On the weekend of the 20th / 21st September 2008 at Wakefield Park Goulburn NSW the VRA is promoting the second running of the annual East Coast Challenge.
For those who may be unfamiliar with the concept, in 2007 26 Alfisti gathered at Queensland Raceway to contest the inaugural running of the ECC.
The field was split evenly between Qld & NSW cars with a fantastic time had by all. The racing was very entertaining as well as being fiercely contested, with a result of a one two three to NSW. The Qlders have vowed to avenge the drubbing with a strong showing at Wakefield.
The event is run under the AASA banner allowing entrants a little freedom as far as license requirements go. You will need to have an AASA license or for a small fee of $60.00 you can purchase a AASA / Wakefield Park license which lasts for a period of 12 months. To obtain this upgrade usually from a CAMS L2S you will be observed in practice on Saturday morning, which will be a formality, and .then upgraded to Level 2 Wakefield / AASA.
With these license requirements it opens up the field to guys who have been Sprinting or running Historic Regularity events but have yet to take the plunge to go to a CAMS circuit license. The response from the people where this was the case last year was overwhelming in glowing terms as to the experience of actually racing their mates for position on the track.
The vehicle requirements require a minimum AASA log book, this can, and will be done, on Saturday during scrutineering for a fee of $20.00. Obviously if your vehicle is logged already this will be recognized. The car MUST have at least a half cage fitted as well.
Dorian timers will be used for time keeping purposes and here again if you are not currently participating on a regular basis you may not have your own Dorian but these will be available for hire over the weekend, pricing on this is TBC.
Entry forms and sup regs will be available on the Wakefield Park web site by the second week in July, the cost for the weekend will be $280.00 which includes Saturday practice / qualifying / racing and a covered permanent structure carport.
The Victorian Alfa contingent are very active in Supersprints with the cross over to racing still in the early stage, so with this in mind it would be a great opportunity to coerce some of the Victorians to make the trip north and boost the field even further and make it truly an East Coast Challenge, and not the State of Origin it was last year.
As far as accommodation is concerned there are rooms booked at Trappers Best Western motel (ph. 0248 225 445) under the Veloce Racing name, when booking make sure you mention you are part of the VRA weekend package.
The Veloce Racing Association can be contacted through its web site on www.veloceracing.org to find the latest news and photos of current and past events.
So my fellow Victorians.....who is interested ???
Anyone with at least a half cage. Byrne, Lee's, Nesci, Doherty, Hawker, Pignataro's, there are more I know it....
Sounds great, but don't think the funds will stretch that far this year :(
what sort of race format is it any idea?as in 2 3 lappers, 2 5 lappers?etc etc and would 2 drivers be able to enter the one car splitting half the races or is that not possible. just that would be a little cheaper to half the costs thats all/
Entry form attached.
As of today there are 30 entries for the Alfa Romeo East Coast Challenge. Entries are still open.....for now.
It may just be a record for Alfa's racing together in Australia 8)
There is still just one Victorian entered though :o C'mon Vics.....
Over 35 now, qualifying will probably be split into 2 groups.. Grid capacity of 40 here we come. Well into record territory for Alfa racing in Australia... It's not too late. Be there.
This is the field for this weekend!
Just heard about the event, can I come and spectate? What times should I be there?
Quote from: NigelC on September 17, 2008, 10:41:39 AM
Just heard about the event, can I come and spectate? What times should I be there?
Of course!! The more the merrier! Come and say hello to me if you come along.
Schedule attached.
What about all you guys with camera's in your cars . Maybe some video postings on you tube, we need to show the Alfa racers from El Salvador on you tube that we can be just as competitive. Speaking of camera's, Fletch from Classic Restos will be in the pits this weekend doing stories and interviews with all the Alfa racers . So , grab his attention and you could be on TV. (O.K. Channel31)
See you in the pits
Hollywood
Thanks Phil, I will be there on Sunday.
It's been run and won. And what a great weekend of Alfisti action it was. Check results here http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?21/09/2008.WAKE (http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?21/09/2008.WAKE)
Phil, What's the report? I see by your times you were top 5 to start with, then slid to record a few DNF's.
Hey Phil, How was the weekend? Noticed "my" car was there!
It was a great weekend....just got back from Sydney about half an hour ago!
The VRA boys put on a great weekend. It was really good to catch up with some of the sparring partners from previous meetings and meet some new ones.
