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AUSTRALIAN FORMULA JUNIOR ASSOCIATION Email: afja@iprimus.com.au Executive Committee |
PITSTOP
The 6th Annual Meeting of the Australian Formula Junior Association was held at Phillip Island during the Historic Race meeting early March. There were 30 people in attendance including 8 visitors from New Zealand. Highlights from the meeting included the presentation of Annual Trophies to Nick McDonald and Graham Brown, the re election of the current committee, and an exciting discussion on a possible Junior Tasman Series.
The meeting decided to canvass all members for their opinion on our current series also a cross Tasman competition. A questionnaire seeking member's attitudes to these matters is included with this edition of Pitstop, and it would help if members could respond by return mail.
Nick McDonald presented to the meeting a revised pictorial promotional document, called Formula Junior in Australia, with current information on 53 cars available for specific FJ events. The presentation is more comprehensive than its predecessor prepared for the Grand Prix Corporation submission in 2001, and will be used in discussions with promoters and potential sponsors. Thank you Nick McDonald.
The AFJA have received confirmation of our involvement at the Australian Historic Motor Racing Festival at Winton where we require a minimum 20 cars for the weekend of October 4th and 5th. Without doubt this is our most ambitious proposal to date, however, we have five months to sort out the car and driver to be part of the largest Formula Junior event in Australia ever.
During the weekend, the AFJA hope to obtain sufficient video coverage from trackside and in car cameras to produce more promotional material. Also, we would like to arrange a function for Saturday evening for members and their crew.
In researching the history on my car recently it became necessary to disassociate my Lynx from other cars on lists provided by others. Eventually I was involved in establishing a comprehensive list of owners, and I thank AFJA members for their assistance. For the record I have histories on 16 cars built during 1961 and 1962 of which 10 were Juniors, 5 were 1961 MK2 and 5 MK3 slimline from 1962. The interesting statistic is that Lynx built more Formula juniors than any other Australian manufacturer.
KELVIN PRIOR
AFJA SECRETARY
1. "Sasin" Formula Junior built by the late Maurice Dinn from Victoria. This car competed in FJ events during 1963 with 1098 cc engine, and was originally blue.
2. "Cadjar" Formula Junior with 948 cc engine entered by Elonora Ser/Stn. R. Caddy raced this blue car in NSW.
3. "Wren" Formula Junior. This car possibly the first of a series and was raced in Victoria during 1963 by K. Reynolds with 1098 cc engine and yellow livery.
PROGRAM: Voluntary private practice on Friday 25th July. Racing Saturday and Sunday 26th and 27th July Circuit - Qld. Raceway at Willowbank
ENTRIES: Entry forms and sup. Regs. Available shortly on www.hrcc.org.au.
EVENTS: During the weekend the AFJA will nominate two scratch races where points will be awarded towards our Trophy Series
NOTE: Please indicate on the entry that your car is Formula Junior as we are advised that around 10 cars will qualify for FJ only events.
This event is traditionally held at Easter and this year fell on the weekend of April 19th and 20th. Many practiced on Friday to maximize their skills and ensure the car was behaving since its last outing.
A contingent of Victorians ventured interstate to contest 5 races, of which two gained points toward our Annual Trophy Series.
Local driver Ian Ashford drove Wayne Hocking's TAD, but was no match for Nick McDonald in his BT2. Murray Bryden (MRC) obviously enjoyed himself, unlike last year when the car gave problems, and Grant Patullo (Golford) still continues to improve his lap times for each event.
Mallala at Easter is a social occasion where the organizing SA Club endeavors to make this event an enjoyable experience, especially for interstate visitors, and this year was no exception.
The Essenkay at Phillip Island - an attractive car built in 1960 by Peter Brady and raced in historics by current owner Phil De Gruchy
The Phillip Island Classic all historic race meeting is held annually one week before the Australian F1 Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne. This year a record 450 entries meant that the organization needed to be slick to provide 3 races for each car during the weekend.
Nick McDonald (BT2) qualified beside a 3500 cc Buick engined Brabham on the front row of a mixed grid. He achieved 4th place overall in front of superior equipment in the first event on Saturday. He also broke his own FJ lap time to record 1.49.78 and was well ahead of the second placed junior of Murray Bryden (MRC) by race end. Grant Patullo (Golford) was third, followed by Peter Johnson (BT6). Phillip Venables (Nota) and Graham Brown (Lynx) who left the circuit on the final lap.
The second scratch race on Sunday was red flagged and restarted without Nick McDonald (BT2) as a stray stone had damaged his radiator. The subsequent race saw Murray Bryden (MRC) hold out Graham Brown (Lynx) to take maximum points, and Philip Venables retired his Nota with overheating.
Besides the 6 cars competing this weekend, AFJA members unable to race established a Static Display of Formula Junior cars in the pit area. Judging by spectator interest during the weekend we achieved the desired result.
