White Family racing
Brisbane International Speedway – USA Night 1 - 30 December 2009
In a field that was comprised of some of the best drivers in Queensland and a couple of American stars, Steve started the night really well, time trialling in the second group of hot laps and recording a 12.523 second lap. His solid time was enough to see him qualify seventh overall, with team-mate Tim Garrett also doing well to sit in fifteenth place at the conclusion of the time trials session.
In each of their heats both Steve and Tim acquitted themselves exceptionally well.
Steve started his first heat from position four and quickly slipped into third position, but was back to fourth when American Brent Kaeding worked his way past on the opening lap. Steve chased Kaeding, searching for a way past, while Kaeding tried to find a way past Des Collier. With three laps barely on the board Kaeding pulled infield (with engine trouble), leaving Steve to chase after and battle it out with Des Collier, while Allan Woods challenged Steve from behind. Woods had a look up the inside of Steve in turns one and two, before Steve was able to run away a little and get a couple of car lengths advantage. Steve eventually caught Des Collier, and, with only a couple of laps left to run, slipped straight past Collier in turn two, to officially finish second.
In his second heat Steve started out of position three alongside Peter Thorley and with American Brent Kaeding right on his tail. Steve got a good start and sat in third for the first corner and a half, until Peter Thorley relegated Steve to fourth, and left him to try to hold off the advances of Brent Kaeding. Thorley was looking for a way past Matthew Butler, while Steve was looking for a way past both Thorley and Butler, and Kaeding was trying to go around the outside of them all. Kaeding had a mistake in turn four and dropped back a couple of car lengths, giving Steven a fraction of breathing room. Next lap around though Steve slipped straight past Butler in turn four, in a magnificently timed pass on the low line, and opened a small but comfortable margin over Butler by the end of the straight. He set out after Peter Thorley, closed the gap to a car length or two and was searching for a way past when the chequered flag flew. Steve was third.
Tim started from the front row in both his heats, took the win in the first and finished second in his next heat despite getting the jump on the start and leading for most of the race. American racer Jesse Hockett proved too powerful in the closing stages of the race, and took over the race lead, relegating Tim to second.
Steve was fifth highest points scorer of the evening heading into the Dash event. In the Pre-Dash draw Steve got a little lucky and pulled four, starting the Dash event, from the outside of the second row, with American Jesse Hockett out of three. Steve raced wheel-to-wheel two abreast with Hockett for the first three quarters of the opening lap, before Hockett got the advantage and Steve settled into fourth. He bounced through some rather large ruts in turns one and two, but managed to keep it all together to finish fourth, and start the A-Main alongside Hockett once again.
Steve started the A-Main from position four, with Tim doing a brilliant job to qualify 10th! We were very happy with that – we wanted to take home two straight cars – but both Steve and Tim had other ideas, and were determined to bring home some impressive results as well.
When the A-Main got under way Steve settled into fourth, with Brent Kaeding right on his tail, but hit a rut in turn two and bounced to the highline, letting Kaeding slip past on the low line. Steve recovered, and only lost two positions (one to Kaeding and one to Peter Thorley). Steve, now running in sixth, set about trying to get back past Thorley, and opened a sizable lead over seventh place. Thorley slipped past David Muir, while Steve bided his time, waiting for his opportunity to do the same. Muir ran wide in turn four, trying to take Thorley on the outside, while Steve tried to get past them both down low. Thorley managed to stay in front, with Steve slipping past Muir on the exit of the turn and set out after Thorley. A few yellow light stoppages later and Steve was up to position five, with Tim in seventh. Before long Kaeding lost his front end and brought out the yellows once more, elevating Steve to fourth. Now right on the tail of Thorley, and so close to a podium finish he could almost taste it, with five laps to go, it got interesting. Thorley, in third, got a little crossed up in turn two, and while Steve tried his best to avoid contact, he clipped the rear end of Thorley’s car, damaging the front wing and front nerf bar. Steve was lucky not to roll, and in a show of horsepower, wheel-standed out of turn two. Steve was up to third, but now had American Bud Kaeding on his tail. Steve did a magnificent job to hold on to his first podium finish of the season, while Tim finished fifth – a career best for him - making it a wonderful finish to the night for the White Family / Brisbane Foundry Racing team.
