valvoline Winton 300 Report...................................... 20 | Winton Report.................................................................. 22 | Wakefield Park Report.................................................. 23 | 24 Hours of Lemons Report......................................... 24 | Member’s Birthdays...................................................... 26 | What’s On at Wakefield Park and Winton............ 27
PITSTOP The Official publication of the Benalla Auto Club Inc. September/October 2016 Edition #608 BENALLA AUTO CLUB INC. 41 Fox Street Winton, 3673 Phone (03) 5760 7100 www.benallaautoclub.com.au Email: secretary@benallaautoclub.com.au Encompassing: Winton Motor Raceway 41 Fox Street Winton VIC 3673 Phone (03) 5760 7100 race@wintonraceway.com.au www.wintonraceway.com.au Wakefield Park Motorsport 4770 Braidwood Road Goulburn NSW 2580 Phone (02) 4822 2811 info@wakefieldpark.com.au www.wakefieldpark.com.au Australian Auto-Sport Alliance 79 Rowan Street Wangaratta VIC 3677 Phone (03) 5721 7800 info@aasa.com.au www.aasa.com.au COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT President: Barry Stilo Vice-President: Daryl McHugh Secretary: Gary Gourlay Treasurer: Geoff Calvert Neville Kettels, Rex Monahan, John McBride, Willie Van Wersch, Murray Edgar, Rob Hoskins, John Morriss PITSTOP EDITOR Lachlan Mansell PHOTOGRAPHS Judi McDonald, Rene Martens, Phil Wisewould, Riccardo Benvenuti, Jacob Motum, Mark Richards, Shannons Nationals Media, Touring Car Masters Media, Porsche Carrera Cup Media
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pitstop BARRY STILO President, Benalla Auto Club Inc. It seems we have survived the wettest Winter and Autumn on record! I cannot remember there ever being so much water around! Our new track has stood up well to all that water – justifying all the planning and drainage works we undertook at the start of the year before laying the new bitumen. We have had all types of cars and bikes using the track in the last few months, from the reinvented PCM to the return of the Australian Superbike Championship for their final round. Unfortunately the weather effected both events to varying degrees – but feedback from competitors of both events was overwhelmingly positive. The committee continues to meet monthly and discuss a vast range of club, business, competitive and community topics
all aimed at making our club and our facilities the best they can be. I am continually heartened by seeing names on membership applications and realising they are former members returning to our club, I see this as confirmation of the work, the committee and management of the Club are doing – to make our club great again. It is amazing to me that 2016 is rapidly coming to a close, it has just flown by! Don’t forget to buy your tickets to the Black Tie Ball – the first event last year was fantastic – and I am looking forward to this year’s being even better! See you trackside, Barry
CHRIS LEWIS-WILLIAMS CEO, Benalla Auto Club Group Hi members, Well, believe it or not it has been a year since my appointment as CEO of the Benalla Auto Club! I hope you, as members, are able to see the changes that the management team at Winton, Wakefield, the AASA and the BAC have worked so hard to implement. We are always here to receive your feedback at members@benallaautoclub.com.au. 2017 calendar planning is nearly complete with Wayne and Matt working hard to attract the biggest events possible to our venues. There are some exciting developments to come next year with new events both on and off the track coming to Winton and Wakefield! Stay tuned!
Performance Test Days and Ride Days at both Winton and Wakefield. This allows our customers to avoid the entry queues and paperwork and give them a better experience at the track. We have also installed a modern point of sale system throughout the businesses, allowing our managers full visibility to the products we are selling, from what location, when they are selling and by whom. This information will help us to make better decisions regarding the additional products we want to offer in the future. As the racing year comes to a close we still have many events to see out the year – the biggest being the second Annual Black Tie Ball! I look forward to seeing you there! Cheers,
We continue to increase our use of technology with online entry systems now in place for all Test and Tune, Speed off the Streets,
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Chris
AASA SANCTIONS NATIONAL FORMULA FORD ROUND The Australian Auto Sport Alliance (AASA) broke new ground in September when it sanctioned Round 5 of the Australian Formula Ford Series, held at Winton as part of the Victorian Motor Racing Championship (VMRC) event. It was the first time a round of the national Formula Ford series was run under the auspices of the AASA, since the open-wheel category’s inception in 1970. National Formula Ford is considered the most popular and prestigious pathway for junior drivers out of go-karts to progress to a professional career in either national or international motorsport. Current Supercar drivers who have won the Australian Formula Ford title include Craig Lowndes, Jason Bright, Garth Tander, Will Davison, Jamie Whincup, David Reynolds, Tim Blanchard, Nick Percat, Chaz Mostert and Cameron Waters, while international stars including Mark Webber, Daniel Ricciardo and Will Power also spent time in national Formula Ford competition. The 2016 Australian Formula Ford series is currently led by Leanne Tander – wife of
Garth – who emerged from the Winton round with a 32-point advantage over Will Brown. BAC Group CEO Chris Lewis-Williams was thrilled to welcome a round of national Formula Ford to the umbrella of AASAsanctioned events. “Formula Ford is the proven breeding ground for young talent in Australia, especially those drivers with aspirations to forge a professional career in domestic racing categories such as Supercars,” Mr Lewis-Williams said. “For a long time, the AASA has had a reputation of sanctioning state and club-level motorsport, so it was very encouraging to have the opportunity to sanction a nationallevel category, and especially one with such a robust reputation. “We will continue to work hard on our insurance products and look forward to sanctioning many more national circuit racing categories in the future.” The AASA has more plans for continued growth which you can read about elsewhere in this issue of Pitstop.
