:: SEDAN NEWS POSTINGS FOR THE PAST 7 DAYS ::
CARLSON CLOSES IN ON SYDNEY CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD
STREET STOCK NEWS - Posted 9 March, 2010
Story by Daniel Powell
Defending Sydney Street Stock Club Champion Shane Carlson picked up his maiden Parramatta City Raceway (PCR) feature race for the 2009/10 season last Saturday night and as a result has moved closer to the point standings lead of the Sydney Club Championship.
The Ford Falcon driver was able to take control of the 20-lap feature race during the latter stages from long-time leader Lucas Walters (Ford Falcon) and at the fall of the chequered flag defeated an impressive Martin Blackley (Holden Commodore) in what was his career best result and an unlucky Walters crossed the finish line in third place on the podium.
Stepping into the AUS # 1 Ford Falcon of Brett Mitchell’s, Super Sedan racer Robert Carrig made a strong debut in the Street Stocks and just finished off the podium in fourth after he had started from position 11. Dave Giffen recorded a season best result aboard his Holden Commodore with a fifth place finish, while Peter Handley (Holden Commodore), Adam Brook (Ford Falcon), Derek King (Holden Commodore), Dave Hollier (Ford Falcon) and Greg Bayliss (Holden Commodore) completed the Top 10 finishes.
Brook certainly didn’t have the desired result in the feature race but remains locked in the current top three of the Sydney Club Championship point standings. It was a busy night for Brook who made his Late Model debut aboard the Stewart Jordan owned # 75 car and impressed many throughout and finished his night with a fourth place in the feature race.
In the feature race Richard Elliott (Holden Commodore) was in the wars and had an altercation during the closing stages of the feature race with Lucas Walters and was consequently put to the rear of the field in the final results. Another driver that encountered disappointment was highest point scorer Glenn Mitchell (Ford Falcon) after he was unfortunately an early causality in the feature race. Mitchell came off second best in a collision with Robert Carrig on the opening lap that damaged his steering.
Heat race action earlier in the night resulted in Walters, Carrig and Andrew Blackley (Holden Commodore) picking up wins, while strong performances also came from Glenn Mitchell, Brook, Carlson, Elliott, Carrig, Giffen, Blake Darcy (Ford Falcon), Nathan Pantovich (Holden Commodore), Martin Blackley (Holden Commodore) and Charlie Dodson (Ford Falcon).
The eighth and penultimate round of the Sydney Club Championship is to be held back at PCR on Saturday night, March 27.
DISAPPOINTMENT FOR BLIGHT
PRODUCTION SEDAN NEWS - Posted 8 March, 2010
Story by Sheldon Nouchy
Going into the Australian Title the Blight Racing Team was full of confidence after their last outing in Narrogin was a successful one. It looked liked it was going to me a dream weekend for the young state champion until his engine expired just into the final, sending Kye to the infield.
Starting the weekend in the practice session on Friday Kye went about fine tuning the car ready for the battles that were ahead. At the end of the two hour session Blight would set the fastest time of 19.487.
During this session the team noticed the engine not feeding enough fuel to the cylinders and therefore changed the jets to rectify this problem.
Arriving at the drivers meeting on Saturday the team found the grid draws were to their favour. During the three heats on Saturday and the final one on Sunday the team would start 4th, 6th, 9th & 3rd.
The customary grand parade and national anthem were done and it was time to go race, though Kye would have to wait until the sixth heat. As the cars rolled around to take the green light Kye timed it perfectly and drove around the outside of the front row and took the lead. He would never be seen again by the second place car going on to win by eleven seconds.
Just like he did in the first heat Kye timed the start of his second heat and drove around the front two rows to take the lead. This time around the young gun wouldn’t have it all his own way with Darrell Haythornwaite pressuring him till the chequered flag, the margin 2.557 seconds.
In his final heat of the night young Blight would need to take a different approach with starting at the back. Once the race started Kye went about making his way forward and showed why he will be one of the state’s best sedan drivers for years to come.
Kye was level headed and took his opportunities when they presented themselves passing cars on the inside and outside. It took him until the eighth lap to move into first and once there went onto record a win by four seconds.
At the completion of night one Kye would sit equal first with the former Speedcar racer Chris Telenta.
When the team saw the track on Sunday they decided to change the shocks and wheel spacing so the car would suit the slick track.
Just like the first night the team would have to wait until the end of the round to take to the track, he was due to start out of three but would be promoted to pole after he withdrew. Once the race started Kye was never challenged and would go onto record a four second win.
Cars were called up to take to the track and line up on the front straight for driver introductions and medallion presentations. Once Kye had been presented with his medallion he climbed in the car and got ready for the 40 lap final.
As the cars came out of turn 4 the green lights came on the Sigma jumped to the lead as the pole sitter went backwards. Just like the state title Rod Musarra was on the rear bumper trying to find away pass.
