Best Racing at Winton 28/29 April 07

[bestracing]

Hi Everyone,

Just thought I would let you know that Darren is racing in the Australian Production Touring Car Championship (PTCC) this weekend at Winton Raceway. Darren is looking forward to the meeting, it will be the first time he has raced at Winton in 4 years!

Schedule for the weekend is:
Saturday 28 April

10.30 Scruitineering
12. 45 Practice 20 minutes
3.05 Qualifying 20 minutes

Sunday 29 April

9.30 Scruitineering
10.50 Race 1 5 laps
2.25 Race 2 7 laps
4.05 Race 3 9 laps

You can check out all the results on www.natsoft.com.au

Regards Treena

[photn]

im actually down in melb this weekend. leaving tomoz at 5 in the morning to head down there....ill see what i can arrange with the Missus and see if i can pop over... not promising anything.. tis meant to be just a me and her retreat...

[bestracing]

Look forward to seeing you if you can manage it. Might be time for coffee break at Winton? Treena

[outback_ute]

Thanks for the notification Treena, good luck for the weekend.

There is also supposed to be an Aston Martin GT3 car making its first appearance at Winton

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by outback_ute

There is also supposed to be an Aston Martin GT3 car making its first appearance at Winton

They couldn't get it out here quick enough unfortunately, so it didn't make an appearance, but I understand it will be at the next AMRS round at Queensland Raceway on June 16/17.

There was some great racing at Winton over the weekend, the rain made it a fair bit more interesting as well.

[bestracing]

Hello Euroford members,

We must apologize for not responding earlier, but due to circumstances out of our control, read on to here about our misadventures……………….

Prior to this round we have been asking organizers of PTCC (David Platt & Graham Royalett) for confirmation of what weight the focus was required to be. We were advised that all category vehicles would be weighed prior to the event and at the conclusion of the meeting or prior to round 3 we would be advised of the focus weight requirement.

Winton Round 2 (our home track, looking forward to racing after having not competed here since 2004) of the PTCC event this weekend DID NOT happen for Best Racing, we withdrew the vehicle after PTCC organizers advised us 10 minutes before the first practice session Saturday at 12.35pm (12.45 practice session scheduled) that the Focus would be changed to Class B category. Class classification is determined by the power to weight ratio. The focus was weighed along with other vehicles, with no driver and no fuel, empty the focus weighed 1239kg.

The rational provided to us by David Platt & Graham Royalett was:
- PTCC had paperwork (not sure what were it was from) stating that the focus weight should be 1198kg.
- We were told PTCC were going to use this paperwork as the benchmark as this is what they were using for other vehicles, we did not see any other vehicles paperwork.
- They stated they had been researching the focus weight since February and had tried to get information from Ford Australia. We were told Ford Australia would or could not provide the information.
- One website we were provided with that they had been looking at was: www.fordst170.co.uk/specs.php which is in accurate.
- We believe the decision had been made prior to the commencement of the meeting and weighing the car was a formality, they were hoping the car was very light (gee weren’t they dreaming!). The focus was omitted from all prior press releases, focus weight on the PTCC site had been changed to 1208kg prior to the meeting, and the category was receiving pressure from a number of members in the series.

The facts:
- Ford specifications sheet state focus weighs 1283kg.
- Vic Roads registration states focus weighs 1283kg.
- When we raced PCAA series the weight had to be 1295kg and in PCAA Protons have always been in the same class as us.
- Graham Royalett has a conflict of interest a) owns two Proton vehicles competing in class C b) Son in-law is a competitor in class C (Eller).
- The decision was made based on incorrect information and prior to advise given to us.
- Best Racing was not given the opportunity to dispute the information or present our own evidence.
- Best Racing were not provided with a copy of documentation gathered or what was used to base the decision.
- Decision should of have been made after the meeting and by an independent person / persons. Once all parties were given opportunity to present evidence and arguments.
- There are a number of irregularities in the series, cars illegal and there are no Technical Regulations. After reading the PTCC Competition Handbook which refers to Production Touring Car Championship Technical Regulations on many occasions we asked for a copy and were advised by Graham Royalett that none exist!
- We left PCAA as the car was restricted by parity (rev limit (only car in category to have one!), and carried extra 30kg of weight) unable to race the vehicle to its specifications and now facing this new challenge.
- By changing us to a new class it means starting with no points (unable to transfer points across) therefore makes it impossible to win either class championship.
- A number of PTCC members have suggested that as the focus performed well at Wakefield (last year) that it should be in class B. They forget the Focus is very well sorted and prepared, driven by an experienced driver at its limit.


I ask that members of the Euroford Club have a look at the PTCC forum and feel free to make comment on the PTCC forum. At this stage we have not made a comment on the PTCC forum as we are seeking facts prior to us doing so and no-one from PTCC organizers have contacted us.

If anyone has any information or suggestions please let us know.

Regards Best Racing.

[bestracing]

PTCC Forum address is: http://ptcc.ozspeed.net/index.php

[photn]

Thats a rought!!!!

What the hell, and why the hell did they wait to the last minute.... Thats just ridiculous. it seems that your getting the shuffle around cause your too good... bloody hell.. people these days..

What happened to sportsmanship conduct.
OUTRAGOUS.

[Trevor 57]

I will pass that post on to Winton Darren.

[Someone]

bestracing, graham roylett has responded to your post above but over on 10-10ths forum, here is the link

http://www.ten-tenths.com/forum/show...t=95851&page=5