Edition 34

Who is Highline Magazine

Editor: Brett Swanson

Artist/Layout; Andy Ticehurst

Contributors; Kaylene Oliver, Grant Woodhams, Andy Ticehurst, Shaun

McDonald

Photographers:

Brett Swanson – Pirate Media

Kieran Swanson – Pirate Media

Andy Ticehurst – Andy Ticehurst Media

Brett Williams – Lone Wolf Photography

Anthony Loxley / Full Throttle Publishing

Geoff Gracie (SA)

Racing Fix (QLD)

Shayne T Wright (VIC)

Josh Cochrane (WA)

Craig Mobley (USA)

Cover Top - A great image by pilot Aidan Freeman captures Premier Speedway under lights.

Cover Bottom - Jock Goodyer on his title wining weekend at the Perth Motorplex. Josh Cochrane Photo.

Inside Cover - Grant Anderson publicly vents after the most controversial decision recent Classic history that prevented him from starting the 50th running of the event. Pirate Media Image. And below, the incident in question. See our coverage for further and full comment.

Welcome to edition 34.

Ah, this sport!

Why do we love it with such passion and fervour?

Any hard-core speedway fan will tell you it’s like a drug, it’s an addiction. And for many of us, that pretty much sums it up. We can’t always explain why we love it so much and often against logic, reason and finances, we pursue it as hard as we can.

Then there’s those moments like the 50th South West Conveyancing Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic that reaffirm why we love it

the last corner pass for the win of an underdog team over a touring professional driver from the US – one of the hottest young talents in world speedway.

Or last weekends Australian Late Model Championship at the same venue. It wasn’t a last corner win, but almost with equal amounts of controversy, dodgy stewarding and awesome racing.

But there is always a dark side and it can be very concerning.

It’s stunning how a single dubious or bad decision can incite a whole ugly episode of behaviour’s and ridiculously absurd allegations. Sometimes these actions can cost the sport dearly, even losing sponsors or influencing other potential sponsors to stay away because

they don’t like the way things are handled.

Why can’t chief stewards consult with others, such as assistant chief stewards or other qualified people before making decisions especially when there is the time to fully consider the incidnet and the relevant rules, i.e. the race is over and the issue can be fully analysed and a (better or correct) decision made before the next race.

Sometimes, your viewing angle is not the best one to make a decision from and a review of any available footage or consultation with assistants or officials on the ground may give rise to a better balanced, different, or more correct decision.

One thing that should never happen is to allow someone who is not a qualified steward, but who is a club official, demand a particular action or to influence that decision.

We are all human and make mistakes, but sometimes you have to admit that you messed up and take corrective action. Swallow your pride and own your error.

That’s’ what earns respect, not doggedly and arrogantly pretending you made the right call.

And they keep coming!

Chief Stewards decisions are the talk of the sport at the moment following the Aussie Late Model and Street Stock Titles.

Ironically both outcomes featured the Oldfield clan.

The Late Model decision as outlined in our Late Model Title coverage in this issue cost Jamie Oldfield a real shot at the Crown. Then just a week or so later brother Jason, who actually crossed the line first, was adjudged to have been too aggressive in his last lap pass on Anthony Beare for the lead and the Street Stock Title was stripped from Oldfield and handed to Beare.

The question is, would Oldfield have been pinged for the same move on any other car at any other stage of the race? Would he have been put back a spot or two if he’d done it on let’s say lap 13 when fighting for 8th position? Beare has been, and is, a fantas-

tic racer and ambassador for Street Stocks, travelling all over the country and consistently racing at the top level but would Beare have pulled the same move if the roles were reversed? I would have to suggest –absolutely. Is Beare a clean racer? Pretty much. Has he rubbed panels while making passes for the lead, absolutely, I’ve seen it with my own two eyes in person. It’s part of the nature of the ultra-competitive nature of Street Stock racing.

It comes back to what I said above about taking your time to make these ultra-critical decisions. Tell them all the decision is unofficial and then review all the available evidence and opinions from all angles and then make the call.

Tasmanian Late Models

The Apple Isle may have been the last to adopt Late Model Sedans as a premier Speedway Sedan category having a long and proud history of top level Super Sedan racing and racers, but boy they’ve picked it up well.

Obviously, there’s Callum Harper who won the National Late Model Championship (2017-18) as well as National Super Sedan Titles and also the rocket that is Brad Smith. But, looking at the recent National Title at Warrnambool you can’t help but notice and be impressed by both

the volume and quality of Late Model racers from across the strait.

Seven Tasmanian’s were entered for the Title and four of them qualified into the feature event. This equalled the number of NSW competitors and those guys were the second biggest competitor base after the West Aussies and have been for years.

Well done Tassie, your Sedan racing roots remain strong.

R I P - Stephen ”Dougie” Douglas

It is with deepest condolences that we record the passing of Stephen “Dougie” Douglas following a racing incident at Daylesford Speedway recently.

Douglas was racing in the Chivers Memorial for Standard Saloons when he was involved in a race incident that sadly saw both he and his passenger Jay Miles suffer injuries after their car was struck while upside down. Unfortunately, Douglas did not survive his injuries.

Platitudes immediately abounded remembering Douglas as a great mate and clubman, quick to offer a hand to anyone that needed it, be they friend or rival competitor.

Highline extends it deepest sympathies to Dougies family and friends.

Congratulations to the season’s big winners:

Brock Hallett – Classic Champion.

Jock Goodyer – Australian Sprintcar Champion.

Brent Vosbergen – Australian Late Model Sedan Champion.

Anthony Beare – Australian Street Stock Champion.

And good luck to those contesting upcoming championships.

What’s the point of a website?

Why bother having a website or facebook page if you don’t keep it updated?

In this day of instant updates and information, I find it hard to believe that many associations, tracks and divisions don’t keep their websites and facebook pages up to date. Sure makes it hard to let you know what’s been going on around the tracks.

60th Australian Sprintcar Championship – Kwinana Motorplex.

“

The times, they are a changin’ “

All photos by Josh Cochrane

Is Australian Sprintcar racing going through a renaissance with the continued rise of young talent coming to the fore?

Lachlan McHugh has been strong for the last couple of years and Jamie Veal and James McFadden are no longer young punks like they once were.

Over the past few weeks we’ve had Cody Maroske, Tate Frost and Brock Halllett win big events and now we’ve had Jock Goodyer add the 60th running of the Australian Sprintcar Championship to his growing list of major wins with McHugh and Callum Williamson on the podium. The times, they are a changin’.

Following on from the 50th Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic, the east coast teams

and a couple of West Aussie teams had a week and a half to traverse the wide open Nullabor plain to hit Kwinana, Western Australia for the mid-week Daniel Trucking Prelude show and the following weekends title.

Prelude.

44 cars timed in with Kerry Madsen (13.43), Goodyer (13.532) and Ryan Newton (13.691) setting progressively slower quick times for their respective groups until Veal went quicker than everyone before him to set the fastest time of 13.16 seconds. Matthew Dumesny in the Monte

Motorsport entry set quick time in the last group at 13.455 but that was about as good as his night would get.

Heat races lacked any real passing for positions although there were many attempst and plenty of speed and were taken out by Jason Kendrick, Luke Dillon, Luke Oldfield, Trent Pigdon and Brad Maiolo.

Next up was an A and B dash.

Veal won the A dash from Kendrick and Maiolo while Matt Dumesny had the first of two big wrecks when he rode Halletts right rear wheel and destroyed the car along with some fencing.

The B dash fell to Kerry Madsen with some minor issues from Pigdon and Dillon.

