2012
Muscle Car Masters - Sydney Motor Sport Park
Round
1 Tasman Revival Series for Formula 5000
1-2
September 2012
02-09-12
EVENT REPORT
ROSS
& SALA SHARE MSC SERIES RACE WINS IN SYDNEY
Top Kiwi Steve Ross (McRae
GM1) and top Aussie Bryan Sala (Matich A50/51) ended up sharing the
spoils at the opening round of the 2012/13 MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup
Revival Series in Sydney over the weekend.
The round was held at the annual
Muscle Car Masters meeting at the recently extended and re-named Sydney
Motorsport Park (nee Eastern Creek) with former Australian Touring
Car and NASCAR driver Sala beating three-time former series champion
Ken Smith (Lola T430) and defending champion Steve Ross to pole in
qualifying then chasing a fast-starting Ross down on the last lap
to win the first race of the weekend on Saturday.
Ross came back strongly on
Sunday, however, winning the second race - another 6-lapper - in the
morning from compatriots Roger Williams (Lola T332) and Aaron Burson
(McRae GM1, and the 10-lap MSC feature in the afternoon from Smith,
Sala and 2011/12 season series runner-up Aaron Burson (McRae GM1).
Though at just six laps the
same length as the first race on Saturday, the second on Sunday took
a heavy toll on equipment with nine dnfs, amongst them race one winner
Sala, who pulled in when a rocker cover gasket burst and dipped oil
onto his car;s left hand exhaust bank, Smith, who was a late retirement
with a sticking throttle, and Jay Bondini, Russell Greer and Chris
Lambden with broken input or half shafts.
Sala ran second for two laps
before pitting to find the source of the smoke, elevating Roger Williams
to second, Aaron Burson to third and the best of the Australians,
Darcy Russell (Lola T330), to fourth.
Behind Russell, David Abbott
(Lola T430) moved into fifth and Bill Hemmings (Elfin MR8) and David
Banks (Talon MR1A) engaged in a spirited battle for sixth, eventually
resolved in the local man (Hemmings') favour.
Between Sunday's two races
one of the F5000 category's original heroes, Australian Warwick Brown,
was re-united with one of the last cars he drove in the era, the Lola
T333CS now owned and driven by Christchurch MSC series stalwart Stan
Redmond.
Brown and Ken Smith were invited
to join the 'Legends' demo, Brown in the Redmond car, Smith in the
sister car to the one he usually drives, the other ex Warwick Brown
car at the meeting, the Lola T430 now owned and driven by David Abbott.
Between races most of the issues
which affected the cars in the second race were fixed and a full field
again faced the starter for the 10-lap feature final in the afternoon.
A highlight of this race was
the come-from-behind charges put in by drivers like Sala and Smith
who because they failed to finish the second race started the third
well down the grid .
Ross got his customary flier
off the rolling start with Roger Williams tucking into second place
for the first two laps before being forced to pull off the track with
a diff problem.
Where his car ended up was deemed dangerous so the Safety Car was
dispatched while it was retrieved, bunching the field up and setting
the scene for a tightly contested run to the flag.
With Williams out Bryan Sala,
who has already worked his way back up the running order to fifth
at the end of the first lap and third in the second, found himself
in second place with Ken Smith following him through into third -
where he stayed until a last lap move on Sala gave him second!
Behind Sala, meanwhile, Aaron
Burson ran a lonely race for fourth from Darcy Russell, Chris Lambden,
Russell Greer (Lola T332), David Abbott, David Banks - who this time
got the better of Race 2 rival Bill Hemmings despite being back in
14th place at the end of the first lap - with Shayne Windelburn and
Stan Redmond 11th and 12th respectively.
With a long-standing invitation
to compete at the big Muscle Car Masters meeting prompting an earlier-than-usual
start to the annual MSC F5000 series this year there is now a break
until the second round back in New Zealand at the end of October (at
the Lady Wigram Trophy meeting at Powerbuilt Tools Raceway in Christchurch)
before a return to Sydney Motorsport Park for some of the series regulars
for a non-championship round at Australia's own Tasman Revival Series
meeting at the end of November.
