24 November, 2009
Classic Adelaide - Day 4
A JENSEN JAMBOREE
The 2009 Classic Adelaide rally has been one of the toughest on record. Although it has been very hot before, there has never been 5 wet stages right after this hot weather ended and the Gorge has never been damp before. And of course, the tragic accident to Gary Tierney and David Carra has been a major downer.
But after 233 competitive kilometres, the purple 1963 Jensen CV8 has won pretty much everything. Pete and Sari Ullrich have been trying for years to win the Heritage, the handicap competition for all Classic cars up to 1981. Pete's business was designing and building mighty ocean racing yachts which took advantage of blue water racing rules so he has always been challenged by the handicap and now they've won it - and Andy Bryson and Jason Rowley in the little Hillman Imp came 4th. But leaving the handicap aside, the Ullrich's still came 7th out of 73 Classic Cars on the scratch results and in the early Classic Competition - up to 1972 - the Ullrichs also made the podium, beaten to third spot by the Moir's Datsun 240Z by only 2 seconds. And of course, this result also give them the inaugural title of HTCAV Tarmac Rally Champions.
The results to the end of Day 4 are below:
| Pos | Crew | Car | Class | Day 4 |
| 1 | Ullrich - Ullrich | 1963 Jensen CV 8 | 3C2F | |
| 2 | Woodward - Mccrow | 1969 Holden GTS Monaro | 4C3H | 2:07:18 |
| 3 | Lamprell - Orme | 1966 Ford Mustang | 4C3H | 2:09:26 |
| 4 | Bryson - Rowley | 1965 Hillman Imp Rallye | 3C2A | 2:17:14 |
| 5 | Yates - McBrien | 1973 BMW 2002 Ti | 5C2B | 2:19:52 |
| 6 | U'Ren - U'Ren | 1965 Ford Cortina GT500 | 3C3C | 2:19:55 |
| 7 | Hayden - Shaw | 1960 Jaguar Mk II | 2C3A | 2:22:16 |
| 8 | Wearing - McLane | 1967 Ford Mustang | 4C3H | 2:23:52 |
| 9 | Wilson - Wilson | 1971 Ford Capri Perana | 4C3H | DNF |
| 10 | McPeake - Bunting | 1964 Ford Cortina | 3C1C | DNF |
| 11 | Nittis - Boyce | 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO | 4C2H | DNF |
| 12 | Pfingst - Loth | 1971 Holden Torana SL | 4C3E | DNF |
Championship runner up was Richard Woodward and David McCrow's ex London Sydney Monaro GTS 350; Richard has certainly put a horror year behind him with this result, with five stages in the top three and a smooth reliable run. And like Pete Ullrich, Richard did not falter with the big V8 over the wet stages before lunch on Day 3. Third was the Mike Lamprell and Tas Orme in the 1967 Mustang in C3 or Modified trim; this is the first event we have recorded for Mike and Tas this year and they should be very pleased with an 8th in early Classic. They had a very consistent run, moving up as others fell out - although they did suffer a bit in the wet.
This event concludes the 2009 HTCAV Tarmac Rally Championship, in which 55 crews have recorded results. Of these, only 12 have competed in more than one event and only two did three events. When these results are worked out (overall placing in the total scratch Classic event + club points x 233 competitive kilometres) and added to the results after three rounds, there are some big changes; here are the top 10 results (complete scores will be published soon, when all the results, including class results, are confirmed):
Final Championship Scores here
Classic Adelaide - Day 3
ULLRICH'S BREAK THROUGH
Temperatures were much lower in Adelaide for Day Three of Classic Adelaide, and the expected rain held off so Peter and Sari Ulrich took full advantage, ending up third in Classic and leading the HTCAV Championship. This breakthrough came when the Cameron Wearing and Gary McLane Mustang expired on Stafford Ridge while holding a clear lead. Cameron's times on tight and mainly downhill stages like Montacute were truly impressive and he had the measure of the other V8's - and the 240Z's - by a small but consistent margin. Then, right after winning Scott Bottom, the big white Mustang was waiting for the tow truck.
