Spectacular weekend of racing

As expected, the first round of the Preston Peak Wines Queensland – New South Wales Super Sprint Challenge held at Carnell Raceway at the weekend produced some spectacular racing, both in the sprints and the touring car events.
The record entries in the sprint section of the event, which was run over seven four-lap heats, saw the best line-up of sprint competitors at Carnell Raceway for many years.
On Saturday, from the word go, it was evident that every competitor was there to win. For the first time in the short circuit motor sport’s long history, fully electric timing was used, which sped up the running of the 186-event program over the two days.
The Clerk of the Course, Lindsay Simmons, and his band of willing workers from the Downs Motor Sport Club, kept the event running smoothly.
The spectators were treated to a weekend of non-stop action; as one event finished, more cars were on the starting grid ready to go.
On the sprint side of things, NSW drivers were dominant. Lismore’s Tyrone Bauer in his Subaru WRX, competing in the All-Wheel Drive Class, recorded the fastest four-lap heat of the event, with 2 minutes 14.841 seconds.
Second was Coffs Harbour’s Peter Dight who finished the weekend in his Fubar Mark 36 with 2 minutes 15.073 seconds.
Last year’s reigning champion Caniaba’s Nick Contojohn in his Subaru WRX STI, was next, with 2 minutes 18.103 seconds.
Manly’s Vern Hamilton in his Elfin 623 was the fastest Queenslander, with 2 minutes 18.998 seconds. Gatton’s Will Vernon, in a Nissan Silvia S13, rounded out the top five with 2 minutes 25.163 seconds.
The Junior class, which caters for your drivers whose ages range from 14 to 16 years, was won by last year’s Junior Champion, Warwick’s Molli Devine in a Morris Mini, with 2 minutes 50.351 seconds.
Second was Tenterfield’s Todd Hayne driving a Hyundi XL who, in his last year as a junior, finished with 2 minutes 51.040 seconds.
A newcomer to the class, Evans Head’s Harry Everett in a Holden Gemini TE, filled third place with 2 minutes 55.334 seconds, and Tenterfield’s Sheridan Layt, a first timer in motor sport, competing in a Hyundi Excel, finished fourth with 3 minutes 03.882 seconds.
The Juniors B Class went to young Pampas competitor Daniel Kelly driving a Commodore, who finished with 2 minutes 47.466 seconds.
The short circuit touring car championship produced some action, which could only be described as great.
The Improved Production up to 2000cc produced some of the closest action ever seen at the raceway.
A battle raged throughout the event between Warwick’s Errol Stratford in a Ford Escort, Toowoomba’s young lady in the fast lane Amy Smith in a Datsun 1200 coupe, Toowoomba’s Allan Brennan in a Ford Escort, and Ballina’s Bill Heuchmer, last year’s series runner-up, in a Toyota.
It was to be Errol Stratford’s day of glory as he finished with 72 points from Allan Brennan on 54 points and Amy Smith with 51 points.
The Improved Production Over 2000cc was dominated by drivers from the Tamworth Sporting Car Club.
Bruce Worgan, in a Ford Falcon, dominated the class, winning both days to finish with 78 points, giving him an outright lead on the points ladder after the first round of the series.
David Rogers’ Ford Falcon took out second spot with 58 points, while Shane Moffatt in a BMW E36 picked up third with 44 points.
After Saturday, Lismore’s Adrian Moore looked like the man to beat after winning all three events and the first heat on Sunday, but it was not to be, as the Mazda RX7 engine failed and put him out of the event.
It was last year’s champion, Forest Hill’s Cec Morgan, who had mechanical trouble on Saturday, who really got firing on Sunday to win the class on 55 points from Elsmore’s Robert Poole who was very consistent throughout the event to finish with 51 points and equal second with Adrian Moore. Tamworth’s Allan Barnes in a Toyota Celica was next on 49 points.
The highlight of the weekend as the event came to a close on Sunday was down two teams to represent their respective States, Queensland and New South Wales.
The NSW team, the 2011 winners and holders of the Noel Simpson memorial sprint shield, Tyrone Bauer, Stephan Sauer, Peter Cowley, Stephen Roos, and Todd Hayne, claimed the honour of notching up a win in round one in front of an enthusiastic crowd of supporters with a total time of 191.124 seconds over the Queensland team of Stuart Borrows, Neil McLeod, John Peacock, Gary Ferguson and Daniel Kelly with a total time of 191.127 seconds.
It is interesting to see how evenly matched the two teams were, with only .003 seconds between the two teams.
The last round of the series will be held in Stanthorpe on October 27-28.
A list of the final results can be found on the Short Circuit Motor Sport Association’s website at www.scmsa.com.au