Ford v Holden Modified Sedan Test Match, Nowra January 08

Ford v Holden Brews Up A Storm At Nowra

The return of Test Match racing sees Ford down Holden, 44 - 43

Text and all images Copyright Graham Mison.

Team parade with Holdens to the front. L to R: Marskell, Elliot, Duggan and Sims. Ford team. L to R: Sherwood, Bassett, Hamilton and Ford. Mac Campbell is at work on the track edge with his camera.

Ford v Holden, Red versus Blue, Henry's Heroes against the Lion's Pride. To many that is what typifies Aussie motor sport, whether on the circuits, the Drag Strips or the dirt ovals of the nation. When the sedans come out it's the decades old inter-marque war that gets the interest.

With that tribal rivalry in mind Nowra Speedway held, on the 12th of January, a type of competition not seen on a Speedway track for many years - a Test Match, with the two sides consisting of 4 Commodores and 4 Falcons from the Modified Production ranks. Sedan Test Matches were once arguably the biggest events of the oval track season, ranging from inter-club and inter-state to

inter-national stouches. Many long time fans will remember those wild meetings against the Yanks, inparticular the teams with Big Ed Wilbur stirring up the crowd with boasts of how they were "gunna beat you 'hossies".

The Holden team consisted of Chris Sims #40 (Mr Filter VL Commodore), Allan Marskell #9 (Darkes Rd Automotive VN Commodore), Richard Elliott #7 (Carline Mufflers Commodore) and Shane Duggan #47 (Portland Automotive VL Commodore). Late call up was reserve Peter Granger #4 (Grangers Freightlines VL Commodore).

The Ford side consisted of Brad Bassett #5 (Channon Civil XF Falcon), Kevin Sherwood #1 (Macarthur Autos / Ford Pro Wreckers BA Falcon), Bob Hamilton #42 (Coates Hire XF Falcon) and Dave Ford #N1 (Reliance Brakes ED Falcon). The Ford team did not have a Reserve.

It should be noted that several of these cars are in fact Street Stocks but regularly run with the Modifieds at Nowra and elsewhere.

Team Red

Captain. #40 Chris Sims

#9 Allan Marskell

#7 Richard Elliott

#47 Shane Duggan

Reserve. #4 Peter Granger

Format for the Test was 8x4 lap heats with 2 cars from each team in each heat. Points for these heats being 3,2,1 with no points for 4th. The 9th heat being run with the top 2 point scorers from each team, following that would be the all-in final over 12 laps with points running 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 each for 7th and 8th. Add to that the possibility of each team playing their 'Joker' card in the first 8 heats, this could only be done if they were 7 or more points behind and would double the points they scored in that heat.
Heats 1-4
After a couple of formation parade laps by both teams and the first 2 heats for the supporting Compact Speedcars all 8 Test Match cars moved to the in-field, so whilst the 1st set of 4 heats were run any repairs etc could be seen by the crowd. The first heat saw Hamilton off pole with Elliott to his right and Sims and Sherwood behind them. Hamilton jumped the #42 Falcon to the lead out of turn 2, and on a very heavy track led teammate Sherwood home from Elliott and Sims. As those cars returned to the in-field the next heat formed up.
That's one of the great things about these events - constant action with one race immediately followed by the next. This time it was a Holden from the pole in the shape of Duggan's #47, Ford was outside front row with Bassett and Marskell closely behind. Duggan maximised the inside line and powered to the lead and wasn't headed, Bassett followed him across the line backed up by Ford in 3rd. Marskell pulled to the infield to have his engine looked at, and the news wasn't good, it looked as if he was out for the night. Race time was 1:17.69, some 91/2 seconds quicker than the previous heat. Points after 2 heats being Ford: 8, Holden: 4.
Heat 3 saw Holden reserve, Peter Granger, called up from the pits to take Marskell's place from P2. Hamilton was again on pole with Duggan from P3 and Sherwood from P4. It didn't take long for Shane 'The Assasinator' Duggan to work through to the lead, the #47 regularly hiking the inside front in Nowra's pit corners. Kevin Sherwood was starting to get the BA wound up and took 2 points for Ford with Granger collecting 1 for the General.
Heat 4 was a ripper race between Sims and Bassett, these 2 started from the front row with Sims taking his first turn from pole. They ran side by side for most of the first 3 laps. Dave Ford held his starting position to finish 3rd followed by Elliot. At the end of 4 heats the pointscore stood at Ford: 13, Holden: 11.
The Test cars then moved back to the pits as the other divisions continued on with their heats, ominously the Nowra sky had turned grey and there was the forecast of a late thunderstorm. Back in the pits Alan Marskell's Commodore #9 was worked on with the damage not as bad as first thought, he was able to return for the remainder of the heats.

