Stand-alone Radical Races A Real Winner
2nd September 2009
Glynn Edis, Trevor Gerber and Peter Opie all wrote themselves into the Radical history books on September 1 by taking a race apiece in Round Six of the Radical Australia Cup at Eastern Creek.
Edis won the first-ever Radical-only race in Australia - a seven lap sprint - on Tuesday afternoon in his recently acquired 2009-spec SR3. Matt Carolan and Greg Smith took second and third after a close dice.
"It took me a little while to work the new car out but it's really well-balanced now and IÕm very happy to take the win," said Edis.
In the second seven lap sprint race Edis was beaten to the flag by Trevor Gerber in a very close finish.
Andrei Tan was third driving his new 2009-spec SR8, after spinning off while in the lead. He finished only just ahead of Ed Singleton who was driving Phil Anseline's SR3.
The main event of the afternoon was a one-hour race, including a compulsory pit stop with an option for driver change.
In a race of changing fortunes the outcome was influenced by a safety car period just before the 30 minute mark, triggered by an off-track excursion by Oliver Smith.
Good pit stop strategy saw Peter Opie emerge in front and he took the chequered flag ( waved by Mick Hyde) at the one hour mark - 15 seconds ahead of Glyn Edis, with Trevor Gerber third.
Close behind in fourth was the notable figure of Wayne Gardner, former World 500cc Motorcycle Champion and four-wheel racer of note, who shared Mark HurcumÕs SR3.
"That was first time in seven years that I've driven a race car, but I think it's like breathing or riding a bike - you never really forget," said Gardner.
"After a few laps I found it started to come back to me - where to brake, what lines to take and so-on."
"The one-hour race reminded me a bit of the sports car racing I used to do in Japan and after a while I was thinking 'I remember how this works!'"
After six rounds of the Radical Australia Cup, Glyn Edis on 190 points has overtaken Richard Fricker, now on 186, followed by Peter Opie on 169.