Ausdeck Racing
Penrite Oil is a proud sponsor of Ausdeck Racing.
Top Ten Finish at PWWSS round 10
Ausdeck Racing secured another top ten finish in last night's round 10 of Performance Wholesale World Series Sprintcars with Scheuerle narrowly transferring into the A Main and starting 18th. Scheuerle received the Hard Charger award after moving through the field to finish in tenth place. The team is struggling with time trials this year which is critical due to the points system currently in place for World Series.
"The time trial points are so large that if you get a bad time trial and start off the front row of your heats, you may win both your heats and still start mid field in the B Main. It's frustrating for us a little because we are good enough to run with the top guys when we're racing and the car is spot on at the moment but we're just behind before we even start due to time trialling." Scheuerle said.
The Team are looking forward to this weekend's racing at Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway where Scheuerle will be hoping to transfer straight into the A Main so the emphasis is on getting a good time trial. In the meantime, the crew have been trialling different setups and Scheuerle has been working on consistently putting in good laps so when their time comes, they will be ready.
Ausdeck Racing will be at TPCR Friday 15th Jan and Saturday 16th Jan and then the following week in Victoria for World Series and The Classic.
www.ausdeckracing.com.au for the latest news!
Greene Machine Racing Team
Nitro Funny Car Challenge at the Kwinana Motorplex on 26th December, 2009
After a strong burnout, on the first pass the car went up in tyre-smoke and a bit of shake and did a 9.49 as he had to get off it almost immediately.
The second pass was better, but again he was having vision problems and recorded a 7.17, but the last pass was much better with a 6.287 at 195.65mph (314.86kph). But again vision problems marred the run with his glasses
fogging up and he actually couldn't see at all! The run was looking beautiful and straight, the motor was strong but you have to be able to see!
All in all it was a great result and this was Fergie's debut at drag racing. It was also a debut for a few of our new Pit Crew members who did an absolutely awesome job to turn the car around in the allocated time. We were proud of all of them - Fergie and the team.
Well done to all.
Dowsett Racing Team
Penrite are proud Sponsors of Laurie Dowsett from the Albany Speedway Club WA.
Laurie is now 20 years old and has been racing since he was 12. He started off in Juniors racing a Datsun 120y. The highlights of his junior racing career were winning the junior south west championships at Albany and winning the clubs Best and Fairest award two years in a row. When he was 17 and became too old for juniors he raced in the Production Sedan Division. This is when Penrite became a sponsor. He raced a VL Commodore with a 202 engine in it. Laurie placed 3rd for the season in his first year. He also was awarded “Rookie of the Year” for his first season. After two years in Production Sedans Laurie decided he would like a challenge and moved up to a higher division, the Modified Sedans. This meant converting his existing VL Commodore from a Production to a Modified. In the off season he spent many hours modifying his car . This involved building a new engine, gearbox and heavily modifying the suspension. The car now has a Nissan RB30e engine. This is his first season in Modified Sedans and he is quite happy with the results. His car has been most competitive and has produced the results he expected. He has travelled to Narrogin, Margaret River, and Mt Barker. Of course he has raced on his home track of Albany as well. On the New Year weekend, it was the State Title in Albany, which he entered. The first nights racing went well, and also the first heat on the second night. But in the final, the gearbox stripped second gear so that was the end of the night. In the coming months he will travel to Bunbury, Esperance and Kalgoorlie and also continue to race at Albany speedway. He is also hoping to have his new car built for the 2010/1011 season to be back faster and harder!
Laurie thanks Penrite very much for their continued support of his Racing career.
Humpy Racing
Penrite Oil proudly sponsor Humpy racing and provide them with the lubricants they need to assist them in the 2009/2010 race season.