B-Main 1 continued the theme of not much passing but speed and attempts with the biggest drama being Ian Madsen who blew a left rear tyre and spun and rolled while sitting nicely in 3rd. Kye Scroop, Frost, Marcus Dumesny and Callum Williamson transferred as did Bradford, Hickman and Maroske from B-Main 2.

There was almost as many John Day utes with flares burning on the track for the four wide parade as their were Sprintcars, but when the green flag dropped Veal went straight to the lead from Kendrick and Kerry Madsen.

On lap 9 the race was halted when Callum Williamson was accidentally squeezed into the wall by Frost and Williamson rode out a wild wreck. Callum was able to gingerly walk away from the wreck. During the stoppage Hallett changed a left rear tyre and Farr changed a tyre also sending both cars to the rear for the restart.

When racing resumed Madsen threw a couple of passing attempts on Kendrick before finally making one stick. Veal had a nice lead but with around four to go his car started to slow and Madsen hunted him down and grabbed the lead and drove away from a frustrated Veal with Kendrick holding third place.

Interestingly the lapped cars at times were

as quick as the cars that lapped them and having just taken the chequered flag after lapping Oldfield contact between the two saw Madsen spin into the wall and need to be towed to victory lane where he explained that “the track is different each time we go out on it.” He continued that “it’s hard to get consistent as I haven’t raced here much the last three years.”

Veal rued his stumbling engine explaining “the motor started to fall off (lose performance) but the car was good all night. We just need to look at this engine and get it sorted.”

Kendrick however summed it up saying “the track is probably too quick right now, it just got faster and faster as the race went on.”

Title Night – Friday.

On title night 1, Warrnambool’s Veal dominated at the Perth Motorplex after leading all 25 laps in the Preliminary feature as he defeated McHugh and Goodyer.

47 cars fronted for the opening night with Dillon, Pigdon, McHugh and Veal pacing their qualifying groups in Time Trials with Veal again being the overall quickest with a lap of 13.237.

Eight heat races were run with the first round being a top 10 invert from qualifying, with Taylor Milling, Kerry Madsen, Callum Williamson and Brad Maiolo winning. Heat four saw the demise of another Williamson, this time Jack, who rolled hard in turn two destroying his race car putting him out for the weekend.

The second set of heats were a straight

up fastest to the front affair with no real surprises in the results as Dillon, Pigdon, David Priolo and Veal took the heat wins. The final heat saw the defending Australian Champion Marcus Dumesny take a heavy tumble in turn two after contact with Newton, making

it a tough night for the Dumesny boys. It seemed that the Chief Stewards making bad decisions had carried over from the Classic as Newton was disqualified despite Dumesny himself admitting that he should probably have gotten off the gas to avoid the crash.

The B-Main saw Kris Coyle, Newton, Jason Pryde and Hickman progress to the 18 car A-Main while Frost and Farr just missed out.

At the conclusion of heat racing Veal was the top points scorer with McHugh joining him in the front row. Dillon started third ahead of Goodyer, Ian and Kerry Madsen, Egel, Pigdon, David Priolo and Brad Maiolo.

The A-Main stated in dramatic fashion as Matt Dumesny, who started from position 14, rode out his second big wreck in the Monte Motorsports #17 on the opening turn bringing on the red light.

The only other real incident occurred with seven laps to go as a tyre exploded on Brad Maiolo’s #77 bringing out the yellow bunching the field up for the sprint to the flag.

On the restart Goodyer tried a massive slide job on the leading pair from position three but came up short and had to settle for third. Only moments before the caution came out Goodyer got by McHugh for second but he had to give the spot back.

Kerry Madsen finished fourth with Egel completing the top five making five states represented at the top of the top of the field.

“It ended up being a pretty good night without any drama but we still have a lot of work to do before we can think about winning the Title” added Veal in a casual manner following the A-Main.

Kendrick was the best of the locals in sixth with Dillon, Callum Williamson, Ian Madsen and David Priolo completing the top ten.

Sadly the new Grand Annual Champion Brock Hallett’s form didn’t cross the Nullabor

Nullabor with him.

Championship Night.

Tasmanian Goodyer became the first from the Apple Isle to win the Australian Sprintcar Champion after leading all 35 laps in the Championship finale of the 60th Australian Sprintcar Championship at Perth Motorplex adding it to his F500 National crown won at the massively different Simpson Speedway a couple of years back.

Prior to the A-Main a final round of heat races was conducted with 42 of the original 47 drivers fronting for action.

With a six car invert the top qualifiers from night 1 were sent to the third row with Bradford winning heat 9 ahead of Williamson and Kendrick while last nights winner was dealt a crushing blow when his engine failed.

Robbie Farr won heat 10 while Brock Hallett found some extra speed that was lacking on night 1 as he secured heat 11. The final heat of the weekend went to Brad Maiolo, who was the only driver to win two heat races for the weekend.

With Marcus Dumesny taking his Championship Provisional only three drivers transferred via the B-main with Jy Corbet, Darren Mollenoyux and Newton qualifying for the Australian Championship main event.

After topping the score sheets Goodyer qualified for the pole but he elected to start on the outside of the front row alongside McHugh and once he jumped ahead of the field in the opening turn, he was never headed as he claimed the biggest Sprintcar main event win of his career.

Second across the line was McHugh,

who settled into third position in the early stages behind Ian Madsen, who made an impressive start to the race after starting from position six, but his race came to end on lap 15 when his engine let go. His demise elevated McHugh into the runner-up position, a spot he would never really be threatened for.

Completing the podium was local Western Australian Callum Williamson, who after a big wreck on Wednesday night at the Prelude contemplated sitting out the championship event due to his physical condition and the damage sustained to the race car. But the hard work and his determination paid off as he stormed to third after starting from position eight.

Fourth place went to Veal, who went into the night as the top qualifier but after an engine failure in his final heat forced an engine change and after starting from position seven, he simply found it too hard to run down the leaders.

Kerry Madsen completed the top five ahead of outgoing Champion Marcus Dumesny, who started from position 24 after using his Champions provisional, while Coyle, Kendrick, Dillon and Newton completed the top 10. The only other finisher, in the 24-car field, was Bradford.

In a race that was filled with cautions by the end of the race the infield was littered with damaged race cars.

The first major incident occurred on lap six as Brad Maiolo crashed hard in turn three with the accident also involving Farr, Hickman and Frost.

Ian Madsen was the next to bring on the caution as his engine expired before Hal-

lett crashed in turn two and he was collected by Pryde, who had nowhere to go.

The final caution of the race came with 14 laps to go as Milling and Corbet spun in turn two with the incident also taking out Egel.

“I’m really pumped to get it done, I’m just over the moon and I don’t really know what to say, it’s just awesome.” Said Goodyer in victory lane. “I think I made the right choice to start on the outside, there was more traction but look, I think I had the best race car here around this joint. We made a few changes and I thought wow I’m really comfortable and its going be hard to get beaten here.” He continued. “I just thought to my-

self hit my marks, be consistent and smart, after all it was 35 laps and in the end, we got it done and now we have number 1 on the side” added the New Australian Champion.

Above: Former champions Garry Rush and Ron Krikke stare into the sun while watching some late afternoon action.

Marcus Dumesny was tagged to fill the prized Monte Motorsport seat but the whole ing expedition.

whole two weeks (including the Krikke Boys Classic) was a car and soul crush-

Robbie who? Former Champ Robbie Farr is now primarily a west coast racer for didn’t transfer into a great result.

for Jason Pryde Motorsport team but his familiarity with the Kwinana track

Keep

family’s Avalon Group WA3 and came back from a huge wreck to a podium

A nice shot of the early crowd enjoying the WA sunshine at this awesome facility.

