Edition 14

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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 You – The Speedway fans Facebook Contributions / Criticism Welcome.

High Line Magazine Brett Swanson 0410 198 138

Front cover – Main Pic – James McFadden soaks up the adulation of the capacity Classic crowd as a hoard of photographers snap away and watch one.

Pirate Media Photo.

Kerry Madsen defended his Australian Sprintcar Championship Crown at his original home track, while Nathan Disney pictured in his Late Model is heading south to Warrnambool on a mission to win the Australian Championship for his ill mother – Both pics Jigsaw Photos.

Right: Rico Abreu. Tony Powell Photo.

Editorial

Madsen went on to win another National title to add to his impressive resume, that by the time he retires will be one of, if not the best ever for an Australian.

Image: Jigsaw

S

ince our last issue the two biggest Sprintcar events of the Australian calendar have been run and won for James McFadden, the Grand Annual Classic was the fulfilment of a child hood dream, in front of a packed house of pro McFadden fans.

Just a week later in Sydney at a venue that he has never had much success at, if any, he was a contender until accidental contact between he and defending champ Kerry Madsen while fighting for the lead saw him exit the race early.

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HIGHLINE MAGAZINE | EDITION 14

While the Sprintcar Championship was the 55th running of the event, in Queensland the 76th running of the Australian Speedcar Championship was held with American pocket rocket Rico Abreu taking home the glory on the back of a highly successful month downunder. (See elsewhere for our coverage).

While, our national speedcar title was another great event, the same sadly can’t be said for the 3rd running of the World Midget Speedcar Championship which was also won by Abreu.

Speedway publisher, historian and journalist extraordinaire Dennis Newlyn has graciously penned a

thought provoking article on the sad demise of the highly touted “World Championship” concept. Thank you Dennis.

For you to write something

We preview the Late Model Title in this issue, which in our opinion is potentially one of the most open events ever, and will bring you our exclusive photographic coverage of the event in our next issue.

Also, as posted on our facebook page a little while back, congratulations to the Madsen brothers Kerry, and Ian, The Mills Family of Trevor and Jacob and the Oldfield’s from Western Australia for all being part of world speedway history with National and State Title success kept in the families all on the same weekend.

exclusively for HIGHLINE MAGAZINE is a great honour and we are sure our readers will love your candid point of view.

Still to come this season are National Championships for both the Late Models (Warrnambool Feb 24th & 25th) and the Wingless Sprints in Tasmania on the same weekend.

And last but not least, welcome aboard Tony Powell from Lismore speedway and West Australian media man Scott Beattie, both of whom have agreed to help HIGHLINE MAGAZINE to spread it’s wings in our continued efforts to cover the sport on a national basis.

Current NSW Champion Jason Bates about to cause a storm.......... Image: Jigsaw

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w Photography

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SCCA 410ci Australian Sprintcar Championship

Brothers Madsen Go

D

efending champion Kerry Madsen and his younger brother Ian created Australian Sprintcar history on the 18th anniversary of the passing of their mother, when the brothers ran a close 1-2 in the recent (28th January) Australian Sprintcar Championship just ahead of former champ Robbie Farr.

Brooke Tatnell claimed fourth ahead of Jordyn Brazier in fifth with a career best finish ahead of Jackson Delamont, James Thompson, Grant Anderson, Ian Loudoun and Grant Tunks rounding out the top ten.

Kerry and Ian Madsen’s history-making 1-2 was the culmination of what was a dramatic, at times controversial, physically demanding and spectacular three days of competition.

Disappointment met three of the highest profile players in the Championship A-Main.

Jamie Veal suffered a rare driveline failure before the form up lap, Max Dumesny withdrew with a flat left rear tyre only two laps into the event after contact, and James McFadden suffered a flat left front tyre after contact with Kerry Madsen whilst battling for the lead.

NSW drivers filled the first 11 positions across the line with Gold Coast teenager Lachlan McHugh being the first interstater

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HIGHLINE MAGAZINE | EDITION 14

across the line in 12th in what was yet another impressive result for the talented second-generation racer.

