The Goulburn Ovens Sedan Association ventured out to Speedway Wangaratta on February the 4th for their first competition since December the 26th and the healthy entrant numbers proved that everybody had missed racing, Ross Maclean the benchmark in the division once again greeted the chequered flag first, showing that he has no intention of relinquishing the number one plate on his roof that says he is class champion.

Six heat race events at Wangaratta sorted out the starting position for the feature event of the show with wins going the way of Clint Henderson, Troy Frost, Maclean, Nathan Shortis the current Victoria 2 driver, Maclean again and Frank Gordon (#L92 ‘Gasweld Tool Centre’ – Commodore) all the way from Leeton.

Maclean suffered a mechanical issue in heat one and found himself infield as a non finisher and this opened up the race for Henderson to go the distance and take out a win over Chelsea Cornelius (#CR76 ‘Cornelius Prestige Panels’ – Commodore) who as usual flew in the night before from Brisbane to compete in the family race car. Tom Barnard worked hard to secure third spot in front of Mark Pollard, Brendan Brewer in one of the two Steve McDonald owned cars, James Powell, McDonald and Stuart Balins (#CR22 ‘QA Kitchens’ – Commodore) were the other finishers.

In heat two Todd Atkin (#L78 ‘Grainlink’ – Commodore) another racer from Leeton came to a stop on track and after he was removed by the crash crew Frank Gordon had a brain fade and drove under the single file restart cone which resulted in the steward sending him to the rear of the field on the lap sheets after the race was completed.

Frost (#W46 ‘Autobarn Albury’ – Commodore) took the win from Shortis, Jamie Atkin who at the finish line crunched the wall as he just held off Sam Davey for position. Scott Callendar was next then Mitch Watts, Andrew Robl have his first race meeting other than a Standard Saloon race, Danny Smith (#CR36 ‘Billabong Agriculture’ – Commodore) & Gordon as a result of his penalty.

Starting from sixth Maclean got over his recent run of non finishes after a terrible weekend in his Production Sedan the week before and the first heat of Goulburn Ovens Sedans in this show. Maclean moved to the front quickly and led Walton (#CR43 ‘Maverick Marine’ – Centura), Cornelius, Henderson, Barnard, Balins, Powell, Brewer and Smith to the chequered flag.

Shortis (#W55 ‘Stickemon Signs’ – Commodore) cashed in his front row start in heat four when he led Watts to the finish line with Gordon again showing good speed securing third. Frost, Jamie Atkin, McDonald, Robl, Davey (#CR93 ‘Hartnett Transport’ – Commodore) and Todd Atkin all finished with Shortis setting the fastest lap of the first two rounds at 19.290.

Maclean continued his winning ways in his third heat taking a victory ahead of Henderson who last season had a win at Wangaratta. Brewer (#CR16 ‘Bicknell Signs’ – Commodore) picked up his best result of the night with a third place ahead of Barnard, Powell, Balins, McDonald, Mark Pollard in Walton’s Centura and Smith.

Closing out the heat racing Gordon who had in fact crossed the line in the top three in his first two heats accept for being penalised for one of them, picked up the win in the last. He was too good for Robl (#W19 ‘Wadley Kerbmakers’ – Commodore) who had adjusted to the car control required in the family Goulburn Ovens Sedan to pick up a great second place. Watts again was strong with Frost, Jamie Atkin (#L77 ‘Griffith Discount Tyres’ – Commodore) in front of Todd Atkin.

With points across two meetings for the Ryan’s Refrigerated Transport Invitational, Maclean (#V1 ‘Dunkley Panels’ – Commodore) was keen to make up for missing the first heat points on offer and had come back strongly with two heat wins to put himself on outside front row with Henderson the pole position qualifier.

Frost, Watts (#L54 ‘Ace Smash Repairs Leeton’ – Commodore), Gordon, Barnard, Cornelius, Brewer, Robl, Powell, Walton, Balins, McDonald (#CR15 ‘Stevo’s Painting Service’ – Commodore), Smith and Todd Atkin completed the line-up.

Maclean as usual was quick out of the blocks when the green flag dropped and dipped into turn one in the best position and held off Henderson coming out of turn two. Cornelius picked up a couple positions early in the race and Watts who was in the top three looked like his bad run of crashes and might have just left him.

However, painfully for Watts on lap five a rear wheel and axle attached to the wheel, ripped out of the car and ended up towards the turn two concrete whilst Watts car sat stranded in the entry to turn two with everybody managing to avoid the stricken Commodore as the caution lights came on.

Maclean turned up the heat at the front of the field and Cornelius was knocking on the back bumper bar of Henderson giving him some hurry up as the laps wound down.

Maclean remained in control and took the feature win from Henderson (#CR21 ‘Corowa Kitchens & Cabinets’ – Commodore), Cornelius, Gordon, Barnard, Robl, Brewer, Powell, Balins, McDonald, Smith and Walton.

On February the 25th the second and final round of the event will be held as the class supports the Modified Sedan feature night at Speedway Wangaratta.

 

Goulburn Ovens Sedan Association would like to thank the sponsors:
Max’s Motor Museum, Corowa – Maverick Boats, Corowa – QA Kitchens, Albury – Elle Mae Hair & Beauty, Corowa – Corowa Kitchens & Cabinets – Psychic Tina, Leeton – Wahgunyah Rock Yard, Wahgunyah – Stevo’s Painting Services – Cornelius Classic Panels, Corowa – Ace Smash Repairs, Leeton – MP Sheds, Leeton – Corowa Glass, Corowa – Dunkley Paint & Panels, Corowa

 

Written by
Dean Thompson
DMT Sports Media

For Goulburn Ovens Sedan Association