The Victorian Six Hour is one of Australia’s premier regularity events. After missing out on getting a team into the event in 2015, Southern Sporting was well prepared for the 2016 event run on July 30-31. The event was full just two hours after registration opened. The team talent Southern Sporting assembled, though questionable, was due to the fancy selection process. If you were first in with your money, you were in. Five drivers: Brad Bassett (BA Falcon), John Street (Mitsubishi EVO), John Rose (E320 Mercedes), Grant Camper (GC8 WRX) and David “Rookie” Glanville (Toyota Levin) along with four support staff: Neil Ruxton, Ray Hogg, Baeu Bassett and Marianne Camper, under the careful direction of Team Manager David Curry were selected.
A convoy started at Yass early Friday morning collecting people along the way with all being in tow by Albury. After an enjoyable but long day we arrived at Phillip Island late evening to drop off the cars and prepare the garage. It was then back to the hotel for pizza and the last of the strategy meetings.
Everyone was trackside before the sun was up on Saturday. Eager to get into it, the place was abuzz with engines warming up, wrenches clicking and announcements echoing over the PA. The air was crisp and filled with a sense of excitement that would rival the feeling of Bathurst. With prechecks, team meetings and drivers briefing complete Brad Bassett took to the track for the first of our practice sessions, only to return with a vibration after a lap or so.
John Street was second up. Quickly realising he was going to be busy with the amount of traffic on track the EVO carried him round briskly. Upon return to the pits Streety mentioned there was a noise somewhere in the drive train.
I was nervous when John Rose took to the track, not able to stop the feeling that everything was not going as planned. But upon John’s return that feeling was gone. If ever there was a man happy to be there, he was it. He was grinning from ear to ear and he was talking about as fast as he had been driving. He was gasping words trying to relay the adventure he just had and the how cool the track was. He couldn’t wait to get back out there. The Merc looked like a silver streak down the straight but sounded like a cruise down a German autobarn.
Finally it was my turn. I rolled out of the pits and there was traffic everywhere. I tried to stay out of the way best I could, as I had no idea about this track. Only four corners in and a BMW flew by separating the group I was in, only to go straight into the sand trap at Siberia. Two laps later and I was feeling a little more confident. That was quickly shattered as I was about to pass an XD Falcon coming up into Luckey Heights (T9). He lost control spearing across the front of me and went off into the inside grass paddock. Thankful that the Phillip Island track was so wide I got past unscathed. You can run three wide here and before the weekend was out a few of us did.
David “The Rookie” Glanville was up next, though only a rookie to us, as this was the first time we were running with him in the team. Everyone else had run together in previous relay events. David’s Toyota Levin is a screamer and from the onboard footage I saw, looks like a
lot of fun to turn laps in. He was quick, very quick, putting in the best time for our first session and this was something he would continue to do throughout practice.
With Brad’s teething problems sorted (it turned out to be issues with new brake pads) we each started to find our groove. John however was more of a worry…
John Street…
I had a horrible noise coming from under the car maybe Diff or Transfer Case, we checked the wheels hoping it was that, John Rose noticed the upright was shiney and rubbing on the wheel so we put spacers on the wheels on Saturday night and that seemed to fix it ….
The pit guys were running around assisting with refueling, running the garage and recording times. David Curry was on the wall with Ray all day directing drivers. Mid afternoon David Glanville was paged to the stewards office for a yellow flag infringement and that solidified the “rookie” title for the weekend. He return saddened to tell the team we would be incurring a five lap penalty for the start of the event. No one had time to think about that, nor do I think anyone cared. Those things aren’t deliberate but David’s problems with the officials continued when he was black flagged for noise his next session out. No penalty was incurred and David quickly rectified the problem. The rest of the day was about trying to be as consistent as possible and find a time to nominate for the event.
Practice ended and it was straight off for a drivers briefing. Back to the garage and DC (Team Manager) got the drivers together, reviewed the day before disappearing to submit our nominated times. It’s non stop on a practice day.
Final preps were made to the cars and the garage made ready for race day. Then back to the hotel for two beers, take away and stories.
