Motorsport enthusiasts were treated to another terrific night of racing at Bairnsdale Speedway on Saturday night (22nd Feb), when the visiting Junior Sedan Promotion Association supported by Evans Petroleum trekked into town, supported by local competitors in Limited Sportsman, Division 2 Hot Rods, Open Standard Saloons and Junior Standard Saloons.
James Peacock from the Avalon club in Geelong and Noah Basten from the Daylesford Speedway club claimed victories in the JSPA competition whilst Darren Adams, Ben Crittenden from Lakes Entrance, Josh Kokshoorn, and Nathan Miles all won their classes.
In the Junior Sedan Promotion Association Top Stars subcategory, Peacock, Steane Cosson, and Cruz Carlin all won heat races during the qualifying for their feature race. Cosson for lap one, then Brad Marshall for the next few laps before Peacock on lap six took control, were all race leaders. Once Peacock hit the front he was never passed from that point although he was challenged with Marshall trying to wrest back the lead before Carlin and then finally Will Fallon had runs in second place. As the race concluded Peacock had beaten Fallon, Carlin, Marshall, and Cosson.
Subcategory competition in the New Stars JSPA seen Jackson Heaphy win two of the three qualifiers before Hudson Moorfoot won the third. Noah Basten moved to the lead I the feature race quickly and set about establishing a significant lead ahead of Moorfoot and Heaphy. Basten was never headed and went on to claim victory from Moorfoot, Heaphy, Darcy Dannatt and Bairnsdale 10-year-old Jayden Curtis.
In Division 2 Hot Rods, Troy Wilson, Ben Crittenden, Aaron Laidlaw, and Fraser Crittenden all claimed qualifying race victories in a night of spills, thrills, and disqualifications. Trent Wilson and Troy Wilson (no relations) both were deemed causes of race incidents and excluded from a race result by the Steward with Troy Wilson copping his exclusion during the final after leading most of the race before Ben Crittenden hit the front and a last lap attempt to pass back into the lead all went wrong. Crittenden was awarded the win at the final stoppage, Laidlaw locked in a second-place result with Trent Wilson third, followed by Andrew Cormack and Mark Sweet.
In Open Standard Saloon competition last race meetings victor Jake Vuillermin started with a win before Jamie Curtis from Bairnsdale picked up the second. They were followed by wins to Kokshoorn, Vuillermin a second time, Gus Argoon from Bairnsdale and Mitch Foster to round out sick qualifying races. Kokshoorn then led every lap in the final to go on to claim his first senior career victory since his return to racing long after his Junior Sedan memories. Vuillermin and Jack Yeomans swapped positions in second a couple of times before Vuillermin locked in the spot to claim second from Yeomans with the duo followed to the line by Foster and Curtis.
Limited Sportsman action seen Matt Hurley, then Mal Siely and Darren Adams lock in qualifying race wins before Adams and Siely resumed their feature race battles for victory once again. Adams was challenged consistently by Siely who was faster down the front straight whilst Adams was quicker out of turn two and down the back straight of the Speedway. Adams went on to lead every lap in the final to defeat Siely, Matt Hurley, Mark Both and Sean Axnick.
Nathan Miles won all three qualifying races in the Junior Standard Saloons before going on to win the final. Miles in the qualifying was close to breaking an eight-lap record and one lap record of Damon Ingram, however despite missing out on those went on to win from Tannah Lee, Charlie Perkins and Grace Evans.
Bairnsdale Speedway will return on March the 22nd with a fifty lap Sports Sedan feature event scheduled, along with support from Division 2 Hot Rods, Open Standard Saloons and Junior Standard Saloons.
Bairnsdale Speedway Association would like to thank their Business Partners for their support.
A1 Building Designs
Active Sound Services
ARB Bairnsdale
Assist A Lift
Aussie Septic Solutions
Bairnsdale Autobarn
Bairnsdale Automotive and Transmissions
Bairnsdale Bearings and Industrial
Bairnsdale Radiator
Bairnsdale RSL
Bridgestone Service Centre Bairnsdale
Buchan Towing
Club Eastwood
Cranes Civil and Surfacing
Dahlsens
Dennison Quality Roof Restorations
Eastern Signs and Designs
East Gippsland Lock and Keys
East Gippsland Plumbing and Drainage
East Gippsland Shire Council
East Vic Hydraulics
EG Printers
Eureka Garages and Sheds
Eye Care Plus
EZ Print
Gippsland Critical Mines
Gippsland Grain Store
Gippsland Treated Pine
Gippsland Truck Centre
Goodman’s
Granite Rock Quarries
Great Southern Kitchens
Kennedy Trailers
Lake Land Ice
Lakes Hydraulics
Lakes Tile and Carpet
M & S Laity Hay
Mitchell Valley Excavations
Paint Right Bairnsdale
Patties Food
Phaselink Electrics
Repco Bairnsdale
Riviera Automotive
Riviera Concrete
Riviera Trailers
Skidz Driver Training
SS Auto Wholesalers
SSM Asbestos
Tambo Waste
Tim Bull MP
Todd Plumbing Supplies
TRFM and GOLD 1242
Wayne Tinder Plumbing and Gas Supplies
Westpoint Motors
WGI Earthmoving and Heavy Haulage
Written by
Dean Thompson
DMT Speedway Media
For Bairnsdale Speedway Association