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Issue 22, FEBRUARY 2009

MOTORSPORT LIFESTYLE www.circuitclub.com.au

INTRODUCING...

CAR&DRIVER
O F T H E Y E A R
T WO T H O U SA N D A N D E I G H T

+
WE RIDE
WITH THE
DRIVER!

WE DRIVE
THE CAR!
FEEL THE POWER OF THE LEAF

TEA CAN DO THAT.

 circuit club.com.au
TIME TO TRY OUT AUSTRALIA'S LATEST CIRCUIT
TRAININGDAY
7-8 MARCH 2009 - MDTC
CIRCUIT CLUB PRESENTS TRACKDAY TWO THOUSAND AND NINE
venue: MARULAN DRIVER TRAINING CENTRE date: SATURDAY 7th
MARCH and SUNDAY 8th MARCH 2009 price: $120 PER DRIVER,
PER DAY, maximum: 30 DRIVERS PER DAY including: DRIVER
TRAINING spectators: FREE bookings: INFO@CIRCUITCLUB.COM.AU
THECIRCUITISSUE22
CARANDDRIVER2008
EDITOR’S LETTER CONTENTS
C
ar and driver of the year is a big claim. "What in their rights ISSUE 21
gives them the authority to give such an award," you may ask Circuit Spy 6
yourself.
Well, let me explain.
Dreamchaser 8
Since we started, we here at The Circuit always come across Car and Driver of the Year 12
people within our community that inspire us. These people are special Competition! 22
because it can be sometimes hard to find inspiration from someone within
a community. We always look upwards towards the famous people - those
people who are out of reach and often too difficult to relate to on a more
personal level. DISTRIBUTORS!
But if we can find inspiration close to us, we get to know them and learn Get your free copy of The Circuit from these
so much more. great places!
So that is what Car and Driver of the Year is about. We wanted to pick one
stand out combination of a car and its driver that has inspired us to be be NSW
better drivers or maintain better cars. AAI Motorsport - Unit 19/4A Bachell Ave,
It is important that we chose to combine both car and driver into Lidcombe
one award too. Nothing symbolises our community more than what a Autostyle - 163-169 Stoney Creek Rd,
combination of a car and it's driver can achieve. You can have the best car in cnr. King Georges Rd, Beverly Hills
the world, but if you can't drive it, then what use is it? The same can be said Bel Garage - 19 Clapham Road, Regents Park
vice versa. You could be Fernando Alonso (sorry Hamilton fans), but without IS Motor Racing - 5/5-7 Bermill St, Rockdale
a good car, you just won't, um, go so fast. JDM Yard - 2/9 Mavis St, Revesby
Finding this years CaDotY, to be honest, was pretty easy. Where ever you Peak Performance - 80 Macarthur Street,
looked, where ever you went, people would comment on how fast Jacky Yick Parramatta
