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BOWE GETS SATURDAY MUSCLE CAR MASTERS WIN
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JOHN BOWE raced to the 200th victory of his illustrious career today in race one of the ENZED Touring Car Masters at Sydney Motorsport Park today.
Starting from pole Bowe led every lap of today’s 8-lap encounter leading home Eddie Abelnica and Glenn Seton with a comprehensive performance at the 3.9km Sydney circuit.
As many of his nearest rivals struck dramas in turn two on the opening lap Bowe streaked away from the field to win in style in the Wilson Security Torana.
It was Bowe’s 73rd Touring Car Masters race victory and came in what is being promoted as his 999th race – based on statistics from online driver database website www.driverdb.com.
“I came on to the straight on the opening lap and there was only Eddie there!†Bowe said.
“The car was good we’re learning and there’s nothing better than being in clean air. You can drive it as you want to and look after the tyres and when you get a gap like that it’s like a gift from god!
“It’s a nice milestone†he added of his victory. “I’m not a big flag waver but there’s a lot of people interested. It’s a fairly serious achievement isn’t it I guess in a Devonport-born Tasmanian’s racing life!â€Â
Bowe made the best start from pole and led Abelnica from the outset however things got interesting behind the leaders as the field funnelled into turn two.
Andrew Miedecke and Glenn Seton made contact on the exit of turn one the Camaro spinning across the road and to the back of the field – whilst Seton was hit from behind in a concertina as the field packed up behind the spinning Miedecke. .
The resulting concertina caused damage to Neil Crompton’s Mustang Jason Gomersall’s Torana and Tony Karanfilovski Ford Mustang though all three were able to continue on to the end of the race.
Crompton ultimately finished fourth pressuring old teammate and good friend Seton in the closing laps for the final spot on the podium.
“It’s was like blinking and then doing an ‘I dream of jeanie’ arrival and add 15 years!†he said.
“I look around and it’s the same blokes with the same complaints and telling the same post-race tales! Seto and Andrew had a coming together at turn two and I had to prop or I was going to go straight into the B-pillar of Andrew. Tony got me in the back and that pushed me up into Seto.
“No one can touch Bowe at the front he’s Mercedes – he’s Lewis – but it was good fun!â€Â
Mark King was the major beneficiary of the opening-lap dramas at turn two jumping to third place on the opening lap before he was passed by Seton and then Crompton in the early stages ultimately finishing fifth.
Gomersall ended sixth Karanfilovski seventh Richards eighth and Paul Freestone ninth.
Miedecke recovered to tenth place closing on a six-way fight for the bottom half of the top ten in the final few laps.
Cameron Tilley finished 11th in his re-built Valliant Pacer continuing his trend of moving forward from his qualifying position. Brett Youlden finished 12th whilst Rusty French survived contact with Ian Palmer on the penultimate lap to finish 13th.
French and Palmer made contact in turn eight as the Mustang driver dived down the inside of the Pontiac Firebird.
Two further races will complete the sixth round of the 2015 ENZED Touring Car Masters tomorrow as part of the annual Muscle Car Masters event at Sydney Motorsport Park.
RACE 1 RESULTS – ENZED TOURING CAR MASTERS
Muscle Car Masters
Pos Car Driver Competitor/Team Vehicle Cap CL Laps Race.Time Fastest...Lap1 18 John Bowe (VIC) DUNLOP SUPER DEALERS / WILSON Holden Torana Sl/R 5 5047 8 13:44.3306 2 1:41.3927R2 48 Eddie Albelnica SYDNEYS CHEAPEST CARS Ford Falcon XB Coupe 5800 8 13:47.5381 2 1:42.5897 3 30 Glenn Seton (QLD) THUNDER ROAD RACING AUSTRALIA Ford Mustang Coupe 5000 8 13:50.3386 3 1:42.5123 4 7 Neil Crompton (NSW) PAYCE / WILSON SECURITY Ford Mustang Trans A 5800 8 13:50.6676 5 1:42.3946 5 85 Mark King WHITELINE TRANSPORT RACING / K Chevrolet Camaro RS 5800 8 13:57.9200 3 1:42.8359 6 35 Jason Gomersall ISEEK RACING Holden Torana Sl/R 5 5047 8 13:58.3378 4 1:42.9041 7 88 Tony Karanfilovski TIFS WAREHOUSING & DISTRIBUTIO Ford Mustang Trans A 5800 8 13:58.8297 5 1:43.0905 8 2 Jim Richards (VIC) SHANNONS INSURANCE AMC Javelin 5890 8 13:59.8286 5 1:43.0124 9 25 Paul Freestone (VIC) FREESTONES TRANSPORT / FREESTO Chevrolet Camaro SS 5800 8 13:59.9646 5 1:42.9104 10 95 Andrew Miedecke WHITELINE TRANSPORT RACING / K Chevrolet Camaro SS 5800 8 14:00.5281 4 1:42.7272 11 60 Cameron Tilley (NSW) GLENNAN TRANSPORT/TILLEY'S RA Valliant Pacer 4390 8 14:07.9344 6 1:44.0014 12 56 Brett Youlden GABRIEL SHOCK ABSORBERS Holden HQ Monaro 5800 8 14:08.1054 5 1:43.9714 13 4 Rusty French (VIC) SKYE SANDS Mustang Fastback 5800 8 14:10.8494 5 1:43.8713 14 11 Tony Edwards LION MILL SOLUTIONS / ULTRA PE Ford Falcon XA GT 5768 8 14:17.3515 5 1:44.8225 15 74 Wayne Mercer LYNDWAYS BUILDERS Ford Falcon XY GTHO 5800 8 14:19.2953 4 1:44.2409 16 6 Chris Stillwell (VIC) CHRIS STILLWELL RACING Ford/ Mustang Trans 5000 8 14:19.7970 6 1:45.0307 17 46 Leo Tobin (VIC) THD MOTORSPORT Holden HQ Monaro 5810 8 14:21.3319 3 1:45.3110 18 20 Ian Palmer (QLD) STORAGE KING Pontiac Trans-Am 5800 8 14:39.0753 2 1:44.2801 DNF 76 David Falvey (NSW) FALVEY BROS/SAVY MOTORSPORT Holden Torana SS 5700 7 13:06.2922 5 1:46.3890 DNF 12 Adam Garwood GIRAFFE CIVIL CONTRACTING Holden Torana SL/R 5 6000 2 3:44.1642 2 1:46.0659