As the laps hit double figures the state champion looked like he was going to add a national title to his CV as he pulled away from Musarra. As he started his twelfth lap it would be his last as he went down the back straight the car would be out of noise and would have to park it on the infield.
After inspecting the engine it was discovered that the head gasket had let go and melted pistons.
Kye now looks forward to Collie where he will run his second meeting in a Late Model, the first time was in Margaret River where he would start the feature at the rear to climb to fourth until he had car troubles.
KIWIS CAUSE UPSET
JUNIOR NEWS - Posted 8 March, 2010
Story by Tina Lizzi
On Fridays night 5th March race fans at Perth Motorplex witnessed for the first time in the 7 year history of the Trans Tasman Junior Speedway - Australia Vs New Zealand Team Challenge a visiting team take the win on foreign soil.
New Zealand defeated Australia in a convincing 312 points victory with the young Kiwi’s getting the dream run – driving good competitive cars on fantastic race track and 2 times NZ Junior Champion and NZ team captain 82P Jamie Larson (17yo) given the ex Haythornthwaite Championship daihatsu charade to pilot.
Australian expectations looked just a bit tentative when at a full practise session Wednesday night Jamie and the rest of the NZ boys - 28W Graeme Peter (16yo); 56A Aidan Eustace (15yo); 58R Cory Holmes (15yo); 13W Todd Jenkins (14yo) and 18R Paul Fergusson(14yo) took to conditions straight up. In what could only be described as a committed and well executed team effort Team New Zealand took their winning strategy through to the Test Mach to cause the biggest upset on Series record. Team New Zealand – slick professional cool under pressure – A Champion Team!!
For Australia hard charger Jack Alfirevich (14) drove like a man possessed to put in the best performance on night for Aus with great support by the explosive John Terriaca (14) and pocket rocket Laura Byrnes (16). But it was the mechanical woes in the Australian ranks that finally cost the team the result with Scott Elst (17) blown motor 1st heat; Kelly Mac Arthur (17) Aus team captain broken axle 1st heat and Josh Martinelli (14) with a racing incident causing radiator problem.
A Special mention goes to young 11 y.o James Channing for stepping in as reserve to replace Scott Elst and to Brandon Campbell for loaning his car to Kelly Mac Arthur to finish the event.
Saturday night 6th saw the running of the Australasian Championship over 2 heats and a final with first 4 cars across the line getting trophies. In front on a big Perth Motorplex crowd Geraldton sensation Cale Sotiroff took a resounding and deserved win from Johnny Terriaca and 1st NZ across the line Jamie Larson. In 4th place was the ever exuberant Rebecca Terriaca – with quite a few stoppages and place relegations during a very hard fought feature race. All drivers put on a spectacular nights racing and the visiting Kiwi boys got a fantastic reception from the fans as they ventured up into the spectator banks to say hello after the event.
Still existing as the only International Junior Speedway event in both Australia and New Zealand the tournament has produced Australasian Champions Carl Dowling Todd Waddell and Kye Scroop, who all continue in luminary racing careers and NZ’s Ben Finemore who went on to become NZ Sprintcar National Champion. There is much work and dedication from organisers from both countries to make the Event happen but with such spectacular achievements and the opportunity of a lifetime it gives to our young speedway drivers the consensus from both sides of the Tasman Sea is that it will be here for many more years to come and a pledge to expand and extend the commitment.
AUSTRALIAN SUPER SEDAN TITLE
SUPER SEDAN NEWS - Posted 7 March, 2010
Story by Jason Crowe
After a three hour delay to the start of the final night, of the Hotline 40 Auto Parts Australian Super Sedan Title, the race meeting concluded with a thrilling finish in the A Main, at Speedway City with Jamie McHugh winning the National Title.
McHugh chased Dave Gartner who led for 35 laps before making an outside pass coming out of turn four. Wayne Randall finished third, ahead of Matt Pascoe, who stormed home in the concluding stages, passing Phillip Townsend, Kevin Purton and Keith Higgs to take fourth place in the last two laps.
Defending Champion, Darren Kane withdrew with oil pressure issues on lap twenty six, with the race having only two stoppages.
A frutstrating delay at the start of the night preceeded racing, when a heavy shower of rain, turned the track in to a water logged venue of mud.
As officials surveyed the weather, it was decided that there would be enough break in the showers to possibly get the meeting completed.
Cars and graders packed the track, graded it, hot lapped it, packed it and graded it again, over a three hour period before the first event finally hit the track at 9.00pm CDST.
With more rain on the way, officials took the unprecedented move of calling off the C Main, after a further check of the radar, and also learning that a good proportion of the cars that had qualified for the C Main, would not be available.
Graham Stewart and Frank Does were the first two cars from those in the C Main, that were available and were added to the back of the B Main field.