Strong season finish at Nostalgia Nationals
The 08/09 Nostalgia Drag Racing season closed with the Nostalgia Nationals held at Willowbank on August 15-16th. The Humpy Racing Holden FX driven by Rob Brown, an active participant in the Nostalgia Drag Racing series since its inception, was one of fifty cars entered in the Gas bracket.
In spite of not having been on track since the Tin Tops the Team were able to capitalise on the good track conditions during Saturday qualifying, running a 9.32. This time was backed up in session two with a 9.34 at 144mph. By the time the third qualifying session was held the sun had set and the track had cooled significantly, which did not suit the Humpy Racing FX setup as well as the earlier conditions, and the car ran a 9.47.
After a successful day of qualifying the Team couldn’t wait for racing to begin early on Sunday morning. Gas were up first and the Humpy Racing FX was one of the earliest cars in the lane. The track was still a little cool, which again effected the ET, but the Team were able to take the win with a 9.43 on a 9.29 dial in.
The second round did not go quite as smoothly as the first; the Humpy Racing Team had issues firing up the car in the staging lanes. However they were able to get the FX started and anxiously lined it up to stage, though the run was far from smooth with a red light and an ET of 9.50.
The Humpy Racing Team took the front off the FX in the pits and looked for the cause of the problem, which appeared to be the same distributor cap issue which had ended their run at the Tin Tops.With Gas run on a Chicago shootout (best of three rounds) basis the Team had the opportunity to redeem themselves in the third round. The opportunity certainly wasn’t wasted with a 9.33 at 145mph and another round win.
The loss in one of the three rounds meant that the Humpy Racing FX did not make the finals. However the Team were happy with their consistent performance over the weekend and Rob did set a personal best 60ft time as well as record several impressive reaction times.
Humpy Racing would like to thank all of their sponsors and supporters and can’t wait for the opening event of 09/10 Nostalgia Drag Racing series, to be held at Benaraby Raceway.
A bit about Humpy Racing:
The car: 1948 FX "Humpy" Holden
Body: Full fibreglass shell, windows are polycarbonate
Chassis: Full tube chassis with 6 point roll cage, strut front end and inch rear end
Engine: 383 cubic inch small block Chevrolet running on Methanol
Transmission: 2 Speed Powerglide with a transbrake, fully manualised, and shifted by a B&M Prostick
Humpy Racing only use Penrite Oil products. Check them out below.
Engine:HPR 30
Transmission: SIN AUTO
Differiential: SIN GEAR OIL 75
Brakes: Penrite Break Fluid
BEMW Rally Team
A chance to prove their skills yet again for the BEMW Rally team turned into frustration and heartache in the forests around Oberon on Saturday, October 31st.
WIth 170km of competition, the BEMW team didn't go too well at Oberon, breaking the left axle just 2km into the first stage. Ironically, this was one of the stages sponsored by The BEMW Team. The boys happened to pull up just near a road closure, and the official doing the closure let Mark borrow his 4WD to go back to the service park and get one of the BEMW crew to follow him back in the Range Rover with the spare axle, some tools and jack.
Thank God for mobile phones with GPS! I had to use overgrown fire trails to get back to the main road and so saved some way points on my phone so that I could find my way back." said Mark.
Parked back at the road closure, Mark ran the 400-odd metres back to the car and changed the axle on the side of the road in-stage, between cars passing every 2 mins. They lost over 40 minutes, but would have been a lot more if they had waited for the stage to finish (being car 9 out of 76 cars).
The BEMW team were setting times around the top 10 over the next six stages. After fitting two new tyres to the rear at the lunch time service (after Stage 5) they then got a flat, left-hand rear, three kilometres from the end of Stage 8. As shown in the picture above, the tyre was completely shredded. Driving out on the rim, they took position 18 for the stage.
When they went to change the tyre at the end of the stage the boys heard the right-hand rear tyre leaking! They changed the left tyre and raced 12km back to service before the right one went flat. Two second hand tyres were then fitted (the Kumho tyre truck had run out of tyres due to the high number of punctures). Both the Dunlop and Kumho trucks left early because they had run out of tyres. Evidently, Oberon was a punishment for tyres.