Controversy about to erupt – again. These two young racers, outgoing champion seems. This wasn’t the first time they’ve gotten together but it seems if you’re an even laying some blame on himself for not lifting but that didn’t stop the Stewards up your own mind.

champion Marcus Dumesny and Ryan Newton Q66, have a magnetic attraction it an Aus1 you’re protected. Post this clash Dumesny wasn’t angry at Newton Stewards from excluding Newton from the event! Take a look at the vision and make

Kris Coyle makes this three wide a little more exciting by throwing in a wheelstand

wheelstand during the Friday night preliminary feature.

Jamie Veal was an unexpected entry after the birth of his second child but he looked flanked by Lachlan McHugh (2nd - left) and Jock Goodyer (3rd - right).

looked strong winning the preliminary feature despite an engine issue. He’s

Callum Williamson taking the time to meet the fans and sign a custom model car

car a fan made of his new paint scheme.

Queensland’s Luke Oldfield driving the #65 Peet Motorsport Sprintcar. Peet Motorsport

Motorsport made a return to racing after a long break from the sport.

Marcus Dumesny had a horror title defence in his #1 Valvoline Sprintcar with 2

crashes on the Friday night.

Kerry Madsen in the #2 Krikke Motorsport Sprintcar.

One of the pre-event favourites, Lachlan McHugh, firing into turn 3 during heat

Lachlan Caunt in heat race action.

This about sums up Brooke Tatnell’s 2023 homecoming. Frustrating!

A mishap for Jamie Veal with one of the John Day Utes climbing over his left rear time delay.

rear tyre. He was able to replace the tyre and restart after some considerable

A great sight that only a privileged few get to see from this angle. An awesome

field about to be unleashed before an awesome crowd.

The smile of a champion. Jock Goodyer happily points out the A1 now adorned

adorned on the family’s Sprintcar.

No

old faces here – Lachlan McHugh (2nd), Jock Goodyer (1st) and Callum Williamson

Williamson (3rd).

Three years is a long time to wait but it was well worth it for those fans and teams who hit Sungold Milk Stadium Premier Speedway on the last weekend in February for the Belkblast Protec-

The Championship was a thrill a minute with huge controversy, vastly contrasting weather and sensational racing.

tive Coatings Australian Late Model Championhsip.

In the end an emotional Brent Vosbergen saluted ahead of Daniel Cassidy and former champ Callum Harper but there was much more to the story than that.

Controversy was in the house before a car hit the track when a simple question at the drivers briefing took almost an hour to answer to the satisfaction of most drivers and narrowly avoided a walk out by a

All Images - Pirate Media

number of states’ drivers (the majority of the field).

Night one was run under a scorching sun and sadly defending champion Kye Blight’s title defence was over by the end of it. After a series of scintillating heats two preliminary heats were run with split fields.

Young Daniel Cassidy grabbed the first prelim from Ryan Fenech and Jason Oldfield while Vosbergen scored prelim two from Harper and Todd Bayley.

This left Vosbergen and Cassidy tied on 58 points each with Fenech on 57, Harper (56), Jason Oldfield (52) and Todd Bayley on 51.

Most cars came through night one with relatively straight panels but by the end of night two it was a different story as was the weather.

Constant rain most of the morning and into the early afternoon had many people nervous and I feel if it wasn’t for the fact that it was day two of a National title the meeting would have been called off.

Thankfully this wasn’t the case although the grey sky threatened more rain and added to the nervous tension around the pits and venue. The final set of heats proved that it was money night as the level of

damage stepped up as did the mix of results with Vosbergen not helping his previously smooth run when he got tangled up and dnf’d his last heat with potentially disastrous points implications.

A series of pole shuffles set the top end of the grid and the only thing left was the B-Main which went to Warren Oldfield from Freddy Kinsella, Darryl Grimson and the luckless at Warrnambool Jay Cardy. Cardy is a very quick peddler but never has any luck at Sungold Stadium. “Still, we made the show.” Smiled Cardy none the less never giving up.

Fenech and Cassidy would line up on the front row for the 40 lap feature with Harper and Jason Oldfield next ahead of Chevy Edwards, Jamie Oldfield, Lachlan Onley, Mi-

chael Holmes, Brendan Hucker, and Vosbergen (Ouch, that last heat could have really hurt). Veronica McCann, Mick Nicola, Damien Hudson, Ben Nicastri, Joe Chalmers, Kurt Millwood, Carter Armstrong, Cody Gay, Ash Cleary, Tim McPherson and the B-Mainers completed the field.

At the drop of the green Cassidy simply took off and looked like he was going to run away and hide as the battle raged on behind, until lap 15 that is when he hit a hole in turn three and spun.

“I hit that rut every lap and this one time I hit it at a different angle and spun.” Explained Cassidy to the crew post-race. A look back to the video however shows he simply got loose and spun before the rut.

This dropped the young gun to 13th but he showed the amazing speed of the N2 Mastersbilt Chev by charging back to second aided by the controversial race defining late race restart.

Jason Oldfield inherited the lead and held it for a dozen laps, relinquishing it officially only the once on lap 27 to Vosbergen. That move by Vosbergen saw contact with Oldfields left front wheel that would prove unintentionally pivotal.

As positions swapped corner by corner Oldfield was a slight constant mostly out front until lap 36 when Cody Gay brought out the yellows stopping in turn three.

Under yellows, Jason Oldfields left front was now flat and Vosbergen pulled up to get Premier Speedway official Geoff Rounds to check his tyres after earlier contact from Jason Oldfield.

At this time, another horrendous call was made to send Jason Oldfield to the infield. Understandably, Oldfield who’d never won an Aussie Late Model title was irate knowing that the contact from Vosbergen was taking him out of the race.

With Vosbergen stopped, Oldfield spun his car and nosed it into Vosbergens’ car as a protest right in

After scorching on the preliminary night, morning rain and grey clouds greeted until it was time to get serious.

all competitors on final night. The Oldfields kept their whole show undercover

front of the chief stewards box. Oldfield then tried to drive alongside Vosbergens’ car drivers side to driver side to remonstrate but did so as Rounds stepped back and was clipped by Oldfields machine. Swiftly without him even realising, Oldfields car was hoisted of the track by the infield skid steer machine. Race over for Oldfield. Thankfully Rounds was uninjured.

So, take a deep breath, we’ve still got four laps to run with Fenech now leading.

The field was now tight at the front and Vosbergen and Cassidy were charging and when Fenech bounced out of the turn four rut his race was done. Somehow Vosbergen lifted the throttle only enough to avoid Fenech without losing his momentum or what was now the lead as Cassidy did a Ross Chastain NASCAR style move running the N2 along the turn four wall with sparks flying.

In an exciting finish Vosbergen took the win by less than a second over Cassidy who set the races fastest lap on lap one – what the hell!! Harper was marginally further behind in third with a gutted but gallant Fenech fourth ahead of Jamie and Warren Oldfield (from 21st to 2nd before finishing 5th), Edwards, Niscastri, McCann and Onley.

As an emotional Vosbergen planted a kiss on the roof of the WA4 Rcoket Xr1 Chev in memory of his late “Pop” big Bad Bert, tensions were still high on the infield especially amongst the Oldfield clan. Vosbergen did a celebratory reverse lap waving to the crowd before breaking into a series of donuts on the infield before being hugged in his car by his father and crew members.

“I’m really blown away by this win to be honest,” Vosbergen said. “I just don’t know what to say right now, but I am rapt to have won this race. I certainly dedicate it to my Pop and my dad as they tried a lot to win it.”

