THE 2011 ‘Smarter than Smoking’ FORMULA VEE WA SEASON
The 2011 Formula Vee season commenced at Barbagallo raceway on Saturday 12 Mar 11
with the ‘alcoholthinkagain’ night event; the Vees were not racing at night so the usual tight
pit stops between races were required. FVAWA had secured championship sponsorship from
Healthway so the ‘Smarter than Smoking’ season kicked off with qualifying at 1425, the
pressure was on and the year had finally commenced. Fourteen cars rolled down the south
ramp for the first 10 minute session of the year, surprisingly
there were seven cars from both 1200 and 1600 classes. Karl
Hashfield made what was to be his only meeting for the year
and qualified fifth, a
significant result bearing in
mind he had never raced in
Vees before. Glen Terlick
#57 made his only appearance on the track this year
before regrettably selling his car. Ben Riley used a tow
from DC down the hill on
lap 4 to ease into the 1.08s,
leaving the rest of 1600 field spaced out to the 1.12s. John
Cousins #7 had worked his FI/FO roster from a rig in the sea
2000 km north to be in Perth and set the pace in the 1200s.
Race 1 was won by Jacob Parsons with Cameron
Edwards not starting. The 1200s were having a great
battle with Robert Lambe #18 showing what he can do
by winning the 1200s after a great chase of Campbell
Gow #17 in the ever improving 1600 Stinger.
Race 2 was a chance for Ben Riley to return to winning
form; both Jacers went into the last corner side by side with the Stinger right behind. Jacob
half spun on the inside causing DC to lift and Ben to run for the line. Steve Williams secured
the 1200s by 9 seconds showing his potential for the rest of the year.
The final race was clearly won by Jacob Parsons #41 with Cameron Edwards #2, Ben Riley
#1 and David Campbell finishing in that
order but all crossing the line within 0.3
of a second, close racing with millimetre
perfect car placement showed what was
in store for the spectators in Formula
Vee for 2011. Jacob took the meeting
win with Ben Riley second and DC
third. Steve Williams was pushed to the
line by David Gourbould but managed to hang on to take the meeting win in the 1200s with
Robert Lambe second and David Gourbould third. A great start to the year for Formula Vee,
despite the low sun down the hill on race 3. Spare a thought for Andrew Calvert who pushed
hard but only managed to finish one race.
Round 2 was at Collie on 14/15 May and part of the FVAWA
championship but not the State championship. A few drivers decided to
stay away as the track had debatable reputation for damaging cars. Only
eight teams made the journey south and Brett Scarey did not manage to
start. DC lost power with an unseated valve on the Saturday causing
him a trip half way home to meet up with Linda who had brought a new
cylinder head from Derek Burn’s garage in Woodvale. With a typical
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Formula Vee can-do attitude, work by Derek, Josh and Stewart had the 58 car running again
by 2200. It all proved to be worthwhile as DC won the 1600s and Steven Williams won the
1200s. Stewart Burns #92 scored his best results of
the year at Collie and a race win. This was the first
race for Nordine El Hafidoun #98 and Collie was a
great baptism for him, especially as he carried
about 10kg of parts from DCs trailer to get up to
minimum weight. Neville Bettridge #38 also
starred as he won his first 1200 race in race 1. Collie was great fun, a satisfying change from
Barbagallo and no major breakdowns were caused by the track.
Two weeks later we were back at Wanneroo for the Torque Trophy. Fifteen cars qualified,
Bruce Welsh made his first event of the year and John McDonald made a guest appearance
from Victoria in Neil McLay’s Mako #9. Bruce was dominant
winning every 1200 race with David Gourbould the three times
runner up. Cameron Edwards narrowly won the 1600 event
with Jacob close behind; Ben Riley was going well but did not
finish the last race.
Round four is a FVAWA favourite as we present the
Morton Plate for the winner of race 3 for 1600s and the
Zamels Plate for the 1200s. These plates are on show in
McCracken house most of the year. The WA Historic
event was held on 26 Jun and Vees were first on the damp
track following the June rain. The notoriety of the event
even enticed ex-FVAWA President and club champion Myles Lockett to return to the track in
Brett Scarey’s Elfin Crusader. This was also the first race for new boy Rod Lisson #71 in the
very fast ex-Riley Sabre. Jacob Parsons
showed his car control in the wet to qualify
first, as did Scotty Evans in the 1200s. Bruce
Welsh did not start race one and Ben Riley
won the 1600s following some very cutthroat
racing with the top four all crossing the line
within 0.5 of a second. Jacob lifted across the
line causing DC to turn hard right onto the
grass, spinning a full 360 across the track and then continuing. Steve Williams #28 again
scored maximum points
but was beaten in race 2 by
Bruce Welsh who started
at the rear passing 7 cars
by the finish of lap 1.
Cameron Edwards #2 won
races 2 and 3 to take the round from Ben Riley. The Morton Plate was awarded to Cameron
Edwards in the pit lane and the Zamels plate went to Steve Williams.
The GT Tander Trophy round on 17 Jul provided
another opportunity for drivers to get their cars ready
for the Nationals in October and also to qualify for a
refund of an entry fee from FVAWA if they competed
in all of the remaining four 2011 rounds. This enticed
17 cars to qualify but Robert Lambe DNS qualifying
but was allowed to start at the rear of race 1.DC nursed a spark plug issue for the first three
laps dropping to sixth and both Robert Lambe and Rod Lisson did not make it past four laps.