The points rounds then resume
back in New Zealand at the two NZ Festival of Motor Racing - celebrating
Denny Hulme meeting at Hampton Downs in January before returning to
the South Island for the penultimate series round at the annual Skope
Classic meeting in Christchurch and final at the Classic Speedfest
meeting at Invercargill's Teretonga Park in February.
The MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival
Series is organised and run with the support of sponsors MSC, NZ Express
Transport, Bonney's Specialized Bulk Transport, Mobil Lubricants,
Pacifica, Smith & Davies, Avon Tyres and Exide.
01-09-12
SALA PIPS ROSS TO WIN MSC F5000
SERIES OPENER IN SYDNEY
Pole man Bryan Sala (Matich
A50/51) stormed back to pip Steve Ross (McRae GM1) on the last lap
and win the first MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival series race of the
season at the Muscle Car Masters meeting in Sydney this afternoon.
Defending MSC series title-holder
Ross from Dunedin beat Melbourne man Sala and second quickest qualifier
Ken Smith (Lola T430) from Auckland into Turn 1 at the beginning of
the six-lap race at the recently revamped, extended and re-named Sydney
Motorsport Park (nee Eastern Creek) venue. As Sala and Smith squabbled
over second place Ross even managed to edge away from the pair.
Once Sala managed to shake
off Smith - who, as it turned out, was struggling with gear selection
issues - however, he was able to reel Ross in and pull off a daring
dive for the lead at the circuit's downhill hairpin on the last lap.
"Kenny actually put the
same move on me on the second lap, but that time we ran round side
by side and I stayed in front," Sala said afterwards. "Once
I caught up on Steve I could see he was struggling there a bit the
lap before but I was too far back. The next lap was the last lap so
when we came round again I knew it was now or never. The right front
tyre locked up half way through the move but Steve gave me just enough
room and we got through without touching which was obviously good."
Ross took the move with good
grace, admitting that he had 'messed up' in the tight new section
of track immediately before the hairpin, but still getting a surprise
when he went to turn in.
"The first thing I knew
about it was when he (Sala) was alongside me with smoke pouring off
his tyres," he laughed. "He was pretty committed - we both
were - but that's OK, I gave him some room. We both went out a long
way but we both got round alright. The only problem was, by that stage,
he was in front!"
Sala was not exactly hanging
around on that last, eventful lap, setting a new category lap record
for the new 'long' circuit of 1 min 50.2739, just over half a second
quicker than the time that earned him pole position in qualifying,
1 min 50.8249.
The hairpin move on Ross was
not the only one to change the final running order either, Auckland
driver Roger Williams (Lola T332) also getting past Smith - whose
car was by now jumping out of fifth gear - within sight of the chequered
flag for third place.
Behind Sala, Ross, Williams
and Smith, Melbourne-domiciled expat Chris Lambden started and finished
fifth while Blenheim driver Russell Greer (Lola T332) got a great
start to lead last season's MSC series runner-up Aaron Burson for
sixth only to run out of petrol after three laps, allowing Burson,
Australian Darcy Russell (Lola T300) and Aucklander Shayne Windelburn
(Lola T400) all to move up a place in the running order.
Christchurch series stalwart
Stan Redmond qualified his newly restored and race-prepared ex-Warwick
Brown Lola T333CS 12th on its long-awaited circuit return but ended
his race in the pits, while fellow driver David Abbott crossed the
finish line 11th after being forced to start off the back of the grid
after failing to set a qualifying time thanks to a broken half shaft
in practice then a magneto issue as his car was readied for qualifying.
Aucklander David Banks, in
his second season in the MSC series, was the final member of the Kiwi
contingent to finish the race, in 10th position just behind Australian
Bill Hemmings (Elfin MR8) and in front of Abbott.
Clark Proctor (March 73A) made
the trip from Auckland with the New Zealand contingent but only got
as far as practice on Friday before engine issues sidelined him for
the weekend.
