This was sent to Healeys - Chris Dimmock asked me to fwd it to spridgets...
>ALL AUSTIN HEALEY RACE, BATHURST, AUSTRALIA, OCTOBER 1998.
>
>As many of you are aware, the crowning motorsports event for Healey
>enthusiasts worldwide in 1998 was to have been the "International Donald
>Healey Trophy Race" - to be held at Le Mans, as a support event for the "24
>Heures Du Mans" International Sportscar race.
>
>Unfortunately, for a range of reasons, mostly related to Le Mans
traditional
>weekend clashing with the World Cup Soccer (Le Mans had to move to a
>different date); and then the start of the race (on the new date) clashing
>with the French Open Tennis finals (Le Mans had to move the start of the
>race forward 2 hours) - the International Donald Healey Trophy Race at Le
>Mans has been cancelled.
>
>All reved up with no event to go to, Neil Dunn and Chris Dimmock have
>proposed to the Australian Racing Drivers Club (ARDC), and Bathurst 1000
>Event Management, that an "All Austin Healey race" be staged as a support
>event for the world famous 1998 Bathurst 1000 - to commemorate the
Centenary
>of DMH's birth, and the 40th anniversary of the Bugeye Sprite. The Bathurst
>1000, to be held in October 1998, is the 36th consecutive running of
>Australia's "Great race", for 2 litre super tourer cars. We have since had
a
>very positive response, from both Bathurst 1000 Event Management and CAMS
>(Confederation of Australian Motorsport).
>
>The aim of this document is to clarify what the event is all about; and
>ascertain levels of interest in the event from potential competitors in
both
>Australia and overseas.
>
>SPIRIT OF THE EVENT:
>
>In summary, we have proposed a support event for the Bathurst 1000 1998
which :
>
>- is predominantly a race for "standard" type production Healey and Austin
>Healey cars (and MG Midgets as a "model run on" of the Austin Healey
>Sprite") - rather than "modsports" type cars - ostensibly to the spirit of
>Australian CAMS Group S regulations;
>- allows "historically significant" Austin Healeys (which do not comply to
>current CAMS Group S regulations) to compete - such as the Australian ex
>Ross Bond Healey, (generally, these cars would hold or qualify for
>Australian Marque Sports logbooks)
>-allows the maximum number of roadgoing competition Austin Healey Owners
>Clubs & AH Sprite Clubs vehicles to compete (many of which may not comply
to
>CAMS Group S regulations - but, generally, these cars would hold, or
>qualify, for Marque Sports logbooks).
>
>PROPOSED CAR ELIGIBILITY:
>
>Entries by invitation only. Invited vehicles to be logbooked as:
>
>1. Group S logbooked Healeys / Austin Healeys / MG Midgets;
>or
>2. Marque sportscar logbooked Healeys / Austin Healeys / MG Midgets -
>provided they run under Group S wheel/ tyre regulations (ie max 5" rims
with
>radials on Sprites & Midgets, max 6" rims with radials on Big Healeys - the
>tyre list will include at least one "R" rated tyre choice); and are not
>modified beyond the spirit of the event;
>or
>3. FIA Appendix K logbooked Healeys/ Austin Healeys / MG Midgets
>
>The aim of these proposed eligibility rules is to provide an event
structure
>to deliver:
>
>- closer and potentially safer racing: by NOT mixing 10" slicks (allowable
>on a big Healey under Marque Sports car rules) with 5" radials (limit for a
>Sprite in Group S(a)),
>- a full grid of 50 - 55 Austin Healeys
>
>THE CIRCUIT AND THE ALL HEALEY RACE:
>
>Mt Panorama Bathurst is 6.2 Km long, steepest gradient is 1:6, "Conrod
>straight" is 1.9Km long, and "Mountain straight" is 1.1Km long. As a guide,
>the fastest lap time (set in qualifying) by a 5 litre V8 touring car is
just
>over 2min 10 secs - an average speed of around 170 Km/hr (100 miles per
>hour....) . If you need to know more - go to the Bathurst 1000 website:
>www.bathurst1000.com.au
>
>The "All Austin Healey race" will actually be 2 races; a 4 lap race on
>Sunday; and a 5 lap race on Saturday, with 2 practice sessions during the
week.
>
>There is NO offer or suggestion of "bags of gold" being offered to
>competitors as start money/ rebates etc. You register your expression of
>interest, (hopefully) get an invitation, bring yourself and your car, have
a
>great time, pay your own way - and your friends and family can stay at home
>and watch your exploits on Television. Last year, the Bathurst event was
>telecast in New Zealand; and in the UK (BBC TV), Europe (Eurosport TV), and
>the US ("Speedvision" cable TV) - as well as (obviously) Australia.
>
>WHAT DO YOU DO NOW??
>
>If you wish to express your interest in being a part of the Austin Healey
>race at Bathurst, Australia in 1998, could you please provide me with:
>
>1. Your name, address, and contact details
>2. Your CAMS national competition licence number/ status (or your
country's
>FIA body's equivalent)
>3. Your car details (model, history, etc)
>4. Your CAMS logbook type and class/ group (or your country's FIA body's
>equivalent)
>
>to: Chris Dimmock
> 12 Harold Ave,
> Pennant Hills NSW. 2120 Australia
>
> or chrisd@genitech.com.au
>
> or fax to 61 2 9980 9047
>
>Note - Editors - Please feel free to print this as an article in your AH/
>Sprite Club magazine.
>
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