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WA Front Engine Racing Car News April 2009

That's the end of the fun part of the calendar for 2009 now it is down to the serious part of the season, yes some have been to Phillip Island and some to Northam for the Flying 50 and even some out to the desert edge to run at Kalgoorlie but now it is down to business - APRIL 19 Barbagallo Raceway is the first round of the WASCC championship. We know of 18 odd audited cars and we are hoping for a good grid of cars. Entry forms are already in the letterbox at home so if you didn't get one email or a call to Raymond will sort it out. Which is an interesting point, you all did know that you can enter electronically don't you?! Raymond tells me that only two people enter and pay their fee on line. Take it from me it is a damn site easier to send the entry electronically and pay by credit card than faff around with cheques and paper.

Now to the latest news,

Centenary Celebrations at Boulder and Lake Perkolilli

Kalgoorlie was a great bit of fun for those that trekked out there, The 1935 Lagonda of Paul Dean was there collecting another dose of dust as it did in 1937 when it raced at Lake Perkolilli. It is quite amusing if you consider that Paul has spent a huge amount of time restoring the car, getting all of the Lake Clay out of it and he goes straight back their and fills it back up again. Still he must have enjoyed it and I must say that a week later at Northam it was still wearing it's coat of dust as was Nigel Makins little Imp and they really did look the part of prewar racers with the loam red dust over them.

Paul's car was the only original competitor from the era but was backed up with Silver Wings (28 Chrysler) the Buick Raceabout (1928-9??) Triumph Imp (1927??) sorry guys that was a guess. The T Model racer complete with its 4 pedals. (What were they thinking?) Cactus (29 A Model F__D) and the Badger Special (36 Chevy) waving the flag for the General.

We won't talk about racing, as of course it was run under a CAMS tuning permit but some of the speeds on the trap on the straight will tell that most weren't hanging around. Here is a statistic for you though. Pre war, Silver Wings averaged 96MPH around the circuit.

The Veteran cars were in attendance to show support and to putt around and we did the same the Friday and Saturday nights at the trotting track in Boulder where they held there races, they were a sight, a dozen or so 100 year old cars going as flat as a biscuit around the ovals trotting track, they might not have been fast but if you think that half of them were single cylinders and had no shockers and only rudimentary steering they were driving the wheels of them and it showed. They even had obstacle courses in the shape of the local population who kept walking across the track. We did a demo but not much of a fast one because of the crowd.

Northam Flying 50

That's number 11 of the Flying 50s in the modern era. A good field of JKL in attendance, Lets see The Bartlett, The NKD Holden, Lou Symes in the big V8 powered CMM, the Lagonda, Paul Wilkins piloting the Miller F-d, this was watched over by its owner Rob Stewart in the beastly Hurricane, it sounds great too Rob. The White Mouse with Jack at the wheel, Craig Atkins was out there in the Moggy, (tells me that he has a three wheeler coming soon) Ron Walters in the Austin 7, Mike Sherrell and Ed in the TC and the J2 good to see Mike out there too pushing it hard. The three other MGs of Herbert, Aldous and Gilfuis. (Sounds like a good name for a legal firm. HAG Group) Tony got stranded out on the circuit so had his day shortened. Silver Wings, and Bob in the Peugeot (I can never spell that right. That's it E before O but only after G) and I forgot that mighty Chevrolet. 1929 6 cylinder at 171 cubes in standard road trim on 440s and the lap times was quite respectable. My 25 wouldn't do half that speed. It was the first time out for the car and it ran like a new one! Some notables missing. I hope all is well with them, The Bugatti I can account for, it had a failure with its trailer on the way up to Northam, so you will have to wait a little longer to see that going, Me, I have already seen it and heard it go, that 8 cylinder sounds terrific and I am sure when you all get to hear it you will agree. I have a little bit of film footage to load up on to You Tube of the cars in Event 1 so keep a look out on the web, I think I got everyone on the tape. I was over with the Group N Boys and Girls and for a change, got to see the JKL group in action, take it from me, you (Me) look great out there and I think the public agrees with me in that as far as a visual spectacle goes, the front engine cars are the best. And none of these overtaking rules either.

Barbagallo - April 19th.

This is our first racing event for this year and is only one of three at Barbagallo, so don't miss out. As I said call Raymond for your entry. Which brings me to the name and shame section? Where are all of the other log book cars? If they have a log book why not have them on the track. I will go out on a limb here, but, if the owners don't or cannot race them then why not let the young have a go in them? I understand their value and to all they are a precious device, but they don't get any better or grow their history sitting in the shed. Log book entries are what it's all about, and what better gift to the next generation than to have their names in the log book and history pages of their forefathers. Think about it. It's an investment in the future and well, it doesn't cost a whole lot to update a log book and prepare a driver and what perfect gifts for the young at about the price of a couple of V8 track days. Back off my horse now.

Winton/Albany

Well you have made your choice by now so best make sure you have accommodation booked. Either way you choose you couldn't be a loser in this two horse race. Albany on the streets or Winton on the circuit, both correct answers. Albany entries are on the VSCC website soon.

Thomas A. Benson

NEXT MONTH

News to come.

I was going to tell the story of the Tasmanian Group L sports on the way back to the track but that will have to wait I am afraid.

Do you have some news??

Well let me know your secrets they won't be secrets for long

Calendar Updates

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