By Andrew Ferguson
ALTHOUGH the weather was cold, the action was hot at the Sonic Speedway last Saturday evening – with 30 drivers contesting the Wingless Sprints.
Hayden Clifford, Jordan Bolitho, Nate Trewin, Kelvin Johnson, Geoff Cook and Brayden McKay all had heat wins – but with 18 drivers having a first, second or third-place finish in their heats, the final was anybody’s.
The top 16 point-scorers went straight into the A main final, as did the top four drivers from the B main final. Unfortunately local Esther Thomson, who had qualified third fastest, lost her steering and hit the wall, putting her out of the final.
After 25 fast and furious laps, Jordan Bolitho reached the chequered flag first, followed by Hayden Clifford, Taleesha Mayes, Boyd Harris and Jake Warren. Local Michael Conlan finished 10th, while Hayden Glare had mechanical trouble and couldn’t complete the final.
Sixteen keen Junior Top Star drivers competed in the seventh and final round of their series and provided some great entertainment. With the top four point-scorers separated by only a few points, there was plenty of fast and furious racing.
Carter Metcalf and Linken Paterson each had two heat wins and a second, while Cameron Smith (first, third, second), River Paterson (third, second, third) and Bree Simpson (second and third) were the front runners. Carter Metcalf won the final, ahead of Cameron Smith, Linken Paterson, River Paterson and Bree Simpson – however, the overall winner is classified information until the presentation night in July.
The Junior New Stars were dominated by Lachlan Smith (first, fourth, first), Jasmine Bryant (three seconds) and Tayla Whatmore (third, first, third) and that’s the order they finished in the final.
In VSC Juniors Dylan Burrows won all his heats, although Connor Claridge, with two seconds, and Marty Basset (third, third and second) showed they would push him all the way. However, Dylan held them off to win the final ahead of Marty and Bailey Rumler. A special mention should be made of Rebecca Johnstone, who also competed in the New Stars – while driving an underpowered car, she held a safe driving line all night and finished all her heats in both classes.
Lucas Condor won the Sports Sedans final, just ahead of Felicity Roycroft and Jye Sanders – with only half a second separating first and third – while in the Standard Saloons Kiel Tripcony who held off Josh Campbell and Lockie Chivers in another close finish.
The Sonic Speedway season ends on June 11 and 12 and will be headed up by the final round of the Super Rods Victorian Title and the VSC Formula 500 Pioneer Cup.