In preliminary features Kerry Madsen drove to a deliberate and concentrated race to win in the first night after running down early leader Jordyn Brazier to lead home a massive charge from longtime friend Warren Ferguson in second and Veal rounding out the first night podium.

On night two McFadden took the feature win by just over two seconds from Ian Madsen, Farr and McHugh.

o One, Two

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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

Glen Saville (75) becomes caught up in this Blake Skipper wreck.

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-

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

The precocious Garry Brazier still at home on his heavy home track, but just like

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-

e the week before at the “Classic� it was his off-spring Jordyn that would shine.

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

This high flying moment for Troy Little could have ended much worse than a s 16

HIGHLINE MAGAZINE | EDITION 14

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-

single fractured vertebra as the innocent victim of this Mitchell Dumesny spin. www.HighlineMagazine.com.au

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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 lead o

Kerry Madsen – Picture perfect in the defence of his National Crown.

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HIGHLINE MAGAZINE | EDITION 14

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-

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World and Nation

IMAGES: Tony Powell - Lismore Speedway

C

alifornian Rico Abreu had a stellar time down-under winning the World Midget Championship from fellow American and USAC National Sprintcar Champion Brady Bacon and consistent Queenslander Brock Dean and then followed that up by winning the Australian Speedcar Championship just a week later this time defeating Bacon and recently crowned Victorian and AGP winner Nathan Smee.

The World Championship consisted of a quality field of Americans, Kiwi’s and Aussies and opened at Archerfield with Smee standing atop the podium after Zac Daum had given his all, even stealing the lead momentarily before eventually finishing third behind Troy Jenkins.

Both Abreu and Bacon had gone upside down in their opening heats and Michael Pickens had set quick time.

The following night it was Abreu to the fore withstanding challenges from countrymen Daum and Bacon. Daum dropped

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nal Midget Speedcar success for American Abreu.

out with 2 laps to run elevating Smee to the final podium step.

A few days later the teams were in the lush town of Lismore but rain ended the night early.

On Saturday, the rained out final from round 3 was run first up where Abreu won from Bacon and West Aussie Dayne Kingshott.

Later in the program Abreu was able to win round 4 and the World Championship when he defeated early leader Bacon who eventually faded slightly to finish third behind Kingshott.

The sad part about the final round was that only 12 cars were on hand - possibly due to the proximity of the National title the following weekend and only 11 cars started the final with 7 finishing.

A week later Abreu led all 40 laps of the Kratzmann Caravans 76th Australian Speedcar Championship. Bacon again was the runner up with Smee next ahead of Alex Bright and Michael Stewart.

Defending champ Pickens was in second on lap 12 only to fall out with engine dramas just four laps later. www.HighlineMagazine.com.au

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SEDAN W SEDAN WRAP Australian Production Sedan Championship 2016 was a tough year for the close knit Mills racing family with the tragic loss of the incredibly talented Brenton Mills, but the Australian Production Sedan Championship at Wahgunyah Speedway recently at least gave them a couple of reasons to smile when Trevor Mills won the event with his son Jacob finishing runner up.

Kane McDiarmid, Rod Musarra and Stephen Laidlaw filled the final podium placings of a dramatic race that saw both Musarra and Laidlaw come from the back of the pack.

Later Musarra and Jacob Mills made contact in turn four, with Mills spinning and Musarra sent to the rear of the field.

The decisive move of the race would occur on lap five, when Trevor Mills moved to the outside of McDiarmid, taking the lead with a great outside pass in turn one. Jacob Mills would move to second on lap eight, as McDiarmid tried valiantly to stay with the Father – Son combination.

Jacob Mills closed on the final lap, but Trevor Mills prevailed by 0.153, the closest winning margin in the history of Production Sedan National Titles.

“I have been trying to win this event Highest point scorer, Stephen Laidlaw for twenty five years, and to do it here would spin on the opening lap in turn (home track), I can’t believe it”, said four, and would be sent to the rear of Trevor Mills the field, with the entire field somehow missing the two times National Title holder.

WRAP OFFICIAL RESULT 1. N10 Trevor Mills, 2. N11 Jacob Mills, 3. W31 Kane McDiarmid, 4.