At Stage 9 Mark and Matt requested a three minute starting gap, as we had been on the previous eight stages and we were running down around cars 45 - 50. However, since the previous time control person possibly didn't hear the request, as they moved to the start line they discovered they had only been given 2 minutes. Needless to say, with 24 kilometres competitive, they caught the car in front with about four kilometres to go and sat in his dust trail until the end of stage. 18th fastest again.
On Stage 10 about halfway through the car started handling very loose in the rear. Mark initially thought they had another flat so he and Matt stopped and jumped out to check the tyres, but they all looked fine. After driving the rest of the stage at a steady pace they returned to service were the crew discovered the rear crossmember had cracked where the right rear trailing arm attaches. It was time to put the car on the trailer. The BEMW Team decided to miss the last stage and salvage the car for the next rally.
Thank God for mobile phones with GPS! I had to use overgrown fire trails to get back to the main road and so saved some way points on my phone so that I could find my way back." said Mark.
Parked back at the road closure, Mark ran the 400-odd metres back to the car and changed the axle on the side of the road in-stage, between cars passing every 2 mins. They lost over 40 minutes, but would have been a lot more if they had waited for the stage to finish (being car 9 out of 76 cars).
The BEMW team were setting times around the top 10 over the next six stages. After fitting two new tyres to the rear at the lunch time service (after Stage 5) they then got a flat, left-hand rear, three kilometres from the end of Stage 8. As shown in the picture above, the tyre was completely shredded. Driving out on the rim, they took position 18 for the stage.
When they went to change the tyre at the end of the stage the boys heard the right-hand rear tyre leaking! They changed the left tyre and raced 12km back to service before the right one went flat. Two second hand tyres were then fitted (the Kumho tyre truck had run out of tyres due to the high number of punctures). Both the Dunlop and Kumho trucks left early because they had run out of tyres. Evidently, Oberon was a punishment for tyres.
At Stage 9 Mark and Matt requested a three minute starting gap, as we had been on the previous eight stages and we were running down around cars 45 - 50. However, since the previous time control person possibly didn't hear the request, as they moved to the start line they discovered they had only been given 2 minutes. Needless to say, with 24 kilometres competitive, they caught the car in front with about four kilometres to go and sat in his dust trail until the end of stage. 18th fastest again.
On Stage 10 about halfway through the car started handling very loose in the rear. Mark initially thought they had another flat so he and Matt stopped and jumped out to check the tyres, but they all looked fine. After driving the rest of the stage at a steady pace they returned to service were the crew discovered the rear crossmember had cracked where the right rear trailing arm attaches. It was time to put the car on the trailer. The BEMW Team decided to miss the last stage and salvage the car for the next rally.
www.bemwrally.com.au
Team Gruber
Penrite, I would like to thank you for your support over the last couple of years of my blown XY Falcon (BL01HO), your products have protected the car through some of the toughest burnout, dyno and drag competitions in Australia. In the last 2 years the car has won the South Coast Nationals burnout competition 2007 overall, placed in the top ten at Summernats 21 Burnout competition, placed in the dyno competition at Summernats 21,placed 3rd overall in the Street Machine Supernats 13 burnout comp 2007, placed 2nd overall in the Street Machine Supernats 14 burnout comp 2008, and placed 3rd overall at the recent Summernats 22 burnout comp 2009 and has been popularly involved in many other shows around NSW .
Thankyou for your support
Tim Gruber.
New Zealand V8 Ute Racing Series
Penrite Oil is proud to be the official lubricant supplier to the New Zealand V8 Ute Racing Series. For more information check out www.nzv8uteracing.co.nz
Penrite’s wide ranges of versatile products are suitable for all cars no matter the make or model. Whether it is performance, vintage or anything in between Penrite has the right product for your vehicle. Click here to see Penrite’s full range of quality lubricants.
Team Orange successful in New Zealand
Penrite Oil are proud sponsors of Team Orange
Good finish for BARR at Taranaki.