Could Jason have hung on with a flat left front tyre given the calibre of cars behind – possibly. We’ll never know, but what we do know is Brent Vosbergen is the new National Champion after an ultra-exciting race that had everything, and I do mean everything.

T-bar (Toowoomba) speedway, you now have a lot to live up to with next years title. I can’t wait.

Warren Oldfield enters the cauldron for his final heat

The LM’s do things a bit different for their four wides with the cars from position simply come alongside each side of the top 12 cars.

and 14 sharing the front row. The two rows of cars starting from 13 back

Early feature action (lap 1 or two), shows eventual winner Vosbergen (4) mid pack

pack with some work to do.

When Damien Hudson had a spin, the luckless Darryl Grimson had nowhere to

Family feud. Warren (15) and Jamie Oldfield (51) race each other hard as both

chase brother Jason (11) who was out front and leading at this point.

Jason Oldfield (11) noses into eventual winner Brent Vosbergen (4) under the final while leading with a flat front left tyre caused by contact between these two. Premier melee moments later that saw Oldfield swiftly removed from the track by Trevor

final yellow of the feature to show his displeasure at being sent to the infield Premier official Geoff Rounds (pictured in hi-vis vest) would be caught up in a Trevor Andersons bobcat.

A moment he’ll never forget as Brent Vosbergen takes the family’s first Late Model

Model National Title.

TheSouth West Conveyancing 50th Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic will go down in history not just because it was the landmark

50th running of this now time honoured event, but because it wrapped up into one event, all the things that have made it memorable over the

Highline’s contributing photographers Aidan Freeman, Brett and Kieran Swanson and Ray Ritter put the “Class” into the Classic signage. – Aidan Freeman image.

previous 49 (and arguably a half) Classics.

Topping it all was the narrowest win in the events history with a last lap,

last corner pass for the win by an underdog team over a visiting American professional racer.

Marcus Dumesny chills as he heads back to the pits at Avalon after hot laps and Image.

and time trials, or is he suggesting he was second fastest? Pirate Media Group

Plenty going on here for Portland’s Adam King who sends the mud flying despite

despite losing an engine at the same time at Avalon. Pirate Media Group Image.

Three wide Presidents Cup action with Sheldon Haudenschild (Jack Lee Racing hanging it out high and wide on the GW Racing Q5. Pirate Media Group Image.

Racing V25), Peter Doukas (V98) and soon to be Classic Champ Brock Hallett Image.

A couple of our best internationals in Brooke Tatnell (Dobson T77) and James McFadden

McFadden (Hodges D5). Pirate Media Group Image.

David Donegan slips under the remains of Tim Hutchins huge wreck thinking “I’m Hutchins amazingly climbed out unaided. Pirate Media Group Image.

“I’m glad that wasn’t me.” Thankfully after a few moments to get his breath,

The 2023 President Ian Madsen with his ministers James McFadden (left) and

Jamie Veal (right). Pirate Media Group Image.

It also had controversy, weather, a huge field, some car crushing wrecks, fast racing, and sell-out crowds every night (and day) along with some missed opportunities at club level and the final sign-off of an awesome sponsor in Tania Jasper and Alistair McKean from South West Conveyancing.

The young track curators, with a bit of help and sage advice from the Kwinana Motorplex’s track Curator – Mikey – worked hard to overcome a previously difficult racing surface with only one minor tyre frying/rubber down glitch along the way. Congratulations to the hardworking track crew.

All hail King Hallett. Queensland born, now Portland, Victoria, domiciled via South Australia, Brock Hallett will never forget the biggest win of his career, nor the $50,000+ cheques that he and the Graeme and Wendy Erhardt owned GW Racing Q5 team cashed at the end of five days of hard racing across three venues and two states.

Hallett has had some big wins in his career, including a surprising, at least to Kerry Madsen, World Series Sprintcars win at Murray Bridge and Two Australian Formula 500 Championships but has done it largely with just pure grit and determination and a small core of supporters and financial backers – until this season.

Long-time family friends Graeme and Wendy Erhardt, who’ve been involved in this sport for over 40 years, many at the top level of Sprintcar racing, literally

handed the keys to the transporter and all the associated hardware to Hallett and told him to go his hardest.

Hallett needed no further prodding and has since spent many hours up and down the highway maximising his racing calendar from Queensland to New South Wales to Victoria and South Australia, culminating at this point with the big one – The Classic.

As an example, after racing the first night of the SA-VIC Speedweek at Murray Bridge, the team hauled butt to get an extra night of racing in at Simpson, Victoria, while the rest of the teams had a night off in between the “Bridge” and Mt Gambier. And it almost paid off too as he hit the lead in the feature but was thwarted by a yellow light and ultimately finished a peeved runner up.

Apart from more racing laps the new partnership has also allowed Hallett to be less conservative when contemplating risky passing manoeuvres such as last corner do-or-die passes.

With $50,000 first prize on the Classic final alone and an easing of Covid travel restrictions, a solid field of Yanks were back to try and steal the cash outlaw style, led by World of Outlaws (WoO) star and son of a gun Sheldon Haudenschild. Haud was looking to become the first ever son of a previous Classic winner (The legendary Jac) to take the title and was armed with the potent resources of Jack Lee Racing.

Four time and defending WoO cham-

pion Brad Sweet was back but with a West Aussie team that predominantly ran Limited Sprintcars back home. The little team stepped up admirably.

Carson Macedo had been down under racing for his mate Sean Dyson for some time with some on-and-off success but there was no real pressure to perform as they experimented with tyres and set-ups and generally had a good time.

WoO runner Brock “The Jonestown Jet” Zearfoss was a bit of an unknown driving the Sean Carran owned W95 as competing on the West Coast of Australia and the Classic are two different things due mainly to the depth of top US and Australian talent assembled on the South East coast.

The exciting and controversial Aaron Reutzel overcame some Visa issues to arrive at the last minute but failed to live up to expectations.

All Star Circuit of Champions and USAC champion Tyler Courtney had been quick in the powerful Monte Motorsports home zone of Kwinana and Bunbury but was not a real threat once they’d crossed the Nulabor. Was it the lack of crew chief Kim Buzzwell who was now spannering James McFadden to wins and solid results or some other factor? Packing up early at Avalon probably didn’t help him win many new fans either.

Regular visitor Corey Eliason was back for Diamond Bay Motorsport but was off the pace a little while Cole Macedo,

Carson’s elder brother, made a solid down-under debut as did fellow Californian Justin Sanders.

Texan teenager Chase Randall was also downunder having his first hit out in 410 powered racing and acquitted himself well, but was desperately unlucky on more than one occasion.

The Aussie ranks of course were boosted by the return of US based professionals McFadden, Brooke Tatnell and the Madsen brothers Kerry and Ian.

Presidents Cup - Avalon

As always, the tournament began on the Wednesday with the running of the Presidents Cup before a packed crowd at Avalon Raceway.

However, a rain storm the previous night almost killed the event before it started when 35mm of rain flooded half the infield and the car parks. Some hard work by the Drew family and volunteers enabled the event to go ahead in bright sunshine. The only problem was that no matter what they did the track was always going to be a bit rough due to the amount of moisture in it, and it was! Watching from the infield it was an opportunity to get those track induced action shots, some of which are shown in this edition, while at the same time realising it was a track for young racers as their youth, enthusiasm and lightning reflexes saw them more suited to reacting and muscling their way through the bumps and lumps than some of our more experienced, senior racers.

Ultimate winner Ian Madsen sits somewhere in between, not being a youngster anymore, nor being considered a veteran, but with massive experience on all types of tracks he shone taking the $10,000 first prize after a relatively dominant feature event.