and his Honda Civic are. And no matter what you heard, you always heard he Powerplay Imports - 82 - 88 Victoria Rd,
is one of the nicest guys in the paddock. Drummoyne
So we hope you enjoy the read, and whether you agree or disagree with Proconcept - 1a Mellor St, West Ryde
our choice, we want your feedback because this is something we want to Mu Secret - 7-9 Parramatta Road, Concord
keep doing every year. Revolution Racegear - 3/Rear of 191
Parramatta Rd, Auburn
On another note, if we were to crown a Man of the Year, it would have Turbosmart - 32 Milton St North, Ashfield
to go to Garry Wilmington. The ex-boss of Wakefield Park has been quietly Wakefield Park - 4770 Braidwood Rd,
working in his backyard for the past few years and has now unveiled Goulburn
Australia's newest circuit. It's not a race circuit, but a "Training Centre", and ACT
at just 1km in length, its a real cracker. J Racing - 14-16 Maryborough Street,
Seriously, hats off to the guy - if you see him at a pub, buy him a beer. It Fyshwick
takes real guts to fork out the money to build a circuit.
VIC
Chasers - 4/440 Dynon Road, West
Lastly, we are proud to present our first ever competition in this
Melbourne
magazine. The people at Madmen Entertainment have given us 25 double a Garage Cafe - 221 Berkeley St, Carlton
in-season passes to Love The Beast - Eric Bana's up and coming movie. So
On The Run - 137A Westall Road, Clayton
turn to page 22 to see how you can win!
South
Promax - 1 Mary Street, Blackburn
Cheers,
QLD
Narada Kudinar Hi Power Racing - 4/17 Moss St, Slacks
Creek
Project Mu - 286 Southport Nerang Rd,
Southport
WWW.CIRCUITCLUB.COM.AU
The Circuit, Car and Driver 2008, Issue 22, February 2009
Publisher Circuit Club // Editor Narada Kudinar // Sub-editor Daniel Leong // Senior Writer Narada Kudinar // Staff Writers Marc Hammond, Tim Fung, Justin Fox,
Modi Song, Justin Narayan, // Advertising Mangaer Alex Escobar // Art Director Narada Kudinar // Team Photographer Matthew Mead // Illustrator Shaun Tan //
Logistics Manager Tim Fung // IT Andrew Handmer, Hien Nguyen // Printing Team Felix Kusuma, Ivan You // Project Co-ordinator Narada Kudinar // Concept Red
Bulletin Verlags GmbH // Printers CPPS // Published by Circuit Club Pty Limted // email: narada@circuitclub.com.au // Copyright 2006-2008 Circuit Club Pty Limited.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, without the permission from the publisher.
For more information on advertising in this publication, please contact Ivan by email at ivan@circuitclub.com.au
 CIRCUIT SPY