W12 Rod Musarra, 5. V3 Stephen Laidlaw, 6. Q22 Chris Pagel, 7. N77 Paul Barklem, 8. N45 Brett Norman, 9. S34 Adam Wilson, 10. N7 Wayne Bourke, 11. N23 Damien McAlister, 12. V58 Brendan Harper, 13. V98 Ray Ussher, 14. N89 Matthew Hutchison.

DNF: 15. N65 Stuart Fawcett (20), 16. N29 Steve Downes (20), 17. N75 Matthew Vicary (20), 18. N28 Wes Barnes (8), 19. Q110 Daniel Henshaw (7), 20. N88 Lindsay Manning (3), 21.

A1 Tim Green (3). Time: No Time, Winning Margin: 0.153, Fastest Lap: 24.913 N10 Trevor Mills

mance, by winning the Victorian Title at the Western Speedway, Hamilton.

Mills won from Adam Wilson, who won the event in 2007, while Bradley Hutchison passed Ray Ussher a couple of laps from home to finish in third place on the podium.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

A Main - 35 Laps: 1. A1 Trevor Mills, 2. S34 Adam Wilson, 3. V41 Bradley Hutchison, 4. V98 Ray Ussher, 5. Q15 Richard Cook, 6. V5 Jack Milthorpe, 7. V58 Brendan Harper, 8. N89 Matthew Hutchison, 9. V19 Heath Bunting (33 laps), 10. W31 Kane McDiarmid (32), 11. V26 Gemma Laidlaw (32), 12. V22 Donald Irving (30), 13.

V30 Stephen Laidlaw (24), 14. W71 Rod Musarra (12), 15. V47 Steven Victorian Production Sedan Title. Aldridge (11), 16. V91 Dehne Sparrow (5). Time: No Time, Winning Margin: A week after winning the National Ti- 1.545, Fastest Lap: 17.569 A1 Trevor tle, Trevor Mills backed up that perfor- Mills.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT....... Are yo Let’s look at a couple of Dictionary Definitions here.

CLUB: A group of people who meet to participate in an activity (such as a sport or hobby).

mance of its individual members.

In the case of Speedway Clubs, this becomes especially important. My regular readers will have noted my past comments regarding the importance of running a Speedway as a Business, and also the need for a Professional approach to this business.

TEAM: A team is a group of people linked in a common purpose. Teams are especially appropriate for conSpeedways have a number of compliducting tasks that are high in complexity and have many interdependent mentary functions, which can define the degree of success or failure of the sub-tasks. entire project. They need people with A group such as a club does not nec- a variety of skills in several essential tasks which together make up the essarily constitute a team. Teams normally have members with comple- whole. And this is where “Synergy” comes in. mentary skills and generate synergy through a coordinated effort which allows each member to maximize their SYNERGY: the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, strengths and minimize their weaksubstances, or other agents to pronesses. duce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.

Naresh Jain (2009) claims: The point is, that just because we “Team members need to learn how may be a GROUP of people who are to help one another, help other team interested in Speedway, it doesn’t folmembers realize their true potential, and create an environment that allows low that we are necessarily an effeceveryone to go beyond his or her limi- tive SPEEDWAY TEAM. tations. Teams can be broken down from a huge team or one big group of Issues such as Track preparation and people, even if these smaller second- Maintenance, Finance, Forward Planning, Communication, and Publicity & ary teams are temporary.”

Media Representatives all play their A team becomes more than just a own very important parts in the jigsaw collection of people when a strong sense of mutual commitment creates puzzle which must come together synergy, thus generating performance to form an effective and successful Speedway club. It will be comparagreater than the sum of the perfor28

HIGHLINE MAGAZINE | EDITION 14

ou really working together. tively rare that ANY given club will have amongst its membership, people with talents in all of the essential skills necessary to perform all of this mix of tasks. If it does, it’s indeed blessed!

“… This is what we are here for. This is what we want to be.”?

