2005 Phillip Island Classic

Shannons Tattersalls Classic

Incorporating the Australian Historic Touring Car Cup proudly supported by Rockwell Automation

26/27 February 2005

Words Darren Knight Pics James Smith

Glorious conditions prevailed over the weekend that saw Sydneys SteveLand continue his domination of the Under 3 Litre category at this meeting, taking out all three races to add to his clean sweep at last years event. John Mann made a welcome return to the circuit to notch up a narrow win in the opening race for the Over 3 Litre brigade but could not catch Robert Braunes rapid Charger in the remaining two races.

Under 3 Litre
Sydneys Greg Malaure again proved why he is probably the quickest Cooper S punter in the country at the moment by edging out Lands V6 Capri for pole, with a 1:56.7896. Bill Cutler (BMW 2002 ti) and `65 Bathurst winner Bo Seton (Capri) were next, and then Russell Pilvens Datsun 1600, a stunning effort in only the cars third meeting. Bill Magoffin (Alfa), Lew Bush (RX-2), Harry Bargwannas brand new Capri, Chris Ellis (Cooper S) and Richard Fairlam (EH) completed the top ten.

Race One (four laps)
Land leapt in front to lead into turn one, Bargwanna slow off the line before getting going while Paul Trevethans Lotus fell to the rear but continued. Malaure hurled the Mini up alongside Land heading towards Honda hairpin but then paid the price, going straight on up the escape road before trying to find a slot in the 45 car field to rejoin. Bargs and then Ellis both went inside Bush at turn one as Pilven retired with a possible bearing failure. Magoffin fell off at MG after running as high as fourth while fellow Alfisti Al Lewis held out a swarm of Minis led by Anthony Ramadge and S.A.s Jason Armstrong. Lance Stannard  (W.A.) lost several spots after an excursion at Lukey Heights, the immaculate Brick lucky not to have hit the bank (why is there still not a sand trap there? Come on Foxie).

Paul Atkins looped the Cortina at turn two while Dean Bryant showed great speed in the 1300GT Escort, leaving all the Cortinas bar Andrew Tickners in his wake. Land looked secure at the front, going on to win less than two seconds in front of Seton and Cutler. Bargwanna held out the recovering Malaure after a spirited dice to the flag. Ellis, Fairlam and Bush were next, the following four comprising Lewis, Ramadge, Hamish Rhodes (Mini) and Armstrong all crossing the line within a second of each other. James Holloway carried on the family tradition, bringing the Mini home in one piece before rejoining father Michael and mother Janis in helping to run the event. Fastest lap: Land 1:56.5902 (lap two).

Race Two (four laps)
Seton missed the start allowing Land and Malaure to sprint away as Ellis retired with a broken throttle linkage. Ted Brewster clashed with Ramadge after hitting something slippery on the surface at Honda, Fairlam also going off to avoid the incident. Ted retired with the Imp of Michael Stupka soon joining him. Malaure nipped up the inside of Cutler for second as Seton fell off at MG, losing several spots. The EH of Roy Wilkinson rotated at Honda, the unlucky Atkins glancing off the Holden before continuing. Cutler fought back to retake second from Malaure after a huge dice while other battles of note were Magoffin and 2003 Club Champ Tickner and the newly married (the previous evening at the circuit to be precise!)Trevethan and Daniel Myers (ex – Pilven Datsun 1600).

Land took the chequer comfortably clear of Cutler and Malaure, then Bargs, Bush, Seton, Lewis, Armstrong, Magoffin and Tickner. Fastset lap: Land 1:54.96341 (lap two).

Race Three (six laps)
Land bolted as the Cutler-Malaure Show again got under way while Seton loomed large in fourth. Stuart Barnes put the ex- Collins/Tate Cortina briefly on the grass exiting MG as the V6 Capri of Robert Hare diced with Tickner and Trevethan, with Fairlam soon to join the party. Lotus man John Bendall had his hands full with the Mini of Phil Reynolds (how does he fit in that thing?) and the Cortina of Colin Doolan. Seton utilised all 3000cc of the Essex grunter to blast past Cutler into second while Land cruised to win number three. Seton made it a Capri one-two, Cutler first Victorian home again in third with Malaure just metres behind in fourth. Bargwanna was fifth, then Bush, Magoffin, Stannard, Fairlam and Trevethan. Fastest lap: Land 1:55.5302 (lap six).

