A REPORT by journalist Stephen Ottley in the Fairfax press on Sunday last, has left the Australian motor racing fans shocked, after a local police report confirming Mark Skaife was involved in a bar fight in Austin, Texas in May at a bar called ‘Blind Pig’.
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Fairfax Media had obtained a police report regarding the incident that occurred during the inaugural V8 Supercar event at Texas and it states Skaife, 46, was punched in the face after he assaulted Holden Motorsport public relations manager Gerald McDornan.
The report states Skaife “shouldered’’ McDornan in the chest while he was carrying a tray of drinks in the Blind Pig bar on May 20. Skaife then physically threatened and verbally abused McDornan, who responded by punching Skaife in the face once.
A witness, according to the Fairfax report, said Skaife stumbled backwards into onlookers before attempting to continue fighting McDornan. The pair were separated by onlookers, including Holden Racing Team drivers Garth Tander and Greg Murphy. Holden Motorsport boss Simon McNamara was also with McDornan but was not involved in the altercation.
One witness said Skaife was with a group that included fellow Channel Seven presenters Matthew White and Mark Larkham and expatriate motorcycle racer Chad Reed.
The report said McDornan left the bar and returned to his hotel to report the incident to the local police, but declined to press charges against Skaife.
Fairfax Media contacted McDornan, who confirmed the incident took place and said he acted in self-defence. But Skaife dismissed the seriousness of the altercation, calling it a “minor kerfuffle’’.
The five-time touring car champion admitted he had been drinking with his Seven colleagues, but said the punch from McDornan was minor, and he left the bar shortly after.
Many are asking if there be any disciplinary action taken against the former champion by Seven, V8 Supercars and/or CAMS, the sport’s governing body.
In short, the answer seems to be no, and as such Skaife can thank his lucky stars he is a race car driver and not a footballer, where similar incidents bring with them a charge of bringing their sport into disrepute.
Recently installed V8 Supercar Australia CEO James Warburton wasn’t in charge at the time of the incident, but the Fairfax report said he did look into the matter shortly after he took the role.
“I raised the alleged incident directly with the affected party and was informed there was no issue,’’ Warburton said.
V8 Supercars Australia decided not to take the matter any further.
The Fairfax report said the fight was an open secret in the V8 Supercar circles, but journalists were actively discouraged from writing the story.
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AS for popularity by competitors, the Wakefield and Winton 300 endurance races would take some beating.
The 2012 Valvoline Winton 300 entries reached their maximum in just four days, but that was then surpassed earlier this year by its sister event the Valvoline Wakefield 300, when it reached its maximum, plus reserves in just 48 hours.
However, that record was smashed on Thursday last when entries for this year’s Winton enduro opened at 3pm, and by 5.45pm the maximum of 50 was reached, in 2 hours 25 minutes.
There is now another 19 cars placed on a reserve list. So why are these events so popular? According to organisers it is because of the lower entry fee and running costs, it gives more people access to a major event, the unique refuelling procedure which eliminates the very expensive drybreak system, the unique divisional system, the overall camaraderie and having a delayed television coverage and live streaming.
The most popular marque is Mazda with 17, of those 13 are MX-5s and four RX-7s, with two of those powered by 6 litre Chev V8s.
There are other V8s on the list, with most from the Blue Oval, with three Falcons, a 5.4 litre BF XR8, a 5 litre Future Touring Car, and a 5 litre AU, while there are only two from the General, a 6 litre Holden Clubsport and a VN.
There are 10 BMWs listed, headed by the TargaRacing E46 M3, a pair of M Coupe’, a 328, E36s and E30s. One of the BMW E36s is powered by a 4 litre V8, while another with V8 power is a 5.4 litre Triumph TR7.
Of the all wheel turbo cars there are four Mitsubishi Evos, three of those Evo 9s, while there are three Nissan Skylines entered, two GTR and the other a 4 door R31 turbo.
There are two of the tiny Future Racers entered, one a conventional 1000cc pocket rocket, the other powered by a 1340cc Hayabusa.
A car having its first attempt at one of the 300s is the Queensland-based Skelta G-Force, while another very fast 2300 rookie is a well performed 3400cc Datsun 1200 Coupe.
Of the remainder there is JCW Mini, a Volvo, Toyota 86, two Proton Satria’s and a Honda Integra. A most interesting entry in the race is a Mitsubishi Starion that will be driven by Wagga’s Des Gibbs and his son Carl.
This is the actual car that won the 1986 edition of the Winton 300 in the hands of Des Gibbs and Dennis O’Brien.
