Garry Brazier’s Dramatic NSW Sprintcar Championship

[banditshideaway]

Sourced from www.parramattacityraceway.com.au

Garry Brazier’s Dramatic NSW Sprintcar Championship

Recently crowned Australian Sprintcar Champion Garry Brazier scored a dramatic victory in the 2009 New South Wales Sprintcar Championship at Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway on Saturday night, February 28.

A damaged muffler and pipe on the right side of the car threatened Brazier with a noise violation exclusion, however he kept within the required noise limit, while at the same time he overcame a fuel problem and also fought off the spirited late challenges of runner-up Adrian Maher and third-placed Ian Madsen to score a hard earned victory.

It was a particularly praise worthy effort by Maher whose second placing in the state title came after he transferred from the B-Main.

“The car was missing because the fuel-tap kept turning on and off and I was driving the car one-handed,” Brazier said in Victory Lane.

“Those last 20 laps were tough, though they aren’t good enough to beat me yet,” Brazier joked.

It was tough going for Brazier – particularly in the latter stages after a yellow with five laps remaining gave Maher and Madsen their last throw of the dice to snatch the title out of Brazier’s grasp.

Madsen, who started out of position eight, momentarily took over the
lead in the latter part of the race before Brazier shot back into the front running position as the lead cars battled with lapped traffic.

It was a race that had everything – not to mention a little bit of luck on Brazier’s side after his car dramatically slowed on the back straight with what was allegedly a fuel problem. It looked like his title chances were gone as he surrendered the lead, however exactly at the same time Brazier struck trouble, Garry Rooke rolled between turns three and four.

The race was red lighted – and an “open” red was declared and that gave the Brazier team the opportunity to work on the car in a desperate bid to find the engine problem before the race resumed.

Brazier initially believed it was plug leads and the crew, headed by former three times state titleholder Steve Brazier, worked on the motor as time ticked away.

With the race set to pick up from the last recorded lap, if Brazier re-started he automatically was set to resume at the head of the field.

The car fired and Brazier took up his position at the head of the field when the race went green.

The top ten at that point with 20 laps remaining read: Brazier, Craig Brady, Grant Anderson, Damian Abbott, Madsen, Ian Loudoun, Maher, Kelly Linigen, James Thompson and David Doherty.

The last 20 laps were nothing short of sensational.

Early race leader was Brady who led for the first 13 laps before Brazier charged through on the inside in the back straight and took over the front running.

Grant Anderson then moved into second spot and at one point took the race to Brazier. In lapped traffic he ranged up on the inside of the six times Australian Champion. Then Brazier dramatically slowed on the back straight with an obvious engine problem as Rooke upended between turns three and four.

At the resumption Brazier led the field away again after the red light. Meanwhile Maher made a strong forward move as he relegated Brady back to fourth. Madsen also loomed into contention – and ultimately into second position.

He then set his sights on Brazier. He found his mark in lapped traffic when he went around the outside of Brazier in turn one.

Brazier got back into the lead and several laps later a yellow light appeared as the laps dwindled.

With the race also at end it was set for a five lap screamer. Brazier had Madsen, Maher right with him, while Brady was back in fourth followed by Anderson, Abbott, Loudoun, Abbott, Thompson, Bell-Bowen, Brodie Tulloch and Linigen in tenth spot.

Maher gave it everything when the race returned to green but he could not catch brazier as he raced to his sixth career victory in the NSW title.

Maher took the runner-up spot, while Madsen was third.

The top ten were rounded out by Brady, Anderson, Abbott, Thompson, Bell-Bowen, Tulloch and Linigen.

An honourable mention must go to Mitchell Dumesny who in the earlier part of the race looked that he may have the goods only to succumb to rear end damage.

Drama unfolded even before the start of the 52nd running of the NSW Sprintcar
Championship when Darryl Campbell flipped in spectacular fashion on the warm-up lap.

A stuck throttle was the cause of the incident as he sped at near full speed
into turn three as cars prepared to form up in rows of two for the start of the 35-lap title final.

Meanwhile Sprintcar heats were taken out by Mick Turner, Grant Tunks, Brodie Tulloch and Brazier.

