LONG SHOT FOR ''PARK''

Mike Browning tries a spot o. long jumping at Catalina Parl rallycross.

ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S most promotionally-minded circuits, Oran Park, has come up with yet another new motor sport idea - Rallycross Longjump.

Five of Australia's top rallycross drivers will be competing at the circuit in the January 29 night meeting in a motorised long jump competition.

Peter Brock, Bruce Hodgson, Bruce Collier, Barry Ferguson and Evan Green have so far agreed to take the plunge.

High-jumper Michael Browning has been approached to change his special ty from vertical to horizontal.

The jumpers will be competing at the Motorcraft Rallycross meeting at Katoomba the day after Oran Park.

They will make their night-time long jump above floodlights in the middle of the circuit.

A 50-foot wide leap constructed for a special international motorcycle motocross meeting at Oran Park last year will be used as the starting point.

Competitors will drive one at a time from the starting grid across-country towards the spectator straight.

They are expected to cover more than 70 feet in the air before landing, shor of the spectator straight.

Floodlights will allov each jump to be seen fron all spectator areas.

Rallycross experts sa: Brock has more power t1 launch him into the air - but on sheer nerve Brown ing is a big danger.

Former touring cat champion Norm Beeche, will be racing in the nigh·i meeting and may competf in the long-jump, althougll not in the Monaro.

Beechey faces a tougr tas~ to beat local sports shut stars Barry Sharp