Phillip Island Classic 2008

[Bullett]

Originally Posted by LYNX

Good to hear you all seem to have had a good weekend's racing - any news on the Formula Junior race? Or even better some photos!

Results can be found here... http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/re...9/03/2008.PHIL

Ill try and put a few pictures up later

[LYNX]

Cheers in anticipation!

[MPA]

It was a shame about the RX2 getting damaged off the start line. Does anyone know what happened as we were around the back of the track at the time.

It also looks like the Lola Limp is back with another driver breaking his leg after clobbering the wall near the Hay Shed.


Some fantastic cars out there. If you have not been, get there on '09.


Anyone know what happened to the BMW in the Group A & C race on sat?

[zefarelly]

looking at this, I should have been there, more GT's in that race than there are racing in total in the Northern hemisphere!

that must be a very highly strung mini up front, or it rained heavily!

http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/re...3/2008.PHIL.R6

[bludvl_x19]

Originally Posted by MPA

It was a shame about the RX2 getting damaged off the start line. Does anyone know what happened as we were around the back of the track at the time.

It also looks like the Lola Limp is back with another driver breaking his leg after clobbering the wall near the Hay Shed.


Some fantastic cars out there. If you have not been, get there on '09.


Anyone know what happened to the BMW in the Group A & C race on sat?

As a matter of fact, I do. It got involved in the crash at ~2 when a Commodore ran wide at 1, kept the boot in it and spun back onto the track. The Bimmer tried to avoid, but ended up doing a reverse t-bone (a difficult 9.3 ) and parking it right in front of me at 2. Another car was involved as well, don't know how, but ended up driving back to the pits, and then racing again on the Sunday.

Mick

[MPA]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

looking at this, I should have been there, more GT's in that race than there are racing in total in the Northern hemisphere!

that must be a very highly strung mini up front, or it rained heavily!

No rain.... The mini is can move.

[275 GTB-4]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

looking at this, I should have been there, more GT's in that race than there are racing in total in the Northern hemisphere!

that must be a very highly strung mini up front, or it rained heavily!

http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/re...3/2008.PHIL.R6

Despite the claims made by another Austin Cooper S owner who manages to get to more meetings than Greig...I believe he and Graeme Russell consistently produce the fastest engines and chassis combo for a Mini

[inpitlane]

We'll have a story tonight on In Pit Lane for Melbourne viewers and on Easter Tuesday a full half hour special including the F5000 race and the Group C and A race, plus features on the Porsche 917, Stubber's Lola Corvette GTP and an Interview with NZ motorsport legend Graham McRea.

[DAVID PATERSON]

Originally Posted by MPA

It was a shame about the RX2 getting damaged off the start line. Does anyone know what happened as we were around the back of the track at the time.

It also looks like the Lola Limp is back with another driver breaking his leg after clobbering the wall near the Hay Shed.

Anyone know what happened to the BMW in the Group A & C race on sat?

John Bryant broke his fibia and tibia after putting his F5000 into the wall at Lukey Heights and was airlifted to Melburne Hospital.

The startline pileup in group N happened right under my nose. 11 cars were involved!!!! Ben Read stalled the RX2 at the start and was stranded on grid postion 3. Most of the field passed him, but then he was struck heavily from behind by Queenslander Peter Martin in his immaculate BMW 2002. The BMW then bounced into the path of another car and suddenly cars were crashing everywhere, blocking the entire track. Then an Escort arrived with his fronts locked up tight and slid into the back of another car which had pulled up short of the wreck.

Ben Read was takewn by amubalnce to the mediacl centre and a few other drivers were sent for observation too. The medical crew took plenty of time and great care to extricate Peter Martin who was then stretchered into the ambulance.

Ben Read's Mazda was destroyed, there is no way you could fix it. Peter's BMW was badly bent front and rear, but the cabin looked OK, it may well be fixable. At least half a dozen other cars suffered damage which put them out of the meeting, but should be repairable.