The By’Gone Autos Race and Rally team have broken their Taranaki jinx, finishing the Taranaki Tarmac Rally a very creditable 28th overall and 10th in class in their trademark BRO (By’Gone Racing Orange) Rover P6.
Having not rallied since the same event last year, Mal Clark and co-driver Rod Peat were looking forward to getting back into the rallying scene after some classic circuit racing over the summer. The pair had a steady start in what was the oldest car in the competition, placing in the top half of the field in all but one of the mornings stages, leaving them 37th going into lunch.
A few spins and overshoots cost the team some time over the course of the day and with the pair using pace notes for the first time, Clark was struggling to come to grips with the organiser prepared notes which was costing the pair time.
Confidence grew through the day and the stage times reflected it, with the pairing pushing the By’Gone Autos prepared Rover inside the top thirty with just one stage remaining, then pushed on further to finish the event a creditable 28th outright as well as 10th in the hotly contested class C.
The team now have just four weeks to prepare the car for the Targa Rotorua to be held on June 13-14th. The roads around the Bay of Plenty area are faster and more flowing which should suit the big and powerful Rover far better than the technical and twisty roads in the Taranaki region.
Clark and Peat will be hoping for dry weather for the Rotorua event and not using notes will give them a more even playing field with their competitors. Given all these factors plus previous successes the team have a realistic goal of a top 3 finish in the ‘Classic All-comers’ class and are hoping to be in the top ten outright.
Caswell Drag Racing
Willowbank 2nd June
Casswell Racning scored another final round win. The day was extremely hot and humid but the HPR50 and the Sin Manual Trans oils held up under very trying conditions with 3 x qualifying passes and four rounds of racing to the Final in just one day.
The second round of the New Year Series is on the Australia Day.
The car is a 1972 Ford Fairlane of full chassis construction. It is powered by a supercharged and fuel injected 510 cubic inch (8.5l) all aluminium Rodeck engine. The transmission is an air shifted 3 speed Lenco Drive, transferring power to a Strange equipped Ford differential.
Based in Brisbane, Tim & Darlene Caswell have been running this Supercharged Outlaw car in ANDRA Championship Drag Racing for over 8 years, exclusively using Penrite products.
In the extreme environment of Drag Racing, we depend on Penrite products to provide superior protection in a 3000lb vehicle which produces up to 1800hp and covers the quarter mile in 7.4 seconds at 300kph.
Engine: Penrite HPR50
Transmission: Trans Gear
Differential: SIN Diff Oil
Brakes: Penrite Brake Fluid.
The Penrite Mainland Classic
The coming 2010 Penrite Mainland Classic Tour in New Zealand’s South Island will be the tenth running, from Saturday morning the 16th to Saturday the 23th of October 2010.
This highlight’s Tour will be in its eighteenth year, having now been nine times before to the pleasure of many hundreds classic vehicle enthusiasts.
Fellowship and the normal good-hearted camaraderie of vehicle marques will continue we are sure! The normal elements of fun and games will be built in, as well as the fabulous country and sights that New Zealand’s South Island has to offer.
This, 2010 Tour, will be eight days in duration starting in Invercargill then motoring seven days to finish in Christchurch with a full lay day during the week. The final function will be at a special venue around Christchurch. The rest of the week will be pure adventure.
The organisers, as usual, don't want to let too much out at this early stage, but we will say, is that we will be touring through Southland, Fiordland, Central Otago, Mount Cook area and most of inland Canterbury.
This event continues to attract classic vehicle owners time and again from all over and the orgainising team remains motivated to put this next exciting tour together in October 2010.
For more information please contact the organiser's
Ph. ++64 3 4770800 Fax ++64 3 4773150
E. mainland.classic@ihug.co.nz
W. www.mainlandclassic.co.nz
Minda Motorsport
Minda and Penrite, a winning combination
Minda Motorsport, one of Australia’s leading open wheel, motorsport team and wins only on Penrite oils and products!