Brady took out the first dash event, while Anderson scored an impressive win in the second dash.

The only major incident of the heat events occurred in heat two when Craig Morrison and Jamie Cook finished upside down after a bingle on the main straight that also involved Peter Gordon.

Jeremy Cross was the winner of the C-Main from Marty Perovich earned the other transfer spot into the B-Main with a runner-up finish. The battle between Cross and Perovich was a highlight of the C-main.

Third placegetter in the C-Main was Wayne Skipper. Brad Stacey upended his car in the C-Main after he hit the tyre wall between turns three and four.

Maher took out the B-Main and earned a start in the championship final. Martin Lawes was second, while Doherty filled third and the fourth A-main transfer spot was occupied by Steve Caunt.

James Thompson was fastest in qualifying time trials with a lap time of 12.6120 seconds.

Second quickest was Ian Madsen (12.7800) while third fastest was Paul Jeffrey (12.8750).

[banditshideaway]

From what I am Hearing Gary Brazier may not be NSW Champion.

At this stage there have been no Official Results posted on the Natsoft website for the Sprintcar A Main.

It appears to be an Issue with Noise and damage/loss of a Muffler on the Brazier machine.

I was at the meeting and about halfway through the main race the car was alot louder than the other cars.

Parramatta Speedway have issued a statement in regards to the Noise Regs. that apply to their track and NSW Sprintcars. Here is that release.

Tpcr Clarifies And Amends Noise Regulation Ruling

Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway has issued the following statement relating to muffler regulations following the running of the 52nd NSW Sprintcar Championship on Saturday night, February 28.

“In past seasons since introducing the 410 sprintcar engine to TPCR, the venue ran under the Sprintcar Association of NSW 410 rules which were based on World of Outlaws rules. The rules relating to mufflers read as follows:

Rule 1.3 Mufflers

a) NSW410 Association strictly adheres to the 95dba ruling enforced by Parramatta City Raceway in conjunction with the Parramatta City Council; this rule preempts having to use any particular muffler as long as the dba requirement is met.
b) Titanium and carbon fiber mufflers are strictly prohibited.
c) Mufflers may not be attached with sheet metal screws or pop rivets.
d) No switching of mufflers after car has been through technical inspection. Mufflers used in qualifying must remain in use for the entire racing program (exceptions will be made due to crash or other physical damage only, in which case the car must be re-teched). PCR Noise monitor has the right to demand the mufflers are changed after any event.
e) Mufflers and headers must remain attached. All muffler and header components must remain intact and operating. Failure to comply with this provision will result in automatic disqualification. However, if a muffler or header is damaged or altered due to track debris, a crash or physical defect, and no muffler components are lost, NSW410 officials shall assess the circumstances, the amount of impairment, and shall impose a fine relative to the situation. Mufflers must be mounted parallel to chassis rail.
f) If it is determined that any team member has altered a header or muffler in an effort to use this rule to gain an advantage, that team will be automatically disqualified.
g) All muffler rules and DBA constraints are subject to state and local regulations and monitoring. NSW410 Officials will enforce the 95dba ruling of these agencies.
h) When qualifying, a car determined to be exceeding the Decibel limits will get only one lap at the end of qualifying. The best time trial position this car can achieve is 25th.
i) Remaining louder than the Decibel limit on the second attempt results in automatic disqualification.

Prior to the start of this season TPCR agreed with the NSW Sprintcar Association (NSWSA) to run all club Sprintcar shows to the Sprintcar Control Council of Australia rule book.

The following SCCA rule – RULE 7.14 – relates to NOISE REQUIREMENTS:

‘The measurement of noise levels is the sole responsibility of the promoter, and should be conducted according to the latest Local, State or Federal Government guidelines. Member clubs will give full support to noise control procedures undertaken by the promoter. Any Sprintcar deemed to have exceeded noise levels will be shown a noise flag. If the car continues to exceed requirements, a mechanical defect flag shall be shown.’

As of today’s date in addition to the 95dba rule a new rule will be enforced at TPCR as per the following;

“If a car does not have a muffler fitted, or loses a muffler during a race, that car/driver will be disqualified immediately. This rule applies to all car sections competing at Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway.”

End of release.