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Step back in time and discover what’s been making headlines over the last five decades this week as AUTO ACTION dives into its archives.
2013 – Van Gisbergen makes his mark on the debut of Car of the Future
Shane van Gisbergen was splashed on the cover of issue #1531 after his Adelaide win.
Shane van Gisbergen’s move to Tekno Autosports was sensationally confirmed with a surprise win at the Adelaide 500 10 years ago.
The era of the car of the future began with a resounding victory for Craig Lowndes in a rare safety car-free opening race in Adelaide.
But there was plenty of action on Sunday as van Gisbergen escaped the chaos and defeated both triple-eight cars.
Although SVG had previously clinched victories with Stone Brothers Racing at Hamilton and Hidden Valley in 2011, he heralded himself as the next big thing when he took the checkered flag in his Tekno Autosports debut.
His move to Tekno from SBR was controversial, with the Kiwi citing “personal reasons” and the need to get away from the sport only to sign with Tekno in January 2013.
Despite a threat of legal action from SBR and all the noise surrounding the story, van Gisbergen was able to brush it all aside to beat future teammates Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes when less than four seconds into a dramatic day topped the podium finishers.
After his third career win and Holden’s first, van Gisbergen said feeling “calmer and happier” behind the wheel than in his SBR days helped him achieve the surprising win.
“It confirms that I made the right decision,” he said. “I just feel like I drive better myself (than in 2012). I’m a bit calmer and happier behind the wheel and that makes a difference.
“Tekno is more of a family team and the atmosphere is really good.
“I didn’t really train without motivation the last half of last year (2012) so I struggled (in the car) but made it to the end.
“It can only get better. Saturday’s retirement made the championship a bit more difficult, but if we can keep a reliable car and finish in the top five every week, we have a chance.”
Stoner makes his Super2 debut while Whincup is locked in a sponsorship fight
Casey Stoner drives a #27 Triple Eight VE Commodore on his Dunlop Series debut in 2013 in Adelaide. Image: Daniel Kalisz/LAT Photographic
Adelaide not only marked the successful introduction of the “Car of the Future” regulations and the new additions of the Nissan Altima and the Mercedes E63 AMG, but also Casey Stoner in the supercar sphere.
The 2007 and 2011 MotoGP World Champion dabbled in touring car racing, making his Super2 debut with his famous number 27 on a Red Bull and Pirtek backed Triple Eight Race Engineering VE Commodore.
Unfortunately, Stoner’s debut weekend ended with a flat tire as Chaz Mostert accepted the honor.
Off the track, Jamie Whincup was on the verge of being benched over a dispute with personal sponsor Monster Energy as Triple Eight raced in Red Bull colors for the first time.
Whincup had a personal partnership with Monster Energy, which saw its black and green colors on its helmet and racing suit, but with Red Bull replacing Vodafone as main sponsor, a change had to be made.
The dispute went to court and Whincup was in danger of being “dropped” if the court ruled in Monster’s favour, with team owner Roland Dane admitting the conflict would make the then-four-time champion “unsustainable” on the team.
“It is possible that Triple Eight will not use Whincup as a driver in any races during the 2013 season,” Triple Eight said in a statement.
“We (Monster Energy) have a contract with Jamie until the end of 2013. We expect Jamie to execute it,” said then-Australian manager of the US brand Adrian Hunter.
2003 – Coulthard produces some “McLaren Magic”
McLAREN MAGIC was all issue #1030 after David Coulthard’s AGP fame.
Fans were ecstatic after David Coulthard won a ‘crushing’ Australian Grand Prix to open the 2003 Formula One season.
Coulthard started from 11th place but stayed ‘cool’ in his McLaren as the likes of Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Kimi Raikkonen, Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher struggled.
The eighth Australian Grand Prix, held at Albert Park, has been described as one of the best.
“David Coulthard scored his second Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in one of the most exciting F1 races in years,” read the race report.
“Apart from the surprise winner who started from 11th on the grid, the race kept spectators in suspense throughout – something that Formula 1 has been lacking for some time due to the renewed dominance of Michael Schumacher and Ferrari.
“It had its weirdos, winners, and cock-ups.”
Ingall flexes his muscles in Project Blueprint’s opener
Russell Ingall in action on his way to winning race two of the V8 Supercars support event at the 2003 Australian GP.
Image: Mark Horsburgh/LAT
photographic
It was also a big weekend for supercars as the first races of the Project Blueprint era were held at Albert Park, albeit as non-championship races.
Team Brock’s Jason Bright and Stone Brothers Racing’s Russell Ingall shared victories in three action-packed races.
