[hyprblu]

Quote: Originally Posted by MiM (original)

Thanks Geoff, the weather would have been the pits.

Yeah, rain and wind is one thing but thunder, lightening and hail is another.....especially with all those trees just inviting you to wrap your car around!!! Befor the rain was OK...one guy broke the track record in a new F3000 car he had just bought from the UK....did it in low 18 secs mark!!!!

There was a practise day Sat which was much better...only 20 cars there so we all got as many runs as we wanted......made up for Yesterday....

Interesting class settings....I was put in the modified over 2000cc class which meant I was in with the 5+ litre Holden and BMW M3!!!.....not seen the times yet but Geoff told me i was 28.04 secs which is not bad seeing I missed 3rd and got 5th but not as good as my practise time of 27.7!!......will wait to see if I came last in the class........ Was great fun though with plenty of friendly people to talk to.

[hyprblu]

Just a heads up that BMW club have ressurected their previously cancelled round 2 Sprint at Phillip Island. It will now be on Sat 14th October. There will be at least 1 mini there for anyone interested.

[eltel]

From BMW Press

TEAM MINI VICTORIOUS AT ALPHERA DUTTON RALLY VICTORIA 20/9/2006
Team MINI fielded just one of its three car team for the Alphera Dutton Rally Victoria last weekend and secured a giant-killing outright victory on handicap.
Beating off a field of close to 100 hard-charging competitors including exotic sports thoroughbreds costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, and all-wheel drive rally-bred turbo-charged Japanese challengers by the dozen, the Team MINI, MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works Tuning Kit emerged victorious in Victoria.

With multi-Australia Driver’s champion Paul Stokell sharing driving duties with Publishing Director Mike Sinclair, the CarPoint backed Team MINI entry claimed three prizes: First outright on handicap, and first in class for drivers, with Mike Sinclair picking up a trophy for third in class for co-drivers.

A clutch of privately entered MINI Cooper S John Cooper Works models also finished well up the leader board, with Scott Manson third overall on Handicap in his John Cooper Works equipped 2004 MINI Cooper S, and Craig Williams sixth in his 2003 MINI Cooper S.

MINI Cooper S cars were the only European hot hatch entries in the top 29 cars, further emphasising MINI’s sporting prowess and suitability for these events.

The Victorian win backs up a similarly stunning effort at the previous Alphera Dutton Rally round in Queensland, where the Team recorded a brilliant class win and second place on handicap for co-drivers and third overall on handicap for drivers.

The Team MINI racers are based around showroom cars, with only safety equipment such as FIA compliant roll cages, race seats and harnesses fitted. The cars use Dunlop road-legal competition tyres and AP-derived race brakes, both of which are available to customers keen to build their own event winner.

Stokell was pumped after cleaning up on track at Shepparton and Winton, being the first new generation MINI to crack a one minute 40 second lap at the circuit. His race time at Sandown was as impressive, logging just a smidge over 1 minute 30.

“We ran very strongly over the whole event,” Paul said. “The car never missed a beat, and we continued to leave other competitors astonished at our cornering speeds.

“The result at Winton is spectacular.”

Mike Sinclair was equally excited by his third in class result, vastly improved over his last Dutton outing.

“I have got my head around the gymkhana events and now we’re really starting to give the seasoned campaigners as well as the much more expensive cars a run for their money in the co-driver class as well as the driver class,” he said.

The next stop for the rampaging Team MINI cars is an anniversary party at Bathurst over the weekend of 5-8 September as part of the MINI Conquers the Mountain event, including a parade lap comprising 50 classic MINIs and the three 2006 Works cars.

Legendary MINI racer Bob Holden will drive one of the Team MINI cars around Bathurst, 40 years after he won the race in a 1966 MINI Cooper S partnered by Finnish BMC driver Rauno Aaltonen.

Bob, 74, continues to participate successfully in motorsport. He was also in action this weekend, campaigning a classic MINI Cooper S at the Speed on Tweed event in New South Wales.

Immediately following the Bathurst anniversary Parade, Team MINI heads back to Victoria for the final event of the year, the Mount Buller Sprint.


* All results provisional.

Well done Scott and Mark.

[KGB]

Thanks Tez,

Nice the way the 'official' press release didnt talk about the "factory co-driver" being beaten
for the class win and 4th outright co-driver by a dud hack backyard racer who shall remain nameless.....but of course did generally comment on the 'private' cars entered.

By the by, "IF" such an award as "handicap team outright" were to exist (to complement
the handicap driver / co driver awards) the factory car wouldnt have one that one, but another
red and white (private) car would have !!

Cheers !

