RACE REPORT
MAKE SMOKING HISTORY Improved Production Tander Trophy
8 July 2018 – Barbagallo Raceway
CHERRY ON TOP
The Tander Trophy tends to bring out the bigger guns and 2018 was no exception. The event has a significantly different format, and the the two perpetual trophies (U2L and O2L) are highly sought after.
Welcome to new Member Pary Hatsiyiannakis in a very tidy new 1,800 cc Civic. Pary wisely stayed out of trouble all day.
Qualifying
Matt Cherry laid down the rules of engagement with a blistering low 61 sec lap in the Top Gear Electrical Monaro to qualify on pole ahead Reuben Romkes, and Nic Mitic. Mitic only completed 4 laps, likely to save tyres for the 15 lap final.
An early casualty was John ‘Sharky’ Calegari who suffered an oil pump failure on his first lap out. Also struggling were Ron Coote in the RS2000 Escort who was simply off the pace, maybe as a result of new rear suspension and Wayne Chrystal who only managed one lap.
Race 1
Romkes’ black and green Monaro beat the Cherry machine off the line, but Matt repassed Reuben down the Main Straight on Lap 1, heading off to a comfortable 17 sec victory from Romkes, Mitic, Dom Coniglio’s Evo and Brook Newson’s pink WRX. Newson had pace, perhaps connected with the author seeing her car down at Tokyo Motorsports recently.
By now however, attrition was getting underway, with Callegari a DNS, Coote and Chrystal both DNFs due to clutch failures.
Meanwhile in Under 2L, an interesting scenario began to emerge (after Coote’s departure) when it became known the Geoff ‘Ducky’ Duckworth was trying a 2.4L engine despite timesheets recording him as U2L. This meant that U1,600 contender Brad Wheeler was actually on track for the U2L Tander Trophy, ahead of newcomer Hatsiyiannakis.
Race 2
A full reverse grid saw Cherry still rise to the top followed by a pacey looking Coniglio from Romkes, Mitic and Garry Edwards in a BMW E30. Further back were Glen Melling and a struggling Brook Newson who appeared to have technical gremlins.
Meanwhile, Brad Wheeler continued to fly under the radar towards an U2L victory in his Civic 1,600.
The attrition had also continued, with a DNS from Nigel Wilson and a DNF after 4 laps from Rachel Beers, both in Commodores.
The Final
The 15 lap final had many wondering if tyre life might be the Achilles heel of Cherry’s powerful Monaro. No siree. Matt dominated and ended up with a 30 sec lead to win the O2L Tander Trophy. Tyres may have played a role in respect of Nic Mitic’s second spot on the podium in his agile 3.2L BMW, ahead of Romkes 6.0L Monaro.
What might have happened if Dom Coniglio had not speared off into the kitty litter at Turn 1 when trying to outbrake Cherry at the end of Lap 1 will never be known. What is known, is that Evo AWD got him out of the sand trap to enable a storming drive back to 4th place when he lost 3 gear, Coniglo finish ahead of Newson, who had managed to jettison the gremlins from Race 2.
U1,600 pilot Brad Wheeler likely surprised himself (as well as everyone else) by taking the U2L Tander Trophy, a very well deserved reward for his consistency.
Casualties
The author is not aware of any significant contact, the five non-participants in the Final all being mechanical in nature.
Thanks
Finally, IPRAWA is grateful to our principal category sponsors Healthway for their ongoing support this year. IPRAWA is proud to support the Make Smoking History campaign. As always, a huge Thank You to Yokohama, and also thanks to additional sponsors Jasmat Steel Fabrications and JP Pallets. Please support the health message and the companies that support our racing.
The Tander Trophy tends to bring out the bigger guns and 2018 was no exception. The event has a significantly different format, and the the two perpetual trophies (U2L and O2L) are highly sought after.
Welcome to new Member Pary Hatsiyiannakis in a very tidy new 1,800 cc Civic. Pary wisely stayed out of trouble all day.
Qualifying
Matt Cherry laid down the rules of engagement with a blistering low 61 sec lap in the Top Gear Electrical Monaro to qualify on pole ahead Reuben Romkes, and Nic Mitic. Mitic only completed 4 laps, likely to save tyres for the 15 lap final.
An early casualty was John ‘Sharky’ Calegari who suffered an oil pump failure on his first lap out. Also struggling were Ron Coote in the RS2000 Escort who was simply off the pace, maybe as a result of new rear suspension and Wayne Chrystal who only managed one lap.
Race 1
Romkes’ black and green Monaro beat the Cherry machine off the line, but Matt repassed Reuben down the Main Straight on Lap 1, heading off to a comfortable 17 sec victory from Romkes, Mitic, Dom Coniglio’s Evo and Brook Newson’s pink WRX. Newson had pace, perhaps connected with the author seeing her car down at Tokyo Motorsports recently.
By now however, attrition was getting underway, with Callegari a DNS, Coote and Chrystal both DNFs due to clutch failures.
Meanwhile in Under 2L, an interesting scenario began to emerge (after Coote’s departure) when it became known the Geoff ‘Ducky’ Duckworth was trying a 2.4L engine despite timesheets recording him as U2L. This meant that U1,600 contender Brad Wheeler was actually on track for the U2L Tander Trophy, ahead of newcomer Hatsiyiannakis.
Race 2
A full reverse grid saw Cherry still rise to the top followed by a pacey looking Coniglio from Romkes, Mitic and Garry Edwards in a BMW E30. Further back were Glen Melling and a struggling Brook Newson who appeared to have technical gremlins.
Meanwhile, Brad Wheeler continued to fly under the radar towards an U2L victory in his Civic 1,600.
The attrition had also continued, with a DNS from Nigel Wilson and a DNF after 4 laps from Rachel Beers, both in Commodores.
The Final
The 15 lap final had many wondering if tyre life might be the Achilles heel of Cherry’s powerful Monaro. No siree. Matt dominated and ended up with a 30 sec lead to win the O2L Tander Trophy. Tyres may have played a role in respect of Nic Mitic’s second spot on the podium in his agile 3.2L BMW, ahead of Romkes 6.0L Monaro.
What might have happened if Dom Coniglio had not speared off into the kitty litter at Turn 1 when trying to outbrake Cherry at the end of Lap 1 will never be known. What is known, is that Evo AWD got him out of the sand trap to enable a storming drive back to 4th place when he lost 3 gear, Coniglo finish ahead of Newson, who had managed to jettison the gremlins from Race 2.
U1,600 pilot Brad Wheeler likely surprised himself (as well as everyone else) by taking the U2L Tander Trophy, a very well deserved reward for his consistency.
Casualties
The author is not aware of any significant contact, the five non-participants in the Final all being mechanical in nature.
Thanks
Finally, IPRAWA is grateful to our principal category sponsors Healthway for their ongoing support this year. IPRAWA is proud to support the Make Smoking History campaign. As always, a huge Thank You to Yokohama, and also thanks to additional sponsors Jasmat Steel Fabrications and JP Pallets. Please support the health message and the companies that support our racing.
