Phillip Island Classic 2009 review

This celebration of historic motorsport continues to gain recognition in international circles as the biggest historic event in the Southern hemisphere. Lindsay Fox’s ambitious development plan provided an enhanced off-track ambience and included the utilisation of the new sheltered “expo” area, where major sponsor Shannon’s had set up static displays that were packed throughout the weekend as the rain took hold. Inside, where one could procure a hot drink with a minimum of fuss, punters were treated to some wonderful sights including a fabulously restored Gullwing Mercedes. Holden Toranas were also out in force, with premier performance models including XU-1 and L34 being prominent. For those looking beyond the host country one could find a couple of wonderfully presented Allards in between the Falcon coupes and Valiants.

Car clubs again showed their support of the event, staying strong despite the quagmire that was quickly developing outside. Alfa Romeo, HDT and Audi were amongst those featured along with a couple of open MG’s. A wander around the parking areas always produces some hidden gems, though with the weather many could be forgiven for keeping their pride and joys safely garaged. A couple of RHD converted Lancia Delta Integrales were discovered, along with a range of Ferraris from 250GTE to 430 Scuderia.

In fact, many exotic types were graciously offered by their owners (OK, some track time was the carrot) where, in exchange for a $50 donation to the Bushfire appeal lucky spectators could passenger for a couple of hot laps on the dry portion of Sunday morning. New-age Shelby Super-Snakes snarled down the straights, chased by Lamborghini Gallardos, leaving the more sedate types, including some early Bentley’s, in their wake.

On track, the action was fast and furious as and when weather allowed. The organisers did a great job of rescheduling events to keep the show rolling as best they could, given the conditions which appeared to be approaching monsoonal at times. This favoured the categories that were more production based, or who had appropriate tyres, and these groups were able to keep their full schedules over the weekend despite around 4 hours of track time being lost on the Saturday. Unfortunately it meant that other groups missed out on their Saturday, but it was really beyond anyone’s control on safety grounds.

There were 12 categories competing in the event, with 9 racing groups and 3 regularity events. Regularity events are non-competitive (!), with the winner being determined by the driver who is most consistently close to their nominated lap time, which is made after a practice session. Entrants start on 50 points and lose 1 point for every 0.5sec above or below their nomination. As it transpired, rain affected events would see the drivers start with 500 to ensure there were points left over at the end.

Classic Mini Regularity
To celebrate 50 years of the Mini a specific regularity event was set up. Bathurst winning Mini stalwart Bob Holden was the main drawcard in a Cooper S. Gerald Lee won the trail on Saturday’s damp event with 468 points in his 1964 S, while Michael Tyler was most consistent on Sunday in his 1407cc 1970 S, with 46 points.

Division 1 Regularity
Out of 51 entries it was “Soaking” Stuart Steinfort who won Saturday’s event with 429 points in his miniscule 1928, 803cc Austin 7. He was lucky not to be devoured by the 1929, 6000cc de Havilland Gipsy Special of Noel Wilcox. Sunday saw Peter Kent at the top in his gorgeous Austin Healey 3000 with 46 points in the dry.

Division 2 Regularity
Henry Stratton rose to the top of 43 entrants with his MGC GT on 44 points, closely followed by Tony Rogers in a lovely 2.4l 911 on 43. Sunday morning saw James Calder head the field with his Lotus Super Seven, after a near-perfect run to 49 points.

The regularity results showed why these events are so popular, as any combination of car and driver can win. It is also a great way for newcomers to the sport to immerse themselves in track action, all the while learning how to be comfortable in a big field in a racetrack situation.

For the hardcore race fans, there was also plenty to enjoy over the weekend, with several races being decided on the last lap. The rain really brought out the skill of these drivers as each adapted his/her car to the conditions. Some shone through particularly brightly.

Formula Ford
This event celebrated 40 years of Formula Ford in Australia. It remains the premier open wheel feeder category in the world, and 2007 Australian Champion Tim Blanchard entered to race Penrite’s 1973 Van Diemen. It was Tom Tweedie from NSW who snared pole in his 1977 Elwyn with a lap on the Friday of 1.47.0 that put him half a second clear of Greg Watson’s Mawer. Saturday’s race saw Tweedie winning by 2 seconds, improving his laptime to 1.46.9 in the process. Second was Ray Stubber in a Royale. It was a similar story on Sunday morning, however Blanchard made his presence known with an impressive third place in the unfamiliar car. Sunday afternoon produced a sodden race, Tweedie making it 3 from 3 with Laurence Burford in another Royale showing good speed in the tricky conditions, with lap times around 15 seconds off the dry pace.

