2010 Phillip Island Classic
The best Classic yet!
Pics courtesy James Smith. Words Darren Knight
Group N Over 3 Litres
Saturday: Race One
West Australian Ron Moller (Camaro) grabbed pole but found himself battling a chronic miss in the opening race.
The Mustangs of John Mann and Daryl Hansen were soon out in front with a huge battle for third erupting between Moller, Les Walmsley (ex Braune Charger) and Harry Bargwanna in his new `64 Mustang which was showing great pace. Fraser Ross retired the ex Marget/Richards `68 Mustang as Angelo Taranto (Torana) and Michael Hibbert (Charger) had a ding dong struggle not far behind John Bowe in a guest appearance in Mark Johnson`s Porsche. Mann just held off Hansen for the win with Walmsley third then Moller, Bargs, the Torana trio of Gary Edwards, Andrew Williams, John Harrison and Alf Bargwanna with Leo Tobin in the ex Darren Pearce Mustang tenth in front of Nb victor Bill Trengrove (Mustang).
Race Two
Frank Viskovich nosed the Mustang into the fence just before the end of the first lap causing a safety car to eat up a few laps. Mann bolted at the restart and took the win with the top five the same as the opener. Trengrove climbed to sixth in front of Williams, Edwards, Harrison and Bowe who was coming to grips with the 911 having never raced one before.
Sunday: Race Three
Viskovich returned for race three but Moller failed to make the start after frantic attempts to cure the miss. Hansen and Walmsley clashed on the opening lap with the Charger falling way down the order after an excursion at Southern Loop. Hansen grabbed the lead and set fastest lap on his way to the win over Mann and Harry Bargwanna in third. Edwards held out Williams after a big dice with Harrison next then Alf Bargwanna, Bowe, Tarranto and Ray Challis (Torana).
Race Four
Mann got the jump in the final race for the Rockwell Automation Cup with Williams leaping off the line as well to begin harassing the famous number 54 Mustang. Hansen found himself under attack for third until an incident exiting MG corner saw the ex Stillwell Ford plough into the side of Harry Bargwanna and Bowe, all three cars retiring with heavy damage. Andrew Whiteside copped a meatball after the Chargers exhaust broke its mounts. On the final lap Williams closed right up on Mann and then made a big run around the outside at Honda. The Torana ran on to the grass and spun with Edwards slipping through into second place. A fired up Willliams rejoined and crested Lukey Heights at full noise, getting all four wheels onto the grass (!) as he regained second from Edwards. Mann won from Williams and Edwards with Walmsley next then Alf Bargwanna, Tarranto, Hibbert, Steve Coad (Torana), Tobin and Trengrove.
Group N Under 3 Litres
Saturday: Race One
Gary Bonwick (RX-2) started from pole but was soon chasing Jason Humble (RX-2) and fending off the spirited attention of Jason Black (BDA Escort) and the Mazdas of Ant Read and Bob Sudall. Greg Malaure (Mini) retired with clutch dramas while Wayne Seabrook (Porsche) dropped down the order after an excursion. Humble took advantage of the huge dice going on behind him to build a handy lead and went on to take the win with Bonwick second from Sudall, Black, Alan Lewis (Capri) then Read who just held out Spencer Rice (Alfa). Seabrook was eighth from Russell Pilven (Datsun) and Mark Johnson (Porsche).
Race Two
Rice missed the second race after a clutch problem was discovered with Bonwick grabbing an early lead. Humble had a massive scrap with Read for second as did Lewis with Black. Kirk Davis (RX-2) came in with gearbox issues shortly followed by Jerry Lenstra (Imp) with a broken shifter. Chris Ralph (BMW) vaulted into the mid pack after a race one DNF as Marty Lambert had a solid run with his brand new Alfa which was still running a relatively stock power plant. Humble snatched the lead on the final lap and won from Bonwick and Read with Sudall alongside in fourth then Lewis, Black, Seabrook, Errol Stratford (BDA Escort), Pilven and Harvey Black Snr. (BDA Escort).