THE STORM COMETH

In yet another awesome photo from
resident photographer Matt Mead, we see
the storm clouds gather about to interupt
what was perfect weather. It almost
flooded the track, but that just meant even
more fun was to be had...

Photographer: Matthew Mead, Circuit Club

Labour Day Trackday, Wakefield Park,
06.10.08, 11.37am. Canon EOS 40D, 18-
55mm lens, 1/13s at F5.6.
DREAM CHASER

Garry Wilmington has built a new circuit in

Marulan – an hour and a half away from
Sydney. But at only 1km in length, what will it
actually be used for? And will it be any good?
JUSTIN NARAYAN talks to him during an exclusive
first test of the circuit.
 Last Page: The final corner of
the 1km MDTC. It's very very
tight, and very very tricky.
Left: Garry Wilmington, the
mastermind of it all.
Left Bottom: Justin try's out the
MDTC for the first time in his
Corolla SX
It takes a lot of passion,
dedication and drive
to really do something
wonderful;
such as building your own driver training
circuit. That’s where Garry comes in, funding
“If you can drive fast here, you can drive fast anywhere.” and constructing his own track in the name of
education, not just racing. Back in 1991 Garry
embarked on this task, and it has been a long
time coming. He spent 9 years managing at
Wakefield Park, but felt like they, and other
circuits in NSW, were lacking in a certain
sector – driver training and introducing new
drivers to motorsport. “I’ve been racing so long
and going to those tracks that didn’t have what
you needed, and you weren’t treated the way I
thought you should be treated”. His answer was
the Marulan Driver Training Centre (MDTC).
So what is the MDTC? Basically, it is a small,
tight challenging race course designed for one
to hone their skills. A track like Wakefield
Park can be daunting at first, so something
like the MTDC was needed to bring more
faces into Australian Motorsport. I myself was
lucky enough to have a first hand experience
of this track in my own car. It is defiantly a
tricky course at first, with some tight corners
and a small uphill section. It reminds me of
something that you’d see in Japan, which is a
good thing. We think Garry has done very well
with the overall track design. “It was designed
to be difficult, to be challenging, and to fit
within the landscape.”
Again something like the MTDC isn’t made
for length or high speeds, its purpose is to
educate. That’s what set’s it apart from other
tracks. With its smart configuration anyone can
happily bring their cars down, and experience
what it’s like first hand to drive on a race track,
without any fears because of the overall low
average speed. This enables the course to
target a larger audience, including groups and
clubs not associated with cars whatsoever.
22
“We have only got car clubs in mind, but
we want all types of clubs to come – ones that
aren’t associated with racing, but want to try
something different,” Garry admits. “We have
big plans for something we call ‘Family Days’,
where we can get both adults and children out
onto the circuit.
Garry plans to bring kids to the course,
from the age of eight onward. The MTDC is all
about the learning process with driving. This
means keeping older, younger and upcoming
drivers safe, whilst possibly gaining a love for
Motorsport and driving as a whole. “Actually
teaching yourself your limits and your cars
limits, and make it easier to stay safe on the
road.”
Adults will be able to take their children
for rides around the main circuit, while there
will be specially designed buggies where the
kids will be able to learn car control on a dirt
surface.
Garry is adamant that no motorsport will
take place here, at least for the time being,
but that its educational purpose is new to
Australian motorsport; which is what sets it
apart from other forms of circuit in NSW.
“Drivers will come here and really learn
something. I think there is definitely room for
the MDTC because what people learn here, they
will take to Wakefield Park or Oran Park or
Eastern Creek,” Garry claims with confidence.
“If you can drive fast here, you can drive fast
anywhere.”
Another great thing about the MTDC is that
not only does Garry function to educate, but he
functions to help the growth of motorsport in
Australia. “People who have never ever thought
of having a track day are going to come and
drive here and hopefully get hooked, and it’ll
11
NEW MDTC DRIVEN
all grow from there. That’s the plan.”
Garry has outlined a few things to come
for the MTDC. Things include small “Formula
3 / kit car style vehicles for the kids to drive”
and possibly something along the lines of
Mazda MX5s. This would be great for “walk in
and drive” days where people might not feel
their car is suited to the track. It also gives the
people the chance to drive a true track-suited
car around the course, and to get a feel for it.
The MDTC is located In Marulan, which is
around 1.5 hours from Sydney. The centre itself
has its own amenities such as a small briefing
room, toilets, parking, cafe and plenty of
shelter. In regards to what licenses are needed,
you if hold a CAMS, AASA or independent race
series license you are insured to drive, if not
Garry offers his own license you can purchase
on the day.
The MDTC is already open to car clubs, with
a full scale launch mid February. It will be open
to the public, and Garry will be holding Drive
days for people to come down and experience
the track. Driver training courses and other
forms of tuition are also available, start from
as little as 100 dollars for kids training, right
up to advanced driving lessons. Detailed
information can be found on http://www.mdtc.
com.au/. Also keep an eye out for our very own
Circuit club track days at the Marulan driver
training centre, another way to get involved
and experience the track first hand.
For more driver thoughts on the track and video
with commentary, visit circuitclub.com.au!
CAR&DRIVER
O F T H E Y E A R
T WO T H O U SA N D A N D E I G H T