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WINTON SECURES SUPERCARS FOR 2017 Winton Motor Raceway will host a Virgin Australia Supercars Championship event in 2017. Australia’s premier touring car category will return to the nation’s action track thanks to the continued efforts of the Winton team. Supercars and the Victorian Government will assist in the promotion of both the event, and the attractions of North-East Victoria. Mr Lewis-Williams said the return of Supercars was a win for the community. “The Supercars event delivers significant and measurable benefits to the local economy – this year’s event delivered an $8.8 million boost to the community,” Mr Lewis-Williams said. “We’re very excited we’ve been able to reach an agreement to retain the Supercars Championship for next year, and we look forward to again promoting a top-class race meeting that showcases not just the circuit, but the entire region, to a worldwide audience. “Supercars CEO James Warburton was also instrumental in orchestrating an agreement
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that was mutually beneficial for all parties, and we thank him for his support.” Mr Lewis-Williams stressed the importance of Winton to the Victorian-based Supercars teams, who have the venue as their nominated test facility. “For testing, the Supercars teams need a circuit that has a variety of different corners, through which they can gather data that correlates with other tracks on the calendar, and Winton offers that,” Mr Lewis-Williams said. “The local teams will be relieved they will still be racing at the track where they test.” The 2017 Winton Supercars event will be held on May 19-21, with race formats and support categories to be announced at a later date.
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AASA STATEMENT: PAUL ZSIDY TThe Executive of the Australian Auto Sport Alliance Pty Ltd (AASA) notes with dismay, and quite some irony, the application of a reprimand and significant penalty, albeit suspended, to Mr Paul Zsidy, a CAMS State Council Executive member. Mr Zsidy’s apparent crime against “the sport”, which was admitted, according to a statement on the CAMS website, was that he exercised his right to compete in a round of the Australian Formula Ford Series, held at Winton Motor Raceway on September 24, which happened to be at a race meeting sanctioned by the AASA. Sources inform the AASA that not enough rounds for the series could be accommodated within suitable CAMS race meetings, and that is where Winton Motor Raceway stepped in, and effectively assisted the category to achieve in its obligations to competitors, by hosting the Formula Fords at a Victorian Motor Racing Championship round.
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Mr Zsidy was reprimanded and fined $5000, suspended for 12 months, for breaching the CAMS Constitution, Clause 14(b). The current Chairman of the AASA, Mr Bruce Robertson, who CAMS attempted to sanction when he too served on State Council some years ago, and under a similar clause, is saddened that CAMS continues to attack its volunteer servants in such a manner. (Mr Robertson forced CAMS to back down, by engaging legal assistance, and he continued to serve for many years.) The offending clauses have since been strengthened within the CAMS Constitution. “Paul Zsidy is an exemplary competitor, administrator, and investor in the sport. It is appalling that Mr Zsidy is treated in such a manner by using such inappropriate and damaging components of the CAMS Constitution, the existence of which most
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CAMS affiliated car clubs and members would be unaware.” “It is a fact that the AASA is a robust and effective competitor to CAMS in the motor sport market place, recognised in its endeavours by government in all states and at all levels. “CAMS should compete with the AASA on commercial merit, capability and delivery, not by engendering a culture of fear of sanction amongst volunteers and competitors, and with the accompanying threat of commercial disadvantage, and as seen in this case, punishing individuals for participating in and contributing to the sport they love. It is most unfortunate that the ability to compete within the sporting framework has become muddied by competing commercial interests in the sanctioning arena. This unfortunate situation, may have been triggered by a commercial and/or sporting decision to down grade the status of the Formula Ford category within the CAMS system, and with CAMS and aligned promoters not being able to provide enough race meeting slots for the category’s needs,” Mr Robertson said. “The AASA cannot and will not interfere in the CAMS legal process, but can certainly comment on the result. The AASA executive and senior personnel are CAMS members, via their respective car club affiliations, and have had the similar threat or actual charge laid at their feet. It is notable that the CAMS Constitution also announces to the wider sport, that it is supposed to work positively with like-minded organisations. Is the AASA a like- minded organisation? Very probably. The Board, in this case seems to have expended considerable energy to chase down and punish an individuals within its own system. I think the wider motor sport public can be the judge of the appropriateness of that action.
