Adelaide revs-up for Supercar showdown
5/4/2001 13:48 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
Adelaide is revving-up for the biggest party of the Supercar year, this weekend's Clipsal 500.
The city of churches was stormed by the Shell Series circus at lunchtime yesterday, as the sport's men and machines paraded through the city centre.
Promotional vehicles and the new V8 Ute Muster cars joined the convoy of transporters to Adelaide's Town Hall, where drivers attended a civic reception hosted by Adelaide City Mayor, Alfred Huang.
"I thoroughly enjoy heading to Adelaide for any motorsport event," HRT racer Jason Bright said, "as the Adelaide community really love motor racing and it provides a great atmosphere."
Meanwhile, drivers in the all-female celebrity race continued their training at Mallala Raceway yesterday, just outside of Adelaide.
The event is expected to be a showdown between a couple of motorsport's better-halves, Dick Johnson's wife Jill and Craig's wife Natalie Lowndes. Each of the 14 famed females are being coached by a V8 Supercar driver, and will carry the team's livery of their mentor in the race.
Swimming legend Dawn Fraser could be a wildcard, paired with CAT Racing's John Bowe.
Icons of their respective sports, Fraser enticed the Tasmanian to her turf yesterday, giving Bowe an impromptu swimming lessons at the Adelaide Aquatic Center.
"I have a pretty intensive fitness program, but when it comes to swimming, I am all at sea," Bowe said.
"I am sure Dawn will do pretty well on the weekend because she has such a great competitive spirit and all the Cat Racing crew will be cheering her on," he said.
The V8s hit the Adelaide streets tomorrow morning for provisional practice, ahead of the afternoon's qualifying session and Top Ten Shootout.
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