Ford Mondeo | Nissan Primera | Hyundai
Lantra | Super Touring
After successfully growing the Touring Car
Challenge in 2004, Rod and Garry took on the
job of running the Australian Motor Racing
Series (AMRS) in 2005. The AMRS catered for a
huge variety of categories, with a place for
the Touring Car Challenge, and Formula 4000,
plus Production Touring Cars, F3, Saloon Cars
and more.
The Touring Car Challenge continued to offer
great racing, and a finely tuned handicap
format. The team ran Nissan Primeras, Ford
Mondeos, the Toyota Camry and Peugeot 405 in
2005, 2006 and 2007. A great number of drivers
enjoying success with the team.
Reynard 94D | Reynard 91D | Formula
4000
In late 2004, the team was introduced to
Formula 4000 (previously known as Formula
Holden) by long-time friend Ty Hanger. Ty had
been competing in Formula 4000, and Sam was
very keen to move into open wheelers. A test
drive was scheduled in Ty's fathers car - a 92D
Reynard at Wakefield Park. The test went well,
and in late 2004 Mumbo Racing acquired four
ex-F3000 cars from Fred Goddard Racing in the
UK. Bart Mawer assisted with the purchase, and
helped to load the cars into their shipping
containers.
Two of the cars were earmarked for sale, and
the other two prepared by Mumbo Racing for
competition. 2005 would be the first year with
a new engine in Formula 4000 - the new Holden
Alloytech. The team worked hard to get the
engine installed in 94D-007 - an ex-David
Coulthard car, and soon to become Sam's new
weapon. The installation went well, an the car
was transported to Phillip Island where Sam was
to have his debut. (Sam was living in Perth at
the time, and would rendezvous with the team in
Melbourne.) Possibly the country's most
daunting circuit, in the country's fastest
category - the perfect place for a debut! Some
problems with corner-weights and drive shaft
alignment meant that the car was quite twitchy
to drive, and more than a little intimidating!
There was plenty of time to get the niggles
sorted for the next round at Queensland
Raceway, and it proved to be a much more
successful event - Sam was on the pace early,
and after a disappointing DNF in race one, took
fifth in race two - his first race finish in
the category.
The second car - a Reynard 91D was made race
ready for the final round of 2005, and hit the
track with Brendan Julius at the wheel. Another
successful debut.
2006 saw Mumbo Racing's first round win in
Formula 4000, with Sam taking out the Adelaide
International Raceway round of the
championship. Matthew Fox also joined the team
in 2006, taking over driving duties in the 91D.
In 2007, the category was renamed Oz BOSS, and
allowed a wider variety of cars into the field.
Sam took his first open wheeler race win at the
first round at Wakefield Park. Ty Hanger proved
dominant over the course of the year, but Sam
was close behind at the rounds he could make
(he spent half the year in the UK for work).
Davide Amaduzzi joined the team in the 91D, and
Adam Proctor purchased the 95D that was part of
the initial purchase. Mathew Fox ran his own
team in 2007, and became closely acquainted
with the trials and tribulations of running a
team!
Ford Mustang | Mitsubishi Magna | V8
Giants
The Touring Car Challenge in 2007 saw the
creation of the V8 Giants subcategory -
allowing a wider range of V8-powered cars to
join the fun. Neil acquired a pair of Ford
Mustang Cobra Rs from Melbourne, originally
constructed by Prancing Horse Racing, and
driven by John Bowe. The Mustang took a little
work, but proved to be a very quick car when
shod with good rubber. The engine note of the
car is fantastic, and the sequential Holinger
gearbox a pleasure to use. The car is close to
V8 Supercar pace, but would need some weight
reduction and power increase to be on an even
footing.
Neil also acquired the Bond Roll Bars
constructed Mitsubishi Magna Future Tourer as a
starter for V8 Giants. It's a great car, and
very sturdily made.
Mitsubishi 380 | Production Car
Attracted by the idea of racing a car straight
off the production line, Neil acquired a
Mitsubishi 380 VRX. The car was fitted with a
roll cage, and delivered directly to Calder
Park, where it was pressed into immediate
service as a race car. The 380 is a solid car,
with plenty of grunt from the V6 engine. It
proved to be a strong performer in the
Production Touring Car Championship. After some
suspension upgrades from Drummond Motorsport,
and some tweaking, the car was a regular
placegetter in the Class B stakes. The 380 ran
strongly in the AMRS 500, held at Wakefield
Park.