IAN WILSON / JAHMEIL TAYLOR RACE TO PLACING THIRD OUTRIGHT AND CLASS WINNERS IN THEIR TRIUMPH TR7V8
Motor sport enthusiasts would be well aware that on the conclusion of the 2008 Classic Adelaide Rally, Ian Wilson and Jahmeil Taylor placed third outright and won their class in Ian’s mighty TR7V8, only for the sub-frame of the car to be ruled illegal in post event scrutineering and thus being disqualified from the results.

This was a crushing outcome for Ian and Jahmeil, not only to have put all that effort, money and risk on the line for no reward, but more so, that the decision by the CAMS scrutineers questioned Ian’s integrity and reputation. Ian firmly believed his car met the requirements and regulations for this event, and eventually decided to challenge the disqualification decision.

This was not an easy process – it has cost several thousands of dollars, and several barriers needed to be breached to beat the bureaucracy and doggedness of the system and the people within it.

But guess what – it was worth it! CAMS have issed a Media Statement dated 19th May 2009 stating that Ian’s Triumph was in fact legal for the event and ordered the reinstatement of their results.

The official results therefore show IAN WILSON / JAHMEIL TAYLOR AS PLACING THIRD OUTRIGHT AND CLASS WINNERS IN THEIR TRIUMPH TR7V8, relegating Jim Richards and Barry Oliver in their turbo Porsche back to fourth.

Ian and Jahmeil – we celebrated your success on your initial placings, and shared your pain when disqualified. Congratulations on having the firm belief in your integrity and meticulous vehicle preparation sufficient to challenge the system and prove your position. Now we can all celebrate again – TRIUMPH TAKES THIRD PLACE IN 2008 CLASSIC ADELAIDE RALLY!

Accept the trophy with pride for a wonderful effort Ian and Jahmeil – well done!

Roger, Competition Secretary

There is not a lot of TSOA competition news since the last issue of TRak – most of the track action has been for the big boys in V8 Super Cars and F1. We did have the Easter Historics at Mallala though, and it was great to see some Triumphs as part of the action, even if most of them came all the way from Victoria!

Keith Ondarchie (TR4) and Barry Pritchett (TR6) both competed in Group Sb Historic Sports Cars and Keith’s son Alistair and Barry’s partner Ursula took the same cars out for the Regularity events. Also in Regularity was SA member (and Victorian resident!) Andy Ansell (TR7) and past member Laurie Cousin (TR2). Laurie did very well over the five Regularity events for the weekend, placing two 1st’s  two 2nds  and a 5th . Andy Ansell was also very consistent with a 1st , a 3rd and three 4ths .

The inaugural Mt Alma Mile Hillclimb was run over the weekend of 18-19th April and from what I hear was a resounding success, according to our field reporter, Jon Williams. As best as I can make out though, there was only one Triumph entered, that being a TR7V8 driven by Craig Haysman. Jon reports that it sounded great and went well!

Upcoming events include the MSCA 6-Hour Regularity at Mallala on 17th May and the commencement of the Hillclimb series at Collingrove in June. Speaking of Hillclimbs, if you missed the “Come-and-try” day on 26th April, and regretted that you had, well, there is another opportunity later in the year on 26th Sept. – so don’t miss that one. Details are on the Sporting Car Club website, which is an easy link from our own site.

A full 2009 Competition Calendar can also be found on our website under Competition news.

And one last thing –  TSOA was scheduled to provide flag marshals at the 5th July Sprint, but it seems that there has been sufficient numbers committed from other clubs for that event. TSOA duties have therefore been reallocated to the 25th October Sprint. I will call for volunteers later in the year.

That’s enough from me . . . see you trackside!

Roger

Despite the promise of three GT6’s running in the MSCA Sprints on Sunday 1st March, only one actually turned up! Trevor Lindsay didn’t have his new windscreen fitted in time, and Rod Carey found that he needs to rebuild his engine. My little orange car didn’t disappoint though, posting a personal best time and placing third overall for the day.

Five TSOA members competed on the day, with results as follows :

Roger Lange (GT6) 1:19.59,

Peter Nelson (MX5) 1:26.47,

Jon Fechner (Mini Cooper S) 1:30.67,

Bruno Franchi (Mini Cooper S) 1:33.07

Steve Franchi (TR7) 1:44.78.

The next MSCA sprint in not until 5th July, but in between is the 6-Hour Regularity Relay Sprint to be held on 17th May. TSOA will have a team in this annual event, with preparations already under way. If you would like to be a part of the TSOA support crew, give me a call.