CAR OF THE YEAR DRIVER OF THE YEAR

PROCONCEPT-SPOON HONDA CIVIC JACKY YICK

8

Little did I know that Jacky
and his little red Civic would
eventually be able to achieve
lap times in the high 1’05"
10
When I first
met Jacky Yick,
it was at a
Circuit Club
Trackday.
Josh Cho from Proconcept had brought him down
to Wakefield Park with a new red project Honda Civic that
was going to be the second of a two car team for the 2007
IPRA championship and Jacky was driving it that day. I
didn’t think much of it, or him, as they lapped the circuit
a second or two slower than the white and original Civic,
then famous for it’s ability to lap Wakefield around the
1’10” mark with only 1.6L.
Little did I know that Jacky and his little red Civic would
eventually be able to achieve lap times in the high 1’05”s.
And little would anybody know how fast this guy can drive,
nor how fast his car can be, if they just took him on face
value.
Jacky is a quiet guy, dons your average looking silver
framed glasses and wears your average comfortable
clothing. He was probably that guy in high school who had
good grades, always did his homework, and when the class
mates got their licences and started doing burnouts in the
car park, he would quietly wait until it was safe to pass,
then drive on quietly home.
But having spent some time with him over the past
couple of years at the racing circuit, he can be somebody
else. Somebody who isn’t afraid to drive millimetres from
the concrete wall. Somebody who trains in his spare time to
be fitter than his competitors. Somebody fast.
And he isn’t quite as quiet as you think he is too. At
race meetings he happily chats away about anything and
everything to do with racing and cars. You just have to ask
him first, because he is too modest to start talking – you
feel that he himself doesn’t even know how good he is.
15
And then there
is his CIVIC.
To the untrained eye it’s just a red Honda Civic with
some stickers on it. To the trained eye, it’s a red Honda
Civic with some stickers on it that can’t physically have
enough power to lap that fast. An understated match made
in heaven then.
While Jacky is obsessed with his driving and improving
his ability to drive faster, between he and his Dad (and
with the help of Proconcept every now and again), they
are obsessed about making this car run as optimum as
possible.
We haven’t seen much of his car at Circuit Club
Trackdays too often this year, not because our days aren’t
interesting to him, but because his new, stroked to 1.8L
engine needs to be preserved as much as possible to make
sure it runs its best for the Championship.
But if you look even closer, you see little things
that blow your mind at how well presented this car is.
There is a front undertray, home made in aluminium to
smoothen the airflow under the car to reduce drag and
improve downforce. There are those holes cut out of the
rear bumper to further reduce drag by not letting air get
trapped in its natural “parachute”. Move to open the rear
hatch and find that instead of five clips holding down the
rear bumper, there are only three – in order to save weight.
“Do these things even work?” you might ask yourself.
Well most people wouldn’t think so, but then again, his
nearest competition around Wakefield park is at least two
seconds behind him – and that can’t all do with luck and
timing.
“I love to drive fast.” Jacky once told me.
“Can I ride
with you
first?”
It’s the Circuit Club Five Year Anniversary
Trackday, and today I am lucky enough to be allowed to
drive Jacky’s Civic for the very first time. I was supposed
to have a go last year, but his engine unfortunately blew
up with three laps to go after just winning the 2007 IPRA
Championship (talk about on the edge!). But before I drive,
I am determined to ride with Jacky first – to see how he
drives his car and watch at how he can possibly be that
much faster than everyone else there on the day.
“Can I ride with you first?” I ask Jacky as he checks his
tyre pressures (he is always checking his tyre pressures).
“Ummm, OK...” Jacky responds with a kind of “Why the
hell do you want to ride with me? It’s not that I’m special”
manner. “But it isn’t going to be that special – the car is
very understeery today”.
“I just want to make sure that I drive the car correctly, is
all” I reassure him.
But he is right about the car being slow today – he was
aiming for a high six second lap time (with old tyres) to end
the year on a high, but the windy conditions are blowing
layers of dust onto the track, and his used tyres are more
worn than anticipated. But no matter, he is still good for a
1’08” today, which is still the fastest car present.
We both strap in ready to go, and Jacky looks very
relaxed behind the wheel. Despite the noise, the car drives
in a very civil manner towards the pit exit. We are on a tight
schedule, so we have had to run in Group C, meaning there
will be quite a bit of traffic for Jacky, but hopefully not too
much.
But then we are off and the car kind of erupts with noise
and vibrations as we shoot off into the distance. He uses his left
foot to warm up the brakes and he throws the car left to right
under acceleration to warm up the rear tyres.
“I don’t think you will have any problem driving the car
today,” he shouts to me half way through the first lap. “Like I
said, the car isn’t taily today so you’ll have a lot of confidence
in the car”
It’s like he still doesn’t believe I should be wasting my time
watching him drive his own car because I won’t learn anything.
