Biante "Champions Challenge"

[admin]

Following is a Press release from Ozemail Team:



MEDIA RELEASE

Perth: 3 June 2004

Bowe To Take On Skaife

OzEmail Racing’s John Bowe will challenge Mark Skaife for the championship at Perth’s Barbagallo Raceway next weekend in what is tipped to be one of the hottest contests of the 2004 V8 Supercar season.

The two former Australian Touring Car Champions will fight it out for the illustrious honour of being crowned winner of the “Champions Challenge� which will see Bowe drive a legendary XY GT Falcon and Skaife, a GTR XU1 LJ Torana.

The Champions Challenge has been set up as special treat for spectators at round 5 of the 2004 V8 Supercar Championship, with the drivers competing in three races over the three days at Barbagallo Raceway. It will be a cut-throat affair with each race just three laps of the 2.4km circuit.

“I can’t wait to take on Skaifey, especially knowing I’ve got a few more cubic inches under the bonnet than him. He’ll be quick around tight bits [at Barbagallo] but the look on his face when we get to the straights will be priceless,� said John Bowe.

“It’s important to remember that not only are Mark [Skaife] and I previous champions but so are these cars. The GT that I’m driving is virtually the same car that Allan Moffat won Bathurst in 1971 and the XU1 was Peter Brock’s choice for his first win the following year,� Bowe added.

“These were great cars of their time and both were built for the prime reason of winning Bathurst. I’m sure I speak for Mark when I say that it’s quite an honour to have the chance to drive these cars on a race track.�

“Things haven’t changed that much when it comes to the battle between the two manufacturers. Just like we have today with the V8 Supercar category, the Champions Challenge will be a true Ford versus Holden battle. It’s the rivalry between the two makes that has made motorsport in this country so popular,� he said.

When questioned on whether he will be out to win, Bowe quickly replied “Of course ! My allegiance to Ford is too big to allow a Holden and Skaifey beat me. I’ll be out there to win every race and show people why the XY GT was such a fantastic car,� Bowe concluded.

The Champions Challenge featuring Bowe and Skaife will take place on Friday 11th June at 10.25am-10.35am, race two is on Saturday at 10.15am and the final encounter gets underway at 10.30am on Sunday at Barbagallo Raceway, Wanneroo Perth.

[Y2kGoofball]

my tip is on Bowe in the GT.

I cant see Skaife pulling it off in an XU1, then again Brocky did it in its time so who knows??

It'll be mad to watch

[brchi17]

Sounds great admin, is there any chance of the tv getting wind of this & putting it on the telly during trackside or simular for those of use on the eastern sea board ???

cheers. :)

[Malik]

gonna be hell good to watch...

Im gonna be there this time too :) hehehe..

[castkrazy]

Unfortunately I won't be there , so I hope theres a Tv Telecast of it .
what a fantastic Idea to introduce For the diehard musclecar fans .
To all of you guys attending I'm sure you'll enjoy the race , it should be a cracker !

[69Mach1]

Skaife will win for sure. Bowe will end up in the dirt as usual..

[brchi17]

I wonder how Skaifes times will compare with Brock's considering they'll be driving similar equipment ???

If Brock's faster, I'm sure all the rumors will start about a Brock/HRT come back :D !!!

It will sure be interesting with the tight twisty corners, suiting the XU1 & the long back straight suiting the GTHO - I just wished i was there :D !!!

cheers.

[Y2Joel]

If it rains, then it will become interesting.

[chups]

i just hope its full on racing unlike the brock/johnson one a few years back which was clearly set up.

im looking forward to seeing this race. it should be awesome, then followed by the historics, cant get better than that

[the_goldie]

I think Bowe will have the edge, especially on the straights. I think Skaife will be watching the back of Bowes car for the few laps, although I am hoping Skaife pulls off a win or 2 out of the 3.

[David Paterson]

This should be fun for those present, is there any chance the Falcon will join the Torana for later rounds of the Biante Historic Touring car series on the East coast?

While we're all playing tipster, I'll have a punt on JB winning 2-1.