and capacity of the CAMS Board to understand the nuances of the sport and the expectations of the wider customer base. The whole sport should be concerned, offended and dismayed at this attitude to the sport’s participants, whether that be by competing, being an official or as an administrator or promoter. The offending Constitutional clauses should never have been added, as a means to ward off commercial threats. “The Australian Sports Commission needs to be informed of this abuse of power inflicted on the wider CAMS membership, and members need to demand that they immediately force CAMS to modernise its Constitution, and remove the components that can be used to attack members for exercising freedom of action and commercial independence within the motor sport market. “CAMS does not have a monopoly in the motor sport sanctioning and insurance space. Those days are well and truly over, with more than one alternate body emerging over the past 14 years. “As an individual CAMS member who was similarly challenged many years ago, I call on the CAMS Board to reverse the decisions against Mr Zsidy, remove the reprimand, and penalty, apologise to him, and allow him to continue to serve the sport in his exemplary manner, and leave his reputation untarnished.” Mr Robertson said. The CEO of the AASA, Mr Chris LewisWilliams added “The AASA is an inclusive organisation. We are racers and participants, and as such we assist competitors to get on track with a minimum of cost, fuss and stress. Mr Zsidy is welcome to exercise his right to compete at our events anywhere, anytime. We recognise the sport has multiple providers, and encourage the diversity of competition that brings.”
“This outcome for Mr Zsidy is an absolute indictment on the corporate direction
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Victorian State Racing Report
MORE RECORDS BROKEN AT VIC STATE MEETINGS Lap records continued to fall on the new Winton track surface, with times tumbling in no less than seven different categories across two separate weekends of racing at the CAMS Victorian State Circuit Racing Championships (3-4 September) and Victorian Motor Racing Championships (2425 September). The Formula Ford lap record, which had been held by Jamie Whincup since 2002, was suddenly broken twice within the space of three weeks; Max Vidau broke it at the VSCRC round before it was claimed by Jayden Ojeda during the national Formula Ford round at the VMRC. 15-year-old Vidau claimed the overall round victory at the VSCRC state round, ahead of Lucas Filikotzias and Jordan Boys. More than two seconds were shaved off the Formula Vee record, with eight drivers setting
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times under the previous fastest lap around Winton. Ultimately the record fell to Blaine Grills, but it was New South Welshman Dylan Thomas who won the round after a tight contest with James Dean. The lap record was also ferociously contested in Porsche 944 Challenge with BAC Group CEO Chris Lewis-Williams lowering the benchmark on Saturday afternoon, only for his time to be pipped by Cameron Beller in Sunday morning’s race. However, LewisWilliams was first across the finish line in all three races, winning the round from his team-mate Vince Misuraca and Lee Partridge. Damien Mitchell won all three Saloon Car races but it was fellow Holden VT Commodore driver Tim Rowse who emerged with a new lap record as he pursued Mitchell in Race 3. Some problems for Rowse in Race 1 put paid to his chances of an overall podium result, and in the end it
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was David Wright (Ford AU Falcon) who finished second for the weekend ahead of the consistent Brett Pope (Holden VT Commodore). The father-and-son combination of Nathan and Neville Blight battled it out in the Victorian Excel Series with dad Neville receiving a great Father’s Day present when he claimed the lap record in Race 3. However, it was son Nathan who won the round by taking wins in all three races. The other lap record was set in the Sports Car races, Audi Sport Customer Racing driver Steve McLaughlan recording the fastest-ever time for a sports or GT car around Winton in his Audi R8 LMS. McLaughlan also won all three races and took the round victory from Jamie Augustine (Daytona Coupe) and Richard Mensa (Porsche 911). The other categories on the program were Sports Sedans, Improved Production and
MGs. Brett Dickie (Honda Prelude) and Ian Cowley (ex-Tasman Motorsport Commodore V8 Supercar) shared the wins in Sports Sedans, with Cowley ultimately taking the round win, while Graeme Gilliland (Mazda RX7) finished third. Nathan Robinson (BMW E36 M3) won the Improved Production round but it wasn’t smooth sailing, with Nathan Geier (BMW E36 M3), Keven Stoopman (Datsun 120Y), Michael Cruse (Ford Escort) and Damien Milano (VY HSV GTS) all displaying frontrunning pace. However, spins for Stoopman and Milano took them out of the equation while Cruse retired with mechanical problems, leaving Geier to finish second overall ahead of Rob Braune (BMW E30). Phil Chester took the round win in MGs ahead of Jason Holmes and Vincenzo Gucciardo; Glen Wood won two of the three races but finished just off the overall podium due to a DNF in Race 1.
Steve McLaughlan’s lap record in the Victorian Sports Car Series was faster than the Australian GT Championship lap record.
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The Winton Angels 24 Hours of Lemons car was dragged out of retirement for Tin Top Regularity, driven by Rob Hoskins after his primary car failed.