By the end of the day, Richard Woodward and David McCrow in the Monaro GTS were holding a steady 6th place overall and 2nd in the HTCAV Championship, too far behind Pete and Sa to have a realistic chance of winning - unless the big Chrysler gives up the ghost - but a commanding five and a half minutes in front of Mike Lamprell and Tas Orme in their 1966 Mustang.
As the results to Day 3 show (below) the HTCAV numbers have dwindled from 12 to 7 runners out of a total of 19 still running in Classic - 9 fewer than started the event
2009 Classic Adelaide: Results to Day 3
| Pos | Crew | Car | Day 3 |
| 1 | Ullrich - Ullrich | 1963 Jensen CV 8 | 1:31:12 |
| 2 | Woodward - Mccrow | 1969 Holden GTS Monaro | 1:32:33 |
| 3 | Lamprell - Orme | 1966 Ford Mustang | 1:38:08 |
| 4 | Bryson - Rowley | 1965 Hillman Imp Rallye | 1:39:18 |
| 5 | Yates - McBrien | 1973 BMW 2002 Ti | 1:40:02 |
| 6 | U'Ren - U'Ren | 1965 Ford Cortina GT500 | 1:41:34 |
| 7 | Hayden - Shaw | 1960 Jaguar Mk II | 1:42:25 |
| 8 | Wearing - McLane | 1967 Ford Mustang | DNF |
| 9 | Wilson - Wilson | 1971 Ford Capri Perana | DNF |
| 10 | McPeake - Bunting | 1964 Ford Cortina | DNF |
| 11 | Nittis - Boyce | 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO | DNF |
| 12 | Pfingst - Loth | 1971 Holden Torana SL | DNF |
The sleeper here is the amazing Scotsman Andy Bryson in the flying Hillman Imp. Andy lives in Dubai where he runs a chunk of Big Oil and has a big personality to go with his imposing figure; his loyal, learned, bespectacled, and very tall navigator Jason Rowley eggs him on to terrifying deeds. The Gorge road is their speciality, where the Imp yowls down the twisting downhill stage with 8000 revs showing and the photographers jumping for cover. If Andy gets excited, the gearbox is the first to feel the pain. Their run today was a bit slower than usual, but still only 15 secs or so off the mighty V8's.
Tomorrow is the last day and a cool 20 degrees is expected with a chance of a shower or two. The remaining competitors will be forgiven for driving to finish an event which is well known for robbing winners at the last moment - the current leader of overall classic Rob Devenish and Lyn Carr went out on the last stage in 2008 when leading comfortably.
And Pete and Sari Ullrich have to survive tomorrow to win the HTCAV Championship - we all wish them good luck.
Classic Adelaide - Day 2
A SOMBRE START TO DAY 2
Everyone who participates in motor sport spends a huge amount on safety precautions and protective equipment and confronts the dangers in their own way. But the worst can happen and then it is a shattering blow. When Gary Tierney and David Carra slammed sideways into the tree 4.7 kms into Kersbrook Reverse, there was no surviving the impact and both died instantly. Gary was well known and experienced in historic motor sport. As a warm up for Adelaide, only a week ago he had competed at Historic Sandown in the white Porsche. At the start of Day 2, prayers were said by the Chaplain and a minute's silence honoured the crew of car 505. There are many in the HTCAV who knew Gary and valued his friendship and we join with the competitors in Classic Adelaide in remembering him and David Carra. As a mark of respect, car 403 will wear the black tape on the left headlamp in all events in 2010 and hope that others will do the same.
But the show must go on and so it did, into another day of crushing 43 degree heat. There were some withdrawals at the start of the day, including George Nittis and Stuart Boyce in the 71 Falcon XY, who finished Day 1 in 3rd position and second historic tourer. So the Classic Competition is now down to 24 competitors with 10 historic touring cars, but at the end of day 2, that 10 included the leader, Cameron Wearing and
Gary McLane in the 1967 Mustang, who are leading the Classic ahead of six 240Z variants in the top ten. They are also leading the Ulrich's Jensen by a comfortable 18 secs, who are a sizeable 53 seconds ahead of Richard Woodward and David McCrow in the Monaro GTS.
The rise of Cameron is due to some very gutsy performances, including leading the field on the very fast Wickham's Hill , the rough and bumpy Inman Valley and the glorious but very technical Strathalbyn stage. Pete Ulrich fought back from a an ordinary Day 1 to top placings including second on Wickham's.
