In what can only be described as a mixed night of racing due to wet weather Q55 Les Nelson reigned supreme to take out the 2012 QLD Title. With current A1 Graeme Porter making the trip from Victoria and the ever quick Brett Sainsbury (N71) and Current Victorian Title holder making the trip from Sydney it promised to be a very exciting night of racing.
With a nomination list totaling 14 it was decided to split the filed in half and run 7 in each heat. With only two split heats having been completed the rain set in, the heat winners to this point where Les Nelson, Mark Van Giersbergen, Tony Norton & Brett Sainsbury. Due to the wet weather it was decided to cut the program short and go straight into the feature, on a count back Mark Van Giersbergen started from pole with Adrian Farrell on outside pole. The race started at a frantic pace only to have the top wing on Mark Van Giersbergen’s car come loose and force him into the fence on turn 4, this resulted in a complete restart of the race.
Les Nelson quickly moved into the front with Tim Napper, Cody Maroske in close pursuit, further back Tony Norton, Greg Paynter, Adrian Farrell and Steve McCullough were having their own battles. Tony Norton in a poor handling car ended up backing into the fence on turn 3 as a result of throwing a chain on lap 11. This resulted in a single file restart. What followed then was some wheel to wheel action between Nelson, Napper and Maroske. Napper tried everything to look for a way around Nelson, but Nelson being just that bit quicker and with a wise head on his shoulders kept his cool to take a well deserved QLD Title. Final Top 5 were 1st Les Nelson, 2nd Tim Napper, 3RD Cody Maroske, 4th Adrian Farrell and 5th Greg Paynter.
Nelson thanked his pit crew, the Van Giersbergen Family for all their help and support on the night. Congratulations to all the competitors on the night for providing some great racing, focus now moves to the Australian Title in March at Nowra. Thanks also to the officials at Charlton for getting the track back after the rain, it was a great effort on their part. |
Well race fans and Microsprint junkies the race season proper is about to blast off for season 2011/2012.
With the Qld club having sprouted new drivers, new cars and new war paint during the winter months all hell is about to break loose this weekend at Gatton Speedway for round one of the 2011/12 Qld club championship.
The driver nomination list includes three rookies with Q77 Allan Swilks, Q52 Matt Munro and Q12 Ben “Poo Bear” Anderson all making their Microsprint début and the return off former front runner Adrian Farrell back to the ranks only bolsters the battle for top dog supremacy.
Throw in some much wiser drivers from last season having learnt what a Microsprint is all about chomping at the bit to show they too are now ready to step up and challenge for the victors bragging rights come race night including self proclaimed leaner and meaner yet still hungry Q97 Troy Ellis who can turn a wheel as he takes the challenge to the front guys.
If paint schemes are anything to go by its going to be a fierce battle between Q98 Tony Norton’s Jason Myers inspired colour scheme(see QLD Gallery pics) Q2 Steve “Macca” McCullough, the El Toro boys and throw in a few other paint schemes yet to be shown the battle will be fierce.
There is going to be plenty of action with the first round already at fourteen cars nominated and growing. The excitement will only continue in coming rounds as some of the big guns come out to play which will result in very large car counts easily topping eighteen at most rounds.
In this no holds bar match up guys will have to expect some gloss to be rub of their shiny race cars as we get down to business to work out who will be crown the 2011/12 Qld club champion come seasons end in some nine months time.
So get yourself and family track side to witness some great racing, tight tussles for supremacy and bragging rights and that crown of overall 20011/12 Qld club champion.
“Boogatie Boogatie boy’s lets go racin” |