Products used and recommended
FF Duratec, national fuel injected class:
Engine oil SIN 0
Ford Kent engine, state and historic: Engine oil SIN 15
Formula Atlantic (historic) Cosworth bdd: Engine oil SIN 25
Brake fluid, all cars: SIN 600
Gear Box oil, all Formula fords: Manual Gear Oil 70
Gear oil Atlantic cars: Limslip 90
Ricky Mitchell Racing
Mitchell's Best Run Of The New Year
Phil Michell posted Monday January 25, 2010.
Queenslander Ricky Mitchell had his best night of competition since his return to racing last Saturday night at the Brisbane International Speedway with a strong sixth placed result behind the wheel of his Q19 Eagle Ignition Leads Cheetah in round six of the track championship series. After fighting his way into the main event from the last chance B-main Ricky stormed through the pack to just miss out on his first top five of 2010.
The night started off with a mid placed time trial (13th in the 25 car field) before he finished his opening heat in third after starting from position three. His then lined up from position four in his second heat and after a great start he progressed to second but unfortunately just as he made the clean pass for the position the yellows came on so he was sent back to third at the restart.
Then shortly after the drop of green the leader of the race spun and as the second placed car swerved to avoid contact Ricky was then left with nowhere to go and was forced to stop after making extremely light contact. With only two laps remaining in the heat he ultimately finished in seventh position and as a result he was forced to start from position three in the B-Main.
After finishing second in the B-Main he started the final from the fourteenth starting spot and after what can only be described as an outstanding performance he cut through the field to finish in a very creditable sixth place.
“Starting from that far back and with the quality of the cars in front, we thought if we could make it into the top ten it would have been a good result. However, to ultimately finish sixth, was a credit to Ricky for a smart drive, and the team who worked hard on the setup with little time between the B and the A” added car owner and Ricky’s father Peter Mitchell shortly after the main event.
“We now look forward to Parramatta next weekend”.
Crambrook Racing
Crambrook Plays it Cool Heading into Mount Panorama Return:
Cool, calm and collected. That is the way defending Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series champion Layton Crambrook is playing it heading into the seventh and penultimate round at Bathurst’s Mount Panorama on the weekend of October 8 – 11.
Currently sitting second in the Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series behind Jack Elsegood, the # 1 Mother / Maxibon backed XR8 BF Ford Falcon driver is aiming to take control of the series point standings for the first time this year but is taking a laid back approach into the weekend.
“I just play each race weekend like the other and don’t get too worked up about a particular round and psyche myself out,” Crambrook explained. “Although Mount Panorama in a special circuit and one of my favourites I am taking a calm approach and focusing on the task ahead. Naturally doing well at Mount Panorama is a major achievement and one that is very rewarding when you do. At the same time you have to play what is in front of you because a small lapse in concentration can turn into disaster in a blink of an eye around Mount Panorama.”
Experience is a vital ingredient to being successful, and also staying out of trouble, around the 6.2km Mount Panorama circuit and is something that is going to work in Crambrook’s favour.
“You simply cannot beat experience around Mount Panorama. There is no substitute for it,” commented Crambrook. “There are about five other drivers that have plenty of experience around the circuit and I believe that they are going to be the ones that will be right on the pace from the start of the weekend.”
Adding to his considerable amount of experience around the circuit in V8 Supercars and Production Cars, Crambrook also dominated last year’s round at Mount Panorama and that is a performance that he is looking to repeat.
“The goal no matter where we go is to win, but our main focus is to pick up a bag full of points to help our series chances,” he said. “I don’t care if we come away with a one, 12 or even a 20 point lead, just as long as we have the lead. I strongly believe that whoever does well at Mount Panorama and has the lead of the series at the end of the weekend will be looking pretty good for the series win. Hopefully that will be us!”
Current Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series Point Standings (after six completed rounds):
1 Jack Elsegood – 633 points
2 Layton Crambrook - 623
3 Gary Baxter - 605
4 Grant Johnson - 585
5 Kim Jane - 553
The official, new look, Layton Crambrook website can be viewed at: www.laytoncrambrook.com
Chapmans Off Road Racing
2009 Albins Goondiwindi 400, QLD
The fifth and final round of the Australian Off Road Championship, the Gundy 400 started with blue skies, a slight breeze mixed with dust and flies. First up Saturday was prologue, every thing went smoothly with Clayton placing 1st in Production 4WD and Robert and Leila 3rd and 8th respectively in Extreme 4WD.