[David Towe]

How did I manage to have a great weekend when I had so many problems? It's easy when you've got a location like PI and an event run by such genuine, competent people. I got caught up in the first lap spin and was unfortunately never able to get the car sorted in time to get back out properly. We had chased all over Melbourne for rod ends, CV joints, suspension bolts only to have road traffic delay the parts getting back in time to get out for the last race (5 minutes was all I needed).
The main thing though was in a 3 car pile up which started at huge speed, we all walked away from it, cars can be repaired and we'll be back.
May I say to all involved, flaggies, medical and recovery many thanks and utter professionalism was shown by all.
I had a plan of escape and went for the gap, but unfortunately Mike West (Commodore) got into a place that Neville Butler (Mustang) couldn't avoid and the impact pushed West back around into my escape corridor which was full of my car at the time, end result, 2 wheels, one guard, one door, one rear quarter, one steering rod, one rod end, one rear trailing arm pivot bolt, one CV joint, one side skirt, one unhappy driver. I had spent many hours in preparation with rebuilt suspension and brakes, corner weighting and wheel aligning and was well prepared and hopeful of a top 5 finish, may be next year?
There is talk that Group A and C may not be back next year, I hope we are.

[Bullett]

My understanding was Ben's RX2 broke an axle on the start line which is why he couldnt go anywhere, the cars first race was only 12 months ago so shame to see it written off already.

[Bullett]

Originally Posted by David Towe

How did I manage to have a great weekend when I had so many problems? It's easy when you've got a location like PI and an event run by such genuine, competent people. I got caught up in the first lap spin and was unfortunately never able to get the car sorted in time to get back out properly. We had chased all over Melbourne for rod ends, CV joints, suspension bolts only to have road traffic delay the parts getting back in time to get out for the last race (5 minutes was all I needed).
The main thing though was in a 3 car pile up which started at huge speed, we all walked away from it, cars can be repaired and we'll be back.
May I say to all involved, flaggies, medical and recovery many thanks and utter professionalism was shown by all.
I had a plan of escape and went for the gap, but unfortunately Mike West (Commodore) got into a place that Neville Butler (Mustang) couldn't avoid and the impact pushed West back around into my escape corridor which was full of my car at the time, end result, 2 wheels, one guard, one door, one rear quarter, one steering rod, one rod end, one rear trailing arm pivot bolt, one CV joint, one side skirt, one unhappy driver. I had spent many hours in preparation with rebuilt suspension and brakes, corner weighting and wheel aligning and was well prepared and hopeful of a top 5 finish, may be next year?
There is talk that Group A and C may not be back next year, I hope we are.

no c/a? please explain...surely not! no other guys had spares for you available? can't wait to see a couple of the other M3's when they come out!

[bludvl_x19]

Originally Posted by David Towe

How did I manage to have a great weekend when I had so many problems? It's easy when you've got a location like PI and an event run by such genuine, competent people. I got caught up in the first lap spin and was unfortunately never able to get the car sorted in time to get back out properly. We had chased all over Melbourne for rod ends, CV joints, suspension bolts only to have road traffic delay the parts getting back in time to get out for the last race (5 minutes was all I needed).
The main thing though was in a 3 car pile up which started at huge speed, we all walked away from it, cars can be repaired and we'll be back.
May I say to all involved, flaggies, medical and recovery many thanks and utter professionalism was shown by all.
I had a plan of escape and went for the gap, but unfortunately Mike West (Commodore) got into a place that Neville Butler (Mustang) couldn't avoid and the impact pushed West back around into my escape corridor which was full of my car at the time, end result, 2 wheels, one guard, one door, one rear quarter, one steering rod, one rod end, one rear trailing arm pivot bolt, one CV joint, one side skirt, one unhappy driver. I had spent many hours in preparation with rebuilt suspension and brakes, corner weighting and wheel aligning and was well prepared and hopeful of a top 5 finish, may be next year?
There is talk that Group A and C may not be back next year, I hope we are.

Thanks for that David, I was flagging at 2, and I saw the accident occuring, but none of us on the post saw how the Mustang was involved. I'm hoping the the A/C guys will be back, I know I will be.