Victor Argento held off a fleet of hot Holdens to win the Vic V8 round in his XB Falcon Coupe.
Andrew O’Connell made a guest appearance in Super TT, driving the ex-Prancing Horse Racing AU Falcon V8 Supercar.
Cameron Hill made a guest appearance in Legend Cars and came away with the round win.
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The Formula Fords were back at Winton for the VMRC and while it was Ojeda who took away the lap record, Jordan Boys emerged victorious after winning the weekend’s opening two races and following Leanne Tander home in the final. Tander was relieved to secure the runner-up spot after an incident in Race 1 threatened to derail her series campaign. On the very first lap, she was battling with polesitter Ojeda when the two cars made contact on the exit of turn 3. The damage to Tander’s car necessitated an unscheduled pit-stop to change the radiator, but she was still able to salvage valuable points by finishing 11th. A determined Tander charged from 11th to second in Race 2 before winning Race 3, while Will Brown finished second, third and fifth in the three races to equal Tander’s points haul for the weekend and finish third overall on a countback. As a result, Tander has maintained her 32-point advantage over Brown with one round remaining. After qualifying on pole position, Ojeda was forced to retire due to damage from his incident with Tander in Race 1, but as consolation he was able to break the lap record in Race 3. The lap record also fell in the Vic V8 category, with Mark Kakouri lowering the benchmark by more than two seconds in his Holden VH Commodore during Race 1, while chasing the Ford XB Falcon Coupe of Victor Argento. However, an incident with Graeme Meer at the start of Race 2 eliminated Kakouri from the remainder of the weekend, and Argento capitalised to take the round win from Mick Pitcher (VT Commodore) and Nash Harris (VN Commodore). Driving the ex-Prancing Horse Racing Ford AU Falcon V8 Supercar raced by Mark Noske/Craig Baird at Bathurst in 2001,
Andrew O’Connell won all the Super TT races however the car was ineligible for points, and the round win was thus taken by Iain McDougall (Mini Challenge car) ahead of Matthew Bloem (Mitsubishi Evo) and Ryan How (Mini). Running as combined races within Super TT were the Stock Cars, which were won by David Hender, from Brian Walden and Zac O’Hara. Reigning Australian Formula Ford Champion and current Toyota 86 Series front-runner Cameron Hill made a guest appearance in the Legend Car series and duly won the round. He didn’t have it all his own way though – he was forced to play second fiddle to the points leader Kyle Angel in the first two races. However, he beat Angel off the line and held him out for the win in Race 3, and when Angel retired from Race 4 with mechanical problems, Hill was perfectly positioned to take the round win. “It took a while to come to grips with the car but by following Kyle in one of the races, I learned a lot and I had the hang of it by the last two races,” Hill said. The battle for second raged ferociously throughout each race, with the consistent Rick Christy eventually prevailing ahead of speedway competitor Liam Heaton after debutant Nathan Predo spun off the circuit. Phil Deane won the Production TT round in his AU Falcon, ahead of Daniel Van Der Heyden, who was over the moon with his victory in Race 3. Stephen Harrison was third overall. Johnny Rachele took a clean sweep in Pulsar Challenge, while Sylvain Cattier won the regularity events from Benalla Auto Club committee member Rob Hoskins, who swapped into the Winton Angels 24 Hours of Lemons Falcon after his primary car failed.
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40th Anniversary Historic Race Meeting Report
WAKEFIELD PARK ENJOYS BEST-EVER HISTORIC RACE MEETING Competitors and spectators who attended the 40th Anniversary of Australia’s first-ever Historic Race Meeting at Wakefield Park on 17-18 September are hailing it as the best ever historic event held at the venue. A large crowd turned out to enjoy an assortment of pre-1961 cars and motorcycles both on and off the track, while speciallyproduced commemorative T-shirts and programs sold out across the two days. Wakefield Park operations manager Matt Baragwanath said the historic race meeting was a win for both the venue and the Goulburn community.
on Sunday, a lot of enthusiasts braved the conditions and were treated to a very skilful display from competitors, just to keep their machines on the track. “A number of people travelled long distances to attend this meeting – some came from as far away as Queensland and South Australia – and there’s no doubt the attendance delivered a significant benefit to the local economy.” The cars were grouped into pre and postwar regularity categories, along with race categories A, B and C depending upon lap times.
“Overall, it was a sensational weekend and we achieved one of our best-ever spectator attendances on Saturday,” Mr Baragwanath said.
Driving his 1917 Model T Ford, Andrew Brown was the most consistent driver in one of the pre-war regularity runs, while Bob King and Steven Figgis also achieved pre-war regularity victories.
“Even with the wet weather conditions
In post-war regularity, there were five
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different winners from the five sessions with Ron Townley, David Lawrence, Peter Lubrano, Matthew Liersch and Greg Snape each recording the most consistent times in the respective sessions. The Group C scratch races were won by James Elphick (1956 Gazelle Ford) before Rees Mackay (1933 Riley 9/14) took out the handicap race.