Behind him however it was not so clear cut with some great battles going on, some real cut and thrust racing, and of course some car busting wrecks, but none bigger than Throttle Stomper Tim Hutchins’ heart in mouth fence slamming steering failure.

Hutchins had worked hard to make the main event, but it appears the rough track and some fatigued steering components lead to a catastrophic failure exiting turn two that saw the tall Tasmanian smash the wall in a sickening blow that totally destroyed the once pristine GBE Enterprises #7.

The whole venue collectively held its breath waiting for signs of movement from within the cockpit such was the ferocity of the wreck.

Incredibly, Hutchins climbed from the car unaided after a few moments to collect his breath and thoughts, later explaining from the infield how the steering wheel was just spinning in his hands and facetiously marvelling at the fact that the Tozuda device on his helmet hadn’t registered any significant impact.

Hutchins admitted he was a bit tender from the impact but this little team were soon back on track and contesting

the Classic as planned. (Vision of the wreck can be found on you tube).

One pleasing aspect was the way some teams persisted and raced on despite not timing well and/or not qualifying well through their heat result. Conversely, some teams packed up and moved on (after just time trials and/or heats) denying fans the chance to see some high profile racers in action.

The B-Main was a great example of those real racers and was heavily stacked with unusual talent including Grant Anderson and Rusty Hickman and Americans Carson Macedo, Brad Sweet, Sheldon Haudenschild, Cole Macedo and C-Main winner Chase Randall.

Ando led from start to finish but the American brawl behind was worth the price of admission as the Yanks fought aggressively for the final transfer positions on a track that in places was a little treacherous.

Haudenschild started on the front row but slipped back into a desperate fight for the 4th transfer spot, which he secured after a battle with Carson Macedo who’d charged from eighth to third. Jordy Rae was settled in 2nd place but it looked like Sweet had just missed the cut in fifth but in actual fact had just snuck in as they took five cars from the B-Main.

A couple of high profilers missing the cut were Hickman (11th), Cole Macedo (7th) and Randall (8th).

The 20 car A-Main field was now locked

in with Madsen and McFadden on the front row with Jamie Veal and Zearfoss behind ahead of a stellar field.

Madsen used a clear track to his advantage with Veal grabbing second after 7 laps from J-Mac as the real battles raged behind. Brody Appleby rolled out of the event just shortly after and Zearfoss dropped a couple of spots to the battling pair of Marcus Dumesny and Ryan Newton confirming Newton’s continuation of his solid southern form. After Hutchin’s almighty mid race wreck, the war resumed and Newton was ejected when Dumesny ran over Newtons right front wheel causing the Queenslander to roll just a lap and a half from the end of the race.

Over the closing stages nothing really happened, other than Newtons exit but the final results highlighted some great drives by the touring professionals with Haud up from 17th to 5th, Macedo from 15th to 8th and Sweet doggedly persisting from the back to 11th.

Madsen barely cracked a smile in victory lane giving a big “up yours” gesture to someone or no-one from atop the wing before mellowing when interviewed.

After a massive fireworks display the huge crowd slowly filtered its way home while many headed to the Kings Challenge at Mt Gambier the next day.

Kings Challenge – Mt Gambier.

A record car count and a huge holiday crowd were on hand for the 29th running of the Kings Challenge at the

picturesque Borderline Raceway in Mt Gambier.

Defending champion McFadden in the Hodges Motorsport D5 had what appears on paper to be a fast but unspectacular run in defending his title from Jock Goodyer and Veal but the same could not be said for many others including a couple of the big name, potential race winners.

Courtney started out well, unlike the previous night, by setting fast time in qualifying and then winning the first heat from the front row. In fact, nearly every heat race was won from the front row, including the reverse grid heats showing how quick the track was. Hallett, Daniel Pestka, Zearfoss, Goodyer, McFadden, Tatnell, Carson Macedo, Dennis Jones, Peter Doukas, Veal and Matt Dumesny also scored heat wins.

Heat 11 proved to be interesting from the decisions that were made. Pole sitter Luke Thomas got a little out of shape at the drop of the green and then got a slight tap from Mark Pholi which turned Thomas towards the wall where he then spun with Haudenschild, Randall and Matt Egel all getting involved. The interesting part was the restart where Egel, who’d stopped, was restarted ahead of Veal who hadn’t. Pholi was sent rear of field as the primary cause(!).

An issue with a spectator requiring medical attention held up proceedings for a while but when racing resumed the track was now reworked and faster,

Zac Pacchiarotta didn’t have a great time at Mt Gambier’ Kings Challenge. Geoff

Geoff Gracie Photo.

Brooke Tatnell back at the mount and back on the gas in the Dobson T77. Geoff

Geoff Gracie Photo.

Ultra aggressive American racer Aaron Reutzel looks quite calm in this Geoff Gracie

Gracie shot from the Kings Challenge.

While the family’s V40 awaits him in Perth, Rusty Hickman steered the Dave Challons

Challons V45 instead as seen here at the Kings Challenge. Geoff Gracie Photo.

Young Texan Chase Randall in the DKM USA9 was something of a revelation to wrecks also in his preferred Eagle chassis. Geoff Gracie Photo.

to the down-under fans this summer. Smooth and fast but suffered a few

The Kings Challenge was the one of two wins this week for the Hodges Motorsport Geoff Gracie Photo.

Motorsport team and driver James McFadden in action under beautiful sunlight.

A tough trio on the Kings Challenge podium – Jock Goodyer (2nd), James McFadden

McFadden (1st) and Jamie Veal (3rd) . Geoff Gracie Photo.

Sean Carren brought the American Blue Angels themed W95 east for the Jonestown Josh Cochrane Photo.

Jonestown Jet Brock Zearfoss complete with appropriate Airforce themed apparel.

but also much more treacherous.

B-Main 1 included heavy hitters Marcus Dumesny, Carson Macedo, Tate Frost, Tatnell and Reutzel.

Early drama included Josh Buckingham tagging the wall and falling over. Brendan Quinn then bounced and rolled while sitting in 2nd followed by Scott Enderl who flipped after contact with Todd Moule. After all this drama and with still laps to run the race was declared with Cody Maroske winning from Dumesny.

B-Main 2 was also stacked with quality including Anderson, Haudenschild, Eliason, last nights winner Ian Madsen, Cole Macedo, Cameron Waters, Newton and Randall who wouldn’t start due to a bent chassis.

The biggest shunt of the night occurred when Daniel Sayre tagged a marker tyre in turn 4 and due to broken steering drove up track into the front straight wall and rolled. The hapless local Glen Sutherland then lightly tagged Sayre’s machine at almost full speed and rode out a wicked flip of his own.

The drama wasn’t over yet even as Haudenschild took the flag with Anderson right on his tail after sweeping past Taylor Prosser on the last turn for the transfer. Immediately as Anderson slowed his car caught fire as he backed off and he suffered burns to his legs, sadly not for the first time in his career here at the Mount and his Classic campaign was in dire peril.

By feature time the track had a narrow cushion up high on the wall that was proving difficult to master as many found out.

The first to roll-over was Pestka who was running fast in fifth until he spun, the car stood up and fell over. At this point Courtney also retired with a flat right rear tyre.

Next up was Callum Williamson who tagged the wall and pulled infield but then Lachlan McHugh grabbed the wall off the cushion breaking the front axle. He then tried to veer towards the infield only to be slammed by the luckless Kerry Madsen who rolled.

Hickman caught the same wall later and retired and Zearfoss stopped on the Hickman yellow while running fifth. Somewhere along the line Haudenschild who’d been lapped, got his lap back and found his mojo and with all the carnage was able to salvage a 5th place finish of the 8 cars that were on the lead lap.