MG

[robbo mcs]

Quote: Originally Posted by KGB (original)

Thanks Tez,

Nice the way the 'official' press release didnt talk about the "factory co-driver" being beaten
for the class win and 4th outright co-driver by a dud hack backyard racer who shall remain nameless.....but of course did generally comment on the 'private' cars entered.

By the by, "IF" such an award as "handicap team outright" were to exist (to complement
the handicap driver / co driver awards) the factory car wouldnt have one that one, but another
red and white (private) car would have !!

Cheers !

MG

Hi,

Congrats on your result

Get used to the official mini publicity At least you got a mention

We had to put up with the "mini returning to motorsport" theme in targa tasmania. It was all based around the fact that mini was returning to motorsport after a hiatus, despite the fact that myself, Stu and the Sherrins had been competing in the exact same events, with some success, for the previous 2 years

Cheers

Robbo

PS : Stokell is a very nice guy, friendly and helpful

[KGB]

Hi Robbo,

Thanks for your encouraging words.

..and another thing, in teams outright it wasnt the factory car that finished first of the Minis (or the class) it was the other Red and white car.......'suppose you've got to demostrate your budget was well spent and a success to the bean counters by propogating a 'version' of the (partial) truth...!


Cheers !

P.S. We must have encountered a different guy.....

[St00ge]

Someone's bitter...

but on a more serious note, well done guys.... There was a write up in one of the magazines i'm suscribed to. Didn't mention you mark, but i know you were there

[OZChris]

So who's up for the clubMINI DECA day in December?

[KGB]

Quote: Originally Posted by St00ge (original)

Someone's bitter...

but on a more serious note, well done guys.... There was a write up in one of the magazines i'm suscribed to. Didn't mention you mark, but i know you were there

Just having a gripe on the "factory" press release. Not at all bitter...we beat them how could we be anything other than happy ?

[St00ge]

Quote: Originally Posted by KGB (original)

Just having a gripe on the "factory" press release. Not at all bitter...we beat them how could we be anything other than happy ?

was only kidding, should have added a smiley......didn't mean to imply that you weren't happy with the result I also don't think it was fair to not include you

[KGB]

Quote: Originally Posted by St00ge (original)

was only kidding, should have added a smiley......didn't mean to imply that you weren't happy with the result I also don't think it was fair to not include you

[hyprblu]

A great day was had by 3 minis at the BMW sprints last saturday.....highlights included mini overtaking porch down main straight and M5 unable to catch minis down main straight....other highlight was WRX powering past race prepped R8 Holden down main straight.....great day with no casualties....cars or people.....waiting for formal results but looks like minis lead 1 class and 2nd/3rd in other class........

[HarryV]

PIARC have practice and sprints event on the weekend of Nov 11th and 12th 2006

Great track, well run days, fantastic venue to enjoy the MINI, meet other like minded motorsport enthusiasts. Also a great opportunity for those interested in possibly getting their car on the track to see just what may be needed.

Cheers
H

[KGB]

Harry,

Again, many thanks for your tutelage.

MG

[HarryV]

Quote: Originally Posted by KGB (original)

Harry,

Again, many thanks for your tutelage.

MG

it was a pleasure, glad you had fun and enjoyed the track, would be good if you can make it on the Sat they also have passenger sessions

[hyprblu]

Quote: Originally Posted by HarryV (original)

PIARC have practice and sprints event on the weekend of Nov 11th and 12th 2006

Great track, well run days, fantastic venue to enjoy the MINI, meet other like minded motorsport enthusiasts. Also a great opportunity for those interested in possibly getting their car on the track to see just what may be needed.

Cheers
H

Have you got a link to their details?

[hyprblu]

Ok Harry got the details......then realised that I am taking Linda to Port Douglas from 7th to 13th Nov........got that wrong didn't I....looks like it will be an excellent two days.......

[HarryV]

For Anyone Not attending the MINI driver day at DECA on the 17th Dec 2006, consider a chance to drive at the island with the Alfa Romeo Car club.

Alfa Romeo Owners Club (Vic) - Entry Forms and Supp Regs

cheers

harry

[hyprblu]

Quote: Originally Posted by HarryV (original)

For Anyone Not attending the MINI driver day at DECA on the 17th Dec 2006, consider a chance to drive at the island with the Alfa Romeo Car club.

Alfa Romeo Owners Club (Vic) - Entry Forms and Supp Regs

cheers

harry

Looked at doing that but they seem to want me to have a FLAGS certification befor ethey let me drive.....did I read that right?

[HarryV]

no you may have read that incorrectly, however the event is full, so no dice have missed out myself, but there is more on the cards for next year.

there are a couple more dates for Calder if any one may be interested?