It was an exciting feeling as we arrived to the track on Sunday. There wasn’t much to do until the race began, but the opening ceremonies were brilliant.
In the words of Brad Bassett…
It was an event that reminded me of my early days with SSCC running 6 Hour events but I had the honour of sharing it with my son Beau. It was such a well run event and having the opportunity to start the race and sit on pos 12 out of 50 was an awesome experience even after 30 years of racing, The atmosphere with the pipers and pomp & ceremony was something I won’t forget. The comradery from the team was terrific and the piss take was special.
As the event started it seemed all the work everyone had done, paid off. We all just got on with the job. Possibly for fear of getting yelled at by Marianne, who was responsible for driver readiness in the garage, but I like to think it was due to our preparation.
Though the sun was shining it had rained most the night, so Brad unfortunately had to kick off on a wet track. It was drying quickly enough, but the first group had no chance of hitting the times they had nominated.
John Steet was up second
John Street…
…As soon I got going in the race the noise was getting worse. It was any other meeting but Phillip Island I would have pitted. Going out of the pits for the 1st
time was pretty daunting but settled in to have a good run but most drivers kept blocking but it was for me to find a way around them, just loved flying around this great circuit but the drive train noise was getting louder but had a great 1st stint…
The day continued on. John Rose got out there and attended to the job at hand with tremendous aplomb.
My first stint was less glamorous. Overnight I seemed to have grown a pair and was beating my nominated time by three seconds. Some finger pointing from pit wall made it clear I needed to adjust, but I still caused the team the most penalties for the day.
David Glanville headed out for his first stint and it appeared to be business as usual for him. Upon his return Brad headed out for the second stint and found his groove followed again by John Street.
John Street….
my second spell I encountered 4 safety cars and yellow flags everywhere and a certain someone (me) got pinged for passing under a yellow.
John Rose continued on as did myself and David Glanville. The end of the day grew near, with under two hours to go, it got interesting…
Brad did his part and returned. Streety rolled out of the pits and after a short spell….
John Street…
The Transfer Case finally cried enough and went bang, but lucky I was just coming over Lukey Heights and was able to roll around to the pits so the sash could be changed
John Rose for the his last stint rolled out and did the job he prepared for. I pulled out of pit lane and with no-one around me felt good. Eventually I came across a lone Lotus and he and I would battle. I passed him, he passed me, I passed him again. My times were ok. The Lotus seemed happy enough to have settled behind me, but pretty much under the rear bumper. Coming down into MG (T10) there was a “BANG!” and the car launched wide on exit. “Did he just hit me?” I wondered, my inexperience showing through. Around the last corner and onto the straight the Lotus was where he had been for the last number of laps with no mark on the front of his car, he didn’t hit me. Hey it’s an expensive car, now I wondering, was it a tyre? Did I imagine it? Turn one arrived and I sailed wide… I eased up and returned to the pits. David Glanville was ever ready and took over only to return after a few laps with a Oil Pressure alarm. Marianne per protocol had Brad ready and he again hit the black top. He would see out the event for us and as the checkered flag dropped everyone from pit lane was on the wall to receive the final drivers….
It was a brilliant day. The team performed admirably, though the result was less than hoped for, we were happy with our efforts…..
Brad Bassett…
As we said the result was not great but a lot learned for next year and driving fast around the Island the best track in Australia was always a highlight. Thanks to DC & Ray for their stalwart effort over the weekend. Thanks also to Marianne, Neil and Beau for their great support, couldn’t have done it without you. To the team Streety, Rosey, Grant & Dave great times gents bet you sign up again for 2017.
John Street….
I enjoyed the event and hope we get a chance to run in
it next year as I will again put my hand up to do it. Thanks to all my teammates as we made a great team.
The afternoon was all about congratulations to the winning teams and getting ready to head home. Turns out my supposed Lotus shunt was the right rear sway bar mount giving way. Three out of five cars had things to attend to after this event, but each of us look forward to doing it all again.
Thanks to everyone, the organisers, the supporters and Southern Sporting for a great time at the event. I look forward to next year.