Wahgunyah Speedway held three ‘Blue Ribbon’ events on Saturday the 22nd of April when they hosted the Australian Grand Prix Midget title, the Victorian Goulburn Ovens Sedan Association title and the Bob Bailey Production Sedan Memorial and Corowa drivers won two of the three big events with Trevor Perry the new Australian Grand Prix Midget Champion and Corowa drivers Clint Henderson the Victorian Goulburn Ovens Sedan Champion and Trevor Mills the Bob Bailey Memorial winner.
In the Grand Prix Midgets drivers came in from Melbourne, Geelong, Goulburn in New South Wales and around the Goulburn Valley and it would be a Melbourne based racer with strong links to the Goulburn Valley area through family who would take the win after being the pre-event favourite.
Competitors raced three qualifying events each with Jason Crawford, Perry, Travis Florimell and Trevor Perry’s brother and defending Australian Champion Paul Perry, then Trevor Perry and Florimell again taking out the six wins.
A massive twenty lap final with competitors clocked on Police Radar doing 145 to 150 kmph just as they buttoned off to make a full speed 80 metre sideways slide as they entered turn three. Perry got to the front a couple laps into the race and from there it was a game of catch me if you can for the others. Perry won from Florimell, Crawford, Paul Perry and Lisa Chalcraft.
In the Goulburn Ovens Sedan Association Victorian title sanctioned by the Victorian Speedway Council, Henderson won his first ever Victorian title again after six qualifying heat races to determine the title race starting positions.
Daniel McCarten blew the field away in the first heat of the night as he won after starting from last, he was soon to blow up his engine in the next round and his challenge was done. Ross Maclean won the second qualifier, Henderson, David Walton, Henderson and Maclean again were the heat race winners.
The title defence for Maclean was tough going in the final as he and Henderson did battle, only for a flat rear left tyre to curtail his determination to win. Henderson took the victory from Daniel Creek, James Powell, Brendan Brewer and Stuart Balins.
In Production Sedan racing the Bob Bailey Memorial honouring a former club President was won for the first time by racing mate Trevor Mills. Mills who this year won the Australian title after twenty five years of trying, only had to wait four years to win the ‘Bob’ as it is affectionately known after his son Jake won it the last two seasons.
Mills then Leeton driver Danny Harrison won the first round heats before Harrison won gain and Stephen Laidlaw took a win. Mills and Harrison won the third round qualifiers and Harrison claimed the prized pole position start for the twenty lap Memorial.
Mills and Laidlaw quickly got passed Harrison at the drop of the green flag. Whilst the first two asserted themselves quickly Harrison was most definitely quickest of the rest. Rodney Anderson challenged him for a little while before breaking down and Mills and Laidlaw thrilled at the front as Laidlaw looked for a way up the inside of Mills to make a pass.
Mills took the win from Laidlaw, Harrison, Wayne Bourke and Jason Boardman to round out the top five.
In support class racing the Standard Saloons, Sports Sedans and Junior Sedans were racing for Track Championship and club championship points.
Craig Cottier took a secure lead on the track championship points when he won the Sports Sedan final from Liam Powell, Tommy McDonald, Paul Allen and Fleur Heiner. In Junior Sedans Toby Carmichael won the final however in heat racing did not have things all his way after Ashleeh Bunt won two of the three heats. Bunt finished second to Carmichael in the final with Jake Cottier in third.
In Standard Saloon racing Warrick Howie the Victorian Champion drove his backup car to victory after his biggest challenger Scott Whittle decided not to risk his engine after losing oil pressure. Daryl Joosten finished second to Howie with Trevor Kuhne, Chris Fitzgerald and Micheal Fleming-Robertson rounding out the top five.
Next month, Wahgunyah Speedway will host the Howie Memorial for Standard Saloons and the New South Wales Modified Sedan title. Another great meeting not to be missed.
Written by
Dean Thompson
DMT Sports Media
For Corowa – Rutherglen Speedway Club t/as Wahgunyah Speedway