A spate of minor incidents in the 20 lap B Main would see the demise of Peter Lyall, Lucas Roberts, Jarrod Harper, Steve Jordan and Sam Hughes. On lap six, Tony Barklimore would head the fence coming out of turn four, ending his strong run around the outside of the field.
The final fourteen laps went without incident, with South Australian Shane Best leading throughout, downing Lucas Roberts, Kodee Brown, and Michael Nicola in a high speed freight train, as the four qualified for the main event.
With rain closing in, and the Street Stock support event delayed after a bad crash, the race was started without fanfare.
Dave Gartner took the lead as all cars successfully negotiated the opening turns, followed by Jamie McHugh, Darren Kane, Matt Williams, Kevin Purton, David Nichols and Wayne Randall. The race quickly settled down, with no changes in the opening ten laps, before Randall started to move forward with Keith Higgs.
Gartner led McHugh and Kane narrowly as they opened a gap on the remainder of the field headed by Williams, who had his hands full with Purton, Higgs and Randall.
Fifteen laps into the race, the first of two stoppages occurred when Kodee Brown and Michael Nicola collided at the back of the field, ending Browns run.
The restart saw Gartner continue to lead as the field flew around the Speedway City venue, in a spectacular race. Gartner continued to be pressured by McHugh and Kane, as Randall, Higgs and Purton waged their own battle with Matt Williams for fourth place.
On lap twenty six Steve Vaughan hit the fence very hard in turn four, bringing on the caution lights for the second time. Darren Kane withdrew with oil pressure problems at the same time, ending the defending champions race while in third place.
The crowd could sense a home town victory as Gartner continued to hold the lead over McHugh, Williams, Randall, Higgs and Purton as the race entered the final ten laps.
Williams would soon after be passed by Randall, Higgs and Purton, while Phillip Townsend, Brad Smtih and Matt Pascoe started to make their moves, in the concluding stages.
Gartner and McHugh would clear away from Randall, as it became evident with six laps to go that it would be a two driver battle to the chequered flag, and National Title glory.
McHugh made his move with four laps to go, passing Gartner on the outside exiting turn four. In the battle for the minor placings Matt Pascoe stormed home, passing Keith Higgs and Kevin Purton on the outside to move into fourth.
Gartner stayed with McHugh to the end, but Jamie McHugh would win an epic night of Super Sedan racing to win the title for the second time in three years. Dave Gartner drove a great race to finish second, while Wayne Randall would finish third for the second time in a National final. Matt Pascoes late charge around the field was also full of merit to finish fourth, while Keith Higgs and Kevin Purton who were with the lead group throughout the 40 laps would finish in the top six.
Earlier, the final round of prelimaries were won by Wayne Randall, Steve Latham, Brad Smith and Dave Gartner. The final heat would be won by Kodee Brown in record time, which saw the popular West Australian receive a great reception from the crowd, after lowering the existing mark by three seconds, a night after rolling in spectacular fashion.
The constructors award was won by the Sweet Chassis, while the Grenville Anderson award was won by new National Champion, Jamie McHugh.
BAIRNSDALE BREAK THROUGH FOR MAY
AMCA NEWS - Posted 4 March, 2010
Story by Brett Swanson
Saturday night (February 27th) saw Dave May break through for his maiden AMCA Nationals feature win in round six of the Country Cup Series at Bairnsdale Speedway. Frank Thierry, buoyed buy a great run at the recent Aussie Title challenged for the win but just missed out with Alan Howe securing the final podium position.
Heat 1 was taken out comfortably by veteran Bruce Tait from Howe with May showing early form by charging from ninth to third. Paul Sullivan, Tim Reidy, Robert Taylor, Thierry and Hans Lovski completed the distance with Darran O’Reilly the only non-finisher thanks to some bent steering.
Reidy failed to make it to the green flag in heat two due to clutch problems while outside pole sitter May took the lead at turn one and never looked back with Thierry coming home in second and Howe in third. Tait, Lovski, Taylor and O’Reilly finished the race but Sullivan didn’t due to engine dramas.
The third and final heat saw top point scorer May start from the rear once again. O'Reilly took the lead at the drop of the flag closely followed by Lovski, but the big mover over the first couple of laps was Thierry who eventually took the lead on lap 4 after an outside move on O'Reilly. May had also started to make his way through the field and a risky outside move on 3 cars who were battling for 2nd, 3rd & 4th saw him take over 2nd position and start the chase after Thierry. At race end Thierry greeted the chequer first only to be put back 2 places for passing under the pole line earlier in the race. May was given the win from O’Reilly, Thierry, Tait, Taylor, Howe and Lovski.
In the final May started out of pole position with Tait starting alongside. May took the lead into turn one and set about getting a break on the rest of the field. Also at the start of the race Tait's car jumped out of gear and he dropped back through the field before he could recover. Thierry, who had started out of 4th quickly tried to catch May but in the end he ran out of laps as May won from Thierry, Howe, Taylor, O’Reilly, Tait and Lovski.
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