Bob Sayer (1962 Norton Atlas) looked well placed in the 500cc and Unlimited motorcycle races after qualifying on pole position, but a crash in Race 1 eliminated him from the weekend and enabled Garth Francis (also on a Norton Atlas) to win the first three races before Stacey Heaney (1958 Royal Enfield) won the final race in wet conditions.
In Group B, it was Simon Pymble who won all three scratch races aboard a 1958 Hamilton, before Ian Edgar drove his MG TC to the win in the wet handicap race.
The first three 125cc, 250cc, 350cc and Class C motorcycle races were taken out by Jonathan Houston (1962 Motobi) before Eric Salmon (1962 Honda CB77) won Race 4, and Charlie Palmer (1942 Harley Davidson) took out the last race.
Dick Willis (1959 Mildren Cooper) and David Reid (1959 Faux Pas) battled hard in the first two Group A races before Mal Reid (1955 Prad) came through to win the third race, in slippery conditions. The handicap race went the way of Jim Russell in his 1939 Ford V8.
The sidecars produced entertaining racing all weekend, the combination of Garth Francis/ Paul Kenny (1960 Triumph) dominating the first four races while Greg Freeman/Scott Freeman (1960 Triumph) were victorious in the handicap race.
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40TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORICS
BAC member Bernie Mylon (car #42) was one of the participants in the race car sessions in his 1957 Morris Special.
Stacey Heaney was the best-performing female rider on her 1958 Royal Enfield.
Jonathon Houston claimed three race wins in the 250cc races on his Motobi.
The pre-war regularity events featured some cars that were over 100 years old.
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WEEKEND PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS
Canberra driver Mal Reid took advantage of slippery conditions in one of the races to pick up a win in his 1935 Sulman Singer.
Matthew Liersch won one of the regularity sessions in his Nota Sportsman.
The sidecars put on an entertaining show right throughout the weekend, with the Mini Cyclecar of Lyn Jones being one ofthe more distinctive entrants.
The largest-capacity car in the event was Graham Lawrence’s 18.5 Litre 1922 Delage.
As well as organising T-shirts for the event, Graeme Louk also drove his 1958 Cooper MG in post-war regularity.
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MEMBERS AT PLAY A look at the racing activities of BAC members The highest-profile events held during the last two months were the three Pirtek Enduro Cup events - the Sandown 500, Bathurst 1000 and Gold Coast 600. There was also a Shannons Nationals event at Phillip Island along with various state-level events in Victoria and New South Wales, and Benalla Auto Club members were doing their best to bring home big results. • Steven Richards had three busy race meetings, dovetailing his Supercars endurance race commitments alongside Craig Lowndes with his Carrera Cup campaign. Richards and Lowndes experienced mixed fortunes in the enduros; they finished eighth in the Sandown 500 before a tough weekend at Bathurst, where they suffered a gear selector failure and came home 16th. The Gold Coast races were more successful, the pair finishing sixth and fourth in the two 300km events. Richards also enjoyed an unbroken run of top five finishes in the final three Carrera Cup rounds of the year to secure fifth in the standings. • Kane Baxter-Smith has been enjoying his time in the competitive Toyota 86 one-make series, which held rounds at Sandown and Bathurst. He finished 20th overall at Sandown but was out of luck at Bathurst, suffering a clutch failure in the weekend’s second race after a top 15 finish in Race 1. • After his dominant run of victories in the Kumho V8 Touring Car Series, Taz Douglas finally suffered his first defeat at Phillip Island’s penultimate round of the series, where he finished fourth overall behind Garry Jacobson, Tyler Greenbury and Josh Smith. Douglas still holds a commanding points advantage over his rivals ahead of the final round at Sydney Motorsport Park.
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• BAC member Jordan Boys claimed his maiden national Formula Ford round win at the VMRC in September; Boys won the weekend’s opening two races and finished second behind Leanne Tander in the final to secure overall honours. For Boys, it was a breakthrough result after he had shown pace on a number of occasions throughout the season. • Benalla boy Zak Best continues to do the BAC proud with his Aussie Racing Car exploits. The 14-year-old participated in the most recent round at Sydney Motorsport Park in September, recording a best result of 12th in the weekend’s final race against drivers with much more racing experience. As a result, Best has risen to equal 10th in the series standings ahead of the final two rounds in New Zealand in November. • Zak’s sister Ellexandra Best also put in some standout performances in the Victorian Excel Series round at the Victorian State Circuit Racing Championships at Winton. Ellexandra recorded her personal best results, qualifying seventh and finishing all three races inside the top 10. • The Super TT and Production TT races brought out an abundance of BAC members with Steve Murray, David Dixon, Phil Deane, Stephen Harrison and Cooper Cappellari all in attendance. Deane scored the round win in Production TT while Murray was the best of the runners in Super TT, finishing fourth overall. • Winton operations manager Wayne Williams was back behind the wheel of a Legend Car at the VMRC as well, becoming engaged in some entertaining battles in the mid pack. Williams finished eighth overall with a best result of seventh in the weekend’s final race. • As per usual, Bruce Henley competed in so many events we lost track!
