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LEO GEOGHEGAN• AUSTRALIA LOOKS like being in for its best F5000 Tasman Series yet. Not that this is really saying much -but the cars are better than years past, and the drivers are trying very hard. I went across to Pukekohe for the first round of the Tasman Series - simply out of not-so-idle curiosity.And I was very impressed with the machinery I saw.I always think it's a good idea to go to the first race of the Tasman Series because there's a good chance there'll be machinery there you won't see again.This tragically, was the case of Pukekohe.A lot has been said about circuit safety before and after that meeting -and I'd just like to set the record straight on at least one point. There wasn't so great a speed differential between any of the cars.I believe the gap between the fastest and the slowest car worked out at six seconds and the average was closer to four.I would have been quite happy about driving against any of the cars in that race.It has always been unfortunate, however. New Zealand doesn't appear to have· the same rigid safety control as Australia and in particular of NSW under the Speedways Act.When two cars tangle at 1 50 mph it's got to be a very bad accident.It was just fortunate It didn't happen at a populated part of the circuit where there was a chance of a spectator or marshal being hit.As it was Graeme's car hit everything else at Pukekohe including a train.Racing on a horse track is always dicey.Those damned horserails are a great danger.I think. generally, New Zealand circuits have been fortunate not to have too many serious prangs.• UNDOUBTEDLY the most impressive vehicle in the series is Graham McRae's Leda. It looks head and shoulders above anything else here at present.Standing beside the Elfins and Mclarens it looks the size of a 2.5-litre car.It has 13-inch wheels. a full monocoque back to behind the driver, and it looks very similar to the formula one BRM - very low with big bulging fuel tanks.It's incredible how simple the plumbing is.The engine. like most modern racing cars. is bolted straight to the car as part of the structure.Then there's a small sub-frame around it carrying the suspension.There's no starter motor and the very small flywheel possible as a result allows the car to be as low as anything I've seen with the possible exception of Matich's.Graham uses the Swiss prepared Morand-Chev. and apparently he's revving it to eight-and-a-half.I stood at a section of the Pukekohe track - two very bumpy, sweeping bends - one left hand. one right hand. just before the pits.In practice. on three consecutive laps McRae came through in six seconds.Lawrence and Gardner were doing six-sixes and the rest were seven or over.That's not bad. A second faster than the rest of the field in just a seven second space.Most of the Mclarens are last year's models, but Canadian Evan Noyes' M18 and the more recently developed M22 being driven by David Hobbs are both worth a look.They've been built with typical Mclaren precision.Noyes· car looks slightly longer than the M 1OB and a little lower - but I didn't measure them and maybe that's just an impression given by their new low-nose treatment.I didn't get a chance to look closely at the M22.Hobbs had a lot of troubles and you don't approach a bloke when he's busy the way Hobbs was.Mike Hailwood is driving the car Surtees had at the AGP -and there's one thing you've got to say for Surtees -he can set up a car. He went back to the UK and he told Hailwood's pit manager Rod Sawyer where to set the front and rear roll bars. front and rear suspension and even what angle to set the wings.Hailwood tried a few others at Pukekhoe but the combination which worked best was the one Big John recommended.If only Surtees had had the time to set the car up he wanted at the AGP we might really have seen a race.By comparison the local cars look quite good.The Matich was plagued by small problems at Pukekohe and di~n•t show in a good light. But it lacks nothing in terms of advanced thinking.The Elfins looked bulky by comparison with the overseas cars.They didn't lack much in the squirt department but I think they could do with a little more time in setting up.Incidentally it's interesting to note all the cars are having the same problem with the new 13-inch front wheels.Centrifugal cornering forces are opening the valves and causing the tyres to go flat.There's a special valve - and that's the only one that will stay shut.It's now also imperative to have studs in the rims of the wheels to stop the tyres pulling away from the rim beads.A bit disconcerting at high speed.• THE DRIVERS? Gardner, McRae, Hobbs and Hailwood are completely professional -quick to come to grips with most problems. 'The man to beat after the first round is obviously Gardner because he already has nine points.Two of the best drivers - Matich and McRae scored a duck. but I think they'll do a lot towards making up lost ground.One of the best tests of professionalism Is going to be Christchurch on January 22 - and I'll be there to watchThe cIrcuIt Is laid out once a year on an airport and this year organisers have changed the design of the track.Everyone will be starting with an even opportunity. C1rcuIt knowledge really won't play a part.It's going to be a race to see who can get his car set up the best In the quickest ..quickest time.My money's on Gardner - that's what he does all vear.
