Redline raceway got their 2016/17 season underway on Saturday night November 12th on what can only be described as trying conditions with intermittent showers through the night, however the racing pushed on with throttle control the key, in what became a spectacular night of racing with VSC Mini Sprints, SDAV Hot Rods & Street Stocks, VSC Standard Saloons, Open VSC Sedans and V8 Thunder Sedans giving a great show to the fans.
With the weather presenting some challenges to the drivers, the VSC Mini Sprints produced three different heat race winners, with wins going to Jason Lynn, Dave May and Andrew Burleigh.
Come time for the feature race the track had plenty of grip and the small but mighty fast Mini Sprints really put on quite a show. Brad Lowe lead the early part of the race, hot on his heels was Dave May. May looked to the bottom of the race track early & was unable to make a successful passing attempt. Realizing he would need to move to the outside line, May moved high up the track to pass Lowe and there was no stopping him from there. May driving away to the finish line with a convincing win from Lowe and Jason Lynn.
SDAV Hot Rod drivers were definitely tested through the night, the slightly wet conditions brought the racing down to who could control their car the best. These exciting machines that can only be described as a combination of an older Sprintcar chassis with an old school Hot Rod body rumbling around with a thumping V8, heated up what was a chilly night at Redline.
The feature race front row was set with two heat race winners with Kali Hovey to square off against Allan Pitcher, whom was driving the Phil Jenkins owned race car. Pitcher would jump away to an early lead at the drop of the green and not look back, Hovey tried on multiple occasions to reel in Pitcher but just could not close the gap enough to be able to make a passing move, in third place after some issues in the earlier heats and a big battle with his father Stan Marco Snr, the third step on the podium would go to Stan Marco Jnr who came up with the podium pass with just a handful of laps to spare.
The night was also big for Sedans starting with the Standard Saloons where Hayden McCabe came away with two second place finishes in the heat races helping to qualify him off the pole position for the feature race. McCabe would complete a great night on the top step of the podium with a fantastic feature win from fellow Portland Speedway Club racer, Luke Dart a star in the state scene for the class and Allan Sinclair now part of a two car team after returning to the seat himself for this season.
Earlier Tim Hutchinson a local driver won two heats, Nicole Vaughan had a win & also Peter Leonard in his Station Wagon.
Sean Lister showed that it doesn’t matter how wet the track is, horsepower still walks the walk with his V8 powered Open Sedan dominating in the Open VSC Sedan field. Des Birkin did look like he was going to take the challenge right up to Lister in the feature race with his Corvette Lister at bay for the opening laps of the feature race, once Lister got by after a small mistake from Birkin he rocketed away to a comfortable lead which he would hold for the remainder of the race.
Further back in the pack the battle raged on with Lucas Condor, Aaron Bunton and Darren Nelson fighting it out for the final spot on the podium. Condor lead the group early, however as lapped traffic came into play it was clear that he would have a fight on his hands, as did trying to keep Nelson behind him while also attempting to get past Condor.
With a few laps left to run all three cars made nose to tail contact with Condor spinning to the infield, however the green lights stayed on and racing continued, Bunton being able to hold out Nelson for that third position. Lister in qualifying won two heats, Cory Knox one and Birkin the other.
Street Stocks were also slightly rain affected in their feature, rain though did not stop the drivers pulling out all stops in order to take away the win.
Early in the feature, Jason Degoldi looked like he had the field covered through the initial stages of the race with Brad McClure, Jayden Blomeley and Darren Giacometti throwing everything they had at him, nobody could make a passing move though.
After a stoppage for the rain passing through again, the field lined up for one last single file restart, Degoldi lead them away however on the exit of turn number four Giacometti made a huge move to come all the way from fourth to steal the lead away from Degoldi, there was some paint swapped between doors however all cars came out of turn four and Giacometti would come away with a big feature race win over Jayden Blomeley and Brad McClure.
Degoldi, Scott Secombe, Blomeley & Nathan Dunn won heats races.
To finish off the night the VSC V8 Thunder Sedans let their V8 motors sing, Stephen Hodder who had good form in heat racing earlier in the night with a win, bagged a feature race win with the scrap for the minor places between father and son Kieran Brennan Jnr and Kieran Brennan Snr finishing with youth too good for the old boy. John Agosta was also in the thick of the action with a heat win and figuring strongly in the final.
The next event at Redline will be the King of the Mountain feature race for Street Stocks on November the 26th with over sixty cars set to battle for the big race win & $1300. V8 Thunder Sedans, Standard Saloons & Unlimited Sedans are on the program also.
Belmont Speedway Drivers Club thanks the following supporters:
Ipta Fibreglass – Spencer Race Engines – Trax Racewear – Hennessy Transport – Dean Miller Photography – Bryant’s Sales & Service – Trials Experience – Smartline Garages & Sheds – I C Weeds Geelong – Automotive Suspension – Just Tippers – Australian Racing Products – Whitehorse Truck Centre – SS Wood Transport – United Forklift & Access Solutions – Inaction Photos – AV1 Electrical – Lister Automotive – Revolution Racegear – SPW Engineering – Geelong Carburettors – Allsport Trophies – Steve Forte Metal Fabrications – S.D Canvas – Johnny Dyno Engines – Metowu – Motorsport Hauler – Pedder’s Suspension – Midnight Towing – Norman Street Automotive – Duo Mobile – Burson Autoparts – BMS Automotive – UBC Web Design – Bulleen Towing – WBW Metal Fabrications – Dann’s Auto Wrecking – Jeff’s Auto Detailing – Modern Stainless Fabrications – Autoparts Professionals – Leejay Trailers – IG & JL Greville – FMP Group – Atkins Autoworks – True Design Homes – Cylinder Head Shed – Ballarat Fencing – Natrad Ballarat – Total Fleet Imaging – Power FM
Written by
Harley Tindal & Dean Thompson
DMT Sports Media
For Belmont Speedway Drivers Club t/a Redline Raceway