An Introduction to: Production Sports Cars.
The first of many articles which will aim to explain the many classes of racing cars I am involved with. First up, the headline act at the first Top Gear Classic of the season (Lakeside Park on February 19) - Production Sports Cars.Production Sports Cars are a fantastic state-based racing class with participation at its heart. To describe it in world terms it is a modest production-based GT series. The class in Queensland is managed by the Production Sports Car Racing Association of Queensland presently led by Mazda MX5 racers Calum Ballinger and Henri van Roden. The basis of the class are a pair of CAMS regulated 2nd Category classes, 2B Marque Sports Cars and 2F Production Sports Cars. CAMS publish a vehicle eligibility list, the latest can be viewed here. Essentially these are production based mostly two door sports cars in varying levels of modification from the very mild 2F cars through to the more exoticly interpreted 2B machinery.
Historically a class dominated by MGBs, the heart of the class nationwide today is the humble Mazda MX-5. In it's 18 litre specification it makes more than respectable power, especially after a good engine tuner has breathed on it, is light, stops well and has neutral and nimble handling. A car born for hobby racing. Here in Queensland MX-5s in various trims covering NA, NB and NC generations of the car go racing, most often against Porsches. A variety of mostly retired GT3 Cup cars of 996 and 997 variety can be seen at a lot of race meetings. There are plenty of other options. In recent times in Queensland we've seen Ferrari 308s, Datsun 240Zs (another much-loved mainstay of the class), Lotus Elise and Exige (a few former Lotus Trophy cars, but other newer cars too), DRB Cobra replicas, Famous Fane's Chevy Corvette and the venerable MGB. Interstate many others abound, Mazda RX-7s, Nissan 200SXs, Porsche 993, Lamborghini all kinds of wonderous beasts.
The PSCRAQ races a five event calendar across all three Queensland circuits. It's class also has a state championship held across the four Morgan Park championship meetings, two of the Morgan Park meetings are PSCRAQ meetings. In addition to this the PSCRAQ regularly gets together with the New South Wales based Production Sports Car racing Association of Australia to race a three event calendar of mini-enduro races 60 minutes long across the three largest states, usually with Eastern Creek and Phillip Island added to a Morgan Park event. There have been some truly exciting one hour races, the Morgan Park 2010 race was unbelievable to watch with a lead change on the final lap of the race as the race leader attempted to finely judge when to start the final lap as the 60th minute approached knowing if the race went one lap longer the win was lost. The 2011 race was marred by a timing system with a mind of its own which left who was leading the race open to interpretation until the final lap.
The 2012 season should be a fascinating one. Geoff Fane's Corvette is untouchable when it runs, but it only runs at Lakeside. Yet to appear at Queensland Raceway or at Morgan Park. Kerry Finn won both the PSCRAQ point score and the Queensland Production Sports Car championship in his potent Mazda MX-5 with a combination of speed and consistency, wracking up points when the Porsche drivers failed or failed to show up. Terry Knight has moved to Melbourne so we won't see his championship winning black 996 any more. So in some respects it will be up to which Porsche drivers show up and when to see if the hot Mazda drivers like Finn, Ash Lowe and the rest.
What to look forward to: The sights and glorious sounds of the quickest cars. A little bit of Top Gear at your local racetrack. Fantastic dicing midfield in the 2F division.
What to avoid: Hoping for a fight to win. At Lakeside particularly the quickest cars get away. Less of an issue at Morgan Park but does vary with Porsche numbers.