Over 3 Litre
Mann showed several months out of the saddle had had little effect, bagging pole with a very impressive 1:49.1154. The rapidly improving Charger of Robert Braune would start alongside, then Tony Hunter (HQ Kingswood), Michael Miceli (Boss Mustang), Cam Worner (XW GTHO) Garry Treloar (now running the 396 cube Chev in the Camaro), Les Walmsley (Steve Makarios owned, ex Higgins XY GTHO), Trevor Talbot (Torana), Jervis Ward (Nb Mustang) and Peter Knight (Stan Peters owned Torana).

Race One (four laps)
Mann led Braune and Miceli into turn one as Walmsleys race ended immediately with the big Henry stuck in first gear. Doug Growcott brought the Torana in with temperature issues as Michael Bugelly snuck under Chis Ralph at MG. Lap two began with a frantic battle for fourth, Worner going around Hunter and then Treloar diving under both in one fell swoop as the trio entered turn one almost abreast. A huge plume of smoke then poured from the Chev, a blown power steering hose ending Treloars first outing at P.I. for a couple of years.

Tony Hubbard steadily climbed the order after starting from the rear, a broken tail shaft after only one lap in qualifying the cause. Bill Trengrove (Nb `Stang) and Mark Brewster (Torana) battled closely as did the Toranas of Graham Slater and former Group C & A Holden privateer Scotty Taylor, making his return to the tracks after an absence of many years.

Braune brought the big crowd to their feet, four wheel drifting onto the main straight in his pursuit of Mann who really started to come under pressure on the final lap. At the flag Mann took the win by about half a length from Braune, a few seconds in front of Miceli in third. Worner beat Hunter by the slimmest of margins to grab fourth with Talbot next then Ward, Buges, Hubbard and Knight. Fastest lap: Braune 1:49.8501 (lap two).

Race Two (four laps)
Braune led off the line before Mann nipped in front entering turn one. Braune fought back exiting Southern Loop, pushing the big Mopar back into the lead under the Shannons Insurance bridge as Ralph went through on Bugelly and Hubbard on Hunter. Miceli retired with a possible bent valve as Talbot again found himself the first of the non Goodyear Blue Streak runners, this time in third. Ralph rounded up Ward around the outside of turn one as Paul Zazryn (Jag) and Rod Evans (Jill Hergt owned, ex Thompson/Leo/Roach/Walmsley Nova) ran in close company.

Steve Bye sustained damage to the front of the XY after an excursion as Slater and Taylor again had a fantastic battle. Braune eeked out a couple of seconds lead and took the win, Mann well clear of Talbot in third with an exciting drag race to the flag for fourth won by Worner over Hubbard. Hunter was next, then Ralph just home in front of Treloar, with an even closer battle for ninth going to Bugelly over Ward. Walmsley finished 11th, despite running wide onto the grass entering the front straight and actually ended up with the races third fastest lap (1:52.8639). Laurie Donaher just beat home Eddie Dobbs (Torana), Donaher making a return to the category with the acquisition of an ex Grant Wilson `69 Camaro. Gearbox dramas however would not see him return for the final bash. Fastest lap: Braune 1:50.0003 (lap two).

Race Three (six laps)
Braune, Mann and Talbot led the field as behind them several cars went in several directions at Siberia, Ralph, Trengrove, Walmsley and Bugelly among those involved. Hunter and Hubbard were right into it again before the latter got the upper hand, Talbot the next victim to fall to the big yellow Monaro on lap three. Walmsley pressured Treloar and Alastair MacLean (Torana) hassled Ward just inside the top ten. Hunter relieved Talbot of fourth at turn one as Anthony Frost (Torana) and Zazryn mixed it up. Walmsley went through on Worner to become leading Falcon in sixth as Braune took a relatively comfortable victory in front of Mann and then Hubbard. Hunter was fourth, then Talbot, Walmsley, Worner, Treloar, Ward and MacLean.

Trophy winners for the 2005 AHTCA Cup proudly supported by Rockwell Automation were:

Nb – Greg Malaure

Nc – Steve Land