Mick

[MPA]

It would be a shame if the A/C cars were not back next year. Great memories there.

[David Towe]

Originally Posted by Bullett

no c/a? please explain...surely not! no other guys had spares for you available? :

Hi Bullett, the organisers have decided to drop one category each year and due to our relatively low numbers when compared to other categories there, we are rumoured to be the ones left out next year. As I see it the problem is that with the Group C association boycotting the very same race meetings they fought so hard to get onto (VHRR and HSRCA historics), the potential of this category will never be realised and will therefore suffer till some real unity can be brought into the combined categories and we may never get back on the programme.

As for the spares, I was the only BM there and I had the car well sorted, only needing the practice session on Friday to make the final adjustments. With that done it was time to learn just how the new diff ratio was suited to the circuit and which tyre diameter was the best match for it. The accident kinf of threw a spanner in the works and although I carry a few spares, we didn't actually break anything I had spares of, eg water pumps, starter motors, fan belts, alternators, steering pins, wheel bearings etc. etc.

Peninsula BM were fantastic and had staff do the mercy dash to get parts but traffic simply held them up too long and the parts that would have had us back on the track didn't arrive in time.

We were lucky enough to have Pip Barker there for the weekend and he showed us how a professional handles adversity, by that I mean being involved with a team with a lot less funds than his JPS days. The proble was of course that experience still can't conjure up parts out of thin air. We'll be better at Oran Park in June and hopefully he might join us again.

[David Towe]

Originally Posted by bludvl_x19

Thanks for that David, I was flagging at 2, and I saw the accident occuring, but none of us on the post saw how the Mustang was involved. I'm hoping the the A/C guys will be back, I know I will be.

Mick

Hi Mick, on Sunday whilst awaiting the much anticipated delivery, I tool time to walk from the far end of the pits to turn one and spoke to the flaggies there for about 10 minutes, thanking them for their efforts and asking them to pass on my gratitude to all of you guys, I hope the message got through?

The Mustang had the Commodore come back onto the track right in front of him and wound up hitting the Commodore in the right rear causing it to spin back to the left where I was trying to sneak through. I feel that if I had managed to get through unscathed I was in line for a top 4 or 5 outright. Ahhh, if only..........

The Commodore is quite badly damaged in that corner and may cost quite a few dollars to repair and be out for a while. The Mustang looked like it had hardly been hit and my panel damage is a door and a guard (both easily replaced) and rear quarter that will require some real beating. The suspension is nearly finished and will be ready for a wheel alignment as soon as the car is repainted.

[bludvl_x19]

Originally Posted by David Towe

Hi Mick, on Sunday whilst awaiting the much anticipated delivery, I tool time to walk from the far end of the pits to turn one and spoke to the flaggies there for about 10 minutes, thanking them for their efforts and asking them to pass on my gratitude to all of you guys, I hope the message got through?

The Mustang had the Commodore come back onto the track right in front of him and wound up hitting the Commodore in the right rear causing it to spin back to the left where I was trying to sneak through. I feel that if I had managed to get through unscathed I was in line for a top 4 or 5 outright. Ahhh, if only..........

The Commodore is quite badly damaged in that corner and may cost quite a few dollars to repair and be out for a while. The Mustang looked like it had hardly been hit and my panel damage is a door and a guard (both easily replaced) and rear quarter that will require some real beating. The suspension is nearly finished and will be ready for a wheel alignment as soon as the car is repainted.

The thanks made it through, but the drinks must have been held onto by the flaggies that you talked to If you ever, touch wood, get knocked out of a weekend, come up to a flaggie and offer your services for the day, you will find out how much fun we have.

We saw the 'Stang take off towards the outfield, and had written it off for the rest of the race when it drive away. I noticed that you had badly damaged a the two rims on the left hand side, can they be used again? It was a shame to see the crash, I really like the look of any JPS car, and it seems to really suit the Beemer.