Neil Martin (TR7V8) was our only representative in the Austin 7 Club Regularity event at Mallala held on 15th March, posting a best time for the day of 1:31.92.

There are several upcoming events of note, primarily the historic races and Hillclimb over the Easter long weekend, the Mt Alma hillclimb (off the Yankalilla to Victor Harbor Rd) on 18-19 April, a “come and try” day at Collingrove on Apr 26th as well as the Modern Regularity event at Mallala on the same day and then local racing at Mallala over the weekend of 2nd/3rd May.

A full 2009 Competition Calendar can be found elsewhere on this website.

That’s enough from me . . . see you trackside!

Roger

The 2009 Competition season commenced on the 8th February with the Austin 7 Club Regularity event at Mallala. Neil Martin (TR7) and Peter Nelson (MX5) competed and by the end of the day’s competition, Neil had progressed to 2nd with a best time of 1:31.73 and Peter to 3rd with 1:27.47. Both had a great day whilst the rest of us enjoyed the All British Day at Uraidla.

It was somewhat cooler than past years for the MSCA picnic presentation day held on the grounds of Peter Lehmann’s winery on Sunday 15th February. Those attending in support of TSOA this year included Bob and Pat Cini, Rory and Sue Gibson, Lyall and Sue Taylor, Alan and Maureen Gold, Richard Sutherland, Trevor Lindsay, Peter Liebich and Mary, Neil Martin and a work mate from Qld., Steve Kernick from Tanunda, and of course, Roger and Cherri. Thank you all for supporting TSOA at this event. All enjoyed a pleasant picnic lunch, a huge display of cars from each of the affiliated clubs, and the presentation of awards for the 2008 season that finished with presentation of Life Membership for MSCA founding member Peter Hall.

Upcoming events include Round 1 of the MSCA Sprint series on Sunday 1st March where we expect to see the GT6 trio of Trevor Lindsay, Rod Carey and Roger Lange take part, as well as the reliable Neil Martin in his TR7V8. Jon Fechner intends to debut his new Mini after selling his TR6 to a happy Victorian buyer last year. It promises to be a great day.

I have found out a bit more regarding the Mt Alma Hillclimb that appears in the calendar for the first time this year. It is an event being run by the Southern Districts Car Club over the weekend of 18/19th April on a closed section of the Mt Alma Road, off the Yankalilla to Victor Harbor Road. The competition section is essentially a Hillclimb over a 1 mile or 1.6 km course. Full details can be found on the SDCC web site at www.sdcc.asn.au – also found on this website are details for the Tarmac Rally Sprint being held over the weekend of the 30/31st May where some of our Tarmac competitors including Ian Wilson (TR7V8) may take part.

The Sporting Car Club are hosting two “Come and Try” Days at Collingrove this year, the first on Sunday, 26th April (Anzac Day long weekend) so if you have the faintest interest in finding out what Collingrove is all about then this is your opportunity. Go to the Sporting Car Club website (find the link on www.tsoasa.com) for full information and entry forms. Requirements are minimal but there is a small fee and an entry closing date.

The 6-Hour Regularity Relay is scheduled for 17th May and following our third place last year, TSOA is again fielding a team to contest this year’s event. As always, help is needed. This is a true Team event, with support required in a number of areas, from pit wall timing and lap board display, to sash changeover, driver support, and team runner. If you would like to be a part of Team Triumph this year, let me know – we need all the support we can get!

Clipsal 500 is fast approaching, as is the F1 carnival in Melbourne. Local races at Mallala including Historics at Easter time – something for everyone!

That’s enough from me . . . see you trackside!

Roger

The Competition Calendar for this year is published within the February issue of TRak as well as being posted on this website, and what a wonderful array of events is available to anyone even remotely interested in motorsport, whether it is club level or professional events, competitor or spectator.

Of particular interest to TSOA members will be the MSCA Sprint dates, and the Austin 7 Club Regularity events, both conducted at the Mallala circuit. The 6-Hour Regularity Relay is scheduled for 17th May – Team Triumph placed third in 2008 and will be looking to improve on this in this year’s event. The Modern Regularity SA Championship will be contested on 27th September – refer to the Austin 7 Club link on the TSOA website.

Also of note is two dates for “come and try” days at the Collingrove Hillclimb facility, one in April and the other in September. These days are available to anyone who hasn’t experienced hillclimbing before, and are a great introduction to the sport. Check out the Sporting Car Club website for details and entry forms. It is easy and cheap, and very little special preparation is necessary.