Here are the standings at the halfway stage of the event:
| Pos | Crew | Car | Class | Time |
| 1 | Wearing - McLane | 1967 Ford Mustang | 4C3H | 53:08.8 |
| 4 | Ullrich - Ullrich | 1963 Jensen CV 8 | 3C2F | 53:43.1 |
| 2 | Woodward - Mccrow | 1969 Holden GTS Monaro | 4C3H | 53:49.7 |
| 5 | Wilson - Wilson | 1971 Ford Capri Perana | 4C3H | 57:16.4 |
| 6 | Lamprell - Orme | 1966 Ford Mustang | 4C3H | 57:37.4 |
| 8 | Hayden - Shaw | 1960 Jaguar Mk II | 2C3A | 58:56.7 |
| 9 | Bryson - Rowley | 1965 Hillman Imp Rallye | 3C2A | 59:32.3 |
| 7 | Yates - McBrien | 1973 BMW 2002 Ti | 5C2B | 59:34.4 |
| 10 | U'Ren - U'Ren | 1965 Ford Cortina GT500 | 3C3C | 1:00:59 |
| 11 | McPeake - Bunting | 1964 Ford Cortina | 3C1C | 1:03:53 |
| 3 | Nittis - Boyce | 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO | 4C2H | Withdrawn |
| 12 | Pfingst - Loth | 1971 Holden Torana SL | 4C3E | Engine |
The climate has been a big influence on this year's event and tomorrow will be a significant challenge as tyres worn by 3 days of searing tarmac encounter the slime of rain on dusty roads and the threat of downpours and storms. The temperature is forecast to be low 20's which will be a relief. Unlike in circuit racing, changing tyres is not possible - the one set does the whole show or you pay a five minute penalty per wheel. This is where the AO48's and the new soft compound AO50's will be an advantage.
And it is clearly to the advantage of the agile Datsun sports cars with the better traction and grip of IRS; it will be an absorbing competition.
Classic Adelaide - Day 1
WEARING TAKES OVER
2008 winner Cameron Wearing, driving Peter Cochrane's well known Mustang instead of the Perana, has taken the lead of the historic touring cars at the end of Day 1 in Adelaide. The day started with the yellow Monaro 350 of Richard Woodward and David McCrow 4 secs clear at the head of the entire field at Upper Hermitage, revenge on the stage where they burst an axle last year; ending the day in a strong 3rd spot overall and second of the historic tourers and equal on time to George Nittis and Stuart Boyce in the 71 Falcon XY GTHO, a good recovery after a so-so prologue time.
But with Blair Haydn recording 57 degrees cabin temperature of the Mk 2 Jag, the Adelaide heat wave has been a big test for the old cars and the red motor in Wayne Pfingst's rebuilt 4 door Torana cried enough at the end of Chain of Ponds - no top on a piston. The Ulrich's Jensen was not as consistent as usual, and after a slow Kersbrook, Pete and Sari ended the day 27 secs off the lead in 8th overall and 4th historic tourer - but they will be following the Heritage Competition, which is the handicap result where they are hold a tight third position.
Blair Haydn, landlord of the Lord Nelson pub in the Rocks just by Sydney harbour bridge, with Andrew Shaw calling the notes, is going great guns - just 2 secs behind the Yates - McBrien 1973 BMW 2002 ti - the only refugee here from the Late Classic competition.
