AUGUST 2014
FALLON Wins 100 Lapper
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Rolling Thunder e-Mag. Issue 24 JUNE 2014 Editors; Ray Solomon, & Brett “Pirate” Swanson PHOTO’S Courtesy of: Pirate Media. Swanson.1@bigpond.com inactionphotos.com.au MEDIA RELEASES: Pirate Media—Brett Swanson Dean Thompson (DMT Media). Formula Motorsports Group Pty Ltd. CONTRIBUTORS; Brett Swanson, Ray Solomon, Dean Thompson Got something to contribute? All contributions welcome send to swanson.1@bigpond.com or ray@fmg.au.com COPYRIGHT: Material contained in Rolling Thunder Racing E news is protected under the Commonwealth Copyright Act 1968. No part of this publication may in any form or by any means be reproduced without the prior written permission of the Publisher. The publisher has taken all Raceway Promotions Inc uses its best endeavours to ensure the accuracy of everything it publishes, the Fair Trading Act 1985 requires Rolling Thunder Rreasonable precautions to ensure the complete accuracy of material contained in this publication, however, it is a condition of receiving this magazine that the Publisher does not assume any responsibility for any loss or damage which may result from the content of material published in this magazine. Although Rolling Thunder aceway Promotions Inc to disclaim any belief in the truth or falsity of information whish is supplied to it and which is published in other than editorial comment. Unsolicited editorial contributions are welcome, how ever, no responsibility can be accepted for their safety or return. The options of contributors are not necessarily those of the Publisher.
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NICOLA & BARKLEM WIN MAIN EVENTS WAHGUNYAH SPEEDWAY Wahgunyah Speedway sizzled on a cold autumn evening when the Victorian Super Sedan Association visited for the final round of their point score series as the main act on the show
In the feature race Bergmeier, Nicola
about half a car length to the line. Ni-
then Bergmeier again lead the field
cola Jnr was third with Leeton race
before Nicola secured the lead once
driver Wayne Aylett in fourth ahead of
more in a finish that brought the
Neil Witnish.
house defeating Bergmeier by around
with Traralgon race driver Peter Nicola claiming victory taking the race lead away from Ash Bergmeier and winning a thrilling last lap dash to the finish. The Super Sedans main support was the Ovens and Murray Zone title for Sports Sedans with Wagga Wagga racer Paul Barklem taking the win for car owner Charlie Ball. The Super Sedans raced four heats with each driver competing in three of those four races. Victories in heat racing went to Mick Nicola Jnr, Bergmeier, Peter Nicola then Bergmeier again. 4
defended second place in the field. Adam Lovell from Corowa finished in third with Fleur Heiner & Wayde Little rounding out the top five in the Ovens & Murray Zone title. In the Goulburn Ovens Sedan Association points round new entrant to the division Warrick Howie took victory in his first outing with the division in the first heat before Jason Mills won the next two heats setting himself up for a feature race pole position start. Mills dashed to the lead early and was never really troubled moving ahead with a gap beThe Sports Sedans raced Jin split
Bad luck found Cheney as the lead
tween he and the chasers at the be-
heats across three qualifying rounds
cars worked their way through the
ginning and at each of a number of re-
with Barklem winning all three of his
back markers and he succumbed to
starts. Clint Henderson ended up with
heat races whilst the other three were damage leaving Barklem to a comfort- a crunched race car infield as other won by Nathan Shortis and another a able run to the finish. Shortis another competitors tried in vain to stay in the Wagga race driver Alex Cheney wining strong runner to end up parked infield hunt for a place. Mills won from the other two. and Warren Alexander assumed and Howie, Dave Walton, Ross Maclean 5
and Mick Quinn. The Dunn's Crane Series for Production Sedans was a showdown between Stephen Laidlaw & Trevor Mills and after winning two of the three heats to Mills' one victory. Laidlaw then won the final ahead of Mills & Matt Walker. Rounding out the evenings racing was the Standard Saloons and young Mansfield woman Jaimi Barber took a fantastic win ahead if Chris Fitzgerald, Karen Halliday, Trevor Kuhne and Daniel Joosten in the final. Earlier Andrew Robl, Barber and Michael Fleming-Robertson won the heat races. Wahgunyah Speedway operated by the Corowa-Rutherglen Speedway club re-
FEATURED VIDEOS Bob Blacklaw vs Danny Smith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o29EZ05JkRI
turns for the final time thus season on
World of Outlaws— Brad Sweet crash
June the 8th Queens Birthday weekend
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8ogT9FhN9w&list=LLrLpNl9sKR69zrbzY6IzGWQ
for the annual Talbot's 1000 for Production Sedans & the Howie Memorial for Standard Saloons along with the Ovens & Murray Zone title for Goulburn Ovens Sedans and a VSC Junior Sedan feature. 6
SPIKE LEADS FROM START TO FINISH: WINS AT WAHGUNYAH The Goulburn Ovens Sedan Association one comfortably ahead of the benchrecently completed another points ag- mark in the division so far this season
Corowa Kitchens & Cabinets – Holden)
gregate round at Wahgunyah Speed-
Heat two was eventful for the wrong
in Maclean. The hometown drivers were
way in support of the visiting Super Se- to strong for Albury - Wodonga's Callander who moved forward from sixth dan division with just a week before the running of the Victorian title at Bro- on the grid with Henderson (# 21 benah Raceway and it was Jason Mills a non title entrant who would prove to be
Warrick Howie
and McKinnell completing the top five.
