WATCHTOWER PROPERTY  2009 FORMULA CLASSIC CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

 The Clem Dwyer race meeting in July was round three of the five round Watchtower Property series and this event was another great leap forward for Formula Classic with 23 entries making it to qualifying representing a vast range of different cars.  The hard work is certainly paying off as this is the largest grid assembled in recent memory. The attrition rate, or rather lack of, was also excellent, as there were still 18 cars on the grid for the last race

 David Turner was setting the pace in the S-Cargo Racing Lola T492. Each race was typically split into 3 main groups with the F2 class cars plus Ray Stubber’s very fast Formula Ford.  The second group was formed by the rest of the historic Formula Fords together with the WA Racing Museum Sutol 23 driven by Jamie Kirkhoff. Then the third group included Glen Capel driving the Lotus 22 F/J, Murray Charnley who was welcomed back to racing in his Lotus 23B and Kevin Taylor in his Repco Brabham BT21 F3.  In each we saw exciting and close racing within these groups but race three was the highlight of the day. John Hurney and especially Ray Stubber showed that a well set up and hard driven historic Formula Ford could certainly cut the mustard with the more powerful F2 cars.

At qualifying it was a great disappointment to lose Neil McCrudden’s Macon F2 due to a blown motor and Henry Oosterbaan’s Alton Holden AR2 after he had a loose and damaged the car.

 Race one was taken out by David Turner from Shane Gifford (Fielding F2) followed by Russel Sewell (TIGA FA82).

 Race two saw much the same result except for Ray Stubber (Royale RP31M F/F) taking second place after pushing David Turner all the way. Martin Bullock (Chevron B17C) showed the kind of pace that can be achieved with these lovely BDA powered classics which also produce the sound to match and came in fourth. We wish Glenn Swarbrick (Macon F/F) a speedy repair program after his flying stint and collision with and over Allan Beats (Palliser F/F).

 Race 3 was fast and the closest from the outset. Lap one, going over the hill, Ray Stubber led from David Turner until Ray went a little wide and on to the ripple strip which then sent him into a spin. This was unusual for Ray due to his normally superb driving but added to the excitement with his leading car spinning in front of the entire field at speed. However it didn’t take long before Ray was back into the thick of the action. David Turner continued on to win but in the second group where the action was the cars were going three wide around turn 7 on most laps. First and second was settled by lap 7 but on the last corner third place was still anybody’s as there were five cars almost side by side as they crossed over the finish line.

 Paul McMahon (VD RF88 F/F) won handicap points for this round from David Turner, Shane Gifford & John Hurney

 At our next meeting being the “Super Trucks” in September we are expecting an even bigger field with six cars expected to be seen for the first time this year and with five of these being front line BDA powered cars. This will be the forerunner to have everyone race ready for the “V8 Supercars” in November.  Inclusion in the “big one” is just fantastic for the continued development of this class and it will be the catalyst that gets so many cars that are almost ready over the line and out on the track.  Apart from our current cars, the public can expect to see more of the Formula Atlantic Ralt RT4’s and Tiga’s. It is expected we will have an ex Indy March 86C, ex Indy Lola T900, Dick Ward’s Chevron B29, Leigh Turner in his newly acquired Lola T360 and James McDonald driving the WA Racing Museum Befa F2.  It will be an exciting event with as much time being spent admiring these cars in the pits as well as the great spectacle they will provide on the track. So, if there are any of you out there who were thinking of dusting your old girl off to join us, now is the time. Alternatively if you are looking for a drive opportunity, they do exist, so go ahead and make some enquiries.

 We now have a website, www.formulaclassic.com.au, it is still under development but go and check it out and follow that dream to drive an open wheeler.

 Until our next report regards Wayne Clarke