Editor’s Note~ Our latest edition of Marbles (our F1B reader stories) is from our very own Pear-shaped Pete from Australia.
Winter testing done, last minute fettling is the order of the day before packing containers for air-freighting to the far end of the earth. The opening race for the 2013 season is fast approaching. As I sit here in old Melbourne town awaiting our special guest arrivals, I thought I’d share a little bit of local flavour and happenings on the “last free weekend” before f1 takes over.
It has become a bit of a tradition in the pear-shaped family to head down to Phillip Island for this critical time in the motor racing cycle. It helps us prepare properly in a couple of ways. Whilst we can imagine Steve Matchett holed up in the snow in his winter European chalet, writing a book or envisaging a passive quadruple drs, our prep is perhaps more organic. Wandering the beaches, doing a couple of laps of the “Original Track“ and spending time at The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit for one of the finest historic motor racing weekends anywhere.
It always feels good to revisit the birth-place of the Australian Grand Prix. This nation’s first GP wss actually held on Phillip Island in 1928. It was not raced on the current moto-gp circuit, but on a few dirt roads making up a rectangle shape. Simple to be sure, but the elevation changes, loose gravel surfaces and narrow tyres made the race a real challenge. Arthur Waite won in a Austin 7 special at the hair raising 56 mph.
This might sound a bit strange, but I think I’m safe enough to share this with fellow f1 bloggers – I have a thing for corner names –(there I’ve said it). A rather strange fancy to be sure, but I can’t help it. Given there were only 4 corners , 4 mightily appropriate names were chosen. “Young and Jackson’s Corner” (sponsored by the largest hotel in Melbourne), “Heaven Corner”, “Hell Corner” and the slightly mysterious “Gentle Annie Corner” (apparently a very sweet lady had a house near the turn). Australia summed up quite neatly perhaps.
http://theracingline.net/racingcircuits/archives/PhillipIsland/nf05-gp1.html
Our preferred entrée for the GP is the “Phillip Island Classic” historic event run on the Grand Prix Circuit (as seen in Moto-GP) the week prior. This is an outstanding event, combining local and international racing cars tackling the majestic circuit. The last few years my brothers and I have tackled the Historic Touring car races at this event, but seeing as how the one and only engine is in far too many “un-conforming” (err…broken) pieces this year we get to spectate and soak up the awesome machinery. There are normally a few F1 cars involved and in previous years F5000/Formula A have had top billing. But this year’s featured event is for Can Am and Le Mans Cars. I Have included the entry list to show what we’re salivating over…
Can’t wait to see and more particularly hear the Matras. I may not be recovered fully by Albert Park…
Us …………
and Them..
International Sportscar Challenge Event 5 – 6 laps ~ Event 17 – 6 laps
Driver State Year Car Capacity Colour
Invited
1 Lilo Zicron Toluca Lake Historics USA 1985 Lola T160 Spyder 7070 White
2 Frank Lyons Frank Lyons Racing UK 1969 Lola T70 Coupe 5700 Red/Yellow
5 Abba Kogan Omnium Ventures SA UK 1974 Matra Simca MS 670B/C 2999 Blue
7 Peter Schleifer AHG SChleifer GER 1972 Lola Chevrolet T310 8700 White/Red
8 Andrew Newall JCB Excavators UK 1971 McLaren M8F 8800 Yellow
10 Rob Hall Omnium Ventures SA UK 1974 Matra Simca MS 670B/C 2999 Blue
16 Dan Cowdrey Cowdrey Racing USA 1966 Lola T70 Spyder 5702 Blue
17 A C D’Augustine D’ Augustine Racing USA 1965 Genie Mk 10 5700 Yellow
20 Greg Mitchell Scott Drnek USA 1968 Lola T 163 6000 Red
22 Scott Drnek Virtuoso Performance USA 1974 StiNg 9000 Blue
23 Bert Skidmore Toluca Lake Historics USA 1968 Mclaren M6 B 5700 Red
25 Norm Cowdrey Cowdrey Racing USA 1967 McKee MK 10 6718 Blue
26 Spencer Martin Jeff Dutton AUS 1966 Ford GT 40 5375 Red
27 Michael Lyons Frank Lyons Racing UK 1973 March 717 8800 Blue
28 Harry Read GER 1970 McLaren M8C 8800 Orange
30 Ian Clements NZ 1974 Lola T332C CAN AM 5000
33 Tba Nastasi Racing USA 1967 Alfa Romeo T33/2 1995 Red
41 Barry Blackmore Toluca Lake Historics USA 1969 Lola T163 Spyder 7095 Red
48 Andy Boone USA 1968 McLEagle 7540 Blue
91 John Bladon UK 1966 McLaren M1B 5997 Black
92 Joe Nastasi Nastasi Racing USA 1975 Alfa Romeo T33SC12 2993 Red
96Paul Halford NZ 1965 McLaren M1B 5300 Aluminium
M Sports Over 3000cc
24 Ian Ross NSW 1969 MRC Repco Brabham 6500 White
31 Luke Warwick Max Warwick Vic 1965 McLaren M1A 4700 Silver
O Sports Over 3000cc
4 Bill Hemming Elfin Heritage Centre Vic 1966 Elfin 400 4400 Orange
6 Aaron Lewis Rover Coaches NSW 1969 Lola T163 8300 Blue
56 Peter Brennan The DYnoroom Vic 1966 Elfin Traco Chev 4998 Blue
65 Laurie Bennett Aus 1966 McLaren M1B 5727 Blue
Q Sports 2001-3000cc
11 Michael Gibson Design Features Vic 1972 Rennmax BN6 01 3000 White/Red
3001-5000cc
9 Robert Tweedie NSW 1974 Elfin MS7 Repco 4998 Red/White
Over 5000cc
29 Duncan MacKellar QLD 1971 McLaren M8E 8100 Yellow
R Sports
3001-5000cc
3 Phil Verwoert Vic 72/82 Graduate M8F 5000 Orange
12 Russel Kempnich QLD 1984 Porsche 956C 2800T Blue/White
14 Wayne Park Peter Harburg QLD 1982 Lola 610 2850T White/Blue
18 Peter Harburg QLD 1988 Porsche 962 2956T White/Blue
19 Jay Bondini Aus 1987 Argo JM19C 3900 Red/White/Blue
21 TBA Porsche Australia Vic 1981 Porsche 936 3000 White
36 Chris Hones NSW 1984 JWS GpC 5000 Blue
79 Rusty French Skye Sands Vic 1979 Porsche 935 K3 3162 Black
83 Trevor Lambert SA 1969 Elfin ME5 5000 Black/Red
Over 5000cc
15 Larry Perkins Hal Design & Adaps Vic 1985 De Tomaso Pantera 5995 White
Can’t wait. Anyway how are others spending their “last free weekend”?
Cheers
pear-shaped pete
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