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1997 Primus 1000 Classic

The 1997 Primus 1000 Classic was a 1000 kilometre endurance race for V8 Supercars,^[1] staged at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside BathurstinNew South Wales, Australia on 19 October 1997.

It was the inaugural "1000 Classic" race,^[1] created in response to the desire of V8 Supercar organisers AVESCO to compete at the popular Mount Panorama Circuit outside of the traditional Bathurst 1000 event, as AVESCO were in conflict with the Bathurst 1000 organisers, the Australian Racing Drivers' Club. While many attempts were made to broker a peace between the two bodies, there was a fundamental chasm over the issue of television coverage with AVESCO holding a series contract with Network Ten and the ARDC holding a contract with the Seven Network. The impasse was solved when Bathurst City Council negotiated a deal with AVESCO for a separate race, to be held two weeks after the 1997 AMP Bathurst 1000, which subsequently went ahead with a field of Australian and British Super Touring cars.

The 1997 Primus 1000 Classic was won by Larry Perkins and Russell Ingall driving a Holden Commodore (VS).

Entry list and class structure[edit]

Class structure[edit]

Level 1

These were the full-time professional teams, aiming to win the race outright and holders of a 'Level 1' V8 Supercar franchise.

Special Level 1

The smaller, part-time 'Level 2' teams, who wished to run on the tyres of their own choosing.

Level 2

The smaller, part-time 'Level 2' teams, running on a Dunlop control tyre of lower, cheaper specification.

Entry list[edit]

No. Class Drivers Team (Sponsors) Car No. Class Drivers Team (Sponsors) Car 1 L1 Glenn Seton David Parsons Glenn Seton Racing (Ford Credit) Ford Falcon EL 28 L2 Kevin Waldock John Smith Playscape Racing (CBS Drill & Blast) Ford Falcon EF 3 S1 Steve Reed Trevor Ashby Lansvale Smash Repairs (Dulux ICI Autocolor) Holden Commodore VS 33 L2 Bob Pearson Allan McCarthy Pro-Duct Motorsport (Pro-Duct Air Conditioning) Holden Commodore VS 05 L1 Peter Brock Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team (Holden, Mobil 1) Holden Commodore VS 34 L1 Steven Richards Jim Richards Garry Rogers Motorsport (Valvoline, Cummins) Holden Commodore VS 7 L1 Wayne Gardner Neil Crompton Wayne Gardner Racing (Coca-Cola, Donut King) Holden Commodore VS 36 L2 Neil Schembri Ian Luff Schembri Motorsport (Gearbox Motorsport) Holden Commodore VS 9 L1 Alan Jones Scott Pruett Jason Bright Alan Jones Racing (Komatsu) Ford Falcon EL 37 L2 Alan Taylor Bill Attard Stephen Bell Alan Taylor Racing (The Xerox Shop) Holden Commodore VP 10 L1 Mark Larkham Andrew Miedecke Larkham Motorsport (Mitre 10) Ford Falcon EL 38 S1 Mark Poole Tony Scott James Rosenberg Racing (Gawler Farm Machinery, John Deere) Holden Commodore VS 11 L1 Larry Perkins Russell Ingall Perkins Engineering (Castrol) Holden Commodore VS 39 L2 Chris Smerdon Charlie Cox Challenge Motorsport (Vittoria Coffee) Holden Commodore VS 12 L2 Bruce Williams Paul Gover Robert Smith Racing (Simoco Radio Communications) Holden Commodore VS 40 L2 Michael Hart Peter Lawrence Michael Hart Motorsport (SMC Pneumatics) Holden Commodore VR 13 L2 Ryan McLeod Darren Pate John Faulkner Racing (OAMPS Insurance, Bankwest) Holden Commodore VR 41 L2 Garry Willmington Bill Sieders Emerzidis Motorsport (Simon's Earthworks) Holden Commodore VR 14 L2 Malcolm Stenniken Peter Gazzard Malcolm Stenniken Racing (Disc Brakes Australia) Holden Commodore VS 44 L2 Mal Rose Kevin Burton Mal Rose Racing (Fairfax Community Classifieds) Holden Commodore VS 15 L1 Greg Murphy Craig Lowndes Holden Racing Team (Holden, Mobil 1) Holden Commodore VS 45 L1 Darren Hossack Steven Ellery Gibson Motorsport (Wynn's) Holden Commodore VS 16 L2 Melinda Price Kerryn Brewer Perkins Engineering (Castrol) Holden Commodore VS 46 L1 John Faulkner Win Percy John Faulkner Racing (Betta Electrical, Fisher and Paykel) Holden Commodore VS 17 L1 Dick Johnson John Bowe Dick Johnson Racing (Shell Helix) Ford Falcon EL 47 S1 John Trimbole Tomas Mezera Daily Planet Racing (Bottle Magic) Holden Commodore VS 18 L1 Steven Johnson Craig Baird Dick Johnson Racing (Shell Helix) Ford Falcon EL 49 S1 Greg Crick Peter Fitzgerald Greg Crick Motorsport (Ericsson, Alcair Air Conditioning) Holden Commodore VS 20 L2 Ian Palmer John English Palmer Promotions (Contrabart Trade Exchange) Holden Commodore VS 54 L1 Anthony Tratt Paul Stokell Peter Bradbury Wayne Gardner Racing (Toll, Coca-Cola) Holden Commodore VS 21 L2 Brian Walden Steve Williams Walden Motorsport (unsponsored) Holden Commodore VP 58 L2 Peter O'Brien Brian Callaghan, Jr. Ron Barnacle O'Brien Automotive (Everlast Automotive) Holden Commodore VR 23 L2 Ray Hislop Tim Briggs Ray Hislop Motorsport (Skilled Group) Ford Falcon EF 62 L2 Wayne Russell Ric Shaw Novocastrian Motorsport (Union Steel, Koala Clothing) Holden Commodore VS 24 S1 Paul Romano Allan Grice Romano Racing (Bridgestone) Holden Commodore VS 74 L2 Kevin Heffernan Danny Osborne PACE Racing (Price Attack, Colourscan Printing) Holden Commodore VS 25 L1 Tony Longhurst Charlie O'Brien Longhurst Racing (Castrol) Ford Falcon EL 79 L2 Mike Conway Gavin Monaghan Conway Racing (Cadillac Film Productions) Ford Falcon EB 26 L2 Peter Doulman John Cotter Doulman Automotive (Allen's) Holden Commodore VP 97 L1 Jason Bargwanna Mark Noske Holden Young Lions (Holden) Holden Commodore VS 27 S1 Terry Finnigan Terry Shiel Terry Finnigan Racing Team (Sony) Holden Commodore VS Source:[2]

