Race Report. Phillip Island Round 4 Sep 2009

 Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit and the Victorian Mini Club welcomed the Sports Sedans back for Round 4 of the ASSA Vic championship for 2009.

Friday  Practice

 We were given a taste of the horrible weather we would encounter all weekend. Periodic rain storms and gale force winds.
 The wet track conditions had everyone tip-toeing around trying to find some pace. Unfortunately Mark Nelson in the Alvee Products Saab was the first casualty of the weekend, having an off at the exit of Honda. Once he hit the grass, Mark was a passenger and the car hit the tyre wall heavily causing enough damage to end his weekend. Hopefully we’ll get to see the Saab again at the 50k plate.  
 Garry Roberts kindly (or stupidly) leant out the Torana to fellow sports sedan member Pat Matchett to use for his CAMS observed licence test.  Pat bought it home in one piece and got his licence. Although I’m sure Garry would have ripped his hair out if he had any after seeing Pat stall it on the front row of the grid in the pouring rain in the final race, nearly getting cleaned up by half a dozen cars.
 Congratulations also to newest sports sedan member Shane Woodman who passed his CAMS OLT. Now there are no excuses for Shane and Pat and we hope to see the Capri and big Ford coupe out racing soon…

QUALIFYING

 Saturday morning and we woke to a dry (mostly) track mainly due to high winds blowing away the water from the Friday night deluge. Considering there were quite a few streams of water crossing the track, the qualifying times were not too slow.
 Michael Robinson (Bell Real Estate/Vital Stats Monaro) was the only one in the 39’s and took pole position and the first point up for grabs with a 1:39.9. Chas Talbot (Pakenham Tyrepower Commodore) was 2nd fastest only 0.2 seconds behind followed by Neil Bryson in the Calibra, Rod Smith (Duggan Balancing Falcon) and Graeme Gilliland (G&G engineering Mazda RX7).
 The Five Star Fencing & Gates Corvette of Dean Camm had ignition problems completing only 2 slow laps, relegating him to last on the grid for the opening race.
 Once again the Under 2 litre cars were a welcome addition to the field, giving us 21 starters for Race 1.

RACE 1

 In typical sports sedan fashion the weather changed just before our race, rain had everyone on wets, then as the cars were in the dummy grid the sun and wind were drying the track out nicely.
 The cars came around turn 12 bunched up for a rolling start in practice for the upcoming combined National/State round 50K plate at Island Magic.
 Robinson led the field into turn 1 followed by Talbot, Gilliland and Roberts (Blush Photgraphy/Ramsdale Wreckers Torana). Wet weather guru Damian Johnson (Kings Fibreglass Torana) was left on the grass on the front straight with a broken diff centre.  On the exit of turn 2, Talbot had a moment in front of Gilliland allowing Roberts to get through on the inside to chase down the big Monaro. Roberts and Robinson went around Honda side by side, Robinson getting back in front for Siberia.  The Monaro was struggling for grip with cold tyres and Roberts was able to get alongside again going over Lukey heights and through MG. Coming onto the front straight Roberts was leading in the Torana followed by Robinson, Gilliland, Bryson, Smith, Talbot and House. Dean Camm already making  his way through the field to 8th.
 Roberts pulled away from the field in the wet conditions with Camm the only car faster on track. Camm finally took the lead on lap 5 then going into turn 1 on lap 6 Roberts’ Torana suffered a front end failure causing him to leave the track. When crossing over the high saw tooth ripple strip, the Torana’s starter was torn out and the car buried itself in the mud. Unfortunately for Smith he was the next car around, collecting the starter with the Falcon’s front spoiler causing major damage. Smith and Roberts would both have late nights and an early morning getting the cars back on track for races 2 & 3.
 Gilliland drove a brilliant race in the wet to keep in touch with Camm and hold the late charging Talbot at bay until the final lap. Smith was 4th followed by Ken House (Centreline Suspension/SuperTherm Ford Escort) and pole sitter Robinson who suffered engine dramas that would end his weekend.
 It was also great to see Darden Brown back in the Bendigo Brake and Clutch Specialists Mitsubishi Galant after the major damage he sustained in the Sandown start line incident earlier in the year. He had a good dice with some of the Under 2 litre cars and picked up some valuable points finishing in 11th place.

RACE 2

 The rain once again pelted down at the island until, typically, 30 minutes before the days first sports sedan race. Everyone watched the track and weather closely but it was a tough call. As we were called up to the dummy grid, Camm decided he wanted slicks on the big Corvette much to the joy of his crew. After a mad rush he made it out in time. Brown, who was already on slicks, saw everyone arriving at the dummy grid with wets on and decided he’d go back and change tyres. Halfway back to his pit at Siberia he changed his mind again and returned with what would end up being the right choice of tyres.  
 Out onto the track and the Mini safety car was on a mission to make up lost time. It raced the cars around on the warm up lap albeit a bit too quickly for some of the smaller cars who struggled to keep up on cold tyres. With only half the field bunched up and the likes of Johnson, Bryson and Roberts still coming out of MG corner, the race was started.  
 Camm got away to a good start on an almost completely dry track. With Smith being the only other front runner on slicks, the guys who had chosen wets were struggling. Smith was soon in front of Talbot with House in the mix as well.
 Roberts and Johnson were 10th  and 11th respectively after 2 laps but still had a lot of ground to make up to get anywhere near the leading pack. Roberts pulled in, saving the wets and hoping for a wet track for race 3.
 Camm was black flagged for a starting violation and had to make an unwanted detour down pit lane putting him back to fourth. He charged back through the field but was unable to catch Smith. Talbot finished in 3rd followed by Bryson who came through the field from his handicap start in a great drive to finish 4th. Gilliland and House drove a smart race, conserving their wets but doing enough to finish with a handy pile of points. Johnson 9th and Brown 12th.

RACE 3

 Eveyone was back out on wets for the final race of the weekend. The rain had again stopped but the track was still too wet for slicks.
 Smith got a great start and led the first lap with Camm close behind and Bryson on the hunt in 3rd. Roberts came through the pack from another enforced handicap start to be on the tail of House in 8th by the end of lap 1. Lap 2 and Camm got in front of Smith, storming away.
 Roberts got in front of House and was chasing down Talbot and Johnson. Gilliland got up into 3rd position when Bryson’s Calibra expired at the exit of turn 12 bringing out the safety car.
 Restart and Camm once again got away from Smith with Gilliland following. House, who made a brilliant pass on Roberts on  the front straight (was it after the start/finish line Ken?) got up the inside of Talbot at Honda and Roberts followed. Talbot not making it easy ensuring the Torana had to use up all the ripple strip and a little dirt to avoid contact.
 Everyone struggled in the drying conditions with wets that were now way past their use by date. Camm eventually taking the win from Smith and Gilliland. Talbot got past the Escort and two Toranas, finishing 4th followed by Johnson, House, Roberts and Brown.
 Final round results, Camm 59, Smith 56 and Talbot 54.
With only 1 round to go, Smith has a commanding but not unbeatable lead over House and Camm.
 However the real winner of the weekend would have to be Stuckey tyre service who i’m sure now have a dozen orders for new wets.

 Our last round is combined with the last round of the Kerrick National Sports Sedan Championship at the Island Magic 50k Plate on November 21 & 22. With the Improved production Nationals also being run at the same meeting it will be one not to miss.
See you all there…