The All British Race Day, held at Wakefield Park NSW and complete with All Triumph races, is scheduled a little later in the year for 2009, being the 2nd August.  Race day is preceded by the usual Super Sprint hosted by the Austin Healey Owners Club. South Australian Triumphs will be there; perhaps a trio of GT6’s this year.

I have no information on an event scheduled for 18-19 April at a place known as Mt Alma. This will be a Hillclimb put on by the Southern Districts Car Club, so I will see what I can find out about it and keep you informed. The “Legend of the Lakes” event at Mt Gambier will be held over the weekend of 7-8 November and with the popularity of this Hillclimb up and around the blue lakes increasing each year, early entry is recommended – refer to the South East Auto Club website at www.seacsa.com  for details.

I have included the dates for major events that may be of interest – Clipsal, F1, SA Race and Hillclimb Championships, Classic Adelaide etc. just so that you know when to settle in front of the TV or put your hat on and go and have a look.

Lots to do, see, hear and experience. Let’s hope the Triumphs look and sound great, and go fast (as they usually do!)

That’s enough from me . . . see you trackside!

Roger

The full 2009 Competition Events Calendar is now available for viewing and download from within the Competition News tab.

A full CAMS Calendar is available from me at TSOA General Meetings, or from the CAMS Office in Kent Town.

Roger Lange, Competition Secretary

CALENDAR OF COMPETITION EVENTS FOR 2009

DATE    EVENT    WHERE    BY
8-Feb    Modern Regularity & Superkarts    Mallala    A7C
15-Feb    MSCA Presentation Day     Lehmann’s    MSCA
28-Feb    SA Race Championships Rd 1 (Twilight)    Mallala    SCCSA
1-Mar    Super Sprint Round 1    Mallala    MSCA
15-Mar    Modern Regularity & Superkarts    Mallala    A7C
19-22 Mar    Clipsal 500    Adelaide    SAMSB
26-29 Mar    Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix    Melbourne    AGPC
11-12 Apr    Race – National Historics    Mallala    SCCSA
13-Apr    Hillclimb – Historics    Collingrove    SCCSA
18-19 Apr    Hillclimb – Mt Alma    Mt Alma    SDCC
26-Apr    Hillclimb – “Come and Try”    Collingrove    SCCSA
26-Apr    Modern Regularity & Superkarts    Mallala    A7C
2-3 May    SA Race Championships Rd 2    Mallala    SCCSA
17-May    6 Hour Regularity Relay     Mallala    MSCA
14-Jun    Hillclimb, Multi Club    Collingrove    SCCSA
28-Jun    Hillclimb, Winter Cup Rd 1    Collingrove    SCCSA
28-Jun    Modern Regularity & Superkarts    Mallala    A7C
5-Jul    Super Sprint Round 2    Mallala    MSCA
2-Aug    Modern Regularity & Superkarts    Mallala    A7C
9-Aug    Hillclimb, Winter Cup Rd 2    Collingrove    SCCSA
16-Aug    Super Sprint Round 3     Mallala    MSCA
6-Sep    Super Sprint Round 4    Mallala    MSCA
12-13 Sep    SA Race Championships Rd 3    Mallala    SCCSA
26-Sep    Hillclimb – “Come & Try Day”    Collingrove    SCCSA
27-Sep    Hillclimb, Winter Cup Rd 3    Collingrove    SCCSA
27-Sep    Modern Regularity SA Championship (&S’karts)    Mallala    A7C
3-4 Oct    Historic Demonstration    Lobethal    SCCSA
17-Oct    SA Hillclimb Championship    Collingrove    SCCSA
25-Oct    Super Sprint Round 5    Mallala    MSCA
31-Oct / 8-Nov    TSOA NATIONAL RALLY     WA    TSOA (WA)
6-Nov    Climb to the Eagle    Adelaide    SCCSA
7-8 Nov    Hillclimb – “Legend of the Lakes”    Mt Gambier    SEAC
8-Nov    Modern Regularity & Superkarts    Mallala    A7C
14-Nov    SA Race Championships Rd 4 – Twilight    Mallala    SCCSA
18-22 Nov    Classic Adelaide Rally    Adelaide    Silverstone
6-Dec    Modern Regularity & Superkarts    Mallala    A7C

CAMS has recently updated competitor requirements for Racing Harnesses and Fire Extinguishers – refer to the following links for full details :-

http://www.cams.com.au/bulletins/B08-105%20Schedule%20I%20-Safety%20Harnesses.pdf
http://www.camsmanual.com.au/pdf/general/0609_Schedule_H_Q408.pdf
Roger

The Victorian Circuit Racing Championships have concluded for another year, and our own Tom Hutchinson (TR8) has finished a very creditable 5th place for the season. Congratulations Tom!