Group C & A Touring Cars
Generally the fan’s favourites as many of the younger generation grew up with these vehicles, their true road car roots being a major generator of interest. Patron of the meeting Glenn Seton was competing in a car that he ironically raced against early in his Group A race career- a LHD BMW M3 once raced by 1987 WTCC winner Roberto Ravaglia. Seton was quickly smooth and confident, never appearing to stretch the M3 and showing the rest around on what is traditionally a power circuit. His 1.44.0 qualifying time was almost 4 seconds quicker than Bill Cutler in another M3, beating the much fancied Sierra Cosworth of Chris Dubois into second spot. Saturday’s 6 lap race saw Seton win comfortably from David Towe in another M3, this one well known to locals as the ex-Jim Richards JPS car. Mention must be made of the fifth place achieved by Stephen Perrot in his Group C Torana A9X, which was giving away some 10 years of technology and freedoms to the front runners, the still damp track allowing him to play on a more even field. Sunday morning was dry and saw a repeat of Seton-Towe, but the rain returned for the afternoon and was fought out minus the patron Glenn. Towe emerged victorious from Craig Markland in his flame-spitting Nissan Skyline HR31.

Group S
History dictates that the vastly popular (among entrants and spectators alike) Group S is the first event to become over-subscribed. It was the same again this year, with 15 cars missing out and thus being put on a reserve list. Qualifying developed into a shootout between Stan Adler and Geoff Morgan in 2.7l Porsche 911s, Morgans 1975 example capturing pole with a 1.53.1, 0.6sec ahead of the Victorian Adler. Come Saturday, and the clouds were looking ominous. Rain was imminent as these “Production Sports Cars” exited pit lane. The first lap was dry but a red flag caused a restart. Just as the flag dropped again, the heavens opened. Unfortunately a second red flag caused the race to be cancelled as Tony Jones’ 911 was left to languish in the onslaught.
Happily no-one was seriously injured and another Group S race scheduled for that afternoon. Perry Spiridis exercised his belief that there is no substitute for cubic inches by powering his De Tomaso Pantera into the lead off the second row. However Morgan was hot on his tail, the slippery conditions aiding his rear engine traction. Perry spun wildly right in front of Morgan through the super-fast Hayshed corner, Morgan avoiding the close-quarters incident with great skill. The off put real fire into Spiridis’ driving and he hunted down the Porsche again, finally overhauling him for the win. Sunday’s event was even wetter, with times around 20 seconds off ideal. In an 11 lap affair Morgan ended up the victor after Spridis, who had led a large portion of the race, retired. Adler finished second while Peter Hall’s indecently rapid Datsun 260Z kept the exotics honest all weekend and was rewarded with a final third place.

Historic Touring Cars- Over 3 litres
Tasmanian Darren Pearce in a lovely yellow/black 1968 Mustang took pole with a 1.49.5 lap, which was a comfortable 1.3 seconds quicker than Ron Moller’s Camaro. The tricky conditions ensured there would be some Torana XU-1 fireworks and sure enough Alf Bargwanna and Andrew Williams scythed between the V8’s as the race wore on, Williams passing Bargwanna for the win. Pearce ended up in fifth place. Sunday morning saw Pearce redress the balance, emerging victorious from the Moller Camaro with Williams in third. The afternoon saw the gloom return and Angelo Taranto came through to claim first in his XU-1 ahead of the Williams car.

Historic Touring Cars- Under 3 litres
Jason Humble’s rapid Mazda RX-2 took the quickest qualifying time with a 1.54.9, over a second clear of Jason Black’s stunning Mk1 Escort RS1600. Black’s pole time would have put him in the top 15 of the over 3 litre category, in which there were 36 entrants. Saturday allowed Russell Pilven to show off his Datsun (510) 1600’s sideways driving preference as he stormed to class honours, winning from Black and Kirk Davis in another rotary powered RX-2. Sunday’s dry track allowed Humble to take the flag from Black as mechanical trouble forced Pilven to retire. The final Sunday race finally rewarded the Black Escort for its consistency, as he won by overhauling Wayne Seabrook in his 1970 2.2l 911S.

