The New South Wales Grand Prix Midgets headed to Nowra Speedway on Saturday the 18th of March for round five of the Gulf Western Oil Super Series, round five. It was a emotionally great day for the drivers because due to Covid, then Bushfires and severe flooding Nowra Speedway has been unable to operate and after many years of supporting the Grand Prix Midgets, the competitors were as pleased to be there as much as the club was happy to have them.
Anthony Lea, Gary Bowyer, Scott Moir returning to competition in the class, Riley Bowyer and Adam Buckley all competed.
Interestingly, Scott Moir who the club records show has been a ten times Super Series point score champion, plus seven times sportsperson of the year, four times NSW Grand Prix Midget champion and the 20066 Australian Grand Prix Midget champion, drove two cars on race day, he drove the # 25 NSW GP Midget Club car along with his own Lightning Sprint.
The Grand Prix Midgets were part of a huge line-up of classes with great weather taking care of everybody on a fantastic race track prepared by the local volunteers.
Trying something new in heat race number one, the club let Anthony Lea who was in the oldest car start out front of the field alone by himself to give him a competitive advantage that may see him in the mix with the more modern cars as the race went on. Moir (NSW 25 – Paul Perry Chassis – Suzuki GSXR 1100), Riley Bowyer, Buckley and Gary Bowyer started behind him.
The strategy sure worked in Lea’s favour as he took off at the drop of the green flag and was never headed as he caught the chequered flag. Behind Lea, Buckley made a great start moving into second spot in the first corner, followed by Riley Bowyer, Gary Bowyer and Moir. Everybody held position for the full eight laps going green to chequer in a tight pack.
Some laughter back in the pits amongst the competitors and supporters and a bit of banter between the drivers made light of the situation of Anthony Lea taking the front row advantage and running away with the victory.
Scott ‘Chippy’ Moir had some issues with his own Lightning Sprint to deal with where he is chasing points in the classes NSW Country Series, as a result he missed the second and third heats race for the GP Midgets.
Gary Bowyer and Buckley started ahead of Riley Bowyer and Anthony Lea (NSW 3 – Independent Chassis – Yamaha R1). Given Lea’s pace in the first heat, he slotted back into the field for the remaining races of the night. When the green flag sent the field on its way Adam ‘Grumpy’ Buckley got the jump on Gary Bowyer whose wheels spun in the wetter part of the track on the pole line. Buckley took the lead into turn one on lap one with Lea slotting in behind Gary Bowyer and Riley close in fourth spot.
For the second race in a row the heat race went from green flag to chequered flag and whilst Gary Bowyer did his best to chase down Buckley with the two drivers racing close and hard to the finish, Buckley took the victory by a car length with Gary Bowyer followed by Lea and Riley Bowyer who had their own terrific race long battle.
The final qualifying race began with Riley Bowyer (NSW 50 – WAR Chassis – Suzuki GSXR 1000) and Lea from the front row with Gary Bowyer and Buckley behind them. Bowyer Junior (Riley) got a great start and created himself a clear distance back to second place. He went on to take the win ahead of Lea who held of Bowyer Senior who challenged right to the end with just a half a car length between the two whilst in fourth Buckley watched all the fun ahead of him. Once again the drivers went the eight-lap distance without a stoppage.
Moir returned to the field for the feature race where highest point scorers moved to the rear of the field with Moir electing to start at the rear of the field as he was not in contention for the club points. Gary Bowyer and Riley Bowyer started on the front row with Lea and Buckley (NSW 67 – WAR Chassis – Kawasaki ZX12 1200) and then Moir making up the starting line-up. Buckley was the top point scorer during qualifying putting him out of the fourth spot start.
The green flag unfurled to send the drivers away on fifteen laps in the final with Gary ‘The Rockstar’ Bowyer (NSW 5 – WAR Chassis – Yamaha R1) spending little time in the pack planting his right foot on the accelerator and leading through turn one with Bowyer Junior behind him. Buckley moved in front of Anthony ‘Bubba’ Lea with Moir bringing up the rear of the field.
Everybody held their positions until lap ten when Bowyer Junior went high in the marbles in turn two allowing enough space for Buckley to move down inside of the #50 car to take second spot. Bowyer Senior, Buckley, Bowyer Junior, Lea and Moir held position all the way to the finish with all cars racing at 100% for fifteen laps that again went green flag to chequered flag making it the first time in a very long time that every event the class competed in during one race night did not have any caution stoppages.
The New South Wales Grand Prix Midgets would like to acknowledge Gary Black and mark Delohery for their support in the pits and communicating on behalf of the club with track management and organising the club barbeque. Another thank you the club’s major sponsor Gulf Western Oil and our loyal supporters Arjan Motors, White Ant Racing and Beesafe Travel.
The club would also like to acknowledge Nowra Speedway for a brilliant nights racing with everybody in the NSW GP’s enjoying the evening and the large crowd in attendance. The Crowd were treated to fantastic racing from every class.
The club is also pleased with receiving some feedback and despite only hitting the track with five cars, people noted we put on great and fast racing with lots of comments especially in the pits around how well we went.
The New South Wales Grand Prix Midget Racing Association thank their season sponsors;
Gulf Western Oil
Arjan Motors
White Ant Racing
Beesafe Travel
AOK Trophies
Full Throttle Publishing
Ends Release.
Media written by Dean Thompson