Does your club have a Business Plan, which examines and plans critical issues beyond the scope of next season’s racing calendar? Out as far as If it does not however, then the Executive of the club needs to recognise five years? this shortcoming and do something to correct it. This may come down to two Do we have a viable Financial and Resources plan? Communications choices: either recruit someone who they know who does have the neces- Strategies? Team Goals, Measurement and Responsibilities? Accountsary expertise, or alternatively, outsource to an individual or organisation ability, Empowerment of individuals who perform specialist tasks, and who does.

Appreciation and Recognition of efTo fail to recognise these issues, and forts outside of the “End-of-Year Pointscore Trophies?” to attempt to undertake these critical tasks with underqualified or amateur If the answer is “NO” to any or many people will inevitably doom that portion of the club’s activities to a level of of the above, then I would humbly suggest that the performance of any (at best) mediocrity. club would be significantly improved by addressing these issues. In parMany will defend their DIY choice by ticular, either recruit or outsource exquoting cost savings. This is quite pert people to add to the synergy of simply WRONG. There are a couple of sayings: “You need to spend mon- your Club/Team, and give them the individual responsibility of performing ey to make money” and “Pay Peanuts, get Monkeys.” In Business, both their respective tasks without constant oversight, whilst still holding them acare true. countable for their performance.

It is important that your Speedway Club/Team has a Purpose. A Meaning And your Club/Team will be much the better for it. and Vision.

How many clubs actually have a “Mission Statement” – something in writing that should inspire members that www.HighlineMagazine.com.au

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WHERE T A MUST

THE DEMISE OF THE WORLD

BY DENNIS NEWLYN It was hailed and exalted as potentially “the greatest thing in the history of Midget racing.”

It was proclaimed as a grand plan for the future that would take this most traditional category to a new level of world prominence.

The press releases touted loud and clear that “the World Midget Championship would give the division international 30

HIGHLINE MAGAZINE | EDITION 14

exposure like never before and put this class of racing on a pedestal for years to come.”

The concept was to give Midget-Speedcar racing a world title run along exactly the same lines as the Speedway Grand Prix for bikes with championship rounds in different nations and the competitor at the top of the standings after the final main event of the series crowned the OFFICIAL World Midget-Speedcar Champion.

TO NOW....

READ!!!

D MIDGET CHAMPIONSHIP

Well, what happened?

Where is the World Midget Championship today after all the early hype and anticipation?

Nowhere seems to be the definitive answer!!!

just one year.

The inaugural world title was first held in 2014 with rounds in New Zealand, Australia and America.

The American sector was under the sanction of the Performance Open Wheel Racing Inc (POWRi) banner.

Within only three years, the event has totally lost its way and has almost completely disappeared off the radar. It’s now This was the big news that had everyonly a matter of time before it vanishes body jumping out of their skin, the “great” into oblivion!!

POWRi sanctioning body was the driving force carrying us into the future, so we Cracks in the dam began to appear after were led to believe. www.HighlineMagazine.com.au

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More than a “great white hope” the POWRi participation was like an ironclad seal of approval and guaranteed success of the world title for the benefit of Speedcar mankind!

POWRi was the first to lose interest and pulled out after just one year!!!

It was a pathetic back flip after those driving the POWRi organisation did not want to even know about the world title any more. It appears POWRi led everyone into a false sense of security with their assurances of on-going support of the world title.

They just shut up shop and didn’t even hand back the key!!!

No regrets – and looks like no conscious there!! Their own US series was clearly the only priority.

It was then left to Australia and New Zealand to pick up the pieces and soldier on alone trying desperately to keep faith with the high expectations held by so many.

Brisbane’s John Kelly and Lismore’s Dave Lander were the only two Australian promoters who put their hand up and wanted to be involved on the ground floor after the world title was conceived

by Auckland’s Western Springs Speedway head honcho Bill Buckley.

Being an old bike man, Buckley was the person who took the leaf out of the bike book and wanted Midget-Speedcars to

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have the equivalent of the World Solo Championship.

But after the failure of America to not even stay around long enough to give his concept an opportunity to succeed, it was very obvious Buckley had made the wrong call putting his dream – and faith – into POWRi. The rot had set in and worst was to come!!

So now it was just left up to Kelly, Lander and Buckley to keep the wagon rolling along.