Icon Class L1 Level 1 S1 Special Level 1 L2 Level 2

Results[edit]

Top 10 Shootout[edit]

Pos	No	Driver	Team	Car	Time
1	05	Mark Skaife	Holden Racing Team	Holden Commodore VS	2:10.0397
2	1	Glenn Seton	Glenn Seton Racing	Ford Falcon EL	2:10.8120
3	15	Greg Murphy	Holden Racing Team	Holden Commodore VS	2:11.0270
4	11	Larry Perkins	Perkins Engineering	Holden Commodore VS	2:11.0826
5	97	Jason Bargwanna	Holden Young Lions	Holden Commodore VS	2:11.0887
6	9	Alan Jones	Alan Jones Racing	Ford Falcon EL	2:11.2317
7	17	Dick Johnson	Dick Johnson Racing	Ford Falcon EL	2:11.3336
8	46	John Faulkner	John Faulkner Racing	Holden Commodore VS	2:11.4114
9	18	Steven Johnson	Dick Johnson Racing	Ford Falcon EL	2:11.6200
10	7	Wayne Gardner	Wayne Gardner Racing	Holden Commodore VS	2:12.8269

Race[edit]

Pos	Class	No	Drivers	Team	Car	Laps	Time/Retired	Grid
1	L1	11	Larry Perkins Russell Ingall	Perkins Engineering	Holden Commodore VS	161	6:21:55.5483	4
2	L1	34	Steven Richards Jim Richards	Garry Rogers Motorsport	Holden Commodore VS	161	+11.0995	11
3	L1	10	Mark Larkham Andrew Miedecke	Larkham Motor Sport	Ford Falcon EL	161	+2:01.7408	12
4	L1	18	Steven Johnson Craig Baird	Dick Johnson Racing	Ford Falcon EL	158	+3 laps	9
5	L1	46	John Faulkner Win Percy	John Faulkner Racing	Holden Commodore VS	154	+7 laps	8
6	L1	45	Darren Hossack Steven Ellery	Gibson Motorsport	Holden Commodore VS	154	+7 laps	15
7	L2	14	Malcolm Stenniken Peter Gazzard	Malcolm Stenniken	Holden Commodore VS	154	+7 laps	33
8	S1	3	Steve Reed Trevor Ashby	Lansvale Smash Repairs	Holden Commodore VS	153	+8 laps	18
9	L2	36	Neil Schembri Ian Luff	Schembri Motorsport	Holden Commodore VS	153	+8 laps	30
10	S1	27	Terry Finnigan Terry Shiel	Terry Finnigan	Holden Commodore VS	153	+8 laps	17
11	L1	9	Alan Jones Scott Pruett Jason Bright	Alan Jones Racing	Ford Falcon EL	153	+8 laps	6
12	L2	16	Melinda Price Kerryn Brewer	Perkins Engineering	Holden Commodore VS	152	+9 laps	41
13	L2	44	Mal Rose Kevin Burton	Mal Rose Racing	Holden Commodore VS	150	+11 laps	27
14	S1	49	Greg Crick Peter Fitzgerald	Greg Crick Motorsport	Holden Commodore VS	150	+11 laps	14
15	L2	20	Ian Palmer John English	Palmer Promotions	Holden Commodore VS	146	+15 laps	36
16	L2	21	Brian Walden Steve Williams	Walden Racing	Holden Commodore VP	144	+16 laps	37
17	L2	39	Chris Smerdon Charlie Cox	Challenge Motorsport	Holden Commodore VS	143	+17 laps	25
18	L2	26	Peter Doulman John Cotter	Doulman Automotive	Holden Commodore VP[3]	139	+22 laps	21
19	L2	74	Kevin Heffernan Danny Osborne	PACE Racing	Holden Commodore VS	135	+26 laps	24
NC	L2	40	Michael Hart Peter Lawrence	Michael Hart	Holden Commodore VR	119	+42 laps	40
NC	L2	37	Alan Taylor Bill Attard Stephen Bell	Alan Taylor Racing	Holden Commodore VP	110	+51 laps	38