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Steven Richards scored two top-six finishes with Craig Lowndes at the Gold Coast 600.
Jordan Boys claimed his maiden national Formula Ford round win at the Winton VMRC event.
Phil Deane led home a fleet of BAC members in the Prodution TT round at the VMRC.
Ellexandra Best recorded her personal best race results in the Excels at the Winton VSCRC round.
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JESS AND REYNOLDS WIN WET AND WILD WINTON 300 Nathan Jess and Ryan Reynolds are the winners of the 2016 Valvoline Winton 300, overcoming treacherous weather conditions on 13 November to claim victory in their Future Racer. After qualifying fifth, Reynolds ran inside the top three during his stint before handing over to Jess under Safety Car conditions on lap 41. Jess moved back up the order as other cars pitted, eventually taking the lead on lap 64 and holding it through to the chequered flag; the race was declared after 77 of the scheduled 100 laps due to severely deteriorating weather conditions. The win was Jess’ second in the Winton 300 since 2011, adding to his dramatic last-lap victory in 2014. “The car was fast in both dry and wet conditions this weekend, and Ryan did an amazing job in the opening stint,” an elated Jess said. “I love these 300km endurance races and it’s fantastic to be on top of the podium again, especially after such a challenging day.” Driving their Mini Cooper S, Henry Draper and Linda Devlin pulled off a giant-killing performance to finish second outright, using the Mini’s front-wheel-drive and ABS brakes to their advantage in the wet weather to upstage some far more powerful cars; Devlin also recorded the best-ever result for a female driver in the Winton 300. 2013 winners Nick Cancian and Rob Hay completed the podium in their turbocharged Mazda MX5 after a solid run, while the Mini of Iain McDougall and Barney Hogan finished just off the podium in
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fourth place. McDougall led for a number of laps but was cost severely by taking his compulsory pit stop under green flag conditions. Jess and Reynolds were the winners of Division B; other division winners were Richard Fricker/Shaun Vanzyl (Division A in a Mitsubishi Mirage), David Krusza/Rodney Stait (Division C in a BMW 328i), Peter Lacey/Sean Lacey (Division D in a Mazda MX5), Michael Wedge/Peter Batterham (Division E in a Mazda MX5) and Gavin Stubbs/Nathan Bell (Division F in a Hyundai Excel). The diabolical weather conditions claimed a number of casualties, the highest-profile being the Adam/ Craig Burgess Ginetta, which qualified on pole position and led early, but crashed out after a tangle with a backmarker on lap 20. Defending Winton 300 winners Steve and Jake Shelley also endured a tough weekend, missing qualifying after an engine problem and then struggling with a variety of difficulties on their way to a 35th-place finish. The Winton 300 was supported by a 25-lap mini endurance race for the Super TT/Production TT cars which was won by BAC member Joe Stickland (Holden Commodore) ahead of Cruz Cody (BMW E30) and Tony Heasly (Commodore). Also appearing as a support category was the Alfa Romeo East Coast Challenge, with Tavio Gatto (Alfa Romeo GTV) taking the overall round win ahead of Frank Carigliano (Alfa Romeo GTV) and Robert Panetta (Alfa Romeo 75).
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pitstop WAYNE WILLIAMS Operations Manager, Winton Motor Raceway Well the team here at Winton continue to get the job done, another two months havee passed and we have had some big events. September started off with the return of the Victorian State Racing Series after a 10+ year break from Winton Raceway they were thrilled with the outcome of a fantastic weekend of racing, car numbers were great and lap records were broken, a stand out performance at this event would have to be none other than BAC CEO Chris Lewis-Williams, winning all three races and breaking the lap record in his Porsche 944, well done CLW. September also was headlined with Performance Car Mania, with new rules in place and strict entry criteria It proved a success with the cream rising to the top and presenting us with some very nice prestige machines, we had a great crowd on hand to watch all the action on the Saturday and it was going to be a huge final day on Sunday, but mother nature intervened and we were left with no choice but to cancel the remaining events for PCM11, constant rain made conditions completely unworkable. All in all it was a successful weekend and from responses and feedback next year is bound to be bigger and better.
here at Winton we find ourselves again with some great events to be run, the annual Winton 300 will be the most hotly contested event during November with yours truly strapping myself into the driver’s seat to give it a crack, we have had great entries for this year’s event including many previous winners. We have many car clubs here throughout November so be sure to get out and have a look, then we move onto December which will see the HQ Enduro Classic on December 3-4 followed by the fifth and final round of the Sprints on December 10th. To finish off a very busy and successful year we have a Fun Day on December 11th, then the event you have all been waiting 12 months for, The BAC Black Tie Ball on the night of December 17th. After the massive success of last year’s ball this will be no exception, with bookings already coming in thick and fast you won’t want to miss out so call the office and book your tables.
Our last event for 2016 is for you, on Sunday the 18th December is the BAC Member’s Day, always a fun day so make sure you are here to help us celebrate the On the weekend of September 30th–October year. 2nd the Australian Superbike Championship ran the finale of 2016 season, weather See you at the track, conditions again hampered things a little but the Sunday was a glorious day for the two Wayne wheel machines and the action was fast and furious. Congratulations to Troy Herfoss who secured the Championship with a win in front of a very healthy crowd. As we look to the next couple of months
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September/October 2016
MATT BARAGWANATH Operations Manager, Wakefield Park Motorsport
Hello Members,
Beginning of November saw the HQ Nationals events which each year travels In my last article I mentioned we were just around Australia to different circuits. about into the 40th Anniversary of the first Whilst entries were lower than we hoped ever Historic meeting at Amaroo. The event for, the competition was nothing less than has since been covered in publications fierce for the weekend from all concerned. nationally with very positive feedback in that Sunday lunchtime saw a 25 lap Finale we were returning Historic racing “to the which was hotly contended so as to find way it was” in the day…. I am very pleased to the national champion for 2016, NSW advise that the meeting was a huge success driver Brett Osborn doing a great job to with (on Sat) some of the biggest crowds the take victory. venue has seen since the Konica V8 days. Venue improvements are continuing as Unfortunately the Sunday saw the weather are the continuing consultation with key change significantly and by mid-afternoon stakeholders so as to ensure we are seen we were running out of interested as a key player in not only the motorsport competitors to run in the rain, particularly community in NSW but also the local from the bikes, don’t know why?! community in Goulburn. In October, saw the return of the 24 hours of Lemons event which brought a whopping 48 teams (biggest event for them all year) to the venue. With overnight engine changes on both Fri & Sat night for several teams, the spirit was very strong with a lot of fun being had along the way. Our very own Lachy Mansell entered his newly built Excel and with a number of last minute driver changes achieving a great result of 4th place for the event—well done Lachy! A few of us were a little concerned that Lachy thought he was the owner of a Formula 1 team after seeing his stress levels but he pulled through with a great result none the less!
That’s it for now and remember, BAC members are welcome at Wakefield Park Anytime, either as a competitor, spectator, official or volunteer! Regards, Matt
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pitstop
The 24 Hours of Lemons endurance event for cars up to $1,000 celebrated its 12-month anniversary at Wakefield Park on 29-30 October.
Despite driving with virtually no brakes and severely worn front tyres, Stillwell brought the car home in fourth, and the tyres and brakes were replaced overnight.
The event is intended as a fun endurance trial rather than a flat-out race and donations are collected for charity throughout the event.
Stillwell was back in the car for the start of Sunday’s action but had to make an early pit stop due to a brake light malfunction. Several laps later, he was called back into the pits for a penalty due to contact with another car and Van De Wakker took over, completing an impressive stint in which he set the car’s fastest lap of the entire race.
Teams are encouraged to come up with creative designs for their cars and dress up in colourful costumes. The 2016 Wakefield Park edition of 24 Hours of Lemons was the biggest yet, with 45 cars taking the start. Wakefield Park sponsored the Team Radio Lemons Hyundai Excel, which was driven by BAC Group media manager Lachlan Mansell, along with Dave Stillwell, Emily Duggan, Dylan Thomas and Brian Van De Wakker. Mansell started the race and adopted a conservative approach at the start, settling into a rhythm and avoiding becoming embroiled in battles for track position with other cars. The Excel’s fuel economy meant he was able to complete a stint of more than two hours, moving up to third position as other cars pitted, before handing over to Dylan Thomas. Thomas resumed racing in 13th but was also able to take advantage of the Excel’s fuel range, running another two-hour stint and handing the car over to Duggan from second position. Duggan maintained the car’s place in the top three throughout her stint, before Stillwell took over to complete Saturday’s proceedings.
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The penalty prompted a slight strategy alteration and the decision was made to complete Sunday on just two fuel stops; both Duggan and Mansell were thus required to complete stints of almost two and a half hours. Both drivers rose to the challenge, continuing to set consistent lap times despite the challenges of traffic and - in Mansell’s final stint - a shower of rain which significantly reduced grip levels. Mansell eventually took the chequered flag in fourth position, a fine result against some cars which were significantly faster. But most importantly, everyone at Team Radio Lemons had an absolute blast. Following on from the Winton Angels’ impressive performance in the Winton 24 Hours of Lemons event during March, it has been a good year for BAC members using these unique events to make their racing debuts. Winton and Wakefield Park will again host rounds of 24 Hours of Lemons in 2017.
September/October 2016
The Wakefield Park-sponsored Team Radio Lemons Hyundai Excel finished the Wakefield 24 Hours of Lemons in fourth place.
Emily Duggan hands over to Lachlan Mansell for the final stint.