Neil Martin took part in the Austin 7 Club Regularity event held at Mallala on Nov. 9th where he continued to learn more about his TR7V8 (ex- Bob and Natalie Farrell) whilst posting very respectable and consistent times in the 1:34 range. Neil placed third in two on the runs for the day and is looking forward to next year’s regularity and sprint events.

Trevor Lindsay (GT6) and I competed in the last SA Championship race meeting for the year, held as a twilight event, at Mallala on Saturday Nov. 15. The conditions were perfect – cool and with slight breeze. The racing programme was full, with the two GT6’s entered in Sports Cars /Sports Saloons and Tarmac Rally Cars. They looked tiny when lined up against Chris Smerdon’s ex Stone Bros Falcon, lots of Porsches, a couple of HSV Commodores, a Nissan Sylvia etc.

Trevor qualified 9th and Roger 11th in a field of 17 cars. Race 1 was action packed, with Trevor getting a great start to mix it with a few of the Porsches finishing the 6 lap race in 6th place, with Roger coming in 10th. Trevor was off to a great start again in Race 2 but was black flagged mid race because of a suspected fuel leak. This turned out to be a simple problem with an easy solution, but it meant that Trevor finished back in the field for the start of race three. I had a bit of brain fade and gave myself a drive through penalty by following Trevor and a couple of other cars into pit lane thinking that I had missed a direction from the face officials. I hadn’t, but that action also placed me towards the rear of the field for the next race.

Race 3 had Trevor in P12 and Roger alongside in P11 in a reduced field of 15. Trev finished 8th and Roger 9th in this night time race, Trevor mixing it again with the Porsches thankfully avoiding any serious panel damage (unlike the pesky Porsches that he mixed with).

I found out something about night racing that I will be better prepared for next time. I have a shift light installed in my GT6. It helps me know when to change gear without paying really close attention to the Tacho. The shift light is very bright so that it is clearly visible in the day time. It is however, like a spot light at night, so when I had exceeded the ideal gear change revs in top gear (this happens three times around the Mallala circuit) I was blinded and couldn’t see a thing. This meant that it took me the best part of 6 of the 8 laps to get around a Holden Torana that I should have gotten past in the first lap. Thoroughly good fun though!

The Classic Adelaide Rally was concluded just yesterday as I write this, and it was another outstanding success. There were a number of Triumphs running, with the bright yellow TR7V8 of Ian Wilson placing in the top three consistently for the four day event. Ian is very ably guided by partner and navigator Jahmeil Taylor and finished the event in third place, only to be excluded from the results due to a post event scrutineer deeming the front sub-frame of the car to not meet the regulations. On checking the Supp Regs later, Ian believes that the car does comply, and will take the matter up with the Rally Officials. Disappointingly, the 3rd Place Trophy was awarded to Jim Richards.  Never-the-less, this was a tremendous performance by Ian and Jahmeil, and it was great to see a Triumph in the leading bunch of this world class event. We are all proud of your achievement Ian and Jahmeil, and share your bitter disappointment with the outcome.

Others to take part in the 2008 Classic Adelaide included the Fisher / Twycross TR7V8 (finished 42nd) and the Webb / Webb entry that unfortunately did not reach the finish. The Rochester’s from Queensland placed 33rd in the Classic section in their TR3A so well done to them. Also taking part in the Thoroughbred Touring section was the Trotter / Veale team in a TR7V8 – when I spoke with them at Victor Harbor, they were all smiles.

TSOA member Bruno Franchi took part in the Rally as co-driver in an Alpha Romeo that unfortunately rolled on the last day of competition. Not a nice way to end the Rally and we hope that Bruno and his driver escaped with minimal personal injury.

The last event that any of our members may have an interest in is the Austin 7 Club Regularity scheduled for Dec 7th. And that’s it for 2008!

The MSCA picnic Presentation Day at Peter Lehmann’s Winery is scheduled for Sunday 15th February (one week after the All British Day) and this will provide TSOA with another early 2009 function to support and enjoy. If you have any ideas for a club display theme, contact me and put your thoughts forward. TSOA has won two of the last three club display awards, and it would be great to take it out again.

That’s enough from me . . . . see you trackside!

