A welcome addition to the local Sports Sedan ranks is a new Trans-Am Corvette for Melbourne driver Chas Talbot. Built by US chassis builder Howe engineering, the car was originally built for a group of enthusiasts in the US, who ran into financial problems. Talbot purchased the car, which has never raced, from them and it now sits in his outer Melbourne workshop. Talbot says the Trans-Am machine has several practical advantages over a traditional Aussie style Sports Sedan. "The car is easier to work on, simpler suspension, the bodywork comes off easily, that's the main reason for the Corvette." he said. Safety is also an issue with Talbot convinced that the car will offer better protection than his previous Commodore. "The safety on the Trans-Am car is much greater because the diameter of the tubing is much bigger, there's much more room between the driver and the bars on the inside... if you hit something, the more space between you and the bars the better your chance of survival."
Continue reading...Saturday, October 8, 2011
2012 will be a busy year for the V8 Supercars with the announcement of the calendar for 2012 at Bathurst. There are 16 events confirmed for 2012 with a yet to be announced international race in November and V8 Supercars racing alongside Formula One in Abu Dhabi, as they do at the Australian Grand Prix in [...]
Continue reading...Friday, October 7, 2011
Holden Racing Team driver Garth Tander has set the pace for this weekend's Bathurst 1000 with fastest time in Friday's final Qualifying session. Tander will be the final runner in Saturday's single flying lap shootout for the top ten after taking his HRT Commodore around the Mountain in 2:07:664. Mark Winterbottom gave Ford fans hope by setting the day's second quickest time with a 2:07:718. The 2010 pole sitter knows that while there is great prestige and some handy prize money for pole, it counts for little come Sunday. "I'd love to be on pole position and it is a big thing, so we'll try and put it on pole and try and lead the race on Sunday and see how we go." Series leader Jamie Whincup placed his car third after hard work from his crew after he put the car into the wall in morning practice. Fourth place went to David Reynolds setting the time on the final lap of qualifying. "I threw it on the line, chucked it down the hill, stomped out of it on Conrod and ended up P4." said an emotional Reynolds.
Continue reading...Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Horsepower of a different kind will come to force at Sandown on May 25 with the running of a special day of horse racing for popular V8 Supercar driver Jason Richards. The Horsepower Hero day will see sponsorship money from the eight race card go to Richards to assist in his fight against a rare form of cancer. The day's main race will be named in Jason's honour. Many of Australia's top V8 Supercar drivers and team owners will join the day which will also feature a special VIP lunch in the Sandown Committee Room. The day was the brainchild of Sandown General Manager, and Jason's fellow Kiwi ex-pat, Wade Calderwood. "I came up with the idea after reading an article about Jase’s response when interviewed following his courageous 2nd at Albert Park in the V8 event. By donating a horse race meeting I felt sponsors would get additional value for their generosity, above and beyond the knowledge they are supporting a great bloke in a time of need." With the assistance of Brad Jones Racing Media Manager, Lucy Peacock and fellow driver John Bowe, the meeting was put together in a few weeks. "We’ve successfully sold all 8 races, including one we donated to the Bid4Jase website" Mr Calderwood said. Sponsors include: Fujitsu General, Telstra, Wilson Security & Pace, Norton 360, Apex Construction, & Jack Daniels/Kelly Racing. V8 Supercar fans are also invited to take part in the event with a limited number of VIP tickets still available for the lunch and cheque presentation to Jason. The event will include full cocktail style hospitality, including meal, drinks and entertainment in Sandown’s Committee Room. Ticket's are available at $200 for your chance to mingle with your V8 heroes and help out a great driver and a top class bloke in a time of need. Contact kneumann@melbourneracingclub.net.au or call the track on 03 9518 1362.
Continue reading...Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The future of Sydney's controversial V8 Supercar race at Homebush has become an unlikely issue in the NSW State Election. With the opposition Liberal party expected to romp home, Liberal candidate for Auburn, Ned Attie told a local group opposed to the race that a new Liberal Government would move to axe the event. In response to an online question from Samuel Alexander of the "Save Olympic Park No V8s" Committee, Mr Attie said he would like to see the event moved back to the permanent circuit at Eastern Creek. "We're in favour of the relocation of the event and will work with [V8 Supercars Australia] and Eastern Creek Raceway to achieve the final outcome," Mr Attie said. The NSW Government has been quick to seize on the comments with State Tourism Minister Jodi McKay telling the Sydney Daily Telegraph that the move would put millions of dollars and the event "under direct threat".
