Home
Calendar
Points
Race Results
Hall of Fame
Building a Race Car
Specifications
Cars and Drivers
Cars For Sale
Race Tracks
Downloads
Photo Gallery
Video Gallery
Press Articles
Clothing
Links
Contact Us

The 944

Discussion

Forum

Need a Forum Password?

email here

aPorschaPart

Our Major Sponsor

Our Tyre Supplier

Member's discount offerred

Club clothing for sale

Check our TV coverage on Channel 31 Tuesdays at 9.30

Round 2- Sandown Race Report

Despite a week of pathetic drizzle and small droplets of rain in the ongoing drought in Victoria- everyone was secretly hoping for a wet race finally at Sandown. But, alas, the rain held off and we were treated to 3 days of fine, warm track weather.

The 944 Challenge fielded a strong contingent of 28 cars for the race.  The grid was expanded by the gentlemanly invitation extended to the homeless Saloon Car category and 15 grateful Saloon Cars were set off 45 seconds after the 944’s bringing grid capacity to 43. 

There were the customary old faces and also some newer faces joining us- Justin Tate and Mike Rooke. Notably absent from the weekend was 944 granddaddy, Dennis O’Keefe, who was co-piloting for Don Tryhorn in the Lake Mountain Sprint held on the same weekend. The series welcomed back old-hands Rod Smith (or Wocket Wod) and James Vos who finally got their act together to come racing again after a long absence!

A few cars were sporting new impressive paintwork for this round- particularly Jossy Stoffels, Steve Tupek & Amber Anderson with some distinctive designs and colours.

Qualifying was only 15 minutes on Saturday. Virtually of the cars were at the pre-grid 10 minutes before they were due- it was clear that everyone was keen to get some clear track time on the historic 3km circuit.

Robert Lange pulled one out of the bag during qualifying and emerged with a new informal lap record (although not formally recognized as it was not achieved during a race)- 1m 26.52 followed by Steve Tupek, Dick Howe and Justin Tate.

Race 1 saw the parade of Porsche 944’s ducking and weaving up the straight to get some heat into the Yokohama A048 control tyres before a dominating Robert Lange took control of the race, closely tailed by Steve Tupek and Bathurst 12 Hour competitor, Dick Howe.

New recruit Justin Tate was cast off the track on lap 3 and fought back for position 13 in race 1 after the 6 lap race.  Lucky Patsiotis and John Goddard put in a hard fought battle in the front to middle pack, with Jed Command and Mike Philipson also putting in stellar drives to move from 6^th to 4^th and 10^th to 7^th respectively. Back in the pack, Adrian Zadro, Steve Phillips and Amber Anderson battled for the entire 6 lap race, dicing nose to tail for most of the time.

Race 2 was a dark affair as the last event of the day. It was held at about 5.10pm, darkness was closing in and the 944’s were advised by race control to controversially race with lights on.  As the last lights-on race was at Mallala a few years ago, it was understandable that a few cars weren’t fully prepared for this.  At pre-grid, one-eyed Porsche 944’s and blacked out cars littered the pre-grid…not a good start.  But nobody was going to go home and miss this race!

In a positive twist, the start lights were easy for all competitors to see down the grid and around the bend in the dark and despite not being able to see flag marshalls (nor some cars on the track), Robert Lange and Steve Tupek led the charge with impressive times of around 1.27 mark (only 1 sec different to daylight hours!). John Morris made some solid charge from the back of the grid in Race 2 despite car problems earlier in the day. While competitors struggled with blinding shift lights and sporadic dazzling of headlights flashing on and off behind them, most cars managed to finish the 8 lap race much to the dismay of nearby car-hating Springvale residents at about 5.30pm. While not a point scoring race, this race set the grid for race 3 on Sunday afternoon.

Race 3 was thankfully not held in the dark. An incident between front-runners Steve Tupek and Robert Lange saw Tupek emerge victorious at the front of the pack. Romantic Jed Comand kissed the wall hard on the opening lap at Turn 4 and spent the rest of the race as a frustrated spectator.  Rookie Justin Tate, was again having a great drive finishing 2^nd and veteran performer and 944’s “Mr Lovable”, Dick Howe a convincing 3^rd.

John Goddard, Lucky Patsiotis and Vince Misuraca had a tremendous battle for 4^th, 5^th and 6^th respectively.  “Wocket” Rod Smith, Chris Lewis-Williams, Barry Bedgood, Steve Philips & Amber Anderson & Adrian Zadro had a close battle and rounded out the top 12 respectively.

The 10 lap action-packed Race 4 saw speedsters Robert Lange, John Morriss and a re-built Jed Command starting from the rear of the field. A quick Steve Tupek again set the pace and emerged victorious in the final race, securing valuable points over key rival Robert Lange.  Lange’s performance from rear of field to 2^nd however, did not go unnoticed! 

Doherty & Downes unfortunately suffered car problems and Brian John’s scored an unwanted flat tyre.  Mike Phillipson overcame engine misfire problems to move up the field to 9^th. Tate scored his second podium finish for the weekend in 3^rd pushing rampaging Dick Howe into 4^th followed closely again by Goddard and Misuraca.

Amber Anderson narrowly avoided t-boning a spinning Mike Cullinan on two occasions finishing a credible12^th in front of Steve Phillips and Mike Cullinan.

A great weekend was had by all and we are already looking forward to a wintery race at Phillip Island on the Queens Birthday weekend 9-11^th June. See you there!

Full Points table