Sunday: Race Three
Humble did not let anyone get a jump on him this time at the start of race three with Bonwick now immersed in a big fight with Read. Rice returned as did Malaure and the two set about slicing their way through from the back. Scott Fleming (Lotus Cortina) and Dean Bryant in the second of the Ralph Team BMWs had rejoined the smaller car class after earlier having to run with the Over 3L boys due to the capacity entry in Under 3L. Humble scooped up win number three in front of Bonwick and Read with Fleming next then Pilven, Sudall, Seabrook, Stratford, Harvey Felton (Capri) and Ben Wilkinson (EH).
Race Four
The Mazda rampage continued in the final though Seabrook now joined the lead group in the 911. Fleming retired with engine issues and Ralph lost a back wheel after three wheel studs sheared, luckily without major damage. The incredible dicing behind him again allowed Humble to build a (small) race winning lead despite the best efforts of Bonwick who kept out Seabrook in third. Sudall beat Read to fourth after the pair swapped places almost every lap with Pilven next then Jason Black who had an incredible run from the rear after a race three DNF. Harvey Black Snr. Just held out fellow Queenslander Stratford for eighth with Lewis (who also started R.O.G).in tenth, narrowly in front of Rice and Malaure.
Groups C & A
The Parrot proves a point
Saturday: Race One
Terry Ashwood qualified his stunning Bathurst and ATCC-winning Nissan GTR on pole but found Gary Collins (HRT Commodore) taking it right up to him in the opening race. Michael West (Cullen VC Commodore) and Adrian Allisey (Smerdon Commodore) were early retirements, the latter with a severe vibration thanks to a flat spotted tyre. Jervis Ward (Brock BMW) became involved in a big dice with fellow M3 man Bill Cutler with Chad Parrish (Jagparts VK Commodore) also involved until he drifted back into the clutches of Rod Markland (GIO Racing GTR), who was recovering after a slow start. Ashwood took a close win from Collins with Cutler just beating Ward for third after a fantastic battle with Paul Stubber (Moffat RX-7) almost alongside in his first race in the Rotary. David Towe (JPS M3) was sixth then Parish, Markland, Chris Collins (VC Commodore) and Phil Verwoert (ex Damon Hill Sierra) rounding out the top ten.
Race Two
Gary Collins snapped an axle off the line in race two with Ward (throttle cable) and Parrish (fuel pump) also out early. Markland was looking more at home as he learnt Godzilla’s quirks in his debut meeting in the car, while Towe was having an awesome run, getting up to third until a front calliper locked on and put him out. There was some great dicing throughout the field with Justin Matthews (Bob Holden Corolla) mixing it up with Tony Sawford (Grice A9X) and 78-year-old Holden himself in one of his old Escorts, battling Bill Magoffin (Alfa GTV). Cutler pushed hard in second but Ashwood prevailed with Chris Collins third, then Stubber, Markland, Verwoert, Craig Markland (DR30 Skyline), Allisey, Craig Bowring (Re-Car Commodore in its first race) and Adam Workman (Bluebird Turbo).
Sunday: Race Three
Incredibly, Gary Collins broke another axle off the line at the start of race three, this time on the opposite side. Ashwood took the early lead but then came in with a fuel pick up problem. Chris Collins assumed the lead and was doing a fantastic job in the Group C machine, looking smooth and quick with the ex-Alan Browne VC rarely out of shape. In an exciting finish he just held out a storming Rod Markland for the win with Cutler and Stubber next, then Craig Markland, Ward, Chris Dubois (ANZ Sierra), Parrish, Workman and Allisey.
Race Four
The final went no further than the warm up lap for Cutler after he lost fuel pressure. Garry Collins made a rocket start from the rear as son Chris led, until Stubber zoomed under the Commodore at Honda, the nimble Mazda braking unbelievably late as Stubber’s confidence in the car grew. Rod Markland had an early excursion at Southern Loop but rejoined. Further back the dice of the race was raging between Matthews and Greg Keam (Escort) as they chased the Richard Prince Volvo 240T. Gary Collins climbed up to sixth until he lost first to fourth gear with Stubber going on to take the win from Ward and Chris Collins with Ashwood fourth, then Parrish, Towe, Craig Markland, West, Garry Collins and Adrian Allisey.
Darren Knight