Despite the dawn of the new era of V8 Supercar racing, the 32-strong field was a mixed bag of cars.
Leading the “Generals” team was reigning champion Mark Skaife on pole in the #1 Holden Racing Team VY Commodore.
But Bright for’s older and trusted VX Commodore in a Betta Electrical-backed Team Brock machine made the jump off the line and led the field into Turn 1, where the chaos began.
Over the weekend, Ingall flexed his muscles on his first drive for Ford and Stone Brothers Racing and found he liked the new BA Falcon.
Although Ingall and teammate Marcos Ambrose both had the new BA spec, there was still an AU Falcons in the field with Larkham Motorsport’s Jason Bargwanna and Ford Performance Racing’s David Besnard delivering ‘star performances’.
The race report detailed the situation as the new era was put to the test, with carnage unfolding in every race.
“Given the late start and minimal testing most teams had done with their new VY and BA machines, everyone was more focused on logging laps, collecting data and preventing damage,” the report reads .
“However, that crash in race one and turn one managed to eliminate Todd Kelly (VY), Garth Tander (VY) and Paul Well (VX).
“By the end of the third wet race that toll had increased dramatically as Paul Morris had emerged unscathed from the demolition of his new VY with Paul Dumbrell while Steve Ellery had a shoulder injury.
“In fact, the grid for the third lap was extremely empty as Dean Canto fell on the warm-up lap.”
1993 – War breaks out between Skaife and Jones
A ‘V8 War’ broke out between Mark Skaife and Alan Jones after the infamous clash between the two 30 years ago in Tasmania.
Alan Jones had his infamous pit blast with Mark Skaife at Symmons Plains 30 years ago in the second round of the 1993 Australian Touring Car Championship.
The pair engaged in a war of words after Jones knocked Skaife off the lead at the hairpin.
While Jones won both races, he was fined $1000 for the incident and the 1980 world champion wasn’t afraid to vent his frustration.
“He (Skaife) is just a spoiled kid who’s always had the best gear and now has to work to make a living… maybe he should go to Europe and prove how good he is,” Jones said at the time.
“It’s unfortunate that it happened, but I’ve never hit anyone on purpose. It was a racing accident, it was not intentional.”
Reigning champion Skaife was convinced he was rotated “on purpose”.
“I didn’t cover AJ, so he was quick enough and waited so he could get me under the brakes with no problem,” Skaife said.
“I was exiting the hairpin when AJ ran into my back, spinning me around and I have no doubt he did it on purpose.”
In the world of Formula 1, Alain Prost triumphantly returned to the top spot in an incident-ridden South African Grand Prix.
Despite bungling the start, Prost led Ayrton Senna home by over a minute as the top two were the only drivers to finish on the lead lap, with just five cars taking the checkered flag.
1983 – Jones returns to Europe
The cover of issue #314 said “Crashes Galore.”
As a new Formula 1 season drew near, Alan Jones announced he was quitting local racing and returning to the European scene.
After leaving Formula 1 in 1981, Jones lasted a year in the Australian GT Championship before packing his bags and returning to Europe.
Back then, it was rumored that two Formula 1 teams were circling Jones with Arrows as the clear leader.
“I’m very disappointed in the local scene and there’s no doubt that my future is overseas,” Jones said at the time.
“I am currently awaiting a final decision and when it is made I will be on the next plane to Europe.
“It’s a choice between two teams – one has money; the others have the money and the equipment, but they have a political problem.”
The 1983 AMSCAR season got off to a wild start with “accidents galore” as Terry Shiel stayed out of trouble to win.
Local Steve Masterton faced a three-month ban after the Stewarts accused him of “knowingly presenting an illegal car” while also filming Allan Grice, not just once but twice.
1973 – Mayhem in the Australian Rally Championship
The cover of issue #55 revealed the chaotic situation in which the Australian Rally Championship found itself half a century ago.
What the hell is going on? Was the opening line of the cover story 50 years ago, which reviewed the opening round of the 1973 Australian Rally Championship.
At the Uniroyal Southern 500 in Adelaide, confusion reigned over which cars would be allowed to compete, what modifications would be allowed and how lighting regulations would be governed.
Stewart McLoud and navigator Adrian Mortimer won the event in a Torana GTR XU-1.
Meanwhile, at Symmons Plains, Allan Moffat dominated the Australian’s 1973 opener
Touring Car Championship.
His big orange hawk led the entire race ahead of Peter Brock and John Goss.
You can find more motorsport news in the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.
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