Groups J, K, Lb and Invited
The massive diversity of this class highlighted some internationally significant machines, with Australia’s own Maybach, a Bugatti 35, a couple of Bobtail Coopers and English journalist Simon Taylor’s “Stovebolt Special” all entered. The Stovebolt is an HWM, built originally in 1950 as a works Formula 2 car that was driven by no less a man than Stirling Moss. It was Trevor Booth, driving his invited 1965 Nota Sunbeam, who made the most of his entry by securing pole with a 2.01.8 on the Friday. Saturday saw historic veteran Jim Russell guide his Group K Ford Special to victory from David Reid, who made full use of his rear engined Lb Racing “Faux Pas” to come through the field and end in second place. Reid built on this momentum to claim the victory on Sunday morning from John Virgo’s Lb Racing 3 litre Riley Special as Russell faded to eighth place. More rain allowed Russell to fight back in race 3 as he measured the 4.3l Flathead V8’s power to recover to second place, only 0.6sec behind Reid.

Groups M & O
It was fitting that the 50th anniversary of Elfin Sportscars was being celebrated at Phillip Island as Richard Carter and Bob Cracknell put their F2 Elfin 600B’s on the front row, with the similar machine of Herb Neal in third spot. Carter’s pole was mesmerising, a time of 1.41.8 that eclipsed Cracknell by a lofty 2.6 seconds. Come Saturday, however, and the mighty Australian Elfin’s had to take a back seat to a stunning performance by Laurie Bennett who was invited to drive a stunning McLaren Mk 1 Sportscar owned by UK visitor John Bladon. Bennett was required to start at the back of the field but made full use of the 4700cc V8 brute to win on the line from a startled Carter, by only 0.4sec. It was even closer on Sunday morning, though Bennett was now back in his regular 1970 Elfin 600B. Again, he started at the back and again he ploughed through the field, until only Carter laid ahead. Carter, who was seemingly waiting for Bennett to appear in his mirrors, upped the pace against his great rival and they battled right to the line, Carter just victorious by under 0.01sec! Race 3 was conducted in the wet, and only 9 cars braved the start. Bennett finished 14 seconds ahead of Carter on this occasion with Cracknell securing third in an Aussie Elfin whitewash

Groups P, Q, R- Racing, F5000 & Formula Atlantic
The big guns of Australian open-wheel historic racing came out to play, with Giorgio Belgiorno-Nettis exercising his ex-Johansson Ferrari 156/85 (he also owns a sister car, ex-Alboreto). Belgiorno-Nettis took pole with a flashy 1.30.2 lap to beat Les Wright’s mighty Benetton B186-BMW (said to be the most powerful GP car of all time with circa 1350bhp in qualifying trim in 1986) by 1.1 seconds. The next fastest car was the Ralt RT4 Atlantic of Tim Davies on a still very quick 1.35.2. Unfortunately for these most focused of race cars their first event was awash and only 13 of 26 entrants could brave the conditions with appropriate tyres. This included the Ferrari, but Belgiorno-Nettis retired the car rather than risk damage and Davies took the win from Rohan Carrig in his 1980 Hardman JH-1. Lap times were a torrential 35 seconds of expected dry pace. This category fell victim to the conditions and was only able to race once on the Sunday, with Belgiorno-Nettis coming out on top from Davies and Tony Quinn in a similar Ralt RT4 as Wright did not start.

Groups Q & R- Sports
All eyes were on the expected battle up front between 2 mighty Group C sportscars from Rob Sherrard’s stable. Sherrard himself was driving his recently acquired 1988 Sauber-Mercedes C9, complete with 5 litre turbo V8, while Wayne Park took the controls of the mighty 1987 flat-six Porsche 962 (also turbocharged, of course). Park snared pole with a 1.30.3, Sherrard around a second further back. Third and barely 2 seconds away was John Briggs in the Australian Veskanda, a 6 litre Chev powered beast that was driven by John Bowe to the Australia Sports Car title in 1986. Unfortunately conditions prevented a Saturday Group Q & R Sports race, leaving only Sunday for them to shine. Sherrard won the Sunday morning by a scant 0.5sec from Park, with Briggs in third. Sherrard was delayed at the start and also had a coming together with crowd favourite Paul Stubber in his GTP Lola on the first lap. The collision ignited the fire-breathing Sauber as it raced to the fastest lap of the carnival with a 1.29.5, while Stubber recovered to finish fourth. Sunday afternoon saw the rain return and only 11 entrants competed on the slowly drying surface. Stubber won this 12 lap feature as Sherrard, Park and Briggs all retired to the pits. Bob Tweedie came in second with his big Elfin MS7 sports car, with Australian Repco engine.

Overall, though the conditions obviously compromised competitor and spectator numbers, the event was superbly run and given the conditions the drivers handled themselves impeccably. We have been spoiled by great weather the last 5 years of the Phillip Island classic and let’s hope that next year can bring about conditions worthy of the quality and quantity of action we get to see on circuit.

© 2010 lautista.com.au.