Star drivers: Geoff Fane (Chevrolet), John Prefontaine (Lotus), Steve McFadden (Porsche), Wayne Hennig (Porsche), Gary Walther (DRB Cobra), Kerry Finn (Mazda MX-5), Ash Lowe (Mazda MX-5)
2011 Points: Queensland championship: 1st Kerry Finn (Mazda MX-5) 98, 2nd Wayne Hennig (Porsche 997 GT3) 75, 3rd Terry Knight (Porsche 996 GT3) 63, 4th Gary Walther (DRB Cobra) 54, 5th Dean Croyden (Porsche 997 GT3) 51
Past champions:
2011 Kerry Finn (Mazda MX-5)
2010 Terry Knight (Porsche 996 GT3 Cup)
2009 Terry Knight (Porsche 996 GT3 Cup)
2008 Terry Knight (Porsche 996 GT3 Cup)
2007 Grant Sherrin (Porsche 996 GT3 Cup)
Historically a class dominated by MGBs, the heart of the class nationwide today is the humble Mazda MX-5. In it's 18 litre specification it makes more than respectable power, especially after a good engine tuner has breathed on it, is light, stops well and has neutral and nimble handling. A car born for hobby racing. Here in Queensland MX-5s in various trims covering NA, NB and NC generations of the car go racing, most often against Porsches. A variety of mostly retired GT3 Cup cars of 996 and 997 variety can be seen at a lot of race meetings. There are plenty of other options. In recent times in Queensland we've seen Ferrari 308s, Datsun 240Zs (another much-loved mainstay of the class), Lotus Elise and Exige (a few former Lotus Trophy cars, but other newer cars too), DRB Cobra replicas, Famous Fane's Chevy Corvette and the venerable MGB. Interstate many others abound, Mazda RX-7s, Nissan 200SXs, Porsche 993, Lamborghini all kinds of wonderous beasts.
The PSCRAQ races a five event calendar across all three Queensland circuits. It's class also has a state championship held across the four Morgan Park championship meetings, two of the Morgan Park meetings are PSCRAQ meetings. In addition to this the PSCRAQ regularly gets together with the New South Wales based Production Sports Car racing Association of Australia to race a three event calendar of mini-enduro races 60 minutes long across the three largest states, usually with Eastern Creek and Phillip Island added to a Morgan Park event. There have been some truly exciting one hour races, the Morgan Park 2010 race was unbelievable to watch with a lead change on the final lap of the race as the race leader attempted to finely judge when to start the final lap as the 60th minute approached knowing if the race went one lap longer the win was lost. The 2011 race was marred by a timing system with a mind of its own which left who was leading the race open to interpretation until the final lap.
The 2012 season should be a fascinating one. Geoff Fane's Corvette is untouchable when it runs, but it only runs at Lakeside. Yet to appear at Queensland Raceway or at Morgan Park. Kerry Finn won both the PSCRAQ point score and the Queensland Production Sports Car championship in his potent Mazda MX-5 with a combination of speed and consistency, wracking up points when the Porsche drivers failed or failed to show up. Terry Knight has moved to Melbourne so we won't see his championship winning black 996 any more. So in some respects it will be up to which Porsche drivers show up and when to see if the hot Mazda drivers like Finn, Ash Lowe and the rest.
What to look forward to: The sights and glorious sounds of the quickest cars. A little bit of Top Gear at your local racetrack. Fantastic dicing midfield in the 2F division.
What to avoid: Hoping for a fight to win. At Lakeside particularly the quickest cars get away. Less of an issue at Morgan Park but does vary with Porsche numbers.
Star drivers: Geoff Fane (Chevrolet), John Prefontaine (Lotus), Steve McFadden (Porsche), Wayne Hennig (Porsche), Gary Walther (DRB Cobra), Kerry Finn (Mazda MX-5), Ash Lowe (Mazda MX-5)
2011 Points: Queensland championship: 1st Kerry Finn (Mazda MX-5) 98, 2nd Wayne Hennig (Porsche 997 GT3) 75, 3rd Terry Knight (Porsche 996 GT3) 63, 4th Gary Walther (DRB Cobra) 54, 5th Dean Croyden (Porsche 997 GT3) 51
Past champions:
2011 Kerry Finn (Mazda MX-5)
2010 Terry Knight (Porsche 996 GT3 Cup)
2009 Terry Knight (Porsche 996 GT3 Cup)
2008 Terry Knight (Porsche 996 GT3 Cup)
2007 Grant Sherrin (Porsche 996 GT3 Cup)