The Short Circuit Motor Sport Association really came of age last weekend when they conducted the biggest weekend of motor racing ever conducted at Stanthorpe’s Carnell Raceway the Stanthorpe RSL sponsored QLD – NSW Sprint Challenge.
A record 140 entries included open wheel racing cars, sports cars, sports sedan and production cars produced some top action packed racing both in the sprints and the short circuit events.
The willing band of officials kept the one hundred and eight event program running smoothly throughout the weekend as one event finished more cars were on the grid ready to go in the next event.
The short circuit racing in the three classes was packed with action with some door handle to door handle racing which lead to some of the vehicles swapping paint. The class for Improved Production under 2000cc was won by a young lady in the fast lane Toowoomba’s Amy Smith in a Datsun Coupe who won seven of the eight events which were contested to finish the day 95 points. Ballina’s Bill Heuchmer took out second spot with 74 points, while Toowoomba’s Allan Brennan’s Escort took out third with 57 points.
Improved Production over 2000cc was won by the flying Tamworth driver Bruce Worgan in a Holden Commodore Worgan who won six races out of eight events finished with 96 points to take the class.
Second in class was Tamworth’s David Rogers in a Ford Falcon. Rogers was very consistent throughout the event to finish with 64 points. Toowoomba hard driving Warren Gersekowski in a Holden Commodore picked up third spot with 58 points.
The Sport Sedan racing could only be described as great. Tamworth’s Allan Barnes in a V/8 powered Toyota Celica and Toowoomba’s Bob Power in a Holden Commodore staged a running battle throughout the weekend. Barnes came out on top with 90 points to win the class. Power finished second with 73 points while the reigning champion Forest Hill’s Cec Morgan in a Ford Escort picked up third place with 59 points.
The sprints which were run over four laps with each car being individually timed attracted some top cars and drivers in the state.
The fastest heat of the event was Brisbane’s David Cross in a Bowin / Hay P6 Historic Racing Car with a time of 2 minutes 16.3 seconds. Yandina Creek’s Bruce Chamberlain in a Westfield XTR2 Sports Car ran 2 minutes 23.897 seconds. Brisbane’s Dan McCarthy recorded in an Elfin 622 Historic Racing Car 2 minutes 24.248 seconds. Runnaway Bay’s Peter Corbet in a BMW M3 did a time of 2 minutes 24.361 seconds. Toowoomba’s Chris Evans in a Datsun 1200 coupe rounded of the top five with a time of 2 minutes 25.256 seconds.
Stanthorpe drivers did well in the series. Doug Chippendale who was the reigning series class champion put in a top performance to win the class for the Pre 1974 Classic Touring Carss 1600cc to 2000cc in his immaculate Ford Escort with a time of 2 minutes 36.178 seconds. Stanthorpe’s open wheeler expert John Eldridge finished with 2 minutes 26.835 seconds in his well-presented RB Corolla F3 against some stiff opposition.
The team racing was full on from the word go, but it was the Queensland team of Chris Knight, Molli Devine, Trent Tuesley, Glenn Evans’ day of glory with a combined time of 158.497 seconds to win from the New South Wales team of Ken Moffett, Beau Hatton, Harry Everett, Luke Montgomery with a total time of 158.798 seconds. Queensland win equals the score, so on a count back the Noel Simpson Memorial Shield will be returned to Queensland for the 2012 win.
Competitors were thrilled at the trophy presentation when the Australian International Indy Car star Will Power was there to present the trophies. He remembered the days when he raced as a Junior at Carnell Raceway some years ago, and he complemented the Short Circuit Motor Sport Association on still conducting great events.
Lisa Hooper joins CLO
CLO Lawyers proudly announces the addition of Lisa Hooper as Special Counsel in their Toowoomba office.
With more than 20 years of experience practising...