[ferrari fan]

Who organised this? or is this a silly Q?
Are these cars owned by ADMIN? or am I wrong in this regard.

Bye the way, is there room for a Yellow XB on the starting grid,? ;)

[Malik]

let's hope they mate Bowe drive with his doors closed for a change though...

[David Paterson]

I believe both cars are owned by Biante. The cut off for vehicle eligibility in Group Nc is 31/12/72, so no XB Falcons.

[Y2Joel]

Originally posted by chups
i just hope its full on racing unlike the brock/johnson one a few years back which was clearly set up.

im looking forward to seeing this race. it should be awesome, then followed by the historics, cant get better than that

What was the Brock/Johnson race?

[mick xu1]

This will be fantastic to see,, Go Holden, Go Skaife,wait a few laps when the brakes on the Falcon start to fade down that big hill before pit straight, dive up the inside to the flag

[David Paterson]

The races are only three laps long. The Falcon brakes will last OK.

[wayno]

I just wish this had have been on last year when I trekked across for the race.

[the_goldie]

Originally posted by David Paterson
The races are only three laps long. The Falcon brakes will last OK.

Seems the brakes didn't last... I was reading in Motorsport News that Skaife won the only race they contested. Bowe cooked the brakes ;) Go the Torana!

[Michael49]

I've been waiting a hell of a long time to see the Old tourers going round on TV, if you look back a bit you can see my thread on this. Finally we get to see these old cars going round again on the tele. and i suspect Biante had a hand in it somewhere.
While i was delighted to see the old buggers going round i was very disappointed at the turnout of cars....or the lack of them. I know money plays a huge part for these guys so thats understandable, but, WE WANT MORE.
Everyone get on the the E-Mail and let these blokes at Trackside know we want to see more of these cars. Get ya fingers working and sent some mail to,

trackside@redmax.com.au

Let them know we want more coverage.

Cheers. Michael.

[David Paterson]

Originally posted by Michael49
I've been waiting a hell of a long time to see the Old tourers going round on TV, if you look back a bit you can see my thread on this. Finally we get to see these old cars going round again on the tele. and i suspect Biante had a hand in it somewhere.
While i was delighted to see the old buggers going round i was very disappointed at the turnout of cars....or the lack of them. I know money plays a huge part for these guys so thats understandable, but, WE WANT MORE.
Michael, the grid capacity at Barbagallo is 32, there were 33 entries for the Historic Touring Cars! What lack of cars, they were the biggest field of the meeting.

[David Paterson]

Originally posted by Michael49
Everyone get on the the E-Mail and let these blokes at Trackside know we want to see more of these cars. Get ya fingers working and sent some mail to,

trackside@redmax.com.au

Let them know we want more coverage.

Cheers. Michael. Email sent, Cheers.

[the_goldie]

After watching trackside and the historics I was dissapointed they only showed about 30secs of race 1 and race 2! Race 3 they showed alot of and was great watching the camaros sliding around the place. Would have been nice to see more coverage of the other cars, but seeing this on tele was better nothing at all :)

[Troy_H]

Y2Joel,

The Brock Johnson race was at the GP a couple of years back. Brock in the 1987 VL and Johnson in his Sierra. Needless to say the sierra blitz him. Cant remmeber the actual result but the was a bit of a setup. The VL was struggling for outright speed against the newer and quicker car.

[Y2Joel]

Originally posted by Troy_H
Y2Joel,

The Brock Johnson race was at the GP a couple of years back. Brock in the 1987 VL and Johnson in his Sierra. Needless to say the sierra blitz him. Cant remmeber the actual result but the was a bit of a setup. The VL was struggling for outright speed against the newer and quicker car.

They should have got the old Group C Big Bangers back on track.

[Malik]

wouldnt mind seeing another Brock/Johnson race in current supercars...

[Michael49]

David.

I had'nt realised there was that many cars there. maybe the post by The_Goldie says it all....just not enough Tele. time.We want more and yes it was great to see then sliding around with no brakes.

Lets hope and get the E-Mails in.

Cheers. Michael.