(Northern) Grid Lines....
18/5/2000 13:20 (Jason Whittaker) - The "serial pest" is on the loose in Darwin and could strike this weekend at Hidden Valley Raceway. That, plus team news from FTR and JFR, form this special NT edition of Grid Lines....
**Our spies up north report Australia's "serial pest" and most hated man, Peter Hoare, has been spotted in a Darwin Nightclub through the week, with fears he could strike at this weekend's Hidden Valley V8 meeting. Hoare, who has disrupted major events such as the World Cup Soccer Qualifier, Melbourne Cup, Australian Open and Funerals of T.J. Smith and Michael Hutchence, could target race day at Hidden Valley - seen as the Territory's most high-profile sporting event. It's not known whether police have been alerted on the Hoare sighting.
**John Faulkner has declared himself "fighting fit" for this weekend after making a full recovery from back problems which have hampered his SCS progress so far this year. The 47-year-old's lower back problems began last year and have remained with Faulkner for most of the 2000 season, at one stage requiring the team to call on Adam Macrow to be on stand-by for the veteran racer. "While the crew have been working on getting the car right, I've been concentrating solely on my own fitness and I think it's paid off. In Adelaide I was about 75%, Eastern Creek I was about 85% and now I feel great, 100%," he said.
**Northern Territory police will team up with those other boys in blue today, FTR campaigners' Glenn Seton and Neil Crompton, for a promotion of Random Breath Testing and reduced suburban speed limits. Seton and Crompton will be trackside at Hidden Valley today at 3pm for a photo opportunity with Darwin's finest to promote the cause. "Like all our police patrols, the drivers of the V8 Supercars are always pushing the anti-drink driving message and supporting our efforts to reduce suburban speeding where most of our serious accidents happen. It's great to have the likes of Ford Tickford Racing drivers Glenn Seton and Neil Crompton here to help promote our cause," NT Police Superintendent, George Owen, said.
**And the weather? Perfect according to our man at the circuit today, although the temperature (expected to reach 30 degrees today and 32 degrees on Sunday) could be of concern to teams and drivers alike come Sunday afternoon. Fine and sunny conditions are expected all weekend.
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