2007
Phillip Island Classic, 9-11 March Race meeting report - Page 3 of
3
Formula
5000
The biggest ever assembled field of Formula 5000 cars converged on
Phillip Island. The majority of the field came from New Zealand, but
other overseas cars included the Lola T330 of Frank Lyons (UK), Eagle
FA of Judy Lyons (UK – Franks wife) and the March 73 of Peter
Dunn (MC).
The Monaco resident won the first
race from Australians Andrew Robson (Lola T332) and Aaron Lewis (who
substituted his Chevron B24 for the awesome Matich A53) who finished
within a second of each other. Frank Lyons won the battle for 4th
over Ian Clements from New Zealand (Lola T332.
Clements came out to reverse the
order for the 2nd race with a win over Dunn, Robson, Lyons and Tony
Richards (NZ, Lola T332. The Clements/Dunn battle continued in the
final race in a magnificent photo finish with Robson following shortly
behind in third.
After similar success at Sandown
in November Clements won the VACC Trans-Tasman Formula 5000 Championship.
Andrew Robson won the Garrie Cooper Trophy for first Australian Formula
5000.
Historic
Touring cars
For the report on racing from
the Group N touring car category – 1950s through 1970s touring
car racing please visit the Historic Touring Car Association of Victoria’s
web site at www.htcav.com.au
1970’s
and 1980’s Racing cars
This meeting saw the return of
John Dimmer’s ex. Jackie Stewart Tyrell 004 Formula One car
from 1971 and Phil Mauger’s 1973 Yardley McLaren F1 (both with
Cosworth DFV engines). They were joined by the normally aspirated
ground effects 1979 Tyrell 009 F1 of Rick Knoop from the USA and the
local 1985 ex. Michele Alberto 1.5litre twin turbo Ferrari 156GP of
Guido Belgiorno-Nettis.
The Ferrari has the ability to
increase the horsepower when needed from 650 to 1000, which came in
handy in both races on Sunday for Belgiorno-Nettis, but unfortunately
not when it counts when the awesome scream of the Tyrell 009 was unleashed
down the straight to take out all three race wins.
For the minor placings in the
final race it was a battle of the young guns in the Formula Atlantic/Pacific
cars. Sean Whelan came third in the Ralt RT4 from Andrew Makin (March
73B) and Jamie Larner (Chevron). All three were on the limits of their
cars, but simply out-classed by the Formula One cars.
Group
C & Group A Touring cars
The increasing grid numbers for
C & A paved the way for some close racing. Paul Stubber again
showed whose boss in the ex. John Harvey Marlboro Torana A9X creaming
the field so well he even had time to bring back his well-known antics
of power sliding – until the final race of the weekend when
he retired two laps from the finish.
Race two, however, saw a horrific start line
crash when Norman Mogg stopped shortly after the race start in the
Telecom Mobilenet Commodore when the hard charging Anna Cameron had
no wear to go but into the back of the Mogg Commodore completely ruining
her Torana GTR XU-1 (and needing to be removed from the car on a stretcher
and taken to hospital) and seriously damaging the Commodore. Commentator
Todd Martin later conveyed that both drivers were safe and in good
spirits – Mogg vowing to return soon with a re-built car.
It was a Group A battle for the honours in
the Feature Murray Carter Trophy race. The Ford Mustang GT of Brett
Maddren narrowly beat Terry Ashwood (Nissan Skyline GTR) who came
from rear of grid to finish second. Frank Binding was the first of
the Group C cars in his Army Reserve Ford Falcon.
Regularity
events
As usual the regularity events
gave enthusiasts the chance to compete in their pride and joy in a
nominated time event. Earlier I mentioned Ron Townley was competing
for the first time in his Talbot Lago T26 GP. Ron in fact came first
in the final event of the weekend – keeping the most regular
time out of the 50+ strong field.
The Porsche Museum cars competed
in the regularity events. Peter Fitzgerald demonstrated the 1998 Le
Mans 24 winning Porsche GT1 while Museum Curator Klaus Bischof drove
the company’s only Formula One winner – the 1962 Porsche
804 F1. Alex Davison drove the 1969 long tail Porsche 908 Spyder.
Vern Schuppan drove the 1977 Le Mans winning Porsche 936. Other Museum
Porsches competing including the 356 Carrera GT, 1962 Panamericana-Mexico
winner, 1970 Porsche 908/03 Spyder.
Conclusion
The Phillip Island Classic has
now well and truly cemented itself as one of the worlds top historic
motor racing events and all eyes are now set on the 2008 event!