Heat 1 - Hammond takes the first	Heat 2 - Duggan replies in the 2nd	Heat 3 - Sherwood chases Duggan	Heat 4 - Bassett v Sims

Heats 5-8

Rescue staff race to Shane Duggan's upside down Commodore.

Heat 5 saw one of the most talked of dramas of the night. The field formed up with Ford from P1, Duggan P2, Marskell P3 and Bassett P4. At the wave of the green they ripped into T1 with Duggan staying even with inside man Ford, if he could hold that spot up near the fence he'd be a legend!

But it wasn't to be as the Portland Automotive Commodore went up on 2 wheels and then slowly turned turtle, Bassett threw his Falcon into a spin to avoid the upside down Holden. With Duggan's car removed, Peter Granger was once again called forward. This time he used his front row start and led Ford, Bassett and Marskell over the line, not bad for the reserve!

Heat 6 saw Holden captain Chris Sims convert pole into victory and 3 points for the General's warriors. The immaculate BA Falcon of Sherwood followed him home with Hammond in his XF in third, therefore equalizing the points from this heat. Pointscore now was, Ford: 19, Holden: 17.

Heat 7. Kevin Sherwood finally cracked a win in this one after starting on the inside front row. Marskell started in P2 with Granger subbing for Duggan out of P3 and Hamilton from P4. Following Sherwood home came Granger, Marskell and Hamilton.

Heat 8 - Close Racing



Not the best images, but they show the action between the 2 captains.

Heat 8, now this was the best of the heats by far. Holden reserve Peter Granger was on the pole with Dave Ford on his outside. Brad Bassett was directly behind Granger with Chris Sims from P4. A ragged formation exited T4 and was waved off with a yellow. At the second attempt a very tight formation faced the starter and was given the green. Granger jumped to a handy lead as Sims forced a gap between Ford and Bassett. This pushed Ford up to the fence. Bassett and Sims renewed their duel from heat 4 with first one and then the other getting their nose in front as they went into turn 1. Bassett had P2 as they crossed the line to start lap 4, but Sims cut underneath him through T1 and they moved onto the 'D' section side-by-side and stayed that way into the last 2 corners but the power of the Falcon moved Bassett in front as they hit the line, now that was racing! Ford: 24 Holden: 24 (!)


Heat 5 - Restart	Heat 6 - Sims v Sherwood	Heat 7 - Sherwood all the way	Heat 8 - 2nd win for Granger

Team Blue

Captain. #5 Brad Bassett

#1 Kevin Sherwood

Bob Hamilton. Old Fords can still kick arse!

#42 Bob Hamilton

#N1 Dave Ford

Nowra - Brewing Up A Storm

Nowra's weather can be hard to pick, but as the Sun set the thunder and lightning was getting closer so it was only a matter of when, not if, the storm would hit the track.

#47

Long time sedan fans would remember another driver that raced with the number 47 - Brian Callaghan. Fact is the Portland Automotive / Redline Media Commodore was the last of Callaghan's cars and so has some claim to fame. It sat out in the weather for many years before Shane Duggan brought it in from the cold and reworked it to its present state. Great to see #47 live on and continue to win races.

Top point scorers race
Heat 9, the top 4 point scorers race, saw the #1 Ford Pro Falcon of Sherwood take a second win and record the fastest heat time of the night at 1:10.87. Granger came home second with Sims 3rd followed by Bassett. This resulted in another tied score situation with both teams on 27 (double!) points with only the Final to go.
Just before the start of this heat Duggan had returned his repaired car to the infield at the end of heat 8 and was prepared to rejoin the competition but Granger had scored more points and was given the start.
All in Final
As the field lined up for the deciding race the weather situation was worsening with constant thunder and lightning. Perhaps it was Mighty Thor barracking for his favorite manufacturer? What wasn't needed was a washout, we needed a result to finish off an entertaining competition and to get it the final had been moved up before the Street Stock and Junior Sedan Features, and a wise decision it turned out to be. Marskell was the Pole man with Hamilton the other front row starter, followed by Bassett, Duggan, Sims, Sherwood, Ford and Granger.
Just as they got the green light rain started, as they raced out of T2 Marskell was point man with Hamilton then Bassett. Just exiting T2 on lap 2 Bassett and Hamilton

touched with the #44 heading towards the wall. This allowed most of the field past the XF Falcon. Marskell was powering away in the lead followed by Bassett, Duggan, Sims, Sherwood, Granger and Ford. Duggan worked a pass on Bassett and then latched onto Marskell on lap 4. He was in the lead within a lap when Marskell's #9 pulled to the infield trailing smoke.