Continue reading...Sunday, February 13, 2011
Defending series Champion James Courtney won a thrilling second race in the opening round of the 2011 Australi... sorry.. INTERNATIONAL V8 Supercar Series at Abu Dhabi. Courtney overcame a disastrous opening race to take the win from Team BOCs Jason Bright. The pair running wheel to wheel for the last few laps, with the lead changing three times in as many corners at one stage. It was Courtney’s first win for his new team, a brilliant podium to Bright and a third to current Championship leader Jamie Whincup who tore through the field from the back in the final stint.
Continue reading...Thursday, November 18, 2010
Popular New Zealand V8 Supercar driver Jason Richards has withdrawn from the final two rounds of this year's V8 Supercar Championship after he was diagnosed with an abdominal tumour. A statement from Brad Jones Racing said hospital tests performed this week revealed the tumour. “A team of specialists is planning the best course of action and the tumour is expected to be removed early next week,” it said. “As a result Jason will not be competing in the final two rounds of the 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series." Andrew Jones will take over the driving duties of the Team BOC Commodore at both Sandown and Homebush.
Continue reading...Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Classic Car Specialists Brooklands Classic Cars and iconic Australian Sports and Racing Car manufacturer Elfin have joined forces to bring C31's popular live motorsport tonight show In Pit Lane back to Melbourne's TV screens. The new series of In Pit Lane will commence 9.30pm Tuesday night September 7th, live from the studios of RMITV in the heart of Grand Prix City, Melbourne. Special guest will be popular V8 Supercar star Jason Bright driver of the Trading Post Commodore for Brad Jones Racing. Paul Sabine of Brooklands Classic Cars said that the sponsorship of In Pit Lane was a great choice for the company. “In Pit Lane has developed to be an icon in Australian motor sport and Brooklands Classic Cars are delighted to assist in fostering IPL’s ongoing success." he said. Mr Sabine said that Brooklands had been catering to car enthusiasts and owners of interesting and sporting cars for many years and clients could rely on that experience when searching for that special car. "The sort of hard core enthusiast and classic car lover that buys our cars and uses our services are the very same people who regularly tune into In Pit Lane." he said. In Pit Lane host Brett Ramsey said he was delighted to be able to continue with the show which is now in it's 15th straight year of production. The show finished it's last season in May and looked set to disappear forever due to a lack of sponsorship. Now thanks to Brooklands Classic Cars and Elfin, the show returns for a new 13 week series to cover a busy three months of local and international motorsport.
Continue reading...Friday, March 12, 2010
Porsches have dominated the opening day's practice session of the first round of the Australian GT championship on the streets of Adelaide. Canberra driver James Koundouris in his Porsche 997 GT3 outpaced defending champion David Wall and Victorian Max Twigg to lead a big field of 31 GT cars. Tony Quinn in the controversial Mosler MT900 was the only car to challenge the Porsches which featured in five of the first six places. High profile Lamborghini driver Peter Hackett had to play second fiddle in the battle of the Gallardo's to local driver Andrew Taplin. Former GT champion Mark Eddy debuted his new Audi R8 LMS in 11th spot just ahead of the battling Dodge Viper pair of Greg Crick and Ross Lilley.
Continue reading...Thursday, January 7, 2010
The 2010 V8 Supercar launch season has officially kicked off as Bundaberg Red Racing unveiled its 2010 livery and new team drivers Fabian Coulthard and Andrew Thompson. With the technical ennui of V8 Supercars, a change of paint scheme is considered pretty big news and the excitement of the assembled media was palpable as the covers came off the newly painted car. Grown men gasped and women swooned as the car emerged from under the sheets. "There's a lot more black' said one V8 Supercar hack desperately trying to recover from the surprise, "No one expected that!" said another. "Call the editor! Hold the Front Page!" said yet another, despite the fact that he works in television. As the shock of the new spread across inner Melbourne like a tsunami, medical staff were placed on high alert as Victorian Premier John Brumby called for calm. "I'd like to think that in this day and age that we as a society have grown enough to be able to handle this sort of thing." said Mr Brumby. "I'm just so very proud that today's launch has taken place here in Melbourne, the sporting and cultural capital of the world and way better than Sydney which just sucks puss big time." Bundaberg Red Racing lead driver Fabian Coulthard told the recovering media that he was confident that the challenge of the extra black would not pose a problem.
Continue reading...
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
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