The results to the end of Day 1 are here:
2009 Classic Adelaide:
HTCAV Championship Progressive Results Day 1
| Pos | Crew | Car | Class | Prologue | Day 1 |
| 1 | Wearing - McLane | 1967 Ford Mustang | 4C3H | 02:15.6 | 26:18.9 |
| 2 | Woodward - Mccrow | 1969 Holden GTS Monaro | 4C3H | 02:15.3 | 26:19.9 |
| 3 | Nittis - Boyce | 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO | 4C2H | 02:16.7 | 26:19.9 |
| 4 | Ullrich - Ullrich | 1963 Jensen CV 8 | 3C2F | 02:11.7 | 26:45.5 |
| 5 | Wilson - Wilson | 1971 Ford Capri Perana | 4C3H | 02:16.9 | 27:46.3 |
| 6 | Lamprell - Orme | 1966 Ford Mustang | 4C3H | 02:23.0 | 28:29.9 |
| 7 | Yates - McBrien | 1973 BMW 2002 Ti | 5C2B | 02:29.3 | 28:52.0 |
| 8 | Hayden - Shaw | 1960 Jaguar Mk II | 2C3A | 02:28.0 | 28:54.1 |
| 9 | Bryson - Rowley | 1965 Hillman Imp Rallye | 3C2A | 02:38.4 | 29:18.2 |
| 10 | U'Ren - U'Ren | 1965 Ford Cortina GT500 | 3C3C | 02:37.7 | 30:04.1 |
| 11 | McPeake - Bunting | 1964 Ford Cortina | 3C1C | 02:29.8 | 30:13.6 |
| 12 | Pfingst - Loth | 1971 Holden Torana SL | 4C3E | 02:26.2 |
Classic Adelaide - 2009 PROLOGUE
On a boiling hot day in Adelaide, the Classic field of 73 cars (down from 125 in 2008) lined up for the Prologue over the Eagle on the Hill stage, the old main road out of Adelaide now bypassed by the freeway. This is a very fast, smooth and steep stage which favours Classics and V8's especially. Among them were 13 historic touring cars with one crew, Pete and Sari Ullrich in the 6 litre 1963 Jensen CV8, able to claim the inaugural HTCAV Tarmac Rally Championship just by finishing the event.
But Pete and Sari showed their intentions with an amazing time of 2.11.7 for the 3.8 kms stage, claiming 9th place in the overall classic result, beaten only by cars at least 15 years younger - and number one spot for the historic touring cars. In 16th place and 2nd tourer, came Captain Richard Woodward and David Crowe in the bright yellow 1969 Monaro 350 ahead of last years' winner Cameron Wearing in Peter Cochrane's Mustang. This is a good showing by Richard, who is clearly determined to overcome all the health setbacks and car misfortunes of the last year. The UK built Jensen with its huge Chrysler V8 lead a pack of seven V8's - 5 Fords, 1 GM - before Wayne Pfingst showed up in his rebuilt 4 door C3 Torana.
These are the Prologue results for the historic tourers:
2009 Classic Adelaide: Prologue Results
| Crew | Car | Class | Time | |
| 1 | Ullrich - Ullrich | 1963 Jensen CV 8 | 3C2F | 02:11.7 |
| 2 | Woodward - McCrow | 1969 Holden GTS | 4C3H | 02:15.3 |
| 3 | Wearing - McLane | 1967 Ford Mustang | 4C3H | 02:15.6 |
| 4 | Zerk - Jones | 1973 Ford XA Hardtop | 5C2H | 02:16.0 |
| 5 | Nittis - Boyce | 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO | 4C2H | 02:16.7 |
| 6 | Wilson - Wilson | 1971 Ford Capri Perana | 4C3H | 02:16.9 |
| 7 | Lamprell - Orme | 1966 Ford Mustang | 4C3H | 02:23.0 |
| 8 | Pfingst - Loth | 1971 Holden Torana SL | 4C3E | 02:26.2 |
| 9 | Hayden - Shaw | 1960 Jaguar Mk II | 2C3A | 02:28.0 |
| 10 | Yates - McBrien | 1973 BMW 2002 Ti | 5C2B | 02:29.3 |
| 11 | McPeake - Bunting | 1964 Ford Cortina | 3C1C | 02:29.8 |
| 12 | U'Ren - U'Ren | 1965 Ford Cortina GT500 | 3C3C | 02:37.7 |
| 13 | Bryson - Rowley | 1965 Hillman Imp Rallye | 3C2A | 02:38.4 |
The outright winner of the Classic Prologue was Steve Glenney in his new 1981 Holden Commodore V8; this was a breathtaking performance - beating all the Classic Porsches and all but Tony Longhurst and Alan Simonsen in modern turboboxes and Tony Quinn in the R35 Skyline - who was a mere 2 tenths faster !
Tomorrow - Thursday - Day 1 of the event starts with the very tricky Upper Hermitage stage and a temperature of 43 degrees. Watch this space for a report on the progress of the historic touring cars tomorrow night
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