Buckley quickly lost interest in the wake of the POWRi demise. The cracks in the wall were now gaping holes and the world title structure was crumbling.

Fast forward to 2017.

It may well be a very historical year for Midgets as it looks very much like it will be documented into history as the last year of the so-called World Midget Championship.

In January this year Buckley did the unthinkable and ran the New Zealand Speedcar Championship on the same night (January 28) as Lander ran his round of the World Midget Championship, going against – and in direct opposition – to the the very event Buckley conceived as his “baby”.

The NZ Speedcar title took away from Lander the NZ entrants and even Ameri-

can Zach Daum decided it was better to race for the Kiwi title. With such lack of interest so now widespread, it was all over for the World Midget Championship.

Western Springs Manager Greg Mosen, who was a part of the formation of the World Midget-Speedcar Championship, also turned his back on the title and changed his priority to the NZ Speedcar Championship.

With that, the World Midget-Speedcar Championship was “dead in the water”.

Gone, over and out!

Yesterday’s news!

The World Midget-Speedcar Championship is today’s fish and chips wrapper!!

Lander got a paltry 12 cars for his two nights of World Midget Speedcar Championship action in January. An abomination that was clearly the signal to administer the last rites to the World Midget Championship.

Lander and Kelly are bitterly disappointed after giving their all to foster and develop the concept from day one. Lander has hinted he’ll “pull the pin” on the world title.

Kelly will look for a replacement Speedcar event.

Kelly and Lander because they hung in there to the bitter end and tried to save the sinking ship, while others didn’t even care. The “others” have plenty to answer for after snubbing their noses on what they promised was going to be “the greatest thing in the history of Midget racing.”

It is not just a lack of administrative expertise that led to the demise. It is much more than that: The administration of the World MidgetSpeedcar Championship was DISGRACEFUL AND TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE – A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF PATHETIC MISMANAGEMENT outside of Australia.

The only credence for Australian involvement is that our country will always be hailed as the “last man standing” in World Midget Championship history.

s i n n e D

That’s it: OVER and OUT for the World Midget Championship.

Speedcar people feel very sorry for both www.HighlineMagazine.com.au

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THE CLAS

SSIC T

he 45th Lucas Oil Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic was just that, another classic event that had the local fans in raptures when adopted South West driver James McFadden won his maiden Grand Annual event, fulfilling his childhood dream.

“This was the race I have always wanted my entire life,” McFadden said of the win. “I sat on the hill for a long time watching and to get the opportunity to race in it but then win it is amazing.”

As if that wasn’t enough for the largely local audience, jockey sized Darren Mollenoyux, or Molly as he is known, had the whip out on his mount riding it home to a solid second place after passing three time champion Brooke Tatnell late in the event.

Brad Sweet was the first American home after looking solid throughout the weekend despite some tensions within the team.

While McFadden eventually led all 40 laps, behind him was some fantastic racing with Tatnell and Kerry Madsen in particular having a great battle on a track that had some rough patches and was getting rougher as the event wore on.

win also continued Tatnell’s run of a feature win in every season he has raced.

“I’m not disappointed with our result,” Said the three time winner. “We weren’t outdriven, it was just that our engine stumbled on each restart and we were then forced to play catch-up each time.”

The South Australian will be confined to a back brace for six weeks but is adamant about his return to racing, hopefully in time for the Easter trail.

Again the spectre of injury raised its ugly head early on night two when Daniel Pestka rode out a wicked wreck that saw him fracture his C7 The first 25 laps went incredibly quick- vertebra. Pestka was able to walk ly and it seemed for a moment that we away from his wreck only to find out might go all 40 laps non-stop but that later the significance of his injury bewas not to be the case. fore being flown home to Adelaide for further assessment. (see issue 13 for The difficult track caught a few drivers comment on the spate of recent back out as the event progressed with a se- fractures). ries of cautions and red light stoppages slowing the event which was the “I wasn’t too worried and wasn’t in last thing Tatnell needed as his engine too much pain.” He said. “I thought I stumbled off the line on each restart was all right but I had an x-ray and I’d handing McFadden an instant gap. smacked it pretty bad.”