For McFadden, Goodyer, Veal and Hallett the race was largely uneventful apart from bouncing off the cushion from time to time. None of the top four cars passed any other car except those they were lapping.

50th Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic – Friday.

A hot day greeted a capacity crowd and half of the Classic field and by the nights end Tate Frost had taken the biggest win of his young career over a

stellar field that included the defending champion McHugh. Frost made it even more interesting by teasing McHugh by throwing in a half spin and a brush with a marker tyre but wouldn’t be denied the opportunity to strike his “hard man” pose in victory lane.

50th Classic Merch was sold out within a couple of hours of the gates opening due to a massively inadequate quantity being ordered and the club missed a huge financial opportunity while many fans were left peeved after queuing for an hour or so only to miss out. Anyway, back to the racing.

Interestingly the time trials were only split up into two flights and not surprisingly the first flight proved to be quicker with Goodyer setting fast time at 11.409 seconds and taking the Allan Pollard Memorial Award for fastest time. Conversely Ben Atkinson Jr was the only driver not to set a time when he became the first roll-over of the event on his first flying lap. Amazingly all but three of the 28 cars were within 1 second of quick time while the whole field obviously excluding Atkinson were within 1.2 seconds.

Flight two saw some great times set none the least by Zearfoss who’d missed hot laps when the engine wouldn’t fire and then set fast time in the next flight despite never having run any fast laps, well actually any laps here before. Zearfoss’s time was 11.589 seconds with 21 of the 27 cars within a second of his time and all within 1.5 seconds on a slightly slower track.

Before the heats began a tribute and minute’s silence was observed for Reg Dumesny, brother of Max, who’d died in an auto accident the week prior. Marcus and Matthew Dumesny along with cousin Jake Smith all paraded unique “picture” wings with Uncle Reg’s images on board before the family, fans and officials.

Following some track work the heats, as has become the norm in Sprintcar racing these days, were fast with little passing. Goodyer, Jack Lee, McHugh, Zearfoss, Luke Oldfield and Randall all won their heats by around two seconds after starting off the front.

The reverse grid heats largely ran the same although some faster cars did make some ground but, apart from Tate who snatched the win on the last lap, not any wins. Chad Ely, Maroske, Jackson Delamont, Steven Lines and Todd Moule all took wins although the margins were generally a lot closer.

Heat racing victims included Andy Hughes who spun and wheelstood and rolled in heat 2 but repaired for his second heat.

Hughes’ repair efforts almost paid off when he narrowly missed a transfer out of the C-Main behind Ashley Cook and Dennis Jones.

Zearfoss had narrowly missed a slot straight into the A-Main but assured his place by winning the B-Main despite a brake issue that saw the fluid boiling out of the rear caliper when the crew serviced the car between the B and

Cats Eyes. The big cat Brad Sweet stares straight down the lens of Josh Cocharne

Cocharne at the Classic.

the A. Peter Doukas, Delamont and Brendan Guerin also made the transfer while Luke Dillon surprisingly missed the cut.

Uber veteran Jim Duggan led the AMain around in his beautiful ex Tim Moncrieff #TAS2 Sprintcar with the four wide line-up and fireworks going off behind.

Young Randall and young Goodyer shared the front row and the Texan got the jump when the green flag dropped as Goodyer dropped to third and then as far back as seventh after a bump with the wall after a squeeze by Hallett. Frost on the other hand grabbed second and was pushing Randall hard when Randall smote the turn one wall and rolled. Sanders, Oldfield, Zearfoss and Courtney were also out of the event by this stage.

Frost was now leading but 5th starting McHugh was now second as the crowd anticipated McHugh to surge forward and take the lead.

Frost had other ideas however and had a nice gap over the champion to the point that when he had a half lose in turn one/two that made the crowd gasp, he didn’t even lose the lead. Shortly after with seven laps to run Moule joined the upside-down club which closed the lead up.

Frost was riding his luck and even a brush with an infield marker tyre couldn’t stop the youngster from scorching to the biggest win of his career by just over half a second from

McHugh with Hallett showing a portent of what was to come storming from 10th to 3rd.

The “Big Cat” Sweet put on a superb charge storming from 17th to 4th ahead of Goodyer, Lines, Cole Macedo, Kerry Madsen, Darren Mollenoyux and Doukas with Lee and Lachlan McDonough the only other cars on the lead lap.

Saturday.

Day two dawned starkly different with much cooler temperature and cloudy skies but that didn’t stop the fans flocking to the Fan Appreciation event at the Warrnambool Showgrounds. There was people and traffic everywhere as the new venue proved a success.

Following this everyone reassembled for night two with a totally different field of racers.

This time in Qualifying, Newton set fast time in the first flight at 10.491 seconds where 26 cars were within 1 second of his time with Brandon Rawlings the only without a time after being the obligatory first roll over of the night.

Flight two saw Ian Madsen the quickest at 10.718 with the whole 28 car group within 1.15 seconds and all but one within 1 second.

As with last night, the heats were quick but lacking in passing with front row fast men generally taking the wins. Corey McCullagh, Haudenschild, Anderson and Ian Madsen all took wins and then Ryan Jones changed things up a

little as Cameron Waters led until an error on the last lap while leading cost him 3 places giving Jones the win.

As heat 6 circulated the track, the light rain that affected the previous heat got heavier and the experienced McFadden made it clear that you couldn’t race in these conditions.

After some considerable delay and more rain, the difficult decision was made, to finish up early and come back for a congested day and a half’s program tomorrow afternoon.

Sunday (Saturday 2.5).

Kick-off time for day 2.5 was 3:00pm and the one criticism I’d make is that there appeared to be no reason we couldn’t have started earlier, say 1:00pm given the tracks history of not being able to maintain timeframes.

The weather on Sunday morning was worse than the previous day with persistent light rain in the morning. The club were doing all they could to get the show in even using a skilfully piloted helicopter, manoeuvring below the top of the fence-line, to help and dry the track. (Again, check youtube for the vision that the track didn’t want anyone to see or record).

The on-track action was immediate as soon as the heat racing resumed with Daniel Scott doing a wall of death drive along the turn one and two chain link fence giving the easy-up fans a frightening view they weren’t expecting and probably many of whom didn’t want.

McFadden took the win from the front row.

The reverse grid heats again saw very few passes unless caused by spins etc, although both Tatnell and Marcus Dumesny used their car speed and experience to grab wins from mid field starting positions. Sayre, Carson Macedo, Randy Morgan and Egel also scored wins.

Hayden Pitt, Luke Stirton, Prosser and Stephen Spark transferred from the C-Main to the B-Main which saw Jessie Attard. Will Carroll Jye O’Keeffe and Jake Smith complete the top four. Race action included Brenten Farrer, Pitt and Jordan Brazier eliminated in a lap one skirmish and Ricky Maiolo and Callum Williamson getting upside down together on lap 13.

Onto the delayed A-Main and McFadden passed both front row starters Haudenschild and Madsen by lap 10 to give the fledgling Hodges team its second win in three days. Haudenschild held onto second from Ian Madsen with Veal and Marcus Dumesny completing the top five. Carson Macedo gritted his teeth and charged from as low as 20th to finish 6th ahead of Hickman, Eliason, Newton and O’Keeffe who was dead last on lap one.

