Milestone Top of the South Speedway opened its season with the Trackman Trophy titles held for all classes.
The forecasted rain stayed away, with the track in top condition for a busy night’s racing. A fleet of new cars, drivers and paint jobs on display in the grand parade before racing got underway on Saturday.
The Youth Ministocks were first up for the season opener. It was a close battle between two of the club frontrunners - Eli Gare and Locky Martin - who set the scene for season.
Eli took the first checkered flag of the season. The number of drivers needed a 4-race format to fit them in. Other race wins went to Kade Taylor, Darcy Rasmussen (who was also competing in the Quarter midgets) and Cort Higgins, who picked up his debut race win.
Eli took the win by a point from Kade Taylor with Kody Hogarth a further point back.
The visitors dominated a competitive field of Production saloons. David Allen taking the opening heat before Brett Allen won the second, Shaun Heath holding off David in the third heat, Brett pipping Heath for 2nd place with a faster lap time, and David claiming the trophy by 4 points.
Quarter Midgets started their season with a 3-way battle between Bailey Bensemann, Darcy Rasmussen and Lakyn Thompson. Wins to Bailey in heat one, Darcy in heat 2, but unfortunately a roll ended Darcy’s night in both grades.
The feature race was dominated by Lakyn, with Leila Harper 2nd and Braye Thompson picking up 3rd place.
The Stock cars started the season in fine form, the bumpers in action from the drop of the flag, and the infield littered with broken cars after a hectic opening race.
Roydon Winstanley kept a close eye on his mirrors in the final heat to claim the trophy from Toby Walker, who was 2nd, and Jack Rarity 3rd. Heat wins went to Roydon, Jack and Adam Hall.
The T.Q.’s produced an epic final race, with Kohen Thompson overcoming a DNF in heat 2, starting on grid 5 in the feature to chase down the flying Jayden Corkill in the last few laps.
Kynan Bezett claimed 3rd place in the feature, the track providing plenty of challenges in the final race of the night.
The Streetstocks were nice and straight before the opening race, but by the end of the night there weren’t too many undamaged panels left.
A late spin by Shane Chapman in chasing the win gave Perry Soper enough points to take the trophy, Harry Moffat-Schwass finishing in 3rd, with Shane 2nd.
All eyes were on the Super Stock grade, the new 3nz of Shane Harwood clearing out to take the heat one win. Brett Nicholls pounced on a couple of errors from Shane to take out heat 2.
Tied on points and both off the back, it was Nicholls who made his way up the field to take the lead and win the Trackman trophy. Shane held on to 2nd by a point from Alex Hill in his new Higgins car.
The John Pomeroy Trophy was awarded to the most outstanding club driver on the night, Youth Ministock driver Eli Gare was this year’s winner, claiming the trophy named in honor of his great grandfather, it was an emotional speech as he thanked his family and crew.
