A large amount of spectators enjoyed racing, crashing & high flying machines at Wangaratta Speedway on Saturday night 19th November with Mick Nicola winning the Super Sedans state series round, Chris Fowler the Grand Prix Midgets state series round & Kayn Schmal the Demolition Derby.

Undoubtedly the majority of the crowd came for the Demolition Derby, however the collective gasp from a majority of non regular & first time speedway visitors when Scott Laird launched himself skywards in the Grand Prix Midget final, showed who the star of the show was.

Laird driving the car normally steered by the Australian Champion Paul Perry, slid high into turn two and the concrete wall seemed to give the car a little extra bounce as it launched about 15ft skyward before crash landing, all with a driver who was almost free of injury when he got out of the car accept for a sore ankle.

The Grand Prix Midget ‘Ballistic Performance Parts Series’ final was declared early as a result of the accident, however the leader of every lap to that point Chris Fowler, thoroughly deserved the win having not been past by Dennis Myers or Trevor Perry despite early pace and pressure from them both. Earlier in qualifying Fowler was unable to finish either of the races he competed in with mechanical & then wheel trouble before having the car ready for the final.

Myers, Perry & then Myers again were winners of the heat races, Myers finished second in the final behind Fowler with Chalcraft third, Jason Crawford the Victorian champion fourth & Perry in fifth with an ailing machine.

Super Sedan racing with big powerful 367ci engines were also a crowd favourite, if not for the action, most definitely for the sound of the machines & the slide & drive through & out of the turns. A great feature race battle between Brad Wicks & Mick Nicola Jnr in the thirty lap ‘Fun City Entertainment Complex Series’ final where the two were close, never a few car lengths apart as they weaved through backmarkers.

Wicks came quickly up on a backmarker as he excited out of turn two in the last third of the race & moved up high on the track to go around, Nicola pounced & punched the nose of his car up the inside of the backmarker and into the lead. Not long after Nicola had his own problems with a backmarker, however in this case the backmarker was wrong by twice moving off his line & into the way of the leader trying to make an passing move to put the driver a lap down.

Stewards stopped the race and re-started when Nicola lost the lead unfairly. Nicola went on to win from Wicks, Ashley Bergmeier, Neil Witnish & Allan Stockdale.

Other winners in support categories included local Wangaratta racer Jarred Burder in the Standard Saloons, Luke Fallon one of the managing family members of the local bus company for the Sport Sedan category & Belinda Chalcraft in the Ladies Sedans.

To close the show the lunatics that love smashing, crashing & bashing for thrills entered the fray to compete in the Demolition Derby. Kane Schmal, Jason Boardman, Brad Piggott from Benalla, Kayla Johnson & Allan Newling also from Benalla were strong competitors, before Schmal who is a master at Demolition Derby events, went on to be the top dog taking the victory.

Andy Clark won the Patton Automotive award for Best Presented Car, Allan Newling was the recipient of the Kalari Photography Hard Luck Award & the Scared of the Dark LED Lighting award for most destroyed cars went to Brad Piggott.

Wangaratta Speedway now has a break through December before returning January the 14th with the running of the Victorian Late Model Sedan state title.

 

Wangaratta Speedway Club Supporters for 16/17:
SuperAxe Woodsplitters – One Mile Motors – Crosher Constructions – Wangaratta Auto Care – Wangaratta Radiators – North East Fasteners – A Grade Removals & Storage – Enzed Wangaratta – McDonalds Wangaratta – Alpine Truss – Gardenview Lodge Motel – IGA Wangaratta – APCO – Thommo’s Cash for Scrap – Solimo Towing – Ussher Plumbing – Patton Automotive – Ryan’s Refrigerated Transport – Wangaratta Tourist & Caravan Park – Meyland Trophies – Rural City of Wangaratta – Wangaratta Club – Grimshaw Signs – Conway Printers Jindera – Wangaratta Bearings – Keam Fertilizers

 

Written by
Dean Thompson
DMT Sports Media

For Wangaratta City Speedway Club