Jy Corbett’s spin on lap one was a harbinger of worse to come when he rode out the biggest wreck of the weekend in turn one that saw his car literally torn in two with the chassis forward of the engine torn completely off the car

Lisa Walker is either so relaxed she’s asleep or she’s deep in thought. Either way ent drivers react prior to a race.

way Josh Cochrane has caught another awesome image that shows how differ-

in a sickening wreck, again in front of the easy-up fans. Thankfully the young racer was shaken but otherwise okay. The next casualty at mid race was Anderson who went over after contact with Dumesny. Anderson strode the length of the track to voice his anger at Dumesny but a greater indignity was to await the Albury Ace unbeknownst to him.

Sunday’s program.

After some more track reworking and hoopla and the presentation of the R & M Security Best Presented Car and Crew award to the slick Zearfoss/Carran “Blue Angels” team and the best retrospective car and crew which was awarded to David Donegan for his Brett Lacey inspired Baretta it was on with the racing, albeit about two hours behind schedule.

A series of pointless but time consuming “scrambles” were run which really did nothing to shake up the order of those already locked into the A-main, except for the top six drivers who drew marbles for starting slots (really!). Everyone knows that after the first lap most drivers won’t risk damaging or destroying their cars just prior to the feature so there is very little positional change. As I said pointless, especially when you’re running so far behind and the fans have been there since lunch time.

The real racing started with the F-Main which was won by Adam Butler from Jett Bell.

The E-Main score went to Donegan

from Alex Attard, while Chris Temby took out the D-Main from Grant “Slayer” Stansfield. Buckingham was fast setting a 10 second lap but out of luck after just three laps.

Each race was over progressively more laps and the C-Main covered 15 of them with Brendan Scorgie taking the win from Appleby. Kaiden Brown in the second Domain Ramsey machine just made the transfer.

B-Main 1 would take three cars into the main event and it was Courtney, Lee and Zearfoss who’d chased from 16th who made the leap with Oldfield as reserve.

B-Main 2 was full of action and controversy starting with O’Keeffe and Hickman getting together and Hickman upending before a long walk to chastise O’Keeffe for his part in the incident. Tatnell and Newton were then fiercely contesting the final transfer position when they got together and did synchronised rollovers.

Anderson was the beneficiary of that fracas but his meeting was about to end in super controversial style and it would appear, contrary to the rule book.

As Anderson came through turn three / four on the last lap his rear end failed and he slowed as he approached the finish line, and this is the important part, actually crossing the line in third and qualifying into the Main event. Just after crossing the line fast finishing pair Waters and Morgan took the flag still dicing hard with Waters being unsight-

ed behind Morgan hitting Anderson and rolling over.

Now, I can only tell you what I, and everyone who was listening in on raceceiver heard, that Anderson was given the nod but then quickly that was retracted and first Morgan was told he’d made the feature before it then changed to Waters making the race, Morgan the reserve with Anderson being sent rear of the field as “The Primary Cause” of the stoppage. Go to speedhive.mylaps. com and check out the lap chart that shows Anderson in 3rd.

So the issue is this, and keep in mind the joke about you have sex with one animal and people forget all the other good things you’ve done, the race had finished.

The SCCA rule book states:

6.16 Race Distance

(i) Races will be run over the full number of laps as nominated…… A race will be deemed finished when the lead car (emphasis added) crosses the finish line and is shown the chequered flag. …..

6.17 Placings

Unless the race is declared by the Chief Steward under rule 6.16, the lead car must take the chequered flag under green light conditions to be placed as winner, other cars who cross the finish line will be placed in order behind the winner (emphasis added) if on the same lap or in order of the number of laps completed.

My question is, can you call a stoppage/caution or red flag after the chequered has flown? If so shouldn’t we need to do a green, white, chequered two lap dash? Was a red flag even called?

Was Anderson harshly and more importantly incorrectly dealt with? Maybe? Should the Chief Steward have overturned his original decision? Probably! Was he too quick to make the call? Absolutely!!

What happened next was even more appalling. Irate members/fans of the Anderson team started suggesting that the call was made as a get square to Anderson for some previous event that may have occurred or purely because Waters receives sponsorship from the race’s sponsor South West Conveyancing. How absurd and ridiculous!

The call was made almost immediately by the Chief Steward and without any consultation with anyone, especially the sponsors who believed that Anderson had qualified into the main race. I’ve spoken to both Tanya Jasper and Alistair McKean who had no idea that Anderson had been pushed out and were in fact standing on the infield to do driver introductions and were surprised when Waters was called out the gate and not Anderson.

Anderson demanded and was given air-time by main announcer Gavin White to air his grievances and the team also made their point by bringing their car to the infield prior to the main event, threatening to start the

Veteran photographer/publisher Tony Loxley says this was his last Classic as he Classic classics joint publication with Warrnambool’s own Geoff Rounds. Josh

he uses his sharp eye to snap another potential image for the upcoming 50 Cochrane Image.

car. Thankfully, that didn’t happen as the car was pushed around the track in protest before heading back to the pits. The crowd response was mixed.

Post-race however, the verbal abuse Jasper and McKean received both personally and via social media was absolutely unfounded, unacceptable and unfair.

This is the best form of motorsport in the world but sometimes… sigh!

50th Classic.

Just like Benny Atkinson back in another rain affected event in 2006, a driver sat on pole who would never have factored into pre-race betting – Tate Frost. Haudenschild who was born to race Sprintcars was alongside with defending cham McHugh next from 2020 and 2017 winner McFadden and 2016 winner Veal. Coming men Hallett and Goodyer were next, both former F500 National Champions with WoO feature race winners Sweet, Ian and Kerry Madsen, Eliason, and Carson Macedo next. Current Aus1 Dumesny was ahead of 2018 Classic winner McCullagh in his last Sprintcar race. Dual winner (2011 &,2013) Lines was next from Cole Macedo, Randall, Ryan Jones, Courtney, Egel, Reutzel, Lee, Waters and Zearfoss.

At the drop of the flag too much wheelspin saw Frost swamped either side by Haudenschild and McFadden with Haud leading the first couple of circulations. McFadden surged to the lead next and held on until lap 10 when

Haudenschild retook the front spot.

On lap 17 of the 40 lap journey Hallett came forward to win the lead where he stayed until lap 35 when a slight error allowed Haudenschild back to the front.

Just as Hallett was considering second place an opportunity arose as Haud missed his marks in turn one on the last lap and the pair raced side by side into turn three with Hallett determining that his only chance was to go wherever Haudenschild didn’t. Into turn three for the last time the American went to the bottom and Hallett railed the top wide open in a crash or win scenario.

And win it was as our exclusive photo shows the pair taking the chequered flag with Hallett taking the win by just 0.122 seocnds with McHugh there for the asking also less than half a second further back.

Goodyer grabbed fourth ahead of McFadden who set the races fastest lap on lap 4. Frost was sixth ahead of Eliason, Kerry Madsen, Reutzel, Veal, Carson Macedo, Sweet with Dumesny the last car to complete 40 laps. Ian Madsen, Courtney, Zearfoss and Egel were all a lap down with Lee the last runner two laps behind in 18th place.

Randall once again went upside down and Cole Macedo exited upside down early on also. In between these two wrecks Zearfoss somehow fell over but was able to continue just one lap down.

The win for Hallett was a fairy tale finish and the closest in Classic history and the plethora of on track action and Lee’s almost identical car being lapped caused some confusion amongst some people as to who was actually leading at different times. Some thought Haud had taken the win while yet others thought McHugh had done the double while all the while it was the lanky lad from nearby Portland who’d upstaged

everyone.

It was a popular result as there are many Hallett fans in the region and I’m sure there are quite a few more now. The 50th Grand Annual Classic proved to be just that, the best Classic ever.

American Sheldon Haudenschild reacquaints himself with the Premier Highbanks.