With a good mix of fast straights and the notorious Gundy melon holes, the 75km track was a sure test for man and machine. Section 1 on Sat afternoon consisted of two laps. Due to the times of the 2nd lap being dropped, Robert's 3rd place became 5th in class and Leila 8th. Clayton came in 1st in class. Sat night the pit crew replaced Claytons broken rear spring and repaired Leila's broken shock mount, to be ready for Sunday. Being unable to replace Roberts broken front diff meant he had to race on Sunday in rear wheel drive only.
Sunday consisted of three laps for the national competitors and only two laps for the Qld championship competitors. On the 1st lap Rob had a radiator hose rub through but managed to save any major engine damage and on getting back to pits, the hose was replaced and he was back out racing. Clayton having no more issues finished in first place in class, which rounded up the National Production 4WD class championship in first place. Robert came 5th in class, and he is now placed 2nd in the Extreme 4WD Class of the National Championship. Leila who was competing in the Qld round only, placed 1st in class and 13th outright. This concluded a successful weekend for the team with all 3 vehicles finishing the race with no major damage, a feat in itself.
MKR Racing
Penrite are proud sponsors of MKR Racing
MKR racing competed the final round of the Golden Power Series at Todd Road Port Melbourne on the 21st and 22nd of November. Unfortunately the event was abandoned on the Sunday with the terrible weather.
Saturday saw Ron have a very ordinary day with a 10th place in heat 1 of Rotax over 40's, a bent axle in heat one of Rotax Pro. Then, with the axle changed for heat 2 in over 40's, had a coming together with three other karts which couldn't be avoided and that resulted with a bent chassis, end of event for Ron.
Kevin had a slightly better Saturday with an inspiring drive from 17th up to 2nd in heat 1, "I had a bit of luck come my way in the early stage of the race, and from there it was just about being clean with the passing" he said. From 2nd grid in race 2, and Kevin drove away to record a win by almost a whole straight!
The fact we didn't race on Sunday meant the points from Saturday were made finishing positions for that event. This meant Ron didn't fare too well in this round but still got 3rd for the series in Rotax over 40's and 6th in Rotax Pro. Kevin won this round which gave him three out of four round wins to win the series with ease.
Ron had the chassis sent away to be straightened hopefully in time for the 4 hour enduro on the 12th December. This was not the case and had to borrow a chassis.
This popular event was run this year in better conditions than last year, which was the wettest December day ever recorded! 34 two driver teams lined up for 4.5 hours of racing. With each team made to complete 3 ten minute compulsory pit stops, it adds up to 4 hours of actual racing. Each driver has to drive for a minimum of 90 minutes, and all this on one set of tyres. "We were teamed up with different drivers this year" Kevin said. "I was supposed to pit crew for Ron and Robbie this year, but a phone call from another driver, Frank Falla asked if I was interested in teaming up with him" Kevin added.
Kevin and Frank qualified 17th outright and 2nd in the Masters division. Ron and Robbie qualified 34th which was due to a wheel coming off in Ron's session.
Frank and Ron started the race with Frank circulating consistently coming in on lap 60 and in position 16. Ron came in on lap 61 in position 16 with Kevin and Robbie re-entering in positions 20th and 28th respectively. Both Kevin and Robbie came in on lap 121 with Kevin being in 12th place outright and Robbie in 14th. Frank and Ron re-entered in positions 22nd and 28th. Both teams were travelling along very well considering some teams had different strategies and had only done quick fuel stops and had not completed any 10 minute stops yet. On lap 181, Ron came in and handed the wheel over to Robbie to do the gruelling last stint. Frank came in on lap 183 and Kevin hopped in to do the final drive. On re-entering the race Ron and Robbie were in 22nd place and Kevin and Frank in 16th place. "As soon as I went back out, I knew there was something wrong with the engine. The power valve wasn't working at all and I was lapping 1.5 seconds a lap slower" Kevin said."I had to do more laps to get the fuel level down so we could top it up and save a splash and dash later"Kevin said. Kevin came back for the repair on lap 199, and in 13th place. They dropped down to 20th and with enough fuel to go the distance and a quick repair of the power valve were in a good position to finish in the top ten outright.Kevin got up to 13th place when the engine lost power going up the straight. The kart stopped up the top of the circuit which prompted a safety car. "We got the kart back to the pits and noticed the spark plug broken in half, we changed the plug and put the kart back on the ground and tried to start it, but it had no compression" Kevin said. That was it. retired.
