The Modified Sedans brought their show into town on Saturday night and it was twice former national champion Andrew Blackwell who would win a close fought battle in the final against Mildura’s Martin Hawson when the chequered flags dropped, in local action wins went the way of the returning Michael Wicks in Open Sedans, class champion Chloe Lamb in the Ladies Saloons, Mark Cecil in Production Sedans and Todd Atkins in the Junior Sedans.
Modified Sedan’s ran nine qualifying races before working through a pole shuffle and the feature event with Blackwell winning two of his three qualifiers whilst the other seven race wins were shared by Dale Hallett, Brock Atkins, Russell Felsovary, Daniel Simpson, Graham West from Bendigo, Matt Nelson and Russell Bent.
Three of the heat races were sensationally close at the chequered flag with three cars less than a second apart at the line and Kye Walters set the fast lap time of 17.829 during the heat racing.
A thirty-lap final for the field began with Blackwell asserting dominance at the front whilst Felsovary dropped from the front row and out of the race as his father in law Bent took over second place.
Hawson took over second spot on lap five as Bent slid down the queue and Nick Cockerill moved into third on lap six.
Late in the race Atkins passed Cockerill however, at the front it was still Blackwell in the lead. Blackwell won from Hawson who kept the pressure on right to the end with Hawson, Atkins, Cockerill and Walters completing the top five placings.
In GV Open Sedan action, Michael Wicks made a return to the track with his modified Hyundai and he moved through two heat wins before Darren Hodge won the third with Wicks not in the hunt back in the field. A quick ten-lap final with half a dozen competitors sealed the night for Wicks as he defeated Garry Gapes by over 15 seconds with a one lap best time of 18.813 seconds to the winner. Darren Hodge, Mark Bergmann and Wes Cadmore rounded out the top five.
Three different winners shared the qualifying result wins in the Ladies Saloons with Chelsea Hodge, Chloe Lamb and Kelly Lamb all winning one race each. Chloe Lamb driving the Open Sedan her father normally drives then won the final from Cassie Wicks, Kelly Lamb, Hodge and Nicole Gapes. The action in the final was terrific in the middle stages as Kelly Lamb was passed by and repassed Chloe Lamb for the lead before the latter regained the race lead again and went on to win.
Todd Atkins joined the local racers in the Junior Sedan field to do battle with its champion Lachie Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick book ended the three heat results with Atkins taking the middle heat win and a fast one lap time of 18.589. Atkins then won the final from Fitzpatrick, Luke Cecil, Josh Cecil and Braiden Claridge.
Production Sedan racing had six qualifying races with Troy Britton, Mark Cecil, Leigh Jeffery, Geoff Lee and Mark Cecil again and Ian Wilson won.
Cecil then went to win the final from Jeffery, Wilson, Lee and Bevan Hutchins. Cecil lead every lap of the twelve lap final with Wilson in second until lap seven when Jeffery took over and Wilson got trapped in a battle for third with Lee. Both Wilson and Lee traded places on a couple of occasions before Wilson secured the last spot on the podium.
The Goulburn Valley Auto Club would like to thank the following supporters:
Super Balance Automotive –Shepparton
WG Panels – Rochester
Kyabram Motor Wreckers – Kyabram
The Rushworth Hotel – Rushworth
Kyabram Bearings – Kyabram
Autobarn Shepparton
Marty Turpin Mechanical – Tatura
Ipta Fibreglass – Geelong
Ross Adams Cartage Contractor – Rochester
Rushworth Bakery – Rushworth
Maxam Printing – Shepparton
Pearce Concrete – Golden Square
Superior Concrete & Construction – Bendigo
A1 Water Supplies – Tatura
McKellars Freight Services – Bendigo
Grime 2 Shine Auto Detailing – Bendigo
Bendigo Specialists Brake & Clutch