Highbanks. Pirate Media Group Image.

Another who announced that the 2023 classic would be his last was the 2018 winner West Conveyancing, Smith & Sons V90. A growing young family and the cost of after just 10 laps was not how McCullagh wanted to sign off his Sprintcar career.

winner Corey McCullagh. It didn’t stop him giving his all in the pristine South of racing being the reasons for the premature retirement. A 21st place finish career. Josh Cochrane Image.

Fourth generation racer and third generation Classic contender Jordyn Brazier dad, Garry, in his corner, Jordyn had a shocking event.

gets on it on this Josh Cochrane shot. Despite having his multi Classic winner

James McFadden’s compact Aussie tour was fairly successful and much was hoped and led some feature laps but faded over the final laps but still recorded a top 5

hoped for with the “Local” ace running the number 5. J-Mac was a contender 5 in the number 5. Josh Cochrane Image.

V8 Supercar standout Cameron Waters made his first Classic feature on his second ter only a handful of laps. Josh Cochrane Image.

second attempt, albeit in controversial circumstances. Sadly the V6 was out af-

Carson Macedo’s Aussie campaign was a little enigmatic when viewing from the outside, more sense. Team owner Sean Dyson puts zero pressure on Macedo to win as both fornian on the Outlaws trail back in the US. Josh Cochrane Image.

outside, but with a little inside info from the teams media man Gavin Skene, it made both use the time to experiment with different tyres and set-ups that may help the Cali-

Veteran mentor Bill Barrows and Glen Sutherland contemplate what else needs wreck. Aidan Freeman Photo.

needs to be done to get the Gambier Earth Movers SA20 back on track after a

Daniel Scott mid-flight on his turn one wall of death stunt with Blake Walsh throwing

throwing the VA97 into an avoidance spin. Aidan Freeman Photo.

Turn one seemed to be a problem in the late afternoon as Brandon Rawlings suffered Freeman Photo.

suffered a fate that has befallen so many others on their first time at the Classic. Aidan

In this Aidan Freeman Photo, Andy Hughes is bucking the turn one trend by having

having his wreck in turn four.

Gavin Skene inspires many, including Aidan Freeman, to seek those different creative totally blurring the background and light.

creative shots. Here we see Peter Doukas caught at a very slow shutter speed

This Aidan Freeman Drone shot highlights a packed crowd on the front straight

straight and up into Mt Max and the Corporate area.

This incident after the chequered flag on one of the two B-Mains caused massive privately owned and funded team from closing its doors. Let’s hope not. Pirate

massive controversy and may have led to Australia’s longest continually operating Media Group Image.

Pirate Media Group captured Aidan Freeman capturing the Anderson Motorsport

Motorsport protest from the B-Main controversy captured on page 144/145.

This is not synchronised rolling but rather synchronised elimination from qualifying while fighting for the final transfer slot in the final B-Main. Obviously neither made

qualifying into the Classic feature. Brooke Tatnell and Ryan Newton got together made the main event. Pirate Media Group Image.

Brendan Scorgie is a self-funded battler who doesn’t mind a little bit of travel when his lack of funds Scorgie made it into the B-Main far ahead of many better funded

when he can afford it. But one thing he can’t afford is a wreck like this. Despite funded teams. Pirate Media Group Image.

An early battle between Sheldon Haudenschild and Borck Hallett. Pirate Media

Media Group Image.

Veteran Phil Micallef rockets down the back straight with his little LS motor screaming

screaming its heart out. Pirate Media Group Image.

10

Classics between these two past champions Max Dumesny (3) and Garry Rush

The Sprint Pig team of David Donegan won the best retro paint scheme with his taped on after Donnaz, went upside down earlier destroying the complete tribute

his nod back To Brett Lacey’s 1986/87 version. Note the Baretta wing panel

tribute wing. Pirate Media Group Image.

Sheldon Haadenschild (left – 2nd), James McFadden (Centre – 1st) and Ian Madsen West Conveyancings Tanya Jasper and Alistair McKean on Sunday afternoon.

the second nights preliminary feature with South Pirate

Madsen (right – 3rd) celebrate

Media Group Image.

Just one part of Jye Corbetts horrendous wreck caught from atop the turn one was able to walk away.

scissor lift by Pirate Media Groups Kieran Swanson. Thankfully young Jye

Night two winner James McFadden sweeps through turn two. Pirate Media Group

Group Image.

Step back a little and we can clearly see Jye Corbett struggling to keep the NQ10 Group Image.

NQ10 in line ad as we’ve already seen worse was yet to come. Pirate Media

Luke Stirton (N10) and Cameron Waters having an issue in turn one. Pirate Media

Media Group Image.

Aussie Speedcar champ smokes the right rear of the Domain Ramsey VA71 due Pirate Media Group Image.

due to a nerf bar rubbing the tyre from an earlier incident. (See next page).

Tim Hutchins (T7), Hayden Pitt (SA7), Jordyn Brazier (N21), Chris Temby (V18) Pirate Media Group Image.

(V18) and Breneten Farrer (V34) all have a part to play in this turn three melee.

Kevin M Reeves (V63), David Donegan (VA75), Glen Sutherland (SA20) and Adam chase Stephen Spark (V32). Pirate Media Group Image.

Adam Garwood (T6), show there’s more than one line through turn two as they

Taylor Prosser (Q91), veteran John Vogels (V70) and Hayden Pitt (SA7) three

wide in turn 2. Pirate Media Group Image.

Terry Rankin pushes the Phil Seymour VA29 up the inside of former Australian

Allstar Sprintcars Series

Champion Chad Ely. Pirate Media Group Image.

Aaron Reutzels’ Saller Motorsport US56 looks a little unsettled as James McFadden

McFadden powers down on the inside. Pirate Media Group Image.

A good crowd watches intently as a heat field approaches the green flag. Pirate

Who let these knuckleheads into the state? A trio of South Aussies amongst friends

friends in the terraces. Pirate Media Group Image.

Personally, I was excited for Aaron Reutzel to hit the Bool, but his performance on a show. Pirate Media Group Image.

performance was a little less than hoped for. Maybe next time the livewire Texan can put

Callum Williamson is putting on a show on debut at the Classic. Pirate Media Group

Group Image.

Glen Sutherland gives the trun four crowd action as Callum Willaimson watches

watches on. Pirate Media Group Image.

The Keyboard Racer (TKR) was in the house at the fan appreciation morning with see here. Pirate Media Group Image.

with his irreverent attitude. But all jokes aside, there’s a lot of truth in what we

A bit of congestion with Matthew Dumesny getting over Luke Oldfields left front hope it doesn’t evolve into a bigger fracas. Pirate Media Group Image.

front wheel while Cole Macedo (T14), Tyler Courtney (W17) and Jack Lee (25)

All is calm. Pirate Media Group Image.

Kerry Madsen displays plenty of attitude in the Krikke WA2. Pirate Media Group

Group Image.

Signing off after a number of years as Classic sponsor is Tanya Jasper and her of the crowd and a nice bouquet of flowers that only cost her $50,000 (this year)

her South West Conveyancing concern. Here she rightfully receives the plaudits year) -

lol. Aidan Freeman

Photo.

An awesome drone shot from Aidan Freeman highlights the bullring and car park park white?

park in a moment of calmness but why are nearly all the cars in the western car-

The moment of pure elation for Brock Hallett (Q5) and gut wrenching defeat for last turn to win Australia’s biggest Sprintcar race – The Classic. Pirate Media Group

for Sheldon Haudenschild (V25) after Hallett swept around the outside on the Group Image.

The soon to be Classic champion Brock Hallett. Pirate Media Group Image.