Over
550 cars of all significance entered the 2009 Classic, although entries
from overseas were down on recent previous years. However, the quality
of cars continues to build. Highlights of individual grid's included
the record 50 Formula Ford's (including a large contingent from the
UK), a near 30 car feild of Groups C & A Touring cars, and a ground
shattering field of sports racing cars.
All
promised to be an action-acked weekend - event off the track with
the support of Shannons in the newly formed Expo shed on the outside
of the main straight & improved luxury hospitality hosted by other
sponsors including the VACC.
After
four previous solid years of good weather the weekend was somewhat
dampened (okay - drenched!) by the massive rain showers, and there
were plenty of them.
This
provided for some exciting racing, but before that let's talk Friday
practice and qualifying. The Regularity Div 2 was first event out.
Many competitors seemed to lack track time, or may be brushing off
the summer cobwebs of lack of motorsport and chose to spin, which
ended up in the red flag - yes a red flag in the first event of the
weekend! I mus admit I was one of those spinners, but I can honestly
claim that it was due to high tyre pressures, which was a rectified
situation in the afternoon event.
Those
in attendance on the Friday witnessed the Australian debut of the
Mercedes Sauber C9 - a car that holds the fastest speed record a Le
Mans on the Mulsanne Straight (1989 at 410kph). Rob Sherrard purchased
the car in early 2008, had it completely re-built and now competes
regularly in FIA spec Group C races overseas, and the Australian crowd
was privilaged to have the car here - and the sight, sound and driving
style by Rob were a highlight of the Friday, and on the occasions
the car went out across the weekend.
The
second highlight of Friday in the high speed stakes was the appearance
of the three Sydney based mid-eighties Formula One cars - Ferrari
156/85, Benneton and Beatrice Lola. For those who witnessed the crash
at Eastern Creek early 2008 when Les Wright dramatically changed the
shape of the Bennaton when vying for the lead through turn one with
Belgiorno-Nettis' Ferrari it was a pleaure to see what Australian
engineering can do to re-build a car, which shattered many (considered
to be) unrepairable parts - including the gearbox housing. Les qualified
the Benneton in second, but made it back to the pits slowly when a
blade off the Turbo sheered off in the final stages of qualifying
- which was later found to cause serious internal damage to the engine.
It seems, unfortunately specators will have to wait for some time
until the car re-appears.
To
Saturday, and what a day in the history of Phillip Island Classic
to be remembered. A large crowd waited in anticipation for the Formula
Ford race - the first race of the event, and one with some 50 small
and quick open-wheelers promised to provide many great races within
the race. In the race were people like John Smith, former Australian
Formula Ford Champion & Tim Blanchard, who has recently won the
British Formula Ford Chamionship and now has and F3 ride. But it was
the upcoming Tom Tweediee who stole the show from the outset, streaking
away to a win, well ahead of the remaining 49 or so competitors, bemused
by the skill of this young driver.
Group
S was next out. This race was red flagged twice - once in the dry
and the second in the rain. The Phillip Island circuit is so smooth
except for one place at the end of the exit from Siberia where there
is a series of bumps, which are more frustrating then hazardous in
the dry, but one imagines (all Div 2 regularitiy events where in dry
conditions) hazardous in the wet. This was shown in the absolute downpour
in the re-start of the Group S race, which severely effected the weekend.
Tony Jones became victim to the circuit at this point tumble rolling
his Porsche 911 and ending up upside down in a nearby ditch. Fortunately,
Tony is okay, but the car a tad second hand.
This
incident put a halt to all racing, which lasted for 2 and a half hours
until just after one - as the rain poured and poured leaving huge
puddles of water on sections of the main straight, and indeed around
the corners.
The
day ended up with all competitors getting one event instead of the
two scheduled, but nothing could be helped with that. Group C &
A action also provided a highlight with a new force at the front -
enter the BMW M3. David Towe is now quite competitive in his ex.JPS
M3. Although meeting Patron Glenn Seton gave him stiff competition
slipping in a faultless guest drive in a similar M3, whilst Bill Cutler
made a sensational debut to the Group A ranks with his M3 - making
it an M3 full podium in the first race.
Simon
Taylor (Editor at Large of MotorSport) returned to the Island this
year, along with his Stovebolt HWM Special. He also returned as Guest
Speaker at the Gala dinner Saturday night - a night to be remembered,
but not for the dinner, but for the truly terrible weather conditions
outside. Absolute down pour and heavy winds caused significant damage
to numerous marquees, many of which have joined in as unwanted features
of Bass Strait, and damaged race cars in the lifted and shifted marquee
in the Group N area of the green paddock (which is now a 1/3 bitumen!
To this, we are all grateful of the enormous financial spend the LinFox
group has spent thus far on improvements at the track.
Laurie
Bennett proved he is a very versitile driver on Saturday when he accepted
an invitation to drive Englishman John Bladen's McLaren M1A sports
car. Starting from the rear of the field Bennett quickly made his
impression in a car, which is in the same field as his Elfin 600B,
but so much different with engine size and bodywork being the most
apparent. Richard Carter, however, saw no competition at the pointy
end so had a terrific dice with the like 600B's of Bob Craknell and
Herb Neal. Bennett took him by surprise as he stormed through the
field in the sports car leaving everything in his wake, including
Carter in a near photo finish.
Sunday
morning saw Bennett back in his own car, but the challenge remained
as he had to fight through the grid once again. This time though,
Carter knew his friendly rival was back in his familiar car and a
threat. Still Bennett drove the wheels off the forty year old car,
but this time the photo finish went to Carter... by 0.008 seconds!
The final M & O sports car racesaw this dice continue, as did
the rain, which changed the scene immensely when Carter came victim
to aqua-plaining - as he was racing alongside Bennett for the lead
at full pace along the main stright, hitting a pool of water that
senthim in a series of 360 spins, finally coming to a halt at the
200 metre braking marker - but this didn't stop Carter who continued
on, re-claiming second place and putting in a solid finish. Tim Kutchel
from SA didn't have the same luck as Carter as his aqua-plain sent
him too close to the concrete wall as he ended him doing some damage
to the Brabham. News through the pits on the weekend was that Andrew
Fellowes (whose Group P car was invited to join the M & O grid)
has sold one of the Rondel Racing BT36's overseas, splitting up the
two cars that he spent tireless time getting back together a few years
back. But don't be to worried, the ex. Tim Schenken car has been swapped
for a BT23, which will be on track later this year.