Mick

[David Towe]

The rims will need new outers fitted and Mr. Simmons will no doubt be able to help. I'll also have the centres crack tested to make sure.

[bludvl_x19]

Originally Posted by David Towe

The rims will need new outers fitted and Mr. Simmons will no doubt be able to help. I'll also have the centres crack tested to make sure.

Well good luck getting the car fixed, and I hope to see you at another race meeting. With those replacement drinks

Mick

[johnny yuma]

Great meeting especially enjoyed seeing the Ausca,Sharp and Prad holdens so immaculately and successfully prepared,coming in 1,2,3 in the last J,K,Lb race.Samantha Dymond's results in the Lola were notable as were Trevor Booth's in the Nota and Peter Giddings' in the 76 year old Alfa Romeo with yellow Prancing Horse on a bonnet about as high above the ground as a jockey on a big thoroughbred.

Favourite moment though was driving back along the main road just outside Cowes on Saturday at dusk and a Maybach comes bellowing out of the gloom towards us ! Not on parade or anything,just out there ! Could only happen at P.I. .

[DAVID PATERSON]

Originally Posted by David Towe

Hi Bullett, the organisers have decided to drop one category each year and due to our relatively low numbers when compared to other categories there, we are rumoured to be the ones left out next year. As I see it the problem is that with the Group C association boycotting the very same race meetings they fought so hard to get onto (VHRR and HSRCA historics), the potential of this category will never be realised and will therefore suffer till some real unity can be brought into the combined categories and we may never get back on the programme.

Hi David,

Why would the Group C Association boycott VHRR & HSRCA meetings and what do they propose to do instead. FoSC? V8SA? CAMS Nationals? AASA? State racing?

[MPA]

Let's hope they all get their stuff together and produce a few more numbers before Sandown.

[inpitlane]

Originally Posted by bludvl_x19

The thanks made it through, but the drinks must have been held onto by the flaggies that you talked to If you ever, touch wood, get knocked out of a weekend, come up to a flaggie and offer your services for the day, you will find out how much fun we have.
Mick

Would I be correct in saying that the flaggies and other volunteers were treated less than adequately last weekend. Apart from a sausage sizzle on the Friday I saw no after race generosity by the organisers towards you guys.
I spoke to a couple of marshals who also said that the supply of drinks to flag points on two very hot days was non-existent.
If so who's responsible, The VHRR or The Mini Club?

[bludvl_x19]

Originally Posted by inpitlane

Would I be correct in saying that the flaggies and other volunteers were treated less than adequately last weekend. Apart from a sausage sizzle on the Friday I saw no after race generosity by the organisers towards you guys.
I spoke to a couple of marshals who also said that the supply of drinks to flag points on two very hot days was non-existent.
If so who's responsible, The VHRR or The Mini Club?

The comment that I am about to make does not represent the views of TenTenths, VTF, VHRR, VMC or any other organisation. They are soley the views of the poster.

The only drink runs we had were a couple of bottles with the lunch runs, and in our case, a thoughtful boundary rider who brang some with him when he came to collect a report (THANKYOU!!!). There were none of the usual (but not compusory, just appreciated) end of day drinks/get together. On the plus side, the rolls with lunch were quite good.

I'm not sure who is responsible, but either way, it isnt good enough for the volunteers, who drove from Melbourne each day, and gave up a weekend of work in my case, to be treated like that.

Mick

The comment that I have just made does not represent the views of TenTenths, VTF, VHRR, VMC or any other organisation. They are soley the views of the poster.

[275 GTB-4]

I have also seen some recent examples in NSW where the organising committees "Volunteer Fluid Hydration Activity" was sub-optimal. This lack of consideration for those doing a job of work out in the heat is just pathetic.

The purchase and distribution of a few boxes of bottled water etc is not rocket science....ask the Chief Flag or Trackside Chief to organise it if it is too hard!!

The number of times I have seen people absolutely stuff-up the organisation of a drink run are legion...oftentimes, they are called off/abandoned...then people sit around dry as a bone whilst a long clean-up or recovery happens