Roger

2008 NATIONAL RALLY – QUEENSLAND

Participants enjoyed two competition events as part of the Rally program – a Sprint at the Morgan Park circuit near Warwick, and a Hill Climb at Mount Cotton, somewhere between the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Only two of the SA contingent saw fit to compete, these being Neil Martin in his newly acquired TR7-V8 (ex- Bob and Natalie Farrell) and yours truly in his GT6. Neil gets the prize for having a go, given that he drove his Trumpy there and back, as well as keenly contesting the Sprint, Regularity and Hillclimb events. My GT6 had the luxury of a trailer (and Cherri and I had the luxury of the Verada!) but when it came time to go, the GT6 just went!

Morgan Park is in interesting circuit comprising several combinations of track layout choices. At the last Qld Nationals, we had use of one of the short circuits on a mostly wet day, but this time around, we enjoyed the full long circuit and a fine day. Needless to say, it was a blast! Particularly the blind and very fast turn three that takes you left over a crest and under a bridge. I finally did it flat out in third on my last run of the day, but I must say that took some courage. The tight sections of the track before you come out onto the straight are also great – I think they call them the flip flops. The GT6 was just great through these tight right and left handed sections.

The Mount Cotton Hillclimb was also a great day. Owned by the Qld MG Club, these facilities have been improved significantly since my last visit here 15 years ago. The dusty and rugged track to get in to the property hasn’t changed however. It is an interesting Hillclimb in that some sections of the track are revisited in the opposite direction and, as the old saying goes, what goes up must come down. The steep climbing sections are followed by rapid descents and hairpin corners to test driver, brakes and handling. The fastest downhill section has a pit of peanut shells to catch anyone that can’t make the hairpin at the base. Only in Queensland!

Apart from all the eager National Rally participants who had a go at these events, it was great to see some Queenslanders come out as day entrants, in particular Simon Rhodes in a very well sorted and fast TR7V8 race car, and Roy Davis who brought out the ex-Dennis Hawkins GT6 for a go at the Hillclimb. This GT6 has been built into something of a hill climb special, with a 2.7 litre engine and a 5.1 ratio Nissan diff – very quick, and looked and sounded great as well. Brian Falloon in his white TR5 impressed as well, particularly at the Hillclimb where he wasn’t that far behind the full competition cars that were on sticky slicks etc. All in all, a great couple of days.

OTHER COMPETITION NEWS

Neil Martin was at it again at the Austin 7 Club Regularity event on Oct 19th, once again in his newly acquired TR7V8. Clearly, Neil is going faster that he ever has, and it may take a little while for him to work out the consistency factor, but he did manage to rate 4th in the last run of the day.

Also held over the weekend of Oct 18th / 19th was the final round of the Victorian Circuit Racing Championships held at Phillip Island. Tom Hutchinson (TR8) qualified 4th behind two Lamborghini’s and a Porsche GT3, and in the three races finished 4th, 3rd (beat the Porsche) and 3rd (beat a Lambo) – not a bad result for an old Trumpy! Well done Tom.

The final round of the MSCA Super Sprint series was held on Sunday Oct 26th at Mallala, and on a windy but fine day, we witnessed some fresh interest from within the TSOA ranks – brothers Bruno (TR7V8) and Stephen (TR7) Franchi took to the track for their first sprint event and by the look of their faces at the end of the day, they will be back for some more fun next year. Neil Martin was also having a go – gee, I hope he doesn’t wear out his new toy too quickly! Peter Nelson left his TR8 dhc home again in favour of his MX5.

Results

Peter NELSON            MX5                 1:26.61

Bruno FRANCHI          TR7V8             1:31.78

Neil MARTIN               TR7V8             1:33.91

Stephen FRANCHI      TR7                 1:42.10

My GT6 was home in the shed with all the components of a new engine ready for assembly. On return from Queensland, I needed to sort out a screeching noise from the clutch / gearbox area so removed the engine / gearbox for examination. I had noticed excessive oil leaks from around the sump, so thought, while it is out, I will drop off the sump and install a new gasket. Oh well, while the sump is off, maybe I should shine a light inside the engine and have a look? Just as well I did, as five cam lobes had crumbled. By the time I had inspected all components, a full rebuild was considered appropriate.

Even though I missed the last MSCA Sprint of the year, Trevor Lindsay and I are both looking forward to the last SCCSA race meeting of the year, being held as a Twilight Meeting on Saturday, 15th November.

And on a final note, some good news – the Dolomite is finally repaired and running and should be out for the All Triumph Rally for the Tony Esau Memorial Trophy on Sunday November 16th – will we see you there? See your TRak magazine or the website for information.

That’s enough from me . . . . see you trackside!

Roger