At mid-race the skies really opened and the track surface was looking very slick yet Duggan was extending his lead over Bassett. The battle for third between Sherwood and Sims was the highlight of the race and went to Sims with a last lap pass. Ford and Hammond were next with Marskell crossing the line last after having stopped twice between turns 2 and 3, Granger DNF'd. Final points Ford: 44, Holden: 43.

So despite Holdens winning 6 out of 9 heats and the final the overall victory went to the Ford team through consistent placings. This Test Match had everything - close entertaining racing that kept the scores close all night, give-aways for the spectators, a surprise packet in the form of Holden reserve Peter Granger and a rollover from the guy who would return in the final and blitz the field, great stuff all-round.

Granger hounded Sherwood but the BA was to fast.

For a slow roll it certainly did some damage.

Heat 9 - Sherwood v Granger

Final - The field forms up

Duggan's rollover - the damage done

Ford v Holden Modified Sedan Test Match, Nowra January 12, 2008 400m Clay Surface

Heats 1-8, 4 laps

Heat 1- 1st. #42 Bob Hamilton 2nd. #1 Kevin Sherwood 3rd. #7 Richard Elliott

Heat 2 - 1st.#47 Shane Duggan 2nd. #5 Brad Bassett 3rd. #1N Dave Ford

Heat 3 - 1st. #47 Shane Duggan 2nd. #1 Kevin Sherwood 3rd. #4 Peter Granger

Heat 4 - 1st. #40 Chris Sims 2nd. #5 Brad Bassett 3rd. #1N Dave Ford

Heat 5 - 1st. #4 Peter Granger 2nd. #1N Dave Ford 3rd. #5 Brad Bassett

Heat 6 - 1st. #40 Chris Sims 2nd. #1 Kevin Sherwood 3rd. #42 Bob Hamilton

Heat 8 - 1st. #4 Peter Granger 2nd. #5 Brad Bassett 3rd. #40 Chris Sims

Heat 9, Top 2 pointscorers from each team, 4 laps

Heat 9 - 1st. #1 Kevin Sherwood 2nd. #4 Peter Granger 3rd. #40 Chris Sims

All in Final, 12 laps

Final - 1st. #47 Shane Duggan 2nd. #5 Brad Bassett 3rd. #40 Chris Sims 4th. #1 Kevin Sherwood 5th. #1N Dave Ford 6th. #42 Bob Hamilton

Final Points Ford: 44, Holden: 43

Lined up in the pit exit the teams await the parade.

Marskell and Sims wait for the parade laps.

Winners are grinners. 3/4 of the winning Ford side. L to R: Bob Hammilton, Brad Bassett and Kevin Sherwood.

Support Dramas

John Evans' rolled his Compact in front of the pits in the first event of the programme. Top photo: Mac Campbell.

That's a strong rollcage over the driver's seat.

John Watt turned his Street Stock Commodore into a wreck when he upended the Ace Building Components #69 in their last heat. Well built rollcage did its job for the driver.

Granger returns to the pits after DNFing the final. Rain is coming down heavy at this time.

Chris Sims seems to be showing Phil Bramley something he's proud of, but you can put your own comment to this pic. Copyright Graham Mison.

Nowra's previous meeting had been washed out, but not before the Super Sedan division had stunned the promoter by withdrawing due to lack of numbers, so there must have been some trepidation at putting a big effort into promoting this meeting.

The idea for this latest incarnation of teams racing sprang from the mind of south coast lensman Keith 'Mac' Campbell. After getting the nod from Nowra promoter Phil Bramley he got together with Ford driver Brad Bassett and organised the 2 teams. A lot of work went into promoting this event with flyers, Newspaper articles and radio ads getting the word out. Support also came from the local Ford and Holden Dealers. At the end of the night it seemed all parties were happy with the night's action. Sedan racing like it ought to be, let's have some more please!