DNF	L2	62	Wayne Russell Ric Shaw	Novocastrian Motorsport	Holden Commodore VS	126	Crash	34
DNF	L1	1	Glenn Seton David Parsons	Glenn Seton Racing	Ford Falcon EL	121	Tailshaft	2
DNF	L1	25	Tony Longhurst Charlie O'Brien	Longhurst Racing	Ford Falcon EL	110	Throttle cable	39
DNF	L2	58	Peter O'Brien Brian Callaghan, Jr. Ron Barnacle	O'Brien Automotive	Holden Commodore VR	109	Engine	35
DNF	L2	13	Ryan McLeod Darren Pate	John Faulkner Racing	Holden Commodore VR[3]	101	Differential	22
DNF	L2	28	Kevin Waldock John Smith	Playscape Racing	Ford Falcon EF	92	Loose Wheel	29
DNF	L1	7	Wayne Gardner Neil Crompton	Wayne Gardner Racing	Holden Commodore VS	89	Engine	10
DNF	L2	79	Mike Conway Gavin Monaghan	Cadillac Productions	Ford Falcon EB	79	Gearbox	28
DNF	S1	38	Mark Poole Tony Scott	James Rosenberg Racing	Holden Commodore VS	74	Gearbox	19
DNF	S1	24	Paul Romano Allan Grice	Romano Racing	Holden Commodore VS	69	Crash	20
DNF	L2	23	Ray Hislop Tim Briggs	Ray Hislop	Ford Falcon EF	62	Crash	26
DNF	L2	41	Garry Willmington Bill Sieders	Garry Willmington Performance	Holden Commodore VR	61	Engine	32
DNF	L1	05	Peter Brock Mark Skaife	Holden Racing Team	Holden Commodore VS	52	Engine	1
DNF	L2	12	Bruce Williams Paul Gover	Robert Smith Racing	Holden Commodore VS	46	Steering	31
DNF	L2	33	Bob Pearson Allan McCarthy	Pro-Duct Motorsport	Holden Commodore VS	43	Driveline	23
DNF	L1	15	Craig Lowndes Greg Murphy	Holden Racing Team	Holden Commodore VS	38	Crash	3
DNF	S1	47	(John Trimbole) Tomas Mezera	Daily Planet Racing	Holden Commodore VS	25	Crash	13
DNF	L1	17	(Dick Johnson) John Bowe	Dick Johnson Racing	Ford Falcon EL	17	Crash	7
DNF	L1	54	(Peter Bradbury) Paul Stokell (Anthony Tratt)	Wayne Gardner Racing	Holden Commodore VS	16	Engine	16
DNS[4]	L1	97	(Jason Bargwanna) (Mark Noske)	Holden Young Lions	Holden Commodore VS		Crash in Warm-Up	5
Source:[5]

The names of drivers who did not drive in the actual race are shown in the above table within brackets.^[6]

Statistics[edit]

• Provisional pole position (Fastest in Qualifying) - #97 Jason Bargwanna - 2:10.9216
• Pole position (Fastest in Top 10 Shootout)- #05 Mark Skaife - 2:10.0397
• Fastest race lap - #11 Larry Perkins - 2:12.3398 (new lap record)^[3]
• Winners' average speed - 157.14 km/h^[3] (V8 Supercar record)
• Most laps led - Perkins/Ingall - 80^[3]

See also[edit]

• 1997 Eagle Boys 3 Hour Bathurst Showroom Showdown

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Official race results, www.natsoft.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org
• Official V8 Supercar website, as archived at web.archive.org on 28 September 2002
• Race results, www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au