Adelaide driver John Bryant (Lola T140) was also a non-starter thanks
to crown wheel and pinion issues though local MSC series newcomer
Rod Carroll had a good debut in his similar car, qualifying and finishing
the first race in 13th position.
Compatriots Aaron Lewis (Matich
A50) and Andrew Kluver (Lola T300) qualified for the race but problems
with their cars meant they didn't get to start it.
Today's 6-lap race was one
of three for the MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series field at the
Muscle Car Masters meeting with another 6-lapper tomorrow (Sunday)
morning and a 12-lap feature final in the afternoon.
A special highlight on Sunday
will be champion Australian category original Warwick Brown re-united
with one of the cars he originally drove, the Lola T333CS now owned
and driven by Stan Redmond.
The MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival
Series is organised and run with the support of sponsors MSC, NZ Express
Transport, Bonney's Specialized Bulk Transport, Mobil Lubricants,
Pacifica, Smith & Davies, Avon Tyres and Exide.
28-08-12
'LEVEL PLAYING FIELD' FOR OPENING
MSC F5000 SERIES ROUND IN SYDNEY
Major changes to the re-named
Sydney Motorsport Park (nee Eastern Creek) circuit in Sydney's outer
west mean there will be a level playing field for New Zealand and
Australian competitors alike at the opening round of the 2012/13 MSC
New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series there this weekend.
Earlier this year the re-vamped
venue was re-opened with a new six-corner section of track at the
south-east end of the complex taking the full length from 3.9 kms
to 4.5. Though the V8 Supercar series used the shorter 3.9km 'Grand
Prix' circuit there last weekend the MSC F5000s and other categories
at the big Muscle Car Masters meeting this weekend will use the full
4.5km one.
Defending MSC NZ F5000 series
champion Steve Ross (McRae GM1) from Dunedin has competed at Eastern
Creek before. But a broken input shaft and rear hub meant he got little
quality race time in on the track so reckons he will be in the same
boat as everyone else, the nine Australian competitors included.
"What I can remember about
it is that it's bloody fast and you get round Turn 1 in a hell of
a hurry so hopefully we will have plenty of time to get our heads
around the place on Friday," he said this morning.
Ross heads an 11-strong contingent
of Kiwis crossing the Tasman for the opening round of the 2012/13
MSC series with support from a key group of New Zealand racers including
three-time former series champion Ken Smith (Lola T430), 2011/12 season
series runner-up Aaron Burson (McRae GM1), fellow Aucklanders Roger
Williams (Lola T332), Clark Proctor (March 73A), Shayne Windelburn
(Lola T400) and David Banks (Talon MR1A), Blenheim driver Russell
Greer (Lola T332) and David Abbott (Lola T430) and Stan Redmond (Lola
T333 CS) from Christchurch.
There will be particular interest
at the meeting in the Lola T333 CS Redmond has just had restored and
race prepared, it having been driven first time around (both in wide-bodied
Can-Am and single-seater F5000 spec) by Australian ace Warwick Brown.
Expected to take the battle
to the Kiwis at the meeting are top Australian F5000 category exponents
Bryan Sala (Matich A50/51) and Aaron Lewis (Matich A50). Young gun
Tom Tweedie, a former Formula Ford and Formula 3 series front-runner
this year contesting the Carrera Cup Australia series in a Porsche
GT3 Cup car is also an interesting addition to the field in a Chevron
B24/28.
Meanwhile, not quite knowing
where his allegiance lies is expat Kiwi Chris Lambden who has lived
for many years in Melbourne but drives a McRae GM1 rebuilt and run
by F5000 category specialists Motorsport Solutions in his old home
town of Christchurch!
The appearance at the popular
Muscle Car Masters meeting has meant an earlier than usual start for
the 2012/13 MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series. The first New
Zealand round is the now traditional one at the Lady Wigram Trophy
meeting at Christchurch's Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna Park
in late October, then it will be back to Sydney Motorsport Park for
some of the competitors for a non-points round at Australia's big
Tasman Revival meeting in late November.
