A two-day weekend at Nyora Raceway in South Gippsland concluded with major feature race results for the Dirt Modifieds, Sports Sedans and Standard Saloons being shared by drivers from the Mornington Peninsula to Melbourne’s Eastern Suburbs. Peninsula based racer Daryl Hickson won the V8 Dirt Modifieds, Pakenham’s Damien Miller the Sports Sedans and Wayne Sheerman from the Eastern Suburbs winning the Standard Saloons.
A big prize purse put together by supportive business partners of the V8 Dir Modifieds was shared amongst those that competed that included Daryl Hickson, Todd Hobson, Warrick Taylor, Matt Reddecliffe, Michael Ardley, Marcus Reddeclidde, Zeke Edwards, Tyler Scott and Adam Thomsen. Both Hickson and Taylor won two heat race qualifiers apiece whilst Edwards won the other. Hickson won the night one mini feature in front of Hobson, Ardley, Taylor and Marcus Reddecliffe whilst in the big second night feature event and after a terrific second versus third battle between Taylor who eventually succumbed to Hobson’s relentless outside pressure, Hickson claimed a massive victory with Hobson, Taylor, Ardley and Matt Reddecliffe rounding out the top five placings.
Standard Saloon competitors competed in the ‘Dougo 44’ event for Standard Saloons in honour of Stephen Douglas after his recent tragic lost to his wife Sandra, family, and the sport. Nine heat races were completed before the big feature event across forty-four laps, a number representing the number one car of the two car Douglas Motorsport team. Wins went to Andrew Miles from Pakenham, Wayne Sheerman, Mark Miles from Catani, Sara Benson a resident of Nyora, Brodie Ardley from West Gippsland, Sheerman a second time, Ardley once again, Jacob Vuillermin from Traralgon, and Mark Miles for a second victory.
For much of the feature race Brodie Ardley one of the young brigade of emerging Nyora champion drivers led the race with Wayne Sheerman one of Victoria’s absolute best chasing whilst trying to hold back at various stages of the race Mark Miles, Jacob Vuillermin and then Rhys Lansdown. Eventually in the second segment of the race, Sheerman passed Ardley to take the lead and finish with the first ever in the memorial event ahead of Ardley, Lansdown, Ally Morrison and Owen Cecil.
Sports Sedans also competed for a memorial event known as the ‘Woggy’ in honour of Robert Bickham whose nickname was Woggy. Drivers competed across two days of racing with Damien Miller, Daniel Knight, Seth, and Shona Bent being the standout competitors for the weekend. Miller won the first race of the weekend in qualifiers. Seth Bent, Miller again and Steven Loader won heats races before two night one mini features went the way of Bent and Knight to conclude night ones racing.
Backing up on day two, a final four heat races seen Seth swap the driver seat with his sister Shona and she went on to a heat race win along with, Jack Brennan, Troy Glassborow and Daniel Knight. A thirty five lap feature event then determined the memorial winner with Miller and Bent starting on the front row of the grid with Knight, Caleb Lincoln, Jack Brennan, and Loader the top six starters. In a race of attrition with flat tyres and mechanical issues plaguing many of the drivers including Shona Bent who got caught up in car on car contact during the race it would Miller who would go on to claim the big victory ahead of Knight, Brennan, Albert Fell and Peter Angus rounding out the top five.
Junior competitors also competed on both days of racing with Nathan Miles and Cruz Farrell both winners on the Saturday before Miles and Matilda Farrell won heat races Sunday leading into the feature event.
In a tight tussle and a close turn four tussle that resulted in contact between the Cruz Farrell and Miles contending for the win, Miles crossed the line first and was relegated one spot for impeding Farrell who claimed the victory. With his sister Matilda in third then Tristan Jarred from Nyora township and Maddy Capon in the Top Star classification. In the New Star classification, Brad Marshall was too good all weekend winning every race and finishing in front of Jaylen Knight and Zac Loader.
Unlimited Sedans competed on Saturday in a state series round with Travis Ramsdale and Sean Lister winning qualifying races before Lister went on to victory in the final in front of Anthony McKean, Ramsdale, Troy Gleeson and Brad Hutchison.
Wingless Sprints competed on the Saturday night also with four heat races determining the feature event starting positions. Winners were Peter Logue, Blaine Densley, Thomas McDonald, Ben Hodge during the heat races. Blaine Densley then went on to win the feature in front of Ben Hodge, Tommy McDonald and Kim Gosling and Adin Robertson. Densley stretched out a good lead early on and was set for a huge win before cautions brought the field back together at the back end of the race and McDonald finished less than a second behind.
Division 2 Hot Rod’s compete on Sunday and like the Juniors a tight battle climaxed in turn four contact between Bobby Devine and Troy Hutchison with Devine taking the lead and crossing the line only to receive a penalty for impeding Hutchison. Hutchison from Latrobe Valley took the victory from Devine, Ben Crittenden, and Allen Sell with no other finishers.
Nyora Raceway would like to thank Russell Steel, ML Automotive and Mornington Motors for paying for the Dirt Modifieds feature event.
Nyora returns to action on May the 6th for the Victorian Speedway Council Junior Standard Saloon title, Sprintcars, and club classes.
Nyora would like to thank this season’s business partners;
B & B Retainer Walls
Burson Autoparts
Cecil Cartage
Earthlink Electrical
EZ Print
Highline Racewear
IDIGIT
John Duff & Co – Shell
Magnet Towing
Membrey’s Transport
Miles Mechanical
ML Automotive
Mornington Motors
Napier Photography
Ramsdale Wreckers
Redde Race Parts
Rip It Up Earthworks
Ripper Sticker
Russell Steel
Shannon’s Insurance
Victory Lane Racegear
Ends Release.
Media written by Speedcafe contributor DMT Sports Media – Dean Thompson
