Just a few days to go until the finale of the 2006 Interclub series for EP and GP on-road. This time the host club is the Sunshine Coast at their excellent Landsborough track. For many it will be the first visit to the circuit, and the locals are keen to hand out some driving lessons. Read on for more news and views….

Lots of interest in this event for two very good reasons. Firstly, the Nats is only 3 weeks away, and there are lots of people ramping up practice and looking to test themselves with just a handful of pratice opportunities remaining. For that reason alone the action will be intense. Better however, is that three clubs are tied on points going into this last round of the series – and the Interclub Championship will go down to the wire between the Bayside, Logan and Brendale (QRCCRA) clubs.
Here’s our tips based on the entry listing published by www.scrccc.com:
540: Lots of entries in this class with a few faces popping up that are normally seen in faster classes. A bit of a surprise, but there are interclub points to fight for. Look for a battle between Drew Crawley, Tony Chilcott and Chris Hyde from SCRCCC, and Johnny Hyde, Martin Nichols, Tristian Hyde and Shane Hyde from LCRCCC. John Hansen is QRCCRA’s lone representative but should go well, and Michael Murnane from BRCCC looks lonely! I’m tipping Crawley from Hyde (J) and Nichols.
19T: Look for Anthony Atack to win for QRCCRA, but shadowed closely by Adrian Beggs and Bob Vardy. The BRCCC unholy trinity of Wakefield/Creed/Pearce should be quick, and the lone local Graham Lloyd-Jones will have to work hard to defend Sunshine Coast honour. Logan are without a representative in this class. I’m tipping Attack, Beggs, Wakefield for top 3.
Gas Tourer: Here the BRCCC threat comes to life. Check this lineup: Nigel Brokenshire, Neal Stonely, Mark Richards, Barry Hoffman, John Gibson, Andy Gibson, John Taynton and the might David Guyatt. That’s just the BRCCC entrants! Outside that mob, Peter Giblin, John Wuersching and Greg Charlton defend local honour, Shayne Mostyn battles for LCRCCC and Catalano/Nemetala represent QRCCRA. I’m going out on a limb and tipping a BRCCC shutout – Taynton, Guyatt, Gibson.
Stock: As usual a big and competitive field. Look for Wakefield & Guyatt (BRCCC), to take on locals Lloyd-Jones and Chilcott, QRCCRA’s John Hansen (enjoying a rare day of just racing!) and Tim Weier. LCRCCC has a few reps but look for the Hyde boys up front. If Keith Mackrill or Damien Barnier lodge a late entry, then move everyone back a spot or two! My tips: Wakefield, Guyatt, Lloyd-Jones.
Modified: QRCCRA will be depending on Anthony Atack, and new Team Associated driver Leonard Lai (if he can get to grips with the FTTC4 fast enough). They will be pushed hard by SCRCCC’s Drew Crawley on a high after his recent A final appearance and defending local honour. Martin Nichols (LCRCCC) will be fast as will new mod arrival Adrian Beggs (how many cells this week Adrian?). My tips? Atack narrowly over Crawley with with Beggs and Lai scrapping for third. Conspicuous by his absence is John Perkins and his arrival could change the top of the order.
Pro Tourer: Small field, but tough competitors. Local drivers are numerically strong here, and with Michael Needham, Giblin, Wuersching should show well.. BRCCC’s Andy Gibson, John Taynton and Nigel Brokenshire are all fast, and QRCCRA’s Peter Willis is very quick on his day. A very open field, but I’ll tip Wuersching, from Taynton and Willis.
Club Points: SCRCCC should be strong and might “just” sneak home with the round win on home turf. In the war between Bayside, Logan and Brendale, I think Bayside will come out on top. They are strong numerically and could well dominate a number of classes. QRCCRA have talent, but are skinny on numbers, while LRCCC are missing entrants in vital classes. SCRCCC to take the battle, but BRCCC to win the war.
Personally, I’m really disappointed not to be there this weekend. I have long been wanting to get to SCRCCC for a race, but time and assignments conspire against me. I’ll be an interested “internet” spectator!