Then he brakes for the last corner at around 10 metres after
the braking marker and the car steps out a little sideways
towards the apex of the corner in one swift motion.
Over the course of the next few laps I can really see why
this guy drives so damn fast. He is aggressive in that all of his
inputs put his car very much on the limit of its tyres adhesion
but all his motions are smooth and fluid like he is driving in
super slow-mo.
His gear changes, as unimportant as they seem, are a true
indication of his style. As the revs hit the upper limit of the
engines range, he dips the clutch and looks as if he slams the
next gear into place with one fast and strong motion. Except
when he gets on the gas, it all feels as if nothing had happened
because it was timed so perfectly.
Sorry Jacky, as much as I claim to know about driving, you
have taught me a valuable lesson. Your driving is way too cool.
I put all my thoughTS together and drive.
18 19
So now it is my turn
and in my head I am
replaying everything
that I saw while
watching Jacky drive.
He makes driving the car look so easy, but when I really
think about it, I know it’s going to be a real challenge to
drive. It must be hard to drive a car with only 130kW at the
front wheels and go as fast as Jacky does.
I take a deep breath and leave the pits. The flywheel is
mighty light, and I realise you need to change gears really
fast, otherwise you mismatch the revs when shifting up. I
replicate the warm up procedure and my blood is pumping.
My senses are alert in this car and it feels completely
different to how it looks. In the hands of Jacky, the car
seems smooth and composed, but in my hands, it feels like
a wild beast wanting to break free.
When I step on the gas the non-power steering wheel
pulls me off line and I have to fight it straight. And when
I smoothly apply the throttle at 6000rpm (the VTEC
changeover point), it chokes and coughs and tells me “you
need to drive faster than that son, or else you might as well
go home”.
So I take a deep breath and take the engine into VTEC
and blast down the straight. Not only can you hear the
induction sucking in as much air as 1.8L can handle, but
you can feel the revs through your bones – especially from
the whine of the straight cut final drive.
Normally, Jacky can brake right after the kink for Turn
2, but I can’t bring myself to do it. In 5th gear down the
straight, the car feels like it is going way too fast to stop in
such a short distance. I also don’t want to ride the brakes
through to the apex because I don’t want to spin out and
flat spot his tyres. So as I turn in, I feel slow, even if the car
is moving fast.
I need to drive faster – try and emulate Jacky in order
to get the car to work for me. Its not like I don’t know the
theory of his driving. I need to brake late to make the most
of the straight. I need to wash off excess speed by carrying
the brake through to the apex. I can’t carry too much
braking because I will cause the front to push wide, and if
I’m too aggressive with the steering, I will cause the rear
20
end to break free while unloaded.
In all the noise and vibration I am feeling a little lost.
My steering inputs a jagged and the car is very rough to
drive. The steering won’t stop pulling with every crack in
the road and the rear suspension is so hard that I bounce
everywhere if I don’t hit the ripple strips properly.
Somebody spins out and beaches themselves so the red
flag is waved and I pull back into the pits. I am so amazed
at the machine, but at the same time I am frustrated with
myself. I need a couple more laps to try and figure it out.
“Sure,” Jacky tells me. “Finish off your session, the car
seems to be fine from here,” he says with a happy smile on
his face. Sure doesn’t feel fine from in here I think to myself.
I calm down for a couple of minutes and then we are
let back out again. The best time from the last session was
only a 1’12” – I need to beat that. So I put all my thoughts
together drive.
Corner after corner it starts to flow a little more, but
my inputs are still unrefined as I see-saw at the wheel,
trying to control all the power through the front wheels.
The corner speeds are higher now, and I can start to feel
that bit of understeer that Jacky is talking about, but the
steering is getting heavier by the second as the g-forces get
higher and higher.
I put together a decent lap and look down at the timer.
1’11” flat.
Damn. All that hard work, for this?
The session is over and I pull into the pits. I start to
laugh a little and shake my head. Yeh sure, I was pushing
hard, but I was nowhere near the braking points and apex
speeds of Jacky.
This is why we here at The Circuit rate Jacky and his
little red Civic as the Car and Driver of 2008. Not only
is Jacky and his car a part of some sort of symbiotic
relationship – he and the car almost act as one.
But the sheer level of expertise they operate at?
Awesome.
RAYMOND HUI
17
 ALL YOUR RACING NEEDS

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Unit 2/4 Wrighland Place, Arndell Park NSW 2148 Ph: 02 9679 8044 Fax: 02 9679 8033

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 WARNING: V70A MAY REDUCE
LAP TIMES

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and SVD lap record holder Oran Park and Wakefield Park). Voted Best wet weather and Best Value for money track
day tyre by BILD magazine 2007. Available in sizes from 13” to 18” diameter

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