Size matters for models

By Andrew Stackpool
Volume 48, No. 11, June 29, 2006

The modified V2 series Monaro about to be prepped for racing in the bi-annual Supersprint at RAAF Base East Sale.

driver SGT Andrew Gray. .

THE RAAF Auto Club of East Sale (RACES) braved driving rain and hard driving when it held its bi-annual Supersprint at RAAF Base East Sale last month.

SGT Andrew Gray, who races a modified Monaro in the Dutton Rallies, was invited to participate in the event, making the journey from RAAF Base Wagga.

He said race morning dawned clear and cold, but five minutes prior to the drivers’ briefing, the heavens opened over East Sale.

About 74 drivers entered with a wide variety of cars ranging from purpose-built unregistered race cars to standard road-registered vehicles.

His class (Club cars over 3000cc) comprised 14 cars, including a 7.4 litre historic race Corvette and two new Nissan 200SX’s entered by FLTLT Paul Lummis and FLGOFF Daniel Olsen.

“My first run of the day was very wet, so I left the traction control on and let the electronics sort out how to get 470hp (345Kw) of power to the ground until I got a feel for the track and conditions,” SGT Gray said.

“It was slippery and many drivers had spins in the conditions, with no damage other than to egos and pride. The Monaro’s traction control saved me a few times. The second session was just as wet, but the traction control is quite invasive in the way it works, so I felt I could balance the car better on the throttle with it off.

“Overall, this proved correct, as my best lap was nearly 7/10ths quicker than my best on the previous session. Unfortunately, a heavy right foot, a hairpin corner, a very wet track and 470hp don’t always mix and I had a 180-degree spin.”

After a quick adjustment of tyre pressures for the drier conditions, he took six seconds off his times, topping the class time sheets with 1:05:51.

“On my last session of the day, I set out behind a very fast [Ford] Escort to get some footage from my race video camera. Unfortunately, he was holding me up by about a second per lap. The Escort is less than 900kg, as opposed to the Monaro’s 1700+kg, which meant that he could get out of the corners much better. I caught up and passed him on my last lap, as I had a good run out of the corner onto the main straight. I set my fastest time on this lap with a 1:04:74.”

For more of SGT Gray’s rally adventures, stay tuned to AIR FORCE News.

 

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