Robbie kept his consistency and circulated without any dramas. He came in for a splash of fuel on lap 215 and continued on to finish on lap 267 in 14th place outright and 5th in masters, a very commendable effort. The winners completed 280 laps in total with 1st and 2nd place separated by less than a 10th of a second. Not bad after 4.5 hours.
Well done to MKR Racing
PENRITE AFTERBURNER NITROUS DRAGBIKE
The New Zealand Afterburner –
Kosman USA dragbike chassis
Suzuki based engine – 1370cc in line 4 cylinder, nitrous powered.
Best standing start quarter mile time - 8.11 seconds at 166MPH ( 265 KMH )
Owner/rider – Ian Wilkins "The oil (SIN15) is required to perform through stresses of a wet centrifugal clutch adding debris to the oil every run down the track, coupled with immense force on the bearings from the extra cylinder pressures generated by the nitrous.The heat generated alone so suddenly with all this force being unleashed is the test of any oil. The SIN15 excels in every way.Bearings are lasting a full season, and still look good enough to run at the end of each season, being replaced only as part of a routine now, rather than a more regular necessity as it was before.The valve gear is lasting exceptionally well, with longer valve spring life and no cam and follower problems, which we used to experience too".
Latest achievements for the bike is fastest bike in New Zealand at every race meeting attended by the team during the 2008-2009 season, breaking the MPH record for supercharged dragbike at Meremere in February this year.
We continued on at the end of the New Zealand season, travelling to Australia and competing in the Trans Tasman Dragbike Challenge, beating the Australians after racing at them at Alice Springs Inland Dragway, and Hidden Valley Dragstrip in Darwin.
Next season the new bike will be unleashed. Canadian Geoff Pollard previously rode the turbocharged methanol burning bike to a world record 6.61 second quarter mile at 211 MPH ( 337 KMH )
Lockyer Engine Reconditioners
The Supercharge Outlaw Dragster is a Dakota chassis imported from the USA in 2006 and is powed by a 1471 Super Charged 509 cui Big Block Chev, Powerglide automatic transmission and Fully Floating 35 Spline Stange rear end.
Christine Steffens campaign the car in the ANDRA Championship in the 2009 season and won the Australian Title!
The Australian Titles
Mackay round 3
Christine qualified 2nd and in first round contested the 2008 Aust Champ. An excellent .433 light gave Christine a big head start and with a couple of pedals to make sure I didn’t breakout we took the round win.
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Christine became the second female in Australia to win in any Bracket at the Winternationals since its inception as a national event and only the forth female to win an Australian Title in any Bracket since the first feamle winner in 1983.
A big congratulations to Christine and all at Lockyer Engines, a job very well done.
FRYZEM
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The car is 1976 holden lx hatchback Torana known as FRYZEM,
it has a 350 Chev (est 650 ish hp)dart block eagle head beam rods scat crank etc. Engine is built and designed by Powerhouse engines in Warrigul, the gearbox is a 2 speed powerglide transmissionm with a 4500 tce stall convertor,
diff is a Ford nine inch 3.5 spooled centre and paint is custom orange pearl. Wheels are 15x15 prostars on the rear and 15x7 on the front, engine oils etc and all lubricants are PENRITE of course!
Latest burnout competition was in Adelaide at the Gazzanats.
James placed 2nd overall, excellent job well done!
To find out more about Sonax please visit www.sonax.com.au
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