reasons at the top end of the race track with Henderson's car crunched by the
Jason Mills
Dave Walton
the strongest. A strong field assembled for the round with new additions Warrick 'the Hurricane' Howie & Jesse 'the Outlaw' McKinnell amongst the combatants along with Clint 'Dirty Harry' Henderson, Wayne 'Frankie' Williams, 'the Doctor' Mick Quinn, Anthony 'Mitsy' Mitselburg, Scott 'Nugget' Callander, Ross 'the Sheriff' Maclean, Dave 'the Maverick' Walton and Jason 'Spike' Mills. Howie (# 75 Aarons car Removals – Falcon) didn't waste time proving his credentials in the division winning heat 7
chasing Maclean (# Max Maclean’s
ing fourth against the might if the
In amongst the racing mechanical is-
Auto Muesem Corowa – Holden). Both
Fords & Holdens.
sues plagued many of the drivers such
cars ended up infield robbing the race of two of the stronger cars. Mills a front row starter controlled the race from the front and lead home McKinnell in only his second open age race meeting with Howie moving forward from eighth position, Williams (# 88 Williams Race Tech) and Walton in his Centura secur-
Making it two from two Mills (# 94 Mill’s Dyno Tune – Holden) who started on the fourth row held out Mitch Watts whom had stepped into the Sheriffs race car. Howie made it a third successive top three heat result as he beat Henderson & Walton (# 43 Maverick
as Williams, 'Big Bad' Brad White, McKinnell (# 26 Bayswater Diff Service – Holden) & Henderson and unfortunately for Mitselburg his Cortina became a compact version after he was the innocent party in a late evening crash wrecking the front end of his car.
Boats – Centura) to the line. Mills two wins put him at the front of the field for the feature race start and whilst there was a number of stoppages, Mills continued to stretch out a lead every time. Howie chased hard however didn't quite have the speed and handling of Mills. Mills took an all the way victory from Howie, Walton in an outstanding third place result ahead of Maclean and Quinn who also had a great feature race run against some stronger race equipment.
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GRAND PRIX MIDGET SEASON CLOSES WITH A GREAT NIGHTS RACING AT RUSHWORTH The Victorian Grand Prix Midget Club closed out their season at Rushworth Speedway on May the 24th with great racing from top to bottom with current Australian & Victorian Champion Ash Booker coming out on top in the feature race ahead of Dennis Myers and Louis Rodriguez.. The first of three heat races had nine starters with Myers (# 11 Super Balance Automotive Shepparton) & Garry Cassidy at the front of the field and Booker and Chris Fowler on the second row followed by Lisa Chalcraft, Rodri-
Paul Perry who began in seventh was
ued to finish the heat. Myers went on to
fourth by the end of lap one, third by the win ahead of Fowler, Booker, Cassidy,
guez, Paul Perry, Nathan Caddy & Trevor next and then second on lap three pass- Rodriguez (# 47 Dmac Property SerPerry. ing Fowler only to lose that spot the very vices), Trevor Perry, Caddy & Paul The first heat track had lots of moisture
next lap.
in it and most competitors were strug-
On lap seven whilst in fourth spot Chal-
gling with push in the midway point of the turns. Myers led Fowler (# 13 australiancampsites.com.au) on lap one &
Perry’s scintillating start fizzled out to a last over the line finish.
craft (# 15 Oil Hydraulics) broke a rear
Rodriguez discovered his car also had
axle ending her night whilst Rodriguez
engine issues and sent a mate home to
had front suspension issues yet contin-
find a spare axle whilst he tried to sort 9
out the engine & missed the second
The final heat race began with Booker
the pace. Booker led the field across
heat race.
and Fowler to resume battle from the
the start line with Myers & Paul Perry
front. Booker led Fowler on lap one
chasing.
Paul Perry (# 33 GHC Trailers) & Cassidy began from the front row in the second heat with third placed starter Myers whizzing past and into the lead on the very first lap. Booker moved forward from fifth to be in second by lap four whilst Caddy had smoke pouring out of his car and headed to park infield. Once Caddy stopped the car ignited and Caddy jumped out of the car to save himself from any harm, however the car was out for the night with the fire damage. Whilst Myers was in the lead Booker and Fowler had a great battle with Fowler making a lunged on lap eight not quite getting by Booker. Myers took the win from Booker, Fowler, Trevor Perry, Paul Perry & Cassidy (# 9 Micheal Signs).
with Myers from fifth to third as they crossed the start line for the first time. Rodriguez continued to have engine problems and dropped out on lap two whilst Fowler dropped a chain on lap five whilst in third and dropped out of the race. Booker won from Myers, Trevor Perry, Cassidy & Paul Perry.
Rodriguez had sorted his engine out and moved into third on lap three. Booker and Myers were so close they shared the same spot on the track at the same time on numerous occasions in the race with Myers just not having enough to get past Booker (# 50 Pitstop Mowers). Fowler moved to fourth
Myers with top points claimed pole po-
on lap seven as he recovered from his
sition for the feature race start with
shocking start and the field continued
Booker alongside and Paul Perry &
to put on what many in the club said
Fowler behind them. Cassidy, Rodri-
was the best racing for the season.
guez and Trevor Perry rounded out the field.
The ten lap feature came to a finish
Lap one was a disaster for Fowler losing power down the back straight and losing position and distance from the leaders before clearing the engine and getting back on
10
with Booker leading Myers, Rodriguez, Fowler, Paul Perry, Trevor Perry & Cassidy to the line. The Grand Prix Midgets President was very pleased with the nights racing. "When you get people associated with the club and other divisions coming to you to say how good the racing was tonight from our division you cannot help but smile. Everybody in the club is working hard right now to grow this division & we have some plans in place to make that happen. Louis showed he is going to be real competitive next season in his car & Paul Perry had his best night of racing all season and should become a chance next year." Grand Prix Midgets Victoria thank their supporters: Jacobson’s Coach Tours Super Balance Automotive australiancampsites.com.au Pitstop Mowers Inaction Photos DMT Sports Media 11
October 25 November 1 November 8 November November November December December December December
15 22 29 6 13 20 26
December 27 December 30 January 1 January 2 January 10 January 17 January 21 January 22 January 23 January 24 January 25 January 26 February 7 February 21 February 28
Rushworth Speedway VSC Sprintcars. VICTORIAN Heartland Raceway Echuca / Magma - Open Series SPRINTCAR EVENTS Avalon Raceway Sprintcar - Jackpot Invitational . Nyora Sppedway. VSC Sprintcars. * SEASON 2014/5 Borderline Speedway Mt Gambier - Open Series All dates to be confirmed with the venues. Bairnsadle Spoeedway. VSC Sprintcars. Premier Speedway Warrna booi - Upen Series Rosedale Speedway. VSC Sprintcars. Western Speedway -Hamilton - 360 Sprintcar GoldCup Premier Speedway Warrnambool Open Series - Twin Feature Avalon Raceway Lara - Open Series December 28 Borderline Speedway -- WSS Bairnsdale Speedway - VSC Sprintcars. Rosedale Speedway - VSC Sprintcars. Avalon Raceway Lara - WSS Premier Speedway - WSS Premier Speedway. Avalon Raceway Lara - Victorian Open 360 Sprintcar c/ships. Rosedale Speedway - VSC Sprintcars. Avalon Raceway Lara - Presidents Cup Borderline Speedway Mt Gambier - Kings Challenge Premier Speedway Warrnambool - Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic N I Premier Speedway Warrnambool - Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic N 2 Premier Speedway Warrnambool - Grand Annual Spriatcar Classic N 3 Premier Speedway Warrnambool - Classic Rain date Redline Raceway Ballarat - VSC Sprintcars. Western Speedway Hamilton - Open Series Heartland Raceway Echuca / Moama -- Open Series 12
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Simpson Speedway Simpson - Open Series Redline Raceway Ballarat. VSC Sprintcars. Premier Speedway Warrnambool - Open Series Avalon Raceway Lara - Open Series Premier Speedway Warrnambool - Open Series - SRA Final Bairnsdale Speedway - VSC Sprintcars. Heartland Raceway Echuca / Moama - 360 Sprintcar Challenge Avalon Raceway Lara - Easter Trail night I. Rosedale Speedway - VSC Sprintcars. Borderline Speedway Mt Gambier - Easter Trail night 2 . Bairnsdale Speedway - VSC Sprintcars. Premier Speedway Warrnambool - Easter Trail night 3. Rosedale Speedway - VSC Sprintcars. Wangaratta Speedway - VSC Sprintcars.
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BALLARAT REDLINE RACEWAY CALENDAR 2014/5 NOV NOV DEC JAN FEB FEB
15 29 13 17 7 21
Street Stocks, Std Saloons, Open Sedans VIC vs SA late Model Shoot out, Street Stocks, VSC Sedans, Std Saloons. Mod Prods Round 1, Mini Sprints, GP Midgets, Open Sedans. Mobile Eliminator Street Stocks, Wingless Sprints, Marsh Mods. Saloons Chivers Memorial, VSC Sprint Cars, AMCA's, VSC Opens. Super Rods Ray Welsh Legends Cup, AMCA's, Street Stocks, Opens, Std Saloons MAR 7 VSC Open Masters, VSC Sprint Cars, Street Stocks. MAR 8 VSC Open Sedans Masters, Daylesford Invitational, Mini Sprints, Street Stocks. MAR 21 Formula 500's Stampede round, Std Saloons, Opens, Street Stocks. APRIL 11 GP Midgets Aus/Vic Title TBA, Juniors Piston Cup, Opens, Street Stocks, APRIL 25 Street Stocks King of the Mount, Marsh Mods, Std Saloons, Open Sedans. MAY 2 Street Stocks, VSC Opens, Juniors, Open ASCF Sedans AMCA's, Mini Sprints 3pm Start. MAY 17 Street Stocks, Std Saloons, VSC Open Juniors, Open ASCF Sedans, Vintage 12 PM start 14
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NELSON WINS TOP GUN DROUINS SPEEDWAY SEASON WINDS UP The Drouin Speedway Club wound up mistake that cost him the lead in the Evans one. their race season on the weekend with closing laps and Nelson took the win Drouin Standard Saloons club member the running of the VSC Sedans Top from Evans and Labertouche’s Andrews. Leigh Gooding from Trafalgar had the Gun, the Mini Sprints Gold Cup final Earlier Nelson took two heat wins and round and the closing out of all the club divisions track championship series & Darren Nelson from Werribee took out the ‘Top Gun’ event whilst series victories in the Standard Saloons & Division 2 Hot Rods were secured by Jacob Vuillermin and Ricky Mills respectively. The VSC Sedan event was a cracking final between Nelson and Mick Evans. They led the whole race whilst Joel Andrews was clear in third place. Nelson had the early race lead with Evans right up high on the race track trying to drive around Nelson. Nelson washed high in turn two and lost speed and Evans pounced punching down the inside to
TOP GUN
- DARREN NELSON
take the lead. It was soon to be Evans 18
best day taking the feature race win in the qualifying heats.
Parsons, Bomford & May all took heat
style as he defeated Jacob Vuillermin,
race wins.
Mark
Miles,
Patrick
Vuillermin
and
Bunyip racer Jeff Blencowe in the final round of the Standard Saloon track championship. Earlier Patrick Vuillermin, Miles, Gooding, Vuillermin again, Gooding again & Jacob Vuillermin won
In the Mini Sprints Gold Cup round lo-
cal racer Matt Parsons (a Warragul Great racing in the Division Two Hot resident) won the feature after a great Rod’s resulted in Scotty Laidlaw winscrap with Dave May. Both drivers had ning the final from Ricky Mills and time in the lead before Parsons took Broderick Stray after Mills had earlier the win, Third was Kevin Bomford fol- secured the track championship winlowed by Jason Lynn & Danny Milton. ning two out of the three heats with Laidlaw winning the other. In Junior Sedan racing the 1200cc division was won by Jack Van Breman from Ricky Cornwall & Kasey Ingram whilst in the Junior Standard Saloon division Steve Danks took the win ahead of Tyson Cull & Adrian Lawrence.
LEIGH GOODING - WINNER STANDARD SALOON FINAL 19
LUKE FALLON WINS 100 LAP DERBY AT ALEXANDRA, ATKINS WINS VIC SHORT CIRCUIT JUNIORS One Hundred Sedans signed in for the annual 100 Lap Derby for VSC Open Sedans with competitors from all over Victoria with drivers who continue to race in the event year after year not for the money, just for the glory of beating so many others trying to win the long distance nightmare & in a feat amazing against very tough competition Alexandra local Luke Fallon won his third successive 100 Lap Derby and fourth in five years ahead of Hamilton’s Paul Turnbull & Pakenham’s Tony Moule.
were run in each round with winners in round one being Steve Lincoln, Simon Jones, Daniel Scott who set a new short circuit track record of 32.488 which was a second quicker than the
time set the year prior whilst other winners were David Donegan, Scott Mallon in the best come from the back in first round moving from twelfth to the win, Damien Miller, Matt Nelson &
In other events on the weekend Dale Morrison from Officer in Melbourne’s South East won the Alexandra Cup for Standard Saloons ahead of Gippsland brothers Daniel Stewart & Shane Stewart whilst Brock Atkins from Hamilton in Victoria’s Western Districts defeated Alexandra members Caleb Lincoln & Jackson Lunt to win the Victorian Short Circuit Championship for Junior Sedans. For the 100 Lap Derby, eight heats 20
Greg Scott father of Daniel. Round two heat wins went to Darren Forrest, Corey Lincoln, Gary Monti, Colin Lincoln who impressed starting from eleventh, Shaun Erickson, Kellie Atkins, Samuel Williams and Mallon the first driver to win two heats for the weekend. The third and final round of heats for night one started with Donegan joining the double winners list whilst Mallon blew the chance to bank three wins from three when he got black flagged trying to pass Paul Turnbull, Monti won for a second time, Lenny Bates Jnr, Colin Lincoln to also lock in a second heat win, Dale Smith, Troy Nielson, Brendan Miller & four time event winner Dave Erickson got on the winners list winning the last of night one. Night two began with the fourth round of heats for the Open Sedans in the 100 Lap Derby and Robert Gorman took a popular victory in the first heat of the evenings racing, Daniel Scott, Damien Miller, Colin Lincoln, Matt Nelson, Jamie Lock, Darren Forrest & Corey Lincoln were the other winners in the fourth round.
Luke Fallon #77 With points tight for positions thirty to forty trying to qualify into the forty car start for the 100 lapper with a number of drivers outside the top forty still a chance to qualify the fifth round would be run with an all or nothing attitude by many of the drivers.
Colin Lincoln, Bates Jnr, Turnbull, Daniel Scott, Corey Lincoln & Jones. After five heats per driver Colin Lincoln & Bates Jnr were the top qualifiers whilst Damien Miller, Daniel Scott, Corey Lincoln & Matt Nelson rounded out the top six starters.
Wins in the last round of heats went by way of Brendan Miller, Gorman, Steve Lincoln qualified further back 21
making sure three generations of Lincolns qualified for the final yet again, Turnbull qualified back in thirteenth, Fallon back in twenty fourth whilst Moule started in thirtieth position.
cautions the race encountered.
Drivers that led include Colin Lincoln, Damien Miller, Bates, Steve Lincoln ,Daniel Scott whom led the most laps before succumbing to a tyre flat, After all the hard work of qualifying Col Turnbull & then Fallon. Lincoln had a terrible start spinning in the dog leg and rejoining back in the Fallon led the final ten laps chased by pack. Officials penalised Jones for Turnbull & Moule with Fallon going on to win his third successive 100 Lap sneaking places on the caution laps. Derby. Steve Ellis was fourth then DarTroy Neilson rolled in the dog leg sec- ren Nelson, Brendan Miller & Dale tion of the circuit and was the one and Smith whom were all on the lead lap only rollover of the weekend and after as Fallon took a .170 of a second win. heading to the pits to have his car Rounding out the top ten were Donechecked by scrutineers came back to gan, Tim McPherson & Rick Sankey all continue his race. a lap behind. Craig Phillips had a shocking weekend crashing into track preparation machinery on Saturday night and with a damaged car in the final almost took out leader Daniel Scott trying to get off the track and into the pits.
Speaking after the race Fallon just couldn’t believe he could win three in a row. “Last week I was getting a new RB30 engine put in from M & W Engines in Ballarat. To win against the calibre of competition, coming from way back in the field is just wild. Bad A wheel careering off a race car and luck to Daniel Scott who led for so across the infield and onto the back long. Well done to the Alexandra & Disstraight also brought on one of many trict Speedway Club yet another great weekend.”
Daniel Stewart, Greg Parks, Gordon Russell, Matt Nelson, Dale Morrison & Shane Stewart. The Victorian Champion Chris Stewart had a two top five finishes without taking out a win on the first night. Night two racing for Standard Saloons began well for Shane Stewart winning the first heat then his brother Daniel the second whilst points leading after night one Morrison had a flat right front and failed to feature in this heat race.
Dale Morrison made up for a fail to finish in the fourth round by winning his fifth round heat with Chris Stewart winning the final heat which gave the Standard Saloons a top six for the final of Daniel Stewart, Morrison, Shane Stewart, Chris Stewart, Gordon Russell The Standard Saloon division ran for & Nick Chrystie. the Alexandra Cup all weekend and A twenty lap Alexandra Cup final was a heat wins on night one went the way of 22
cracking race with Daniel Stewart, Dale Morrison & Chris Stewart all having been in the lead at stages. The Victorian Champion secured the lead later in the race and was on his way to victory and even greeted the chequer flag only to be disqualified because his safety window net fell down and that handed the win to Morrison from Daniel Stewart, Shane Stewart, Nick Chrystie, Matt Nelson, Greg Parks, John Agosta, Tim Hutchinson, Corey Agosta & Aaron Price rounding out the top ten. The Victorian Short Circuit Championship for Junior Sedans attracted thirty cars with racers from Mount Gambier, Geelong, Warrnambool & Hamilton joining the locals for what also doubled as a round of the Junior Sedan Promotional Association season. The nine heats on night one were
won by Brock Atkins the Victorian Champion, Wayne Furmston, Courtney Meakins, Jack Gartner who charged forward from tenth place in the field, Atkins again, Caleb Lincoln, Cameron Pearson, Brad Gartner & Jack Gartner again to close out night one.
Starting the twenty lap final in pole position was Brock Atkins with Jack Gartner, Pearson, Bell, Walters & Caleb Lincoln in the top six positions. Atkins the Victorian Speedway Champion for Junior Sedans jumped out to the lead early and put the field under pressure with a number of positional changes behind him between Jack Gartner, Bell, Pearson, Lunt & Lincoln.
The fourth round of heats began night two with wins to Brock Atkins, Jack Bell & Zoe Young who took the win after Courtney Meakins had the race won and spun Atkins took the win from Lincoln, in the dog leg. Lunt, Bell, Pearson, Mason SwanWinning heats in the fifth and final dale, Tyler Barton, Jack Van Breround were Caleb Lincoln, Bell & man, Zoe Young & Courtney Sam Gartner. Meakins filling the top ten. For the Victorian Short Circuit Championship the number 1 driver in Victoria Brock Atkins took pole with Mount Gambier’s Jack Gartner, Pearson, Bell, Kye Walters & Lincoln.
23
LAIDLAW, WILLIAMS AND WHITTLE MAIN EVENT WINNERS AT WAHGUNYAH SPEEDWAY Sunday the 8th of June on Victorian Queens Birthday weekend Wahgunyah Speedway entertained with the annual season ending race day with three blue ribbon events run and won including Stephen Laidlaw winning the Production Sedan’s ‘Talbots 1000’, Scott Whittle the ‘Lachie Howie Memorial’ for Standard Saloons and Wayne Williams the Victorian Goulburn Ovens Sedans State title in front of a enthusiastic motorsport crowd.
Keldoulis in the first heat. Local driver and club Vice President Trevor Mills won the second heat from Paul Whyte & Leeton’s Wayne Bourke.
Six heat races determined the starting order for the twenty lap final and Laidlaw began well to win ahead of New South Wales state champion Frank Packer & fellow Queenslander Neil
Laidlaw jumped to the lead right from the green flag with Packer and Keldoulis chasing. Mills passed Packer into third behind Keldoulis on lap four and then moved to second on lap
Second round heats went the way of Laidlaw who again was too good for Keldoulis with Albury’s Rodney Anderson in third then Packer won the next from Mills & Whyte. Closing out heat race results Packer came from back in sixth place at the start to beat Mills & Bourke in heat five before Laidlaw beThe Production Sedans have long been came the only driver to win all three heats he contested with another win in the main act on the season ending front of Keldoulis & Anderson. race day and this year a couple of Queenslanders again joined the field Laidlaw & Packer qualified first and which included drivers from Albury & second and began the race at the front surrounding areas, Leeton, Corowa & with Mills & Bourke on the second row Victoria. followed by Whyte & Keldoulis.
seven with Bourke moving into third ahead of Keldoulis. Keldoulis made a late run into second again on lap sixteen whilst Bourke spun on the next lap and dropped from fourth to last at the restart. The run to the flag over the next three laps seen no spots changing and Laidlaw winning from Keldoulis, Mills, Packer & Anderson. The Standard Saloon feature remembering the late local club member Lachie Howie attracted four time Victorian Standard Saloon champion Scott Whittle from Geelong to come and compete. Geoff Bowers a local character and fan favourite at being the bad guy took a win in the first of six heat races defeating Whittle & Shannon Meakins who as he does each year comes from down Melbourne way to race for his late mate Lachie Howie. Warrick Howie then won the second 24
heat from Stuart Densem & Jaimi Barber a recent feature race winner at the venue. Whittle scored a win in his second heat from Densem & Barber with Trevor Evans winning the fourth heat from Steve Thomas & Warrick Howie. Closing out the heat races Thomas from Bairnsdale won from Evans & Rod Poole in their final heat before Whittle again won, this time over Howie & Barber.
The fifteen lap Lachie Howie Memorial final started with Whittle leading Howie & Thomas. Barber who was strong in the heats suffered mechanical malfunction on lap three and pulled out. Bowers moved ahead of Thomas on lap twelve and Whittle continued on to lead all the way to victory defeating Howie, Bowers, Thomas & Densem.
previous week when it was meant to be held at Leeton and a agreed change by competitors allowed it to be held at Wahgunyah.
With four of the pre event favourites in the first heat it was supposed to be a tight finish. However Chelsea Cornelius was the first of the favourites to go followed by Mitch Watts and Jason The Goulburn Ovens Sedans held their Mills leaving the remaining pre event Victorian title after it washed out the favourite Danny McCarten to go on and defeat Mick Quinn as the only two drivers to finish. Corowa local Wayne Williams then defeated Tommy Bowers in the second heat with Albury’s Scotty Callendar in third place closing out round one. Onto round two heats and round one winner Williams found himself black flagged during racing whilst Corowa raised Cornelius finished in front of Wodonga’s Bowers and Mick Pettit. Heat four again finished with only two cars crossing the finish line after seven started. Peter Schmetzer crossed the line however was under a black flag disqualification when he done so. Callendar defeated McCarten. The final heats finished with a Watts 25
win over Schmetzer & Bowers whilst Williams returned to the winners list defeating Callendar and Dave Walton another Corowa local.
at the start Ross Maclean rocketed into chasing things were looking good for a second place by the finish of lap two Corowa club member to win. behind Williams. Watts moved to second on lap twelve MacLean’s charge lasted until lap seven and was the only Leeton member in the when he pulled infield with mechanical top five at the time and the laps ran Fourteen competitors lined up for the fifteen lap Victorian title with Callendar breakdown & Cornelius followed the down quickly to reach the close with & Bowers from the front row and Wilvery next lap. A lap nine crash between Williams taking a home club win over liams, McCarten, Quinn & Pettit making Callendar and Walton caused a stopWatts, Bowers, McCarten & Pettit up the rest of the top six starters. page and seen the drivers sent to the rounding out the top five. back of the pack for the restart. Williams assumed control early racing In other racing on the day Albury racer to the front with Bowers & Callendar in With Williams still out front and BowSimon Hill won the Sports Sedan final tow. From way down in twelfth position ers, Watts, McCarten & Brad White defeating Craig Cottier & Wayde Little whilst in the Ladies Open Sedans Jaimi Barber was too good for Fleur Heiner, Samantha Lord, Karen Halliday & Tina Richardson. Closing out the day was the Junior Sedans and in this final Bairnsdale club member Joshua Thomas won from Ty Hutton, Cooper Cappellari, Adam Poole & Jack Bear. Corowa – Rutherglen Speedway Club would like to thank the following supporters: Corowa Shell Service Station Hartnett Transport Max Maclean & Co Maverick Boat’s QA Kitchens Quantum Printing Services 26
Ricky D’s Pizza Talbots Transport Corowa Exhaust Centre Corowa Fertilisers Corowa Truck & Trailer Corowa Wholesale Supplies Custom Dazigns Dawson’s Haulage Dunn’s Twin City Cranes Federation Tyrepower
GF & RJ Millthorpe’s Transport Rivergum Holiday Retreat Skylift Hire Rentals - Albury Vern & Jackie Parker DVD’s Ryan’s Refrigerated Transport Vic Mesh Workway’s Mungabarena Davidson Security Harvey Norman Electrical Albury Milestone Chemicals & Cleaning
D & P Haulage SBA Transport Federation Bulk Haulage Parkey Parts Rod Stones Automotive Corowa RSL Club CMV Truck & Bus Wodonga VK Logic Electrical Services Williams Race Tech Focus Engineering & Construction
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‘FRANKY’ WILLIAMS WINS GOULBURN OVENS SEDANS ASSOCIATION VICTORIAN TITLE Corowa local Wayne ‘Franky’ Williams is the new Victorian Goulburn Ovens Sedan Association champion after winning the crown at Wahgunyah Speedway at the very last event of the season after the title was previously washed out not once but twice at original host venue Brobenah Raceway in Leeton.
lack of fuel followed by Watts and Mills pulled infield when running as one of the last three when his engine went kaput after a crash a couple laps earlier took out Martin Heiner with tyre damage & a bent steering arm & Mitselburg lower arm damage in the front
end of his car leaving the remaining pre event favourite McCarten to go on and defeat Mick Quinn as the only two drivers to finish. ‘Big Bad’ Brad White & Bowers began on the front row of heat two with nine
Williams the man behind a plethora of nationally known V8 Utes that we watch on the television was too good for Leeton Club member Mitch ‘Sparky’ Watts & ‘Tommy Boy’ Bowers from Wodonga. Six heat races preceded the running of the title race with four of the pre event favourites in the first heat it was supposed to be a tight finish. Defending champion Danny McCarten started in pole position with Jason Mills, Watts & Anthony Mitselburg right behind them and Chelsea Cornelius at the back of the field. Cornelius was the first of the favourites to pull out of the race due to a 28
starters lined up to compete including Clint ‘Dirty Harry’ Henderson, Williams, Peter Schmetzer who had won at Wahgunyah this season, Ross ‘The Sheriff’ Maclean & Mick ‘The Minister’ Pettit in the pack. Williams initially jumped the start for which he was penalised on the first caution period of the race on lap five by being put two places back in the pack. Bowers led the restart with Williams passing him on the final lap to
win with Albury’s Scotty Callendar in third place followed by Maclean, Henderson, Pettit, Schmetzer, White & Dave ‘the Maverick’ Walton closing out round one. White & Walton were involved in a crash earlier that left White with a sore elbow & Walton with the firewall on his car crushed in over his feet after White spun and Walton slammed into him with nowhere to go.
Cornelius returned to start from pole position in the first heat of round two with Pettit alongside and Bowers on the next row. At the start Williams spun and was sent to the rear of the field to restart. Cornelius led Bowers & Pettit and Williams day of ups and downs continued when he copped the wrath of the steward receiving a black flag for a racing indiscretion which left Williams scratching his noggin wondering where the decision came from. Cornelius went on to win over Bowers, Pettit, ‘The Doctor’ Quinn, Heiner & White. Maclean & Schmetzer began at the front of the field in the fourth heat with Henderson, ‘The Mongrel’ McCarten & Watts back in the field. A lap one, turn one pile up took out Walton, Watts and Maclean leaving four drivers to contest the restart. The accident occurred when Walton who was making an outside pass felt he was tapped and spun in front of the field which started the crashing. Walton had bar work damage, Maclean had a dizzy wire ripped loose & Watts was left with front end damage.
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Schmetzer led Callendar & Henderson until lap five when Henderson headed to the infield scrap yard with clutch damage. Schmetzer although leading was the next to get a black flag as he was challenged by Callendar before crossing the line disqualified for having his visor up whilst racing exposing his eye glasses leaving ‘Nugget’ Callendar to beat McCarten.
Watts starting best from row two taking the lead on the first lap leading Bowers & Schmetzer to the line. Schmetzer passed Bowers on the second lap and that’s how the top three stayed with Watts the winner, Schmetzer, Bowers, Heiner & Mitselburg completing the finishers.
very consistent during the heats to this point of the day & Walton. McCarten failed to finish heading infield with mechanical concerns on lap two, Cornelius had another fail to finish as she exited the race on lap seven whilst fifth at the time & Williams banked a second heat success when he finished in front of Callendar, For the final qualifying heat Williams Walton, Pettit & Quinn. began with Walton at the front & Mitselburg & Heiner then had the front Pettit, Cornelius & McCarten at the Fourteen competitors lined up for the row in the fifth heat of the day with rear. Williams led Callendar who been fifteen lap Victorian title with Callendar the top qualifier in his best result of the season to this point. Bowers, Williams, McCarten, Quinn, Pettit, ‘the Smiling Assassin’ Cornelius, Watts, Schmetzer, Heiner, Walton, Maclean, White & Mitselburg completed the field line up. Williams assumed control early racing to the front with Bowers & Callendar in tow. From way down in twelfth position at the start Ross Maclean rocketed into second place by the finish of lap two behind Williams. MacLean’s charge lasted until lap seven when he pulled infield with electricall breakdown & Cornelius followed the very next lap with a similar issue in regards to her starter motor. A lap nine crash between Callendar and 30
Walton caused a stoppage and seen the drivers sent to the back of the pack for the restart. With Williams still out front and Bowers, Watts, McCarten & Brad White chasing things were looking good for a Corowa club member to win.
The G.O.S.A would like to thank their supporters:
Max’s Motor Museum – Corowa Watts moved to second on lap twelve and was the only Leeton member in the top five at the time and the laps Maverick Boats – Corowa ran down quickly to reach the close with Williams taking a Elle Mae Hair & Beauty – Corowa home club win over Watts, Bowers, McCarten & Pettit, Walton, Quinn, Heiner & Mitselburg. Corowa Kitchens & Cabinets Mitselburg on the last lap had put himself into fifth posi- Psychic Tina – Leeton tion before spinning and finishing last. Williams Race Tech – Corowa After the race Williams was delighted to be the new G.O.S.A Victorian Champion. “What a night. Brett (his Wahgunyah Rock Yard – Wahgunyah son) was initially going to race so to be going home as Stevo’s Painting Services Victoria # 1 is crazy. We had a night that was up and down however the set up was there in the car and the re- Ricky D’s Pizza – Corowa sult came our way. Well done to the others for their results and thank you to Corowa – Rutherglen Speedway Steel Line – Corowa/Albury Club for taking on our title at late notice.” Custom Daszigns – Corowa Not bad for a racer who has barely raced at all in the last Cornelius Classic Panels – Corowa few seasons with just a race here and there. Ace Smash Repairs – Leeton MP Sheds – Leeton
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