Photo of display the Stangellini owned by Ean McDowell, a Lotus 18 owned by John and Shirley Hartnett, the Essenkay FJ of Phil De Gruchy and Kelvin Prior's Lynx BMC.
With two rounds contested the consistency of Murray Bryden in his MRC Lotus enable him to lead the competition, even though the Brabham BT2 of Nick McDonald has a perfect score in each event contested.
Well that's motor racing when a small stone from another cars tyre can put you out of an event.
Of interest is the lack of early FJ1 cars, for had a solitary pre '62 car finished all four races held so far; it would be leading the competition with 40 points.
| Owner/Driver | Car | Group | Phillip Island | Mallala | Total |
| Murray Bryden Vic | MRC | FJ2# | 8 + 10 | 8 + 6 | 32 |
| Nick McDonald Vic | BT2 | FJ2 | 10 + 0 | 10 + 10 | 30 |
| Grant Patullo Vic | Golford | FJ2# | 6 + 60 | 4 + 4 | 20 |
| Ian Ashford SA | TAD | FJ2# | - | 6 + 8 | 14 |
| Graham Brown | Lynx | FJ2# | 1 + 8 | - | 9 |
| Peter Johnson NSW | BT6 | FJ2 | 4 + 4 | - | 8 |
| Philip Venables Fr. | Nota | FJ2# | 3 + 1 | - | 4 |
# Denotes Australian built car with points towards the Retireinvest Perpetual Trophy
Graham Brown (Lynx) receiving the Retireinvest Trophy for 2002 at the Annual AFJA Meeting
 Retireinvest Perpetual Trophy |
Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 |
March 1 & 2 April 19 & 20 July 26 & 27 Sept 6 & 7 Oct 4 & 5 Nov 29 & 30 |
Phillip Island, Vic Mallala Historic, SA Ipswich Historic, Qld Eastern Creek, NSW Winton Festival, Vic Wakefield, NSW |
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Of particular interest is the recent sale by George Yeremeyev of the only rear engine Nota Formula Junior to the ex Pat Australian Philip Venables now living at Taninges in the South of France. Philip drove the car at Phillip Island before shipping it overseas where he intends to compete in European FJ events.
Also of interest, the importation of a Lotus 22 from the USA by Les Miller and son Michael of NSW. The car 22J5 is complete less motor and transmission, but has been in storage since the late sixties and very original. It will need full restoration before appearing in future events. Welcome Les and Michael to membership of the AFJA.
Another car on the move involves the 1961 Schazum BMC advertised in "Pitstop" by Peter Cooper from Albury. Peter has sold the car, and the new owner from the northern suburbs of Sydney intends to race it in historic events. We understand that NSW Mini expert Graham Russell will be involved in preparing the car, and will wave his magic wand to make it more competitive.
Great to hear that Brian Harker from SA is recovering from major surgery, however his Lotus 18 will unfortunately be sold, and hopefully to an Australian, as this car has considerable history as a Team Lotus Works Car, and as such would be attractive to overseas buyers.
Other interesting car movements involve two Lotus 18 cars; information just to hand reveals the car advertised by Todd Hamilton in Pitstop has now been sold. The new owner is Roger Ealand of Marcos Sports Racing Car fame from Murwillumbah in northern NSW.
The other Lotus 18 involves an arrangement between Phil Segat and the original importer Paul Samuels. Following some necessary restoration work by Paul the car will be driven by him in historic events, now that he has the sold the Lotus 15 campaigned both here and abroad for many years.
Welcome to Roger and Paul, new members of the AFJA.
For the record it should be noted that Paul Samuels played a vital role in the formation of the AFJA. Five years ago Paul helped organise our first meeting of members at Goulburn, and promoted our first FJ only event at Wakefield Park. So when you see Paul in the 18 on the circuit just wave him past as a matter of respect.
Nick McDonald (BT2 receiving the AFJA Perpetual Trophy for 2002 from Secretary Kelvin at the recent AGM
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For Sale via Secretary Kelvin Prior
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For Sale 1963 Donford Formula Junior
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For Sale Golford Aust. Special All steel 1040 cc Ford 105E Engine. Close ration 4 speed VW Transmission. Car fully restored by current owner. Current CAMS Log Book and C. of D. Price $20,000 with trailer Contact Grant Patullo (03) 9484 2253
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For Sale 1960 Essenkay Formula Junior
Attractive Australian Special with history. 1089 cc Skoda engine, 36 hp VW transmission, drum brakes, alloy body, unused since 1992. Price $18,500 ono Contract Philip DeGruchy (03) 9898 3677 or 0408 398 624
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For Sale 1960 Team Lotus 18J703
Fully restored Lotus works car, excellent history, all documented. Brand new full steel 1100 cc engine, some spares. Offers in excess of $50,000 considered. Contact Brian Harker (08) 8272 0705
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For sale 1961 Lotus 20J959
This car originally owned by Lionel Ayres Qld. Full restoration near complete (like new). Genuine enquiries only with offers in excess of $60,000 Contact Murray Bryden (03) 9438 3237
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