The points rounds then resume
at the Hampton Downs circuit back in New Zealand for the two NZ Festival
of Motor Racing - celebrating Denny Hulme meetings over consecutive
weekends in late January before the series heads south for the annual
Skope Classic meeting in Christchurch and Classic Speedfest meeting
at Invercargill's Teretonga Park in February.
The MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival
Series is organised and run with the support of sponsors MSC, NZ Express
Transport, Bonney's Specialized Bulk Transport, Mobil Lubricants,
Pacifica, Smith & Davies, Avon Tyres and Exide.
2012/13 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series
Season Preview # 1
03-07-12
EARLY START FOR 10TH ANNUAL
MSC F5000 SERIES SEASON
A starring roll at the annual
Muscle Car Masters meeting in Sydney on the first weekend of September
means an earlier-than-usual start for the 10th annual MSC New Zealand
F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series.
Though the final venues and
dates of all seven rounds of this season's anniversary series have
yet to be signed off the organising committee has confirmed those
of the first three rounds this year as well as the fourth, fifth and
sixth early in the New Year.
The appearance at the popular
Muscle Car Masters meeting will be one of two for the MSC series across
the Tasman this season, with a return to the recently refurbished
and re-named Sydney Motorsport Park (nee Eastern Creek) circuit in
late November for the 2012 Australian Tasman Revival historic motor
racing meeting.
In-between is the first New
Zealand round at the annual Wigram Revival meeting at Christchurch's
Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna Park on October 27 & 28 and
after the Tasman Revival meeting in Sydney over the November 24/25
weekend come the back-to-back fourth and fifth MSC series rounds at
the two NZ Festival of Motor Racing - celebrating Denny Hulme meetings
at Hampton Downs over consecutive weekends in late January 2013.
Defending MSC series champion Steve Ross (McRae GM1) heads a 14-strong
Kiwi assault on the Muscle Car Masters meetings with support from
a key group of local racers including three-time former series champion
Ken Smith (Lola T430), 2011/12 season series runner-up Aaron Burson
(McRae GM1) and fellow Aucklanders Roger Williams (Lola T332) and
Clark Proctor (March 73A).
Expected to take the battle
to the Kiwis, meanwhile, are top Australian category exponents Andrew
Robson and James Davison (both Lola T332), and Bryan Sala (Matich
A50).
As in previous years, at the high summer rounds of the MSC series
in New Zealand the local fields will be supplemented by entries from
category aficionados from the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.
The New Zealand F5000 Association
now has 88 owner/drivers with race-ready cars on its books, the majority
- 49 - Kiwis, but with its own domestic series finally up and running
Australia can now boast 18 to supplement the 10 from the UK, one (current
Lady Wigram trophy holder Jay Esterer) from Canada and balance from
the United States of America.
This season at least 19 of the Kiwi regulars are committed to contest
all rounds of the series with another four doing at least two or three
of the other rounds here.
Nine Australian drivers have
also indicated that they will be doing rounds of the series on both
sides of the Tasman this season.
UK regulars Mark Dwyer (Lola
T400) Greg Thornton (Chevron B24), Michael Whatley (Surtees TS8),
Frank, Judy and Michael Lyons (Gurney Eagle, Lola T332 & Lola
T400) and Peter Dunn (March 73A) have also confirmed their intention
to return, as have Americans Bruce Lesson (McLaren M10B), Harin de
Silva (Surtees TS8) and Eric Haga (Lola T190), and Canadian Jay Esterer
(McRae GM1).
Expected to debut new cars this season, meanwhile, are series regular
Poul* Christie and fellow Aucklander Frank Karl. Both are currently
putting the finishing touches to freshly restored McLaren M10 models.
The MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series is organised and run with
the support of sponsors MSC, NZ Express Transport, Bonney's Specialized
Bulk Transport, Mobil Lubricants, Pacifica, Smith & Davies, Avon
Tyres and Exide.
