Drouin Speedway on November the 11th had a small but enthusiastic field of racers roll up to compete for the thrills and spills that Speedway racing provides whilst the Ladies had the extra incentive of possibly being crowned Gippsland Zone Champion.
Kellie McDermott who last season won the women’s title for the third year in a row added the Gippsland zone championship after she was able to defeat Charlene Dike, Kellie Garlick, Tegan Bullard and Anne Gooding to claim the prize.
Earlier in three heats Anne Gooding had a win over Bullard and Garlick then Garlick had a win over McDermott and Bullard before McDermott took the result in the last heat from Garlick and Bullard.
For the fifteen lap final with six starters McDermott quickly established her favouritism shooting to the front. Some patient driving by Dike elevated her into third then second position. McDermott brought her fathers Commodore to the finish line in front to be declared the zone champion.
After the race McDermott spoke. “In difficult conditions with the heat I thought the track was really good especially the way it was prepared for our final and congratulate the volunteers for their work. Well done to the other competitors for the results they have achieved. I look forward to racing them all again soon.”
In VSC Open Sedans Matt Nelson who the previous night had raced at Ballarat in the Modified division won two of the three heats with Les Feltham winning the other ahead of Nelson. The six cylinder Commodore of Nelson held off the 308ci powered Feltham race car in the final with Wayne Nelson completing the top three.
The only other division with enough cars to make a race meeting was the Men’s Standards or Open Standards where both men and women can compete. Matt Nelson was also competing in this category in another race car and managed to win against Leigh Gooding and Wayne Nelson in heat one. A modern miracle happened when for the first time since man stepped on the moon, John Watson won a heat race at full pace against good competition. Wayne Tooze filled second and Joseph Lia third.
Finally Ben Randall made it a third different winner from three heats when he won ahead of Gooding and Matt Nelson.
Off the front row Gooding was going to be tough to defeat and it proved that way with Gooding and Matt nelson exchanging racing pleasantries as they headed through the turns. Gooding at the end of twelve laps took the win over Randall, Watson, Wayne Nelson and Travis Evans.
On December the ninth Drouin Speedway will hold its annual ‘Eliminator Cup’ for all Standard Saloons, a race where in the final every 8 laps four cars at the rear of the field are eliminated until the last twelve lap dash with the final eight to ten drivers remaining.
Drouin Speedway thanks its supporters:
Wayson Oil’s
Robin Hood Hotel
Brimstone Fire
Polish N Shine
Victory Lane Racegear
Ramsdale Wreckers
Moe Grain & Farm
Laser Electrical
Sensations Adult Store
Southern Star Automotive
Pakenham Automatics
Pakenham 4 x 4 Wreckers
B.O.C Tyres
Densu Group Promotions
Inaction Photos
Written by DMT Media’s Dean Thompson
on behalf of Drouin Speedway Club