1989 Australian Group A Touring Car Races - Discussion & Results

[William Dale Jr]

James Hardie Building Products AMSCAR Series
Round 4 (6/8/1989)

Circuit Length: 1.946 km
Weather: Sunny

For once the touring cars were not the headline act in Channel 7's AMSCAR telecast, with a round of the Formula Holden championship for the CAMS Gold Star given prime billing. The touring cars didn't get a look in until very late in the broadcast.

Heat 1
Race Distance: 10 laps

Callaghan was electric off the line, leading Longhurst and Gibbs into Dunlop Loop. Longhurst got a run exiting the loop, getting down the inside of the Commodore heading into the sweeper. Ashby was black flagged for dropping oil and blowing a large amount of smoke, while at the same time Bond dropped out with electrical problems. Longhurst toyed with the Commodore opposition in the first heat, though Callaghan managed to outbrake the Sierra-driver from a mile back heading into to Stop corner. Longhurst eventually powered past the Commodore in the same spot a few laps later, while Gibbs also found a way past. He didn't stay in second for long, locking the rears into Honda corner but doing a good job to keep the car from spinning, dropping back to fourth. From there the order stayed the same to the flag.

Position	Number	Entrant	Driver	Car	Class	Race Time/Laps	Retirement Cause	Fastest Time	Grid Position
1	25	Benson & Hedges Racing	Tony Longhurst	Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500	A				1
2	37	Brian Callaghan	Brian Callaghan	Holden Commodore VL (TWR)	A				2
3	19	Caltex CXT Race Team	Ken Mathews	Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500	A				5
4	36	Bob Forbes Corporation P/L	Mark Gibbs	Holden Commodore VL (TWR)	A				4
5	46	Riethmuller Pentecost Racing	Llynden Reithmuller	Holden Commodore VL (TWR)	A				7
6	53	M3 Motorsport	John Cotter	BMW M3	B				9
7	43	Brian Callaghan	Brian Callaghan Jnr	Holden Commodore VK	A				10
8	32	Toyota Team Australia	John Faulkner	Toyota Corolla AE82 Hatch	C				12
9	60	The Xerox Shop	Roger Hurd	Mitsubishi Starion	A				11
10	78	Team Madison Racing	Michael Adcock	Toyota Corolla AE86 Liftback	C				13
11	51	Bob Holden Motors	Denis Rogers	Toyota Corolla AE86 Liftback	C				15
12	99	Richard Scarf	Rick Scarf	Holden Commodore VK	A				14
DNF	52	M3 Motorsport	Peter Doulman	BMW M3	B		steering arm		8
DNF	4	Caltex CXT Race Team	Colin Bond	Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500	A		electrical		3
DNF	35	Lansvale Smash Repairs P/L	Trevor Ashby	Holden Commodore VL (HDT)	A		engine		6
DNS	50	Garry Willmington	John Leeson	Holden Commodore VL (TWR)	A

Heat 2
Race Distance: 15 laps (20 laps scheduled)

Neil Crompton's start line crash in the preceding Formula Holden race delayed the programme a bit, causing the final AMSCAR heat to be reduced from 20 laps to 15. Don't have the video for this race at hand, but it went much like the first except this time Bond joined in the fun, pushing Longhurst hard but ultimately couldn't get past the B&H car.

Position	Number	Entrant	Driver	Car	Class	Race Time/Laps	Retirement Cause	Fastest Time	Grid Position
1	25	Benson & Hedges Racing	Tony Longhurst	Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500	A	13m37.66s		0m51.68s	1
2	4	Caltex CXT Race Team	Colin Bond	Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500	A	13m37.96s		0m53.32s	13
3	37	Brian Callaghan	Brian Callaghan	Holden Commodore VL (TWR)	A	13m40.34s		0m52.70s	2
4	19	Caltex CXT Race Team	Ken Mathews	Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500	A	13m46.92s		0m53.34s	3
5	35	Lansvale Smash Repairs P/L	Trevor Ashby	Holden Commodore VL (HDT)	A	14m09.38s		0m54.64s	14
6	46	Riethmuller Pentecost Racing	Llynden Reithmuller	Holden Commodore VL (TWR)	A	14m09.68s		0m54.90s	5
7	53	M3 Motorsport	John Cotter	BMW M3	B	14m10.98s		0m55.96s	6
8	32	Toyota Team Australia	John Faulkner	Toyota Corolla AE82 Hatch	C	14m26.04s		0m57.00s	8
9	60	The Xerox Shop	Roger Hurd	Mitsubishi Starion	A	14m26.04s		0m56.72s	9
10	43	Brian Callaghan	Brian Callaghan Jnr	Holden Commodore VK	A	14m32.96s		0m56.54s	7
11	78	Team Madison Racing	Michael Adcock	Toyota Corolla AE86 Liftback	C	14 laps			10
12	99	Richard Scarf	Rick Scarf	Holden Commodore VK	A	14 laps			12
13	51	Bob Holden Motors	Denis Rogers	Toyota Corolla AE86 Liftback	C	14 laps			11
14	36	Bob Forbes Corporation P/L	Mark Gibbs	Holden Commodore VL (TWR)	A	14 laps			4
DNS	52	M3 Motorsport	Peter Doulman	BMW M3	B
DNS	50	Garry Willmington	John Leeson	Holden Commodore VL (TWR)	A