New comers to the event Dominic Scelzi (16th) and Corey Eliason (12th) Amazingly, Tatnell exited the car mov- both from the west coast of the USA ing free and easy despite the rough were impressive making it through to track conditions yet he could barely the Classic final. Equally as disapwalk due to a back injury after winning pointing were Brian Brown and Greg his preliminary night feature.

Hodnett. Hodnett, other than at Simpson the week earlier in the AllStars Tatnell (as stated) and Ian Madsen 360 event which was won by Eliason, were both victorious in their respective could not find a comfortable place and preliminary night features with Tatwas unable to maintain any consistent nell in particular needing the $10,000 speed with the 410 engine between win more than most after a tough the rails, leaving him to quip frustratand luckless domestic season. The edly after a heat race spin “I haven’t 36

HIGHLINE MAGAZINE | EDITION 14

spun out a car for 20 years!”

Brown showed more consistency but not the ultimate speed many anticipated. Was this in part due to the fact that he was just one driver in a mammoth four car Wormall team? Possibly, although as stated earlier team mate Scelzi was able to put at least one team car into the final.

The Classic breakfast was another great success as was the packed fan appreciation morning which seems to have outgrown yet another location – a nice problem to have for the Premier Speedway club - as was the parking issue at the main event, something that I’m sure the club will look into before next year’s event.

Jake Smiths #72 was determined to be the best presented car. Smith’s car has been largely unchanged since he joined the field a few years back and the consensus amongst photographers and media at the track was that there were at least a couple of other cars that stood out more than that selected by the Warrnambool committee.

Final word on the classic was the failure of defending champion Jamie Veal to make the final finishing 6th in his B-Main. Veal was looking comfortably like making it straight to the main event, as was Stewart and Grant Anderson until striking problems in their final heats.

With no Champions provisional Veal was left on the sidelines to continue his petulant behavior while his mate celebrated in victory lane.

The Wednesday night Presidents Cup companion event at Avalon was run under clear blue skies with a solid field and a great and entertaining final that saw Californian Carson Macedo grab the win from McFadden on the last lap. McFadden was irate upon exiting his car blaming lapped traffic but the fact was that Macedo was running him down without the lapped traffic.

Former Classic winner Shane Stewart in his first ride for the Brett Milburn team had a tough night at Avalon not making the cut and in fact almost being lapped in the B-Main while team boss Milburn qualified onto the second row.

Stewart and ring-in crew chief Pete Caporn of Krikke Motorsport fame worked hard to rectify things for Thursday Nights Kings Challenge at Mt Gambier, so much so that they qualified onto pole for the final only to have rain curtail the feature just two laps in which begs the question, why didn’t Borderline Raceway cut the Cmain from the program if they knew bad weather was on the horizon?

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Matt Egel in the Downing Brothers entry had plenty of speed but also had a coup fire.

ple of issues, one of which was right here with the all too common oil leak and

A unique wide-angle view from outside turn 3-4 early on the final afternoon befo

ore the crowd, and the excitement really started to build.

Americans Harli White-Hines (left) and Domenic Scelzi anxiously watch the timing

g board during qualifying.

On his first visit down-under and at his first attempt at the “Classic�, Domenic Scel main event before finishing 16th.

lzi out gunned his more illustrious team-mate, Brian Brown, qualifying into the

Pirate Media’s 2nd mate Kieran Swanson caught this sequence of Daniel Pestka’s b fractured vertebra in his spine.

back breaking wreck. Pestka was able to walk away only to later find out he had

The current Knoxville Nationals Champion Jason Johnson , tried to put the squee

eze on Melbourne’s Rhiannon Burleigh who was un-fazed by the pressure.

The popular Sydney sider Toby Bell-Bowen calmly awaits his turn in the qualifying

g que.

Little moments like this can hurt real bad, just ask South Australian Ricky Maiolo w

who failed to make the main event.

Ian Madsen’s great summer in the Robert Watson Jnr #66 continued when he won ning mate in this photo, Brad Warren in the Bruce Stephens #91, was not so lucky

n the Australia – America Challenge feature on Opening night. Madsen’s runy upending violently down the front straight.

