Motor Racing
22 April, 2024
Speedway....Lights, camera and action!
Hollywood’s best producers could not script a blockbuster movie better than the thrills, spills and excitement on offer last Saturday night as Horsham’s Blue Ribbon Raceway served up the thrills of victory and agony of defeat.
For the majority of the Speedway categories racing lap times are measured in less than 18 seconds and that was all that stood between some competitors to experience the agony of defeat after leading the race to almost the chequered flag.
Super Sedans
For Penola’s Dave Gartner this was the case in the 20-lap Super Sedan final. From
outside front row Gartner made the most of clear track as he sligshotted his way around the outside of Pole sitter Brock Atkins to lead the charge of the cast of the fast, many were ready to put pen to paper to mark Gartner in their race program as the white flag came out and then came the unthinkable as Gartner pulled to the infield with an unknown mechanical issue.
Atkins then inherited the lead and negotiated the final 16 seconds without incident to claim the winners purse. Jamie Collins would claim the runner up position and one lap further back were Dave Mackenzie, Ricky Ashmore and local racer Danny Smith to round the top five.
Wingless Sprints
A strong field of Wingless Sprints provided the crowd with some exciting racing as they ran in close quarters over the 25-lap final. Jeremy Pearson led the race from Pole Position for the first 15-laps before a successful challenge by Robert Whiteside saw him take control and led for the next 9 and three quarter laps as he and second generation racer Jayden Lock encountered lapped traffic on the final corners.
One went high and the other low, allowing Lock to poke his nose in front as the duo drag raced to the line, Whiteside the runner up in what was too close to call by the naked eye. The transponder would tell the tale of the outcome with Lock the winner by a mere 0.189 of a second in what was truly a thriller. Pearson held on to the final step of the podium ahead of local racer Tyler Bish. South Australian visitor Rory Button was next leading home Jordan Nicholas, Craig McDonald, Ricky Bailey, James Schneider and Jarrod Payne for the top ten.
Compact Speedcars
They are small, nimble and very fast, the name says it all! The front row of the 20- lap final saw the experienced Trevor Perry and New South Wales Champion Justin Paul square off, Paul got the jump and never looked back while Perry chased hard.
As the duo approached the final set of corners Paul slightly hesitated as he negotiated some slower traffic, this gave Perry the opportunity to make his move and take the lead with the chequered flag in sight to win by the barest margin of just 0.438 of a second. Duane Cordina was next followed to the line by Bowen Donkers, Bree Simpson, Aaron Stubbs, Terry Brown and Tania Hallett.
Limited Sportsman
The annual running of the Kev Baker Challenge is a special event for the category
and for the reigning Victorian Champion Jock Baker this was one a race that he especially wanted to win.
Jock was unstoppable winning all three heat races to be the highest point scorer going into the 15-lap final which would see an inverted field and fastest to the rear. From Pole position Daniel McLeod led the opening nine laps while Jock sliced his way through the field and take command with just 5 laps to run, from that point he set sail and all seemed to write itself however with just two circulations remaining Jock would pull to the infield with a blown motor handing the lead back to McLeod to cross the line just 0.041 of a second ahead of Rod
Hetherington with Craig Ansell and Daniel Hurley to round the top four.
V8 Trucks
Drama continued to follow in the 10-lap final for the big rigs. Luke James claimed line honours only to be relegated two positions after the Chief Stewart deemed an infield pass, handing victory to Nathan Bird over Fletcher Mills, James, Jaryd Carman and Wes Bell.
Junior Sedans
The Juniors were again divided into two categories, the Top Stars and the lesser experienced New Stars. James Peacock acme from fourth place on the grid to win the 20-lap Top Stars final taking victory over Miller Throckmorton, Jake Bradley and Cruz Farrell for the first four home. Steane Cosson, Flynn Annett, Max Leersen, Pary Das, Tamika Simpson and Tristan Jarred for the top ten.
The New Stars final was dominated by Brad Marshall and Jaylen Knight who were separated by a mere 0.881 after 20 hard fought laps. Axel Robinson finished third
and one lap in the rears followed by Jack Mills, Lily Dannatt, Elizabeth Flavell, Hudson Moorfoot and Cruz Abela.
The next meeting for the Blue Ribbon Raceway will be a double header scheduled
for the 18th and 19th of May. For Saturday the 19th gates will open at 3:30pm with
racing from 4:30pm featuring, the Production Sedan Series, VSC Sports Sedans,
Vintage Sedans, Vintage Hot Rods, V8 Trucks, Wingless Sprints and both the SSA
Juniors & SSA 1200's.
While on Saturday the 11th the Junior Quarter Midgets will be added to card and the
meeting will be a day event with spectator gates opening at 10.00am and racing to commence from 11am. For further details please keep an eye out on the Blue Ribbon Raceway Facebook page or visit www.blueribbonraceway.com.au