The grid looked incredible! 38 Alfa's, and if you lok at the times they are all pretty well matched considering the variation. After race 3 (first race on Sunday) we all headed over near the scrutineering shed and took some big group photos, there must have been 15 105's, about the same in Alfetta's and a mixture of other 'odds and suds' thrown in for good measure.
My weekend started well Q 8th, R1 5th, R2 in fourth chasing Hollywood for third, but went onto 3 cylinders at high RPM, tried to chase it for the rest of the weekend, thought i had it sussed, went out and after a lap it returned, so I just pulled in....no point spoiling other competitors weekends.
Congrats to David Stone, Bill Magoffin and Tony 'K' who all had great results in very quick cars. But also to John Hollywood Pucak who had to be the most improved on the weekend, his car was an absolute rocket ship all weekend long. And a big thank-you to Tony Harriot who put a lot of work into getting this event off the ground, a tough weekend for you Tony in many ways.....but well done.
And comiserations to Colin Wilson-Brown, who lunched an engine in the last race.
As i eluded to elsewhere, the strong rumour is that next years event will be held at Lakeside in QLD. Lets get together at LEAST one transporter of Vic's up to this event.....it is well worth it. Then we can convince these guys to come to Winton and play on our turf!!!!!!!!
Fantastic Phil. So, how was "my" car? Did it still look good?
Quote from: Scott Farquharson on September 24, 2008, 09:48:16 AM
Fantastic Phil. So, how was "my" car? Did it still look good?
Yup, looks great. I met Colin, the guy who bought it....he was looking over my car saying 'wow, its like looking at mine!'.
Some photos...
more.
still more
still more
and more
All photos thanks to Tony Harriot. Any Victorians recognise that yellow 105?
Wish I knew how to put 'em all in one post!
Brilliant set of shots and a brilliant array of Alfas. If i am not mistaken the yellow 105 #32 is Bruno's old car and i suppose Scotts' 116 is in there somewhere too!
It's impressive isn't it! Would love to see that at Winton or even PI. (not Sandown - a field of Alfa's deserves corners)
What were the eligibility rules?
Gee Phil you kept that event a big secret. I can't wait to race up there and be part of it next year. I have read the format, lets try to get a big group organised for next year. What's writen on Spencer's shirt?
Quote from: Gary Pearce on September 24, 2008, 07:50:22 PM
Gee Phil you kept that event a big secret.
WHAT :o Is that sarcasm.....I'm not sure ??? I tried lots to get some more Vic's to come along with me. It was worth going along just to mention the Broncos v Storm game to the QLDers on Sunday!!
Quote from: Gary Pearce on September 24, 2008, 07:50:22 PM
What's writen on Spencer's shirt?
My dad's car is faster than yours. (hehe)
Quote from: Edward Hellsten on September 24, 2008, 12:54:48 PM
If i am not mistaken the yellow 105 #32 is Bruno's old car and i suppose Scotts' 116 is in there somewhere too!
Yes and yes. Elephant stamp for Edward!
Quote from: Scott Farquharson on September 24, 2008, 02:42:22 PM
What were the eligibility rules?
I will PM them to you. Anyone else interested in getting a copy, PM or email me.
No sarcasm Phil just envy. When I grow up I hope my car can one day be faster than Spencer's dads.
If you want to see more action from the ECC, check out Classic Restos tomorrow night at 8pm on TVS31 (Sydney)
Lots of in car footage , interviews and lots of Alfa action. The Melbourne show is on next week ,check local guides
(google C31 Melbourne) and while your there click onto classic restos episode 21(FoSC Bathurst)
Enjoy
Hollywood
Check out this weeks Auto Action (with the Homebush V8 story on the
cover) and turn to the "National" page where you will see an article
in red by yours truly on the VRA East Coast Challenge.
Then turn the page to "Reports" and feast your eyes on a large format
photo from Mother of the start of Race 1!
Thanks to my mate at Auto Action, the former Rev Limiter Luke West for
assisting in getting this into a national circulation motorsport
newspaper.
Just picked up a copy ;D Looks good
Yeah, good pic in Auto Action!
Sorry for sounding like a broken record but only one Vic in the pic!!
is their an online copy guys? gotta link?
Doesn't look like it's been uploaded yet, but it looks like all the classic restos episodes are available here: http://www.channelvision.com.au/classicrestos.asp - worth keeping an eye on.
I missed the first few minutes, but what a great show!
The show has been uploaded to:
http://www.c31.org.au/shows/show.php?showid=316&t=video&videoid=1637
Bloody great footage!