How’s this for school work experience? Keeley Roberts learns from one of the bes

st crew chiefs around – her dad, Bill – as they tend to the Ben Atkinson #2.

Two Sydney young guns go hard at it with Daniel Sayre (in our choice for the best

t presented car) and Marcus Dumesny in the N47.

Jake “the snake� Tranter (45s) and Ben Ellement (WA44) were just a small part of a

much bigger melee.

Jamie Maiolo (WA99) races hard inside Danny Reidy’s NQ5.

Former “Classic” Champion Shane Stewart was newly teamed with owner Brett M cial” silver bullet. The combo was quick but unlucky.

Milburn and highly respected crew chief Pete Caporn in this stylish “Classic spe-

Pressure and tension build amongst the drivers as does the excitement and antici

ipation in the crowd as the field forms up for the now traditional 4 wide salute.

Ben Atkinson’s pole position for the only Classic feature never to be run, teased us equipment this season than most of the field and coming off the back of a recent into the feature line-up.

s as to the Darwinians big show potential. Struggling with far lesser quality t “knock-out� wreck in Sydney, Atkinson again placed the neat Aeroflow entry

Jordyn Brazier carried the family name into the Classic final yet again, where the y #99.

youngster came up against seasoned racers like Brad Sweet in the Ruhs Brothers

This 4 wheels off the deck moment for Brad Keller would lead directly to an impac liminary night feature however, was a great rebound from his season ending wrec

ct with fence and a wreck after 28 non-stop feature laps. A top 3 finish in a preck in last year’s event.

This incident between Wednesday nights Presidents Cup winner at Avalon Carson occurring just ahead of them.

n Macedo and Matt Egel was a result of the pair trying to avoid a larger incident

Local Ace Darren Mollenoyux (52) captured his greatest Classic result ever when h finish to grab the runner up spot.

he passed former three time champ Brooke Tatnell (#2), just a few laps from the

Brooke Tatnell walks away after congratulating his mate and first time Classic win home town crowd.

nner James McFadden who continues to savour the adulation of his adopted

Former James McFadden crew chief Glenn Beaton celebrates with a Monte Motor Jamie Veal to the win last year. Defending champion Veal, now without Beaton, na

rsport crew member. Beaton knows the taste of Classic success having taken arrowly missed the A-Main.

WA 360’s

Images: Wayne Martin

AD 84

HIGHLINE MAGAZINE | EDITION 14

s

www.HighlineMagazine.com.au

/Highline-Magazine

Mitchell Wormall wins the WA 360 Sprintcar Championship tonight at Collie Spee Butcher, Anthony Dye, Steven Ford, Chris Ackland.

Wormall won the title, that was previously held by Michael Keen, from Daniel Kee took more than an hour to complete.

edway from Daniel Keen, Ben Ellement, AJ Nash, Lee Nash, Daniel Salter, Ben

en and Ben Ellement in a race that had a long list of restarts and crashes and

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By BRETT SWANSON

LATE MODELS ON TH

The Lucas Oil Australian Late Model Championhsip 24th & 25th is looking like a cracker with a confirm

HE MARCH.......

p at Sungold Stadium, Premier Speedway Warrnambool, on February med entry of 50 loud and lascivious Late Models

Predicting a title winner is an extremely difficult task for one reason – the track.

Very few Late Model events have been conducted at the famed venue, and none of those that have, have been more than demonstration runs, except for the pre-Christmas event which saw a solid field of interstate competitors eager to get an advance feel for the venue in a left hand drive sedan.

tri.

Lady Late Model racers Veronica McCann (West Australia), Kristen Vermeulen (New Zealand) and local Fiona Verhoeven will bring some fast beauty to the testosterone fuelled field, while the colour and noise of Paul Stubbers’ vivid yellow machine is also a sonic as well as photographic thing of beauty.

Tasmanian Brad Smith was the winner on the night beating a quality field and so would have some claim to favouritism, but all his fellow competitors from the night will be better for the experience come title time also.