Allan Yeo #77 was going well in his newly acquired Vixen but stopped after six laps. DC
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changed his plugs for race 2 and finished third to Ben and Cameron who led from start to
finish. Bruce Welsh again dominated in the 1200s. The final race showed again how close
and fast the Vees are this year at Barbagallo. Cameron squeezed ahead of Jacob with DC
within 0.5 of a second of the leader across the line. Congratulations to Bruce Welsh for a
dominant win but Steve Williams again scored valuable championship points in second.
07 Aug saw the Spices Cup at Wanneroo and an
increasing number of entries preparing for the
Nationals. Liam Gretgrix flew in from Victoria to race
Neil’s Mako and Andy Stevens #15 made his first
entry in a Formula Vee in Bruce Welsh’s Repco. DC
obviously missed Andy as his regular pit crew and
snapped the rear suspension arm on race 1
spinning off in front of Stewart Burns.
Campbell Gow finished a personal best of third
and David Gourbould #91 eased in front of
Steve Williams #28 to finish third 1200 by
0.091 of a second – very close racing. Josh and
Stewart, remember them from Collie, got to
work with the Fastlane welder and fixed DC’s suspension – the second time these two
superstars have got DC back on the track – so DC started
last on race 2; a sample of what reverse gridding might be
like next year for DC. Cameron and Jacob repeated the 1-2
of race one and DC managed a distant third. Nordine
pushed through to third 1200 behind Steve Williams and
the ever consistent Bruce Welsh. Unfortunately it was to be
no finishes for a disappointed Andy Stevens due to
mechanical issues – the wheel fell off. In race 3 DC tried
too hard and spun on lap 4 from third and never recovered.
Campbell Gow benefited and finished third for the second time taking out third overall and
receiving his first event trophy – Rookie of the Year in the making. Cameron rounded off a
perfect weekend with three wins and Jacob had three second places. Bruce #26 completed the
1200 with three wins, Steve Williams
#28 second and Brett Scarey third.
Tim Riley caused a stir in the pits before
we had taken to the track on 11 Sep by
passing out and banging his head hard on
the concrete. After some first-aid by Ben
and DC he went to hospital and
recovered later that day. Ben Riley was
at hospital for race 1 but made it back in
time for the other races. The 96FM event
had started with a bang. DC #58
qualified on pole for the first time with a 1.09.00 so perhaps the motto is – learn first aid if
you want to win’.
James McDonald #5 brought
out his Elfin in preparation for
the Nationals, Rhys Lilley
made his debut in the Vennom,
Derek Bromlewe returned in
his Borland Sabre, Andrew
Calvert #23 made a welcome return to racing and we had 18 cars
3
on the grid. Significantly, Steve Williams made it into the 1.11s to qualify ahead of Bruce for
the first time. Andy Stevens was a non-finisher again and Rhys
Lilley #44was pleased not to be last in his first race. Bruce led
Steve and a resurgent Derek Bromlewe in the 1200s. Andy
Stevens did finish his first race in race 2 and Steve Williams
pushed ahead of Bruce to take the 1200 win by 0.1 of a second.
In race 1 DC spun on lap 2 pushing him back to eleventh and
Jacob #41 managed to win the battle for the lead with Cameron by 0.02 of a second.
Campbell Gow was beginning to show he was now a contender with a solid third place. DC
recovered to third in race 2 with Jacob again taking the win from Cameron after a huge fight.
Only 12 cars finished race three and the
front four fought tooth and nail to cross
the line within 0.5 of a second of each
other. Jacob took the podium with
Cameron then DC by his side. Steve
Williams made his mark but was still
second to Bruce Welsh with Derek
Bromlewe showing he still had what it
takes to be a racer in third.
FVAWA hosted the ‘alcoholthinkagain’
National Challenge at Barbagallo on 15/16 Oct and another report covers the weekend in
detail. In summary 9
drivers
travelled
interstate, fourteen 1600s
and
twelve
1200s
qualified. The winners
were Daniel Reynolds in
his Sabre and Derek
Bromlewe #53 in his
Borland Sabre 1200 –
from now on he is known as #1 – arguably first National Formula Vee champion from WA.
Formula
Vee
racing
was
recognised as one of the most
entertaining and
competitive
classes at Barbagallo by the
category delegates at a recent
WASCC meeting. The close
racing and constant position
changes throughout the field are
exciting for both spectators and
drivers. The spread of winners and the opportunity to learn and develop as a racing driver are
second to none.
No review would be complete without thanking the many people
who support Formula Vee in WA but who do not race. A special
thanks goes to the two car and engine builders, Gerry Prosser and
Chris Scoble, without whom our racing would not happen.
Everyone who helps, either at home or on the track, is appreciated
and recognised by all the competitors and drivers.
2011 was a great year for Formula Vees in WA.
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THE FORMULA VEE ROLE OF HONOUR 2011
Morton Plate
Cameron Edwards
#2
Zamels Plate
Steve Williams
#28
Jonesy Award
David Gourbould
#91
Jim Lees Award
Derek Burns
and
Jerry Prosser
Rookie of the Year
Campbell Gow
#17
FVAWA 1200
Champion
Steve Williams
#28
FVAWA 1600
Champion
David Campbell
#58
State 1200
Champion
Bruce Welsh
#26
State 1600
Champion
Jacob Parsons
#41
DC
Jan 12
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