Race faces: team manager Wayne Williams and driver Lachlan Mansell looking serious.
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pitstop
BIRTHDAYS Happy birthday to all the Benalla Auto Club members who celebrate their special day in November and December
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
Jason Brentnall Alan Shearer Richard Whyte Jacinda Truant Bruce Robertson Peter Washington Christopher Owen Wendy Reed Carl Gibbs Greg Baker Russell Ramsdale Anthony Duvoisin Steven Murray Daryl McHugh Glen Miller Dianne Stolz Luke Bouwmeester Barry Francis Stilo Greg Wood Andrew Hall Rex Monahan Phil Palmer Brian Kearney Carl Simmons Timothy Banks Michael Leonard Callum Ross Hayley Horsfall Cameron White Heath Martin Julio Molina Tony Shepherd Wayne Croxford Kenneth Carruthers Phillip Porter Garry Fraser
Dean Fiore
1 Dec
Peter John Hill
2 Dec
Barry Ward
3 Dec
Peter Grenness
3 Dec
Wilfred Bulot
3 Dec
Leigh Hall
5 Dec
Byron Thomas
6 Dec
Terry Parry
7 Dec
Allan Black
7 Dec
Graham Smith
8 Dec
Richard Osciak
9 Dec
Brian Delarue
11 Dec
Lyndon Arnel
12 Dec
John McIlroy
13 Dec
Ian Watt
14 Dec
Jason Snoodyk
14 Dec
Sharon Boys
15 Dec
Kristian Dowthwaite
16 Dec
Gerard Putt
17 Dec
Marc Ericksen
20 Dec
Kenneth Bould
23 Dec
Maggi Kirk
24 Dec
John Albert Kirk
25 Dec
Ken C. Phillips
26 Dec
Mark Phillips
29 Dec
John Hanlon
29 Dec
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2 Nov 2 Nov 3 Nov 4 Nov 4 Nov 5 Nov 8 Nov 9 Nov 9 Nov 9 Nov 9 Nov 10 Nov 11 Nov 11 Nov 12 Nov 13 Nov 13 Nov 13 Nov 15 Nov 15 Nov 15 Nov 16 Nov 18 Nov 18 Nov 18 Nov 21 Nov 23 Nov 23 Nov 23 Nov 24 Nov 25 Nov 25 Nov 26 Nov 27 Nov 29 Nov 30 Nov
September/October 2016
WHAT’S ON
at Wakefield Park and Winton PARK RACEWAY
Winton Events 4 November 5 November 6 November 7 November 11 November 12-13 Nov 16 November 18 November 19 November 20 November 25 November 26 November 27 November 28 November 29 November 2 December 3-4 December 8 December 9 December 10 December 11 December 13 December 16 December 17 December 17 December 18 December 22 December
Wakefield Park Events Test & Tune - Cars/Openwheelers Circuit Club MSCA Test & Tune - Bikes Test & Tune - Cars only Valvoline Winton 300 Performance Test Day Test & Tune - Cars/Openwheelers RX8 Club AROCA Test & Tune - Cars/Openwheelers MX5 Club V8 RACE Test & Tune - Bikes Performance Test Day - Passenger Test & Tune - Cars Only HQ 4 Hour Test & Tune - Bikes Test & Tune - Cars/Openwheelers Winton Sprints Round 5 Fun Day Performance Test Day - Sedans Test & Tune - Cars/Openwheelers VicDrift Black Tie Ball BAC Members Day Office closes
3 November 4-6 November 10 November 11 November 12 November 13 November 14 November 15 November 16 November 17 November 18 November 19-20 Nov 23 November 25 November 26-27 Nov 30 November 1 December 2 December 3 December 4 December 5 December 7 December 8 December 9 December 12 December 14 December 15 December
Test & Tune - Race Cars HQ Holden Nationals Speed off the Streets Trackschool MX5 Supersprint HSV Club Trackschool Billy Cart Derby Trackschool Motorcycle Ride Day Test & Tune - Race Cars V8 RACE Speed off the Streets - Street Cars Test & Tune - Race Cars AASA NSW State Champs Motorcycle Ride Day Speed off the Streets BMW Club Track Day Club Circuit Club Anglo Motorsport GEAR Motorcycle Ride Day Test & Tune - Race Cars Trackschool Speed off the Streets Passenger Ride Day
The Ken Leigh HQ Holden 4 Hour returns to Winton on the first weekend in December.
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The Benalla Auto Club Proudly Invites you to our 2nd Annual
Black Tie Ball
When : Saturday December 17th 2016 Action Starts : Arrive at 6:30pm for a 7:00pm Green Flag Where : Winton Motor Raceway, Corporate Centre Dress Code : Formal Attire How Much : $65 BAC Member, $85 Non-members Drinks at Club prices What you get : Dinner, Live band and a great night out
RSVP by Wednesday December 7th 2016 on (03 5760 7100) No tickets available after this date so don’t miss out !!!