Darren Kane will no doubt quickly adapt to the venue and can never be discounted in any sedan race, anywhere in the country. Jamie Oldfield has a feel for the place already but Craig Vosbergen will need to adapt instantly to the small high-banked track after running the wide open Kwinana half mile.

Current Aussie Super Sedan Champ Callum Harper had a torrid event here last time out but his form so far this season otherwise has been incredible.

Local young guns Cameron Pearson and Chevy Edwards were on the pace last time here as were South Australian Ryan Alexander and Victorian Champion Ben Nicas-

Throw in a bunch of other drivers who are regular feature contenders at their own home tracks and the final result will be anything but predictable.

The 16th Lucas Oil Australian Late Model Championship as set to be held at Sungold Stadium, Premier Speedway, Warrnambool as pre-

sented by Time Target on Friday February 24 and Saturday February 25, 2017 has attracted an event record field of 50 entrants!

The full list of entries is as follows: 1. X4 David Robertson NSW 2. S4 Stuey Hill SA 3.W4 Brent Vosbergen WA 4.S5 Luke Raymond SA

5.T6 Brad Smith TAS 6.N6 Bruce Mackenzie NSW 7.V8 Fiona Verhoeven VIC 8.W8 Craig Vosbergen WA 9. V9 Kristin Vermeulen New Zealand/Vic 10. N9 Clayton Pyne NSW 11. V10 Cameron Pearson VIC 12. S10 Mat Crimmins SA 13. N11 Nathan Disney NSW 14. V12 Brock Edwards VIC

15. N12 Darryl Grimson NSW 16. V14 Zak Calderwood VIC 17. N19 Todd Bayley NSW 18. W19 Simon McNabb WA 19. AX21 Chevy Edwards VIC 20. S21 Darryle Launer SA 21. T22 Callum Harper TAS 22. Q22 Aaron Van Zeeland QLD 23. V23 Brendan Hucker VIC 24. N24 Wade Carter NSW 25. V25 Daniel Barton VIC 26. N25 David Doherty NSW 27. V26 Gary Bryans VIC 28. N26 Anthony Yvsma NSW 29. N29 Ryan French NSW 30. W31 Paul Stubber WA 31. V32 Wayne Belk VIC 32. Q35 Carter Armstrong QLD 33. Q36 Darren Kane QLD 34. S36 Ryan Alexander SA 35. V40 Mick Hetherington VIC 36. N41 Tim Bink NSW 37. W41 Kye Blight WA 38. W50 Veronica McCann WA 39. W51 Jamie Oldfield WA 40. W52 Jay Cardy WA 41. S67 Steve Vaughan SA 42. N65 Barry Kelleher NSW 43. N67 Ed Borg NSW 44. Q77 Steve Van Zeeland QLD 45. W84 Chris Pavlovich WA 46. W91 Michael Holmes WA 47. N91 Dean Hickey NSW 48. AX97 Tim McPherson VIC 49. Q99 Brett Watson QLD 50. N99 Ben Nicastri NSW The Super Rods will also be in action on the Friday night, while the Junior Sedan Neville Pike Cup will be held on Saturday along with the Street Stock Go Switch Go event.

Linda Verhoeven (#8) will carry a lot of the local and female hope against the inte Wales seen racing outside Verhoeven in his family owned N99.

erstate invaders like current Victorian Champion, Ben Nicastri from New South

Ryan Alexander has been a stunning recent addition to the sedan ranks and is a to Darryle Launer seen running alongside Alexander in this pic will not make the tas

op chance at a podium position in his Dominator #36. Fellow South Australian sk easy for Alexander however.

Veteran Paul Stubber has always been one of motorsports better “showmen� and

his superb Panel Worx Late Model Sedan is just the same - shiny and loud.

Best of the West?? Jamie Oldfield is not just one of the best from Western Australi to the West Coast – The birth place of Australian Late Model Racing.

ia but one of the best nationally and is an absolute threat to take the title back

Young Victorian Chevy Edwards (seen here racing with rookie James Cornfoot) wi Edwards has previously tasted feature race success and wants more.

ill be giving it everything in his quest to become the youngest ever Title winner.