Bairnsdale Speedway Association and the Victorian Speedway Council pulled together to push through with the ‘Lakes Hydraulics’ Victorian Sports Sedan title after weather decided to throw a spanner in the works on the 21st and 22nd of March. Brendan Miller on day two of what was supposed to be a one-night show thrilled fans that returned for Sunday’s action going on to win the big title event.
Drizzle during the week had the track perfect for Saturday, on one condition, that the drizzle did not continue all day. Unfortunately, that is exactly what the weather did and after an attempt at round one on the Saturday afternoon, it was determined the field would come back on Sunday to get through the event.
On Sunday drivers determined to get their title in threw in their support of the local track crew by assisting with grader duties. With the sun out and cooking, the track after the final grade was ready to go and eventually the water truck was required often due to change in track conditions.
Wins in qualifying for the Sports Sedans went to the way of Caleb Lincoln, Damien Miller, Matt Shankland, Brendan Miller, and Josh Service in round one of racing. The first four of the heats ran in extremely wet and tricky conditions on the Saturday.
Round two on the Sunday began with a Jay Nicolaisen victory by just 0.162 of a second as he passed Shane O’Brien two laps from the finish. Shane Simpson was up next with a win; Damien Miller was the first driver to win both qualifier’s so far. Troy Britton came through his field to win the next and the round was closed out with a David Donegan win.
Robert Garlick then won the first heat of the final round with Damien Miller hot on his heels and a small margin of victory at the end of the race of 0.280. Brad Warren, Brendan Miller for a second win, Harry Cecil and Shane Simson closed out the title race qualifying.
Six drivers from the last chance qualifier then joined the feature field. Donegan, Connor Claridge, Matt Ismail, Troy Glassborow, Bailey and Reece Kakoschke were those drivers.
Finally, the terrific diehard Speedway crowd got to see a title race just after 4pm Sunday. Damien Miller, Shane Simpson, Nicolaisen, Brendan Miller, Warren, Service, Shane O’Brien, and Bradin Claridge amongst the top eight starters in a field were twenty-three cars made the green flag. In the first five laps of thirty-five, Shane Simpson would be the first of the front runners to exit the race on lap three after race contact left him with a deflated tyre.
Connor Claridge who qualified via the last chance qualifier was the next to come unstuck and out of the race and at the ten-lap mark Damien Miller led Nicolaisen, Brendan Miller, Warren, and Service whilst Danny Cox who started fifteenth moved into tenth spot.
Several competitors races came to an end on lap fifteen with twenty to go. Bree Simpson, Anthony Nicolaisen, Glassborow, and Nathan O’Brien amongst them. Damien Miller still led from Nicolaisen, Brendan Miller, Warren, and Shane O’Brien.
On lap eighteen Brendan Miller moved to second ahead of Nicolaisen, Harry Cecil and Reece Kakoschke’s races ended in the infield with others who had suffered through crashes, flats, and other misfortune. Ian Thomsen who had begun back in the pack on the eight row, was now up to ninth spot, Cox was in sixth and Donegan eight having all started closer to the back.
Leading at lap twenty-five Damien Miller led Brendan Miller, Nicolaisen, Warren and Bradin Claridge. Service and Cox with a broken rose joint and lower arm, were the next drivers to drop out of the race and with five laps left Damien Miler still led the race from Brendan Miller, Nicolaisen, Warren and Claridge.
Heartbreak for Damien Miller as his race came to an end when an axle broke on lap thirty-two and Matt Ismail another not to finish, Brendan Miller hit the front. Thomsen moved to fourth and a moment latter Brendan Miller claimed his first Sports Sedan state title win from Nicolaisen, Warren, Thomsen, and Bradin Claridge.
In support class racing the Standard Saloons Josh Thomas won both heat races before leading the final for the first ten of twelve laps before his car had issues and Thomas pulled infield allowing Gus Argoon from second to take the lead with Mitchell Ling right on his tail. Argoon held off Ling for the win, with Jack Wharton, Breanna Lee and Russell Stuchbery rounding out the top five.
Jayden Curtis proved too strong in Junior Standard Saloon racing holding off Alex Vanduren in a race they both ran bumper to bumper for much of. In Limited Sportsman it was a case of last man standing and Daniel Hurley picked up the win.
Racing returns on April 5th Easter Sunday with the possibility of a Demolition Derby if entries are forthcoming. The Gary Bowden Wingless Sprints Memorial will headline the show with class points racing for all club classes.
Bairnsdale Speedway Association wish to acknowledge and thank these wonderful supporting businesses.
A1 Building Designs
Active Sound Services
Assist A Lift
Aussie Septic Solutions
Bairnsdale Automotive and Transmissions
Bairnsdale Bearings and Industrial
Bairnsdale Radiator
Bairnsdale RSL
Bairnsdale Trophy Centre
Bridgestone Service Centre Bairnsdale
Buchan Towing
Bunnings Bairnsdale
Burson Auto Parts Bairnsdale
Club Eastwood
Dahlsens
Dennison Quality Roof Restorations
Eastern Signs and Designs
East Gippsland Lock and Keys
East Gippsland Shire Council
East Vic Hydraulics
EGEE Printers
Eureka Garages and Sheds
Eye Care Plus
Gippsland Critical Mines
Gippsland Grain Store
Gippsland Treated Pine
Gippsland Truck Centre
Goodman’s
Granite Rock Quarries
Hine Transport & Stock feeds
JD Automotive
Kennedy Trailers
Lake Land Ice
Lakes Hydraulics
Lakes Tile and Carpet
M & S Laity Hay Contractors
Mitchell Valley Excavations
Paint Right Bairnsdale
Patties Food
Phaselink Electrics
Razor Images Print. Sign. Clothing
Repco Bairnsdale
Riviera Automotive
Riviera Concrete
Riviera Trailers
SS Auto Wholesalers
SSM Asbestos
Starys Earthworks and Landscaping
Tambo Waste
Tim Bull MP
Todd Plumbing Supplies
TRFM and GOLD 1242
Wayne Trinder Plumbing & Gasfitting
Westpoint Motors
WGI Earthmoving and Heavy Haulage
Written by
Dean Thompson
Dean Thompson Media
For Bairnsdale Speedway Association
Photos:
Michaela Eade Photography & Magnet Design
ImageworX Photography