Adelaide ALMS 31/12/2000   Friday 3 Breakfast with the Stars   Michael Olsson – battling with laptop problems, hence the late appearance of this piece. The race organisers exhibited a streak of sadism by arranging a press breakfast for 7am on the morning after a press party sponsored by a winery, a brewery and a vodka company! The tables were therefore less than fully manned and not everyone present ate their sausages, bacon & eggs with enthusiasm! Nonetheless, your correspondent was there and came away with a few interesting tidbit's (no, I don't mean the croissants...) We all know David Brabham's skill behind the wheel; what this event revealed was that he is equally adept as a raconteur. David co-hosted the breakfast with an insider's knowledge and a rapier-like wit (OK sometimes a bludgeon). What was especially interesting to me was the rivalry but clear respect, even friendship, between David and Allan McNish. As they bantered about the latter's birthday (today), David's picture on the front page of the Adelaide morning paper and their shared open-wheeler experience, their mutual liking and respect was obvious and refreshing in an age of sporting prima donnas. Brabham also clarified the nationality issue surrounded his co-driver Greg Murphy "He's Australian if we win and a Kiwi if we lose!" Brabham was complementary of the speed with which his local co-drivers have adapted to the Panoz. Murphy and Bright were enthusiastic but circumspect, keen to head off to great a local expectation of Aussie Gold! Gold! Gold! (The Olympics have had a terrible impact on the national psyche). Brabham also revealed Eric Bernard's gifts as 'Monsieur Luuurve'. According to his former teammate, the Frenchman left a string of broken hearts the length & breadth of the United States… Not even Brabham could find out what percentage of the bonus purse Wendlinger & Beretta will get if they win on Sunday. More seriously, Wendlinger talked about his fondness for the track from his F1 days and his respect for its ever present walls, the circuit is wide for a street circuit but even so mistakes tend to be very costly here. The oldest (Ray Lintott, Chamberlain Viper) and youngest (Michael Mallock, Project 2000 Pilbeam) were united in their clear enthusiasm for the chance to compete in the race. Lintott, despite his years of experience in just about every kind of racing Australia has to offer freely confessed, "I've never competed in anything like this, the Viper is just amazing!" Lintott's attitude towards his Venezualan co-driver, Milka Duno ("She's the same age as my daughter") was not necessarily shared by all those present. David Brabham was very keen to help her with any problems she had and many members of the 4th estate seemed to share his enthusiasm … Lintott's 'less attractive' co-driver Stephen Watson hoped his South African background would help him cope with the expected high temperatures on race day. He was realistic however about Chamberlain's chances of toppling the ORECA juggernaut but hoped for a Viper 1-2-3. Boris Said talked about his delight in finally racing in Australia and hoped that that Sunday would see him "beat the ugly little Porsches we've been chasing all year. His teammate, Bill Auberlen talked about his delight in returning to his roots with Tom Milner after a season in the BMW prototype. The enthusiasm of Australia's 'Flying Vet' Dr Jim Cornish seems to be shared by all those involved with the little Pilbeam. This team is already a personal favourite and Australian's traditional love for the underdog might have seen this team win plenty of local support. Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport