Edition 18 by Brett Swanson

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Who is Highline Magazine Editor: Brett Swanson Artist/layout; Andy Ticehurst Contributors; Kaylene Oliver, Grant Woodhams, Ray Read, Andy Ticehurst. Photographers: Brett Swanson – Pirate Media Kieran Swanson – Pirate Media Matt Hines – Jigsaw Photography Andy Ticehurst – PRM Group Rachel Cooper - Inaction Photos Leigh Reynolds - Inaction Photos Geoff Gracie Wayne Martin (WA) Dean Yoder - USA Stephen Pickering - Picko’s Photos You – The Speedway fans Facebook Contributions / Criticism Welcome. High Line Magazine Brett Swanson 0410 198 138 brett@piratemediagroup.com.au

Bob Kinser (middle) started an Indian Steve’s son Kraig (not pictured). A tou

was loved and revered all around th

www.HighlineMagazine.com.au Cover – Main photo. Patryk Dudek did everything he could short of falling off the bike which he came very close to doing in this pic by Inaction Photos in his efforts to win the SGP World Title in his debut season. Cover – Inset. Jason Doyle and the coveted SGP world Championship Trophy he came so close to winning last season and that he finally secured with a dominant ride in his home GP. 4

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na Sprintcar Dynasty which included his sons Steve (l) and Randy (r) as well as ugh as nails hard working, no nonsense type of man, Bob, who died November 4,

he Sprintcar world. Images Tony Loxley

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Editorial

tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great time of year with the smell of avgas and methanol in the air mixed with a blend of moist dirt and clay. Yes, the winter doldrums are over and the new season is pretty much in full swing nationwide. Australian Speedway Grand Prix The third annual QBE Insurance Australian Speedway Grand Prix has been run and won within the confines of the awesome Etihad stadium in Melbourne and what an event it was with the long overdue fairy tale ending for Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jason Doyle.

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POINT OF VIEW

If you haven’t been to an SGP yet I suggest you do so as the atmosphere is electric with no weather issues, awesome viewing, big screens galore, proper seating and plenty of razzamatazz and the beautiful Monster Energy Girls. See our full event coverage in this issue. R.I.P Dean Yoder

deepest condolences to Deans family and friends. R.I.P. Final pieces of the Jigsaw. Speaking of ace lensmen, Highline is also saddened by the decision of one of Sydney’s best Speedway photographers, Matt Hines from Jigsaw Photography, to cease snapping at Sydney’s speedway.

On a sad note Highline is devastated by the sudden death of our American friend Dean Yoder. We first met Dean in the car park of Gas City Raceway, Indiana, for a USAC Indiana Sprintweek event. As we unloaded our arsenal of cameras Dean who was parked next to us mentioned he was also a photographer although he was at this USAC event more to watch than to capture in pixels.

Matt cites a number of reasons and frustrations that led to his decision, which you can read on the Jigsaw Photography Facebook page and some of those are pretty damning especially the alleged actions of some “professionally jealous” rival snappers. But it seems the final straw was as a result of the newly installed infield wall which has been moved outwards towards the edge of the track. Now a concrete wall Dean later contributed some awe- between racecars and infield some images to Highline and personnel is a good thing from a seemed to be at the height of safety point of view, but it makes his career having a blast capturit almost impossible to photoing cars and stars and getting his graph a car without the wall getwork published. ting in the way unless you can Then, just like that came word stand next to or close to the wall. from the USA that Dean had sud- I was once told there is no such denly, unexpectedly passed away thing as a bad intention. All acat just 58 years of age. tions are based on good intenHighline magazine extends its tions but sometimes the result is

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a bad outcome. The intention with moving the wall was one of safety for the drivers (to stop them hitting infield tyre markers and damaging their cars) but the outcome is the inability to photograph the cars, unless you can stand near or close to the fence.

Valé – Robert E “Bob” Kinser Bob Kinser, the legendary patriarch of the Kinser clan died on November 4 after some recent ill-health, he was 86 years old.

Bob was an Indiana speedway legend in his own right racing jalopies, The actions of an overzealous ofsupermodifieds and other classes ficial “with an inflated ego” and no before becoming a Sprintcar superapparent logic or reasoning has star winning hundreds of events in cost the sport another great photog- his homestate of Indiana and elserapher. And it was almost more than where. one photographer. As Matt stated in his facebook post Bob was also the father of the best Sprintcar driver the world has ever “Having personally photographed seen in Steve “the King” Kinser and across the USA and done so at Steve’s older brother Randy who venues where you are either right was no slouch behind the wheel behind the barrier/fence that lines either. the pole-line or where you are very close without any barrier, I can un- Bob’s grandson Kraig is also a top derstand Matts frustration. What level Sprintcar racer having won the we need here is a bit of common prestigious Knoxville Nationals. sense, but then I was also told once that “there is no such thing as Com- Bob was inducted into the National mon Sense. If it was common eve- Sprintcar Hall of Fame in 1999 and ryone would have it. There’s only was later joined by Steve making a good sense. very proud moment for both men. A little good sense would be handy right now. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Mahala and a swag of chilWe at Highline would like to thank dren including Pam, Deaeann, Matt for making his stunning work Nancy, Paul, Sha, Kay Randy and available to us to share with our Steve. readers and to say that we will miss his great contribution to our pages. It’s estimated Bob won over 400 8

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features at Paragon, Bloomington, Kokomo, Haubstadt, Putnamville and Lawrenceburg in jalopies, bombers, late models and non-wing sprinters in addition to scoring a USAC sprint win when he was 54. He was hell on wheels and was a household name in short track racing for five decades. He was believed to have won a staggering 29 track and series championships during his career which spanned over 40 years. Bob even toured Australia on occasion with his boys. Simpson Speedway Improvements One club that is always working for the betterment of the sport is the Simpson Car Club. Vision of some more off season improvements can be viewed on Youtube by searching Simpson Speedway Works 2017. It appears the club has levelled out the infield to a degree and raised the track height through turns three and four necessitating a new concrete fence be built atop the old fence which is now almost level with the new track surface. Personally I just hope it doesn’t change the nature of the unique speedway too much which is always a great track to watch any race from.

Unknown American for downunder stint. Washington State Sprintcar racer Lawrance Kirkham will be heading down under for his first taste of Sprintcar racing Aussie style this year as the nominated driver of a new Victorian team. The team is owned by former Street Stock and Wingless Sprint racer Kevin Reeves and Kerry Simmons and plans to bring the American out in January. “These cars are too fast for me and we met Lawrance at Knoxville a few years ago and became good friends, so when we put this team together we thought why not put Lawrence in the car.” Stated Reeves. “He normally runs a 360 in Washington State at places like Skagit and like us is a battler.” Reeves continued. “Our plan is to run the Presidents Cup, The Kings Challenge and then the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic.” “We don’t have a killer motor and there is no real expectation on Lawrance, we just want to have ago and see what happens.” Reeves said.

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If things go well the team will then garage the car until Easter at which time some young local hopeful may be given an opportunity to have steer.

What happens in Vegas.

Highline contributor and Sprintcar tragic Kaylene “KY” Oliver shocked and surprised many of her friends and probably her family by getting Oval Express married recently in Las Vegas. We understand it’s a legit marriage, so Congratulations to Phil and Michelle congratulations to KY and her new Jordison on reaching yet another husband. milestone – 200 editions of Oval Express Magazine. Phil has been How good are the Oldfields? around the sport for well over 30 Damn good. years and the pair should be congratulated for providing Australia Very few people who are competiwith a durable high quality print tive in any sedan type of speedway magazine because, believe me, can step over to a Sprintcar and do you have no idea how difficult and well. Jamie Oldfield is one of the expensive it is to do what they have talented few having scored the win done for as long as they have done in the 360 Sprintcars at the Perth it. Motorplex and then backing that up with 3rd in the 410 division. FTBC Added to that his brother Warren Highline are pleased to announce won the Late Model feature on the the addition of Queensland phosame night using of all things a tographer Stephen Edgley aka crate motor. FTBC (From The Back Country) to the pages of Highline. Stephen is And then the next generation of related to the Tulloch family of racOldfield also got into the act with ers and will help us expand our Qld Beau grabbing 2nd in the Junior coverage. We hope you enjoy his Sedans New Star Feature. work in this and future editions. Now, on with the rest of the season.

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Ron Clarke – Speedway’s Sile Part 2

By Brett Swanson

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i F n r The Ba

ent Superman.

ind

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n the automotive industry, a “Barn Find” is the uncovering or locating of a rare or exotic piece of automotive machinery that is extremely rare, or significant, and/ or old and has lain unused and unmolested for a considerable amount of time and is still in great condition when everything’s been considered. Ron Clarkes’ Supermodified/Sprintcar is to a degree one of those rare “Barn Finds”. Ron’s car is both rare and significant and has remained as it was when it last rolled off the track back in 1974. It has not been restored yet remains in great condition, complete with sand blasted paint work, although the bright work is a little duller than when it was last raced. Being the engineer that Ron is, the 14

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car’s history has been meticulously recorded including details about engine upgrades and changes and other technical issues/changes that were made, and in the case of the unique “quick change” gearbox (Prior to quick change rear ends coming into use), Ron still has the original drawings and numerous receipts.

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The car astonishingly remains as it was last raced and unlike many other cars from the period remains largely in the shape and form in that it was originally constructed.

has been regularly fired and maintained and starts easily to this day and still runs like a kitten.

By todays comparison the rear tyres are tiny, with their squared edged, Thankfully, this piece of Australian rock hard compound and suburSpeedway history wasn’t sold off banite steer tyres. “We do have a at the end of Ron’s driving career wider wheel and tyre for the right where a range of new owners may front but depending on the track have cut it up and modified it to we sometimes ran suburbanites on update it and keep up with modern both wheels.” Ron explained while trends. the car was being photographed on a glorious day near its former storThis car also comes with a pretty age shed in Melbourne’s Docklands solid history of results behind it with precinct. plenty of feature wins and placings in major national and regional Ron would love to see his car out events up and down the eastern on the tracks as part of the growing seaboard. veteran and vintage demonstration movement but with deteriorating viOh, and did I tell you this car is ac- sion himself and no interest from eitually for sale. ther of his two sons the car has sat idle for many a year, although Ron In our last issue we ran a feature still hops in and fires the old girl up on Ron and within it were menfrom time to time. tioned some of the engine changes that occurred during the life of this By the time this issue of Highline car which in reality was only one hits the internet, Ron’s racer should change. It started its life with a be firmly ensconced in its new tem192ci Special Holden six cylinder porary home at the Hall of Fame engine that later had a Norman and museum just outside turn 2 at Eldred Supercharger added before Avalon Raceway. Make sure you being replaced by the 350ci Chev head on down and take a look at a that currently sits within the frame unique and original piece of Australrails. This engine, which is fuelled ian Speedway history, or better yet, by a mixture of petrol and methanol buy the car and get it back on the “giving it about a 115 octane rating” track where it belongs. 16

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AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CUP CREATED WORLD SPRINTCAR CHAMPIO 24

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ONSHIP

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By Grant Woodhams All photos courtesy of Peter Roebuck.

n early 1987 Australia was preparing for its first defence of the America’s Cup, arguably the World’s most prestigious yacht race.

We’d won the race for the first time in the 132 year history of the event in 1983 and now four year’s later it was time to defend it.

Led by the great Con Migro one of the best promoters to ever run an Australian Speedway, Claremont prepared for the 1986-87 season in the knowledge that the America’s Cup would provide some opportunities for them too.

Claremont like all big city Australian speedways at the time was riding the wave of Sprintcar popularity and Migro The races were to be held off Freman- and his team struck on an idea that would make the most of the America’s tle on the west coast which was the Cup and the stellar product they alhome port of the Royal Perth Yacht ready had every Friday night during Club who had been the successful summer at Claremont. challengers four years before. The America’s Cup was a massive event and the commercial impact it had on Fremantle as the old port city prepared for the event was phenomenal as all sorts of international businesses came to town.

The result was the World Sprintcar Championship, part of the America’s Cup Festival of Sport, a three night extravaganza of racing that started on Thursday the 5th of February and ran for three consecutive nights.

None of this was lost on the savvy operational team at Claremont Speedway just twelve kilometres up the road from Fremantle.

Fifty Thousand Dollars worth of prize money made it the biggest paying event in the history of Australian Sprintcar racing. At that point it was probably the biggest amount of money for any Australian speedway meeting.

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Claremont Speedway was celebrating its 60th season of racing and the World Sprintcar Championship would undoubtedly be the high point of another great year at the historic venue.

and Four Northern Territorians. The remaining fifteen were from Western Australia.

In 1987 the one lap record at Claremont was owned by Alf Barbagallo at 16.59 seconds. Interestingly enough no one could get anywhere near it By 1987 Claremont already had a substantial history of attracting visiting on the first night including Barbagallo Sprintcar drivers which had started in who recorded an 18.54. The best time was set by Steve Brazier (NSW) with the 1960â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when US Super Modified a time of 18.10. ace Marshall Sargent had turned up and shown the locals the way around He was followed by Brett Lacey (Vic) the 563 metre track and more recently the Australian Champion at 18.30 and the legendary Steve Kinser had been Max Dumesney (Vic) 18.31. at Claremont. The format provided for sixteen heats over the first two nights with features Migro and his management left no on both nights. These preliminary feastone unturned as they prepared for tures were won by Ian Bradford (WA) the World Sprintcar Championships and they assembled a Sprintcar nomi- and Jeff Gordon (USA). The third nation list the likes of which had never night would see the running of the 35 Laps World Sprintcar Championbeen seen before in Australia. ship Final with the top sixteen drivers on points from the first two nights in Of the thirty eight competitors who time trials and a B Main race to add time trialled on night one there were eight Americans, two New Zealanders, another four to the twenty car starting line up. three South Australians, three New South Welshmen, Three Victorians /Highline-Magazine

After the sixteen qualifying heats the top point scorer was WAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ron Krikke, who was one point in front of Garry Rush (NSW) with Steve Brazier (NSW) a further two points back. The best of the Americans was Danny Lasoski. Other Americans joining him in the top sixteen and guaranteeing a starting place in the final were Jeff Gordon, Rocky Hodges and Jimmy Sills. The B Main on the Saturday night was over 15 laps and started a field of twenty led off by David Graetz (NT) on pole. On his outside was Shane Carson (USA). There were a few big names in the line up that had one last chance to grab a place in the World Championship and included Bill Bar28

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rows (SA) and WAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tony Matta, Lee Foster and Des Nash. Americans Kramer Williamson, Randy Smith and Jeff Tuttle were all in the B, along with the two New Zealanders Lyndon Kendall and Ian Easton. Carson dominated the event and scored a great win over Tony Matta (WA), Lee Foster (WA) and Kramer Williamson (USA). There were quite a few withdrawals which saw only nine cars take the chequered flag in a race that ran uninterrupted in a time of 7min 30.05sec which was just a second over the then track record held by Rocky Hodges. By finishing fifth Des Nash (WA) qualified as first reserve, with Jeff Tuttle (USA) in sixth who

would be second reserve. Earlier in the night the top sixteen had time trialled to gain more points to help determine starting positions in the World Championship Final. The best time was recorded by Jimmy Sills (USA) with a 16.97. However Garry Rush’s time of 17.13 gave him enough points to give him the coveted pole position for the final. Rush was set to start on the front row alongside long time adversary Steve Brazier. Immediately behind them would be the top two West Australians Ron Krikke and Alf Barbagallo. The best of the Americans was Sills out

of position five. Steve Arrigo was the best from the Northern Territory out of six, while Victoria had Max Dumesney out of nine. No South Australians had made the cut. The race hadn’t made the first corner when Steve Brazier tangled with another car and his race was over. Brazier’s exit gave 1st reserve Des Nash the chance to start and he duly took his place in the line-up. Brazier’s wasn’t the only spectacular exit from the race. Steve Arrigo managed to roll the NT12 but was able to restart. As a result of Arrigo’s roll Max Dumesney was sent rear of field for his part in the incident. Neither Arrigo nor Dumesney would finish the event. /Highline-Magazine

Through several yellow flags Garry Rush led the high speed freight train in front of a very vocal crowd which was hoping for a home town win. Alf Barbagallo nearly obliged and threatened Rush’s NSW25 (yes you read correctly #25, not #2) at every opportunity. But it was not to be and Rush took yet another Sprintcar victory, one of the biggest of his incredible career. Barbagallo had to settle for second and Danny Lasoski (USA) finished third. At the end of the race Lasoski was probably racing better than anyone. He was followed in order by Jimmy Sills, Brett Lacey, George Tatnell, Rocky Hodges, Max Bowland, Shane Carson, Tony Matta, Jeff Gordon and Des Nash. There were no other finishers. Everyone involved with the three nights of racing was full of praise for the incredibly successful staging of the World Sprintcar Championship. It might just have been the spark needed for the creation of World Series Sprintcars which held it first ever race later that year. And the track they decided to hold it at? Claremont Speedway! WORLD SPRINTCAR CHAMPIONSHIP 35 Laps – Claremont Speedway, WA 7th February 1987 Starters Finished 1) #25 Garry Rush NSW 1st 2) #58 Steve Brazier NSW dnf 3) #99 Ron Krikke WA dnf 4) #77w Alf Barbagallo WA 2nd 5) #75 Jimmy Sills USA 4th 6) #12nt Steve Arrigo NT dnf 7) #12r Danny Lasoski USA 3rd 8) #16 Jeff Gordon USA 11th 9) #5v Max Dumesney VIC dnf 10) #5nsw George Tatnell NSW 6th 11) #20 Max Bowland VIC 8th 12) #A1 Brett Lacey VIC 5th 13) #17 John Krikke WA dnf 14) #1 Rocky Hodges USA 7th 15) #77nt Laurie Sorgiavani NT dnf 16) #6 Ian Bradford WA dnf 17) #20w Shane Carson USA 9th 18) #29 Tony Matta WA 10th 19) #8 Lee Foster WA dnf 20) #73 Kramer Williamson USA dnf 30

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21) #55 Des Nash WA (1st reserve) 22) #10 Jeff Tuttle USA (2nd reserve)

12th dns

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nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wreck.

Steven Lines in the Brian Hall WA3 was a surprise winner of the USC round at Warrnambool recently. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so surprising about Lines winning, right? The reason it was surprising was that James McFadden in the Monte WA17 was leadi o

Wade Aunger is probably best known for his talent behind the microphone but tions. Wade shot Nikki Briton at Eastern Creek combining a number of aspects 32her unique use of pole-sport to maintain fitness. HIGHLINE MAGAZINE | EDITION 18 |

ing all feature long until inexplicable spinning out of the lead a short distance from the chequered flag handing the win to Lines. Lines luck however, deserted him at the same venue a couple of weeks later in the Victorian Champi-

he also has a sublime talent behind a digital camera with a great eye for locas of her life and racing career - Her Race Ready Parts Sprintcar, Herself and /Highline-Magazine

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nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone else’s wreck.

Steven Lines in the Brian Hall WA3 was a surprise winner of the USC round at Warrnambool recently. What’s so surprising about Lines winning, right? The reason it was surprising was that James McFadden in the Monte WA17 was leadi o

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n a i l a r t s u A

SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX

nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone else’s wreck.

The long awaited celebration. Jason Doyle is given a champagne bath by runn Pirate Media Group unless stated.

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ding all feature long until inexplicable spinning out of the lead a short distance from the chequered flag handing the win to Lines. Lines luck however, deserted him at the same venue a couple of weeks later in the Victorian Champi-

ner up Patryk Dudek (L) and third placed Tai Woffinden (R). All SGP photos /Highline-Magazine

ason Doyle came to Melbourne for the QBE Insurance Australian Speedway Grand Prix with a head full of demons and what ifs and a still broken and painful right foot and left as a thoroughly deserving and overdue World Speedway Champion, also becoming only

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the sixth Aussie to do so but the first to secure the crown on home soil. In front of just under 21,000 largely partisan fans Doyle admitted the stress of the past three weeks between the penultimate round at Torun and his home

event had been taxing on both he and his family but you wouldn’t have known it by the way he rode the event putting sole challenger Patryk Dudeks’ (above) slim hopes to bed with three wins from his first three rides to claim the crown.

Doyles’ awareness of his task was evident as he powered through turn three and four on the last lap of his third heat and took a look at the big screen to see how close the chasers were before allowing himself a fist pump as he raced to the line and his first world championship.

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Doyle then had a mini celebration with some wheelstands and extras laps to acknowledge the crowd. So popular was his SGP Championship win that he was hoisted skyward by fellow riders, mostly his Aussie riding mates, in the traditional SGP celebration style before his Polish club team mate and now vanquished challenger Dudek was able to congratulate the Aussie. “This is better than Lego(?)” stated Doyle in an impromptu interview with 3 time world champion Jason Crump as the racing was temporarily put on hold for the celebrations. With the pressure now off, the crowd who were still in raptures expected Doyle to dominate but surprisingly Bartosz Zmarzlik was able to beat Doyle in his next ride and did so again in their semifinal clash to be the only rider capable of beating the new world champ on the night. The night got off to a bittersweet start for the parochial crowd when Aussie Sam Masters broke the tapes before a lap had been raced allowing first reserve – fellow Aussie Brady Kurtz, to take the line up from where he stunned 40

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the field to take the win. This heat was also indicative of 2012 World Champion Chris Holders night and season when despite leading early he could only manage a third place finish. Tai Woffinden won heat two and the Emil Sayfutdinov defeated Dudek in heat 3 which made Doyles task 1 point easier.

Doyle however, now needing 7 points to claim the crown rode brilliantly to score 3 points in his first up ride. Dudek maintained the pressure in the second set of heats by winning from Woffinden. Martin Vaculik who was fighting with Matej Zagar for that crucial 8th place championship automatic qualification spot won heat 6 and then Holder showed his Aussie spirit in an unexpected way when he fell in heat 7 while Doyle was leading. Quickly regaining his feet Holder looked up track to see Doyle leading and not wanting to stop the flow of the heat and force a restart he quickly grabbed his bike and headed infield allowing Doyle to maintain his momentum and take the vital 3 point win.

Zagar won heat 8, Maciej Janowski took heat 9 and then needing just 1 more point Doyle scored his third win and 3 points in heat ten to secure the championship and set the stadium alight.

time Tungate defeated Zmarzlik, Smolinski and Holder. Two from two!

Dudek now needed to keep the ball rolling to repel any late challenge for second in the world title (silver medal) from Woffinden and did so by winning heat 11.

Incredibly after just two rides Tungate had only missed a Semifinal berth by 1 point.

Martin Smolinski won heat 12. As if we Aussie fans didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have enough to cheer about second reserve Rohan Tungate who replaced Piotr Pawlicki for breaking the tapes, then stunned the likes of Janowski, Davey Watt (in his last speedway meeting ever) and Vaculik beating them all to the heat 13 win. Zagar and Woffinden then won the next two heats before Zmarzlik beat Doyle who was also ahead of Dudek. Doyle returned to the winners circle as did Dudek in heats 17 and 18 respectively. Kurtz got the call up to replace an injured Pawlicki but then touched the tapes giving Tungate his second call up and astonishingly this

Woffinden then won the final heat.

As high points man Doyle chose gate 1 for his semi-final but was beaten in a close race to the flag by Zmarzlik. Janowski and Zagar both bowed out. Dudek chose gate 1 also for his semi-final and took the win from Woffinden. Sayfutdinov and Vaculik missed the final. The winners of the Semi-finals get gate priority for the final leaving Doyle the choice of only gate three or four, of which he picked 3 leaving Woffinden out of gate 4 (outside). Dudek made a great start in the final but Doyle soon ranged up alongside as the season long battle between these two continued side by side. Doyle would edge ahead and then Dudek would retake the lead until they hit turn three on the third lap where Doyle had been able to work his /Highline-Magazine

way inside Dudek. Doyle and Dudek raced hard into turn three and Dudek then ran wide up towards the fence before pulling out of the contest and looking down at his bike as Doyle went on to take the final win to cap a brilliant night for the newly crowned World Champion.

phy as much as me because she has been to hell and back.” “The last two weeks I have been a human calculator, trying to work out what was going to happen if I got five points, six points.

“But today I just thought ‘win it or bin it’ – the same as I have done Woffinden grabbed the runner all year. I rode pretty hard and up spot while Zmarzlik repeated it worked in the first three rides his result from 12 months ago of and flowed from there. Once that standing on the final podium step. monkey of the title came off my After a quick change into his back, it just seemed to work. special one-off “world champion” white and gold kevlars’ Doyle was “We have worked very hard. I ready for the presenatations. have done a lot of work behind the scenes and so have the boys. It was a dream night for the It has finally come together and 32-year-old, who has defied the it’s just perfect. This was a perfect pain of the right foot he shattered night and hopefully it sinks in one in Torun four months ago to take day because tonight, it still hasn’t his place in history, with series at the moment.” runner-up Dudek and bronze medallist Woffinden joining him Doyle hailed his mechanics Dave on the World Championship ros- and Sam Haynes, Johno Birks trum. and Mark Seabright for their role in an historic season. He said: “The last couple of years has “They have been through so been very hard with injuries, but many hard times with me. It has it was all worth it tonight. I knew been a great couple of years, what I needed to do. I needed to but having Dave and Johno, as train hard and do the right things. well as Mark and Sam, has really It all worked out in the end.” Doyle helped me in my career.” admitted. “This is a special moment for “My wife Emily deserves this tro- me and the team. It’s not just all 42

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about me; it’s about how hard they have worked for the last five years. Without them, we wouldn’t be here.” Doyle races two more meetings Down Under, before jetting back to Europe where he will undergo surgery to finally fix his broken foot. “I have to go and get a bone graft when I go back to Poland in three weeks time,” he revealed. “Not many people knew I was riding with a shattered foot still. I just needed to carry on and get through the last couple of meetings. “This is hopefully a simple fix. They’re going to do a bone graft on my foot to fix the last broken bone. There are still three bones that are broken in the foot, but once I get off the bike, it’s going to heal a lot better than while I’m riding all the time. “We have done about 100 meetings this year, so it has been quite difficult. The pain is alright. I just can’t run and this is the biggest problem

adrenaline pumping, it just changes. You just need to focus on winning races, and it worked.” “Injuries are part and parcel of the sport, but you just don’t want to be having them every year. It seems like every year I am ending up in hospital.” Polish racer Patryk Dudek became the first rider to finish in the World Championship’s top two in his debut season since the SGP series was launched in 1995, and he was delighted to see his efforts pay off with a place in the history books. He said: “I am ecstatic because I am the first rider to get second position in their first season. I am very happy. This is my work and I work hard all the time. I am the second rider in the world now.” Doyle, his crew, family and fellow riders Holder and Woffinden amongst them then moved on to Crown Casino for some hearty celebrations with the new champion still dressed in his special “Elvis” kevlar suit where they all enjoyed the win well into the morning.

“I guess the training side has really suffered, but when you get on The only down side from the a motorbike and you have all the event was that Holder, who won

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last yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; version, finished the season in 10th place and has missed an automatic berth into the 2018 championship. Holder is now reliant on the organisers who select another 4 riders who are outside the top 8 and who have not qualified via the other qualifying events. The problem for Holder is that multiple world Champions Greg Hancock and Nicki Pedersen are expected to take two of those positions when they return from injury leaving Holder hoping for one of the other available slots. Right: The best in the world, Patryk Dudek, (2nd), Jason Doyle (1st), and fellow Aussie Tai Woffinden (3rd).

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nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wreck.

Just two days out from the event and the laying of the track continues inside the 46

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e awesome Etihad Stadium.

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nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone else’s wreck.

The calm before the storm as Jason Doyles bike sits idle just an hour away from

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m helping its rider to his World Title destiny.

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nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone else’s wreck.

3 Aussies and a pole go hard at it with Sam Masters (16), Jason Doyle (69), Pio

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otr Pawlicki (777) and Tai Woffinden (108).

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nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wreck.

Powering out of the final turn on his way to securing his first world title Jason Do lead to allow himself a little fist pump as he takes the flag or whether he needed 52

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oyle takes a quick look at the big screen to determine whether he had enough d to keep his head down and power to the line.

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nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone else’s wreck.

Second reserve Rohan Tungate bursts through the middle of Martin Vaculik (l) a 54

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and Davey Watt (r) on the way to his surprise win in heat 13. /Highline-Magazine

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nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone else’s wreck.

Heat 14 action sees Emil Sayfutdinov (89), Sam Master (16), Martin Smolinski would go on to take the win.

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i (84) and Matej Zagar (55) power out of turn two on the opening lap. Zagar

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nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wreck.

Tai Woffinden shows the style that made him a two time world champion on the flat by the time he finished this heat.

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e way to the win in heat 15. Woffinden was fortunate in that his rear tyre was

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nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone else’s wreck.

Piotr Pawlicki had a shocking event touching the tapes once and then breaking and his machine. Pawllicki’s bad luck was good luck for reserve Rohan Tungat

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g them in a later heat as he tried to ride off with them still wrapped around him te who was substituted in and then won the heat. /Highline-Magazine

nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone else’s wreck.

Mildura’s Justin Sedgmen (17) dices furiously with retiring veteran Davey Watt

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nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone else’s wreck.

A very happy group of Doyle fans/family after he won his first SGP World Cha 64

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leading all feature long until inexplicable spinning out of the lead a short distance from the chequered flag handing the win to Lines. Lines luck however, deserted him at the same venue a couple of weeks later in the Victorian Champi-

ampionship. /Highline-Magazine

nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone else’s wreck.

Patryk Dudek, Jason Doyle and Tai Woffinden do the SGP top three Selfie. 66

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nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone else’s wreck.

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hort and sharp, that was the idea behind my migration to the 2017 QBE SGP adventure at Etihad Stadium.

In previous years I’ve made my way over early to have a bit of a holiday and enjoy all that Mexico (Ok Melbourne) has to offer. I truly enjoy what the city has to offer, but this year I wanted to be back home in God’s Country (West Oz) as soon as I could for my youngest son Chace’s cricket game on the Sunday morning. A month or so out from the event, everything lined up to get the time off work required as being a shift worker sometimes it’s a struggle to have the holiday availability to head to events like this, so naturally I was grateful that I could do this….If flights were available. Checking everything on all possible websites the right flights came up and the In and Out tour could happen. Next a ticket, well thanks to the internet again South Australian Speedway 70

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FATRAT’S “Magical Mystery Tour”

photographer Stephen Pickering let me know that his group of friends had a spare ticket so I snapped that up without any hesitation. So in a 31-hour hell tour I left Perth at 130 AM Saturday morning, arriving in Melbourne just on 8am. Fortunately Bunbury based sedan racer/ constructer Daren Currell allowed me to base myself in his hotel room for the day catching up on some much needed sleep and cleansing!!! From that point on the party, atmosphere and the all-important racing ramped up and once again didn’t disappoint. Speedway bike racing is without a doubt the closest racing where everyone needs to respect each other or the consequences can be life changing. The way these gladiators - the worlds’ best - shuffle in, around, under and outside each other with such fluent movements is a sight to behold. To watch the racing unfold is more than a thrill, it’s a privilege. Fortunately, I’ve been privileged to see all of the

I though the point of the roof was to keep the moisture out, so why does our editor feel something wet in his ear. Clearly Fat Rat and Stephen Pickering were having a great time at the SGP. Photo Inaction Photos.

SGP events held in this country and for myself, I would rate it up there with the Knoxville Nationals or the Grand Annual Classic as an event for the spectator. The racing is sublime and just like the Nationals or the Classic it has become a gathering that in some ways might outweigh these events. After deciding with Pickering to sit on the lower level at turn one (due to bar and toilet locations), between races showed why I enjoy this event so much. Too see so many faces from all over the country from so many different divisions shows the attraction that these two wheel masters have in skill to impress so many.

ible feats proves to me just what an event it is. The icing on the cake is we all got to experience one of our own claiming the world crown - Jason Doyle your tenacity, skill and determination shone through on the night to make all Aussies stand an inch or two higher that night, congratulations. Afterwards the great city nightlife ended the only way it could to this very excited fan, making a few dollars at the Casino and running into the newly crowned champ for the obligatory selfie.

As I trundled my way to the airport for my 6AM Sunday morning departure, Naturally as you would expect plenty I reflected just how lucky we are to of two and three wheel exponents, have these ‘sultans of slide’ come to both current and former racers were on hand, but to see Sprintcar, Speed- our shores to provide us with one of car and Sedan racers from all over the the great spectacles of our sport. Very nation present to witness such incred- lucky indeed….. /Highline-Magazine

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nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wreck.

Jaime Leerentveld is a top little driver in the 160cc Junior Quarter Midgets as s Photography 72 HIGHLINE MAGAZINE | EDITION 18 |

seen here where she scored an early season win. . - Stephen Edgley - FTBC /Highline-Magazine

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nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone else’s wreck.

Shaun Dobson took his family owned ride North to Toowoomba to open his sea David and Gail Dixon owned V3 and is looking forward to a busy, and hopefully 74 HIGHLINE MAGAZINE | EDITION 18 |

ason back in September. Dobbo will split his time between this ride and the y successful season.. - Stephen Edgley - FTBC Photography

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nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone else’s wreck.

Queenslander Peter Lack unveiled his new Mega Fuels colours at his home tra phy 76 HIGHLINE MAGAZINE | EDITION 18 |

ack of Hi-Tec Oils Toowoomba Speedway. - Stephen Edgley - FTBC Photogra/Highline-Magazine

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nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone else’s wreck.

Brent Kratzmann’s Q2 looks absolutely resplendent in its new BK Trading Aust 78

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tralian livery. - Stephen Edgley - FTBC Photography /Highline-Magazine

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nship at theVeal samehas venue whenthe he was out down of the event someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wreck. Jamie been formtaken driver southinvery much reminiscent of a co

He won the opening round of the Eureka Garages and Sheds Sprintcar Series at Heartland Raceway, Moama, while leading. He then took the $5,000 from Premier Speedway (seen here under the new Mu 80 at the Combined Waste Sprintcar Invitational event at Avalon. HIGHLINE MAGAZINE | EDITION 18 |

ouple of years back when he was almost unbeatable. and was leading round 2 until an uncharacteristic error saw him fence the car

usco lights) in round 3 and then followed that up by scoring the $10,000 to win /Highline-Magazine

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nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone else’s wreck.

Sydney’s Mick Saller is a young man that is sure to win plenty of new fans over car Championship. In advance of the big road trip Saller’s team have already lo (Moama & Warrnambool), and a couple in Toowoomba as well as Parramatta. This neat family outfit present well and Mick will be sure to improve as he tackl 82 HIGHLINE MAGAZINE | EDITION 18 |

r the next season when he sets out to contest his first full World Series Sprintogged plenty of miles this summer taking in a couple of shows in Victoria

les many new venues and learns along the way.

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nship at the same venue when he was taken out of the event in someone else’s wreck.

We’ve all seen plenty of photos like these, but the difference in this one that fea even formed up for the heat race. Milburn rode the wheel of Chris Campbell be rear of the field even though the race hadn’t even formed up.

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atures Brett Milburn at Warrnambool is that this happened before the cars had efore falling over. To add insult to injury he was then made to start from the /Highline-Magazine

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